Around Town - July 24, 2009

Crosswalk safety campaign launched

Drivers are being warned that the Police Department plans to conduct “proactive” crosswalk enforcement campaigns to improve pedestrian safety during late July and August.

“The department has conducted similar crosswalk enforcement details in the past and unfortunately only raised awareness by the large number of motorists who were stopped,” Sgt. Robert Rahaeuser said. “Far too many serious injury accidents occur each year from motorists failing to see, and stop for, pedestrians in the crosswalks.”

On Coast Highway there are 37 designated crosswalks within the city boundaries. It is illegal for drivers to drive through a crosswalk if pedestrians are legally crossing.

Trolleys overloaded

The city’s summer trolleys are so popular that many people are left standing on Coast Highway as packed trolleys pass them by, City Manager Ken Frank said in his July 17 update to city staff.

“This year, we are utilizing 20 trolleys and buses. Nonetheless, this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday there were 20 trips on the south route where the vehicles were at capacity and had to bypass people waiting.”

Frank announced later that a trolley has been leased from the City of Santa Monica, and would run Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the rest of the festival season.

The city’s consultant was correct that Laguna probably should have added a bus, Frank said, adding that three new trolleys have been ordered.

“The new ones will have capacities for 40 seats and 15 standees,” he said. “They should be here next summer.”

More summer parking spaces are available

Parking in the new Community and Senior Center on Third Street has been opened to the public for the summer, Frank said.

As many as 72 parking spaces have been made available for the public each weekday night and Saturday and Sunday. The charge is $5.

Glenneyre Street reopening this week

The sewer lift station project at Bluebird Canyon that has caused intermittent closures of Glenneyre Street between Cress Street and Calliope has been partially completed, Frank said.

“This week marks the completion of the installation of replacement infrastructure. The switch-over from the old pipe lines occurred in the early morning hours.”

However, the concrete pads that protect two of the newly installed underground structures are too high to properly match to the driving surface, he said. “The project engineer is working on a solution to minimize the effort to correct the problem,” he said. In the meantime, a clear path for two-lane traffic past the project will be created. There may be another temporary closure to complete the corrective work.

Record ranks in junior lifeguards

An all-time high of 464 youths from 8 to 15 years of age participated in the Marine Safety Junior Guards program in Laguna Beach, Frank said. The final three-week session started this week and will end July 30.

Beautification honors for members of two groups

Silver Squeegee Awards of appreciation were given to Dennis Danner and Liz Dunn of On Board and David Rubel of Frederick H. Rubel Jewelers for the beautification of their premises. The presentation was made by Michelle Clarke at the July 7 meeting of the Laguna Beach City Council.

Clarke was representing the Chamber of Commerce and the Beautification Council in cooperation with the Business Assistance Task Force.