MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020
How to Participate in Tuesday's City Council Meeting
You may submit comments on any agenda item or on any item not on the agenda by email to cityclerk@lagunabeachcity.net (there is an interactive public communications form on the front page of the City’s website or an email or Word document will also be accepted).
You may continue to provide written comments up to 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 (the day of the meeting). Please note that while these comments will be provided to the City Council at 3 p.m. on April 7, 2020, the Council members may not have sufficient time to review them prior to the meeting.
If you want to listen to the meeting and comment over the phone during designated public comment periods, please call (669) 900-9128, and wait for instructions to dial, the Webinar id is 490591918#.
Let us know you want to comment on an item that is being discussed by pressing *9 on your phone. When you hear "your phone is unmuted", please proceed with your comment. The time for comments may be limited, so prepare your remarks accordingly. You can also click on the link below from your computer or smart phone to participate in the meeting via zoom at the link below:
You can always watch City Council meetings live on channel 852 or on Live on the City's website.
Sandbag Availability
Due to this week's wet weather, the City of Laguna Beach is providing pre-filled sandbags to residents and business owners.
You can get sandbags at the Act V parking lot at 1900 Laguna Canyon Road. Sandbags are also available at Laguna Beach’s four fire stations. These sandbags are not for contractors.
Sandbags are free; however, you must provide your own sand. It is not permitted to fill them with sand from Laguna’s beaches or playgrounds.
Experian Donates 500 Protective Face Masks to Laguna Beach Public Safety Departments
On Monday, Experian, the world’s largest credit bureau, donated 500 protective face masks to the City of Laguna Beach First Responders. The company's North American headquarters are in Costa Mesa.
Last week, Experian also donated 12,000 masks to Hoag Medical Group, a large Southern California healthcare provider.
“We want to continue to do all we can to support our communities here in Orange County and especially those on the front lines battling COVID-19,” said Justin Hastings, head of Human Resources for Experian North America. “A big thank you goes out to the police officers, fire fighters and healthcare workers who help those most in need every single day.”
Have Concerns About Someone Violating the Beach Closures?
Call These Non-Emergency Numbers:
Marine Safety Non-Emergency
(949) 497-0310
Police Department Non-Emergency
(949) 497-0701
Theft Prevention
With more of you staying home, we ask you to remain aware of the activity in your neighborhood and remember basic crime prevention steps. With everyone's minds focused elsewhere it's easy to forget to close the garage door or lock your car.
Now more than ever, the Laguna Beach Police Department is asking you to look out for one another for everyone's health and safety.
If something seems suspicious or out of the ordinary in your neighborhood, or while you're out in the community, please don't hesitate to contact the Laguna Beach Police Department.
Our non-emergency number is (949) 497-0701.
Paycheck Protection Program Designed to Help Small Businesses
The Paycheck Protection Program is designed to help small businesses with their payroll and other business operating expenses.
It will provide critical capital to businesses without collateral requirements, personal guarantees, or Small Business Administration fees – all with a 100% guarantee from SBA.
All loan payments will be deferred for six months. Most importantly, the SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first eight weeks of payroll costs, rent, utilities, and mortgage interest.
The Paycheck Protection Program is specifically designed to help small businesses keep their workforce employed. The new loan program will be available retroactive from Feb. 15, 2020, so employers can rehire their recently laid-off employees through June 30, 2020.
How to Support Local Food Banks
Laguna Food Pantry is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak and staying open to serve our neighbors in need.
The Pantry is serving shoppers in a drive-through distribution program set up in the Pantry’s parking lot.
Instead of allowing shoppers inside to select what they want to bring home to their families, volunteers are bagging food and providing curbside service for vehicles and walk-ups.
The Pantry is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monetary donations are the best way to provide support for the local food banks.
Expanded Access to Child Care for Essential Workers Provided During COVID-19 Response
Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that will facilitate child care for children of essential critical infrastructure workers by allowing the California Department of Education and California Department of Social Services the flexibility to waive certain programmatic and administrative requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The waivers will focus on current eligibility and enrollment priorities that prevent child care and afterschool programs from serving children of essential infrastructure workers.
The waiver will allow eligibility for child care to prioritize essential workers, including health care professionals, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, and grocery workers.
United Way Distributing Books for Kids
The United Way is distributing books to children. With schools closed, it is vital that children from low-income families still have access to books. They have distributed over 1,000 books to their partners.
You can help distribute books to families in need by purchasing some of their Amazon Wish List books. Have it shipped directly to the United Way via Amazon: ATTN: Daisy Benitez, 18012 Mitchell South, Irvine, CA 92614.
