Calling All Ballers: Main Beach Basketball Courts to Reopen June 2

Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig's weekly news update:

Main Beach Basketball Courts to be Reopened - The dirt and materials that have been stockpiled on the basketball courts will be removed over the next week.  The basketball courts will be re-surfaced and new backboards and rims will be installed.  While the courts are being re-surfaced, the irrigation and turf surrounding the courts will be renovated.  The courts will re-open to the public on June 2, 2012.  The construction fencing will be relocated to the edge of the driveway and surrounding the remaining lift station construction.   The basketball courts should remain open during the construction of the Lifeguard Headquarters and Public Restrooms.

2012 Citizen Survey – The results are in from the city's citizen survey. Some of the findings revealed 97 percent of respondents view Laguna Beach as a great place to live, earning the city a third place ranking (out of 360 cities) when compared to the national benchmark levels typically seen in other communities. Almost all survey respondents also rated the quality of life in Laguna Beach as “excellent” or “good” and ranked 8th (out of 428 cities). For more results, download the survey PDF files here.

Track and Field Championships – On Sunday, May 6, the City of Laguna Beach Track Team participated in the 2012 Southern California Municipal Athletic Foundation (“SCMAF”) – Orange County Track and Field Championships held at Laguna Hills High School.  Seventeen team members qualified to represent Laguna Beach in the upcoming 2012 SCMAF – Southern California Track and Field Championships to be held Sunday, June 3, 2012, at Warren High School in the City of Downey.

Urban Water Diversions Reopening – Preparations for the summer months include opening the dry-season urban runoff diversions along the City’s coastline.  The City maintains diversions at 21 locations along the coast.  Each year the diversions prevent more than 6 tons of debris and pollutants from discharging into the ocean.  All of the diversions will be opened by next week.

Lifeguard Headquarters Project Out to Bid – The Lifeguard Headquarters and Public Restrooms Construction project is out to bid. There are 11 prequalified bidders that have plans. Bid opening is scheduled for June 22, 2012. Award of a construction contract is expected to be on July 17, 2012. Construction would then begin shortly after Labor Day in September.

Heisler Park Turf Renovation – Next week a few small turf areas at Heisler Park will be renovated by aerating, over-seeding and fertilizing. These areas, totaling about 4,000 square feet, might need to be closed for a week.

Oro Canyon Fuel Modification – The Oro Canyon fuel modification and invasive plant removal project was completed this week.  The City’s contractor removed approximately 255 tons of predominately dead or dying plant material which was chipped and spread over the site.  An additional 48 tons of mulch was brought to the project site and applied throughout the area.  Approximately 20 tons of highly flammable and invasive Pampas Grass was removed and hauled away.