City, festival agree on renovation spending

Barbara Diamond

City officials have been salting away a hefty chunk of the Festival of

Arts lease payments for the past three years, waiting for the time they

could agree with the festival Board of Directors on how the money should

be spent.

The time came Tuesday.

The City Council voted unanimously to approve phase one of a long-term

plan for Festival of Arts capital improvements and to support the general

concept of future improvements proposed by the board. Although lease

negotiations are still underway, the approval bodes well for an agreement

between the city and the festival board.

An interim lease is due to expire in four months. The long-term lease

expired last year, and negotiations had been underway for several years

prior to the expiration.

It is unlikely that city officials would release the reserved funds,

if they felt an agreement was not in the offing. Everyone has expressed

optimism that an agreement will be reached.

Three years ago, a previous festival board tried to hijack the Pageant

of the Masters and move it to San Clemente.

A group of festival artists and supporters went into action, finally

recalling the mostly out-of-town board and taking over local control.

“I personally am, and the board is, proud of the steps we have taken

and proud that the city takes seriously its role as partner of the

festival,” said Bruce Rasner, a member of the new regime.

Seven of the board members are Laguna Beach residents. The other two

are exhibitors at the festival.

Board members, festival exhibitors, members and supporters filled the

City Council Chamber to capacity Tuesday to hear the presentation of the

plan for revitalizing the festival grounds and buildings.

“I am so proud to represent all the people who have worked tirelessly

on this concept plan for the past two years,” festival board President

Scott Moore said.

The concept plan is broken into phases. Phase one includes renovation

of the workshops, an addition to the administration building, a redesign

of the grounds and grounds facade and improvements to the Irvine Bowl,

including the entrance, backstage and the orchestra pit. The board also

agreed to participate in an extensive study of building a parking lot

that would be tucked out-of-sight between the festival grounds and the

Laguna Playhouse.

“To think we could have a three-story parking structure that no one

could see is amazing and it’s on the right side of the road coming into

town,” said Councilwoman Toni Iseman.

Long-range goals include construction of a parking structure and

general-purpose building where the tennis courts now stand, a notion

opposed by the Canyon Courts Assn.

The first project will be the major improvement of a city storm drain

that traverses the property. The city will seek Planning Commission

approval of the work on May 15.

Site preparation for facilities renovations will begin this fall in

conjunction with the storm drain improvements. Construction on the

workshops is scheduled to begin in September 2003 and be completed in

time for the 2004 festival season. Remodeling and expansion of the

administration building will begin in November of this year and will be

completed before the 2003 season.

The festival board chose Blair Ballard Architects to prepare the plan

for the major overhaul of the grounds and facilities, which is expected

to take three years for the top priorities and as yet undetermined

additional years to complete the entire project.

“In developing the concept plan, the design team drew upon the

existing natural resources found within the Festival Grounds,” Ballard

said. “Landscaping around town inspired the landscaping plan.”

A new entry facade also will be created.

“It is anticipated that local artists and craftsmen will participate

in the design of the park’s benches, fountains, water features and

permanent sculptural displays that occur within the grounds.” Ballard

said. “There will be over 160 spaces for artists exhibits, as well as a

separate junior art exhibit.”

The total cost of all phases of the work is estimated at $16 million.

Funding for the $1.8-million first phase will come from the portion of

the past lease payments reserved by the city, $320,000 from the 2002

payment and perhaps another $80,000 from the payment, if it is diverted

from the city’s general fund.

That would still leave a shortfall of $500,000, possibly to be covered

by the 2003 lease payment, estimated at between $320,000 to $400,000. The

remainder is to be paid by the festival from its own reserves.

* BARBARA DIAMOND is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.

She may be reached at 494-4321.