Music in the Park is under scrutiny

Suzie Harrison

The Arts Commission’s Music in the Park program will be going back to

the drawing board for revisions for the first time in its 22-year

history after City Councilwoman Jane Egly pulled it off the consent

calendar at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Many are concerned about the fate of the popular summertime Laguna

institution.

The council acted after some neighbors of Bluebird Park, where the

majority of the concerts are held, voiced complaints and asked for

modifications to the program.

The Arts Commission is looking for public comment at its meeting

5:30 p.m. March 14 at council chambers. Arts Commissioner Nancy

Beverage encourages the public to communicate how it would like to

see the program run. “I think it’s important to get input from the

public at large,” Beverage said. “It’s important that the council

hears from the broad populace what their thoughts and wishes are

about the program.”

Egly said five people were at Tuesday’s council meeting

complaining about Music in the Park.

“I’m surprised it was on the consent calendar,” Egly said. “During

my campaign people expressed concerns about what it had become -- the

increase in performances, attendance and noise. In the past they just

didn’t have amplified sound.”

A battle between facts and supposition has swirled since the

council meeting. One of the issues is about the sound level and the

use of amplified sound.

“The history of the Music in the Park there has always been

amplified sound,” Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda said.

Previously the city used its own equipment. But in the last few

years the Arts Commission decided it was more practical to hire a

professional that would offer better sound quality.

Decibel levels are recorded by city staff at each concert to

ensure it doesn’t exceed the 72-decibel level allowed.

Jerry Hasselbach, who has lived above Bluebird Park for almost 20

years, said he remembers the music being just acoustic and having

only four concerts a year.

“It was delightful; I have nothing against Music in the Park, but

what its turned into now,” Hasselbach said. “It’s almost the same

music every time and it’s now 10 or 11 concerts. The music is very

commercialized and amplified incredibly.”

Kollenda, who has served on Music in the Park committee for 10

years, said there is a different style of music every Sunday.

“We have blues, jazz, Irish, quartets, ‘50s music, a plethora of

styles,” Kollenda said. “The last five years we did a survey for

those who attend and asked what kind of music they liked, and if they

lived in Laguna Beach. By far the majority are Laguna Beach

residents.”

Kollenda said she’s worried that by delaying the agenda item for

the next City Council meeting on April 5 -- it will cause the Arts

Commission to loose some quality musicians who will be already

booked.

“My guess is we’ll talk and explore some alternatives accepted by

the Arts Commission and the City Council will vote,” Egly said. “I

think there is a happy balance that has been tipped too far.”