Laguna Beach Election 2026 · Candidate forum Completed forum
Laguna Beach Arts Alliance 2026 City Council Candidate Forum
Held Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.–noon (reception 8:30 a.m.) at Forum Theater at Festival of Arts.
Full recording · 2:05:40 · Published by LBArtsAlliance. Open the original on YouTube →
Forum held September 26 · Recording uploaded September 29 · Coverage updated October 7, 2026
The Arts in Our Community: all nine candidates’ answers
Tom Johnson moderated nine questions prepared by Arts Alliance member organizations. Candidates had two-minute opening and closing statements and one-minute answers, with a rotating starting speaker. Compare arts-district parking, artist housing, visitor management, Festival grounds and Promenade programming.
Recording, transcript and attribution notes
LBArtsAlliance published this 2:05:40 recording, with videography and production credited to Charles Michael Murray. The searchable transcript preserves the automatic English captions, with rolling display duplicates removed. Names, numbers and technical terms may be misheard. Speaker assignments follow the moderator’s introductions and handoffs, corroborated by the panel screenshot supplied to So Laguna. Candidate labels identify answer segments; brief handoffs and interjections may be included. This is not a word-by-word human transcription.
Left to right: Nick Aronoff, Edward Bayuk, Joy Berry, Ashley Cintas, Sue Kempf, Karen Martin, Mark Orgill, Laura Parisi and Alex Rounaghi. All nine speak. Kempf’s arts-attendance answer has a short caption gap; the summary does not reconstruct it. Candidate claims about spending, housing counts, financing, studies and rules are attributed statements, not independently verified findings.
Compare all nine discussion questions
- About the Arts Alliance · 28:44
What do you know about the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance?
Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfDescribes attending Alliance meetings and the variety of member groups. Encourages collaboration, awareness and donations to meet demand for arts programming.
- Ashley CintasSees the Alliance as a unified voice connecting organizations, galleries, artists, the community and City Council.
- Laura ParisiDescribes the Arts Star Awards and her involvement in encouraging a bank’s charitable contributions through the city’s banking process.
- Mark OrgillDescribes involvement since the Alliance’s founding, past Seven Degrees membership and hosting its awards event. Supports continued collaboration among arts groups.
- Nick AronoffDescribes the Alliance as an umbrella organization that can raise awareness, coordinate with the city and represent artists facing studio closures or displacement.
- Edward BayukDescribes the Alliance as a strategic arts organization and discusses his former Laguna Art Museum board service and a disputed museum transaction.
- Joy BerryCompares the Alliance to an orchestra conductor bringing roughly 30 arts organizations together and looks forward to the centennial.
- Alex RounaghiHighlights collaboration on the tourism marketing district. Says the agreement will invest more than $15 million in the arts over ten years and argues against reducing that support.
- Karen MartinDescribes the membership she researched, including visual and performing arts, education, tourism and media. Proposes more coordinated promotion; her answer is cut off by the time limit.
- Arts involvement and recent events · 36:27
Which local arts organizations do you participate in or support, and what was the most recent arts event you attended?
Sue Kempf’s first few words are not captured clearly in the captions. Her place in the announced speaking order identifies this segment; the summary covers only the available text.Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfRecommends a recent art exhibition and describes frequent attendance at festivals, jazz and the Playhouse. The beginning of this answer has a caption gap.
- Ashley CintasDescribes attending the Pageant of the Masters, visiting North Laguna galleries and exhibiting local artists in her restaurant, with plans to rotate work and involve other businesses.
- Laura ParisiIdentifies No Square Theatre as her principal involvement, describes attending Lagunatics the previous night and says she performed in it for roughly ten years.
- Mark OrgillLists the Promenade opening, Playhouse, Alliance, summer festivals, KXFM events and surf museum opening as examples of his frequent arts attendance.
- Nick AronoffDescribes attending the festivals and Pageant, including friends from local schools who now exhibit at Sawdust.
- Edward BayukDescribes frequent Art Walk attendance and his museum board service. Returns to his account of a proposed museum transaction before the time limit.
- Joy BerrySays work travel makes attendance difficult, but describes recent visits to the Sawdust Festival and Surfing Heritage and Culture Center’s local museum opening.
- Alex RounaghiDescribes museum and Festival memberships, past Lagunatics participation, summer festivals and the Jack Johnson Irvine Bowl concert.
- Karen MartinSays she is not a direct member of an arts organization but supports artists through purchases and practical help with festival booths. Describes attending the fashion show, Pageant and Playhouse.
- Parking in the arts district · 43:24
Do you support a new parking structure in or near the arts district? If so, where?
Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfCalls for strategic facilities and mobility planning in a land-constrained city. Says she does not yet know the answer and wants to consider changing travel patterns.
- Ashley CintasSupports more parking but would first improve use of existing peripheral parking and trolleys. Does not identify a location or endorse a particular new structure.
- Laura ParisiAgrees more parking is needed but opposes the city spending money on a structure at this time. Favors using existing resources and creative transportation alternatives.
- Mark OrgillSays parking is being considered as part of stewardship and regional transportation planning. Does not identify a specific structure site and says festival access is a priority.
- Nick AronoffSays he now supports a structure after listening to arts and business stakeholders. Suggests Act V, moving staff parking out of downtown and a design screened by trees.
- Edward BayukSupports strategically located, privately operated structures without local taxpayer expense. Suggests behind the theater and discusses a previous neighborhood parking proposal.
- Joy BerryOpposes a downtown garage because of additional day visitors. Prefers a garage in Irvine and expanded regional transit and trolley service.
- Alex RounaghiSupports a structure at the Village Entrance if funded through parking revenue rather than taxpayers. Suggests a $5–$10 Irvine Bowl ticket fee and continued peripheral transit.
- Karen MartinWould begin with existing and shared lots, artist loading and art pickup. Wants demand, cost, traffic and accessibility analysis before selecting a structure.
- Why the arts matter · 51:50
How would you describe the importance of the arts to Laguna Beach?
Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfCites an arts economic-impact study estimating about $90 million in direct and indirect spending. Connects arts activity to hotels, restaurants, retail, city revenue and cultural heritage.
- Ashley CintasHighlights the concentration of arts institutions and opportunities for people to pursue creative interests alongside other professions.
- Laura ParisiDescribes the arts as part of Laguna’s identity, an economic driver and a source of recreation and culture for residents.
- Mark OrgillEmphasizes the people who create art and the ongoing work required to keep the arts community viable and healthy.
- Nick AronoffDescribes the arts as the community’s distinctive character and part of everyday life and education. Calls for continued investment and wider recognition.
- Edward BayukSays Laguna’s long history as an arts colony offers other cities an example of art driving businesses, culture and community connection.
- Joy BerrySays the century-old arts colony distinguishes Laguna from other coastal towns and makes visitors fall in love with the community.
- Alex RounaghiConnects Laguna’s artistic identity to creative problem-solving. Supports offseason cultural visits that generate hotel and sales-tax revenue and enrich residents’ lives.
- Karen MartinDescribes art as Laguna’s soul, a source of connection and a way to experience life beyond daily politics and parking debates.
- Residents and visitors · 1:00:15
How would you balance the needs of residents and visitors while supporting the arts and local economy?
Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfEmphasizes managing day-visitor behavior, resident-first ticket opportunities, visitor data and offsite parking and rideshare arrangements.
- Ashley CintasEmphasizes visitor quality and overnight stays rather than greater summer volume. Wants data-based shoulder-season programming and easier access to arts venues.
- Laura ParisiWould maximize existing resources, improve signage and enforce rules. Wants studies to respond to changing conditions rather than repeatedly revisit the same questions.
- Mark OrgillSupports cultural and heritage positioning, designated festival parking and convenient artwork pickup. Says several related policies are already being developed.
- Nick AronoffWants tax revenue to serve residents and a thriving business community. Suggests vacant-storefront art popups and community events on the Promenade.
- Edward BayukProposes metered neighborhood streets with resident and guest permits, and strategic structures directing visitors into paid parking to support city services.
- Joy BerryFavors targeted marketing to people interested in galleries, festivals and specific arts events.
- Alex RounaghiDistinguishes beach day visitors from offseason cultural and hotel visitors. Emphasizes rule enforcement, Coastal Commission limits and arts investment that supports residents and revenue.
- Karen MartinCalls for an updated capacity study and integrating existing information into the General Plan so visitor management reflects what the city can comfortably accommodate.
- Artist housing and workspaces · 1:09:26
Do you support artist live/work housing? If yes, where?
Candidates discuss a mix of studios, live/work units and housing. Their unit counts, financing figures and descriptions of state rules are attributed claims, not independently verified here.Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfDefends the Land Trust’s terms and financing, including city interest payments and private philanthropy. Says the acquisitions prevented artists from being displaced by redevelopment.
- Ashley CintasSupports artist housing but wants a plan, repayment details and eligibility standards. Would prioritize existing land, zoning and permitting changes and private or LCAD partnerships.
- Laura ParisiSupports artist live/work housing throughout the city but opposes additional city spending on it.
- Mark OrgillDefends the Community Land Trust he helped establish and says its acquisitions saved 75 artist spaces, including some living space. Calls the effort a beginning rather than only a proposal.
- Nick AronoffExplicitly supports the Community Land Trust but requests clearer loan documents, eligibility rules and spending details. Wants opportunities for displaced artists to return.
- Edward BayukSupports artist live/work spaces and housing for first responders and critical city employees. Suggests state housing financing without Laguna taxpayer expense.
- Joy BerrySupports live/work housing, adaptive reuse and deed restrictions for people living and working locally. Compares Land Trust acquisition costs favorably with new construction and criticizes state funding rules.
- Alex RounaghiDefends the city loan that helped the Land Trust acquire properties and preserve artist spaces. Prefers repayable loans to grants and supports further progress.
- Karen MartinSupports preservation and reuse, distinguishes studios from legal housing and wants accurate counts. Favors financially feasible partnerships and outside assistance without new city funds.
- More use of the Festival grounds · 1:18:14
What activities would you recommend for increased use of the Festival of Arts grounds?
Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfSupports more Irvine Bowl concerts while addressing neighbors’ sound concerns. Says mitigation strategies will be tested at the Coast Film Festival.
- Ashley CintasSuggests a larger farmers market, TEDx-style educational programs, artist series and small-scale conventions with a wider draw.
- Laura ParisiWould ask residents what activities they want and consider impacts on neighboring homeowners, including concert noise.
- Mark OrgillSupports musical events, immersive experiences and participation by local artists. Discusses a proposed roots festival exploring culture, environment and heritage.
- Nick AronoffSupports more concerts and shoulder-season use, with parking, traffic management and resident impacts planned alongside each event.
- Edward BayukProposes opening the Pageant and exhibitor season earlier or extending it so more visitors can attend and support downtown businesses.
- Joy BerrySuggests more artist displays, popups, vintage and clothing fairs and pet-friendly gatherings to reconnect residents.
- Alex RounaghiSupports more concerts and cultural activities, particularly offseason events. Cites the Jack Johnson concert’s community and economic benefits as his rationale.
- Karen MartinCalls for forward planning and attention to the General Plan noise element. Suggests educational or local-government gatherings as well as appropriate concerts.
- New arts ideas · 1:26:23
What new ideas or initiatives related to the arts would you like explored?
Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfSuggests lecture programs, broader dance opportunities, children’s centennial art and more chances for LCAD students to sell their work.
- Ashley CintasEnvisions the town as a living gallery connecting artists with restaurants, hotels and shops that need artwork and creative services.
- Laura ParisiSupports connected hotel, restaurant and artist programming, more music and culinary arts, popups and thoughtful conventions.
- Mark OrgillDescribes more flexible public-space rules and centennial planning as a template for future creative events and collaboration.
- Nick AronoffProposes temporary exhibitions in empty storefronts, art-focused Promenade evenings and free learning opportunities for residents and students.
- Edward BayukSuggests popups for emerging artists downtown and on Festival grounds after the Pageant season, with quiet displays that also benefit restaurants.
- Joy BerryWants affordable ways for artists to gain visibility through displays, vacant space, newspaper features, Council recognition and social-media storytelling.
- Alex RounaghiPrioritizes more live music, suggests ticket fees to help fund arts investment and supports exploring artist residencies and idea conventions.
- Karen MartinSuggests different art media and student work on the Promenade, venues at the former St. Catherine’s School, and culinary classes with hotels and restaurants.
- Arts on the Promenade · 1:35:41
How can the Forest Avenue Promenade be used to support the arts?
Read every candidate’s answer to this question
- Sue KempfSupports displays, Art & Nature programming and the centennial commission. Defends including both local and outside artists in the public-art collection.
- Ashley CintasWants the Arts Alliance to curate Promenade arts rather than City Council or City Hall, and argues for more local artist participation.
- Laura ParisiSuggests music, craft fairs and popups, with arts organizations helping identify ways to showcase different art forms.
- Mark OrgillWants the creative community to propose uses. Acknowledges the sculpture process could have been better and defends moving arts projects forward.
- Nick AronoffProposes local artist popups, displays and installations. Criticizes the fountain selection process and calls for a stronger focus on local artists.
- Edward BayukWould solicit resident ideas and share outdoor space with emerging artists, including temporarily moving restaurant tables indoors for art displays.
- Joy BerrySees local live music as the most practical arts use given the weather exposure and surface limitations for dance.
- Alex RounaghiSuggests exploring a downtown business district to manage creative programming with city oversight rather than relying entirely on city administration.
- Karen MartinSuggests demonstrations, direct sales, residencies and culinary programming. Wants businesses beyond the Promenade to have equal opportunities to participate.
Questions and summaries are paraphrased for navigation.
Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Describes her Arts Commission, Festival of Arts and Irvine Bowl work and forthcoming centennial programming. Emphasizes enjoyment of the arts and community life.
Watch opening · 18:40 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceDescribes attending Alliance meetings and the variety of member groups. Encourages collaboration, awareness and donations to meet demand for arts programming.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsRecommends a recent art exhibition and describes frequent attendance at festivals, jazz and the Playhouse. The beginning of this answer has a caption gap.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtCalls for strategic facilities and mobility planning in a land-constrained city. Says she does not yet know the answer and wants to consider changing travel patterns.
- 4. Why the arts matterCites an arts economic-impact study estimating about $90 million in direct and indirect spending. Connects arts activity to hotels, restaurants, retail, city revenue and cultural heritage.
- 5. Residents and visitorsEmphasizes managing day-visitor behavior, resident-first ticket opportunities, visitor data and offsite parking and rideshare arrangements.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesDefends the Land Trust’s terms and financing, including city interest payments and private philanthropy. Says the acquisitions prevented artists from being displaced by redevelopment.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsSupports more Irvine Bowl concerts while addressing neighbors’ sound concerns. Says mitigation strategies will be tested at the Coast Film Festival.
- 8. New arts ideasSuggests lecture programs, broader dance opportunities, children’s centennial art and more chances for LCAD students to sell their work.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeSupports displays, Art & Nature programming and the centennial commission. Defends including both local and outside artists in the public-art collection.
The beginning of the arts-attendance answer has a caption gap. The summary covers the available text; no missing words are reconstructed.
Closing statement
Defends the Council’s responsiveness, accessibility and ability to work together. Emphasizes her positive outlook and attachment to community life.
Watch closing · 1:49:02 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Draws on arts, hospitality and business experience to propose stronger artist–business partnerships, new funding sources, opportunities for students and measurable results.
Watch opening · 16:44 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceSees the Alliance as a unified voice connecting organizations, galleries, artists, the community and City Council.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsDescribes attending the Pageant of the Masters, visiting North Laguna galleries and exhibiting local artists in her restaurant, with plans to rotate work and involve other businesses.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtSupports more parking but would first improve use of existing peripheral parking and trolleys. Does not identify a location or endorse a particular new structure.
- 4. Why the arts matterHighlights the concentration of arts institutions and opportunities for people to pursue creative interests alongside other professions.
- 5. Residents and visitorsEmphasizes visitor quality and overnight stays rather than greater summer volume. Wants data-based shoulder-season programming and easier access to arts venues.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesSupports artist housing but wants a plan, repayment details and eligibility standards. Would prioritize existing land, zoning and permitting changes and private or LCAD partnerships.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsSuggests a larger farmers market, TEDx-style educational programs, artist series and small-scale conventions with a wider draw.
- 8. New arts ideasEnvisions the town as a living gallery connecting artists with restaurants, hotels and shops that need artwork and creative services.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeWants the Arts Alliance to curate Promenade arts rather than City Council or City Hall, and argues for more local artist participation.
Closing statement
Calls for artist careers, student opportunities and sustainable institutions. Wants City Hall to connect partners, remove barriers, find outside resources and measure results.
Watch closing · 1:47:35 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Describes her financial career and service as elected treasurer. Says interference with that role motivated her Council candidacy and identifies finance as her strength.
Watch opening · 24:43 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceDescribes the Arts Star Awards and her involvement in encouraging a bank’s charitable contributions through the city’s banking process.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsIdentifies No Square Theatre as her principal involvement, describes attending Lagunatics the previous night and says she performed in it for roughly ten years.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtAgrees more parking is needed but opposes the city spending money on a structure at this time. Favors using existing resources and creative transportation alternatives.
- 4. Why the arts matterDescribes the arts as part of Laguna’s identity, an economic driver and a source of recreation and culture for residents.
- 5. Residents and visitorsWould maximize existing resources, improve signage and enforce rules. Wants studies to respond to changing conditions rather than repeatedly revisit the same questions.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesSupports artist live/work housing throughout the city but opposes additional city spending on it.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsWould ask residents what activities they want and consider impacts on neighboring homeowners, including concert noise.
- 8. New arts ideasSupports connected hotel, restaurant and artist programming, more music and culinary arts, popups and thoughtful conventions.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeSuggests music, craft fairs and popups, with arts organizations helping identify ways to showcase different art forms.
Closing statement
Pledges to restore cooperation with the elected treasurer, include artists’ views, apply financial expertise and support development that follows city rules.
Watch closing · 1:54:32 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Emphasizes civility, stewardship and the Council’s work. Defends the Community Land Trust financing model and says acquisitions preserved 75 artist spaces.
Watch opening · 22:36 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceDescribes involvement since the Alliance’s founding, past Seven Degrees membership and hosting its awards event. Supports continued collaboration among arts groups.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsLists the Promenade opening, Playhouse, Alliance, summer festivals, KXFM events and surf museum opening as examples of his frequent arts attendance.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtSays parking is being considered as part of stewardship and regional transportation planning. Does not identify a specific structure site and says festival access is a priority.
- 4. Why the arts matterEmphasizes the people who create art and the ongoing work required to keep the arts community viable and healthy.
- 5. Residents and visitorsSupports cultural and heritage positioning, designated festival parking and convenient artwork pickup. Says several related policies are already being developed.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesDefends the Community Land Trust he helped establish and says its acquisitions saved 75 artist spaces, including some living space. Calls the effort a beginning rather than only a proposal.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsSupports musical events, immersive experiences and participation by local artists. Discusses a proposed roots festival exploring culture, environment and heritage.
- 8. New arts ideasDescribes more flexible public-space rules and centennial planning as a template for future creative events and collaboration.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeWants the creative community to propose uses. Acknowledges the sculpture process could have been better and defends moving arts projects forward.
Closing statement
Emphasizes civility, stewardship and his arts-related record. Acknowledges mistakes can occur while projects advance and asks voters to judge his work.
Watch closing · 1:52:52 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Connects his family’s arts history and international business experience to a call for better communication, public debate, planning and conditions that allow artists to stay.
Watch opening · 10:10 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceDescribes the Alliance as an umbrella organization that can raise awareness, coordinate with the city and represent artists facing studio closures or displacement.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsDescribes attending the festivals and Pageant, including friends from local schools who now exhibit at Sawdust.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtSays he now supports a structure after listening to arts and business stakeholders. Suggests Act V, moving staff parking out of downtown and a design screened by trees.
- 4. Why the arts matterDescribes the arts as the community’s distinctive character and part of everyday life and education. Calls for continued investment and wider recognition.
- 5. Residents and visitorsWants tax revenue to serve residents and a thriving business community. Suggests vacant-storefront art popups and community events on the Promenade.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesExplicitly supports the Community Land Trust but requests clearer loan documents, eligibility rules and spending details. Wants opportunities for displaced artists to return.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsSupports more concerts and shoulder-season use, with parking, traffic management and resident impacts planned alongside each event.
- 8. New arts ideasProposes temporary exhibitions in empty storefronts, art-focused Promenade evenings and free learning opportunities for residents and students.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeProposes local artist popups, displays and installations. Criticizes the fountain selection process and calls for a stronger focus on local artists.
Closing statement
Calls for residents to feel heard, welcome criticism and different perspectives, and focus on practical results while protecting the arts, businesses, neighborhoods and environment.
Watch closing · 1:57:53 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Describes his decision to run, his experience obtaining campaign registration information and his concerns about city management and the need for change.
Watch opening · 12:30 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceDescribes the Alliance as a strategic arts organization and discusses his former Laguna Art Museum board service and a disputed museum transaction.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsDescribes frequent Art Walk attendance and his museum board service. Returns to his account of a proposed museum transaction before the time limit.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtSupports strategically located, privately operated structures without local taxpayer expense. Suggests behind the theater and discusses a previous neighborhood parking proposal.
- 4. Why the arts matterSays Laguna’s long history as an arts colony offers other cities an example of art driving businesses, culture and community connection.
- 5. Residents and visitorsProposes metered neighborhood streets with resident and guest permits, and strategic structures directing visitors into paid parking to support city services.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesSupports artist live/work spaces and housing for first responders and critical city employees. Suggests state housing financing without Laguna taxpayer expense.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsProposes opening the Pageant and exhibitor season earlier or extending it so more visitors can attend and support downtown businesses.
- 8. New arts ideasSuggests popups for emerging artists downtown and on Festival grounds after the Pageant season, with quiet displays that also benefit restaurants.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeWould solicit resident ideas and share outdoor space with emerging artists, including temporarily moving restaurant tables indoors for art displays.
Closing statement
Emphasizes fiscal responsibility, better management, transparency, longer record retention, property and business rights, emergency preparedness and practical traffic and parking solutions.
Watch closing · 1:43:49 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Links Laguna’s landscape and artistic heritage to community preservation. Describes her hospitality work and the difficulty artists face gaining visibility.
Watch opening · 14:34 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceCompares the Alliance to an orchestra conductor bringing roughly 30 arts organizations together and looks forward to the centennial.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsSays work travel makes attendance difficult, but describes recent visits to the Sawdust Festival and Surfing Heritage and Culture Center’s local museum opening.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtOpposes a downtown garage because of additional day visitors. Prefers a garage in Irvine and expanded regional transit and trolley service.
- 4. Why the arts matterSays the century-old arts colony distinguishes Laguna from other coastal towns and makes visitors fall in love with the community.
- 5. Residents and visitorsFavors targeted marketing to people interested in galleries, festivals and specific arts events.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesSupports live/work housing, adaptive reuse and deed restrictions for people living and working locally. Compares Land Trust acquisition costs favorably with new construction and criticizes state funding rules.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsSuggests more artist displays, popups, vintage and clothing fairs and pet-friendly gatherings to reconnect residents.
- 8. New arts ideasWants affordable ways for artists to gain visibility through displays, vacant space, newspaper features, Council recognition and social-media storytelling.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeSees local live music as the most practical arts use given the weather exposure and surface limitations for dance.
Closing statement
Connects environmental and hillside protection to the arts. Calls for creative spaces, housing, arts funding and a Council more responsive to residents.
Watch closing · 1:46:00 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Describes Laguna’s artistic history, Irvine Bowl music, Playhouse support and artist workspaces. Defends the city-loan model and argues artists must be able to remain here.
Watch opening · 26:11 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceHighlights collaboration on the tourism marketing district. Says the agreement will invest more than $15 million in the arts over ten years and argues against reducing that support.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsDescribes museum and Festival memberships, past Lagunatics participation, summer festivals and the Jack Johnson Irvine Bowl concert.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtSupports a structure at the Village Entrance if funded through parking revenue rather than taxpayers. Suggests a $5–$10 Irvine Bowl ticket fee and continued peripheral transit.
- 4. Why the arts matterConnects Laguna’s artistic identity to creative problem-solving. Supports offseason cultural visits that generate hotel and sales-tax revenue and enrich residents’ lives.
- 5. Residents and visitorsDistinguishes beach day visitors from offseason cultural and hotel visitors. Emphasizes rule enforcement, Coastal Commission limits and arts investment that supports residents and revenue.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesDefends the city loan that helped the Land Trust acquire properties and preserve artist spaces. Prefers repayable loans to grants and supports further progress.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsSupports more concerts and cultural activities, particularly offseason events. Cites the Jack Johnson concert’s community and economic benefits as his rationale.
- 8. New arts ideasPrioritizes more live music, suggests ticket fees to help fund arts investment and supports exploring artist residencies and idea conventions.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeSuggests exploring a downtown business district to manage creative programming with city oversight rather than relying entirely on city administration.
Closing statement
Emphasizes public safety, infrastructure and government services alongside arts investment. Defends artist-space preservation and wants wider resident involvement.
Watch closing · 1:56:05 ↗Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Describes art in her family and her purchases of student work. Calls for artist involvement in policy and practical opportunities to earn a living, find housing and create.
Watch opening · 20:50 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceDescribes the membership she researched, including visual and performing arts, education, tourism and media. Proposes more coordinated promotion; her answer is cut off by the time limit.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsSays she is not a direct member of an arts organization but supports artists through purchases and practical help with festival booths. Describes attending the fashion show, Pageant and Playhouse.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtWould begin with existing and shared lots, artist loading and art pickup. Wants demand, cost, traffic and accessibility analysis before selecting a structure.
- 4. Why the arts matterDescribes art as Laguna’s soul, a source of connection and a way to experience life beyond daily politics and parking debates.
- 5. Residents and visitorsCalls for an updated capacity study and integrating existing information into the General Plan so visitor management reflects what the city can comfortably accommodate.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesSupports preservation and reuse, distinguishes studios from legal housing and wants accurate counts. Favors financially feasible partnerships and outside assistance without new city funds.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsCalls for forward planning and attention to the General Plan noise element. Suggests educational or local-government gatherings as well as appropriate concerts.
- 8. New arts ideasSuggests different art media and student work on the Promenade, venues at the former St. Catherine’s School, and culinary classes with hotels and restaurants.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeSuggests demonstrations, direct sales, residencies and culinary programming. Wants businesses beyond the Promenade to have equal opportunities to participate.
Closing statement
Wants artists to earn a living and remain here, with paid programming and stronger connections. Favors lasting affordability and partnerships without additional city funds.
Watch closing · 1:51:06 ↗Search the complete caption transcript
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- 0:32Okay, I want to welcome [music] everyone who's here today. Um, uh, hi, I'm Jay Kramer. I'm president of the Laguna [music] Beach Arts Alliance and welcome everyone for coming to our Laguna Beach Candidates Forum. Uh we appreciate the candidates coming today and our audience
- 0:51uh here showing the support for the arts here in Lagona. Uh the intent of this particular forum is to have an opportunity for the candidates to get to know the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance and the Arts Alliance members to get to know our candidates. Uh the LBA is a vital
- 1:10heartbeat of the city of Lagona Beach. Laguna Beach is recognized worldwide as an artist community and this is validated by our arts alliance now having over 30 arts organization members. That isn't 30 art galleries. We're rich in art galleries in town, but
- 1:31it's 30 plus arts organizations addressing both visual arts and performing arts. These arts include live music, theater organizations, film festivals, poetry and writing organizations, world recognized summer art festivals, and a very special art
- 1:50museum. The LBA serves as a unified voice for the arts and we collaborate and partner with the city of Lagona Beach on strategic planning that supports the arts. Our organization celebrates and promotes the arts of all of our members
- 2:10and we uniquely host the annual Arts Star Awards, the Laguna version of the Academy Awards here in town celebrating the great achievements of special artists and special artistic events um throughout the year. It's a spectacular event and I hope you all will come this
- 2:32this coming April. Should you win the city council election, we hope you will attend our monthly LBA uh meetings where you will hear about the incredible variety and high quality of art, theater, film, and music events happening every week in
- 2:51Lagouna Beach. Um why does the LBA matter? You can ask that question. Um, not only do we create the unique brand of a worldclass uh destination uh for everything arts, but the arts are a key economic engine for Laguna Beach.
- 3:14As the most recent study shows that over $90 million of revenue is generated here in Lagona Beach based on the arts and fueling the city's financial success. That's why it's so important for our community to have city leadership that supports the planning and funding
- 3:33investments um here in in Lagona for the arts. As an example, the facility that we're in today, the forum theater, uh has been designated by the current uh city leadership as a high priority to invest in so that we can have an ADA compliant um and um facility and
- 3:56additional upgrades that are needed for this um incredible theater opportunity. So it can be a very viable performing venue here in Lagona Beach. So an example of our partnership is the exciting planning that's happening right now for the 100redyear centennial of
- 4:15Laguna Beach um which will be an entire year of 2027 of uh incredible events that will be happening in the arts. LBA is working very closely with Visit Lagona and the Centennial Committee on planning a full year of events to celebrate the 100redy year and
- 4:34anniversary of Laguna Beach. With 30 plus organizations and with each organization um looking like they'll have at least three events throughout the year, we should have a hundred arts events for our hundred years, which will be very special here in Lagona. Um,
- 4:56I do want to mention that um, uh, all of this with kickoff at the beginning of January is going to be very special with the mayor and city council and um, um, I'm a part of the Lagona Community Concert Band. We're going to kick off um, the the year with uh, kind of like
- 5:17an um, heralding trumpets at this event with the city officials. Allah Disneyland or the Olympics with the flag and these heralding trumpets that will play a fanfare and open up and announce the 100redyear celebration of Laguna Beach. Uh so with with all that I want
- 5:37to welcome all of you for being here today and um want to also introduce to you our moderator Tom Johnson um owner publisher of Stone News. Tom, uh, for those of you that, uh, don't know, his background, has an illustrious career in journalism, and we're honored to have
- 5:56him, uh, here today as our moderator. Um, I ask that everyone turn off their cell phones or put it on vibrate at this time. And, um, I also want to introduce you to our, uh, timekeepers, uh, Victoria and Nancy. um uh they'll be conducting almost like
- 6:17a little game show here where uh as timeke keepers um they'll give you um uh a 15-second warning. Uh can you hold up the sign? There you go. There's the 15. So if it's a minute, at 45 seconds you'll kind of get that notification. Um and uh and then at the one minute point
- 6:39um your mic will go silent. So um [laughter] so you'll kind of know that. So please plan accordingly on your time. Um and um I'll now turn the program over to Tom who will welcome you and introduce the candidates and an overview of the forums
- 7:00program this morning. Um thank you Tom. Great. Come on up. >> Thank you so much [applause] >> Thank you so much [applause] all me to be here. >> Good morning everybody. I I fought to >> Good morning everybody. I I fought to
- 7:12try to get this earlier. So, um but uh it is what it is. So, I think we have a good fun program this morning. I want you to I want to tell you that I I'm a big believer in the arts. Um I don't know if anybody here is familiar with Witty Hall. It's a new um lecture hall
- 7:31uh performing place that they opened in uh Newport Beach month or two ago. And I actually went in there before it officially opened and uh with a friend of mine with permission and I um sat got up on stage and sang a song. So now for the rest of my life I can tell people
- 7:49that I've performed on the stage at Witty Hall. So anyway, um I think this is a uh a wonderful opportunity for our candidates. We we have nine candidates. We limited it to nine this year. Um, but uh I appreciate, you know, it's always difficult. I I think people in in our
- 8:12communities they, you know, sometimes they rough up the candidates or whatever with their own beliefs and things like that. Takes a lot to be a candidate and go out and put yourself out in front of everybody. um not not only just a candidate but for for an incumbent
- 8:26that's been there for you know four years and kind of has this record and things like that that some people can challenge and whatever but uh I commend you all for being here to make uh Lagouna Beach better. So thank you for that. Um I'm going to introduce
- 8:41everybody going across. It looks like everybody's in the order that they gave me the sheet on. So I'll start to my immediately immediate left is Nick Arinoff. Nick, welcome. >> Thank you. Edward Beck is next. Joy >> Thank you. Edward Beck is next. Joy
- 8:56Barry, Ashley Centus, um Sue Kemp, Karen Martin, our mayor, Mark Orle, that's the only time I'm going to refer to him as our mayor, but I figured I'd show him some respect at the start of
- 9:13uh our uh our city treasurer, Laura Perez. Same thing for Laura. And finally, at the end, Alex Runagi. So, thank you all for being here. So, here's what the program is going to be. We're going to actually have three parts to the program. We are going to have um
- 9:30introductory comments from each of the candidates and then we're going to go in, we have a list of nine questions. We'll rotate them through and let everybody answer the questions and then we will come back and have a closing statement. Just want
- 9:45to assure everybody I have an afternoon tea time and we are going to get out of here. Okay. So, welcome and let's get rolling. And again, we're going to um kind of rotate through and everything, but we're going to start off with some introductory comments. You're going to
- 10:00have two minutes and um and uh you again, you'll turn to the timekeeper down here and they will let you know what's going on. We'll start with Nick Arinoff. Welcome, Nicks. Nick,
- 10:10Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> thank you. Thank you to the LBA for >> thank you. Thank you to the LBA for hosting this event. I I know we've had a lot of uh a lot of uh candidate forms, but it's important that we talk about all parts of Laguna Beach. Uh, I grew up here. I went to our local schools and my
- 10:22Nick Aronoff · answer segmentfamily's been a part of this community for generations and the arts have always been a part of that story. My mom and grandmother both participated in the pageant of the masters. My great-grandmother had a booth at the festival of the arts for about 25 years.
- 10:34Nick Aronoff · answer segmentAnd one of my first jobs was at the sawest festival. So for me, Laguna's identity as an arts community is is very important. You know, taking drama at Thirsten or ceramics class at Laguna Beach High School. You know, I've had an opportunity as well to live and work
- 10:47Nick Aronoff · answer segmentaround the world, learning three languages, opening up offices, running businesses, and and seeing firsthand how communities operate uh outside of Lagona. And every year, I've come home and I've watched other communities find ways to improve while hearing more and
- 11:01Nick Aronoff · answer segmentmore frustration here about how difficult it can be to live, work, and open up a business, and simply just get something done at city hall. And over the last year, I've attended the city council meetings, the town halls, and spent a lot of time listening to
- 11:13Nick Aronoff · answer segmentresidents across Lagona. You know, the message is remarkably consistent. People want to feel heard. They want better communication, smarter spending, and a city that plans ahead instead of constantly reacting after the problem is already here. So, we need a fresh
- 11:28Nick Aronoff · answer segmentperspective on city council. We need when five people too often arrive at the same conclusion without enough public debate or tough questioning, we risk creating a bubble. And we all know how Laguna can be a bubble sometimes. You know, good government benefits from
- 11:42Nick Aronoff · answer segmentdifferent perspectives and people willing to ask, "Why are we doing this? Is there a better way? It shouldn't take an election year for city hall to start listening." Residents deserve that attention every year, not just when everyone is asking for their
- 11:56Nick Aronoff · answer segmentvote. So we should also want talented people to come forward and work um to come and work in Laguna and also stay here as we know with uh artists struggling to stay in Laguna and good leadership creates an environment where employees can succeed and residents can
- 12:11Nick Aronoff · answer segmentfeel respected and
- 12:18>> so just to let you know when the time is done we will I guess you found out we'll turn off your mic. >> I thought I wasn't speaking to the mic. >> I thought I wasn't speaking to the mic. >> I thought I wasn't speaking to the mic. [laughter] >> No no so be prepared. Next, we'll go to
- 12:27>> No no so be prepared. Next, we'll go to Edward Beck. Edward,
- 12:30Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> hi. Good evening. Uh, good morning. This >> hi. Good evening. Uh, good morning. This is the first time we've had a morning uh forum, which is good. Uh, the evening ones uh are fun, too, but morning is good, too. I This is the first time I have ever run for a political office in
- 12:48Edward Bayuk · answer segmentCalifornia. uh longtime resident of Lucuna Beach, but um I just recently uh 48 hours less than 48 hours ago received my state ID from the Secretary of State. So legally I can run today. So anyway, put that aside. I I talked to them a few times. I learned that um you need to
- 13:13Edward Bayuk · answer segmentlive in the city. uh you need to be a registered voter and but it's a critical that um you're uh where you're registered to vote you need to live. So if you don't live there and you're using an address that you're uh that you vote that's a violation of election law
- 13:35Edward Bayuk · answer segment18,100. And so I went back and forth with the secretary of state and fair practices and it was interesting uh and educational and I think most of the candidates here I believe live here. Most of them are registered here uh
- 13:52Edward Bayuk · answer segmentlegally. But it was fascinating what I learned from the secretary of state and fair practice and it was interesting going back and forth between the two of them. But any event, I uh am running because um I have watched city council over the last 30 years and particularly
- 14:09Edward Bayuk · answer segmentthe last 10 years and three uh uh city managers uh the last one not properly uh running the city and I believe um you know things need to change and that's why you have six new candidates who are running uh this time and all of them are qualified Thank you.
- 14:31>> Very good, Joey Barry.
- 14:34Joy Berry · answer segment>> Very good, Joey Barry. >> Well, thank you to the LBA. Um, before >> Well, thank you to the LBA. Um, before Lagouna Beach had paved roads, high-end resorts, and restaurants, before it was a world-class destination, it simply had canvas, paint, and community of artists.
- 14:46Joy Berry · answer segmentI looked at these hills and ocean and decided to build something special here. This book I brought today describes the connection between art, landscape, and the ocean. It describes how Lagona Beach and the Green Belt are recognized as a historic American landscape of national
- 15:02Joy Berry · answer segmentsignificance. Our dramatic natural setting is related to this artistic tradition. This book, A Real Treasure, is also about a fight, a fight ordinary small town citizens banding together to save a historic American landscape, our hills and canyons. Its artistic
- 15:20Joy Berry · answer segmentillustrations reveal why this place is so special. It's an inspiration to people everywhere. And that's why I'm running for city council because I refuse to let Lagona become a museum of its past. We must protect the engine that makes us thrive. I've been
- 15:35Joy Berry · answer segmentdisappointed with the direction of our 50 council taken towards development. Our hillsides, our landscape, our historic character and tourism dollars. The fight of a small town came from the passion of artists. They were and still are the inspiration that helps with our
- 15:52Joy Berry · answer segmentquality of life and still moving it forward. Thank goodness. I attended the surf museum opening and loved the connection of the curators that they did with our ocean and heritage. I like the way Jane Hanover took a bookstore in the village and made it a book gallery and
- 16:07Joy Berry · answer segmentplace to wonder and explore the way one does with art. The company I run today restores and operates historic ends. And I know the challenges of running a business through economic cycles and how important it is to have businessfriendly leaders and to foster a culture of
- 16:23Joy Berry · answer segmentsatisfied residents. I know just how darn hard it is to be found in this pay-to-play economy we have. I can only imagine how hard it is to be an artist to be found. Thank you to all the activists and artists who fight.
- 16:43Okay, next up is Ashley Centis. Take it away, Ashley.
- 16:44Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Good morning. I'm Ashley Cintis. I'm a >> Good morning. I'm Ashley Cintis. I'm a local business owner here in Lagona and I'm running for city council because I believe protecting our future requires more than protecting our past. We have to make sure what makes Laguna special
- 16:55Ashley Cintas · answer segmentcan actually thrive into the future and the arts are a huge part of that. Um, a little bit about me. Before I opened ODO, I was um running a visual and digital arts company for North America. I oversaw 20 locations um in the US in a lot of small small towns and be markets.
- 17:13Ashley Cintas · answer segmentUm I although I have a twin sister who got the artist Gan, I can't draw a stick figure. Um I did uh study at Strawburg um in LA and study film at UCLA. Um if I could redo life, I would do Broadway. Um I love the theater and um film and write scripts on the side. Um, but in
- 17:32Ashley Cintas · answer segmentprofessionally, I've spent nearly two decades building hospitality and lifestyle brands, including the Ace Hotel, where art wasn't decoration. It was part of the identity. Wherever we went, we worked with local artists, photographers, and designers. So, the
- 17:43Ashley Cintas · answer segmentbusinesses we built actually reflected the communities that we were in. I've carried that into ODO, where we showcase local art and support local artists. And I think Lagona has an opportunity to do much more of that. We already have incredible artists, galleries, the
- 17:56Ashley Cintas · answer segmentmuseum, the playhouse, our festivals, and a business community that benefits from all of it. We don't need to reinvent our arts community. We need to connect to it better. That means creating strong partnerships between artists and businesses, creating
- 18:08Ashley Cintas · answer segmentopportunities for the next generation of artists, protecting the funding we have while finding new funding resources, and making it possible for artists to continue living and working here. And then we need to measure whether it's actually working. Are artists staying
- 18:21Ashley Cintas · answer segmenthere? Are people buying local art? Are our arts organizations thriving? And are we building the next generation? Lagona didn't become an arts community because someone marketed that way. Artists built this community and I want city hall to be a better partner in making sure that
- 18:35Ashley Cintas · answer segmentthey can continue to do that. Thank you.
- 18:38>> Thank you, Sue Kemp. You're up.
- 18:40Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Thank you, Sue Kemp. You're up. >> Yeah. I want to thank the LBA today for >> Yeah. I want to thank the LBA today for putting this together and all the residents that turned out today on a on a Saturday morning. I'm sure you have a lot of other things you'd like to do,
- 18:48Sue Kempf · answer segmentbut I'm grateful that you came and you're interested in what we have to say here. Um, this is always my favorite um, forum because we're talking about the arts and the arts are fun and it's okay to have fun in Laguna Beach. I just want to remind people of that. Sometimes in
- 19:01Sue Kempf · answer segmentthese forums we get so intense, but we have to also remember that it's a fun place to live and it's fun mostly because of the arts. So, my mom was a watercolor artist. Um, she was quite talented, but she had three kids and she was, it was the 1960s and she couldn't
- 19:16Sue Kempf · answer segmentreally do anything with her art, but she used to draw a lot for me, you know, and I I'm not talented in arts at all. So, she used to help me with my homework in the arts in the arts classes because she she felt sorry for me, but she'd help me and it was it was really great. So, in
- 19:30Sue Kempf · answer segmentmy tenure on council, it's really been my honor to serve the arts commission for seven years. Such a good group of people and very talented bringing all the public art into town. Um it's quite impressive the work that they do and I've also served exeicio on the um FOA
- 19:46Sue Kempf · answer segmentboard twice and got to know the FOA board people very well and how they run the pageant and how they run the facilities and that was is quite educational. Um I also serve on the Irvine Bull policy committee which was kind of a a a nothing job for Alex and I
- 20:00Sue Kempf · answer segmentuntil people wanted to have concerts in the bowl. So now all of a sudden we're we're busy. So that's the way that goes. And um we are doing a lot of work on the centennial as Jay referenced. Uh Mark Orgo and I are the subcommittee. We have
- 20:15Sue Kempf · answer segmentsome amazing plans for the Centennial. We highlighted those at the last council meeting, but there's not a lot of detail, but it's going to be a fantastic year for us. And for the arts, they're going to have their own calendar. And so they can you can see what what's
- 20:29Sue Kempf · answer segmentplanned, you know, every every uh month in in um our centennial year. And I think you guys will really enjoy it. I'm excited about the arts in town. I'm excited about the prominade. I'm excite excited about the surf museum at
- 20:43>> Okay, next up, Karen Martin.
- 20:50Karen Martin · answer segment>> Good morning. I'm Karen Martin. Thank you to the Arts Alliance, the Festival of the Arts, and everyone who helps make art a part of life in Laguna Beach. Art runs through my family. My grandfather painted. I have one of his paintings. My grandmother did needle point. Two of her
- 21:05Karen Martin · answer segmentlarge pieces are hanging in my home, including one in the laundry room. Art belongs in everyday life. I think my mom and the painting salon at the Suzie Q and the fun we had and how rewarding these art shows are. I've purchased work at the art shows. I've also bought work
- 21:27Karen Martin · answer segmentfrom student artists. Uh, this is my one of my mom's [laughter] and I I brought brought it so she could be with me. Um, one of my favorite experiences was a student art show in North Lagona.
- 21:46Karen Martin · answer segmentOur dancers, musicians, painters, sculptors, writers, actors, and art educators along with places like the Laguna Playhouse are all part of the fabric of this community. Artists give us a portal into different dimensions. You help us see and feel things we may
- 22:02Karen Martin · answer segmentotherwise miss. Humanity needs that. Artists need to earn a living, find shelter, and have somewhere to create. I have a planning background and am committed to listening. I want artists involved in the policies that shape their lives, stronger connections
- 22:20Karen Martin · answer segmentbetween our arts organizations, and practical opportunities for people to experience and purchase art throughout the year. I want to help artists continue to belong here. Thank you.
- 22:33>> Thank you, Mark Orle.
- 22:36Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Thank you, Mark Orle. >> Thanks, Tom. Thanks, Laa, and everybody >> Thanks, Tom. Thanks, Laa, and everybody who came out today. So, is this going to pick up my audio? Tom, you started out by um using the word belief and why people are running and it just made me
- 22:49Mark Orgill · answer segmentthink for a minute. Um I I believe in Lagona. That's why I'm here. That's why I ran the first time and I I did recognize one of the main things when I ran the first time was civility and it was really bothersome, you know, the state of of things back then. And
- 23:04Mark Orgill · answer segmentobviously we've come a long way and um beyond uh civility, I think that this council has made tremendous um progress and I understand a lot of the non-incumbents, you know, just um don't have the level of detail that you have and that you gain when you're on
- 23:20Mark Orgill · answer segmentcouncil. Um you know, we came out of a very serious inflationary cycle. I think that we've done a great job um balancing the budget and we can I believe that we can walk and chew gum at the same time and we've you know kept in investing in ourselves. I think a lot of us know that
- 23:36Mark Orgill · answer segmentI'm heavily invested in what I call the stewardship program and the three pillars, culture, heritage, and environment. And I've made a lot of progress, put together the house, the land trust uh for the and that acquired the three artist properties, which by
- 23:52Mark Orgill · answer segmentthe way, and I I like to talk about myself in these forums, but I think this is very important. At our last forum, I learned and I was astounded that there was not support for the acquisition of those three properties which saved 75 artist studios and that was a huge
- 24:10Mark Orgill · answer segmentaccomplishment. So remember that that model that we put together was done in such a way to where the city gets paid back their money. I mean what better model uh can you have than that? I was that was bothersome. I've been in involved with arts for many many years.
- 24:26Mark Orgill · answer segmentLooks like I'm running out of time. I can talk about this forever. I encourage anybody that wants or has questions and wants some real information, please contact me. I'll be sure I'll promise I'll sit down with you and
- 24:40>> Thank you, Laura Pereizy.
- 24:43Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Thank you, Laura Pereizy. >> Thank you, Tom. I started my career as a >> Thank you, Tom. I started my career as a CPA with a big eight firm in Chicago and was the CFO in a Fortune50 company when I was 28. I left industry uh for Lagona Beach government to be a mom to my two
- 24:57Laura Parisi · answer segmentchildren. I am Laura Paresi and have represented the citizens of Laguna Beach since 1999 as your city treasurer. I'm running for city council today, not because I'm tired of the treasurer job, but because the current council and management have made it increasingly
- 25:14Laura Parisi · answer segmentdifficult for me to do the job that you elected me for and the one I expect of myself. There are many financial issues that I think could have been avoided if with more financial uh focus. Bottom line is that my run for office is not just about
- 25:31Laura Parisi · answer segmentme, but it's also about restoring the elected city treasurer position for those who come after me. I love the arts, but my talents are math and maybe legislation and organization. My family has art talents. I have an engineer father who is a photographer, a
- 25:49Laura Parisi · answer segmentteacher mom who studied studied piano at the Helen Keller Institute in Chicago and a grandpa who studied at the Art Institute in Chicago. I am Laura Paresi, CPA and city treasurer and I urge you to vote. Thank you.
- 26:05>> Thank you all the way down at the end. >> Thank you all the way down at the end. Alex Runagi.
- 26:11Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning everyone. Thank you so much for having us here today. I think as we all know as we approach our centennial, the arts are what make Laguna Beach unique. Prior to even be being formed as
- 26:24Alex Rounaghi · answer segmenta city, the Laguna Beach Arts Association, not to be confused with the Lagouna Beach Arts Alliance, was formed and that later became the Arts Museum. And in 1932 during the great uh depression when the the last thing that the city could afford was was a
- 26:39Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentfestival. That's exactly what the city did. We came together and formed the Festival of the Arts, which later a year later was the Pageant of the Masters, something that the world had never seen and continues to be a magnificent thing today. I tried out for the Pageant of
- 26:52Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentthe Masters when or I didn't make it to the try out cuz my mom said I had to stand still for 30 seconds to be able to go to the the try out and I didn't do that. But but I was able to get involved as mayor by joining the board as an exeicio member. So, and I'm really proud
- 27:06Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentof the work that we've done to create more live music at the Irvine Bowl, including the concert last year with Jack Johnson. I'm also proud of the work that we've done to stabilize the Playhouse. We negotiated a deal with them to uh to basically um provide
- 27:20Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentfinancial stabilization in exchange for 10 weeks out of the year for local nonprofits. That's a gamecher for this community. And finally, you can't have an arts colony without artists living in it. And as the mayor alluded to, for for decades, people have come to this forum
- 27:32Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentand talked about the idea of artist housing and artist workspaces, what this council did is delivered not through through grants with taxpayer dollars, but with the loan that'll be paid back and the private sector philanthropy coming in to um to to make that a
- 27:48Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentreality. I think that's exactly the type of thing we should be doing as we think about Laguna for the next century is ensuring that the the we can have more spaces that are for artists because that allows us to know that Laguna Beach will always be an arts colony because again
- 28:01Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentyou can't have an arts colony without artists living here. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak and I look forward to the questions about this these important issues.
- 28:09>> Thank you. Okay, this is where we take >> Thank you. Okay, this is where we take the gloves off as in my case it's going to be my jacket cuz it's hot in here and actually it's not the gloves off. We have nine questions that have been prepared by LBA member the LBA member
- 28:24organization. They've not been given to the candidates in advance. Um and the candidates will be given one minute to answer each question. And the first question is and we're going to start with Edward. So take a deep breath, Edward, and get ready for this question.
- 28:41It's a trick question. Okay. What do you know about the Lagouna Beach Art Alliance?
- 28:55Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> Good qu good question. Uh Laguna Beach has many um art um organizations. They have many 501c3, 501c4, 501c6s. Uh I sat on the board of uh the Laguna Art Museum. Um so that has its own with I think 15 or 16 board of directors uh
- 29:20Edward Bayuk · answer segmentreporting discussing things with the president and chairman. The alliance is a strategic just like the Lagona Art Museum is a very strategic player in Laguna Beach. And uh one thing that people don't realize that I want to emphasize that uh
- 29:39Edward Bayuk · answer segmentduring uh a period of time at the Laguna Art Museum, it was almost sold to UCI and it was a bit of a catastrophe and I called a vote to the board of directors and basically no art museum because of that vote. Thank
- 29:56you. >> Okay. Joy Barry, the
- 30:00Joy Berry · answer segment>> Okay. Joy Barry, the >> Alliance is the conductor of the >> Alliance is the conductor of the orchestra because we have 30, I understand 30 maybe even more different art organizations and the alliance brings this all together to make
- 30:10Joy Berry · answer segmentbeautiful music and so that's something really to be celebrated and um let the trumpets roar in 2027.
- 30:19>> Very good. Ashley Centas.
- 30:21Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Very good. Ashley Centas. >> Yeah. um you know with having so many >> Yeah. um you know with having so many organizations and galleries and artists it can you know everything can be in silos sometimes. So the organization and um really helps together to bring
- 30:32Ashley Cintas · answer segmenteveryone together to be able to have one um unified voice be able to support and connect um the community together and city council and um just make sure everyone is you know working together and in good partnership. So it's good to have yeah good to have one uni uni
- 30:50Ashley Cintas · answer segmentunified voice for that. Great. Yeah,
- 30:52>> Sue Kim.
- 30:53Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Sue Kim. >> Yeah, I've attended a couple probably >> Yeah, I've attended a couple probably three or four LBA meetings and they're very interesting because it's a very dynamic group. There's there's 30 plus organizations in there and just to give
- 31:03Sue Kempf · answer segmentyou an idea like you'll have the Third Street writers, you'll have Laguna Dance, you have creative um identity, you also have the FOA festival, um community concert band. So, it it's a very interesting group and I think um you know going forward if some of these
- 31:17Sue Kempf · answer segmentgroups can work a little bit more um dynamically together. Um we can have even more events because there's so much talent in that room and so many people interested in promoting their art. We have more interest in the arts than we have money and we need to solve that but
- 31:32Sue Kempf · answer segmentmostly through don donations. So I think you know events like you know forums like this to create awareness of the arts is a really good thing.
- 31:39>> Thank you Karen Martin.
- 31:42Karen Martin · answer segment>> Thank you Karen Martin. Honestly, I didn't know much about the arts alliance. Um, so I did some homework and I realized that the arts alliance has um includes the city of Laguna Beach Arts Commission. Um, it also includes media and tourism, the
- 31:58Karen Martin · answer segmentradio station and visit Lagona as part of its membership. The visual arts and festivals are also a part of the arts alliance, stage and music, film and cultural venues, education and community, including the friends of the Laguna Beach Library. The Arts Alliance
- 32:17Karen Martin · answer segmentis our grounding uh is our grounding member organization for the entire community. Um, one of the things that I thought of is how can this arts alliance actually participate more? And for me, I would explore um more
- 32:39Karen Martin · answer segmentcoordinated promotion that connects
- 32:41resident. >> Stay tuned for the rest of that answer. Next up, Mark Orle.
- 32:50Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Yes, I've been associated with the >> Yes, I've been associated with the organizations since its inception. In fact, we actually used to be members when I had seven degrees. And they also do their um event which we've hosted as well, which brings an immense amount of
- 33:04Mark Orgill · answer segmentuh attention to the arts in Lagona. It's a great yearly event that that they do. And um so it brings all the uh art organizations together and helps them, you know, collaborate and uh with one another. is your stop sign is pointed at me.
- 33:22Mark Orgill · answer segment[laughter] >> And anyway, it's a great organization. I think that there, you know, there's a lot we can do um and uh going forward and I I do look forward to working with the organizations uh as well as other groups um in the future.
- 33:39>> Thank you. You know what I'm going to >> Thank you. You know what I'm going to do, Mark? Next time we have lunch, I'm going to bring that stop sign when you and I so I can get get some words in. Next up, Laura Pereizy.
- 33:50Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Hi. Okay. Um, well, I I know that LBA is >> Hi. Okay. Um, well, I I know that LBA is a collection of arts organizations that supports um artists and their causes. Um, the thing I'm most familiar with is the Art Stars Award. Um, couple of years ago, uh, I appreciate you, um, gave the
- 34:09Laura Parisi · answer segmentaward to a bank that, um, for the city, Bank of America. Um they were we were able to put um donation to significant groups in our um RFP and Bank of America um has a foundation. They donated and I appreciate that Art Stars awarded the bank and uh encourages
- 34:32Laura Parisi · answer segmentother financial institutions to do the same. Thank you
- 34:38>> Alex Runagi.
- 34:40Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Alex Runagi. >> Yeah. So, as as everyone else was >> Yeah. So, as as everyone else was alluding to, the goal here is how do we coordinate to achieve the goal of of being a worldclass arts colony. I believe it was founded in 2002. So,
- 34:50Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentsomeone can correct me if I'm wrong, but one of the areas that I think I've we've been able to have really good collaboration with with the alliance is in the context of the reauthorization of the tourism marketing district that would which is investing, you know, 30
- 35:04Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentum more than $15 million over the next 10 years into the arts. Without that, we would essentially be defunding the arts. And that's a very big deal, especially in the context with what we're seeing at the federal government level where there are cuts to the arts. And here, we have
- 35:18Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentto continue doubling down investing in the arts because it defines our community. And I look forward to continu continuing working with the LBA and and the various member organizations on how we can do that most effectively.
- 35:31>> Thank you, Nick Arnoff. >> Thank you, Nick Arnoff.
- 35:34Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Uh, yeah. Uh so what I learned about it >> Uh, yeah. Uh so what I learned about it is that the LBA is like the umbrella organization like some have said and it's great to hear that there's over 30 different organizations and like you know everybody hears about the festival
- 35:46Nick Aronoff · answer segmentof the arts and the soda. So, it's great to have an organization that can help ride uh raise all the boats in Laguna Beach with whether it's music, theater, writing, and um I think it's important to bring everybody together, have the relationship with the city to make sure
- 35:59Nick Aronoff · answer segmentthat everybody can coordinate to find out which groups are struggling um make sure all the artists get represented because as studios are closing around town and people uh aren't able to stay in Laguna Beach or have to have their own in-home studios that uh awareness is
- 36:14Nick Aronoff · answer segmentreally important and so it's great that Laguna Beach has invested sted in this organization. It's come together with private money and public money.
- 36:21>> Thank you. Okay, Jo Joy, we're going to >> Thank you. Okay, Jo Joy, we're going to be coming to you. Question two is this. What Lagouna Beach arts organization are you active in and or otherwise support? And what is the most recent art event you attended?
- 36:40Joy Berry · answer segment>> Had to Oh, there we go. I had to make a >> Had to Oh, there we go. I had to make a living by traveling a lot. I've been in the hotel business my entire career. So the first year I moved here, I bought a bunch of tickets and then I couldn't use any of them. So I'm a lastm minute kind
- 36:53Joy Berry · answer segmentof person. Some of the type of person that can't always attend. But I was just at the Sawdust Festival. I was at the surf museum. And so I I try to go every year to several things, but because of my travel life, I'm a gypsy. It's been very difficult.
- 37:10>> Okay. Ashley sent us. Um, the last event
- 37:15Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Okay. Ashley sent us. Um, the last event I went to was Pageant this summer. Um, similar to Joy, sometimes when you travel quite a bit, owning a hospitality company makes a little difficult. Um, but I went to Pageant. Loved it. Um, and I I'm fortunate. I live in North
- 37:28Ashley Cintas · answer segmentLagoona, so um, Gallery Row. I walk my dog every day and get to go in and see all the artwork all the time. Um, but yeah, I'm I'm involved in the sense that I support it throughout my restaurant and throughout. Um, I have local artists showcasing their art there. Um, we're
- 37:43Ashley Cintas · answer segmentworking on making that on an annual basis to be able to change that out um and promote that with the other restaurants um and hotels that you know I talk to and in uh friends with about doing that more often. So, how I'm involved
- 37:56Sue Kempf · answer segment>> samping and very trippy um del Toro, it's called Tipping Point. I saw it a few days ago and you should go see it. I mean, they have the doors closed. When you walk up, you can't see it very well, but when you open the doors, it's astounding. There's
- 38:16Sue Kempf · answer segment600 art pieces in there. You should I'm not going to say anything else, but I don't want to spoil it for anybody, but I've been to the pageant, the sawdust. I love the fine arts at the FOA. Um, I love jazz. I love going to the Playhouse. I think I'm seeing that 39
- 38:29Sue Kempf · answer segmentfeet or whatever it's called in November. But, um, yeah, I'm a I'm a frequent patron of the arts and it's one of the my favorite things about the town.
- 38:37>> Thank you, Karen Martin. Um, I'm not a
- 38:40Karen Martin · answer segment>> Thank you, Karen Martin. Um, I'm not a direct member of any of the art organizations, but I would say that there's a ripple effect. Um, and that ripple effect is not just by attending the shows, but by supporting the local artists, not just by buying
- 38:57Karen Martin · answer segmenttheir art, but by being there and helping them work through certain problems that they may have. Um, designing the booth at the Sawis Festival. um helping with the electrical, helping haul stuff. Um uh I my latest attendance to
- 39:18Karen Martin · answer segmentthe events I went to the fashion show right here. Um I went to the pageant this year and I've also gone to the Laguna Playhouse a few times. Thank you,
- 39:30>> Mark Orle.
- 39:32Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Mark Orle. Well, I attended the opening of the prominade last night with 131 performing. I've I've seen the recent show at the uh the Playhouse. I've recently spoke to LBA. I did attend all three festivals over the summer. I've
- 39:48Mark Orgill · answer segmentattended uh the KFXM uh few of their events, also their art talk event that we had recently at the Rivian. I attended the um all three days with the opening of the surf museum and um what else was there? I it could just go on. I I rarely miss any any of the
- 40:08Mark Orgill · answer segmentevents. So,
- 40:09>> okay. Thank you. >> okay. Thank you. >> I think you got the picture. >> I think you got the picture. >> Maybe it would have been better if I >> Maybe it would have been better if I just said what haven't you been to? Is
- 40:15that what you're saying? >> Okay. Next up, Laura Perezy.
- 40:19Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Okay. Next up, Laura Perezy. >> Thank you. Um, well, I'm a member of a >> Thank you. Um, well, I'm a member of a number of the arts organizations, but I'm probably most active in No Square Theater. I went to the opening night of Lagunatics, which was last night. It's
- 40:29Laura Parisi · answer segmentterrific. I recommend it highly. I was in Lagunatics for about 10 years as an actress, though I have no talent. I'm much better at math than being the treasure of Laguna Beach. Thank you,
- 40:44Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Alex Runagi. Yeah, like uh like Laura, I >> Alex Runagi. Yeah, like uh like Laura, I I the last time I think I was on the stage was when I was in Laguna Tix. So, um and that was a fun experience. Very nerve-wracking. Um I also am a so I'm a member of the Laguna Art Museum as well
- 40:58Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentas the Festival of the Arts. I really enjoyed attending the Pageant of the Masters this summer as well as the Sawdust Festival. And this was now almost a year ago, but one of the most iconic days that I've had over the past four years on council was the Jack
- 41:11Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentJohnson concert right here on at the Irvine Bowl, which I think was a magical day when the community came together, celebrated great live music, and we needed to more have more of that in this town.
- 41:21>> Thank you. All the way back down to >> Thank you. All the way back down to here, Nick Arinoff.
- 41:25Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Yeah. Uh earlier this summer going to >> Yeah. Uh earlier this summer going to support the Festival of the Arts and Pageant the Masters and the Sodus Festival. Uh, you know, every year it's great to always see uh the Last Supper. Um, you know, it even though it's what
- 41:38Nick Aronoff · answer segmentyou think is the same every year, it's always great to see it. Uh, I've seen it in person, been lucky enough to see it in Milan and then also obviously see it every year here in Laguna Beach. Um, supporting the Sada 60 years um, uh, anniversary this year. And it's really
- 41:52Nick Aronoff · answer segmentcool to see uh you know friends that I went to high school with and elementary school with now have their own booths whether it's glass blowing ceramics or jewelry. It's it's always great to to be reconnected with everybody around town and and support our local artists.
- 42:08>> Okay. Thank you Edward Beck.
- 42:11Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> Okay. Thank you Edward Beck. >> Well the best part about living in >> Well the best part about living in Lagouna Beach we live in the best place to enjoy all these different art events. There's not one probably uh artwalk
- 42:25Edward Bayuk · answer segmentevent that I do not go to. I always spend that time walking around visiting the galleries. Uh fortunate I was a board member on the Laguna Art Museum for a very long time. Um and big supporter of them. Enjoyed work. I I worked with amazing board of directors,
- 42:45Edward Bayuk · answer segmentvery talented, passionate people who had at a critical point in time I spoke earlier uh there came an event that the board of directors did not know that the president and uh Malcolm the executive director uh were in still in negotiations with uh UCI trying to buy
- 43:06Edward Bayuk · answer segmentthe museum and we had eight meetings. because I realized no one was going to call the vote and so I called it >> asked them to uh so Malcolm and >> asked them to uh so Malcolm and >> Okay, president stepped down.
- 43:18>> Okay, president stepped down. >> Okay, we're going to move along and >> Okay, we're going to move along and Ashley, we're going to come to you with this question. In general, additional parking is needed in Lagona.
- 43:29Specifically, do you support a new parking structure in or near the arts district? If so, where? Um, >> lucky you. >> lucky you. >> lucky you. >> Yeah.
- 43:42Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Yeah. >> Um, I >> Um, I I support adding more parking. Um, but I first would like to look at the parking that we already have and how we can utilize that better. Um, we already have
- 43:55Ashley Cintas · answer segmenta lot of we have peripheral parking, we have the trolleys. I think we could do a better job of not making downtown Lagona so bottlenecked and utilizing the outside parking and utilizing again the trolleys and and other avenues to um to just maximize the parking that we have
- 44:14Ashley Cintas · answer segmentbefore tearing anything down and building new. So I can't really answer to where that would be. Um but yeah, that's my answer. I think we need to utilize what we have.
- 44:22>> Thank you, Sukam.
- 44:23Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Thank you, Sukam. >> Somehow every topic in this town comes >> Somehow every topic in this town comes down to parking somehow. Anyway, um so I think we do okay in the summer in general because we have a lot of use of act five and the trolleys. It's the off
- 44:34Sue Kempf · answer segmentin the offseason. Of course, we don't have that. You know, we have we're kind of space constrained here because you when we're we're studying our facilities and we're going to have to probably build a new fire station one at some point. So, where would we put that? So,
- 44:46Sue Kempf · answer segmentwe have to figure out um from our um you know, kind of master study of the town, you know, what what is best to go where. And so, that's that's one of the problems. in in a in a town where you're very land constrained, you kind of have to think about very strategically what
- 45:00Sue Kempf · answer segmentyou want to do for what purpose. So, I think we just need to spend some more time on it. I don't really know what the answer is. I'm very curious about what's going to happen with mobility. So, you know, they have a lot of people coming in via Uber now and I think that's going
- 45:11Sue Kempf · answer segmentto happen more and more, you know, as time goes by. So, we'll we'll have to see, but it's it's definitely a it's on the mind of the current council and and I think we have to think very strategically about it.
- 45:20>> Thank you, Karen Martin.
- 45:22Karen Martin · answer segment>> Thank you, Karen Martin. >> Thank you. Um, >> Thank you. Um, with regards to a new lot, I I would start with the existing public lots serving the art district and the opportunities for shared parking nearby.
- 45:36Karen Martin · answer segmentArtists also need practical loading and unloading access and the buyers need a way to collect their artwork. Those needs deserve attention alongside with visitor parking. Before selecting a new structure, I would compare year round demand, construction, and operating
- 45:54Karen Martin · answer segmentcosts, traffic effects, and alternatives. I would walk the area with the artist, the venue operators, res residents and accessibility advocates to understand where access breaks down. Then we could identify a specific involvement, test
- 46:13Karen Martin · answer segmentit, and decide whether a larger investment is justified.
- 46:19Thank you, Mark Orle.
- 46:22Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Thanks, Tom. Uh, this is I'm going to >> Thanks, Tom. Uh, this is I'm going to try to boil this down to where it's not too complicated. So, I actually am meeting again with my fourth meeting with Daryl Johnson, the head of Orange County Transportation Authority. This is
- 46:33Mark Orgill · answer segmenta part of a bigger plan that is um part of the stewardship plan. Uh, is your direct question, are we going to um consider parking somewhere in Lagona? answer to that is yes, it is being uh looked at. We have already done a study as far as the trolleys and and other
- 46:52Mark Orgill · answer segmentforms of moving people around. We we have all of that data. Now, it's really taking a look at it, assemble, putting it all together. As you know, I'm working with coastal staff um to there. They have now partnered with us on the stewardship effort. Um Karen just
- 47:07Mark Orgill · answer segmentmentioned, you know, making sure that we can get the the festival serviced well. That will definitely be a priority. Um, so there's a lot of pieces to this puzzle, but I I'm working on it and I look forward to uh seeing it coming to fruition.
- 47:22>> Thank you, Laura Perezy.
- 47:24Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Thank you, Laura Perezy. >> Thank you. Um, I definitely agree that >> Thank you. Um, I definitely agree that we need more parking. Spoiler alert, that was one of the Laguna Tix numbers almost every year. But I don't think that this is a good
- 47:37Laura Parisi · answer segmenttime for the city to be spending money on a parking structure. I think we need to look at creative ways to provide that parking. Uh making sure that we're doing the most with what we have and um creative ways to move people around without impacting the city budget. Thank
- 47:53you. >> Okay, Alex Renagi.
- 47:56Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Okay, Alex Renagi. >> I I agree with my colleagues about you >> I I agree with my colleagues about you know about peripheral parking as an ideal solution. We operate the summer breeze program and I looked at the data recently and we have doubled the number
- 48:06Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentof ridership from that Irvine lot down to down to the downtown. I think that's a big deal because that those are cars that are not coming into Lagona and that that program is largely funded through the county OCTA. As it relates to the parking structure, I think we studied
- 48:20Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentthis issue long enough. I'm I'm for a parking structure at the village entrance. I'm not for the taxpayers paying for it. I think it it can be paid for by the parking revenues. And I also think a creative solution is to look at with more usage potentially at the
- 48:33Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentIrvine Bull having a five or$10 dollar fee associated with each ticket and that would help provide the funding um to make it a reality because the taxpayers shouldn't fund it but really the downtown and the arts need to have um a parking structure. It's been discussed
- 48:46Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentand studied to death and so I think it it makes a lot of sense as we think about the future.
- 48:53Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Okay, Nick Arinoff. Uh yes. Um we >> Okay, Nick Arinoff. Uh yes. Um we absolutely need a parking structure. You know, at first I was sort of against it and then after listening to the community, listening to people in the arts community and also the business
- 49:05Nick Aronoff · answer segmentowners downtown, you know, right now next to city hall it's all staff parking and we need to either move the staff parking to act 5. We have all the infrastructure to shuttle people back into town. We have all the Laguna local and all the trolleys and an act five
- 49:19Nick Aronoff · answer segmentstructure makes sense. It can be uh we can make it very Laguna. I went to school in Texas at SMU where they had very beautiful parking garages and I know it can be done here in Laguna Beach as well and protected with the trees so it's not imposing. If it means also at
- 49:34Nick Aronoff · answer segmentum at the digtor we something there but something needs to be done. We don't have we have to remove all the staff parking outside of the city and allow that to be for people who come here to spend money. For example, uh Whole Foods has like 15 20 staff. They all park on
- 49:52Nick Aronoff · answer segmentCliff Drive. So that that's just taking up all the supply from people being able to spend time in town.
- 49:59>> Thank you, Edward Beck. There are
- 50:01Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> Thank you, Edward Beck. There are strategic locations throughout the city where you could put a parking structure not at the resident's expense, i.e. example behind the theater, you could build a parking structure. You can't see it. Great location for a parking
- 50:17Edward Bayuk · answer segmentstructure. give it to a investor who runs parking structures. There wouldn't be any revenue for the city, but at least creates parking for downtown businesses because the downtown businesses are complaining that there's not enough parking. And we just added, I
- 50:34Edward Bayuk · answer segmentbelieve, one or two more restaurants on Forest Avenue, which went from one employee now to seven employees, which and then you have customers. So, there are solutions. Another solution was a building I owned for 20 years. I met with Sue Camp Whan and Shereé in June 9,
- 50:52Edward Bayuk · answer segment2022, joining potentially the SWA building 570 to the Legion laundromat to making that into a parking structure to neighborhood parking. Thank you.
- 51:05>> Next up, Joy Barry.
- 51:07Joy Berry · answer segment>> Next up, Joy Barry. >> I'm not a fan of putting a parking >> I'm not a fan of putting a parking garage downtown. I fear it's going to just bring in more day visitors and um I'm not sure it'll all be going to the artists. I actually prefer what Mark
- 51:19Joy Berry · answer segmentOrle was just saying about working with Orange County Transportation Authority and that you know most of the the the transportation comes from the canyon and why can't we work with Irvine to create a big parking garage? They have a flat land. It's inexpensive to build and work
- 51:34Joy Berry · answer segmenton more mass transit to get people in and out of the canyon through our trolley system and other vehicles. I think that's a better solution for the community.
- 51:44>> Okay, thank you. Okay, Sue, we're coming >> Okay, thank you. Okay, Sue, we're coming to you. Start this one off. How would you describe the importance of the arts to Lagona?
- 51:55Sue Kempf · answer segmentYeah. So, in 2023, there was a very comprehensive study called Arts in America, and it studied the um economic impact to Laguna Beach. And what they found was that in our local economy here, the arts account for about $90 million in direct and indirect spending.
- 52:10Sue Kempf · answer segmentAnd what that means is the direct is putting on events and stuff through the various arts organizations throughout the town. And the indirect means the people that come in and stay at our hotels, eat at our restaurants and and shop at our shop in our um retail
- 52:25Sue Kempf · answer segmentlocations. And that is extremely extremely important. And you can see it like during the summer for in particular when we have the festival going and the pageant going and the sawdust going that the town is very much alive. And I'm not talking about the day trippers. I'm just
- 52:40Sue Kempf · answer segmenttalking about the people that are coming in uh as patrons to the arts. So when I look at our budget, the fact that we have the arts or our arts organizations very active in town contributes a lot to our economic vitality and it's also, you know, as we know, part of our our
- 52:54Sue Kempf · answer segmentculture and heritage.
- 52:56>> Karen Martin, >> Karen Martin, >> um, can you repeat the question? >> um, can you repeat the question? >> I sure can. How would you describe the >> I sure can. How would you describe the importance of arts to Lagona?
- 53:13Karen Martin · answer segment>> For me, art is the soul of Lagona. It is >> For me, art is the soul of Lagona. It is what breathes the magic. We have this amazing backdrop of natural environment, but art is the soul of our community. It weaves us together. It allows each other to um communicate about
- 53:33Karen Martin · answer segmentsomething different than parking and politics. It it is um one of the reasons why I can be here. It's gives me a portal to being somewhere else in this busy world. Thank you artist. I appreciate your efforts.
- 53:55>> Thank you Mark Orle.
- 53:58Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Thank you Mark Orle. >> We obviously have a wonderful >> We obviously have a wonderful environment and a beautiful landscape in Laguna Beach, but art is the people. art is why a lot of us are here and there's a lot of layers to it to make sure that
- 54:08Mark Orgill · answer segmentit's nut nurtured and taken care of and um I think you know that's what I work on. I spend a lot of time uh working on the arts and all of the nuances to keep the the art art scene viable and healthy.
- 54:24>> Okay, next is Laura Pereizy.
- 54:28Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Okay, next is Laura Pereizy. >> The importance of arts to Lagona. Well, >> The importance of arts to Lagona. Well, I I think it's um very much a part of the identity of Lagouna Beach. It's a huge economic driver, not only in terms of funding for the city, but uh in our
- 54:42Laura Parisi · answer segmenthouses and whatnot. Um just extremely important. Um and finally, it's also a tremendous source of recreation to the residents. Gives us a sense of culture. um something more than the average city would have. Thank you,
- 55:04>> Alex Runagi.
- 55:05Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Alex Runagi. >> Laguna Beach is a special place because >> Laguna Beach is a special place because we are an arts colony and I think that we've applied that approach to every challenge that we've taken where instead of just doing the conventional thing
- 55:15Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentthat everyone else is doing around us, we approach problems in really unconventional and creative ways that's rooted in our artistic identity. My grandfather came to Laguna Beach because it was an arts colony and so I didn't I don't have his talents but that that
- 55:29Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentsame culture is is critical to the community. And then from an op city operation standpoint because our goals are public safety infrastructure and of the efficient delivery of government services. 60% of our revenue comes from property taxes. And so the question is
- 55:41Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentalways how do we maximize the toot and sales tax and the whole idea behind the tourism marketing district was to fill hotel rooms during the off season. That is a win for the community. When tours can pay, when we have more people coming for art shows and uh performances
- 55:57Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentincluding live music during the off season, that is a of that creates financial uh resources for the city, but it also creates a cultural place where people want to live.
- 56:08>> Nick Arinoff. >> Nick Arinoff.
- 56:10Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Yeah, I believe uh the arts are the core >> Yeah, I believe uh the arts are the core to the community. It's our soul. It's, you know, the attitude, the quirkiness. We're, you know, we're different than other areas of Orange County. And it's it's part of everyday life, whether
- 56:23Nick Aronoff · answer segmentyou're at with whether you're a student at school and you get to take classes that no other school district can offer or if you're walking through the park and you see plane air artists painting as you're having coffee or doing your morning uh routine. Um it's something
- 56:36Nick Aronoff · answer segmentthat we have to make sure we continue to take care of and we invest in because we can't get complacent. We need to make sure that the world knows Laguna Beach for the arts. Um yeah.
- 56:47>> Okay. Thank you, Edward B.
- 56:50Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> Okay. Thank you, Edward B. >> For a hundred years, we've been an art >> For a hundred years, we've been an art colony and people don't realize that things are created out west and they roll back east. And so what we have done here in Laguna Beach has helped the rest
- 57:03Edward Bayuk · answer segmentof the United States. And you look at defunct cities like Detroit and other places, we have taught them art drives businesses, drives culture, drives people to get together just like m music. So Laguna Beach has helped the rest of the United States and defunct
- 57:23Edward Bayuk · answer segmentcities. So we have shown the world and the rest of the United States what to do. And I'm very proud to be a resident of Laguna Beach.
- 57:32>> All right. Thank you, Joy Barry.
- 57:34Joy Berry · answer segment>> All right. Thank you, Joy Barry. >> How important. Well, all of the >> How important. Well, all of the California coast, all those coastal towns, they all have a beach, but only Lagona has a 100red-year art colony. Hallelujah. And I it is an economic
- 57:47Joy Berry · answer segmentengine. What did I hear earlier today? 95 million. I mean, it's what makes us special. I've been in the tourist tourism industry my entire career and tourism brings people here to Lagona, but it's the art that makes them fall in love.
- 58:02>> Thank you, Ashley Centus.
- 58:06Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Thank you, Ashley Centus. >> Um, so yeah, I mean it's the identity of >> Um, so yeah, I mean it's the identity of Laguna. We all we all know that it's important to our economy. Um, I think what's really really two things are really special about it is that one,
- 58:16Ashley Cintas · answer segmentthere's no other city in America that has as much art when it comes to a design school, a playhouse, galleries, etc. Um, in the density that we have it, and that's really special for us. Um, most importantly, what I love is that there's so many people here that come to
- 58:34Ashley Cintas · answer segmentLagona that their profession might not be an artist, but it's a hobby and they're able to fall in love with it and do it so often here because it's so welcoming in this community. Um, you know, one of the artists that we feature in Oda um in Odo is Yavon Schroeder and
- 58:48Ashley Cintas · answer segmentshe's a lawyer by day and then an artist um as you know, on the weekend. I think that's really beautiful to have a community that allows people whose passions can come out um and that we support that so much. I think that's how it's just really awesome and beautiful
- 59:02Ashley Cintas · answer segmentthat we have that. Thank you.
- 59:04>> Okay, as I look around this beautiful >> Okay, as I look around this beautiful little theater um something has captured my attention out there to kind of liven everybody up. This is a bonus point question. Okay, it does nothing for you. There's no order. There's no first.
- 59:19There's no second. Whatever. Who's that person in that back frame? >> Anybody tell me? Okay. I just thought it was interesting and kind of break up the mood a little. And uh >> it's Sarah.
- 59:36>> it's Sarah. >> I don't know who it is. >> I don't know who it is. >> I'm just [laughter] >> Sarah Schmidt. >> Okay. Carol. >> Okay. Carol.
- 59:43>> And how do we know her? >> And how do we know her? >> Um photographed by festival exhibitor >> Um photographed by festival exhibitor photographer Robert Gage. >> Wow. Thank you very much. Okay. >> Wow. Thank you very much. Okay.
- 59:52>> Anyway, we'll [laughter] get back to >> Anyway, we'll [laughter] get back to this program. I just, you know, as I'm sitting up here looking out at everybody and everything, >> she's staring back at me and I thought >> she's staring back at me and I thought
- 1:00:00it was interesting and wanted to find out more. Okay, next question. >> She's married. >> She's married. >> She's married. [laughter] >> So am I. No, I'm not. >> So am I. No, I'm not.
- 1:00:10Anyway, uh we're going to start with Karen, and this question is, "Visitors are vital to Lagona's economy and the sustainability of arts organizations. How would you balance the needs of residents and visitors?" >> The age-old question.
- 1:00:31Karen Martin · answer segment>> The age-old question. >> Um, thank you for that question. I love >> Um, thank you for that question. I love that question. Um, I think balance will come with a capacity study. And I know everybody's tired of me talking about the general plan, but the general plan
- 1:00:44Karen Martin · answer segmentand I think um the incumbents are right. There are a lot of pieces and parts that have already been done. They need to be weaved together and I think we need to update um some of the data which is the capacity study. Um, I know several years ago there was a a parking management
- 1:01:04Karen Martin · answer segmentstudy. Um, Lagouna Beach can only hold so many people comfortably and if we don't know what that number is, we may make a mistake. So, I would argue for a capacity study. Thank you.
- 1:01:25>> Thank you, Mark.
- 1:01:27Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Thank you, Mark. A lot of it has to do with how we position oursel and this is actually being worked on currently. Um you know if we focus on f uh positioning oursel as a culturally right we have we know we have the day trippers and we do have the
- 1:01:40Mark Orgill · answer segmentfolks that come for our culture and heritage but that it needs more work. It's it's in the process right now of being worked on and uh I think that there's other things that we can do to accommodate them when when they get here. For instance, designated parking
- 1:01:55Mark Orgill · answer segmentduring the festivals, whether it's through a parking structure or not. If there's a couple of lots that are set aside where that are designated strictly for festival goers and it was mentioned earlier, you know, that way if they do uh purchase art, is there a pull-up area
- 1:02:10Mark Orgill · answer segmentthat people could come to, drop off their art, and then, you know, drive home. So, anyway, there's a variety of things. A lot of them are being worked on right now and u and I look forward to seeing the results of some of the um policies that we put into place.
- 1:02:26>> Thank you Laura Perezy.
- 1:02:29Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Thank you Laura Perezy. >> Okay. Thank you for the question. Um >> Okay. Thank you for the question. Um what I would do is um focus on maximizing what we have. Look for opportunities to um enhance existing resources. Um insist on
- 1:02:45Laura Parisi · answer segmentfollowing the rules. you know, some simple in a crowd control type things, better signage that uh lower cost things and um also I I really like that, you know, as you as things change and as the town changes, study the alternatives um and have the studies follow the changes
- 1:03:06Laura Parisi · answer segmentas opposed to redoing the same studies uh over and over. Thank you.
- 1:03:11>> Okay, Alex Renagi.
- 1:03:13Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Okay, Alex Renagi. >> Yes. So, I look at the question of >> Yes. So, I look at the question of visitors in a nuanced way because that's really the the reality of how how we should look at this at this um as it relates to day trippers, people going to
- 1:03:22Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentthe beach. We are limited in what we can do based on the coastal commission. We're doing looking at capacity studies and we'll see how that plays out. But what we can do is enforce the rules. And I'm really proud. I looked at the data recently. We have a 79% year-over-year
- 1:03:35Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentincrease in summer citations from 2024 to 2025. We'll see what the data is for 2026. So, that's that's important. But then the question is as our as council members our job is to represent residents and as I said before the remaining the 40% that's not funded
- 1:03:52Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentthrough property taxes we want to maximize that. We want people staying in hotel rooms during the offseason uses. That's where the arts come into play. We want c people who are visitors that embrace the culture of our town. And what's great about having culture that
- 1:04:04Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentattracts visitors is that makes it a really great town for residents to live in. So that's why we have to keep doubling down in terms of investing in the arts. Thank you, Nick Areronoff.
- 1:04:15Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Yeah, it's about a balance. We have the >> Yeah, it's about a balance. We have the two different types of visitors. We have the day trippers and we have the visitors that come and spend money and invest in our community. And we need to make sure that tax dollars are going
- 1:04:24Nick Aronoff · answer segmenttowards supporting the residents, make sure all the services are available to them and making sure that we have a thriving business community so that residents can enjoy going downtown and enjoy shopping in our uh uh in all of our local businesses. And if businesses
- 1:04:39Nick Aronoff · answer segmentare struggling or if shops are empty, we need to be investing in new ideas and having fresh perspectives on how we can generate more attention to the arts. Whether it's popups in different uh empty storefronts or if it's utilizing the prominade to have more events as an
- 1:04:53Nick Aronoff · answer segmentevent space and less uh for um um for like the private businesses. It needs to be for for everybody around town to make sure that we can cultivate um the right environment for the visitor for visitors that spend money and not for visitors that are just enjoying the
- 1:05:09Nick Aronoff · answer segmentbeaches.
- 1:05:10>> Okay. Edward Beck,
- 1:05:12Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> Okay. Edward Beck, >> we are here as city council members, >> we are here as city council members, whoever gets elected to protect the residents rights as well as business owners. So ultimate goal, property owners, people who live here and
- 1:05:27Edward Bayuk · answer segmentbusiness owners. So, we need to drive the day trippers to where they pay for parking. And in order to do that, you have to meter your streets, give place cards to people who live here so they can give the place cards to their visitors and they can park for free on
- 1:05:46Edward Bayuk · answer segmentthe streets. What's happening is everyone's parking in the neighborhood and the people who live here are being struggled with this. And we're really good at doing studies, but we never do anything about it. So there are solutions. So the solutions are many.
- 1:06:04Edward Bayuk · answer segmentOne, building strategic parking structures, driving the visitors to where they pay because our revenue is what cleans up the beaches. Thank you.
- 1:06:16>> Okay, Joy Barry.
- 1:06:17Joy Berry · answer segment>> Okay, Joy Barry. >> Balance between Oh, a balance between >> Balance between Oh, a balance between residents and visitors. Okay, I am a techno idiot, but I do know enough that these tech industries know everything about us. And I think the key to this is
- 1:06:30Joy Berry · answer segmentmarketing and doing targeted marketing to the people who really do appreciate art, to those who are coming for the galleries, who are coming to the festivals. They are coming to the specific art events and I think the solution is through targeted marketing.
- 1:06:46>> Okay, Ashley sent us. So it goes
- 1:06:49Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Okay, Ashley sent us. So it goes definitely handinhand with the um our arts culture. So 50% of um the financing for um for our arts and for our programming is generated by tourism um tourism and toot and them spending money here. So it's a pretty big significance.
- 1:07:07Ashley Cintas · answer segmentSo we need to make sure that it's a healthy balance. Um I think it's not about bringing in more tourists. It's the quality of tourists that we bring in. And as I mentioned earlier in my opening is that I um oversaw North America for um a visual arts location-
- 1:07:22Ashley Cintas · answer segmentbased entertainment company. And in order to bring in more revenue in outside of summer where it's already super congested is you have to work on the shoulder seasons, right? And so that in order to be able to do that, we need to study the data more and so we can
- 1:07:37Ashley Cintas · answer segmentmake it where how do we bring in more quality visitors, have them stay overnight, where they're going to our galleries, where they're visiting um our programming that we have either at the Playhouse or the festival. Um and how do we make it where the parking is easier
- 1:07:51Ashley Cintas · answer segmentand everything more's [laughter] better for them to be able to come.
- 1:07:55>> You can keep going as long as you want. >> You can keep going as long as you want. Nobody will hear you, but you can keep going. >> Sue Kim, >> Sue Kim, >> I'll go for it. [laughter] She can't
- 1:08:01>> I'll go for it. [laughter] She can't some of her time. >> Yeah. Yeah. She I'll pass. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah. She I'll pass. [laughter] >> Yeah. Yeah. She I'll pass. [laughter] >> Yeah.
- 1:08:07Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, this is just a meaty topic. >> Yeah. So, this is just a meaty topic. So, I just want to differentiate between like the day the day trippers where we have the surge plan. We've done as Alex referenced, you know, so much better. We
- 1:08:16Sue Kempf · answer segmentwant to get incrementally better each year on kind of managing the shenanigans and bad behavior. But, you know, a lot of visitors that come to town like the same thing that residents like, particularly with the arts and you know, like Coast Film Festival, they're going
- 1:08:27Sue Kempf · answer segmentto have concerts in the bowl and for two days if you can if you're a resident, you put in our zip code and you get first choice. So, that kind of stuff is cool and I hope we can continue doing that. We know where the visitors come from. We know it from cell phone data.
- 1:08:39Sue Kempf · answer segmentWe have very sophisticated cell phone data. We know, you know, what cities they come from and so we can and I think the festival is really good at marketing. Uh, they know this and they're very good at marketing. Um, I think too that um with parking, we
- 1:08:54Sue Kempf · answer segmentshould do it like the Santa Barbara Bowl. They have off-site parking. They have an off-site Uber space and that I went up there a couple times and it was fantastic. You walked two blocks.
- 1:09:04Thank you. Now, it's funny. I I get a list of all the participants. Somebody else makes the lineup of where they sit and everything. I get prepared questions in a specific order and it turns out that the next question starts with Mark Orle and the question is do you support
- 1:09:26artists live work housing? If yes, where?
- 1:09:36Mark Orgill · answer segmentI put all of my effort into eliminating artists in town. So the answer would be so how do I address this? Yes, I spent a lot of time on it. created the land trust with my fellow council member Bob Whan and I'm proud to say that we have now completed the close of escrow on the
- 1:09:52Mark Orgill · answer segmentthird property saving a total of 75 units. A handful of them are live space. This is just the beginning. I would, you know, say that this is probably one of the most successful nonprofit uh formations in the history of Laguna Beach with the number of uh how much
- 1:10:10Mark Orgill · answer segmentmoney it's raised and also how many units it's uh now to date. I mean, I think that the organization is nine 10 months old and what it's already achieved. So, that's my where I stand. I don't just talk about it. I I do it.
- 1:10:24>> Thank you, Laura Perezy. >> Thank you, Laura Perezy. >> Thank you for the >> Thank you for the Laura Perezy, >> I'm Oh, there we go.
- 1:10:31Laura Parisi · answer segment>> I'm Oh, there we go. >> Yes, I do. Um I support artists live >> Yes, I do. Um I support artists live work housing, but uh what is uh currently in place? I I um am not in favor of the city spending more money on um housing, artist live work housing. Um
- 1:10:47Laura Parisi · answer segmentand I I would encourage uh artist live work housing throughout the city. I I don't think it should be located in a specific area. I think it should be um throughout the city.
- 1:11:00>> Just to let you know, I did give Mark a >> Just to let you know, I did give Mark a permission slip to leave just for a minute. Okay. So, we're all good there. Um Alex Reinagi.
- 1:11:10Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Yeah, I was I was very proud to support >> Yeah, I was I was very proud to support the city loan to make the the land trust a reality. When we think about what would have happened, it wouldn't be that those the artists that were at that at the um the property that went on the
- 1:11:24Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentmarket, they would they likely would not still be here today were it not for the city coming in and playing a role in filling the capital gap because ultimately the city resources have to be involved. I think it's good when you can use city resources alone rather than a
- 1:11:37Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentgrant and that's exactly what we did. And so when we think about the fact that this has been an issue where there have probably been at least five different studies or reports on how do we keep artists in town instead of talking about it and studying studying the issue. I'm
- 1:11:51Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentreally proud that you know four years ago when when we were asked this question there was support for it and it's really exciting that we have actually made it a reality because there's never it's it's hard to make things happen in this town and um so I'm
- 1:12:02Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentproud of the work that was h that we know that there are going to be 75 artist spaces in perpetuity in the city of Laguna Beach and I think we can continue to make that more.
- 1:12:11>> Thank you Nick Arinoff.
- 1:12:13Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Thank you Nick Arinoff. >> Uh I support the community land trust. I >> Uh I support the community land trust. I think it's very important to keep artists uh living and working in Lagouna Beach. I think the the issue that a lot of the uh the challengers on stage have
- 1:12:24Nick Aronoff · answer segmentand people in the community is what are the details of the of the documents of the of the loans and where the money's been going around. Um you know, we shouldn't be using tax dollars in this way where we're moving it around from different buckets. We need to be more
- 1:12:37Nick Aronoff · answer segmentfiscally responsible so we don't get into this situation. And the bigger question is who qualifies for these properties? Is there a list? What is that? That needs to all be very uh transparent because we not only need to be keeping those in town, but there's a
- 1:12:51Nick Aronoff · answer segmentlot of artists that have already had to leave Laguna Beach and we need to find ways to bring them back in. And so I'm hoping that with this community land trust, we get more transparency on those details of making sure that it's not just supporting those at those existing
- 1:13:06Nick Aronoff · answer segmentproperties already that we're able to bring people back or help make sure that certain uh um artists are pushed out.
- 1:13:16>> Just to go on record, [clears throat] I >> Just to go on record, [clears throat] I support journalist uh land trust. So anyway, uh Edward, you're up next. Uh
- 1:13:25Edward Bayuk · answer segmentyes, I do support live work artist spaces. I also support housing for first responders and critical employees that operate our city which is very strategic. As you know, we have experienced high turnover at down at the city. Having proper housing provided to
- 1:13:47Edward Bayuk · answer segmentemployees will lower the turnover and we will not have to pay uh such huge salaries to keep them. So I do support live work. Uh you we can get money from the state California housing finance agency could provide financing for these uh live work artist sloths as well as uh
- 1:14:10Edward Bayuk · answer segmenthousing for our first responders out of no taxpayers money in Laguna Beach. So there is money available from the state of California and we do a very bad job asking for the money. Thank you. Okay,
- 1:14:25Joy Barry,
- 1:14:27Joy Berry · answer segment>> I do support live work living here in >> I do support live work living here in Laguna, but this is where I think Sacramento's got it wrong. In fact, Sacramento will only give the money if it's a new build. And the economics are far superior for the land trust of what
- 1:14:42Joy Berry · answer segmentum the city did in the canyon where it was about a 230,000 per unit um way to have work live artists versus the NCC which is about a million3 per unit. And but unfortunately the state laws don't recognize retrofitting. And I think the best way to bring in more um affordable
- 1:15:02Joy Berry · answer segmentliving here would be to retrofit some of the existing uh facilities that we have and do a deed restriction, which is what the California our land trust did, saying that the occupancy has to be for people living and working in Lagona, which is far better than open up to
- 1:15:21Joy Berry · answer segmentanybody to live and work in our affordable housing.
- 1:15:24>> Okay, Ashley sent us. So, I mean, we're
- 1:15:27Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Okay, Ashley sent us. So, I mean, we're all for um live work housing for artists. And I do want to clarify to an earlier point that was made. None of us um candidates are against that. The question the what we posed in the last forum was that there was no plan when we
- 1:15:42Ashley Cintas · answer segmentdid the community land trust and how the money was going to be paid back, what are their qualifications for the people that are coming here. And so, in order to be able to do more live work um and affordable housing for artists is that there has to be a plan behind it. And so
- 1:15:56Ashley Cintas · answer segmentwhere is there existing land before going wanting to purchase new or do new development that we can be able to work with the zoning and the permitting to be able to create more housing. Um and is there partnerships that we can do with private or elcad? Um and I would much
- 1:16:13Ashley Cintas · answer segmentrather look down look in that route versus just buying new land or creating more development for no reason with no plan in place.
- 1:16:20>> Sue Kemp.
- 1:16:21Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Sue Kemp. >> Yeah. So there's actually four four >> Yeah. So there's actually four four parcels. two have been underwritten by the very generous Patrick Quilter who's basically paying for everything in this town right now. And then we have the two
- 1:16:31Sue Kempf · answer segmentother parcels um that we have we get we get a 4% return just as if we had the money invested. So that's $320,000 we get from the land trust. But as Alex mentioned you and we we that are serving on the council know this very well. We could we would have had developers
- 1:16:46Sue Kempf · answer segmentcoming in and taking those properties and the artists would have been out. And I see some artists here in the audience that are have studios there and have had studios there for years. And so I don't there's no fiscal irresponsibility. There's no lack of transparency. You can
- 1:17:00Sue Kempf · answer segmentGoogle the terms of the land trust and we've had you know meetings on that the council but it it's a very very good move for our community because we don't have artists. We're just another nondescript beach town.
- 1:17:11>> Karen Martin.
- 1:17:12Karen Martin · answer segment>> Karen Martin. >> Thank you. Um, I support helping artists >> Thank you. Um, I support helping artists remain here and I would start with pres preserving existing spaces and exploring suitable buildings for reuse. But we need to distinguish legal housing from
- 1:17:25Karen Martin · answer segmentstudios. Both are important and the numbers should be accurate. Locations should be evaluated for safety, access, compatibility, and feasibility with artists involved from the beginning. My current priority would be public private partnerships, mixed income approaches,
- 1:17:43Karen Martin · answer segmentand appropriate state and federal assistance that requires new cont no new contribution from Laguna Beach's own funds. Any proposal must make sense financially. I would ask people to take a look at
- 1:17:59Karen Martin · answer segmentWave WAV. Um, it's working artist Ventura. It's a perfect example of mixed income housing. Thank you.
- 1:18:08>> Okay, this one we're going to come to >> Okay, this one we're going to come to Laura Parizi to start. The question is this. A community survey indicated that Lagona residents favor increased use of the Festival of Arts grounds. What activities would you recommend for
- 1:18:28increased use of the grounds?
- 1:18:32Laura Parisi · answer segmentHm. Um, it's interesting the survey didn't ask residents that question. I I would I would check with residents and see what types of activities they would like to see in the festival grounds. Certainly, the um the recent concert was um well received by the attendees. I
- 1:18:49Laura Parisi · answer segmenthope the homeowners who lived around there were okay with um the noise and whatnot. Um so I I would ask the residents.
- 1:19:00Alex Reagi.
- 1:19:02Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Yes. So, I think that the resident >> Yes. So, I think that the resident survey was that 90% of the residents want more use of the Festival of the Arts grounds and I'm really proud of the work that we've done to deliver that with respect to the concerts that we had
- 1:19:12Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentlast year with Jack Johnson. As I said before, it was one of the most magical nights from a cultural standpoint, but also when I drove to to the downtown in route to that concert, I've never seen the downtown more alive. All the businesses were full. um the restaurants
- 1:19:26Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentwere were you know doing well and that and it it was just a win for the community because it brought people together and we need more of that. I think that also when we're thinking about the idea of how do we maximize the amount of people who are coming and
- 1:19:40Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentstaying at our hotels during the off season there's no better use of it than having more concerts and other cultural activities. I believe that the the hotels were full during that weekend of the Jack Johnson concert and I'm looking forward to more of that. I I look
- 1:19:54Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentforward to continue collaborating with um you know I work with uh former mayor Baglin on the Urban Policy Committee and uh Sue Kemp and and I
- 1:20:04>> we'll never know. Um Nick Areronoff.
- 1:20:08Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> we'll never know. Um Nick Areronoff. >> Yeah. Uh I'm not familiar with that >> Yeah. Uh I'm not familiar with that specific uh poll, but I I believe that we should have more concerts and more use of the um Festival of the Arts grounds um in the shoulder seasons. Uh
- 1:20:20Nick Aronoff · answer segmentwhen it's if the if residents are asking for it, we need to be listening to them and find other ways to help make sure that our economy is moving forward and and um we're getting people investing in the town outside of this the uh the summer season. I think it's important
- 1:20:35Nick Aronoff · answer segmentthough if we do this, we need to be making sure that we're looking at everything that happens when we have those events like parking or like traffic controls and making sure we have people out there directing traffic and it's it's not just let's just have a
- 1:20:47Nick Aronoff · answer segmentconcert but not be thinking about the other impacts on the residents.
- 1:20:51>> Great. Edward Beck,
- 1:20:53Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> Great. Edward Beck, >> I'm a little bit of an unconventional >> I'm a little bit of an unconventional thinker. So, here's my thoughts. I go to ArtWalk all the time. I go to the pageant way too many times. I by I invite friends from LA, San Diego. I
- 1:21:08Edward Bayuk · answer segmentbelieve we should extend or open early the pageant of the masters and the exhibitors and run it longer so that this the the people who come here on buses go to dinner downtown and then they go back to the buses and leave. But I think we should extend it so that
- 1:21:30Edward Bayuk · answer segmentpeople can enjoy it more. I feel it's too short. Maybe I'm selfish. I live here, but I get to go a lot. I get to walk in the back gate. Thank you.
- 1:21:42>> I hope you noticed that Edward's biggest >> I hope you noticed that Edward's biggest accent was on leave, right? No. Joy Barry, [laughter]
- 1:21:56Joy Berry · answer segment>> I got to regroup after that. Okay. um increased use of the festival grounds. I agree we should do it. And I think a a great way would be to give more ability for the Sawdust Festival people to display their arts, but a big thing is a popups. Popups for residentials, like a
- 1:22:09Joy Berry · answer segmentvintage um fair for antiques, uh clothing fairs. We could even have yappy hours. I think people and their pets come together and they they get to know one another neighbor and they're nicer to one another. um reconnect our community because I think there's a lot
- 1:22:24Joy Berry · answer segmentof anger and discourse and I would love to see the festivals be a place of joy and and reunion.
- 1:22:30>> Great. Ashley sent us.
- 1:22:33Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Great. Ashley sent us. >> Um I yeah, I definitely think from like >> Um I yeah, I definitely think from like a local community aspect it can be used more whether it's we expand um uh the farmers market and put it in here. But I I am a big nerd. I would love to see
- 1:22:46Ashley Cintas · answer segmentfrom like a bigger national draw um like TEDex. I think TEDex and anything educational will be really great here. Um, artist series would be great here. Um, also being having my career in hospitality. Um, conventions are a huge driver for a lot of the B markets that I
- 1:23:03Ashley Cintas · answer segmentwas in or smaller towns. And not saying we need a massive ComicCon convention here, but I think that there's a lot of opportunity to have smaller scale um, uh, conventions that bring in a more state or national draw of people wanting to come here and definitely more on the
- 1:23:18Ashley Cintas · answer segmenteducational base.
- 1:23:19>> Great. Thank you. Uh Sue Camp. >> Great. Thank you. Uh Sue Camp.
- 1:23:22Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Yeah, thank you. So, we did poll the >> Yeah, thank you. So, we did poll the community and then the three highest three highest um priorities from the community when we pulled them was use of the Irvine Bull 90%. That was like the number one. Number two was the hospital.
- 1:23:33Sue Kempf · answer segmentNumber three was the prominant. So, we're working on all three of those things. So, I think we're being responsive to the residents in terms of their interest in town. Um, when we had the Jack Johnson concert, it really lit the pilot light for concerts in the bowl
- 1:23:44Sue Kempf · answer segmentand those those people who were there that night and it's really unfortunate that they weren't there, they didn't perform more than two nights because it'd be great if more residents got to see that. But but it was it was fantastic. So, I've been working a lot
- 1:23:56Sue Kempf · answer segmenton sound mitigation for the bowl because the neighbors back behind the bowl, you know, of course, they don't want to be, you know, they don't want to have a bad quality of life when we're having concerts. So, we've been working on different mitigation strategies and we
- 1:24:07Sue Kempf · answer segmentwill be testing some of those at the upcoming um Coast Film Festival at the end of October and we'll have a more definitive plan there for sound. But it there's a lot of interest in town and there's a lot of interest in making this bowl a good uh venue and uh lots of
- 1:24:23Sue Kempf · answer segmentconcert.
- 1:24:24>> Thank you. Um Karen Martin,
- 1:24:27Karen Martin · answer segment>> Thank you. Um Karen Martin, >> hi. Um so with the bull um I think one >> hi. Um so with the bull um I think one of the things that we need to do is not be so reactionary but we need to look at forward planning. Um, I think the festival grounds has a lot of um,
- 1:24:41Karen Martin · answer segmentopportunities, not just for concerts, but with the concerts, I'd ask that the current council uh, look at the noise element of the general plan because it actually calls out the festival grounds and says what can and cannot be done there based on the noise levels. Um,
- 1:24:59Karen Martin · answer segmentthat being said, I agree with Ashley. I think the festival grounds could be used for something like an Aspen in institute for local government. I think our um politics here is unique to us but not new unique to the rest of the world. Um so that would be my suggestion. Thank
- 1:25:19Karen Martin · answer segmentyou
- 1:25:20>> Mark Oral.
- 1:25:22Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Mark Oral. >> Uh yeah, thanks for the question again. >> Uh yeah, thanks for the question again. So I would like to see the uh venue being uh used for some interesting uh musical events. Definitely. I also think that there's an opportunity for some
- 1:25:33Mark Orgill · answer segmentcreative exploration. You know, I know KFXFM uh recently had brought the idea of a roots festival which really appealed to me and it uh was kind of an immersive experience and I think they were going to use the bowl and the grounds where they explored uh all the
- 1:25:49Mark Orgill · answer segmentthree pillars culture um environment and heritage. So, I think that there's a lot that we could uh do, you know, a lot of exper experiential opportunities, a lot of uh room for our local artists to come and uh participate, experiment, and just try try some new things. So, um and I do
- 1:26:07Mark Orgill · answer segmentthink that ultimately we're going to work things out with the neighbors and come to a a model that is win-win.
- 1:26:15>> Thank you, Alex. We're going to come >> Thank you, Alex. We're going to come down to you and and Mark, you kind of set up this next question. it is. Do you have any new ideas or initiatives related to the arts that you would like to see explored?
- 1:26:32Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentOne of the things that I've learned on city council is that when you try to do everything you end up doing, it's hard to to do anything. And so I'm really focused on delivering as it relates to working with the Festival of the Arts on how we can bring more live music here. I
- 1:26:46Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentthink it creates an opportunity in in several ways, both for the cultural vitality of the town, but then also if we have a 5 or $10 fee on the tickets that could be used to to better fund the arts and potentially to um to have a multiplier effect in terms of doubling
- 1:27:02Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentdown with our investment. I also like the idea of an artist in residence program where you could potentially have world-class artists come here, come for a year, do exhibits. I think that's a really interesting idea that would add to the cultural vitality of the town. I
- 1:27:16Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentalso really like the ideas presented up here about more um idea conventions and things like that. Um so I think there's a lot of opportunity and I'm excited to work on um how we can over the next four years shape the arts for the next century at Laguna Beach.
- 1:27:31>> Thank you, Nick Erinoff.
- 1:27:33Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Thank you, Nick Erinoff. >> Yeah, I believe uh we need more exposure >> Yeah, I believe uh we need more exposure for all of the artists. I previously mentioned about pop-ups. We have a lot of empty storefronts in town because it's very difficult to open up a
- 1:27:42Nick Aronoff · answer segmentbusiness in Laguna Beach. So, we should be curating different ex exhibitions in different parts of town at these empty storefronts and working with the property owners even if it's just for one month or a couple months. Obviously, utilizing the prominade for for the same
- 1:27:56Nick Aronoff · answer segmentuh types of events. We could have like we have the artwalk like Ed's mentioned. We could have more evenings on the prominade that are more art focused for the residents and for people from out of town that want to spend money on our art. We could also look at more
- 1:28:08Nick Aronoff · answer segmentopportunities for residents to have u whether it's uh um you know ways to to learn about painting and learning about ceramics and having more free opportunities for residents and students to to get more involved in the arts.
- 1:28:23>> Edward Beck
- 1:28:24Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> Edward Beck >> I I think uh having popups now that the >> I I think uh having popups now that the Forest Avenue has done uh allow new artists exposure. So allowing them them to do popups downtown. Also possibly doing popups for new artists to expose
- 1:28:42Edward Bayuk · answer segmentthemselves here after the pageant closes and let them come in and do their popup. So, we extend the use of uh the facility here and and it's quiet, so you're not going to bother the neighbors in the back, but you're going to drive outsiders here to buy art, to look at
- 1:29:05Edward Bayuk · answer segmentnew art, new artists downtown as well as here, and they'll go to our restaurants and eat at uh Ashley's restaurant, and you'll drive people here. Thank you.
- 1:29:17Okay, Joy Barry.
- 1:29:20Joy Berry · answer segment>> This society is such a paytoplay and we >> This society is such a paytoplay and we need to figure out a way to help our artists be found and I think that's through marketing, through displays, looking at all the vacant space as I think Nick you said, but we've got to
- 1:29:36Joy Berry · answer segmenthelp our artists be found through their artwork and tell their story. And so, you know, can we with the newspapers do a weekly story about each artist? Can we at the city council hearings talk about a local artist? Can we start celebrating and telling the story through social
- 1:29:54Joy Berry · answer segmentmedia because it's so hard to be found if you're not paytoplay? And we need to really elevate that for our artists.
- 1:30:03Ashley sent us. Um, I would love to see
- 1:30:06Ashley Cintas · answer segmentLagona, um, the city as a whole be more of like a living gallery and there's, you know, we have a ton of restaurants, obviously I own one. Um, retail, um, hotels, etc. that we could be showcasing a lot more of the artwork. You know, all the artists, they need audience, they
- 1:30:21Ashley Cintas · answer segmentneed buyers, um, and theno hotels, restaurants, retails, we need art. Um, we need graphic designers, we need murals, we need installations. And so I think um we can do a much better job of bringing both of those together um and really be able to showcase our local
- 1:30:36Ashley Cintas · answer segmentartists a lot more.
- 1:30:38>> Okay, Sue Kemp. >> Okay, Sue Kemp.
- 1:30:40Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Yeah, I think um you know would be good, >> Yeah, I think um you know would be good, you know, aside from you the typical arts I'd like to see like I love that Bill Witty does this artist lecture series or not artist lecture series in Newport. They do it at the library. That
- 1:30:52Sue Kempf · answer segmentis very cool. I mean we wouldn't do it in a big you know venue like you know the festival. We might do it in here um or we might do it at one of the other venues in town. be really great and it it really does draw. Um I like what Laguna Dance does by bringing dancers in
- 1:31:04Sue Kempf · answer segmentfrom all over the all over the world and all over the country and it brings a really unique flare. We need to do more for kids. So with the centennial planning, we're having the kids do the banners and the uh for the centennial. The high school kids are going to be and
- 1:31:16Sue Kempf · answer segmentjunior high school kids are going to be doing the banners and we'll be putting those up on the prominade. Um they're also um they also do the the children's pallets at the holiday and the holiday time and the arts commission handles that. Um, I also think ELCAT artists
- 1:31:29Sue Kempf · answer segmentshould be able to sell more of their art um in town more frequently so that they can get a head start while they're in school and they can get a flavor for what it's like to sell art.
- 1:31:39>> Okay. Thank you, Karen Martin.
- 1:31:41Karen Martin · answer segment>> Okay. Thank you, Karen Martin. >> I I think we have an a huge opportunity. >> I I think we have an a huge opportunity. I wasn't a supporter of the prominade um as it sits today, but we have it and I think the prominade could actually act as um we've all seen people strolling in
- 1:31:56Karen Martin · answer segmentFrance looking at all the different art and we could have not just a food court, but we could combine that with some of our local artists. Um I brought this little statue that was from Italy um from many generations ago. It's a little marble statue. So I think we need to
- 1:32:14Karen Martin · answer segmenthave different media on the provenade. Um and I I like the idea of bringing student art as um as part of the prominade. I also think we can look at St. Catherine's school for venues and we don't need we we really do need to also accentuate the culinary arts partnering
- 1:32:35Karen Martin · answer segmentwith hotels and restaurants to do classes as well as display. Thank you.
- 1:32:41Okay, Mark Orle.
- 1:32:44Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Uh, the good news, we've already >> Uh, the good news, we've already started, we uh redid title 18, which is the use of public space in in the community that really allows a lot more flexibility for creative exploration and uses such as the art and nature and some
- 1:32:59Mark Orgill · answer segmentother events. And you know when we started the um the centennial committee, council member Kemp and myself, we decided when we started it, let's use this as a template going forward how we could uh provide opportunities and a platform for the different um creative
- 1:33:18Mark Orgill · answer segmentuh uses in in town and the art organizations. And there's a few people in the audience, my wife over there being one of them, who have and Debb right there, who have actually already working on some wonderful opportunities and some new ways of looking at art and
- 1:33:34Mark Orgill · answer segmentsome of the uh things that we can do in town. So, I'm the future looks very bright in my eyes. So, I'm looking forward to uh next year the the start of it.
- 1:33:44>> Thank you, Laura Perezy.
- 1:33:46Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Thank you, Laura Perezy. >> Thank you. Um, well, I like the idea of >> Thank you. Um, well, I like the idea of um expanding the venues that we can use to showcase artists, the restaurants, the hotels kind of encompass that in a in a a single uh uh project. So, you're
- 1:34:03Laura Parisi · answer segmentyou're hitting all three. Um, I love the idea of expanding music, um, con more more concerts, uh, culinary arts, and I also like the idea of increased popups, um, including conventions that are, um, diverse and, uh, thoughtful and idea
- 1:34:27Laura Parisi · answer segmentgathering or idea um,
- 1:34:32stimulating. Thank you. Okay. Young man in the front row reading the book. How old and what's his name? How old and what's your name? Okay. Liam. Okay. 8-year-old Liam in the front patiently reading a book. I have something to tell you right now. This is
- 1:34:56the last question. Okay. Okay. Okay, we're going to come back to um Nick down here and all of you kind of set this up as we were going through the last question, but I'm going to give people an
- 1:35:11opportunity to expand on it. >> Yeah, you running this or me? I've got a little check system. I >> can skip last. >> can skip last. >> Yeah, we've had experience where >> Yeah, we've had experience where
- 1:35:25>> Yeah, we've had experience where >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay. Well, FA's going to critique me >> Okay. Well, FA's going to critique me afterwards and she's agreed not to pay me if I Oh, we didn't talk about it. No. Anyway,
- 1:35:38Nick, your question. How can the Forest Avenue prominade be used to support the arts?
- 1:35:51Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> I uh I've said it a few times earlier. I think uh having more pop-ups, more art displayed from local artists u whether it's uh down the middle of the prominade or you know art installations. I think one thing that's been the the elephant in the room that we haven't talked about
- 1:36:05Nick Aronoff · answer segmentyet is how an uh an $85,000 uh fountain or I guess it's because it's not technically an art installation and so that was determined um got on our prominade our main street Forest Avenue after something that was so contentious with the community. It was a huge
- 1:36:21Nick Aronoff · answer segmentoversight and you know I've talked with people on the arts commission uh currently and formerly that you know or we've heard them talk that the protocols were in place. Well, clearly something happened. And I think when we have this sort of group think or the in crowd and
- 1:36:36Nick Aronoff · answer segmenteverybody's afraid to sort of speak up and voice their opinion, you get problems like that. So the way that we can move forward with it is we can make sure that we put a focus on local artists. It is our main not our main town and that's
- 1:36:52>> okay Edward.
- 1:36:54Edward Bayuk · answer segment>> okay Edward. >> I believe it's there now. It's a public >> I believe it's there now. It's a public space. the residents should suggest things to do there. One is popup. One is other businesses use the outdoor space, not just the restaurants. And when they
- 1:37:10Edward Bayuk · answer segmentdo the popups, so for unknown uh local artists to promote themselves that let the restaurants pull inside, give those tables to the artists who are promoting themselves. So that en that we're encouraging artists who are not known have no public uh displays so they can
- 1:37:33Edward Bayuk · answer segmentdisplay themselves and the restaurants can pull they can use their tables and those nights that that's happening the restaurants have less tables so it's shared it's shared we we all built it your taxpayer dollars built it so we should promote the artists here. Thank
- 1:37:52you, Joy Barry.
- 1:37:55Joy Berry · answer segment>> Well, like we said earlier, there's >> Well, like we said earlier, there's different forms of art. There's dance, there's canvas, there's uh music, and I think because of the way it's designed and built, um it is subject to the rain and the weather and the the decomposed
- 1:38:10Joy Berry · answer segmentgranite is tough for dance. So, I think the best use for artists would be through musicians and to allow for some individual local musicians to play in in the prominade for either people strolling by or having dinner and it's probably the most conducive for the
- 1:38:29Joy Berry · answer segmentmusic portion of art.
- 1:38:31>> Okay, Ashley.
- 1:38:34Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Okay, Ashley. >> Um, yeah, I think it's it's easy for >> Um, yeah, I think it's it's easy for council to say that they care about local artists when then they use outside artists to do the prominade or that only 70% of the art here in Lagona is from
- 1:38:46Ashley Cintas · answer segmentlocal artists. So, I think it should fall under the alliance to be able to curate it. Um, I think you guys do a great job of curating our current spaces and that you guys would do a great job carrying the prominade and it should not fall under the city council or city
- 1:38:59Ashley Cintas · answer segmenthall.
- 1:39:00>> Okay, >> Okay, >> Sue Kim.
- 1:39:02Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Sue Kim. >> Yeah, I think you know there's a lot of >> Yeah, I think you know there's a lot of interest in programming on the prominade now. We hear it all the time and I think you know simple things like planer artists could display their art down
- 1:39:09Sue Kempf · answer segmentthere. Um, you know when the museum does their art in nature every year we could use the prominade. We've been talking to them about that and some good ideas. I think it's going to evolve organically really to be honest with you and like if you were at the opening last night it
- 1:39:21Sue Kempf · answer segmentwas packed. It was a lot of excitement. People were really enjoying themselves and it's going to it's going to trigger a lot of ideas and interest you know on public art 70% of our public art collection is local artists and 30% is outside. And if you want to really
- 1:39:34Sue Kempf · answer segmentevolve your arts community you need to do a mix of both because if you want to be thought of a worldclass arts arts uh colony then you need to have art from around the world too. and we value our our um our resident artists. We also have we also have a commission out for a
- 1:39:50Sue Kempf · answer segmentcentennial art piece that's going to go on the prominade that the application closes like in a couple weeks and so we'll get something really nice down there and we already have uh some other nice art pieces from our art collection there installed now. So if you walk
- 1:40:02Sue Kempf · answer segmentaround you'll see those.
- 1:40:04>> Great. Karen Martin.
- 1:40:07Karen Martin · answer segment>> Great. Karen Martin. >> Um, I think the prominade offers an >> Um, I think the prominade offers an opportunity for idea generation like we're talking about with proposed easels, demonstrations, direct sales of small original works. Um, but I also
- 1:40:20Karen Martin · answer segmentthink that that could happen all over town. We're missing an opportunity that can support our local artists as well as artists that might want to come and be in residency for 6 months to a year. Not only that, I think businesses that are not on the prominade need equal
- 1:40:37Karen Martin · answer segmentopportunity on the prominade. So for instance, culinary arts um many of the restaurants that are not on the provenade, maybe they could do um something that will bring people into their restaurants that are not directly there.
- 1:40:52>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Every time you say culinary art, I see >> Every time you say culinary art, I see Ashley's eyes light up. So [laughter]
- 1:40:57Mark Orgill · answer segmentMark Orle. Yeah, I look forward to having the creative community come forward and presenting their ideas. I'm not going to get specific on what they might be a I like to leave that up to the to the creative community. However, I would like to talk about a couple of
- 1:41:12Mark Orgill · answer segmentthings. You know, whenever you're moving things forward and you're getting things done, you become a target. And uh regarding the sculpture on the um prominade, yeah, could could we have done better? But you know what? I'm not afraid to admit what I can do better as
- 1:41:26Mark Orgill · answer segmentlong as I'm moving forward and I'm getting things done and and I have got a lot done especially for our c creative community and I'm not ashamed of that and um I'm proud of it very very proud. So um I think that that's the takeaway here. How are we going to keep moving
- 1:41:42Mark Orgill · answer segmentforward um as a creative community and embrace uh all of the aspects that that make us that?
- 1:41:50>> Okay, Laura Perezy. Um, well, the way
- 1:41:54Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Okay, Laura Perezy. Um, well, the way that Forest Avenue Prominade could be used to highlight the arts is to to be the venue, be the venue for for additional music, craft fair, popups. Um, you know, I would put it back. We have
- 1:42:08Laura Parisi · answer segmentwonderful arts communities. Um, and I would ask them what they think would assist in highlighting new and different forms of um, displaying the different arts in the city. Thank you.
- 1:42:23>> Okay, Alex Reagi.
- 1:42:26Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Okay, Alex Reagi. >> I think that our artistic roots are part >> I think that our artistic roots are part of the entrepreneurial spirit that's really shaped this town where we've always been willing to try things in different ways and that's what the
- 1:42:36Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentprominade is all about. taking a space that used to be occupied by cars that is now occupied by the community and we saw that last night with with the opening with where we had live music. I am very excited about the opportunities for programming of the prominade. I I tend
- 1:42:49Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentto think that it would be we should look into the idea of having some sort of a downtown business district that could be involved in manage managing that with some city oversight as opposed to city bureaucracy managing it. that I think could unleash more creative solutions as
- 1:43:03Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentit relates to the pro uh prominade because I really think the sky is the limit in terms of all the artistic and cultural potential that we can have um that can really bring our downtown um make it a place for the community to to want to be.
- 1:43:17>> Okay. Thank you. So the next portion the >> Okay. Thank you. So the next portion the final portion of our program today is a uh two-minute closing statement from each candidate. Now Liam's having the time of his life down there. So I'm going to I'm going to take it from two
- 1:43:33minutes each candidate. I'm going to give them each 30 minutes so we can draw it into the middle of the afternoon. Um no, actually we're going to go two minutes with each candidate on closing statements. Edward, you are up
- 1:43:49Edward Bayuk · answer segmentnumber one. Well, you all know I love Laguna Beach. I moved here from Connecticut. I worked for General Electric Company and when they when Schneider Electric moved me here, they put me up in a fancy hotel and I extended the stay there. But I said,
- 1:44:05Edward Bayuk · answer segment"Can I live in Laguna Beach?" They said, "No, Edward, you have to live in Los Angeles. You're going to be working too much." But four years later, they allowed me and I moved to Orange County and they started flying in and out of Orange County Airport, LAX, San Diego,
- 1:44:20Edward Bayuk · answer segmentand I had about seven states, eight states. and had to come home to Lagouna Beach that I love. And I'm running for city council because I love Laguna Beach. I care about Laguna Beach. I care about the state of California. I care about the residents and their property
- 1:44:37Edward Bayuk · answer segmentrights. And I have thoughts about uh all residents in Laguna Beach and property rights. And as I mentioned earlier in my speech, uh, creative thoughts and actions happen and they they flow eastwards. They happen here, but they flow eastward. So, I'm running for the
- 1:44:59Edward Bayuk · answer segmentcity council because I think I believe I can make a change. Uh, I think fiscal responsibility needs to happen. I think the city manager needs to do a better job whether himself or from directive from city council. I believe uh transparency, accountability. I believe
- 1:45:19Edward Bayuk · answer segmentrecordkeeping should come back. Not two years. It should be all years, 10 years, 20 years. You learn from history. That's how you not make mistakes. And we keep making mistakes. And we need to protect the residents, the property owners, and the business owners. Let's not forget
- 1:45:37Edward Bayuk · answer segmentabout the business owners and then obviously fire prevention, emergency preparedness and practical solutions to traffic problems and parking in downtown. Obviously I suggested >> earlier I thank you very much
- 1:45:54>> earlier I thank you very much >> Edward took to heart the 30 minutes. >> Edward took to heart the 30 minutes. >> I could [clears throat] get [laughter]
- 1:46:00Joy Berry · answer segment>> I could [clears throat] get [laughter] >> Joy Barry. Well, as this book describes, >> Joy Barry. Well, as this book describes, the artistic influence and the character of landscape shaped a unique community. I love this book and thank you artists for all the illustrations. The symbiotic
- 1:46:12Joy Berry · answer segmentconnection between Lagona's hillsides, canyons, oceans, and artists is a gift that should never be taken for granted. I do not and never will take it for granted. It is one of the reasons I sued this city for violating our hillside protections for more development into
- 1:46:27Joy Berry · answer segmentour hills and canyons. I will keep fighting to protect this iconic historic American landscape so that the next generation of artists can continue to capture its beauty. I'm running for council because I believe our current council has lost sight of its primary
- 1:46:42Joy Berry · answer segmentrole, that of a protector. A protector of environment, historic resources and character, our finances, and most importantly, our quality of life. We need to protect and expand creative spaces and live work housing. We need to protect local art funding. We need to
- 1:46:57Joy Berry · answer segmentkeep artists front and center in our business. I respect the time the current council members have committed to Lagona, but believe they've become deaf to many residents. And Sue said earlier this week, she never goes home angry from the council hearings. That's not
- 1:47:13Joy Berry · answer segmentsurprising because typically she gets her way. But I can tell you the residents go home angry and that includes many artists. And that's why I'm running for council and won't turn a deaf ears to the residents. and I'll look forward to hearing all those
- 1:47:26Joy Berry · answer segmenttrumpets and I would be very deeply honored to serve this community.
- 1:47:32>> Thank you, Ashley Centus.
- 1:47:35Ashley Cintas · answer segment>> Thank you, Ashley Centus. >> So, Lagona has spent more than a century >> So, Lagona has spent more than a century building something very few communities have, a genuine identity built around creativity and protecting that identity doesn't mean freezing Lagona in time. It
- 1:47:45Ashley Cintas · answer segmentmeans making sure an artist can still build a career here, that connecting ELCAD students with opportunities here. It means making our festivals and institutions accessible and financially sustainable. It means helping our businesses showcase local artists. And
- 1:47:57Ashley Cintas · answer segmentit means protecting the visitor economy that helps support so much of our cultural infrastructure without allowing tourism to overwhelm the community we're trying to protect. I spent my career building businesses where art, hospitality, design, and community
- 1:48:10Ashley Cintas · answer segmentweren't separate things. They worked together. That's the perspective I would bring to city council. Lagona doesn't need someone to reinvent its arts community. the talent and institutions are already here. I don't think the answer is necessarily another city
- 1:48:23Ashley Cintas · answer segmentprogram for everything or apologizing for a poor decision with our tax dollars after the fact that you've heard tonight. Sometimes the city's or today sometimes the city's role is simply bringing the right people together and removing barriers. I think city hall
- 1:48:37Ashley Cintas · answer segmentneeds to become a better partner. bringing people together, removing barriers, finding outside resources, and then measuring whether we're actually getting the results we intended. Because protecting our future requires more than protecting our past. It means making
- 1:48:50Ashley Cintas · answer segmentsure the next generation has the opportunity to create its own chapter of Lagona's extraordinary artistic story. I'm Ashley Cintis and I would be honored to earn your vote for Laguna Beach City Council. Thank you.
- 1:49:00>> Thank you, Sue Kim.
- 1:49:02Sue Kempf · answer segment>> Thank you, Sue Kim. >> Thank you. you know, when you're a >> Thank you. you know, when you're a challenger, um, and, uh, when you're a challenger, one of your your tactics can be be to be highly critical or one you can also take the opposite tact where
- 1:49:12Sue Kempf · answer segmentyou just talk about your ideas for the town. You know, I I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and I moved out here when I was 19. I never went back to Fort Wayne, Indiana for obvious reasons. But, you know, I so love the town and I have a very positive outlook just in general
- 1:49:26Sue Kempf · answer segmentas a human being about our town. I do we have some problems that we need to work on? Yeah. Every town does, but are we a well-run town? Yep. Do we talk to So, one thing I think people don't realize because you're not serving is, you know, we talk to a lot of residents. We have
- 1:49:41Sue Kempf · answer segmentcouncil meetings and that's what people see. But we talk to tons of residents every day about all kinds of things. And I think that's kind of a gap of understanding when you say you're not listening to the residents. Well, there's a lot of residents in town that
- 1:49:52Sue Kempf · answer segmenttalk to us. And also, there's a very large silent majority of people who don't really don't really engage but are very interested in the town. Um I um you know also appreciate about how people you know just really attached to the town more than anything and I've lived
- 1:50:07Sue Kempf · answer segmentin a number of towns where you know I thought it was a good place to live and relatively small like like I lived in the Bay Area in Arinda which was a small town people sort of attached but nothing like Laguna Beach nothing and one of the best things about it is you know you
- 1:50:19Sue Kempf · answer segmentwalk through town and you see people that you know all the time and that's one of the beauties of living in a small town like this you know I I like to pick up trash it's one of my hobbies that I do when I getting exercise and stuff and I talk to so many people when I'm doing
- 1:50:30Sue Kempf · answer segmentthat and just being out there and being seen is very very helpful as a council member because people see that you are approachable and they can talk to you about anything and that happens all the time and what I what I say about this council that I'm serving with now is we
- 1:50:45Sue Kempf · answer segmentcan work well together as a body that doesn't mean we agree and I don't agree with this 50 you know assertion at all I just think that we're smart we work together and that's what I think communities want to see they don't want to see a lot of infighting and people
- 1:50:59Sue Kempf · answer segmentare sick and tired of that in government and I don't want that to happen here.
- 1:51:03>> Thank you, Karen Martin.
- 1:51:06Karen Martin · answer segment>> Thank you, Karen Martin. >> Thank you. I'm going to put it one more >> Thank you. I'm going to put it one more picture because um I get to [laughter] uh thank you for uh Laguna Beach Arts Alliance. Thank you for this conversation and for everything you
- 1:51:19Karen Martin · answer segmentcreate, teach and share with Lagona. My concern is simple. Can people who make this an arts community continue to build a life here? That means earning enough to meet everyday needs and finding afford affordable places to live and create. We have decades of
- 1:51:34Karen Martin · answer segmentaccomplishment to build on. I would like us to make the connections stronger between students and established artists, between art organizations, between residents and the people creating the work around them. Imagine visiting our art venues, including the
- 1:51:49Karen Martin · answer segmentprominade, outside the summer season, and finding a changing ex exhibition, an artist demonstrating a technique, a short performance, or a class you can join. You might discover work you can bring home. Artists would be paid for their participation, and we would learn
- 1:52:05Karen Martin · answer segmentwhat people value enough to support. My planning experience tells me that good intentions need clear policies and follow-through. Artists should help shape these decisions about housing, workspaces, loading access, and cultural venues. I would pursue public, private,
- 1:52:21Karen Martin · answer segmentnonprofit partnerships, and appropriate state and federal housing assistance that require no new contribution from Laguna Beach's own funds. Each proposal must make sense for our community and protect lasting affordability. I will listen to working artists, ask careful
- 1:52:38Karen Martin · answer segmentquestions about public spending, and explain my decisions. The people who work whose work gives Lagona its character deserve that attention. I'm Karen Martin. I hope you'll vote for me. Thank you,
- 1:52:52Mark Orgill · answer segment>> Mark Orle. Thanks, Tom. When I >> Mark Orle. Thanks, Tom. When I originally ran four years ago, I ran on civility and I um started early setting the example and the tone. And in many of the uh forums that we had at the time, I I talked you I'm talking to Sue's point,
- 1:53:08Mark Orgill · answer segmentand I think she made a very good point. I talked about what I thought I could do to make the the community a better place. And I understand that, you know, different people have different opinions and the council at that time I believe was probably doing most part their best
- 1:53:23Mark Orgill · answer segmentuh most of the council members. So I again I focused on on what I thought I could do and um I'm a little disappointed on the tone this time around with some of the non-incumbents to be honest with you. And um you know until you really roll up your sleeves
- 1:53:38Mark Orgill · answer segmentand do your homework, it's really difficult to weigh in and address some of these complex issues. We're a very complicated town. We're civically engaged town. We have a lot of committees and commissions. And when you have that many pe voices weighing in on
- 1:53:53Mark Orgill · answer segmentthese different items, not everybody's going to be happy and you're going to make a mistake from time to time. You might end up with a piece of art in the prominade. But you know what? You moved forward. You got some things done. You you've accommodated some space for
- 1:54:07Mark Orgill · answer segmentartists. You've made the art scene better. You've you know helped the surf museum open up. You've created a wonderful stewardship plan that was Coastal Commission was so excited about. They offered to partner with Laguna Beach on the future looks bright. I'm
- 1:54:22Mark Orgill · answer segmentproud of this community. I love this community. I work very hard at this job and I do hope that um I've earned your vote over the last four years. Thank you very much.
- 1:54:32Laura Parisi · answer segment>> Thank you, Laura Perezy. Thank you. I >> Thank you, Laura Perezy. Thank you. I mentioned in my opening statement that it has been my sincere honor to serve as your elected city treasurer. I won't repeat the particulars of how I came to the decision to run for council, but
- 1:54:48Laura Parisi · answer segmentsuffice to say that it has been the continual interference with my ability to represent you in the manner we both expect. So, one of my primary objectives on the council will be to restore the working relationship between the city's elected treasurer and the city staff and
- 1:55:06Laura Parisi · answer segmentcity council. We all have the same goals, report to the same residents, so we should be able to find a common ground to work together to benefit the city. My promises to you are I will continue to listen to artists concerns and pledge to include your views into
- 1:55:27Laura Parisi · answer segmentthe council decision-making process. I will bring my vast financial expertise and experience to issues surrounding surrounding the city's financial challenges. I will support development projects that follow city rules and minimize
- 1:55:45Laura Parisi · answer segmentexceptions that leave the city vulnerable to legal action. I value your support and have worked very hard as your treasurer. If elected, I will bring the same dedication and hard work to the city council. Together, we can make Laguna Beach even better.
- 1:56:04Laura Parisi · answer segmentThank you.
- 1:56:05Alex Rounaghi · answer segment>> Thank you, Alex Runagi. Simply put, >> Thank you, Alex Runagi. Simply put, there's no place like Laguna Beach. I feel very lucky to have been born and raised here. And when you reflect on the past 99 years of our history, you understand that Laguna Beach is not an a
- 1:56:19Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentaccident. It it's a result of visionary thinkers who were willing to look not just in the next one year, 5 years or 10 years, but the next century. And that is the product that we are all enjoying today. My pre my focus has been the core competencies of local government, public
- 1:56:35Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentsafety, infrastructure, and the efficient delivery of government services. If we have a wildfire, all the arts and everything goes away. That has to continue to be our priority. But with that being said, we can still we can continue to support the arts and ma and
- 1:56:48Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentreally invest in the arts. And that's what I'm really proud of the record that we've done over the past four years where instead of just talking about the idea of artists live work because there's no candidate for city council who's going to be against the concept of
- 1:56:58Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentthat. We've actually done it and we've done it in a way where it it is not undermining our core competencies and putting us in a position where we can leverage the amazing community that we have here. One of the great things about campaigning is you go door to door and
- 1:57:11Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentyou talk to residents who are not involved in city government, but many of them want to be because they care about this town and they are sophisticated and read the fine print and look go into the details. My goal over the next four years is how can we continue to get more
- 1:57:25Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentand more people involved because that has a multiplier effect. I see the people in this room and and our town would be different if some of the people in this room were not in it. And that is what we need is to continue to invest in our people. make this a place that is a
- 1:57:40Alex Rounaghi · answer segmentcultural hub for all of the United States. I really believe that in Laguna Beach, the sky is the limit and I'd be honored to to get your vote for the next four years of serving. Thank you.
- 1:57:50>> Thank you, Nick Erinoff.
- 1:57:53Nick Aronoff · answer segment>> Thank you, Nick Erinoff. >> Uh so many so many different directions >> Uh so many so many different directions I can go here. Well, um you know, I've had the opportunity to live and work around the world growing up here in Laguna Beach. Lagouna Beach is home.
- 1:58:01Nick Aronoff · answer segmentIt's been amazing to be able to come back here and be continue to be part of the community. Um, you know, we've heard a lot from the incumbents today and it sounds like everything's going great. You know, we're in a good direction, but I've been attending the city council
- 1:58:15Nick Aronoff · answer segmentmeetings and almost every town hall over the past year and listening to the residents who've been speaking their minds at these meetings and the residents want to feel heard and they don't feel heard right now. And I know some of the incumbents are saying that
- 1:58:28Nick Aronoff · answer segmentthey're listening to residents. It's they're listening to their bubble and to the people that they agree that agree with them. And you know, if elected, whether you agree with me on every issue, a few issues, or none at all, you should always feel comfortable coming to
- 1:58:43Nick Aronoff · answer segmentmyself or any other city council member and criticizing the a decision and offering different ideas without the fear of repercussions. And um you know we can still protect the arts, we can protect the local
- 1:58:58Nick Aronoff · answer segmentbusinesses, our neighborhoods and the environment and make Laguna Beach an extraordinary place to live. And again my approach is going to be to listen, ask the tough questions and welcome different perspectives and focus on practical results that the city needs.
- 1:59:14Nick Aronoff · answer segmentThank you.
- 1:59:15>> Thank you. Thank you all. How about a >> Thank you. Thank you all. How about a nice hand for everybody that participated? Um, [applause] and I and and I personally thank LBAAA for um inviting me to do this. Um, and uh, you know, I
- 1:59:30kept looking down because I think we got done a little earlier than expected and I thought, what have what have I done wrong? But um, I I thank the candidates for your u prompt and accurate answers and I hope everybody enjoyed it. I'm going to turn it back over to Jay
- 1:59:45Kramer, the uh, chair of LBAA. Thank you, Jay. Thank you, Tom. Round of applause for Tom, our moderator. Thank you so much. I want to thank the FOA staff who made this this possible. Uh Morgan Matthews, uh who was uh out front helping us, uh
- 2:00:04on the the coffee and donuts and and manages showcases here at the FOA. Uh CW Keller uh who lighting sound in the back. Thank you so much. um Ed Hanky who um has been involved in the leadership of the F um Festival of Arts for so many years and is managing the grounds. Uh
- 2:00:25Christine Gorgganis uh so much for the uh directing all exhibits uh and um events here at the festival grounds. I want to just quickly thank our u our board members of the f um Laguna Beach Arts Alliance uh who worked on making this possible. Fay Baglin, Wayne Baglin,
- 2:00:43thank you so much. Uh Nancy Valeri uh uh Christy Miller uh thank you so much for all your support and uh there's this is being videoed uh so uh encourage everyone to go to our website uh Laguna Beach Artartsalliance.org our social media of Instagram and
- 2:01:03Facebook and we will be posting that there to encourage it's a vehicle for your message to get out to the residents of Lagouna Beach. Um, thank you all for um your love of Laguna Beach and being here today. Um, we do have a little a few more minutes. So, if you'll allow
- 2:01:23the candidates a few minutes to get some fresh air, go outside in our courtyard and it's an opportunity one-on-one for you to have with them. Thank you all for coming today. Another round of applause for our candidates. [applause]
- 2:02:55>> That happened. >> That happened. Why >> [music] >> are you driving? >> are you driving? [music]
- 2:03:25>> [music] >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [music]
- 2:05:07>> still >> still [music]
Original Arts Alliance event announcement
Organizer’s original event post
Arts Alliance candidate forum announcement
The Alliance’s September 19 post includes its candidate graphic and lists coffee and conversation from 8:30–9 a.m., followed by the forum from 9 a.m. to noon. The full recording above confirms that all nine candidates spoke; the original announcement is retained here for context.
View the original Facebook post
If Facebook limits the embed in your browser, use the original post link above.
Location and directions
Forum Theater at Festival of Arts
650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651Open the location in Google Maps for current directions and place information.
Candidate directory
Candidates in this forum race
Open a profile for sourced background, priorities, campaign links and public records. All qualified candidates are shown; this directory does not confirm attendance at this event.
City Council candidates
Forum record
Completed September 26. Watch the Arts Alliance’s full recording, compare all nine candidates’ answers to nine arts discussion questions and their opening and closing statements, and search the locally archived automatic-caption transcript. Tom Johnson moderated; LBArtsAlliance published the recording.
The City listed this independently hosted forum after the organizer affirmed that candidates were offered equal time and opportunity to appear. The listing was not City sponsorship or endorsement.
Organizer and voter guide
About Laguna Beach Arts Alliance
The Laguna Beach Arts Alliance was created in 2002 through a partnership of Laguna Beach-based organizations. It identifies itself as a 501(c)(3), EIN 04-3623979, and states that its mission is to advocate for the arts, promote collaboration and ensure the arts are included in City planning.
Why review it?
Watch the complete organizer recording and compare all nine candidates on arts-district parking, artist housing, tourism, Festival grounds and Promenade programming.
What subjects were covered?
- Arts Alliance role, arts involvement and economic importance
- Arts-district parking and resident–visitor balance
- Artist housing and workspaces
- Festival grounds, new initiatives and Promenade programming
How were questions gathered?
Tom Johnson states that Arts Alliance member organizations prepared nine questions, which candidates had not received in advance. Each candidate had one minute to respond, with a rotating starting speaker.
Contact the organizer →Funding and endorsements
The Alliance identifies itself as a 501(c)(3) open to Laguna Beach nonprofit arts organizations. So Laguna does not infer a candidate endorsement from forum sponsorship.
Quick answers
LBUSD School Board forum FAQ
Where can I watch the Arts Alliance forum?
The complete 2:05:40 recording from LBArtsAlliance is embedded on this page, with direct timestamp links for candidate answers and statements.
Which candidates participated?
All nine City Council candidates spoke: Sue Kempf, Ashley Cintas, Laura Parisi, Mark Orgill, Nick Aronoff, Edward Bayuk, Joy Berry, Alex Rounaghi and Karen Martin.
Is there a transcript?
Yes. Search the locally archived automatic English captions by candidate or issue, or download the readable text or original VTT. Caption mistakes and a short gap in Sue Kempf’s arts-attendance answer are disclosed.
What did candidates discuss?
Nine rounds covered the Arts Alliance, arts involvement, parking, the importance of the arts, residents and visitors, artist live/work housing, Festival grounds, new initiatives and the Promenade. Tom Johnson moderated.