Vision of the future

Barbara Diamond

Some “orphans” from the Vision Laguna 2030 recommendations still need

homes, but progress is being made.

A Planning Commission subcommittee report to the City Council on

the status of the recommendations listed a number of projects that

came out of the two-year visioning process -- in which more than

2,000 local residents and business people participated -- that are

still looking for “ownership” by the city or the community.

The numerous recommendations included items such as more pocket

parks, linked bicycle trails and an improved city website.

Overall, the subcommittee reported, implementation has been

completed or is in the works on most of the “wish list.”

“We were charged with overseeing parts of the recommendations that

were to be handled primarily by the city, but we also reported on

actions that we knew about that have either been completed or need

doing by the community,” said Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson, a

member of the commission subcommittee and of the Vision 2030 Steering

Committee.

Seven strategy teams were established in the visioning process and

each made recommendations.

“Don’t get locked on how many are done and how many are not,” said

Planning Commissioner Norm Grossman, a subcommittee member.

“[Progress] will be reflected in changes in the general plan.”

However, the job of implementation is not the sole responsibility

of the city government, Johnson said, quoting the last paragraph of

the Vision Report.

“The residents of Laguna Beach must also take primary

responsibility to carry out the recommendations of the strategy teams

by becoming active, engaged citizens,” the report states.

Recommendations for community action:

*Support effective neighborhood organizations. One example is the

Flatlanders Neighborhood Assn., which is working to improve parking.

At one time, representatives to a Coalition of Neighborhood

Assn.’s kept residents informed of issues of special interest to

them.

*Coordinate city bicycle trails with the ones on Laguna Canyon

Road.

“I know there are a lot of bikers in town and I am really

surprised no one in the community has claimed ownership of this,”

Johnson said.

*Continue public/private partnerships with groups such as Laguna

Greenbelt Inc. and Laguna Canyon Foundation.

“Ocean Laguna is a good example,” Johnson said. “It is a private

group, but the city did its part by creating a marine enforcement

position.”

*Ask arts groups to develop projects in other parts of the city

than Downtown.

The Arts and Culture team recommendations have been a wonderful

success,” Johnson said. “The community has worked through all of

their first level projects except artist-live work.”

*Conduct a market research study and establish an office of

economic development -- in the Chamber of Commerce’s sphere of

interest.

Tasks the Vision Committee asked the city to do are being done,

according to Johnson.

The committee also asked the community to participate. In the view

of the subcommittee those recommendations are in various stages of

implementation.

“We invite more members of the community to take leadership

roles,” Johnson said.