City lands cheer competition

The annual Laguna Beach State of the City always feels a little like a cheerleading convention, full of pride and glad-handing, but maybe this year that’s OK.

Post-COVID, there is a palpable GSD confidence.

As Mayor Bob Whalen checked off the list of the city’s 2022 accomplishments, and City Manager Shohreh Dupuis gave a preview of upcoming projects, there seemed to be an extra bounce in everyone’s step.

New city projects have a bolder, deterministic feel to them, as if there is a “we’re going to do this with or without you” vibe.

And by “you” we mean cranky Laguna residents who throw a wrench in nearly every city effort.

Whalen started his speech by saying, “Your city does make a difference.”

With or without you.

The checklist is (mostly) practical and relevant. If you want to watch the whole luncheon, visit the recording. Highlights:

• Strong financials.
• Safer city.
• “The Village Entrance project was completed after 30 years, right on schedule.”
• Flood improvements.
• Land and property purchases.
• Better parking and tourist management (although this one is debatable).
• “27 programs and service enhancements simultaneously adopted to reduce visitor impacts on neighborhoods” (we have no idea what that means).
• And, of course, the balloon ban.

There were other things, but they were fairly routine. Perhaps more interesting were the forward-looking items by Dupuis.

Look for a “downtown action plan” this summer that will try to tackle vacancy rates, among other things. There will also be a related “commercial district beautification” plan because some buildings are looking “sad,” Dupuis said. (One wonders if the plan will apply to public buildings too.)

In order to correct sadness, there will have to be new rules, so expect changes to city codes, some of which have not been updated in 50 years.

“You know in Laguna Beach we have a lot of rules, a lot of regulations,” she said, and it wasn’t a compliment.

Another project to highlight: new decorative lights along Coast Highway. Right now, there are standard, boring ones. Look for fancy options at an upcoming City Council meeting.

Sidewalk improvements will continue (finally, there will be actual sidewalks in South Laguna from Ruby’s to 5^th Avenue).

Yet another parking master plan will be finalized. Mark your calendar (or not) for a May 10 public workshop.

There are also several major hotel remodels in the works: Pacific Edge Hotel, Coast Inn, and Surf and Sand.

Both past and present, the lists are long and, to be honest, not horrible.

The difference this year seems to be that things are actually getting done, even though it never feels like it.

So three cheers and a leg kick to the city.