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Visit Laguna Beach and partners push stewardship approach to manage visitors and protect coastal resources
Summary
Visit Laguna Beach, Laguna Ocean Foundation and staff described a stewardship approach that moves the city from promotional focus toward managing visitor impacts, protecting fragile coastal resources and aligning multiple organizations on messaging, enforcement and infrastructure adjustments ahead of the summer season.
Representatives from Visit Laguna Beach and the Laguna Ocean Foundation described a stewardship approach aimed at reconciling the city's tourism economy with protection for its coastal and cultural resources. Karen Phillipson (Visit Laguna Beach) and Ed Almanza (Laguna Ocean Foundation) briefed the council on a strategy that emphasizes culture, environment and heritage as pillars of a coordinated visitor-management program.
Speakers noted Laguna's visitor volume (Marine Safety data cited roughly 9 million visitors annually to Laguna beaches) and described the city's beaches and trails as a de facto regional park that needs managed access, docent programs, and stronger stewardship funding for volunteer and paid stewardship work. Visit Laguna Beach said it would partner with the city and conservation organizations to seek county and state funding and to coordinate a stewardship subcommittee for the year.
City staff outlined operational steps that could be taken in the near term: more frequent trash pickups and day-porter services, increased signage and interpretive information for sensitive areas, targeted enforcement and revised parking rules, and a resident town hall before the summer season to explain what to expect and what the city will do operationally. Staff also signaled they will work with Visit Laguna, the Ocean Foundation and Cal Poly students who will analyze stewardship opportunities in a three-day effort.
Councilors supported increased outreach and asked staff to present clear, actionable steps before the peak season. Staff said staff-level proposals and a more detailed stewardship plan will be brought back with cost estimates and timing.
