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| Name of Organization: | Laguna Art Museum |
| Date of Workshop: | July 12, 2000 |
| Number of Participants: | 12 |
| Facilitator: | Sandy Pendleton |
Summary of Assets
The group identified the following community assets during
group discussion and on written comment cards.
The Environment
Natural environment
- Location
- Natural beauty, coastline
- Preservation of natural areas
- Limited by geographic size
- Greenbelt
- Beach
- Isolation – by location, limited access to town, set apart from everywhere else makes it special, able to disappear, respect of privacy
Housing / Residential Development
Downtown /Commercial Development
- Street life
- Pedestrian scale – easily walked
- Island on the land – uniqueness in midst of suburbia
Infrastructure
The People
Education
- Proximity to university – changed intellectual demeanor of town
Community organizations
- Community support – large number of organizations
- Non profits
Activist citizenry/ Values/ Diversity
- Altruist feeling – caring for others, town, art, something bigger than just ourselves
- Liberalism
- Honoring of diversity of views
- Mix of ages
- Respected privacy
- Healthy atmosphere – alternative health options, spirituality
- Community involvement
The Community
Arts and Culture
- Art, art colony, artists, galleries, LAM
- 100 year history with art
- Cultural feeling, awareness, residents, kids
- Opportunities for music, theater, museum
Image and Identity
- Small town feeling
- Easy to know people
- Friendly
- Community feeling
- Slow paced, relaxed atmosphere
- Cosmopolitan in small town setting – feel lots going
on, lots to do for variety of interests
- Eclectic
Economy
- Economic profile of residents
Summary of Challenges
The group identified the following community challenges
during group discussion and on written comment cards.
The Environment
Natural environment
- Retain open space
- Water – supply and ocean runoff
- Pollution
Housing / Residential Development
- High real estate prices
- Need for affordable housing
- Change in demographics due to home prices
Downtown / Commercial Development
- T-shirt shops
- Non-resident focus, shops
- Downtown pedestrian orientated
- Need for resident serving commercial areas
Transportation
- Traffic
- Parking
- Buses/ trolleys
The People
Community organizations
- Maintaining resources to support what is special
- Dollars to fund non-profit groups, for public benefit projects – Laguna Shanti, Art Museum, etc.
Children/youth
- Integrating Hispanic children in schools
Activist citizenry/ Values/ Diversity
- Other cultures
- Population
- Stay creative without agenda – meaning driven vs. outcome driven
- Reluctance to change
The Community
Arts and Culture
- Maintaining arts infrastructure, lifestyle
Image and Identity
- Commercialization vs. community
- Not being lost to façade like Carmel – an illusion vs. reality of community who supports it like Aspen
- Keep eclectic spirit
- Hold on to community feeling in face of day visitors
Governance
- Allow for organic change – not be rigid in status quo!
- Governmental leadership in town – honoring peoples’ input
Outside Issues
- Pressures from surrounding area. Develop working relationship to facilitate cooperation and collaboration on issues of concern: pollution, population pressure, traffic, congestion
- Encroaching of Newport Coast
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
- Clean beaches and ocean
- Clean water
- Safe
- Protection/ preservation of habitats
Housing / Residential Development
- Architecturally interesting – not necessarily big
Downtown /Commercial Development
- Pedestrian sensitive
- Cafes
- Maintain vital downtown
Transportation
- Peripheral parking for guests
- Limited cars in town
- Electric tram from outlying areas
Infrastructure
- Streets
- Enhanced recycling
The Community
Arts and Culture
- Culturally astute
- Leader in arts
- Expanded arts district
- Bigger museum presence and prominence in the community
- More support for museum
- Museum involvement in community and vice versa
Image and Identity
- Creative hub of Southern California
- Place where creative people live – can afford to live, work and contribute to creativity
- Environmentally astute
- Maintain sense of community
Economy
- Balanced business/ economical plan – visitors/ residents
Summary of Opportunities
The group identified the following opportunities during
group discussion and on written comment cards.
The Environment
Natural environment
- Environmental protection legislation
- Environmental awareness
The People
Communications
- Improve communication with City. Vision process is great example
- Outreach to the community
Activist citizenry/ Values/ Diversity
- Philanthropy spending at all time high
- Grass roots movement. Have commitment and demonstrated ability to get things done
- Engage community – keep them engaged
- Clarify values of community residents
The Community
Arts and Culture
- Revenue from hotels, development, Treasure Island coming into the community to support the arts infrastructure
- Major arts organizations unite across the country
- High spirited energy for arts already in Laguna Beach
- More interest in the arts from all arenas, kids and public in general
Economy
- Projected economic growth in California
- New technology. Problem solving, revenue, education
- When economy is up – art is up. More dollars available to spend on art, interest in art and availability to general public
Governance
- Environmental protection legislation
- Improve communication with City. Vision process is great example
Outside Issues
- Better working relations with the surrounding community environmentalists, El Toro Airport
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