STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
March 10, 2026
CONSENT
7 SUBJECT: PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 24, 2026, AS ARBOR DAY IN LAGUNA BEACH
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached proclamation recognizing April 24, 2026, as Arbor Day in Laguna Beach;
2. Authorize staff to host an Arbor Day celebration event on April 24, 2026;
3. Authorize staff to apply for re-certification as a Tree City USA with the Arbor Day Foundation; and
4. Find the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) and Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule Exemption).
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
In 1872, J. Sterling Morton advocated for a holiday dedicated solely to tree planting. Today, Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states and over 40 countries. In 1976, the Tree City USA program was launched to recognize communities that take extraordinary steps to preserve their public trees and expand canopy coverage. The City of Laguna Beach has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the last eight years, demonstrating a high level of tree care and community engagement.
Staff recommends that the City Council proclaim Friday, April 24, 2026, as Arbor Day in Laguna Beach (Attachment 1) and authorize staff to host a public Arbor Day celebration event at Alta Laguna Park. This year's Arbor Day event will include the ceremonial planting of a California native tree, hosting local nonprofit organizations to connect and inform the community on the importance of trees and environmental issues, the use of amplified sound to provide live entertainment and announcements, and an Arbor Day themed youth art contest, with the winners being announced at this event. The contest winners will be given environmentally minded prizes. It is also recommended that the City Council authorize staff to apply for Tree City USA re-certification. Maintaining status as a Tree City USA affirms the City's commitment to caring for our public trees. The City has already met all of the required standards to maintain its status as a Tree City USA for this calendar year, except for the Arbor Day proclamation and observance standard. This will be fulfilled by adopting the attached proclamation and authorizing staff to host the Arbor Day Celebration event.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget includes sufficient funding within the Public Works operating budget to support the Arbor Day event, including event supplies, promotional materials, youth art contest prizes, and minor event support costs. No additional appropriation is required as a result of this action.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land), which applies to minor public landscaping PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 24, 2026, AS ARBOR DAY IN LAGUNA BEACH March 10, 2026
and tree planting activities that do not involve the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees. The Arbor Day event includes the ceremonial planting of a California native tree within an existing developed park facility. The proclamation and authorization to apply for Tree City USA re-certification are further exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that these administrative actions will not result in a significant effect on the environment. Staff has reviewed the project and determined that none of the exceptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply. No further environmental review is required.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proclamation for Arbor Day (Pg. 3)
Submitted By:
.Mark McAvoy Approved: .David A Kiff
Mark McAvoy, Director of Public
Works & Utilities
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Matthew Barker, City Arborist Reza Jafari, Deputy Director/ Public Services