Name of Organization:Arts Commission
Date of Workshop:July 10, 2000
Number of Participants:11
Facilitator:C. Prelitz

Summary of Assets

The group identified the following community assets during group discussion and on written comment cards.

The Environment

Natural environment

  • Environment – natural beauty, hillside, rocky greenbelt

Geographic location

  • Proximity to metro areas

Housing/Residential Development

  • Diverse neighborhoods, architecture

Downtown/Commercial Development

  • Village size, downtown
  • Great walking town
  • Unique quality business

The People

Education

  • Universities while still small
  • Good schools

Activist citizenry / values / diversity

  • Community involvement
  • People, diversity, eclectic
  • Hospitality

The Community

Arts and Culture

  • The arts community

Governance

  • Strong interactive city government

Summary of Challenges

The group identified the following community challenges during group discussion and on written comment cards.

The Environment

Natural environment

  • Environmental quality – runoff, smog, noise, ocean water quality

Housing / Residential Development

  • Affordability, housing

Downtown / Commercial Development

  • Maintaining resident serving businesses
  • Business rental costs, diversity of businesses

Transportation

  • Traffic, circulation
  • Parking

The Community

Image and Identity

  • Maintaining uniqueness

Economy

  • The tension between economic growth and common values
  • Too many visitors

Governance

  • Maintaining leadership, control of important local institutions – museums, festivals, playhouse, schools (quality maintenance)

Summary of Visions

The group identified the following as major visions for Laguna Beach during group discussion and on written comment cards.

The Environment

Housing / Residential Development

  • More live work zoning for artists

Downtown / Commercial Development

  • Drive downtown
  • Local businesses
  • Walk and patronage

Transportation

  • Stay the same with traffic and parking solved
  • Forest is walking area
  • Free buses in town and from Laguna Canyon to town
  • Environmentally sensitive transportation

Infrastructure

  • Senior center
  • Community center
  • Bathrooms – plenty and clean
  • Quality for public safety
  • No telephone poles
  • Underground everything

The People

Community organizations

  • More local activities

The Community

Arts and Culture

  • Performing arts

  • Community theater in Edwards Theater
  • Arts center
  • Completed village entrance with art area
  • Art bridge across from Laguna Canyon
  • More art in public places
  • Residents demand year round artistic activities, visual and performing
  • Continue to promote Laguna Beach as a colony of arts and artists
  • Interactive children’s art

Image and Identity

  • Seen as a magnet for creative people

Economy

  • Adequate tax revenues to support above and more

Summary of Opportunities

The group identified the following opportunities during group discussion and on written comment cards.

The Environment

Downtown / Commercial Development

  • Fabulous village entrance solution

The People

Community organizations

  • Synergy among community groups

Activist citizenry / values / diversity

  • Increase number of volunteer

The Community

Arts and Culture

  • Joint use of the Festival grounds

Economy

  • Revenue from Treasure Island and other activities in balanced fashion
  • Visitor user tax

Governance

Better utilization of current city assets