Laguna Beach City Council Study Session Minutes July 22, 2025
MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
July 22, 2025
A Study Session of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Pro Tem Orgill presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Jones, Kempf, Whalen, Orgill, Rounaghi PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
STUDY SESSION
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DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC TREES, TREE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES
Presentation and Discussion: Staff gave a presentation and responded to Councilmembers' questions.
(Mayor Alex Rounaghi arrived just after the staff presentation.) Public Testimony: Richard Plavetich, Keith Tennyson, Larry Zeman, and Charlene Rainey Thomas expressed concerns about eucalyptus trees blocking views and the lack of recourse for residents, and Kerry and John Trevino and Fabienne Witte emphasized the importance of data-driven decisions and public safety. Bob Borthwick, Ruben Flores, and Ann Christoph commented on tree preservation, the need for an urban forest management plan, the importance of maintaining tall trees for raptors, and expressed concerns about pruning quality, tree species, and arbitrary height restrictions.
The City Council directed staff to return with a draft revised City Tree Policy Manual, including expanded definitions and process guidelines, with options for an improved appeals structure, further analysis on the Montage tree guidelines and past practices, and potential alignment of city tree policies with residential view policies.
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Rounaghi at 4:18 p.m., Tuesday, July 22, 2025, adjourned to the Closed Session at 4:15 p.m. and to the Regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach California. *******************
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Laguna Beach City Council Study Session Minutes July 22, 2025 Approved: August 12, 2025
Nex Romm
Alex Rounaght, Mayor
sulk
Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
Note: All components of minutes shall be for the primary purpose of memorializing decisions made by the legislative body. Any minute component that does not serve this primary purpose will be minimized or eliminated; this includes comments made by individual body members and members of the public. Discussions that occurred during the meeting can be viewed in archived video recordings on the city's website. Public submittals on items received prior to adjournment of the meeting are retained in the administrative record and can be viewed in the city clerk's repository. -2-