[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6566089,"mediaKeyId","3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e","parentId",3207683,"title","Council votes at a glance: routine consent approvals, undergrounding district and safety plans among actions","audioSeconds",951,"startMs",4963000,"endMs",5914000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e&start=4963&end=5914","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e/thumbnail_4963000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566089/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Council-votes-at-a-glance-routine-consent-approvals-undergrounding-district-and-safety-plans-among-actions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566089-7cf5513b5edb8e0be041f328caf74ddd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770434863&Signature=Mhzdj6MWx6Ma5EID0BO9r9IM0EYlPVllPM--jak5J8XVaddP-r8ls3ojpyhs~jSmDxZeQ6YbVcakLeeNIKM5SreoFkccwC3LzPkea1wjerYlIBgHQKgvL6ei-HXjqzZjGPly-0BXwAmpJJLQ4qDF2rgg3ZJ4VQ76XHllUO7nSZGc5L8ViShVzKl21qFgw83e2XD7UQdx8~K2Gbq-fkgKkDmwVuxYin6nH4BkRpaQdbi06oqxhaGojCsGeLFUSShjUg~bPgk1CrJX5A5mrx2KnJKD3xrG6X9qWh6rFgbZ6bRMRRB9oZ82QsVwx4kX~WcFeh1PxOxI6iuIFAM4p2nt1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CityofLagunaBeachCA","date","2025-05-07T06:37:22.137Z","article","At its May 6 meeting Laguna Beach City Council finalized several items of business. Highlights and outcomes:

- Consent calendar: Council approved the consent calendar with the exception of items pulled for discussion; item 10 was amended to reflect an addendum and the motion carried unanimously on the rolled balance (vote recorded as 5–0). The council pulled items 8 and 13 for separate discussion and later adopted item 13 (land trust formation) with edits.

- Safer Streets plan (Agenda item 19): Council adopted the Safer Streets (SS4A) citywide safety action plan to prioritize high‑crash corridors (including a Coast Highway package) and to make the city eligible for federal SS4A implementation grants (vote 5–0).

- Virginia Way Underground Utility District (Agenda item 16): Council established the Virginia Way undergrounding district and authorized the use of $~855,000 in SDG&E Rule 28 credits to cover utility design and SDG&E construction work; the city will fund the civil trenching and restoration through a future CIP (vote 5–0).

- Wildfire mitigation update (Agenda item 15): Council received the 2025 wildfire mitigation and fire safety update and voted to continue a council ad hoc to develop funding strategies and implementation priorities (vote 5–0).

- General Plan Safety Element (Agenda item 20): Council adopted an administrative amendment to the safety element that incorporates the city’s local hazard-mitigation plan and allows the city to remain eligible for related state/federal recovery and grant programs (vote 5–0). Council asked staff to follow up with a timetable to review implementation tasks and update outstanding items.

- Safer Streets and Virginia Way actions enable the city to apply for competitive implementation funding (SS4A, HSIP and other state grants). Council also gave staff direction on making short‑term, grant‑ready investments and on pursuing Caltrans coordination for Coast Highway measures.

Votes at a glance (selected)
- Adopt Safer Streets (SS4A) Action Plan — Outcome: approved 5–0 — Effect: enables grant eligibility and identifies priority projects (Coast Highway, Park Avenue, Wilson Street).
- Establish Virginia Way Underground Utility District 2025‑1 — Outcome: approved 5–0 — Effect: authorized use of SDG&E Rule 28 credits (~$855,000); city to program civil construction in future CIP.
- Continue wildfire mitigation ad hoc & direct staff on funding strategies — Outcome: approved 5–0 — Effect: staff to return with funding/implementation plan.
- Approve General Plan Safety Element amendment (incorporate local hazard mitigation plan) — Outcome: approved 5–0 — Effect: maintains eligibility for disaster-cost-share and related grants.

Why it matters: The votes reflect council priorities on public safety, infrastructure hardening and grant-readiness; several approvals position the city to pursue outside grant funds while council members signaled the need to refine designs, cost disclosures and homeowner outreach for assessment districts.

What’s next: Staff will return with grant applications, CIP funding requests (for undergrounding civil work), and a funding strategy for wildfire mitigation; staff will also refine tourism‑marketing and stewardship language as directed by council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting - May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council approved multiple consent items, adopted the Safer Streets action plan, established the Virginia Way undergrounding district using SDG&E Rule 28 credits, and set direction on wildfire funding and tourism‑marketing refinements.","taxTitle","Laguna Beach, Orange County, California","taxId",56774,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566093,"Council adopts Safer Streets safety action plan to target high-crash corridors and pursue federal grants",646,13272000,13918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e&start=13272&end=13918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e/thumbnail_13272000.jpg","/articles/6566093/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Council-adopts-Safer-Streets-safety-action-plan-to-target-high-crash-corridors-and-pursue-federal-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566093-28eb987427a4b7fa8a093f3747fa4871/orig.mp4?Expires=1770434863&Signature=NqM7Bgdg7ZKBv8B3TFKZzq1oDvdIL6wy-8x2CZ-Wk7kLccWQzG-GSFeMQudrikrMoqVzzcF7Z3~xxGT4tRoR5UGEKr9JBh9Dnn4~I-pu27yHfaMcsFc31nIVPAALBQ4SsZthq68JntssV22GODXSU0VBdOprpPMsrAzXUCTVxymWC~zev~8Q9MJaL9ZJC5-TdW-kjMRSvwlRJSdcLlK01mNIN~1exHe0HsBcS7W9a1tyGTJ8EtcYIg73kCgZLWyBigsIZLN-8SvVbaUBHa-ZCJJx7X3Z3en0Hn~DaR~e1mHkdfyXZTO0OFQ1xeQylT9aSDVgLVeQaer3Xrpc6mibyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laguna Beach city council voted to adopt a citywide Safer Streets safety action plan developed under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) framework.

Consultant Fair and Piers presented the plan’s community engagement and data-driven analysis, which combined five years of crash data with in-person and online outreach. The plan identified a network of priority safety corridors concentrated on Pacific Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Road (both Caltrans facilities) and a set of local streets with frequent serious collisions. Key takeaways: unsafe speed contributes to most collisions, impaired driving drives severity, and nighttime conditions are linked to higher pedestrian collisions.

The plan offers a toolbox of engineering countermeasures tailored to Laguna Beach — from rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) and targeted signal preemption to traffic-calming treatments on local streets — and three priority projects: (1) a coordinated Coast Highway safety project that would require close partnership with Caltrans; (2) Park Avenue traffic calming/pedestrian improvements; and (3) a package of measures for Wilson Street near Laguna Beach High School.

Adoption makes the city eligible for SS4A implementation grants, which the plan’s authors and staff recommended pursuing. Council members discussed the practical challenges of implementing changes on Caltrans roadways and urged staff to accelerate coordination with Caltrans to pursue lower-cost, high-impact fixes — for example, attention-grabbing beacons and better crosswalk visibility on Coast Highway.

Why it matters: The plan gives staff a prioritized, grant-ready list and an engineering toolbox designed to reduce severe injuries and fatalities and to align Laguna Beach with federal Vision Zero guidance.

What’s next: Staff will refine project scope and seek competitive federal and state grants (SS4A, HSIP and OCTA programs) as funding becomes available. The plan also calls for periodic performance reviews and community engagement to evaluate whether measures reduce severe collisions.

Quote
“Unsafe speed is the single most common contributing factor in Laguna Beach crashes,” consultant Baldwin Pierce said. “This plan gives the city a data‑driven prioritization that is needed to compete for implementation grants.”","Laguna Beach adopted a citywide Safer Streets (SS4A) safety action plan aimed at Vision Zero goals, naming priority corridor projects (Coast Highway, Park Avenue, Wilson Street) and an engineering toolbox so staff can pursue implementation grants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566097,"Council establishes Virginia Way undergrounding district, authorizes $855,000 in utility credits",193,15897000,16090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e&start=15897&end=16090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e/thumbnail_15897000.jpg","/articles/6566097/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Council-establishes-Virginia-Way-undergrounding-district-authorizes-855000-in-utility-credits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566097-fcbdca4eaeeacb186bf905e6b5372d99/orig.mp4?Expires=1770434863&Signature=fvGJplawTJq8YxhUSxXq7~ndaJH2HW0G-1bTql124pHvJg~M5WuSGPLWZgrjCsKysvsaNHPCxGKdwc1xgG9LVgo7PjZUfVU1-bDjV1pzfLzWEgiaN7bs~mwzpJWPdrf8zbva9NrwIGILB6rOYF-0TAhlb8Z9AbFZ6ki~L1~lwV6blXmKDUf11BCvISxK1C5C1cq5c42uMIZO25rYTOqixfeCQMd9gt3YAHr-rKLfPd5K~fEt95M9v~9WGpxdTfvEuoO1VeeafbXrPejtf2yx-G6WijQHJ43EUAhp6eTbysukDdN140rNUM~u89SHin-~DsAGaA9-I79fVzGpu05rMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laguna Beach city council voted to establish the Virginia Way Underground Utility Assessment District (2025‑1), a targeted undergrounding project in South Laguna that will remove six poles and associated overhead wires between Third and Fifth avenues.

Staff described the proposal as a Rule 28–style project: SDG&E will use its accumulated Rule 28 credits to cover its portion of design and construction for utility relocation and will serve property connections at no cost to homeowners; the city would fund the civil construction—trenching, roadway restoration and private service laterals—through a future capital project. The staff report said the city currently holds approximately $857,000 in SDG&E Rule 28 credits; SDG&E’s budget estimate for the utility portion is roughly $855,000 and staff recommended authorizing use of those credits to start design and SDG&E work immediately.

Council approved the engineers’ report, adopted the resolution establishing the district and authorized use of the available Rule 28 credits. Staff gave a preliminary schedule that projects design and permitting through mid‑2026 with construction in 2027; civil construction costs were preliminarily estimated at about $1.28 million and will require future CIP appropriation.

A number of residents earlier in public comment urged staff to broaden the district northward so the project would not leave a short above‑ground stub of poles; councilors and staff said they would discuss the geography and the possibility of adding adjacent blocks with SDG&E and include the question in the ad hoc work on assessment districts.

Why it matters: The action launches design and utility work for a short but strategic segment identified as an evacuation route; it formalizes use of SDG&E Rule 28 credits and commits the city to funding the civil construction component in a future CIP.

What’s next: Staff will finalize design with SDG&E and return with required budget requests for civil construction; the city will coordinate easement work and property connections. The staff report estimated completion around August 2027 if timelines hold.

Quote
“Staff recommends using our existing Rule 28 credit balance to get the utility design and relocation started while the city programs civil construction in a future CIP,” Capital Programs Manager Pierre Sawaya said.","Council approved formation of the Virginia Way Underground Utility Assessment District (Rule 20A/Rule 28 hybrid), authorizing use of the city’s SDG&E Rule 28 credit balance (~$855,000) to cover utility design and SDG&E construction costs and directing the city to fund civil/construction components through a future CIP.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566102,"West Street undergrounding triggers months-long public debate over cost, methodology and voting rules",621,3280000,3901000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e&start=3280&end=3901","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e/thumbnail_3280000.jpg","/articles/6566102/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/West-Street-undergrounding-triggers-months-long-public-debate-over-cost-methodology-and-voting-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566102-b89ce4ed65661093630b8f79a91bb662/orig.mp4?Expires=1770434863&Signature=o9uDeg91vnDgzB-iqGHY~Uc1htZ91pVYjpng50pqspgY7X-qCUxAXiTCGaJEgTBdOu78KvT88r0QOfV4nHq0f-10ZFQTK1qMffQ~gZzAWvfSr4ke34aHQ45-0xpg~WOfhuQ1x0cylHJm1UZQMW45g4VPhfM1QPf5yae91nm1QpL58ZsZytemGCnbABxJfVsBOqJAWvKkGgJusJjPCwqRb~ck~XJp9NzZx-uI27oxn9dICiUII5G8U7wK1y9DPzT6jRUU4JM0-X8tZRpIzteuM4bY6z0GDZpaZRyZrnjQJ4qXpGqG5iNej6jBG1gaRa6bOMdLE~awJ0TL7B-8jNWhkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council chambers filled for extended public comment about the proposed West Street Underground Utility Assessment District, where dozens of residents and property owners urged the city to delay, rework the assessment methodology, or ask the city to abstain from voting on the district’s public property votes.

Speakers described large increases in estimated parcel assessments since the project’s inception, disputed the assessment-engineer methodology (which some residents said places disproportionate burden on small lots), and noted that votes within the district are weighted by land area rather than “one property, one vote.” Multiple residents called for the council to abstain from voting on the city’s parcel (Village Green Park), arguing that municipal votes could distort the outcome for affected homeowners. Several residents also urged the council to require San Diego Gas & Electric and consultants to share more detailed engineering and cost information.

Supporters of undergrounding described public‑safety and aesthetic benefits, and some speakers said they endorse the principle but object to the current costs and the way assessments were disclosed. Residents also asked about alternatives: longer bond terms, a payment‑deferral option, and ability to reassess the assessment district design so that properties with few or no poles are not assessed disproportionately.

City staff and proponents said the city has spent years evaluating West Street, noting tens of thousands of internal work hours and consultant time. Residents said they feel misled by earlier cost estimates and by methodology changes. Several public commenters suggested the council consider financial relief options such as a differential assessment for evacuation-route properties, reexamining methodology, or scheduling outreach sessions with impacted neighborhoods.

Why it matters: The West Street undergrounding issue has become a flashpoint because assessments can exceed tens of thousands of dollars per parcel; residents argued the city’s current assessment design and voter-weighting rules were not clearly disclosed when petitions were signed years ago.

What’s next: Staff said the West Street undergrounding work will continue through the assessment-district process; the council heard multiple speakers and will receive further staff updates. Residents said they expect to vote “no” in a June special election on the district, and asked the council to consider abstaining on the city’s votes for municipal parcels.","A months-long neighborhood undergrounding assessment drew heavy public comment at the council meeting, with residents arguing methodology, vote weighting and cost transparency; councilors heard repeated requests to delay, rework methodology and abstain from city property votes.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566107,"Laguna Beach updates wildfire plan, creates standing ad hoc to fund and fast-track actions",436,5952000,6388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e&start=5952&end=6388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3207683-614cc92954044280de9c9f3e6755492e/thumbnail_5952000.jpg","/articles/6566107/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-updates-wildfire-plan-creates-standing-ad-hoc-to-fund-and-fast-track-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566107-9010a94d1320aac43323d5540defb72c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770434863&Signature=PNm~6jwnJL6BvTxawRPVo-DgcKS7aWwCmEpVAL3DgKrtG5HiRnYsEzeSnO5GIWcgX7lEHUaGbKSGBVgtFQ6wQuL2pcp6CUlLBImMcJPPnoYHgJbMmtBRlLyp3uM5okH8b-smWIegX~0BZMVwRA5JkEPYrHGBIOyy5NqwKbRJ-pkW0O3-mGnsdl7b1ZYXLtHj1lU~qWp8qZk14DeIMSJhGwAASVB5ao8IQ2FgM9LrglIuz0Jvip8GSehlIV0ClwZbtzmtUC7-zHk-RtdsTPe6YJ0AMTW-jV-S-IkR3pDiMe~bDNya~IM7f-h6zqC9CkPqxVjnGSzXZaWlIeAmjrBqiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laguna Beach city council received a broad update on wildfire mitigation and public-safety steps being taken after recent large fires elsewhere in Southern California, endorsing continued work and directing council members to form a standing ad hoc to develop funding strategies and implementation plans.

The council’s 2025 wildfire update — prepared by Fire Chief Nico King and Emergency Operations Coordinator Sarah Lemones with input from Laguna Beach County Water District and South Coast Water District — summarized progress since the city’s 2019 wildfire plan and recommended 67 further actions. The report emphasized three pillars: government agency work, household-level home hardening and expanded community preparedness such as Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT).

City staff said work already completed includes early-detection cameras placed along Laguna Canyon Road and at the Top of the World, expanded fuel-modification planning and new partnerships with regional responders. Utilities and water agencies briefed the council on projects to increase local supply and hydraulic resiliency; Laguna Beach County Water District staff described studies to leverage gravity storage and plans for new local supply wells and a proposed desalination partnership, while South Coast Water District representatives outlined completed reservoir repairs and potential use of recycled water for firefighting support.

Chief King and staff stressed home hardening and neighborhood preparedness as essential complements to agency work. The city plans door-to-door outreach, expanded CERT training, additional red-flag parking restrictions in areas with poor ingress/egress, and more frequent testing and public outreach about outdoor alerting and Nixle/OC Alert enrollment.

Council members pressed staff on financing and timing. City Manager David Tavarez said the proposed FY 2025–26 budget contains initial funding but more resources will be needed; council directed staff and a continuing ad hoc committee to return with a coordinated funding strategy and implementation timeline. The council voted to continue the ad hoc and directed staff to bring funding options and short-term implementation steps back to the body for approval.

Why it matters: Laguna Beach’s terrain, high property values and wildland‑urban interface make wildfire a top public-safety and fiscal concern. The council’s decision to keep a resourced, ongoing implementation effort — and to seek dedicated funding — sets the local timetable for infrastructure, detection, fuel mitigation and community outreach.

What’s next: Staff will return with a funding/implementation plan and timeline, and will apply for the newly awarded Community Wildfire Protection Plan grant and other state/federal grant opportunities referenced in the update. The council asked for specific proposals for: (1) expansion of fuel-modification zones where science supports going beyond 100 feet; (2) improved evacuation signage and tabletop exercises with mutual‑aid partners; (3) expanded detection (camera/drone) coordination with regional partners; and (4) options to accelerate undergrounding or other utility hardening on priority evacuation routes.

Quotes
“Private‑property home hardening and neighborhood preparedness are the second pillar of our success,” Fire Chief Nico King said, noting the city would expand inspections and community outreach.

“Laguna Beach was identified as 1 of 5 cities at high wildfire risk; the grant will help us complete a Community Wildfire Protection Plan this year,” said Sarah Lemones, emergency coordinator.","City council received a 2025 wildfire mitigation and fire safety update, endorsed near-term actions and directed an ad hoc to work on funding strategies and implementation priorities after staff reported new detection, infrastructure and community-preparedness steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council votes at a glance: routine consent approvals, undergrounding district and safety plans among actions

Council adopts Safer Streets safety action plan to target high-crash corridors and pursue federal grants

Council establishes Virginia Way undergrounding district, authorizes $855,000 in utility credits

West Street undergrounding triggers months-long public debate over cost, methodology and voting rules

Laguna Beach updates wildfire plan, creates standing ad hoc to fund and fast-track actions