Music stays in the park

Suzie Harrison

The City Council on Tuesday voted to move forward with this summer’s

schedule for Music in the Park and ask the Arts Commission to

continue to seek ways to improve the experience for Bluebird Park

residents and find alternative locations.

There were sighs of relief from supporters when the City Council

unanimously approved nine concerts for the series using the schedule

proposed from July 24 through September 18.

“I’m very pleased that the City Council is supporting Music in the

Park,” Arts Commission Chair Jan Sattler said. “It’s the city’s gift

to the citizens of Laguna Beach.”

Last month, the council refused to approve the program for the

first time in its 22-year history, citing neighborhood complaints

about noise and other issues. The council sent the item back to the

Arts Commission, which in turn refused to alter the program and sent

it back to the council after an unprecedented turnout at a meeting.

The council agreed to hold this year’s series as planned but will

try to come up with solutions to the neighborhood concerns.

“All the neighbors are willing to compromise,” Bluebird Park area

resident Jerry Hasslebach said. “We want the number of concerts

decreased and some not to be amplified. We’re not the bad guys here.

We like it [Music in the Park]; we just want it toned down.”

The council approved six concerts at Bluebird Park and asked the

commission to find a location for the remaining two events, but it

was acknowledged that it is too late this year to make changes in the

schedule. A ninth concert will be held at Riddle Field.

The council approved the following motion: “In the spirit of

compromise, the Arts Commission is to use their creativity to try to

find other venues for the two remaining concerts. Noise levels are to

be charted as well as the location of the readings, and a survey is

to be taken regarding the types of music selected. The commission is

to keep in mind that there is an opportunity for acoustical music to

be enjoyed by all.”

“We are going to try to make changes this year,” Councilwoman Toni

Iseman said. “The council can help.”

Sattler said the Arts Commission would continue to work on sound

issues and explore possibilities for other concert locations, after

this coming season.

“The Arts Commission is happy to work with people any way we can

to make the program better while still keeping it the wonderful local

event that it has been for more than 20 years,” Sattler said.

Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda said they’ve already had two

meetings since hearing from the public to address their concerns.

“The Arts Commission is very positive about working with the

neighbors to do all we can do to solve these noise problems,”

Kollenda said.

Kollenda said the Arts Commission has “had a ton of meetings”

since they heard their first noise complaint and have implemented

improvements addressing these problems.

“We will certainly give our best effort to address the council’s

direction,” Arts Commissioner Nancy Beverage said. “It will be a

challenge. We’ve tried before, and it’s not easy. We will work with

the council to make every honest human effort to find alternate

locations.”