Measures R and S take aim at Laguna’s hospitality industry with initiatives that some say could be devastating for the city’s hotels and leave hotel workers with less take-home pay.
A Los Angeles-based special interest group is working to influence the hospitality industry in Laguna Beach by introducing Measure R and S to the Laguna Beach Municipal Ballot on November 8, 2022.
Critics of the measures note that it will cause the city to become more run-down than some areas already are, since it will become so difficult to renovate buildings with the new requirements.
The argument against Measure R as stated in the City of Laguna Beach Ballot initiative reads in part, “A Los Angeles labor group is attempting to tell Laguna Beach how we should do business. They have submitted Measure R to try and force our hotels and resorts into a state of disrepair. It is specifically designed to be punitive to our local hotels and resorts.”
Measure R would create a Hotel Development Overlay Zoning District in the “most visible and most used communities of Laguna Beach” encompassing “all property in the City of Laguna Beach within 1,000 feet of the center-line of either CA State Route 1 or CA State Route 133.”
Any hotel remodel, addition, construction, or alteration within this newly created zone, would be subject to “special requirements” for their improvements, or require voter approval, potentially making simple upkeep of already existing hotels onerous and tedious.
Hoteliers argue they could find themselves with properties falling into disrepair if the new “special requirements” processes are not efficient, or are cost prohibitive due to reclassification of their buildings. The measure indicates, “Whenever modifications to existing buildings or structures….constitute a Major Remodel, the construction shall constitute and be classified as a new building or structure subject to….all requirements applicable to the construction of a new building or structure including utilities undergrounding requirements, required dedication of on- and off-site improvements and payment of new development fees.”
The Protect and Keep Laguna Beach Local group has raised the question of the motivation behind Measure R pointing out that “Laguna already has rigorous safeguards in place,” and “The measure threatens vital property repairs and could lead to high-profile, run-down properties.”
Additionally, hospitality businesses within coastal cities such as Laguna Beach thrive on tourism, which these bills would impede on, causing some voters to wonder if the measures are being implemented without any real purpose for good.
Additionally, the “hotel overnight stay” taxes would be put at risk. This tax funds many of the city’s public services.
The Measure S initiative, as stated in the City of Laguna Beach Ballot initiative, reads almost word-for-word to a similar measure presented in Los Angeles. The measure seeks to create a minimum hourly wage of $18 with an annual increase of $1 to reach $22 per hour by 2026. Measure S also seeks to establish protection for hotel workers by requiring a panic button, and authorizes the city to establish and enforce administrative regulations in an ordinance.
The Protect and Keep Laguna Beach Local group points out that minimum wages are already the standard in Laguna Beach and the measure can actually hurt hotel workers as it restricts their ability to pursue voluntary overtime which many hotel workers rely on. The group also notes that hotel workers are already equipped with panic buttons.
The argument against Measure S presented on the ballot suggests “The Los Angeles based labor organization’s goal with Measure S is to REQUIRE hospitality workers to pay thousands of dollars in annual labor affiliation dues. In many cases, Measure S would actually DECREASE THE TAKE HOME PAY of our valued team members. A labor representative refused to comment on this fact when questioned at a recent City Council meeting.”
Either way, it appears that the measure does not require a study in market performance when setting wages nor was it familiar with Laguna’s own regulations as it required protections already in place.
Keep Laguna Local also notes that “Measure S is a solution in search of a problem,” that would compel the city to become a regulatory agency requiring new city staffing and costing local residents tens of thousands of dollars in taxes.
What are your thoughts on Measure R and S?
