'Fill the Boot' Drive; Free Trolley Parking; No More 'No Left Turn' Sign

Update from Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig:

Laguna Beach Lifeguards Recently Took First Place in its Division at the Regional Lifeguard Competition – The 2013 California Surf Lifesaving Association Regional Lifeguard Competition was held Saturday, July 27, in Newport Beach. The City of Laguna Beach Marine Safety Department was represented by twenty athletes consisting of four women and sixteen men. Fifteen Lifeguard agencies took part in the competition. Led by team captain Gina Nourmohamadian, Laguna Beach finished first place in its division, placing third overall, outscoring the fourth place team Newport Beach two to one. Some highlights include: Ally McCormick leading the team in points earned; Mitchell Spezzaferri first place overall in the men’s run swim run; Cameron Zuziak first place overall in the men’s 2k run.

Fall Quarter 2013 Registration Activities - Registration for fall 2013 recreation activities begins Monday, August 12. The fall brochure was mailed citywide on August 6 and is now available at the Community & Susi Q Center, Community Pool and Community Services Department, as well as online at www.lagunabeachcity.net (click the “Recreation Activities” icon).  Register online, by mail-in or in person at the Community Services Department, 515 Forest Avenue. 

Free Trolley Parking in North Laguna - Coming into town from the north but worried about finding a parking space?  Park for free at the Boat Canyon (“Pavilions”) parking lot at 600 North Coast Highway and take the trolley!  Approximately 50 free parking spaces in the rear of the parking lot are available daily from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.  The parking lot is staffed during operating hours by a City attendant.  Temporary signage along southbound Coast Highway directs drivers to the free parking area.  If you have any questions, please contact the Community Services Department at 949-497-0303.

Firefighter “Fill the Boot” Drive for MDA - Off-duty Laguna Beach Firefighters will be walking the streets of downtown on Saturday, August 10, to help raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).  Laguna Beach Firefighters have participated in the “Fill the Boot” partnership with MDA for the last four years and raised over $3,000 last year alone.  In 2012 California firefighters raised more than $2.1 million through local “Fill the Boot” drives.   

Park and Wendt Drainage Inlet Improvements – Work will begin next week to improve the large drainage inlet at the intersection of Park Avenue and Wendt Terrace. The project also includes the installation of debris barriers at the bottoms of three canyons uphill from the intersection. No lane closures will be required, but minor traffic delays at some times can be anticipated. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.

No More “No-Left-Turn” – When the Broadway Beautification project was done several months ago, Caltrans required the installation of a sign prohibiting left turns from Broadway onto Cliff/Acacia. That restriction left motorist traveling east on Broadway with no way to get into the north Laguna neighborhood. The City has been working with Caltrans to get that problem resolved. The “no-left-turn” sign was removed today. There still is a restriction for trucks over 34 feet in length.

Community Meeting on Coyote Attacks – On Thursday August 15, 2013 at 6:30 pm the Police Department will conduct a community meeting at Top of the World Elementary School to discuss recent coyote attacks which claimed the lives of four small dogs in that area.