CBWP Project Information Form/Budget

Proposal Number: 01-BLM-0084

Section A

Project Title: The Transformation of the Laguna Beach Insurance Free Choice Discussions into the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council

Origination Component: The Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council

Project Manager: David A. Horne, Chair

The Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council

565 Emerald Bay

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Home Phone: 949.494.5157

Work Phone: 562.985.4776

Cell Phone: 949.510.9659

FAX: 949.494.4711

Email: dhorne@csulb.edu

Project Description:

Since 1994, the Laguna Beach Insurance Free Choice Discussions has been an ongoing communication vehicle between the area of Laguna Beach and the major homeowner’s insurance providers. These discussions were intended to keep the insurance carriers informed of the steps taken in the recently devastated Laguna Beach area to reduce future fire hazards and thus enable homeowners in the area to purchase homeowner’s insurance on the open market or “free choice.” These citizen-led discussion efforts have had a positive impact on the insurance industry, but now there is the opportunity to formalize and expand their efforts. The renamed organization, the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council, seeks to become a permanent stakeholder in the ongoing planning and hazard mitigation efforts of the cities of Laguna Beach and Aliso Viejo and the contiguous areas such as Emerald Bay and others in the area to maintain and promote fire safety awareness.

Project Components:

1. Change the name of the existing Laguna Beach Insurance Free Choice Discussions to the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council.

2. Plan a well-publicized event to solicit new membership from neighborhood associations, local real estate boards, environmental groups, surrounding county and private land owners, and any other interested private individuals.

3. Organize a formal structure for the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council with a representative Board of Directors, draft a mission and goal statement and a strategic plan for a one year and three year horizon.

4. Plan and implement two demonstration activities/projects chosen by the group as a whole.

Project Time Line:

1. Special meeting in the third week of September to change the name and plan for the membership solicitation meeting in October. Note: Meeting took place on Monday September 24, 2001. The name was officially changed and the Chair and Treasurer of the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council were elected. Responsibilities for the membership solicitation meeting were assigned.

2. A planning meeting is scheduled for October 8^th to review progress.

3. Saturday October 27 (8^th Anniversary of the Laguna Fire) will be the date of the membership solicitation meeting. The history of Laguna's efforts would be highlighted and the call for additional citizen involvement would be made.

4. Organizational meetings would take place over the next four months to appoint a Board of Directors, draft pertinent goal and planning documents and promulgate those to the relevant populations. This stage of the project would be complete by March 1, 2001.

5. Plan and implement two demonstration activities/projects chosen by the newly formed Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council. These projects could be started concurrently with the goal setting activities so that the projects could be completed in time for the 2002 fire season (approximately June 1).

Identify Locations:

Laguna Beach California (an incorporated city in the County of Orange) and the adjacent area of Emerald Bay, and Orange County's newest incorporated city, Aliso Viejo will be the initial focus of the membership drive and most likely the demonstration activities/projects. There may well be participants from other nearby areas such as Newport Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, etc. that would broaden the scope of future projects.

Contracting Services:

It is anticipated that the following professional services would be contracted with to accomplish the overall objectives of the project in a timely manner.

1. A marketing/promotional firm or professional would be hired to design a distinctive logo, prepare advertising copy and conduct the local media campaign to attract a wide range of people to the membership solicitation meeting on October 27^th. The choice of the marketing firm is the top priority and the decision will be made with enough time to do a first-rate job of publicizing the October 27^th meeting. Their involvement during the organizational phase would be minimal until the announcements of the mission and goals to the local communities and their assistance would be needed to help in some communication phase of the as yet undetermined demonstration projects.

2. A facilitator/planning type firm would be charged with the responsibility to work with the more sincerely dedicated volunteers of the October 27^th meeting. This firm would guide the group through the planning process to determine a mission statement, specific goals and objectives and assist in the overall governing structure that fits the make-up of the group. Laguna Beach and the surrounding areas are known for the high level of citizen interest in community affairs. Since 1993, fire prevention and fire issues in general have been a topic that generates great passion. The facilitator will be essential to gain consensus among such diverse opinions.

3. A Web Design firm would be retained to build a website and provide hosting services for the next twelve months for the Greater Laguna Coast Fire Safe Council. It is essential that the works of all the Fire Safe Councils are readily accessible to the widest possible audience.

All firms would be chosen from among lists generated through personal recommendations. Interviews would be conducted where the experience and expertise of the firm would be ascertained, the scope of the engagement would be defined, the deliverables determined, a timetable solidified and the fees discussed and finalized.