Hospital to discuss survey

Folks will have three chances to learn what Mission Hospital Laguna Beach interprets as health needs in the community.

The hospital will make public the results of a Community Health Needs Assessment in a presentation to the City Council on Tuesday and at public forums Wednesday and Thursday.

“Over 400 25-minute-long interviews were conducted for the survey on which the assessment is based,” said Kelsey Martinez, hospital marketing and media relations manager.

The hospital issued an invitation Tuesday to two post-meeting forums. The forums will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council Chambers and from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the hospital, 31872 Coast Hwy. Public comments on the assessment are encouraged.

“Your valuable feedback will help us in determining long-term strategies to address health and quality-of-life needs for the Laguna Beach Community,” Martinez said.

Mission Hospital also held a series of neighborhood forums to ascertain community concerns. One result of concerns voiced by community members and medical staff was the jettison of a proposal to remove the MRI from the Laguna Beach campus.

However, the illegal location of the trailer, in the driveway between the parking garage and the hospital entrance, was changed to the parking lot between the west medical building and the hospital.

The Planning Commission approved a three-year conditional-use permit for the location Jan. 13.

The commission also approved future placement of an auxiliary chiller in the same location.

“Our decision was unanimous, based on significant safeguards to ensure quiet operations,” Commissioner Norm Grossman said. “Some of the neighbors spoke, but I think it was more frustration about the past than opposition to the proposal and a little skepticism.”

To pacify neighbors’ objections to the noisy generators previously used, the MRI and the chiller will be connected to electricity and surrounded by sound walls to keep the decibel level below 50.

Violations of conditions of approval are subject to hearings and possible revocation of the permit.