He placed second in CIF Southern Section Division 1 as a freshman and sophomore, winning the Division 2 title last year as a junior. Make that back-to-back crowns for Shipp, who repeated as Division 2 boys’ diving champion on Wednesday at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex in Mission Viejo. He scored 565.80 points, edging out second-place Braeden Valenzuela of San Juan Hills (555.10). “The meet was really well run and I had some tough but fun competition,” said Shipp, a Harvard commit who also competes for Crown Valley Divers, in an email. “My friend and teammate Braeden set the bar really high and smoked every one of his dives. I can’t wait to see him take the top spot next year.” Newport Harbor girls’ divers Nikka Asgarian, Violet Carone and Corinna Ruffini each earned top 10 finishes at the CIF Southern Section Divison 1 diving finals on Thursday. (Courtesy of Fanak Asgarian) Newport Harbor also had some female divers who were up to the task at the Division 1 finals Thursday. Junior Corinna Ruffini finished in second place, followed by teammates Violet Carone in fifth and Nikka Asgarian in eighth. Ruffini, a University of Houston commit who was fifth in Division 1 last year, scored 526.40, just behind El Segundo freshman Reilly Stebbins (528.05). She also competes for Coast Divers. Edison sophomore Allison McNichols finished seventh in Division 1 on the girls’ side, while Chargers senior Ian Dieh placed third on the boys’ side. Each of the aforementioned local divers has qualified for the boys and girls state qualifier Tuesday at Mt. San Antonio College at 2 p.m. The top six at that meet will qualify for the CIF State Championship meet on May 17 at Clovis West High. Matt Szabo covers the city of Huntington Beach and sports for the Daily Pilot. A Southern California native and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, he has been working for L.A. Times Community News since 2006 and still loves talking to people about their hopes and dreams. Sports News Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at Info@lagunabeachindy.com or call us at 949-715-4100 Subscribe | Advertise Town hall covers concepts for reconfigured village entrance A town hall last week covered the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) and presented potential concepts for many of the city’s facilities including ideas for a reconfigured village entrance and city hall site potential locations for a community pool and possible residential at a South Laguna property Charlie Williams with LPA presents a concept for the city hall and police headquarters facility at the town hall this week City staff and LPA Project Delivery Director Charlie Williams presented the potential plans – which are conceptual in nature and intended to serve as a starting point for conversations – on April 24 at the Laguna Beach Community and Susi Q Center The FMP is a long-term strategic initiative aimed at guiding investment in city-owned buildings over the next 20 to 30 years The forum was meant to solicit feedback from the community after presenting the initial ideas city staff and consultant Griffin Structures will compile community feedback The site utilization studies and refined concepts will be presented to the City Council in May or June Rendering by LPA/Courtesy of city of Laguna Beach Conceptual options for the village entrance and city hall site The presentation included concept options for the village entrance Noting the discussion about a potential parking structure by city hall Williams said while they aren’t responsible for designing it they were asked to consider what the site could look like with it and what the opportunities would be for additional buildings They spoke with the fire department about the need to relocate for two major reasons: The current facility is not seismically sound and does not meet seismic requirements and they need to move away from the intersection in order to provide better response time in the canyon and not block traffic Williams also noted that moving the station slightly (in each option presented the new fire station was located on the north end of city hall) would accomplish those goals They also looked at where there might be opportunities for additional buildings in the village entrance There have been conversations about a museum a nondescript “proposed building” and a varying number of parking spaces were moved around the north end of the property Options ranged from approximately 6,340 square feet to 6,400 square feet of additional space and 77 The third option (biggest additional building with 89 spaces) would allow them to maintain the farmers’ market with approximately the same square footage Regarding the city hall and police station buildings Williams noted that expansion would deviate from the municipal code and require variances They looked at it with the “constraints of zoning requirements off the table,” he said to see if the city could utilize the existing facility and get what they’re looking for The driving force behind this is the thought that the current city hall is a critical part of town and they want to maintain that Click open story button to continue reading… “Every design concept that you see kind of build upon what’s there today which is the historic facade of the building,” he said “We want to maintain that same mass and skill that we have today without trying to over build in this area and take away from the character of the Downtown.” Williams also shared potential layouts of the building including square footage of different rooms and department uses (with additional space for the police department) The marine safety facility is probably the most underserved of all the functions they’ve looked at considering that they operate out of a single building near Main Beach He suggested some “bold moves” on the basement level with an improved changing facility and locker rooms They are also looking at a public works building across the street from city hall that might be a surplus building and could be better utilized Conceptual options for the Laguna Beach Community and Recreation Center campus This is also a great opportunity to do something interesting and better utilize the space at the Laguna Beach Community and Recreation Center campus (formerly St one option showed a 16-meter by 17-meter recreational pool next to a reconfigured and consolidated skate park 50-meter by 25-meter pool where the soccer field is currently located The field was also presented as a potential raised play area and U8 soccer field (no pool included in that concept) Both the large pool and the raised field could be above some parking Another potential plan included a 11,200-square-foot community building with the raised soccer field above parking but with most of the recreational structures removed and the area at the back of the site allocated for future residential (this option included a large pool) The idea of residential may be a bit controversial Yet another concept proposed all existing structures replaced with 78,017 square feet of residential But is it a way to create some funding for the city to do some of the things that we’re looking for Absolutely something that should be talked about and see where it fits from a needs and wants perspective,” he added Williams also presented a few options for Lang Park all of which moved the pickleball courts further away from the neighboring residences something that has been an ongoing concern of many local residents and a hot topic of discussion with the council The conceptual plans also include a large community center with a gym The options were also flexible with sports fields and parking spaces as well as the potential for a 25-meter by 25-meter pool and a pool building A subterranean parking structure was another idea included in two of the options The full video of the town hall can be viewed here and the presentation here Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Laguna Shaena Stabler, President & CEO – Shaena@StuNewsLaguna.com Lana Johnson, Editor – Lana@StuNewsLaguna.com Tom Johnson, Publisher – Tom@StuNewsLaguna.com Michael Sterling is our Webmaster & Designer Mary Hurlbut and Scott Brashier are our photographers Suzie Harrison and Theresa Keegan are our writers and/or columnists In Memoriam – Stu Saffer and Barbara Diamond Email: Editor@StuNewsLaguna.com with news releases Email: Shaena@StuNewsLaguna.com for questions about advertising *The content and ads in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the publisher The views expressed here are the author's own Wednesday, 10:00 amNewport Beach-Corona Del Mar, CA Friday, 6:30 pmLaguna Beach, CA Genetic-based wellness testing is now part of the center's holistic assessments in Laguna Beach and Las Vegas integrating nutrigenomic insights into individualized mental health care Earth's Edge is raising the bar on personalized care by integrating nutrigenomic testing to evaluate how an individual's genetic profile affects nutrient absorption Already known for a comprehensive approach that includes nervous system assessments Earth's Edge Wellness now incorporates DNA-based wellness testing to provide a more complete understanding of each client's health at the cellular level we gain a deeper understanding of what the body needs from the inside out," said Yoni Banayan "Combining nutrigenomics with psychological and energetic assessments allows us to build care plans that are as unique as the individual personal cellular expression." The new DNA testing process is conducted through a carefully selected lab partner and integrated seamlessly into each client's initial wellness evaluation The results are used to inform targeted nutrition strategies and lifestyle recommendations—enhancing outcomes across both mental and physical health By layering genetic data onto existing therapeutic modalities Earth's Edge continues to deliver truly individualized The center's hybrid model offers in-person appointments in Laguna Beach and Las Vegas along with virtual sessions nationwide making advanced wellness services more accessible than ever To learn more about DNA health testing and personalized care at Earth's Edge Wellness, visit https://www.earthsedgewellness.com About Earth's Edge WellnessEarth's Edge Wellness is a progressive mental health and wellness center dedicated to healing at the biological and nutrigenomic insights to craft highly personalized treatment plans Earth's Edge Wellness serves clients both locally and virtually ContactYoni Banayan702-763-5032https://www.earthsedgewellness.com/ the world's only hybrid Western + Eastern wellness center proudly announces the opening of its newest location in Laguna.. Health Care & Hospitals Mental Health Fitness/Wellness Medical Pharmaceuticals Do not sell or share my personal information: Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center hosts Ed/ge Exhibition This story is a part of our Arts section. For more arts stories as well as our arts calendars, visit www.stunewslaguna.com/arts “Ed/ge” will be on display at LBCAC until May 28 One of many striking details that defines Laguna Beach:  Collaboration is evident and critical and that is why so many remarkable things happen the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center (LBCAC) in conjunction with the Laguna Ocean Foundation opened their gallery space at 235 Forest Ave Laguna Beach has seven-and-one-half miles of land yielding to ocean and all of this minus harbors with docks luring yachts member of the board of directors for the Foundation Their goal is to raise environmental awareness and stewardship A long flight of stairs brought me to the LBCAC second-floor gallery for an evening opportunity to meet both Lamb and Almanza and each would have an opportunity to discuss their work Almanza was one of the first people I encountered and he was eager to talk about the exhibition which runs through May 28 decades-old friendship underscored by their common interest in the environment In reading through usefully placed literature I learned that only 5.3% of the world’s oceans are protected Almanza explained that Laguna Beach is one of the Marine Protected Areas in Southern California mostly under the designation of State Marine Reserve (SMR) right around Treasure Island and Aliso Creek the designation changes to State Marine Conservation Area What is common to both is they are “no take” areas that prohibit fishing or harvesting of any and all marine resources coastlines are the most vulnerable to change “Living on the edge means living in real time It is the fault-line where the world is born.” Almanza feels keenly his responsibilities to the foundation He is hoping the exhibition will raise awareness and people will get involved as volunteers and docents Oriana Poindexter’s “Giant Kelp Study 64,” cyanotype on paper Oriana Poindexter was the first to share her story she uses both traditional and alternative photo-based processes While not strictly time-lapsed photography she has come to appreciate revisiting places continuing to photograph them and thus over time capture their history and interaction with their environment “I decided I better become a marine scientist so I know what I am looking at.” She took her personal challenge seriously in Marine Biodiversity & Conservation from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal have published her photos She has also exhibited at the Oceanside Museum of Art the Center for Fine Art Photography and the San Diego Public Library She blends art and science for exhibitions at Southern California’s leading aquariums “Artists and scientists come from the same place – observation.” Casey Parlette’s “Finders Keepers” Hermit Crab The program bio placed him as a native of Southern California giving him access to explore both hills and the ocean while growing up squeezing in eight months exploring the Amazon It’s impossible to visit the Amazon and be short on inspiration Parlette is comfortable with a variety of materials that make their way into three-dimensional art He wants you to see what he sees: A resemblance to patterns Maybe an octopus emerges from wood burls; a tiger shark crouches in the wood’s stripes metal appears sterile until hammered and blacksmithed and the sheets and rods yield themselves to new textures and shapes “The intertidal zone is the harshest of environments animals can live in,” he said in summary Fredric Hope’s “Floating Series Sketch – Drift,” oil on Arches Huile paper on panel Fredric Hope immediately confessed to being an introvert and perhaps claiming that allowed him to generously share his approach and philosophy he clambered across rocks so he could dive for lobster and abalone His bio further explains his contributions: “In many ways this series represents kind of a self-portrait reaching deeper into my personal imagery and experiences.” He has moved from direct observation to memory He’s a little harsh with himself when he confesses this approach also leads to more “failed attempts.” I would rephrase that as “mistakes that need correction.” Either viewpoint many part of a Tidal Zone Series that insists you pay attention to the incredible detail at the juncture of land and ocean The LBCAC gallery has this wonderful community space Sean Hunter Brown’s “Serene,” fine art paper acrylic facemount Would Sean Hunter Brown have found his center in surfing if he hadn’t grown up here Moot point because he is local and the surf did draw him in He brings all that surfing – 30 years’ worth – and requisite wave watching to his art Many of his photographs capture the power of those waves that when considering how rapidly they change and disappear “I photograph what is under the water.” One of those efforts is titled Serene which is an explosion of color Take a moment with it and the serenity is evident His interests are not limited to the ocean He is a consulting arborist focused on protecting California’s native oak trees Patsee Ober’s “Cleptopus,” (So named because it stole Ober’s camera) Two-Spot Octopus (These blue spots act as false eyes and help confuse predators) Laguna’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) dye-sublimation photograph on metal Patsee Ober prefers not to digitally manipulate her photographs “what my eye discovers and my camera captures.” Interestingly in doing so she blurs the lines between illusion and reality letting the inhabitants of this world unfold and react to the tides As she explained it: “I spent time under the docks while growing up on Lido Isle in Newport Beach.” She migrated south to Laguna Beach and has been here ever since She is an open-water swimmer as well as a 100-ton Yacht Master who has sailed the world the professional and recreational paths we take Are there many marine biologists from the Great Plains states No surprise that Ober is an advocate of the ocean She sees this as both a personal and universal imperative Courtesy of https://jasonhanckart.com Jason Hanck’s “Montage Cove,” Laguna’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) oil on canvas Jason Hanck spent his childhood in Corona del Mar tidepools those ever-changing and fragile samples of the vast underwater life just a little further out in the ocean he followed his childhood love for artistic expression with a degree in Fine Art from UC Berkeley he apprenticed for four years under painter John Eagle I found myself reinspecting his textured painting There’s no improving on his artist statement in the program I’m awe struck by the gift of the world we are all so fortunate to be a part of I’ve always felt it was my calling to share the way life is presented to me.” Laguna Beach underwater photography 26” x 39”  but she is definitely important to the exhibition and this story Hers was a circuitous path to photography by way of advertising and editorial photography as a wardrobe stylist She combined her passion for landscapes with road trips with her son “…documenting him in some of the most beautiful places in the West.” Eventually she started working closer to home “What I found was it’s often challenging to see what’s familiar in a new way.” Sea anemones clustered in tidepools during low tide became her tiny muses This led to a prestigious Communications Arts award for photography nonetheless the delicate and psychedelic anemones appeared to be in motion Stillman Sawyer’s “Cloud Burst,” 1980/1989 North Laguna B&W gelatin silver photograph 24” x 16” Professionally he was an engineer for Union Oil his passion for nature – specifically mountains beaches and sand dunes – brought him to photography As noted in the program: “He was deeply involved in all aspects of the photographic process from black and white film development and printing to toning and matting using only archival materials and techniques to produce his images.” Which brings us back to Tom Lamb who is not only active in LBCAC and the de facto curator of their gallery but also represented in the show which he later took a step further to create photograms that have a screen or block print sensibility We spent a few minutes in front of his series of aerial pieces – a shoreline as seen from 200 to 400 feet although more often he works in the 600 to 2,000 range I had to ask how he achieved this perspective As busy as Lamb is with his art plus board or council memberships (in addition to LBCAC the Festival of Arts and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association working studio in Laguna Beach that collaborates with nonprofits around the world in championing art and environmental awareness He is president of the Phen-dey Foundation for Tibetan Culture and the Arts The gallery is open during all LBCAC programs during First Thursdays Art Walk and by special appointment It is worth the climb up those stairs to find yourself at sea level aerial color photograph printed on Arches BFK 14” x 21”  For information about the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center and schedule of events, click here Interested in getting involved in our very special environment? To explore volunteer, educational forums and other opportunities and events with the Laguna Ocean Foundation, click here *The content and ads in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the publisher. © 2025 2S Publishing, LLC – All Rights Reserved. Unlocked: Jai Glindeman’s Stab Edit Of The Year Entry, ‘Free Flow’ Stab Interview: WSL CEO Ryan Crosby On The Tectonic Shifts Coming To The Championship Tour Gruelling Day At Bells: Six Eliminated, Ramzi Boukhiam’s Season In Jeopardy After Injury Isabella Nichols + Jack Robinson Win Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach The Electric Acid Surfboard Test With Dave Rastovich, Episode 4 Quiksilver three-peats “Saturn” and “Repeater” with a new full-length film with all their A-listers. Quiksilver’s two past films, Repeater and Saturn, are proof that a mainstream surf brand can still produce the best films in 2025. Trips, team salaries, filmers, editors, music licenses — it all adds up to…. a lot. At the end of the day, all we as surf fans care about is if a brand invests its cash into creating films. Make the films, and the T-shirt purchases will follow. And though “Washed” is similar to Quik’s past films, it’s different for one key reason: they ditched the format of different sections based on location, and instead separated the film into surfer-specific sections, à la throwback movies like Innersection or the Momentum movies. This creates a different energy to the movie and creates star-making moments, like Microdose star Lungi Slabb’s breakout section, which garnered the most claps, shouts, and guttural “wows” in the theatre, despite featuring near-zero airs. The format also makes it possible to highlight surfers who simply do not have the time for freesurf trips, like Kanoa Igarashi, Griffin Colapinto, and Rio Waida. This is Kanoa’s first proper freesurf section since the Young Gun films of yore. “Washed” also features bespoke sections from cult favorites and still-risings surfers like: Hughie Vaughan, Andy Nieblas, Mikey Wright, Kael Walsh, and more. All in all, it’s 30 minutes of A+ footage from some of surfing’s favorite sons. The public release date for “Washed” is still TBD. We’ll keep you posted when it’s on the airwaves. See the full gallery below: Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop. Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article The Laguna Beach City Council adopted the new ordinance in March in response to complaints from residents in a senior living facility dubbed Vista Aliso who say the sound of pickleball matches at nearby Lang Park cause them severe anxiety and stress. Pickleball players at Lang Park will have to pony up about $100 each to switch to quieter paddles. If they fail to do so, the ordinance says, players can face a citation. Pickleball is similar to tennis except the court is smaller, the ball is plastic and perforated and the paddles are not as big as tennis rackets. The adoption of the new ordinance did not please everyone on both sides of the pickleball feud. Travel & Experiences New padel centers are cropping up around the county: Padel Up at Westfield Century City, Pura Padel L.A. in Sherman Oaks and at the courts at L.A. Galaxy Park in Carson. The council has already reduced the hours that pickleball can be played in the park and has built a fence around the park to block noise. “While I am supportive of this quiet paddle ordinance as a compromise, I support expanding the hours at Lang Park,” Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi said in a statement to The Times. “Pickleball is a life-changing sport for so many that brings community together, and I’m committed to creating more recreational opportunities for our town.” Some seniors at Vista Aliso said the ordinance would not do enough to mitigate the noise issues, while members of the pickleball community said they are tired of the council giving the seniors so much favorable treatment. The law “will be ineffective,” said Susana Cruciana, a resident of Vista Aliso, who has argued the pickleball courts should be moved entirely. “They will continue to create a hostile environment,” she said. Pickleball players have yelled and insulted her for complaining about the noise, Cruciana said. “Allegations that I hate children, outdoor sports or laughter are ludicrous and false. Unlike general traffic noise or other park activities, the noise from pickleball is high-pitched and excessive,” she said. But pickleball players have volleyed back. “The pickleball players have acquiesced to losing days, spending 24k on new paddles. … I’m not quite sure what the gal behind me has acquiesced to,” said Hillary Caston, referring to one of the complaining Vista Aliso residents. Caston called on the council to bring back some of the play hours that pickleball players lost due to the complaints. The council closed the courts to pickleball on Mondays and reduced the hours on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. California A bluff collapsed in Laguna Beach on Friday morning sending private staircases crashing to the sand and prompting officials to cordon off a section of Thousand Steps Beach “I think we’ve come to the point where as pickleball players we’ve acquiesced enough … It’s time to recognize this is our community,” Caston said In the long term, City Councilmember Sue Kempf told the Orange County Register the council is considering moving the pickleball courts farther away from the senior living facility Battles over the noise from pickleball courts have raged from coast to coast as the game took off in popularity over the last decade. In 2020, 4.8 million people played the sport at least once, a 40% increase from just two years earlier. Lawsuits have been filed over the noise associated with the game all across the country. Researchers say that the sound of a solid pickleball being struck can be 25 decibels louder than the loudest tennis racket strike. “The medical effects of this are so profound and people don’t understand it, but it triggers a fight-or-flight response that triggers all kinds of stress hormones,” said Nalini Lasiewicz, who runs a nonprofit called Pickleball Noise Relief that has helped conduct studies on the harmful effects the sounds of pickleball can have on nearby residents. Lasiewicz testified last month at the City Council hearing about the quiet paddles, saying they did not do enough to address the harm to seniors. “Even when the players stop hitting, people who suffer from this syndrome continue to hear the noise even when it’s not happening,” she said. Noah Goldberg covers Los Angeles City Hall for the Los Angeles Times. He previously worked on its breaking news team and has also written an array of offbeat enterprise stories. Before joining The Times in 2022, Goldberg worked in New York City as the Brooklyn courts reporter for the New York Daily News and as the criminal justice reporter for the Brooklyn Eagle. He graduated from Vassar College. Hollywood Inc. Entertainment & Arts Sports Print Laguna Beach waited longer than expected for its annual Arbor Day celebration but dozens took part in the educational activities available at Aliso Beach Park on Thursday afternoon It marked the eighth annual ceremony held by the city which has traditionally included a native tree planting a California sycamore was planted in the ground but everything’s prepped and then all the kids helped out with putting all the dirt in there,” said Matthew Barker Kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach help plant a California sycamore as part of the city’s Arbor Day ceremony on Thursday (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The lessons shared along the way included tamping down the soil Community organizations were also there to share their knowledge of environmental matters Among the groups in attendance were Citizens’ Climate Education Pacific Marine Mammal Center and Village Laguna Public works personnel and West Coast Arborists as were the Friends of the Hortense Miller Garden and the Laguna Beach chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Volunteers with Citizens Climate Education work with a youngster packing soil at an Arbor Day celebration in Laguna Beach (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “It was a great turnout,” Barker said We partner with the Laguna Beach Boys & Girls Club they’ll do environmental activities leading up to [Arbor Day] and then they come and enjoy all the activities and crafts and giveaways and prizes and games that all the exhibitors put on for the kids “I work with the Laguna Beach Unified School District where many of the Boys & Girls Club kids attend one of those schools and we do a youth art contest.” The prizes included a Lomi kitchen compost appliance for the first-place winner with bonsai juniper trees going to those that earned honorable mention Tiny succulents on display during an Arbor Day celebration at Aliso Beach Park in Laguna Beach on Thursday (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “The winner did a watercolor painting on canvas of a fantastical tree island — like a floating tree island,” Barker said and then a couple others did some really unique drawings so the work that they do is quite impressive for kids that age.” The event was held at Boat Canyon Park last year. Barker, who started in his position in February 2021, said he tries to move the tree planting ceremony around to account for trees that had to be removed. Last year, a non-native pine that died was replaced with a Torrey pine Laguna Beach had planned to host its Arbor Day event on March 6 It was rescheduled to align with the national Arbor Day date Two kids help move dirt for a California sycamore planting during an Arbor Day celebration at Aliso Beach Park. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) NewsLaguna Beach Andrew Turner Follow Us Andrew Turner is a sports reporter for the Daily Pilot. Before joining the Pilot in October 2016, he covered prep sports as a freelancer for the Orange County Register for four years. His work also has been used by the Associated Press and California Rubber Hockey Magazine. While attending Long Beach State, he wrote for the college newspaper, The Daily 49er. He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in journalism and history. (714) 966-4611 2vs3Cal Poly 5-0.Photo by: Han Duong (herewegobru.com)No 2 UCLA Splits a Pair in Laguna Beach April 04 City officials addressed the public at a town hall meeting Thursday evening the City Council chambers filled with residents interested in hearing — and contributing to — the new plan of action “I think we started our messaging last year a little too late,” City Manager Dave Kiff said at the outset of the meeting we were probably not as prepared as we would have liked to have been for the visitors last year.” Kiff acknowledged limitations to the city’s ability to lessen the impacts He noted that parking rates — while increased periodically — cannot “charge what the market will bear” because of controls in place by ordinance and the Coastal Commission Beach access is also protected by the Coastal Act and the city’s local coastal program Police Chief Jeff Calvert participate in a panel discussion during a town hall meeting on Thursday focused on visitor impacts and stewardship in Laguna Beach (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “We rely on visitors — hotel bed tax sales taxes to serve the residents,” Kiff said but it is a significant chunk of our revenues that we use to operate the city.” city officials are hopeful that an earlier start for the Summer Breeze trolley route will pay dividends Trolleys will begin busing in people from a free peripheral parking lot at 16355 Laguna Canyon Road near the 405 Freeway on May 23 Kiff also suggested that the messaging from Visit Laguna Beach needed to take a different approach who is assisting the organization with a rebrand and awareness campaign spoke to a plan to connect tourists to the local lifestyle Zegowitz said the mission will include “leading guests” to engage with the area in a way that is aligned with and respectful of the local community and the environment Resident John Zegowitz makes opening comments during a town hall meeting on Thursday focused on visitor impacts in Laguna Beach (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Community input is being sought including through a resident survey on tourism impacts currently being circulated on the city website Zegowitz shared some of the comments fielded so far residents are feeling that their world and quality of life is compromised Visitors tend to lack understanding or respect for the community’s values tensions and damage to already challenged environmental resources.” The lodging establishments, who pay a self-assessment to help fund tourism-related initiatives through the tourism marketing district recognize the environment and culture of Laguna Beach are their “greatest amenity,” Zegowitz said and they want to make sure that it remains that beautiful amenity of theirs,” Zegowitz said “Curating and educating the right kind of visitor to raise the quality and experience for guests and the community alike by inspiring protection of what makes Laguna unique that is something that we’re really going to focus on The opportunity is to connect a different mindset by better representing Laguna as an environmentally- and creatively-driven place If we can keep pulling those things forward “Part of the DUI arrest, the officers ask, ‘Where did you last drink?’” Calvert said. “We have taken that information, and we’re actually sending a notification letter to the business. The owners don’t know what they don’t know. Well, now they know. We’re telling them the date and time of arrest, and also, the blood-alcohol level of the person that was arrested.” The 284 DUI arrests represent a 21% increase from 2023, said Calvert, who added that 238 of the arrestees were visitors. Of the notifications sent out following those arrests, 61 of the 83 letters were delivered to local businesses. Other vehicle-related figures included over 22,000 parking tickets, close to 1,700 speeding infractions, and 340 loud exhaust citations. Councilwoman Sue Kempf and Police Chief Jeff Calvert, from left, participate in a panel discussion on Thursday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Additional quality-of-life matters saw the department write 649 citations for drinking in public, 236 for dogs off a leash, 200 for smoking in public. Laguna Beach will have nine park rangers in the field to deal with quality-of-life issues this summer, Calvert said. The city operated with seven park rangers last year. The program began in 2022. Calvert expects to have a total of five motor officers — including a traffic sergeant — within four to six months. City messaging will strike a different chord than that of Visit Laguna Beach, Kiff said, describing it as “more enforcement-oriented.” “Heavier on the don’t and no’s,” Kiff said. “There’ll still be some stewardship messaging, but we’ll continue to start publicizing numbers of folks who get ticketed. … I think people need to know it’s happening, but you’ll see this, especially on social media.” The ordinance provides police with an additional tool for enforcement within the municipal code, going beyond the rules written for bicycles. Bicycles cannot be ridden on the boardwalk at Main Beach, within city parks, or upon sidewalks in the existing code, but law enforcement officials said there was a need for electric transportation devices — including scooters — to be treated separately. Under the ordinance, e-bike speeds will be limited to 25 miles per hour within the city limits. If there are any passengers, they must ride in a seat attached to the vehicle, and all minors who either operate one, or ride as a passenger, will be required to wear a helmet. Those operating e-bikes must also travel in the same direction as vehicular traffic, obey posted street signs, and observe the right-of-way for cars and pedestrians, as outlined in the California Vehicle Code. Violations of the ordinance will be punishable by administrative citation and a fine. A first offense would be subject to a fine of up to $100, a second would incur a fine of as much as $200, and each subsequent violation within a year would result in a fine not to exceed $500. If a violation is committed by a minor, a citation could be issued to both the person operating the device and a parent or guardian. The city could also impound electric transportation devices whose riders violate the ordinance. If the operator of the impounded device is a minor, it would be released to an adult responsible for the child after the impound fee has been paid. City Manager Dave Kiff said the new ordinance will go into effect May 8. City staff will return to the council with a report on the results of enforcement six months later. Traffic Sgt. Thomas Spratt said the department has an aggressive plan in place for public education and enforcement of the ordinance. “That’s something we’ve been working on,” Spratt said. “We’re going to be coordinating with Orange County Parks and possibly the Sheriff’s Department in the areas of our city that buffer the county parks and trails, so we have those things in plan, and hopefully we’ll see some good results. But it is an education and enforcement component, depending upon the individual, how receptive they are and how extreme the violation is. “It includes how old they are. We’re obviously going to treat a 30-year-old a little differently than we would a 12-year-old that’s on a bike, and that’s what we really like about the ordinance. As opposed to the vehicle code, it allows us to bring the parents into the fold and take a little bit different action and plan of attack that can enhance that educational component before enforcement.” Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jesse Schmidt added that school resource officers will conduct training and safety education classes on campuses. Quarterly e-bike training and public safety courses will also be offered to the community. In addition to covering the costs of promotional material geared toward tourists, the funds raised through the district have also supported Laguna’s cultural arts and economic development. The City Council on Tuesday declared its intent to make a 10-year commitment to the tourism marketing district. The district was established in 2001 and most recently renewed for five years in 2020. City staff said the plan was for the 2% rate to remain in place, but it could be increased to 2.5% at the determination of the council and Visit Laguna Beach, the tourism marketing arm of the city. Under the current structure, half of the assessed funds go to Visit Laguna Beach. The other half goes to local arts organizations, including Arts Commission programming, grants for cultural arts, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna College of Art & Design and Laguna Playhouse. Distribution of the revenue brought in from the lodging establishments would change under the proposed plan, with a new category for destination development that would receive 25% of the funds. Assistant City Manager Gavin Curran told the council the new category would address a wide range of interests, from artist housing to beautification projects, and from enhanced tourism to environmental sustainability. The city would also receive $500,000 annually for development initiatives. The creation of a destination development pool would result in a reduction in the funding share for the local arts organizations, which have been receiving 10% of the generated revenue from the assessments. Plans showed that each would get 8% under the new proposal, an idea some members of the arts community objected to. “You cannot build destination development on a weakened foundation,” said former mayor Wayne Baglin, who served three terms on the City Council. “It can’t happen. Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Playhouse, Laguna College of Art & Design, the Arts Commission, and dozens of nonprofits in the arts will not be stronger and more able to increase the number of tourists in Laguna lodging establishments after having 20% of their funding reduced.” Donna Ballard, chair of the Arts Commission, took a different tack, expressing appreciation for the funding and noting that the arts and the hotels have a “symbiotic relationship.” “In 2024, the Arts Commission special program budget was $319,800,” Ballard said. “Of that amount available, a total of $275,000 was paid directly to artists for the employment in city programming. That’s 86% of the funds provided going directly to artists. The other 14% went to public art maintenance, so we can maintain the condition of our public art projects.” “The city distributed $380,000 in the cultural arts funding grants,” Ballard said. “We administer that. We support nonprofit arts organizations who present innovative programming in our community, so I hope you’ll agree with us that the investment in the Arts Commission programming and all the arts through the Laguna Beach tourism marketing district is an investment in artists and art in our special community.” Community concerns also included visitor impacts and the longevity of the proposal. Resident Aaron Peluso said the city would only be able to manage the impact of the tourism marketing district if it had the ability to opt out and if annual reviews occurred. “I’m in favor of watching what Visit Laguna is doing and seeing how it’s going next year and not in 2036,” Peluso added. Ruben Flores, a local horticulturist and the owner of Laguna Nursery, pointed to the city’s desire to attract visitors that would bolster the local economy. “I see more and more about the ads for the hotels, but not necessarily how we’re changing that profile of the ads so that who’s coming here is already geared towards coming to our retail and coming to our restaurants, versus just coming to the hotels and the beaches,” Flores said. “I applaud the use of funds for the arts, and I think we can all use more and more of that.” Curran added the renewal plan was getting support from hotels, noting that the list of proponents included properties that would account for “75-to-80%” of the assessment revenue that would be collected. A staff report projected the tourism marketing district to produce a revenue stream of $3 million in the first year and approximately $36.75 million over the next decade. Council members shared concerns related to oversight of decision-making for the tourism marketing district, asking for diversified representation on an advisory board. Laguna Beach will host a town hall meeting on visitor stewardship from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at City Hall. The city is also circulating a resident survey on tourism impacts. A public meeting regarding the renewal of the tourism marketing district will take place on May 6. The public hearing for the adoption of a resolution to renew the tourism marketing district is scheduled for June 10. If adopted, the 10-year renewal would begin with the new fiscal year on July 1. As the days grow longer and the tourist season approaches, the question of what’s behind the uninviting change of scenery came from a member of the audience at last month’s State of the City event. Mark McAvoy, the city’s director of public works, described it as a “major maintenance project.” The construction began in January and is expected to wrap up in May. “It’s upgrading some irrigation and taking care of some overdue maintenance needs on the lighting systems, the benches, the sidewalks and the landscaping out there,” McAvoy told those gathered at the event held March 19 at the Montage Laguna Beach. The work stems from a City Council meeting on Nov. 12, when the five-member panel approved a $1.4 million-contract for the rehabilitation project to be completed by R2Build. At the time, the city had approximately $925,700 budgeted for project-related costs. At the request of city staff, the council gave direction to have $755,000 transferred from the Bolsa Way storm drain improvement funds to cover the estimated $1.68 million total cost of the Main Beach Park project. The Main Beach lifeguard tower appears behind fencing blocking off a construction area in Laguna Beach on Monday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The latter project, city staff noted, was not expected to get underway with construction before the end of the fiscal year, which is June 30. The staff report said funding would be requested for the storm drain through the capital improvement program in the next budgetary cycle. McAvoy told the council in November that multiple years had passed since the park project had been budgeted, leading to a deficit in funding for the renovations. The council reviewed the preliminary design for the project in October 2019. “Construction costs only go in one direction, and that is exponentially higher every minute of every day,” McAvoy said at the meeting. Yun-Yun Lee, the project manager, said in a phone interview Wednesday that the construction is being broken down into four phases, working from Laguna Avenue to the south toward the marine safety headquarters to the north. It is anticipated that the second phase, an area extending toward Broadway Street, will be completed between the middle and the end of April, Lee said. The goal remains to finish the renovations ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kickoff to the busy summer season for beach cities. “We’re doing our best to try to keep the project moving along to meet the deadline,” Lee said. “We’re doing what we can to try to still provide a new updated version of the park, so the residents are able to enjoy, and all the guests that do come to Laguna Beach are able to enjoy Main Beach and the beauty it brings to the city.” At the time of contract approval, council members also showed interest in improvements for the Main Beach boardwalk and the cobblestones. “This is our frontyard,” Councilman Bob Whalen said then. “This is our living room, so it should look really good.” Construction remains ongoing Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Main Beach Park has remained open to the public. Print Laguna Beach has made a move to establish its own legal department as the City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved an employment agreement for Megan Garibaldi to served as city attorney The city had a decades-long track record of contracting for its legal services and had entered into a five-year agreement with Best Best & Krieger Garibaldi has represented the city as its lead legal counsel since the agreement The council’s move on Tuesday will provide for in-house legal services and make Garibaldi a city employee City staff estimated the contracted legal services cost the city between $2.4 and $2.5 million annually Financial analysis shown in a staff report projected the in-house model to come at a cost of approximately $2.1 million “I think anytime you can save $400,000 a year and ensure a faster and more effective legal support system it’s a good move,” Mayor Alex Rounaghi said “I think this strategically is the right way We live in an increasingly complicated and legalistic world...and so I think this is going to ultimately do right by the residents and the City Council as we navigate the complicated but also exciting opportunities ahead over the next few years.” The city’s legal department will include a city attorney two assistant city attorneys and a paralegal Special counsel services would include human resources and risk management outside litigation and administrative support Garibaldi will earn an initial annual salary of $297,000 with a cost-of-living adjustment of up to 4% each year The top step salary for the position of assistant city attorney was noted at $256,000 while a paralegal could earn $110,000 before benefits the city’s director of human resources and risk management said the city would coordinate a transition with Best Best & Krieger Garibaldi’s anticipated start date is April 28 Human resources staff and Garibaldi will work together to recruit and fill the remaining positions in the legal department Councilman Bob Whalen requested a comparative analysis at the end of fiscal year 2025-26 to determine the actual costs within the legal department as compared to the presented projections The retirement of Phil Kohn, who had represented the city in legal matters since 1982, set off the search for the next city attorney. Kohn worked with Rutan & Tucker, LLP, which the city contracted with for legal services beginning in 1979. From enjoying fresh sushi to mountain biking and hiking Sunset’s Insider Guide series highlights seasonal diversions and secret travel tips from local experts Meet the Insider: Ryan Hitzel, Founder of Roark Ryan Hitzel is the founder of the adventure lifestyle apparel brand Roark. Rooted in travel and surf culture, his collections are inspired by far-flung destinations with designs that meet the demands of rigorous adventure you can find Hitzel in his Southern California hometown—known for its creative community of shapers and painters as well as its magnificent white-sand beaches—with his wife and kids Casa Loma feels like it could be anywhere but has shades of home—a bohemian’s paradise The details are impeccable and well-traveled a bespoke enclave for both the road-weary and those on holiday I could imagine being anywhere on Earth sitting at the bar yet it’s still uniquely Laguna Beach because of the local homage woven into Casa Loma’s tapestry Start off at Miki—a sushi and sake bar with an incredible legacy It originally opened in 2000 with an all-female sushi chef staff The namesake chef (who has since passed away) was personally trained by Nobu Matsuhisa My good friend Chris Olsen brought back the original female chef team to continue the tradition Adolfo’s Mexican Food is your go-to with sandy feet. A pillar of the community since the ‘80s, Adolfo and Connie raised my friends and me on rice, beans, and, oddly enough, one of the best burgers around It might be because they grill the patties in the carnitas grease it’s a great spot with a family-friendly vibe View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laguna Surf & Sport (@surfnsport82) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sawdust Art Festival (@sawdustartfestival) Remnants of its free spirit remain strong in the kitschy art and music in the canyon and so much more delivered straight to your door every quarter Copyright ©2025 S Media International Corporation. SUNSET is a registered trademark of S Media International Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy SUNSET may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website Offers may be subject to change without notice 2025 at 10:34 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A well-loved music store is reopening after siblings James and Audrey Wilcox purchased the Sound Spectrum in Laguna Beach CA — A well-loved music store is reopening The siblings made the move to purchase the business after news of its impending closure hit their Instagram feed in 2024 the siblings purchased the 50-year-old store for its vibe and sense of community and will work to maintain the business as Orange County's oldest music store To read the full article, visit The Orange County Register. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Lots of fun coming up at the Laguna Beach Library with only five days left to submit poem for John Gardiner Poetry Contest The Laguna Beach Library will accept submissions for the 27th Annual John Gardiner Community Poetry Contest until Wednesday Photos courtesy of Laguna Beach Public Library The poetry contest theme is “Wonders of the World.” Prizes up to $100 gift certificates will be awarded in five age categories Participants can submit one unpublished poem with the theme “World of Wonders.” The poem must be no more than 25 lines of text with a limit of 230 words Submit your poem within the body of an email to Laguna Beach Library at ocpl.lagunabeach@occr.ocgov.com Phone Number and Grade Level or “Adult.” No attachments The reading of the winning poems will be held on Saturday Enjoy a relaxing morning crafting a pressed flower lantern while sipping coffee and eating cookies This project is funded in part through a grant from the California Department of Aging and administered locally by the Orange County Office on Aging Celebrate Earth Day at the library with a storytime and the Environment Nature Center will be presenting fun animals Art for Kids (ages 5+) is a series of art classes taught by LOCA artists Children ages 5 and up will enjoy a live book reading – then create art March will feature ocean and surfing themes New books and subjects will be featured each time No registration is required and this is free Limited free parking is available in the garage Children age 5+ will learn different techniques to create their art projects all materials provided by LOCA Arts Education (Takes place every second Saturday of the month) Family members connect by creating art together New projects are offered each month as led by professional LOCA art teachers Join the Laguna Beach Library to practice English speaking and listening skills in a relaxed environment Baby Lapsit Storytime – Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m Designed for babies ages 0-3 years with their caregiver Music Matters – Music Classes In-Person Music Matters presented by Laguna Live is a music class for children up to 5 years old with caregiver involvement dance and play child-friendly percussion instruments In collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach teens are invited to join the library for their weekly DnD session Preschoolers aged 3 – 5 years old and their caregiver will prepare for kindergarten with stories Sophia will share activities that foster basic math reading and social skills to prepare your child for school Separate areas for younger and older children Master Gardener Series: Grow it Now – Warm Season Vegetables Presented by the UCCE Master Gardeners of Orange County participants will learn in this class in our series what vegetables you can grow from late spring through summer For more information on events, click here, call the library at 949.497.1733, or email ocpl.lagunabeach@occr.ocgov.com Print After years of discussion surrounding what the future of the Neighborhood Congregational Church in Laguna Beach could look like those close to the transformational project say they are prepared to submit an application for entitlements to the city The planned mixed-use development would put a 44-unit affordable housing complex on the lot which represents a reduction of nearly 40% from the original plan for 72 units There will also be a new spiritual center of approximately 7,000 square feet and a subterranean parking structure the chairman and chief executive of Related California said the project would likely be submitted to the city on Monday under the guidelines of California Senate Bill 4 legislation enacted in 2023 that streamlines housing development on certain sites and exempts them from environmental review “This applies to sites owned by either religious or educational institutions and that must be 100% affordable housing,” Witte said of the legislation The law calls for the approval process to take place 90 days after application submission Critics of the project had expressed concerns over neighborhood compatibility said the project was downsized in response to the community’s input “After receiving feedback from the community and specifically our adjacent neighbors through a combination of both public and private meetings which is 44 units and has removed the [earlier proposed] entire third floor of the residential footprint of the building,” Labus said to visually kind of reduce the scale of the building further we’ve used three distinct architectural styles so the building will appear to be three separate smaller developments.” The spiritual center will be given “modern character,” Labus said while a “beach cottage style” has been planned for the residential building Community outreach has included a hand-delivered letter to 60 neighbors, a project website, nccproject.org and more than a dozen meetings with neighbors and community groups More than 200 people attended a community meeting on Oct 7 after notice was given to households within 500 feet of the project An additional 41 spaces on the premises could be sold to the city for permanently owned public parking The target household income levels fall between $33,000 and $117,000 while rents will range from $800 to $2,500 Priority access to the affordable residential units would be given to people who work in Laguna Beach Per the Regional Housing Needs Assessment, Laguna Beach must plan for 394 additional housing units in the current housing cycle that ends in 2029 it’s almost a caricature of a perfect location because it’s across the street from a supermarket you can walk everywhere in town,” Witte said you have to pass a threshold test of proximity to amenities.” If an application for tax credits is successful following the city’s approval process Witte said it is “plausible” that construction could begin in April 2026 “Most of the affordable housing in California is funded with the help of low-income housing tax credits which are administered by the state and for which there are competitive application processes a couple times a year,” Witte said the biggest source of funds to build the affordable housing In order to compete as a project eligible for families at least half the units must have two- and three-bedroom units Family projects are slightly easier to gain access to funding for than just senior projects.” Pastor Rodrick Echols of the Neighborhood Congregational Church said “declining membership and aging structures” on the campus drove the institution to think about its future Echols said church membership had three goals: to remain a spiritual community in Laguna Beach to provide a community benefit that meets a need and to be financially stable “We’ve had this dream to create a place … in Laguna Beach focused on love and justice while also promoting economic equity,” Echols said “That commitment to economic equity placed us at a really interesting space to look at affordable housing with clear eyes to see the need and to see how we might be able to help fulfill that need right here in our town “Laguna Beach needs more affordable housing artists and many others who work low-wage jobs here in town.” Echols added that the spiritual center will not only allow for continued meetings of the congregation but it will also provide greater flexibility for community groups looking to put on events Alice Court, a 27-unit senior affordable housing development at 450 Glenneyre Street, was also a Related California project. It was completed in 2004. The Irvine Bowl, an amphitheater stationed on the Festival of Arts grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, is the home of the Pageant of the Masters during the summer festival season. Laguna Beach will conduct a noise policy study to help guide an approach for potential revisions and provide supporting information for recommended decibel levels and hours of operation. A staff report indicated the work is anticipated to take four to six weeks. The city will pay $22,220 for the study to Rincon Consultants, Inc. The cost could be as much as $27,000 if an option is exercised for a representative event ambient noise study. Resident Penelope Milne suggested the optional, more thorough study ought to be mandatory, stating that it would be the “most data-oriented” task assigned to the consultant. Milne said the city needs to know how a noise of a certain decibel level coming from within the Irvine Bowl travels. “We don’t know what that’s like when it hits Laguna Coast Wilderness Park,” Milne said. “We don’t know what that’s like on the Irvine Bowl trailhead. We need that data. Otherwise, you’re making decisions in the absence of data.” The 133 Band plays at the Irvine Bowl in 2014. The venue is an amphitheater located on the Festival of Arts grounds. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Ben Warner, a co-founder of the Coast Film and Music Festival, spoke on behalf of the festival. He encouraged the council to move forward with the study and asked for consideration of the use of sound averages versus sound spikes in the collection of data. The Irvine Bowl policy committee approved an amendment requiring advanced approval for offseason events on Feb. 20, 2020. Current noise policy limits sound to a 70-decibel level at a boundary line separating the property from single-family residential homes. A neighborhood sound boundary should also take into account impact on the area’s open space habitats, Milne said. “That line is in between the Irvine Bowl and the neighborhood, and clearly that’s important, but we have a regional responsibility,” Milne told city officials. “That’s a wilderness area, that’s a very high value habitat area, that’s a nesting area for the gnatcatcher. Coastal greenbelt authorities contacted you about it. Laguna Canyon Foundation has contacted you about it. “We should extend the neighborhood sound boundary … and measure sound, not just between the bowl and the neighborhood, which again is important, but it’s not the only important thing.” “It’s not like we’re changing anything. We’re basically going back to what’s happened for decades of our history,” Rounaghi said. “[Councilwoman] Sue [Kempf] and I have been working with [Cultural Arts Director] Sian Poeschl and the deputy city attorney, Jane Abzug, on how we can have a regulatory regime that makes sense and that balances the goals of many, but ultimately does what the Irvine Bowl was designed to do, which is have live music.” Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here A large crowd inside City Council chambers waited nearly three hours for the topic to come up on the agenda, one that at first blush left the door open for the closure of the shelter. City Manager Dave Kiff got out in front of the discussion, saying he would not be recommending closing the alternative sleeping location (ASL) — located at 20652 Laguna Canyon Road — resulting in a round of applause just before the council went to break. When the panel returned, though, Kiff opened the item by saying it was one of several tough discussions the community could expect to have as the city sorts out its priorities ahead of the next fiscal year. “I don’t think our shelter resources need to be the region’s resources,” Kiff said. “We’ve already stepped up well, as Laguna knows. We’re home to a youth shelter, the Friendship Shelter and the ASL, which is over 70 beds, if my count is correct, and I worry that we genuinely can’t afford to be anything but Laguna-focused in the long term. “Why have this discussion now? I think part of our approach today is to be prepared for something we think is likely going to happen, and that is an increase of arrivals of unhoused residents from other areas that are heavier on enforcement [of anti-camping ordinances] than we are, and who don’t have a shelter or day program services.” Kiff recommended sunsetting the daytime program at the ASL, which operates between noon and 3 p.m. daily. During that time, individuals not enrolled in the overnight program can have immediate needs met, including food, laundry and a shower. They can also receive case management services. Jeremy Frimond, an assistant to the city manager, said the program serves an average of about 13 people a day. The daytime program was introduced in February 2019, discontinued because of the coronavirus pandemic, and then brought back in 2023. Approximately 30 new participants that were not enrolled in the overnight program used the daytime services during the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, among the lowest of any quarter since the program’s inception. Community members get in line to weigh in on an item concerning the future of homeless services in Laguna Beach on Tuesday. (Andrew Turner) Frimond anticipated that expenses would increase. “Funding is uncertain, so we were not planning on federal funding coming through in the ways that it has the past several years,” he said, suggesting the cost of the daytime program could go from $100,000 to more than $250,000. Data shown in a presentation noted the city saw an increase in unsheltered individuals in the most recent Point-In-Time counts, from 28 in 2022 to 46 in 2024. “It’s staff’s opinion that that’s an overstated number for this community,” Frimond said. “When we spoke to the county about it, they said they did a lot of estimating, and there is a margin of error across the entire county on that.” The City Council voted unanimously to continue operating the ASL in its current capacity beyond June 30. It also authorized staff to extend the contract with Friendship Shelter, which operates the facility, for up to six months. The ASL has been operating with 30 beds and five emergency beds for those enrolled in the overnight program. Additionally, the council directed staff to complete a homeless needs assessment within 60 days, to bring back criteria for placing people in the ASL, and to request information regarding the operation of the shelter. Mayor Alex Rounaghi and Councilwoman Sue Kempf will also be part of an ad hoc committee to work with staff on issues related to homeless services. There was ample frustration from the council that more is not being done by neighboring cities in the southern part of Orange County to address homelessness. “So far, we’re pulling it off, but we have more needs now,” said Kempf, tackling the issue from a financial standpoint. “If you expect every city to do something about this, it’s not going to happen, and that’s what we’ve seen happen. It doesn’t happen, except for here. It frustrates me to no end that the county is not helping us more with this because they can have wraparound services, and they can provide much more robust support than we can in our little town.” Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Rounaghi, center, asks questions of staff at the alternative sleeping location in the canyon on Tuesday. (Andrew Turner) Kempf noted that keeping the community safe means keeping it safe on multiple fronts. Kiff brought up a couple of costs that need to be accounted for: fuel modification and utility undergrounding for fire safety. Police Chief Jeff Calvert said the city’s park rangers have documented over 50 new homeless individuals in the community since October. Mia Ferreira, director of services for Friendship Shelter, pointed to data presented by city staff to state that the discussion was being built around a hypothetical scenario. “If people are coming because of Grants Pass, or coming in general because people are telling them to come here, we would see an increase in numbers,” Ferreira said. “We’re not seeing an increase in numbers. I just want to dispel that myth here.” Dawn Price, executive director of Friendship Shelter, focused on the impact of the ASL in helping to transition people into housing. “I want you to remember we’ve housed hundreds of people during the life of the ASL,” Price said. “Since 2019 alone, it’s been almost 300, but we housed people before that, too. …Last year, we achieved an unbelievable statistic in that 100% of the people that we had in our housing stayed in our housing that whole year. We are wrapping services around so tightly that we are losing very few people.” Councilwoman Hallie Jones said the city shouldn’t have to make a choice between compassion and community safety. “I think we’re developing a little bit of a false and binary choice between being safe and really treating our most vulnerable community members with dignity and respect and giving them the resources that they need,” Jones said. “I don’t think that’s a choice we have to make. I think we get to do both.” Laguna Beach also contracts for homeless services with Be Well OC. That contract is set to expire in September, though city staff expect to be in front of the council concerning the feasibility of an extension in May. Councilman Bob Whalen said that while the city will have to make decisions about what to fund, he had a “gut” feeling that homeless services needed to remain on the list. “Nobody else is carrying any water on this in south [Orange] County,” Whalen said. “They haven’t for years, for decades it’s been all us, but the fact that it’s all us and the fact that others aren’t doing their fair share shouldn’t change the outcome on what we should continue to do.” Mayor Alex Rounaghi hoped to bring leadership in surrounding communities to the table. “We need to solve homelessness. We could put our whole general fund into this issue, and we would not make a dent,” Rounaghi said. “What we really need is regional collaboration. I think it’s time to bring all the south [Orange] County mayors and city managers here — in this room, in Laguna Beach — and let’s just have a conversation about how they can play a role in helping to collaborate.” Print In light of the January wildfires that devastated the Los Angeles area Laguna Beach residents have been sounding the alarm with regard to a need to do more to protect the coastal community City officials have heard those growing concerns since the Palisades and Eaton fires the City Council took action to reestablish the wildfire mitigation and fire safety ad hoc committee appointing council members Sue Kempf and Bob Whalen as its representatives “We need to recognize that we’re all kind of in this together,” Kempf said “City government can’t do everything here to keep us safe We’re going to do every single thing we can but people are going to have to create defensible space around their homes they’re going to have to harden their homes and we’re probably going to take a very aggressive approach on this because this is a huge problem.” “We spent over $20 million of your money to make this community safer than it was in 2018, and it is definitely safer, but is it safe enough? No, it’s not safe enough,” Whalen said. “We know we have more to do. We know we have to keep going, and we will keep going.” Laguna Beach has implemented a number of programs to protect itself from wildfire Goat grazing has been part of fire mitigation efforts for nearly three decades “I think [in using the artificial intelligence] wildfire cameras we should cover our whole open space with them because you have to get to a fire within five minutes to really have a chance of putting it out,” Mayor Alex Rounaghi said I was so nervous that there was going to be a fire that would start but I think technology is a key solution.” A helicopter water refilling tank has been installed along the fire road and a second tank is located at the water district property of El Morro Elementary School in North Laguna An interactive map detailing evacuation routes for specific neighborhoods is available through the city’s website A search for the word “evacuation” pulled up a list of 20 neighborhoods with information about their evacuation routes as well as helpful tips on types of evacuation orders and readiness for such situations About 30% of the city has yet to have its utility lines put underground, according to a city staff report, although several neighborhoods have recently agreed to become part of underground utility districts. “There isn’t going to be enough money to do everything we need to do,” Whalen said. “I, and our council at the time, pushed in 2018 to get a sales tax measure, went to the ballot, primarily for fire safety measures, [but it] did not pass. I think we’re going to have to have that conversation again as a community. Are we willing to spend a little bit more of our money to promote safety, preserve our homes, preserve our ability to get fire insurance? “It’s really not too much to say this is an emergency. We are in constant threat, and I think we can do more, and we need to do more.” Laguna Beach residents turned out en masse for a town hall meeting on the issues of insurance and wildfire on Tuesday Beyond restoring the ad hoc committee, the Laguna Beach City Council has also directed the committee members to work with the League of California Cities and state representatives as advocates for legislation that would exempt fuel modification, undergrounding and other wildfire measures from requirements of the Coastal Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. The subcommittee members will engage in community outreach and continue to exchange ideas with residents and other stakeholders, including neighboring cities and O.C. Parks, City Manager Dave Kiff said. Priority will be placed on what he called “fast efforts.” Those efforts could include limits on construction and parking during red flag days in an attempt to manage traffic and keep roads open. Kiff added that the city could have evacuation drill days and conduct a study into brush density with regard to fuel modification. “There’s a way to do fuel management in an environmentally sustainable way that supports our coastal sage scrub habitat, and we need to be looking at that,” said Councilwoman Hallie Jones, who added she will be sending a list of recommendations to Kiff to pass on to the committee. The few public speakers on the agenda item were all in support of the city ramping up its efforts with respect to wildfire mitigation and fire safety. Matt Lawson, a longtime resident, called on the city to better integrate into the discussion its emergency disaster preparedness committee, a body he previously served in the role of chairman. “We have done a great deal here, but nothing that you’re going to do tonight, nothing that the city has done in the last 100 years is going to much matter if we don’t get the fire prevention piece right,” Lawson added. Resident John Thomas commented that his family lost a house in the Palisades fire. He said they lived in the house, which they had kept as a rental, until moving to Laguna Beach. “We’re all vulnerable here, regardless of whether we think we’re safe,” Thomas said. “We all need to do everything that you’re talking about in terms of hardening our homes. … The similarities between the Palisades and Laguna are unsettling. They’re striking. Three ways in, three ways out, open space, ocean. … They needed an evacuation plan. You did one, which is great, but theirs didn’t work.” 2025 at 10:04 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The 8th annual Arbor Day Celebration will be held Thursday The City of Laguna Beach has an event for you The 8th annual Arbor Day Celebration will be held Thursday Attendees will enjoy a native tree planting experience The Arbor Day Celebration takes place Thursday Print Laguna Beach city officials responding to the findings of a survey conducted last summer are looking for solutions to improve the local business climate The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce worked with a consultant to identify challenges and opportunities for the city’s businesses A survey open from July to August collected 389 responses from business and property owners 28 City Council study session were retail vacancies and parking requirements as barriers for prospective new businesses Kosmont’s report noted the city has 1.3 million square feet of retail space a number that has remained unchanged in the past six years Vacancy rates in those buildings, however, rose from 3.7% in 2022 to 8.3% at the time of the survey. A significant portion of the increase was attributed to the closure of the Gelson’s grocery store in South Laguna. Retail trends have shown a shift in consumer preference to shop online for a variety of goods, although the study found Laguna Beach performs well against other nearby coastal communities when it comes to sales per capita for its food and drinking establishments, as well as its clothing stores. City Manager Dave Kiff said the downtown area “needs a lot of help,” expressing disappointment in the empty storefronts. Mayor Pro Tem Mark Orgill offered up a suggestion, saying, “I would like to explore a vacancy ordinance to light a fire under some of our landlords that let these buildings go vacant for years and years.” In addition to rent climbing by 12% over the past three years to $62 per square foot, Laguna business operators said they were frustrated by regulatory restrictions. Zac Cornwell, the owner of Wigz Sandwich Shop, said that once he applied to open a business in 2020 it took him 27 months to get necessary approvals from the city and the county, and another six months to build out the shop. Laguna Beach city officials reestablished the wildfire mitigation and fire safety ad hoc committee after substantial community concern following the fires in the Los Angeles area. “I am what you guys want, what the town wants,” said Cornwell, describing the business as a fast-casual, outdoor dining option that caters to the locals. “Would I do this again? Not without a huge investor who wanted me to run their restaurant and be a part owner with them. It’s just too stressful. My entire future career, my family’s future was on the line of regulations here that I didn’t even understand when I got into it.” A call for additional public restrooms in South Laguna was made by another business owner, who said he ran a liquor store adjacent to the sandwich shop. Laguna Beach averaged approximately 136,800 weekly visitors to its downtown area over a recent 12-month period, which comes out to about 7.1 million visitors for the year. Kosmont representatives said they utilized anonymized mobile app data to come up with the figures. Roughly half of the survey’s respondents said they felt the business climate in the city had experienced a decline in the past few years. Only a quarter of responses said it had improved. Parking for customers and employees was a concern for 68% of those surveyed. “[The] parking code, we have to tackle that,” Councilman Bob Whalen said. “It’s a mess. … I think it’s just nonsensical in lots of ways. … There were a number of people concerned when we changed the parking standard downtown to three [spaces] per 1,000 [square feet], that it was going to be a disaster, it was going to be a food court and the roof was going to fall in. None of that’s happened. “I think we really need to be proactive in moving ahead with changes to the parking code that will assist businesses. ... I think it will assist some landlords, owners [in] improving their abilities if they have opportunities to expand a little bit without being hamstrung by parking.” Laguna Beach American Legion sponsors annual Easter Egg Hunt Laguna Beach American Legion Post 222 is once again sponsoring their annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Laguna Beach High School baseball field This free event is open to all children 9 years or younger The American Legion has been sponsoring this Laguna tradition since 1946 as the Easter Bunny will make a personal appearance and will be available for photo opportunities 5vs0Hawai'i 3-2.Photo by: Han Duong (herewegobru.com)Bruins Split Another Pair in Laguna Beach April 05 Southern California’s Orange County carries certain connotations but these stereotypes oft-overshadow Laguna Beach’s history as a bastion of counter-culture activity the compact coastal city has been a haven for surfers but like-minded friends who share our artistic passions and pursuits,” says John Grossman ”The story of Casa Loma is revealed in the details – the intentional design choices capture a spirit of retreat both familiar and imaginative thoughtfully curated with our favorite things by our favorite people.” the overarching design scheme is framed around the narrative of a life well lived; a protagonist that has traveled far and wide only to settle down in this setting for a while “We aimed to create a naturally-inspired destination that celebrates Laguna’s environment and embodies a creative ethos,” says Lucia Bartholomew “Our vision of fostering a sense of purpose and well-being is reflected at Casa Loma through the marriage of the local bohemian attitude with the natural energy of the sea.” The intervention centers on the idea of facilitating ocean-side reflection and fostering easy exchange between guests This was largely achieved through the soothing and familiar introduction of towering relief sculptures taking on dramatic shadows at different times of day; screen-printed artworks; woven throws; and other custom elements evoking a folkloric quality “LAND was enlisted to make the entire hotel one large immersive art experience – from the lobby mural  to the hand-painted canvas tapestries in select guest rooms,” Grossman adds including the handcrafted wooden furniture and its vintage lobby sound system feels organic to the space and its surroundings Most of the formal vocabulary throughout Casa Loma evokes the Pacific’s undulating waves and naturally carved coastlines many of the introduced architectural elements and accessories also nod to the culture of craft in the area Curved archways throughout give way to intimate nooks that facilitate retreat and are outfitted with a tightly-curated selection of ceramic sculptures and found artworks Guests begin their experiences in the “social hub” lobby bar and lounge replete with a sculpted mural of a sun-worshiping goddess evoking the natural beauty of the ocean and beach visible through floor-to-ceiling windows The curvilinear main desk is enveloped in fired clay tiles while plaster wrapped built-in banquettes are lit by luminaires custom designed by Electric Bowery Additional venue Pacific Terrace plays host to custom woven lounge chairs and raw-edge stools Textiles upholstering bespoke armchairs and covering the beds render in muted-tone traditional ticking striped patterns eye-catching throw blankets tie everything together Go virtually on vacation with more design destinations right here Photography by Chris Mottalini New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation he's committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in various disciplines You can follow Adrian Madlener on Linkedin. Read all of Adrian Madlener's posts Stéphane Parmentier imagines HIGHSTAY's Villa Coachella in Saint Tropez as a coastal residence with rustic yet contemporary finishes Zaha Hadid Architects balances contemporary and restored historic design elements at the reimagined ultra luxury Romeo Hotel Roma in central Rome The heritage Danish kitchen brand Vipp opens its Todos Santos guesthouse with a melding of Scandinavian and Mexican influences Casa Loma Beach Hotel is a reimagined coastal retreat by Electric Bowery and LAND with site responsive design and amenities in Laguna Beach You’ll always hear it from Design Milk first Our passion is discovering and highlighting emerging talent and we’re energized by and for our community of like-minded design lovers — like you 2025 at 9:32 am PT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight students excelling in academics driven young people making a difference in and out of the classroom That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight students excelling in academics If you know a student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured as a Star Student on Patch Tell us about your star student's accomplishments and why they deserve to be recognized on Patch and co-founded two on-campus clubs: Finance Club and Global Outreach Club She has had a part-time job since she was 16 and is on Dance Company What three words best describe your star student Keep up the great work, Ciara. If you know an outstanding student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured on Patch. This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile Print The roughly seven-mile stretch of Coast Highway in Laguna Beach is known worldwide for its postcard-perfect views and gateway to the city’s eclectic art and retail scene But it is also ground zero for drunk drivers Officials say Laguna Beach has had the highest number of DUI arrests per capita of any city of its size in California for at least two decades in part because it is a magnet for many tourists and visitors who drive in for the day While the city’s population is only about 22,000 Laguna Beach sees about 6.5 million visitors annually The situation has prompted Laguna Beach to embark on a new enforcement program that When a suspected DUI driver is arrested in the city the police department sends a letter to the business where the person had their last drink The hope is that the information will help owners and employees recognize possible patterns such as when patrons are leaving too drunk or act as a catalyst to retrain staff on signs of intoxication While the letter doesn’t include the driver’s name it has their blood alcohol content and the date Officials say it supplements other anti-DUI efforts, including checkpoints and efforts to help educate patrons to the dangers of getting behind the wheel drunk. Still, the police department was making a couple of hundred DUI arrests a year. “The data shows us this is a problem that we need to address and I think this is a really very innovative, collaborative and data-driven way of doing that,” said Mayor Alex Rounaghi. “Any time that we can save a life and prevent future deaths it’s important for us to do that.” Authorities hope the notification system will raise awareness among merchants and help them be more aware of when customers have had one too many. Laguna Beach residents have for months been pushing city officials to get a handle on what they call ‘destructive tourism’ that sweeps through the small beach town every summer “It’s not intended to be punitive because the business owners don’t know what they don’t know,” Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert said “So it’s an opportunity for them to look at whether there’s a pattern with certain bartenders overserving or do some additional education with not only their bartenders The proliferation of drunk drivers has been a persistent problem in beach communities across the state where tourists and residents frequently visit to imbibe at a swanky restaurant or a local bar just steps from the sand Huntington Beach got so fed up with drunk driving issues that it considered in 2010 publicly shaming arrestees by posting their names on Facebook The Laguna Beach Police Department, as seen on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. (Andrew Turner) In Laguna Beach, residents for years have complained about the noise and quality of life issues that stem from late-night visitors to the city’s watering holes. The city’s geography — nestled between two other beach cities with robust nightlife — and its concentration of more than 130 establishments make it a prime location for DUI arrests, police say. Sometimes the motorists have been drinking in town. Other times, they’re caught taking the picturesque drive along Coast Highway that connects Laguna Beach to other cities. Between January and Dec. 26, the police department has sent 75 letters to restaurants, bars and hotels both inside the city and elsewhere in Orange County, Calvert said. One letter, obtained by The Times that was sent to an establishment in Dana Point, explained the Alcoholic Beverages Control Department rules that note businesses “must monitor patrons alcohol consumption and avoid overserving individuals who show signs of intoxication.” “We encourage your establishment to review and reinforce policies and practices regarding alcohol service to prevent similar incidents in the future and uphold public safety,” the letter reads. Officers from the Brea Police Department shot and killed a man after they responded to calls of a possible drunk driver on Thanksgiving Day who owns several restaurants in Laguna Beach including Mozambique and Skyloft said the letters don’t fix the problem of drunk drivers “It’s bureaucracy and a waste of money and time,” he said often one person is buying drinks for a whole group But city officials and residents say something new needed to be done to help lessen DUIs Crime statistics provided by the police department show that most of the arrests in Laguna Beach stem from drugs or alcohol use. In 2022, the top three causes for arrests in the city were for DUI, drugs and disorderly conduct. In 2021, Laguna Beach police made 269 DUI arrests up from 247 a year earlier, according to the most recent data available from the California Office of Traffic Safety. In 2020, the city had 42 crashes that were alcohol related. In 2021 and 2022, there were 50 and 55 crashes, respectively, that were alcohol related, according to city data. It’s not just Laguna Beach that’s dealing with drunk driving. In 2019, Orange County made more than 11,100 DUI arrests, according to the most recent data available from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The number of drunk driving fatalities, which had dropped to 966 in California in 2019, surged statewide during the pandemic. In 2020, the number of fatal DUI crashes in California was 1,180. A year later, it jumped to 1,370. Meanwhile, driving under the influence arrests in the state declined from 124,141 in 2019 to just under 96,000 in 2020, according to a 2023 report by the California Office of Traffic Safety. A man suspected of drunk driving is facing criminal charges in a three-car crash that killed two girls That intersection has been the site of 32 collisions and one pedestrian fatality in a 10-year span who owns several businesses in Laguna Beach including a clothing store and newsstand applauded the effort to get a handle on instances of drunk driving in the city Miller has seen the aftermath of several crashes downtown, including one last year in which a motorist drove across Pacific Coast Highway and crashed into the boardwalk at Main Beach. The person was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a Daily Pilot report. “People joke that we’re the DUI arrest capital of California, but for me, it’s not such a bad thing. It means that our police department is on top of things,” she said. “We’re watching out for — not only our residents — but the people that are passing through our town.” Print Orange County Beaches from Treasure Island to Table Rock remained closed to the public until further notice due to a sewage spill in Laguna Beach The spill was caused by a sewer line that ruptured at Laguna Niguel Regional Park representatives for Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said Tuesday evening but about 465,000 gallons of wastewater wound up leaking into the ocean Affected beaches will be temporarily off limits to swimmers, surfers and divers until the Orange County Health Care Agency determines it’s safe to go back into the water. More information and updates on the closure can be found at ocbeachinfo.com. “I thank the public for your cooperation and continue to monitor the situation to ensure we maintain public health,” Foley said in a statement. Eric Licas covers Newport Beach for the Daily Pilot. He previously was a crime and public safety reporter and, before that, spent four years as a staff writer with the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He has been on the ground to cover active wildfires, civil unrest and mass shootings. He was born in the Philippines, raised in the San Fernando Valley and is a Cal State Northridge alumnus. Thanks for visiting Under the agreement the city would receive an annual contribution of approximately $500,000 each fiscal year through June 30, 2035, provided the tourism marketing district is extended beyond next year. The initial $500,000 contribution will be broken down into two parts, with $200,000 going toward space for artists to both live and work upon signing. The remainder will be paid out in March. “This investment is going to hurt,” said Karyn Philippsen, founding chairman of Visit Laguna Beach. “It’s not going to be easy for our organization, but it’s the right investment. It’s the right investment to bring us up to the next level of the quality of tourism that this community’s looking for. That’s our goal. We’re doing it with you. “We are the hotels. The hotels are dedicated to making this happen and pulling in the artists, which are such a fundamental part of our historical component, and making sure that they are protected and have a place in this community.” Contributions made as part of the deal will go into a special fund for improvements and services to the downtown area. The amount would fluctuate each year based on the percentage increase or decrease in revenue from the prior fiscal year. “By committing to these enhancements, we’re fostering an environment that supports both our local businesses and the wellbeing of our residents,” Councilman Mark Orgill said in a statement. “Visit Laguna Beach’s involvement in this effort highlights the strong collaboration we share and sets the stage for sustained improvements that will serve the community for years to come.” The tourism marketing district is designed to fund activities that promote tourism through a 2% self-assessment paid for by overnight visitors at lodging establishments in town. Half of that money supports the local arts organizations, while the other half goes to Visit Laguna Beach. The latter will be contributing the $500,000 from its share. Those funds are separate from transient occupancy tax collected. “Talking to the hotels, they want something for this money,” Mayor Sue Kempf said. “They’re not just giving it to us for us to do whatever we want. They’re looking for a better experience for the visitors. What they frequently say is, ‘When are you going to do something about your downtown?’ That happens all the time.” A handful of public speakers, responding to the funding being earmarked for the downtown area, had called for other parts of town to be considered. Some called the allocation of funds “inequitable,” noting that there are also hotels in South Laguna, while others argued that visitor impacts are felt throughout town. “It is true the agreement is limited to downtown, but it does include the ability to enhance services, including public safety measures, so the enforcement type of measures could be funded out of this,” Councilman Bob Whalen said. “We’re going to be in negotiations with the tourism marketing district anyway,” continued Whalen, who added the agreement would terminate if the district wasn’t extended in the spring. “... This is an offer they made to us, and we’re accepting, but we can explore with them whether to expand it to other areas that will still satisfy the legal requirement [of providing a benefit to overnight stays].”