Community comes together

The city celebrated the community spirit that was the foundation for the massive Bluebird Canyon restoration and the reconstruction of Flamingo Road and utilities Saturday.

About 250 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the rebuilt Flamingo Road. The enthusiastic throng included city officials, representatives of state and federal officials; folks who donated time, money and goods to the landslide victims; voters who approved a half-cent sales tax increase to help finance the restoration; workers, planners and overseers of the project; and the slide victims.

“Two achievements overshadow the landslide repair,” said Bob Burnham, whom City Manager Ken Frank hired as Community Recovery Coordinator just four days after the June 1, 2005, disaster.

“The first was the outpouring of support from the community after the event. The second was and is the strength and courage and resilience shown by the victims as they dealt with the financial and emotional issues presented by this disaster.”

Bunham’s dedication and skill were lauded, but there was plenty of goodwill to go around.

The restoration was the largest project in Laguna’s history, taking 2 ½ years to complete and costing an estimated $35 million.

A large chunk is expected to come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, thanks to California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who intervened when FEMA denied funding.

Feinstein came in for her fair share of applause at the ribbon-cutting as did everyone cited by Burnham.

Design and construction

Burnham recognized his construction and design team: Rey Ramirez at Rey-Art Landscaping; Rick Hume; Dick Johnson; John Verdugo; Charlie Williams, called the “heart and soul of the property recovery effort, an incredible resource;” Pat Fuscoe and Trevor Dodson of Fuscoe Engineering, grading/improvement plans; Will Fischetti of Earth Support Systems, who designed the shoring walls and grade beams; Rich Maher and his crew from KDM Meridian; Geofirm’s Hannes Richter and Kevin Trigg, who “did a terrific job analyzing repair options and developing the most cost-effective repair concept;” Don Zamborelli; Steve Bubalo Construction, grading, water line, sewer and storm drain work; Moote Group, all construction management and accounting.

Finally, “Two guys who were the heart and soul of the repair — John Schiller and Graid Greenman, with 60 years of experience on tough jobs who made the day-to-day decisions and deserve most of the credit for the project.”

Community contributors were also recognized: Bluebird Canyon resident Dale Ghere, “a resource to me and the victims;” Steve Huberty and Todd McCallum, landslide community association; Gary Waldron, who volunteered legal expertise and allowed the use of his property for project staging; residents around the landslide area who endured the dust, noise and fumes; and the landslide victims, who have been partners with the city in repairs.

At City Hall: City Council, who were “incredibly supportive, caring and a joy to work for;” city staff, who “made me feel welcome, provided lots of help and I will miss all of them;” City Manager Ken Frank, “the best boss I have ever worked for — smart, decisive, fair, strategic, and a great sense of humor, played a major role in getting FEMA funding, arranging for housing and made one of two decisions that shaped the course of this project, assigning personal representatives to the victims.

“Last but not least — Elizabeth [Schneider], who said we are going to rebuild, made sure it happened and took a lot of victims under her wing,” Burnham said.

Schneider lauded

Councilwoman Elizabeth Schneider was mayor when the Bluebird Canyon hillside ripped apart in 2005 and led private efforts on behalf of the victims as well as steering public endeavors.

“Elizabeth marshaled us all together — city, state and friends in Washington — without whom this wouldn’t have happened,” said Mayor Jane Egly.

Huberty said he remembers well the day Schneider stood on a chair at a community breakfast in Bluebird Park after the slide and said, “We are going to repair it.”

“She gave us hope when we were in shock,” Huberty said.

Schneider shared the kudos with key contributors to the project, starting with the landslide families.

“I’d like to thank all the families who worked so closely with the city,” Schneider said.

“You guys have the best attitude. Do you know how often in disasters the city gets sued and sued, and it didn’t happen here.”

Schneider said the recovery started with the heroic efforts of Laguna Beach police and firefighters to rescue victims in the immediate area of the slide and evacuate, without a fatality or serious injury of the estimated 750-to-1,000 residents.

Among those Schneider credited with assistance:

The Laguna Beach Relief and Resource Center, which held the first of 14 fundraisers for the displaced families;

The Board of Realtors, which raised $45,000;

The Architects Guild, which helped families plan for the future;

Phyllis Phillips, who provided the land in the canyon for state-donated, vacant El Morro trailers so that four families could keep their children in the school district;

Ganahl Lumber that donated the materials to make the trailers habitable;

Walkie Ray, who offered storage space for the families’ salvaged belongings;

The Measure A Initiative and Education Committee;

The Oversight Committee that ensures the money is well spent

She also recognized Dale Ghere, whose advice came from personal experience.

‘Practice with disasters’

“[Today] is a hallmark for those who lost their homes,” said Ghere, who spearheaded the 1978 Bluebird Canyon restoration, in which his home was destroyed.

“I am happy with my role in the 1978 slide and with the little I could help here,” Ghere said.

“Hiring Bob Burnham was the best move the city could have made. He carried the burden carried by the whole Bluebird Neighborhood Assn. in ’78. You have to give Ken Frank credit for hiring someone of Bob’s quality.”

Ghere also applauded architect Morris Skenderian for galvanizing the Architects Guild.

“Some homes are ready to go, starting next month,” Ghere said. “All the people who stepped up made it work. We’ve had lots of practice with disasters. It’s a real community effort.”

Saturday’s celebration was dedicated by Schneider to the late Lew Geiser, whose home was the only one to be red-tagged after both the 1978 and 2005 landslides.

Geiser, who died in April 2006 of colon cancer, obtained special permission from the city so he could spend his last days at home.

Newly elected Mayor Egly cut the ribbon to open Flamingo Road to traffic — and the hillside once again for family homes.