Public Works can really get its act together when properly motivated. At last week’s (11July17) Council meeting, there was a pulled consent calendar item relating to a resolution establishing two loading zone parking spaces located on Laguna Avenue.

Lo and behold, while walking my pooches by that spot yesterday (17July17), the loading zone spaces have already been created, with the curb properly painted to indicate the hours that the loading zone restriction is in force. I’m not sure when the changes were made, but certainly within 4 working days. Between the hours of 18:00 to 03:00, the metered spaces become un-metered, 3-minute loading zone spaces to accommodate cars/taxi’s/Uber’s dropping or picking-up passengers. There were already 2 “loading zone” spaces, so together with the 2 new ones, there are 4.

Here’s the language of the pulled consent item:

Moved by Councilmember Zur Schmiede seconded by Councilmember Whalen and carried unanimously 5/0 to: Adopt Resolution No.17.044 entitled “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING TWO LOADING ZONE PARKING SPACES LOCATED ON LAGUNA AVENUE” on the south side of Laguna Avenue between South Coast Highway and Ramona Avenue; * amend the hours of the two spaces already established as passenger loading and the two new spaces (total of 4 spaces) from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.; * direct staff to amend the Ordinance that was approved to list the hours of the (4) passenger loading spaces from 6:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.; * and modify the signage to reflect “tow away zone.”

Such quick action must be the result of a serious public-safety issue or a big hue & cry from the public.

Oh, wait. The loading zone changes were requested by none other than Sam Goldstein, restaurateur/saloon-keep of the Skyloft and owner of the Heisler Building (through his Radford Ventures LLC), where the Skyloft is located. Let’s look at some reportable campaign donation data for recent city elections:

Year	Candidate	Reportable Donation Amt	Total Reportable Donation
2014	Zur Schmiede	$360 (Sam & Spouse)	$720.00
2016	Whalen	$240 (Sam & Spouse)	$480.00
2016	Dicterow	$240 (Sam & Spouse)	$480.00

How long have South Laguna residents been waiting for <fill-in-the-blank>? Perhaps over the years South Laguna activists have just not tried hard enough to exercise their influence and make their case to the Council. Or perhaps nature/tree-lovers might do well to fear for the fate of the ficus trees in Heisler Park which block the rooftop ocean views from Sam’s place.