The service will be operated by a new outside contractor after council during its April 6 meeting unanimously agreed to award LAZ Parking the contract for a five-year term. The cost for the initial year of the contract is not to exceed $1.93 million and will be subject to annual budget approval. “The trolley system has really become an iconic feature of Laguna Beach, and has been so for many years,” said Michael Litsch, deputy director of public works, during a staff presentation. The Laguna Beach trolley system, which started as a seasonal service during the summer festival season, has grown to become one of Orange County’s largest city-operated transit systems. Rather than operating 10 or 11 weeks per years during the summer, Laguna Beach had been running the trolley year-round, seven days-a-week, making staffing and cost an issue. The city trolley service staff included one full-time driver, nearly 100 …