Laguna Beach City Council Regular Meeting - July 15, 2014

July 15, 2014

Executive Summary

- The Laguna Beach City Council met on July 15, 2014, introducing newly hired Community Development Director Greg Pfost (formerly Deputy Director for Development in Rancho Palos Verdes for 13 years) who brings 25 years of planning experience to lead major planning projects in the city. - A significant portion of the meeting focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety following recent fatalities, with Joan Marcus Colvin (widow of cyclist John Colvin who died on June 17, 2014 on Pacific Coast Highway) and other community members urging immediate action on bike lanes, road diets, and Complete Streets initiatives. - City Manager John (staff) outlined extensive ongoing planning efforts including a $200,000 Caltrans-funded mobility plan, a Laguna Canyon Road assessment scheduled for August 19, 2014 presentation, pedestrian-activated signals near Laguna College of Art and Design, and OCTA corridor studies for Coast Highway. - The City Council unanimously selected urban planning firm MIG to prepare a comprehensive update to the downtown specific plan and review Laguna Canyon Road land use issues, with the decision based on the strength of their team including RBF Consulting (who has worked on

Key Decisions

- Appointed Greg Pfost (spelled P-F-O-S-T) as Director of Community Development, effective approximately two weeks prior to the meeting, bringing 25 years of experience including 13 years as Deputy Director for Development in Rancho Palos Verdes. - Unanimously selected MIG urban planning firm to assist with comprehensive update to the downtown specific plan and review of Laguna Canyon Road land use issues, emphasizing the strength of their team including RBF Consulting, Susan Hardin (facilitator), Rick Williams Consulting, and MJB (economist). - Continued agenda item 21 (Festival of Arts facad