Laguna Beach City Council approves task orders to finish design of permanent promenade on Forest

The Laguna Beach City Council on Tuesday approved amended task orders with SWA Group and Somas Engineering to complete final design work for the permanent promenade on Forest and authorized limited change-order authority as the project moves into final design.

City Engineer Tom Perez told the council the action follows the council—s earlier approvals of design review and coastal development permits and a separate "slow street" resolution; the California Coastal Commission on Aug. 15 found no substantial issue with the approved project, Perez said. "The Coastal Commission found no substantial issue with the approved project," Perez said.

The council approved a task order amendment with SWA Group for a total not-to-exceed (NTE) amount of $348,500 for landscape-architecture services, and authorized the city manager to approve change orders not to exceed $35,000. The council also approved a task order amendment with Somas Engineering for a total NTE amount of $232,750 for civil-engineering services, and authorized change orders not to exceed $23,000. Council members voted 4-0 to approve the recommended actions.

Why this matters: the approvals allow staff to complete technical design and permitting work so the project can proceed toward construction. Perez said the amended task orders absorb earlier, lower-risk work the city had already authorized to keep the project moving; those earlier task orders were roughly $70,000 for SWA and about $52,000 for Somas to advance schematic design, supplemental topography and utility research.

What the contracts cover: the SWA scope covers landscape architecture work including decorative pavement, landscape walls, railings, planting and irrigation, site furnishings, a planned water feature, low-voltage electrical work, lighting, audiovisual elements and construction support. Somas— scope includes supplemental topography, utility coordination, the floodplain permit work, final civil construction drawings, constructability review, engineer—s cost estimates, project specifications and processing a Caltrans encroachment permit for the portion of the promenade along Coast Highway.

Timing and public engagement: staff said the schedules in the proposals project final design completion in December 2025 and that design-team meetings will be held every two weeks to track progress. Perez described the final-design phase as primarily technical and said public engagement is not typically part of final design because the concept and approvals are already established; he added the city would be open to further engagement "if directed." Council Member Jones proposed posting plan updates on the project web page and notifying interested parties so anyone in town can review and comment on design updates.

Public comment and council response: several residents urged more transparency and competitive bidding before awarding substantial contracts. A resident who spoke during public comment criticized the city for not issuing a competing request for proposals and said SWA "was just eased into this, fairly substantial contract without ever competing with any other firms." Pat Menna, a resident, said, "I think you are lacking proper notice ... I'm disappointed," and asked for a clear project budget. Ruben Flores, a 30-year resident, said the sums requested "are too much" for the single stretch of promenade being redesigned.

Staff and council also noted legal and permitting steps that remain, including processing the Caltrans encroachment permit for work adjacent to Coast Highway and completing the floodplain permit. The staff recommendation included a finding that the proposed approvals are statutorily exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act because the actions implement a previously approved project.

The council adopted the staff recommendations on a 4-0 vote. The meeting adjourned with a reminder that the council—s next regularly scheduled meeting is Sept. 23, with the study session starting at 3 p.m.