JUNE 21 , 2024 lagunabeachindy . com 17

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Laguna . Compared to other cities , Laguna currently has the highest , with only Garden Grove ( 17 %) and Anaheim ( 17 %) higher . The council is proposing raising it 2 %, making it 16 %.

There was pushback from hotels in town — the general manager of the Ranch said they would fight this increase . With hotel occupancy rates at 70 %, he felt this would erode occupancy even more as guests do look at total pricing . After being told tourists pay this tax , 62 % of surveyed residents said they would approve this . In July , council will decide about raising only the TOT as a ballot measure . At a 2 % increase , it is projected to raise $ 3.5 million .

Is $ 3.5 million enough ? Councilman Bob Whalen claimed it wouldn ’ t be with all the deferred-fordecades projects the town needs to get done : a new fire station in South Laguna , city buildings requiring seismic updates and wildfire mitigation . Curious that he is just now worrying about these things when he was behind the $ 26 million St . Catherine ’ s purchase , the $ 13 million Presbyterian church parking structure ( that we would never own ), and the $ 150 million proposed Laguna Canyon Road takeover for undergrounding – all the while neglecting the biggest problem of them all : fixing the sewer system . He has been on the council for almost 12 years , and in this election year , he ’ s only now worried about infrastructure .

What about reducing costs and finding efficiencies ? According to Laguna Beach City Manager Dave Kiff , that would not be enough to cover what the council wants to do . Yet 60 % of respondents agreed that “ The city should spend the money it already gets more responsibly instead of trying to ask for more .”

The city can start by having each employee justify why they are necessary . Since 2000 , city staff has grown 50 % while the population has declined by almost 1,400 residents .

We should investigate outsourcing departments like landscaping , institute a hiring freeze and look closely at their procurement processes . Our financial audits have had significant defects for years and need an independent review . But most importantly , the council needs to fund the things that residents care about most . Forget acquiring Laguna Canyon Road , stop spending on new staff offices at St . Catherine ’ s , let the Promenade go and sell Ti Amo . Repair our roads and stop big projects . Fix what ’ s broken first , and stop asking for more money .

Michèle is a 21-year Laguna resident and actively follows Laguna politics . She is the Treasurer of Laguna Beach Sister Cities and is involved with the local arts scene . She can be reached at Michelemonda3 @ gmail . com .

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notable Laguna Beach residents the students “ met .”

The local actors entertained the students , chaperones , and teachers by opening a secret trap door on the original wooden floor and singing Jack Norworth ’ s famous lyrics , “ Take Me Out to the Ballgame .”

Cuprien , with an easel and brushes , painted a seascape in the rear yard while chatting to budding artists about the difference in the surrounding landscape of downtown circa 1912 .

“ We were honored to bring two nonprofit organizations together and work with talented director , Ella and actors to provide this to Laguna Beach students . A fun and memorable living history experience ,” Laguna Beach Historical Society President Karen McGrew said .

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amotor pilots are having way more fun than the rest of us . But at our expense ! If you have to fly over our public space , do it the old-fashioned way – without an engine . Run and jump off a cliff , and then descend down gracefully with the wind , with thermals keeping you afloat . But no , in our lazy culture , someone decided to strap a noisy engine on their back and make the rest of us suffer ! Why ? Because it ’ s easier . But our beaches are sacred public spaces , with all of us enjoying them and respecting one another ’ s right to peace . So take your engine and shove it out to an open space where you can ’ t disturb anyone .

Here ’ s the thing : FAR 103 requires that ultralight vehicles must fly 2,000 feet above parks . Why ? So parkgoers can enjoy the tranquility of nature . But isn ’ t our coast technically one giant beach park ? Isn ’ t our protected coastline a marine park ? Fishes have feelings too . And for God ’ s sake , if we care enough about noise to prohibit fireworks one day a year , don ’ t we have the will to contain it the other 364 ? Perhaps instead of appealing to the FAA to change their rules , we appeal to the Coastal Commission and have them officially designate our coastline one giant park . After all , their mission is to provide beach access to the public . But certainly not to drone out our enjoyment with preening paramotor pilots .

Billy is the Chief Experience Officer of La Vida Laguna , a silent adventure sports company that is human-powered and uses no engines . He can be reached at billy @ lavidalaguna . com .

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