Council ratifies strategic priorities, asks facilities plan to include long‑term pool feasibility analysis

The Laguna Beach City Council on March 11 ratified a set of strategic priorities that will guide capital and program decisions this year and directed staff to pursue near‑term arrangements for pool programming with the Laguna Beach Unified School District.

City Manager Dave (staff reference) summarized the proposed priorities and the timeline work product staff previously circulated. Council members and public commenters debated where a new or renovated pool should sit in the city’s priorities and whether the city should continue separate planning for a municipal pool.

Several residents and community organizations urged continued attention to pool access. Laura Giamani, speaking as a parent and swim‑program volunteer, asked the city to "renew the joint use agreement or lease or rental agreement with the school district to continue operating at a minimum swim lessons, lap swimming, splash ball, and adult water exercise programs" while the district’s pool modernization proceeds. The council’s discussion echoed that request; staff said the city and district will pursue a rental/lease approach to maintain programs if the district proceeds with its expanded pool plan.

Council members debated whether the city should continue to study a separate municipal pool at Lang Park or the LBCRC (formerly St. Catherine’s). Some members said a separate study would divert scarce staff and capital resources; others noted a brief feasibility block analysis would be useful to determine whether either site could feasibly host a pool in the long term. The council resolved the tension by directing that the facilities master plan include a long‑term feasibility analysis (conceptual, block‑level, parking and access constraints) for potential pool options at LBCRC and Lang Park, while the city would not pursue a separate, standalone pool study at this time. The council also ratified direction to seek a rental/lease arrangement with the district to preserve key programs (lessons, lap swim, water exercise) in a renovated 45‑meter facility.

The council asked staff to bring revenue opportunity work back to the midyear budget update and to advance a set of early actions for downtown and other business districts (for example, Forest Alley and segments of Lower Ocean and Coast Highway between Ocean and Broadway) so the city can deliver tangible improvements while the larger comprehensive code update proceeds. Council members also asked staff to explore fee adjustments and short‑term cost‑recovery measures for selected complex permits.

After amendments clarified that the facilities master plan should include a long‑term feasibility block analysis for pool sites, a council member moved and the council approved the staff recommendations as amended. The motion passed; the transcript records the motion, a second, and council agreement (ayes) but does not report individual roll‑call vote totals in public remarks.