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Laguna Beach City news City of Laguna Beach, California

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2020

Governor Announces Upcoming Regional California Stay at Home Orders

Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new Regional Stay Home Order that will go into effect if intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity drops below 15% in a region.

As of Thursday evening, December 3, 2020, this order is not currently in effect. The state predicts the Southern California region will be under these restrictions in "early December,” as soon as the Southern California region reaches 15% intensive care unit capacity or below.

Summary of new restrictions in any region triggered by a Regional Stay Home Order:

  • No gatherings with those outside your household
  • No non-essential travel
  • Closure of restaurants for indoor or outdoor dining – only takeout will be allowed
  • Closure of bars, wineries, breweries, distilleries
  • Closure of nail, hair salons, barbers, other personal care services
  • Closure of indoor and outdoor playgrounds
  • Closure of indoor recreation facilities
  • Closure of museums, zoos, aquariums
  • Closure of family entertainment centers
  • Closure of cardrooms
  • Limited services
  • No theme parks/amusement parks
  • No live audience sports

Allowed to stay open under Regional Stay at Home Order with masks and physical distancing:

  • Non-urgent healthcare, including dentists, optometrist
  • Schools already open
  • Childcare and Pre-K
  • Stores and shopping centers at 20% capacity with entrance metering and no eating or drinking
  • Hotels and lodging: essential travel and lodging only
  • Offices: remote except for critical operations where remote is not possible
  • Churches, temples, mosques: outdoor only
  • Critical infrastructure and services (water, power, government)
  • Parks, trails, beaches, other outdoor recreation

When triggered, the Regional Stay at Home Order will remain in effect for at least 3 weeks and, after that period, will be lifted when a region’s projected ICU capacity meets or exceeds 15%. This will be assessed on a weekly basis after the initial 3 week period. Learn more about the Regional Stay at Home Order HERE.

We will send out more detailed information as soon as our region (Southern California) is placed into the Stay at Home Order.

Curbside Pickup Parking Spaces Available for Businesses and Restaurants

To help our local businesses, the City of Laguna Beach is designating select metered parking spaces as Curbside Pickup locations.

These Curbside Pickup locations will offer free 10-minute parking for shoppers to patronize curbside pickup service at local restaurants and businesses.

Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow Honored by City Council

Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow was honored by the City Council at the December 1 City Council meeting, held via Zoom. (Photo courtesy of Mary Hurlbut/Stu News Laguna.)

At the Tuesday, December 1 meeting of the Laguna Beach City Council, Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow was honored by City Council resolution for his 20 years of service to the community.

"Steve has served the City long and well," said Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen at Tuesday's City Council meeting. "You have provided outstanding service over 20 years to the City, and I want to thank you personally."

Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow served four terms as a City Councilmember - first from 1994-2006 and again in 2012-2020. He served four terms as Mayor.

Though his accomplishments on the Council over his 20 year tenure are many, they include adding new police officers and increasing the City's Police Department and budget, opposing the county takeover of the City's Fire Department, simplifying the Conditional Use Permit process for businesses, and designating the City of Laguna Beach as a World Kindness USA City.

Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow was honored by the City Council at the December 1 City Council meeting, held via Zoom. (Photo courtesy of Mary Hurlbut/Stu News Laguna.)

"I am so grateful to this town for giving me the honor of serving them for 20 years - I am going to miss doing that, but I have never felt more hopeful and optimistic about the future," Dicterow said. "I believe we need to act and work collectively to come to good decisions. That's what democracy is about, and I see us on a birth of new democracy in this country and this City."

The next meeting of the Laguna Beach City Council will be Tuesday, December 8 via Zoom.

Mayor Whalen Talks Preps for Regional Stay at Home Order

In today's podcast update, Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen talks about the steps the City Council will take as part of any Regional Stay at Home measures the State enacts.

He also answers some tough questions about enforcement of the mask mandate here in Laguna Beach, and wishes a fond farewell to some retiring friends.

Update on Bond Fire in Silverado Canyon

The Bond Fire in Silverado Canyon is currently over 7,200 acres and has 0% containment. Laguna Beach has two engine companies and a Battalion Chief providing mutual aid at the fire. At this time, the Bond Fire is not a direct threat to Laguna Beach. Current traffic impacts: NB/SB I-5 connector to the NB 133 closed; NB 133 closed between I-5 and the 241. See the Evacuation Map HERE.

American Public Works Association Presents City With Awards for the Promenade on Forest and Village Entrance

At Tuesday's Laguna Beach City Council meeting, Pat Somerville, the past President of the American Public Works Association (APWA), presented the City of Laguna Beach with "BEST Project of the Year Awards" for both the Promenade on Forest and the Laguna Beach Village Entrance Project!

"I'd like to recognize Shohreh Dupuis as the Public Works Director for these projects and her team," Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig said at Tuesday's City Council meeting. "As we all know, none of these things happen in a vacuum and it takes good leadership. Shohreh and her team have done a fantastic job." (Photo from June 2020 Grand Opening of the Promenade on Forest.)

The City won Best Project of the Year in the most "Creative & Innovative" category for the Promenade on Forest, a new outdoor dining and retail display area on Forest Avenue, and won Best Project of the Year in the "Traffic, Mobility & Beautification" category for the Village Entrance Project.

The Award-Winning Laguna Beach Promenade on Forest

The APWA recognizes outstanding individuals, groups and chapters representing the best in public works.

Help Decorate an Ornament for the Promenade on Forest Community Tree Display!

To help ring in the holiday season, please be a part of the Laguna Beach community celebration by decorating a holiday ornament at home to be included in our holiday decorations at the Promenade on Forest!

FREE ornaments for decoration can be picked up at a table outside City Hall. When finished, please return your ornament to City Hall M-Th from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The ornaments will be on display at the City's community tree at the Promenade on Forest for all to enjoy throughout the holiday season beginning Friday, December 4!

Due to COVID-19, this year's annual Hospitality Night event is cancelled. However, Santa is scheduled to drive through the City on Sunday, December 20th with a Trolley full of carolers spreading holiday cheer and music throughout Laguna Beach! More details to come.
Due to recent mail and package thefts in the City, please LOCK your vehicles and REMOVE your belongings. Be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity. Ask neighbors or trusted friends to pick up packages if you will not be home to prevent packages from being stolen.

Laguna Beach Police Officers Hand-Deliver Lost Packages to Residents

After a delivery truck spilled some precious cargo along the roadway earlier this week in Laguna Beach, the Police Department took it upon themselves to hand-deliver the jettisoned packages to their owners.

Laguna Beach Police Department Community Service Officer Natasha Hernandez helps sort lost packages for delivery this week.

A public works crew picked up the packages after an Amazon delivery truck lost them on Nyes Place.

After the packages were dropped off at the Police station, officers went door-to-door hand delivering the packages.

Happy Holidays Laguna Beach!
The Orange County Healthcare Agency wants to remind residents to protect the people they love by wearing a face covering, washing their hands often, staying at least six feet apart, and accessing the COVID-19 testing network to get a COVID-19 test.

Temporary Tax Relief and $500 Million in Grants Available to Businesses Affected by COVID-19

This week Governor Gavin Newsom announced immediate, temporary tax relief will support businesses impacted by COVID-19.

In partnership with the Legislature, California will also provide $500 million in new COVID-19 Relief Grant funding for small businesses & non-profits.

Laguna Beach Sanitary Sewer Pipe Rehabilitation Project Underway

The City of Laguna Beach has contracted Sancon Technologies to perform trenchless rehabilitation of individual sanitary sewer pipes at 106 locations throughout the City’s service area.

If your residence is affected by the project, you will receive a notice on your front door seven days before the work is scheduled that will affect your residence. Residential water usage is restricted during scheduled work hours.

Construction is currently in progress and will continue through the end of February 2021.

Congratulations to All Our City of Laguna Beach Children's Holiday Palette Winners!

Holiday Palettes will be displayed at the Promenade on Forest starting December 7.
Laguna Beach's Holiday Elf is back! California encourages all elves to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival from the North Pole. Our elf is named Elbee, and he is almost done with his quarantine. Follow his antics on the City's social media throughout the month of December!
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