LAGUNA BEACH : Forum Will Offer Tips to Fire Victims

Architects who helped homeowners rebuild after the 1991 Oakland fire will hold a community forum tonight.

The workshop will be at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave., from 6 to 9 p.m. It will show Laguna Beach residents who lost their homes in last month’s blaze how they can save time and money in dealing with government agencies, contractors and insurance companies.

Speakers will include Harry Jacobs, an Oakland architect who helped organize rebuilding efforts in Northern California. Several Orange County public officials and legal experts will discuss how to deal with local agencies.

“The majority of fire survivors moved into their homes after they were already built,” said Linda Taylor, president of the Orange County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, which is sponsoring the event. “But even those who have worked with an architect before need to know what to expect when negotiating with their insurance company, how to gain necessary permits and what to expect as they start to rebuild their homes.”

The workshop will be divided into four areas.

* Councilman Wayne Peterson will outline the most efficient ways of submitting plans and applying for permits at City Hall.

* Daniel Callahan, an Irvine attorney, will talk about dealing with insurance companies and pinpoint ways of minimizing claim problems.

* Jacobs will describe how Oakland fire survivors dealt with issues like preserving the character of their neighborhoods during the rebuilding efforts.

* Mark Singer, a Laguna Beach resident who is a member of the American Institute of Architects, will discuss how to select an architect. Singer was formerly on the city’s Design Review Board.

Pamphlets and other reading material on rebuilding will be available. For more information about the meeting, call (714) 643-3220.