The City of Laguna Beach proclaimed a local emergency last week in response to coastal erosion and sand loss caused by swell from Hurricane Marie, which began on Sept. 2 and caused significant sand movement and erosion which damaged public and private property along the coastline.
The proclamation was made Sept. 10 and allowed the city to move on emergency shoreline protection, sand placement, debris removal, assessments and repairs without the delay of contracting procedures. It came after six oceanfront homes Ocean Way and Lagunita Drive were yellow-tagged — or labeled for limited or restricted entry — due to compromised sea walls, and the partial failure of the Aliso Beach parking lot.
The city also issued the proclamation for anticipatory impacts from the expected late-year El Niño climate pattern events…