OUR LAGUNA:City gives itself props for projects

Each fiscal year, the city gives itself a pat on the back for the key accomplishments in the preceding 12 months.

Almost everyone could pick out a couple of favorites from the 61 items listed by City Manager Ken Frank and Ann Quilter’s choice was no surprise.

“Breaking ground for the Community/Senior Center,” she said, adding “and the council’s unwavering support.”

Assistant City Manager John Pietig lumped infrastructure improvements together as his top choice.

“That needs some explanation,” Pietig said. “Examples include Bluebird restoration, the largest street repaving project in the city’s history and, of course, improvements to the city’s storm drains and sewers.”

Of the accomplishments listed by Frank, 23 were completed infrastructure projects, more than one-third of the total list.

Pietig also chose the start of construction of the community/senior center.

“My third choice would be the start of the relocation of the maintenance yard to ACT V,” Pietig said.

The maintenance yard project was one in which he was actively involved, including conducting a tour of the old site to explain the rationale and design to the public, many of whom vehemently opposed the relocation.

“Re-landscaping the library is my top choice,” said Martha Lydick, president of the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library.

The Friends proposed the project, helped organize community support and raised money for it.

The project dearest to Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson’s heart was the restoration of Bluebird Canyon.

“That was huge accomplishment,” she said. “And Bob Burnham (Recovery Coordinator) should be sainted for what he has done.

Fellow commissioner Norm Grossman agreed Bluebird had to be highly ranked. He also picked the amendments to the design review process and increased staffing.

“The success of the modifications is shown by the fact that the [Design Review] board now meets only three times a month,” Grossman said.

“But it is not just new projects that should be listed. The Beach Buddy Award reflects the on-going efforts to improve infrastructure that affects water pollution. And maintaining the village character downtown should be listed annually.”

One of my personal favorites didn’t even make the list.