| Name of Organization: |
Chamber of Commerce |
| Date of Workshop: |
July 25, 2000 |
| Number of Participants: |
|
| Facilitator: |
Melissa O'Neal |
Summary of Assets
The group identified the following community assets during group discussion and on written comment cards.
The Environment
Natural environment
- Best coastline, ocean
- Weather
- Natural and free (cost) recreation
- Unusual amount of green space
Infrastructure
The People
Education
Children/youth
Activist citizenry / values / diversity
- Diversity:?artistic forms/people
- Community participation
- Acceptance of various lifestyles
- Raw/refined talent
The Community
Image and Identity
- Cultural atmosphere
- Small town atmosphere
- Hillside/Mediterranean feel of the town
Summary of Challenges
The group identified the following community challenges during group discussion and on written comment cards.
The Environment
Natural environment
- Ocean pollution: runoff and sewage
Downtown / Commercial Development
- Vacant buildings
- High rents in both commercial and residential areas
- Conflict between desires of residents and business community
- Issues surrounding creating more resident-serving businesses
Transportation
- Parking/traffic
- Lack of pedestrian access
- Village entrance
- Increased access to town via toll roads decreasing our security and increasing traffic
The Community
Governance
- History of contentious political atmosphere
- Council unresponsive/insensitive to business issues
Outside Issues
- Surrounding communities issues effecting us
Summary of Visions
The group identified the following as major visions for Laguna Beach during group discussion and on written comment cards.
The Environment
Natural environment
- Continued and sustained ocean access
- Laguna to be known as a ?green? city = environmentally friendly
- Clean ocean
- Establish marine preserve (ocean protection) from North Laguna to South Laguna
- Encourage other communities to be environmentally responsible i.e. runoff issues, etc.
- Beach erosion control
- Residents more aware of self-pollution i.e. non-source point issues
Downtown / Commercial Development
- A ?fun? downtown including a promenade similar to Old Town Pasadena
Transportation
- More pedestrian crossings
- Better pedestrian/driver safety
- Adequate parking
- Coordinated traffic lighting
- Better accessible Chamber/Visitors bureau with parking
- Prohibit canyon building from El Toro to 405
- Alternatives developed for 3rd Street safety.? More emergency exits out of town for Mystic/TOW/Temple Hills
- Outlaw airplane banners
Infrastructure
- Flood control
- Keep the goats!
The Community
Governance
- More responsive government for businesses and residents; less bureaucracy
- Council is more business-friendly
- There is a ?can-do? attitude among city staff.? City staff allowed to think ?outside of the box? in terms of creative solutions to unique issues
Summary of Opportunities
The group identified the following opportunities during group discussion and on written comment cards.
The Environment
Downtown / Commercial Development
- Realistic business district planning?tie all districts together
The People
Education
- Chamber/other community groups to endorse and use existing environmental education programs to promote awareness
The Community
Governance
- Sympathetic Council that understands economics
- Privatization of City services.? All except Police and Fire
- Reorganization of City government:? one that is friendlier to citizens; eliminate bureaucracy
Design review board that?s respected, consistent
