Mayor ready to shake up a bit of status quo

Mayor Bob Whalen renounced stagnation and also called on residents to reduce outdoor water use during the annual State of the City luncheon May 6 at the Montage Laguna Beach.

Whalen spoke in a progressive tone, focusing on upcoming city projects and issues before a gathering of business leaders. The was event organized by the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“People ask, ‘Why change? Laguna is perfect as it is,’” said Whalen, a 30-year Laguna Beach resident. “All things must change or you become extinct. If you wonder about that, refer to Charles Darwin.”

Laguna’s five critical needs, Whalen said, are land use plans for downtown and Laguna Canyon; a parking fix; a comprehensive cultural arts plan; the undergrounding of electrical utilities; and a secondary water source.

Whalen is big on pulling cars away from major streets, primarily in the Civic Arts District, which includes the Festival of Arts grounds.

The mayor called the district the “heart and nerve center” of Laguna Beach.

“We need to fill it with people, not cars,” he said.

Scrapping plans for a parking structure at the Village Entrance Project site turned into a positive, Whalen said.

“It allowed us to step back and focus on the entire community and the best use of land,” he said.

Whalen and Councilwoman Toni Iseman lead a task force looking at creating safer areas for pedestrians and cyclists along Laguna Canyon Road. An area that includes the Laguna Canyon/Forest Avenue parking lot and sewer digester building is primed for landscaping and a walking path.

“Connecting downtown with the open space makes so much sense,” Whalen said. “Wouldn’t it be great to walk or bike out there safely?”

Regarding water conservation, Whalen said residents served by Laguna Beach County and South Coast water districts will need to cut use by 21 gallons per day so the city can meet state targets.

Each district must cut its potable water use by 24% in the coming year, according to data from the State Water Resources Control Board.

Whalen urged residents to reduce outdoor watering as a start and suggested water suppliers consider other sources such as water recycling and desalination.

City Manager John Pietig also spoke during the luncheon. He focused on the general fund, traffic circulation and paying down the city’s unfunded pension liabilities.

Pietig noted the 45% increase in trolley ridership in the last five years as evidence of people relying less on cars to get around a city known for its parking challenges. Last summer, 704,000 people boarded trolleys.

In March, the city began offering free trolley rides Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in the non-summer months and lengthened the coverage area south to the Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point. This summer the city will extend the route to El Morro Elementary School’s parking lot.

Pietig said the city is in a stable financial position, crediting the City Council with policy decisions that have created a 20% reserve in the general fund.

Making decisions as an elected representative is not always easy, and public input must be involved, Whalen said.

“I did not choose to run for council to tread water,” Whalen said. “I’m not afraid to take a stance on tough issues.”