City Council: Top Awards, and Revamped Dealerships

At Tuesday's City City Council meeting, the council said it was recently honored at the ACC-OC Inaugural Golden Hub of Innovation Awards ceremony Sept. 20 in Irvine. The city of Laguna Niguel was recognized for its Construction Management-Multi-Prime Project delivery method in the construction of the new City Hall. It was completed on schedule and came $2.5 million under budget, receiving honors in the Planning and Development and Other Innovative and Cost-Saving Programs Categories.

The city also received the top award in the Planning and Development category for its streamlined use of streetlights in its cell site delivery system. Under an approved master lease agreement, cell phone providers had to follow design standards and location criteria in putting up new cell towers.

City Council Member Robert Ming explained essentially, the cell phone company could remove any street light it wanted and replace it with a tower. However, it had to look like a streetlight, and the equipment had to be underground. According to the city web site, it is projected this streamlined approach will save $5,000 to $10,000 and generate more than $250,000 annually to the city.

According to Laguna Niguel’s city web site, the Association of California Cities Orange County created the program to recognize cities and local government agencies for “implementing innovative solutions to address the many challenges faced by local governments.”

Ming, City Manager Tim Casey, and Community Development Director, Dan Fox, were on-hand to receive the awards.

Economic Development Status Report

Last week, the planning commission approved a major expansion to the Allen Automotive Groups (facilities) on Camino Capistrano. These are the following changes:

• Removing the Cadillac showroom (original 1950s vintage building), including the tortoise shell dome.
• Building a new 20,000-square-foot, two-story showroom, and a customer waiting lounge.
• Hyundai dealership will be receiving a new service facility, and expansion of its parking garage for additional inventory.

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This Sunday is the closure date for applications for the new City Manager.

La Dolce Vita Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on El Lazo Road, between Alicia and La Paz. Free parking is available in the Chet Holifield Building parking area. Music, food, dance instruction, and most of all fun.

The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the council chambers at City Hall, 30111 Crown Valley Pkwy.