Congratulations on the 55th Annual Brooks Street Classic

A quick note to congratulate the City of Laguna Beach and all the winners on this past weekend’s 55th Annual Brooks Street Classic.

I also want to pay a special thanks to the City’s Recreation department, and the tireless work of Adam Gufarotti and Tierney Doran, as well as commend local Brandy Faber for his total commitment to keeping the event vibrant and relevant to all of us.

We’re extraordinarily blessed with a community and a city that supports this unique event, and I hope that we can count on everyone’s support for 55 more!

With thanks,

Don Meek

Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach and Recycled Water

I recently saw a letter in Stu News from Mike Beanan again suggesting a recycled water system for Laguna Beach. This is an issue that Laguna Beach County Water District has responded to before. In late 2015, Laguna Beach County Water District hired a consultant to investigate the feasibility of recycled water in the District’s service area. The study cost $132,900 to evaluate all possible options to bring recycled water into our service area. Completed in March 2016, this study concluded that recycled water alternatives would be between 3 to 11 times greater than the District’s current cost of imported water and significantly exceed our groundwater cost by 6 to 22 times. Currently, the District’s water supply is 60 percent groundwater and 40 percent imported water. 

The suggested reclaimed water distribution in Mr. Beanan’s letter advocates serving a number of schools and parks. These public spaces have a current water demand of less than 70 acre-feet a year. To construct this proposed system would require $35 million to build the distribution system to irrigate these areas, including 10 miles of pipelines, two reservoirs, three pump stations, on site retrofit for recycled water, and mitigation for impact to native habitat along the wildland areas. This proposed recycling project would result in a cost seventeen times greater than the District’s current cost of $1,000 an acre-foot for our imported water supply and twenty-three times greater than our cost for groundwater at $550 an acre-foot.

More extensive projects like the plan to irrigate the wildfire interface, along with the parks across the City, would drive the cost of water much higher. The simple sketch in Mike Beanan’s letter representing the solution to ocean pollution is a project that would cost tens of millions of dollars. Those using water to irrigate could expect to pay ten times or more compared to traditional water costs. It’s also important to note that irrigating land that is not currently being irrigated cannot be considered as conservation, as it would generate new water demands. While new innovative ideas should always be explored, the public agencies involved are required to maintain fiscal responsibility. Pursuing projects that may sound good, but place huge cost burdens on the rate payers, is not the answer.

It is a little-known fact that Laguna Beach County Water District already supplies recycled water in Laguna Beach, and you’re drinking it! A large portion of our recently acquired groundwater supply is delivered through the Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System. This Replenishment System purifies wastewater and returns it to the groundwater basin for extraction by member agencies like Laguna Beach County Water District to use as potable drinking water. This water supply is less expensive than imported water and is a perfect balance of innovative problem solving and responsible financial management. 

Renae M. Hinchey

General Manager, Laguna Beach County Water District

Village Entrance Project

Fellow voters, 

I went to the Ground Breaking Photo Op at 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon for the Village Entrance, at it I got a copy of the “Village Entrance Monthly Update”, and on the second page was as list of the highlights of the project: 

1. New multi-use paths will separate pedestrians from vehicles and improve safety 

2. New bridges, access roads, and parking areas with improved circulation 

3. Walking trails and bicycle paths, featuring decorative concrete to create a pedestrian friendly environment 

4. The Historical Digester building will be repainted and patched with options for additional rehabilitation 

5. Decorative parking lot lighting to match the Downtown area 

6. 52 bicycle racks and 4 new electric vehicle charging stations 

7. New buildings for Police support services and Marine Safety storage 

8. Extensive landscaping that will tie into recent Festival of Arts improvements 

9. 120 new trees, 9,100 new shrubs and 2,200 flats of ground cover 

That’s it! I think, where are “new” parking spaces? Duh? Did I miss something? 

That night I attended the city council meeting. One of the speakers stated that Laguna Beach was losing 111 parking spaces in the new Village Entrance! This statement was met with silence from council members and city staff! I was flabbergasted! Millions of Laguna taxpayers’ money and no additional parking! Duh?

The voters of this town need to wake up!

It’s rather obvious we need a change.

Pat Galez
Laguna Beach

Scheduling of City Council Meeting on Yom Kippur

It has been brought to my attention that a community meeting has [had] been scheduled for this coming Tuesday, September 18, from 4-6  p.m. This conflicts with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. 

I am certain that this scheduling was done without malice. If the scheduler checked a Jewish calendar, s/he would have noted that Yom Kippur is on Wednesday, September 19. Even if the scheduler had been aware that Jewish holidays begin at sunset the previous evening, s/he might have concluded that a meeting ending at 6 p.m. on Tuesday would present no problem. 

Alas, the situation is a bit more complicated. Yom Kippur begins at 6:36 p.m. on Tuesday, September 18. Observant Jews must be in synagogue by that time. Further, Yom Kippur is marked by a total fast – no eating or drinking for 25 hours. Thus, observant Jews are partaking in S’udat Hafsakah – the final meal before the fast – from about 4 p.m., so as to allow enough time to eat this meal calmly, prepare for the sacred day, and get to synagogue in time to be seated (large crowds attend) prior to the beginning of services. 

In light of this, I urgently request that, out of respect to the Jewish residents of Laguna Beach, this community meeting be rescheduled. This would be an appropriate way to show how much the City of Laguna Beach values diversity. 

Rabbi Stephen J. Einstein, DHL, DD, Founding Rabbi Emeritus

Fountain Valley, CA

What changes does Peter Blake have in mind for the village?

Why do we love Living in Laguna? Why do six million visitors a year come here to share our home? Recall the reasons: our historic heritage, our unique and interesting shops and festivals, our Greenbelt separating us from the urban jungle, our pristine coves and beaches, our Bluebelt now alive with sea life, our trees and gardens showcased annually in the Laguna Gate and Garden Tour, our excellent and unique cafes and eateries, the large and stately homes in our hills, the charming homes in the village areas, and the considerate and experienced civic leaders who encourage citizen involvement in Village matters. 

One would think this is generally recognized. Yet at the recent Chamber election forum, Mr. Peter Blake outlined all that is wrong with Laguna from his point of view and promised to change our Village. Are these the things that Mr. Blake wants to change? 

1. Civic leaders who work to keep tourists from overwhelming our village; 

2. A city council that prevents investors from building towering hotels on our coast; 

3. A DRB policy of assuring fairness and balance between neighbors on construction related disputes; 

4. A city council tradition of hearing all points of view with an open mind; 

5. A policy against building huge parking structures to accommodate all the thousands of cars looking for parking during the three summer months; 

6. a downtown shopping district with shops only appealing to the high-end shopper.

Well, I think you get the idea. 

And who did Mr. Blake point out as being responsible for the Laguna that most of us love but he apparently finds lacking? None other than one of the residents’ leading volunteer organization, Village Laguna! 

Those of us who live in Laguna know of Village Laguna members’ selfless dedication to preserving and protecting Laguna. Not only did it spearhead the building height ordinance, but it forcefully advocated for both the Greenbelt and Bluebelt, supported the tax to rebuild after the landslide, fought for protection of our beaches from commercialization, advocated in favor of the protection of resident-serving business over big box stores and lobbied for the development of a prudent parking strategy to manage summer traffic with trolleys and peripheral parking. And this is but a short list! 

Imagine a candidate looking for broad public support before the election treating respected citizen organizations in such a false manner. How would such a candidate act once elected? How would such a councilman treat you or me if we spoke out in disagreement to his/her views?

Mr. Blake closed his presentation in the forum by asking those who appreciate what Village Laguna as done in putting Residents First not to vote for him. I think it’s something we should consider.

Armando Baez

Laguna Beach