City hears Vision Laguna report

After the City Council reviewed a refinement of the Vision Laguna

Final Report, the steering committee saw how high the climb would be

to officially integrate the recommendations into the city’s general

plan and budget.

“The next phase will be tough as the community gets involved,”

admitted Fred Droz, committee chairman. “The final report was the

beginning and this will be a continuing process.”

Last March the City Council directed the steering committee to

boil down the “Vision Laguna 2030 Final Report and Strategic Plan”

and return with a consolidated action item list. The steering

committee appointed John Thomas and Melissa O’Neal to comb through

the report, eliminating duplicate action items and providing a status

report on each item. The result is a list of 33 action items and a

corresponding table that lists the status of each action item and who

is responsible for handling each item.

Droz stressed that the list is a supplement to the final report,

not a replacement. He recommended on behalf of the committee to

select and empower a committee to oversee the actual implementation,

to hold a community-wide validation event such as a convention or

community workshop, a public opinion survey, the development of a

12-24 month plan and the institution of an annual status report. As a

next step toward the implementation process Mayor Wayne Baglin

suggested conducting a workshop to further clarify what needs to be

done by the city, by the private sector or as a joint project.

Councilman Steve Dicterow questioned if this was a list of policy

goals, followed by Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman who wanted to know

what would specifically be done next to clarify the city’s

responsibilities. Councilman Paul Freeman stepped in and suggested to

further refine the list.

“I would be happy to try and prepare an agenda bill item working

with the steering committee and suggesting very specific next steps,”

Freeman said.

He said he would like to see a boiled down report brought back

before the City Council in two or three meetings. The council did not

vote to approve or oppose the report.

However, Thomas pointed out that the action items are not all

necessarily the responsibility of the city.

“People at large can take action,” he said. “This is not a list of

33 things the city has to do but rather things people would like to

see done.”

He cited that a group of private citizens have begun work forming

the Laguna Institute, a proposed center for speakers, resident

intellectuals and artists and residents, community arts and crafts

facilities. Moreover he also cites that the parking study and steps

against mansionization are already in place.

“We’ve made good progress,” Droz said. “We look at this as a

continuing, ongoing plan.”

Droz plans to meet with Freeman to begin planning how to move

toward implementation.

Information about Vision Laguna can be found at

www.lagunabeachcity.org under the News and Features column on the

city homepage.

-- Mary A. Castillo