Laguna Beach to name emergency operations center after longtime public safety advocate
- Share via
When matters of public safety were up for consideration at Laguna Beach City Hall, Matt Lawson never hesitated to join in the conversation.
The City Council recognized that advocacy Tuesday by naming the emergency operations center after him.
Lawson said he would treat the first stand-alone emergency operations center’s dedication as “the greatest honor.”
“I would remind everyone that public safety is a team sport, not only our public safety professionals,” Lawson said. “I’ve never seen our Fire Department, Police Department, Marine Safety, better led or better trained, or better qualified or better funded, and they’re equipped to do their jobs, and they’re doing them superbly well.”
Lawson credited the council for a “proactive approach” to public safety. Those efforts have substantially included wildfire mitigation and fire safety, among them fuel modification and utility undergrounding projects.
Fire Chief Niko King said the emergency operations center, which is being installed at the Community and Recreation Center — formerly the St. Catherine of Siena school site — in South Laguna, is about 90% complete.
When finished, the center is expected to serve as the city’s home base for emergency-response coordination, disaster management and continuity of operations.
The decision to honor Lawson, King said, was made by the public safety chiefs and backed by the emergency disaster preparedness committee. King lauded Lawson for his knowledge of potential hazards, as well as his recommendations for mitigation.
Lawson, who formerly chaired the committee, has also volunteered as part of the community emergency response team (CERT).
“You moved the agenda forward in significant and meaningful ways, so that things would come to council already vetted, already thought about, already well prepared and analyzed,” Councilman Bob Whalen told Lawson. “I think as a community, we just can’t thank you enough. There were a lot of hands, and you’re right, absolutely, it’s a team sport, but you know what? There’s a captain of a team, and you were the captain, and you did a fantastic job.”
