City updates capital improvement projects; elevator malfunction prompts expedited bid for modernization

City staff presented the quarterly update on the City of Laguna Woods' 11-year Capital Improvement Program and told the council several projects are underway or nearing closeout — and that an elevator entrapment on New Year's Day accelerated plans to modernize the City Hall elevator.

Staff said City Hall phase 4 work is underway (balcony guardrail replacement, HVAC and window upgrades) and the project is expected to be substantially complete by March. The ADA pedestrian-accessibility project is substantially complete, and drainage repairs for Bridal Rock Drive are finished except for underground water-quality device inserts that have been ordered. The El Toro Road/Moulton Parkway modular wetland project is delayed pending relocation of an AT&T cable; AT&T gave an estimate of $51,000 to move the cable. The Woods End Wilderness Preserve trail project is in plan review with OC Parks, and the joint Paseo/Valencia/Moulton Parkway bypass corridor project is progressing under Laguna Hills as lead agency.

An urgent item: staff said an occupant was briefly trapped in the City Hall elevator on New Year's Day and OCFA assisted; no lasting injuries were reported. The city is re-bidding an elevator modernization scope that had been designed in 2022; staff will publish the bid on January 16 and expects recommendations for award at the February meeting. Staff explained the original construction estimate was $250,000 but cautioned that elevator-specialty contractors are few and bids could come in higher.

Staff also described an operational issue: the city currently stores public-works equipment at a contractor facility in Laguna Niguel and sometimes uses the City Hall parking lot as staging; staff said they are exploring leased or constructed local storage of about 1,500 to 2,500 square feet within city limits to avoid long-term dependence on third-party yards and to reduce repeated site impacts on City Hall parking areas. Staff said they will pursue exploratory conversations with property owners and report back during the budget process.

Council members asked for follow-up about fire-hardening and resilience measures for City Hall and whether elevator modernization costs could be reduced; staff agreed to research options and return with recommendations. No formal council vote was required on the CIP update; staff requested the council receive and file the report and noted follow-up tasks.