Grants and repairs key in 2003

In a year highlighted with change good and bad, City Manager Ken

Frank feels that the city has accomplished much to improve Laguna

Beach.

“The two areas of particular success are our capital improvement

project,” Frank said. “Most residents know the city has been torn up

to replace sewers, repave streets and repair storm drains.”

The city has done a massive amount of public works, Frank said.

Next year, residents should expect more of the same Downtown to

complete projects before the summer.

“The second area of success is in obtaining grant money,” Frank

said. “We’ve put in new sidewalks at the high school, repaired sewers

and repaired streets such as Forest Avenue.”

He said that the city has also improved water quality and

transportation, such as the bus system, and was pleased that all this

was accomplished in one year, thanks much to his staff, he said.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

* Revised the process for administrative approval of permits.

* Adopted rules to implement new water quality regulation imposed

by the state.

* Completed an urban design plan for the South Laguna Village.

* Modified the regulations for second residential units.

* Adopted an ordinance-clarifying certificate of occupancy

provisions.

* Amended the Zoning Ordinance for Laguna Canyon.

* Updated the floodplain ordinance.

* Modified the sign ordinance.

PUBLIC FACILITIES

* Resurfaced Glenneyre Street and El Toro Road.

* Renovated Village Green Park.

* Dedicated Treasure Island Park.

* Undergrounded the utility lines on Wendt Terrace.

* Constructed a new storm drain to protect the Festival of Arts.

* Extended storm drains on Skyline Drive and on Mystic Way.

* Under direction of the Laguna Beach School District, constructed

soccer and baseball fields at El Morro Elementary School.

* Widened several narrow curves in the Diamond /Crestview road

system.

* Assumed maintenance responsibility for 50 street trees in South

Laguna.

* Reconstructed the Ruby Street view deck.

* Repaired beach access stairs at Rockpile Beach, Sleepy Hollow

Lane, and Thalia, Oak and cress streets.

* Relandscaped and resurfaced the Pepper Tree parking lot.

* Modified the vehicle wash area to collect water from the

corporation yard and directed it through an oil separator.

* Reconstructed the retaining wall on Queda Way.

* Constructed new nuisance water diversions at Jasmine, Anita, Oak

and Pearl streets and Dumond Drive.

* Installed benches and enhanced lighting and landscaping in the

Forest Avenue alley.

* Totally rebuilt the restroom at Crescent Bay Beach.

* Improved the walkway on the inland side of South Coast Highway

north of Nyes Place.

* Obtained a $900,000 allocation of state transit revenues for the

new corporation yard.

* Constructed a sidewalk on Park Avenue between St. Ann’s Drive

and Wendt Terrace.

* Relocated sewer lines to eliminate a lift station in Laguna

Canyon.

* Relined about nine miles of deteriorated sewer lines.

* Replaced or lined the sewer mains in Dyer Place and Wykoff Way.

* Repaired four sections of the sewer lines that needed immediate

correction.

* Received approval from the Air Quality District to save $70,000

by not replacing a generator.

* Trained restaurant operators in the proper procedures for grease

control.

* Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the North Coast

Interceptor and all of the sewer lift stations.

* Adopted a 10-Year capital improvement program with a separate

sewer system plan.

* Secured a $607,000 federal grant for sewer improvements.

* Implemented a computerized sewer maintenance management program.

* Constructed a new sidewalk on Temple Hills Drive.

* Resurfaced the fire road at Top of the World.

* Reinforced the slope at the landslide site at Cerritos Drive.

* Completed 95% of the street resurfacing in the Arch Beach

Heights and Portafina neighborhoods.

* Completed 90% of the utility undergrounding in Arch Beach

Heights.

* Completed 95% of the utility undergrounding on High Drive and

Ocean Vista Drive.

* Repaved the uphill portion of the Third Street hill so that the

street can be used in wet weather.

PUBLIC SAFETY

* Transferred the weed abatement and fuel modification programs to

the fire department.

* Adopted the 2001 Uniform Fire Code with more stringent

requirements for sprinklers in homes.

* Installed additional antenna sites to improve the operation of

police computers in cars.

* Selected a new design for lifeguard towers and started replacing

old equipment.

* Assisted a nonprofit group to create a docent program for marine

education and protection.

* Obtained four lifeguard vehicles through a donation from

Chevrolet.

* Installed new stop signs on Cliff Drive at Rosa Bonhuer Drive

and at Park Avenue and Wendt Terrace.

MISCELLANEOUS

* Hired a second staff person to improve the city’s computer

network.

* Installed a new phone switch serving City Hall.

* Started construction on the affordable housing at 450 Glenneyre

St.

* Initiated a year-round household hazardous waste collection

program.

* Conducted traffic studies to improve circulation at El Toro and

Laguna Canyon Road and Broadway and Coast Highway.

* Prepared and evaluated a list of vacant parcels for possible

acquisition by the Coastal Conservancy.

* Revised the residential parking permit program.

* Negotiated a two-year agreement with the Municipal Employees

Assn. and a five-year contract with the Police Assn.

* Opened the Smithcliff’s pathway to the public.

* Prepared a report analyzing the feasibility of a parking garage

behind the Laguna Playhouse.

* Signed a new lease with the Laguna Playhouse.

* Negotiated a lease extension with the Laguna Club for Kids.

* Secured a grant of $1.2 million from the Clean Beaches

Initiative for the filtering and diversion of nuisance water to the

sewers.

* Obtained a $318,000 grant for streetscape improvements in South

Laguna Beach.

* Secured an additional $40,000 annually from OCTA for transit

operations.

* Received a $193,000 grant for improved trolley service to South

Laguna and a $40,000 award for shuttle service to the ACT V lot.

* Obtained a $300,000 grant for construction of sidewalk and curb

ramps adjacent to the high school.

* Refinanced the debt at Treasure Island to reduce interest costs.