WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2020
City Announces Completion of Village Entrance Project
The City of Laguna Beach is pleased to announce the completion of the Village Entrance Project, a two-year construction project focused on enhanced pedestrian safety and circulation, improved traffic flow and new public open space located at the gateway to the City.
The completed project stretches along Laguna Canyon Road from Forest Avenue to Art-A-Fair and will be dedicated by the Laguna Beach City Council with a virtual ribbon cutting held on Friday, May 22 at 9:00 a.m.
Due to the stay at home order, the ribbon cutting will be broadcast LIVE for public viewing on the City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lagunabeachgov.
“The Project’s new bridges, wider multi-use trails and paved access roads improve pedestrian, bicyclist and driver safety at one of the busiest and most visible intersections in town,” said Laguna Beach Assistant City Manager Shohreh Dupuis.
Additional Village Entrance Project elements include decorative lighting, extensive landscaped planting areas, new vehicular and pedestrian bridges and water quality features such as basins and permeable pavers.
“The Village Entrance Project’s new pedestrian walkways, benches, bike racks and beautifully landscaped green spaces create a first impression to the City of Laguna Beach that we can all be proud of,” said Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen. “And at a time when outdoor activity is so important to our community, this project’s completion comes at the perfect moment.”
Laguna Beach Village Entrance Project highlights:
- Wide multi-use trails made from decorative concrete and decomposed granite to create a pedestrian-friendly environment, including many bicycle racks and rammed-earth seat wall benches
- Extensive landscaping throughout the site, including the planting of 75 new trees, 3,250 shrubs and 50 flats of ground cover
- Decorative fencing along the drainage channel to replace the chain link fence
- New wider vehicle bridge and a new pedestrian bridge at Lot 10 to improve vehicle access, parking circulation and separate vehicles from pedestrians
- New bridge to provide vehicular and pedestrian access to parking from Laguna Canyon Road
- A total of six electric vehicle charging stations in Lots 11 and 12
- Reconstruction of Employee Parking Lot and parking area behind City Hall
- Reconstruction of deteriorated retaining walls in Lot 12 (Lumberyard Parking Lot)
- Demolition of aging Marine Safety and Police support buildings and construction of replacement buildings
“The City has succeeded in delivering a safe, beautiful area for our community to enjoy while delivering the project on time and on budget,” said Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig.
For more information contact Tom Perez, Village Entrance Project Director, at (949) 464-6688 or tperez@lagunabeachcity.net.
Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen Talks About the Successful Completion of the Village Entrance Project
In today's podcast update, Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen talks about the completion of the Village Entrance Project, and the upcoming virtual ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, May 22.
We also talk about the Memorial Day weekend, and the enforcement of “active use” of the beaches as well as the challenges involved.
Finally, Mayor Whalen elaborates on the City’s responsibility in making sure non-essential businesses adhere to the State’s guidelines.
How to Participate in the Tuesday, May 26 Laguna Beach City Council Meeting
The public will not be permitted to physically attend the upcoming May 26 Laguna Beach City Council meeting, but you are invited to observe and participate from home by one of the following methods:
1. You may submit comments on any agenda item or on any item not on the agenda in writing via email to cityclerk@lagunabeachcity.net (there is an interactive public communications form on the front page of the City’s website). Please complete the form and email the completed form to the City Clerk. You may continue to provide written comments up to 12:00 p.m. on May 26, 2020 (the day of the meeting). Please note that while these comments will be provided to the City Council on 3 p.m. on May 26, 2020, the Council members may not have sufficient time to review them prior to the meeting.
2. You may view the meeting live on Cox cable channel 852 and online on the City of Laguna Beach website: www.lagunabeachcity.net.
3. You may listen to the meeting LIVE on KX FM Radio, 104.7.
4. You may listen and comment over the phone or computer during designated public comment periods by following the steps below:
• Call (669) 900-9128, and wait for instructions. The Webinar id is 919 5146 2183
• Let us know you want to comment on an item that is being discussed by pressing *9 on your phone.
• When you hear "your phone is unmuted," please proceed with your comment. The time for comments may be limited, so prepare your remarks accordingly.
• You can also click on the link below from your computer or smart phone to participate via zoom: https://lagunabeachcity.zoom.us/j/91951462183
If you are not able to use this Webinar system, you may submit comments via email during the meeting to cityclerk@lagunabeachcity.net.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is scheduled to close the southbound # 2 lane of S. Coast Highway tonight between Nyes Place and Vista del Sol overnight from approx. 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for crack sealing repair.
Also, due to road construction, a northbound lane of Coast Highway between Laguna Avenue and Park Avenue will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until May 22, 2020.
This week the Governor announced that professional sports could resume potentially the first week of June, but without spectators.
What's Open in Laguna Beach?
Many Orange County residents have been staying home and saving lives since the start of California’s stay-at-home order.
These efforts have allowed the state to move forward on the roadmap for modifying the statewide order. We are now in Stage 2 reopening, where some lower-risk workplaces can gradually open with adaptations.
What types of businesses are allowed to be open in Laguna Beach? What City facilities and services are open? Click the link below for the latest updated information.
City Provides Curbside Pickup Parking for Local Businesses
The City is designating metered parking spaces in Downtown and along Coast Highway as “Curbside Pickup” locations to assist local businesses with Stage 2 reopening plans, making it easier for residents and visitors to patronize local businesses while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
