JUNE 21 , 2024 lagunabeachindy . com 7
GUEST OPINION : VILLAGE MATTERS
Make Laguna Shine
By Ann Christoph
Last week , the City Council considered whether voters would be interested in increasing taxes in an attempt to extract more income from visitors and produce more funds for the projects the Council is planning . They considered raising the sales tax , increasing the business license tax for bars and restaurants and / or upping the bed tax — called the Transient Occupancy Tax ( TOT ), which would raise $ 3.5-3.6 million annually .
Kurt Bjorkman , general manager of the Ranch at Laguna Beach , engaged the council in a discussion of the real
world of competition for the visitors looking for a special destination , who also are always considering the price . The TOT entered into that pricing decision , and Bjorkman maintained that a list of major hotels in town would not support an increase . Other coastal towns compete for the same visitors that Laguna Beach hotels covet , he said .
Councilman George Weiss pointed out , “ You ’ ve got one of the most unique locations in California , if not the United States , the world ...”
Bjorkman countered , “ I agree that our city , our beautiful … our topography and everything … I would say , if we were to support a TOT increase because we ’ ve got the best city in California , the best city in California should shine like the best city in California .” It doesn ’ t now . What does it take to make Laguna shine — to have our parks , streets , and public spaces befit the magnificent cliffs , coast , canyons and artistic heritage we have been blessed with ? Our generous annual budget has grown from $ 30 million when I was on the council in the early 90s to over $ 145 million today . We have 345 city employees , but most of them are doing something other than making
Glenneyre Street Parking Garage with its vines that were later removed . Photo / Ann Christoph
the town shine . There is a maintenance crew of only seven to manage a giant list of tasks . Supervisor Wayne Chintala cited responsibilities that ranged from sweeping sand back into play areas and picking up trash to managing planting and irrigation systems . Outside contractors are also hired to mow lawns and maintain some areas .
Highly visited areas like Heisler Park get more attention , but even the downtown tree wells and planted areas have been neglected and are home to mature weeds . Last year , I wrote to Public Works about the condition of Village Green in South Laguna . It was overrun with weeds
and unmanaged shrubbery . Parents complained that they had to go out to the park and clean up before guests arrived there for their child ’ s birthday party . “ It ’ s embarrassing ,” they said . A crew was sent out with their power hedge trimmers — the instant solution . Often improperly used to zip through landscaping , all they do is give the impression that a crew has been there doing something . They ruin the structure of shrubbery and often cut off all the flowers . I pointed out that the adopted city policy recommends naturalistic pruning . Staff maintain they know how to do proper pruning ,
VILLAGE MATTERS , PAGE 20
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