Clinic out of Third Street project

Barbara Diamond

The Laguna Beach Clinic took to its heels after city officials said

it was dragging its feet on the Third Street project.

“We made the decision not to participate after looking at all the

information and hearing people say at the Dec. 7 council meeting that

the clinic was dragging its feet,” clinic Executive Director Ericka

Waidley said. “We had committee meetings once a month for two years

and I personally spent a lot of time with architects and city staff.”

The clinic made its decision known Jan. 13 in a letter to City

Manager Ken Frank. The rejection reduces the number of underground

parking spaces, which the city had planned to build and fund under

the clinic and the senior and community centers.

Eliminating the clinic parking, reduces the city’s share of the

project costs by about $1.6 million based on a $20,000 per parking

space estimate, a bigger reduction if estimated at $30,000 per space.

However, without the clinic, the entrance to the underground

parking moves closer to the intersection.

Participation would have guaranteed a coveted, complete remodel of

the clinic, but uncertainty about finding suitable temporary quarters

for the lengthy construction project, figured to be from 18 to 36

months, weighed heavily in the board’s decision.

Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider suggested that trailers could be

utilized on a different site, as the city had done during the last

alterations and additions to City Hall.

The other big stumbling block for the clinic was the city’s

inability come up with a cost estimate, according to Waidley.

“Even if we found a relocation site tomorrow,” Waidley said on

Monday, “the board and I found it very disconcerting that city staff

was unable to project costs.”

“It’s easier to raise funds for a specific amount,” Waidley said.

She said the clinic has so many opportunities in Orange County,

the board deemed it better sense to opt out of the project.

“We are in a growth mode. The decision not to participate in the

Third Street project will not make or break the clinic.”

Waidley said the clinic will proceed with a face lift of the

present site. Moving out of town is not being considered.

Pearson-Schneider said that with the clinic out of the project,

the city has the money to move immediately forward on construction.

The city also paid for the site.

“We are just waiting for the seniors to raise $1.25 million,”

Pearson-Schneider said.

Commissioner Norm Grossman said a joint council/commission

meeting, scheduled for Feb. 8, would be a better venue for the

discussion proposed by Chapman.

The elimination of any part of the Third Street project would not

trigger another environmental report, Community Development Director

John Montgomery said. Any uses or structures in the Village Entrance

would be subject to the California Environmental Quality Act

procedures.