STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
March 24, 2026
CONSENT
10 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAGUNA BEACH TO SET A PUBLIC
HEARING DATE FOR THE ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING AND DETERMINING THAT WEEDS,
RUBBISH, AND REFUSE UPON THE STREETS, SIDEWALKS, PARKWAYS AND PRIVATE
PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH ARE A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND
DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO MAIL NOTICES TO DESTROY AND REMOVE SAID
WEEDS, RUBBISH AND REFUSE, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, AND FIXING THE TIME FOR HEARING OBJECTIONS AND PROTESTS,” which will set a hearing date of May 12, 2026, for the annual Weed Abatement Program; and
2. Find that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15304 and are further statutorily exempt as none of the exceptions to the exemptions set forth under State CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2 apply.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution declaring weeds, rubbish, and refuse on certain properties within the City to be a public nuisance and setting a public hearing date of May 12, 2026, for the Annual Weed Abatement Program.
Each year, the Fire Department conducts inspections on City-owned lots and private parcels to identify vegetation, rubbish, and refuse that constitute a public nuisance and require removal. These public nuisances must be addressed under the Municipal Code's abatement procedures and the California Government Code.
This year, 368 parcels require abatement. The affected parcels are listed in Exhibit A of the attached resolution (Attachment 1). If the properties fail to comply with the abatement order by May 12, 2026, the City will address the non-compliance, and the associated costs will be included in the property tax assessment.
There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting the resolution, as any abatement costs incurred by the City may be recovered from the responsible property owner.
DISCUSSION
The Laguna Beach Fire Department conducts annual inspections of City-owned and private parcels to identify vegetation, rubbish, and refuse that may pose a fire hazard or otherwise constitute a public nuisance.
The removal of these hazards is an important component of the City’s wildfire prevention and public safety efforts.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAGUNA BEACH TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING
DATE FOR THE ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM
March 24, 2026
The City must follow the procedures outlined in Article 2, Chapter 13, Part 2, Division 3, Title 4 of the California Government Code and Chapter 12.12 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, which authorize cities to declare weeds, rubbish, and refuse a public nuisance and provide property owners with an opportunity to protest prior to abatement.
Adoption of the attached resolution initiates this process by:
• Declaring the identified weeds, rubbish, and refuse to be a public nuisance; • Directing the City Clerk to mail notices to affected property owners; and • Setting a public hearing date to allow property owners to present any objections or protests.
If the City Council adopts the resolution, notices will be mailed to affected property owners informing them of the May 12, 2026, public hearing. Notices will be mailed at least five days prior to the hearing, as required by state law. Property owners will have the opportunity to remove the weeds, rubbish, or refuse themselves before the hearing. If the nuisance conditions are not corrected, the City Council may authorize the City to perform the abatement.
Following the City's abatement, the costs associated with the work may be recovered through the property tax assessment process, consistent with applicable law. The public hearing will be held in City Council Chambers, where property owners will have the opportunity to present objections or protests before any City-performed abatement actions.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact on the budget. If property owners fail to remove the nuisance conditions, the City may perform the abatement and recover associated costs through the property tax assessment process in accordance with applicable law.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
The Annual Weed Abatement Program supports the City Council’s Public Safety and Wildfire Preparedness priorities by reducing vegetation hazards that may contribute to wildfire risk. Proactive inspection and abatement of combustible vegetation helps protect residents, property, and critical infrastructure while supporting the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire hazards and maintain safe community conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAGUNA BEACH TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING
DATE FOR THE ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM
March 24, 2026
The annual abatement of public nuisances (Project) qualifies for a categorical exemption pursuant to § 15304 of the State CEQA Guidelines – Minor Alterations to Land (Class 4), which applies to minor public or private alterations to the condition of land, water, or vegetation. The abatement of vegetation and weeds that pose a public nuisance to pedestrians and vehicles constitutes a minor alteration to land and does not involve the removal of mature, scenic trees. Moreover, none of the exceptions to the exemptions set forth under State CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2 apply. There are no cumulative impacts resulting from successive projects of the same type on the same sites over time because the vegetation and weeds are removed as needed and do not require permanent or repeated abatement. There are no unusual circumstances associated with the Project that would create a reasonable possibility of a significant environmental effect, as the activities are limited to the minor removal of vegetation and weeds. There are no scenic resources within an officially designated scenic highway on or near the abatement areas that would be impacted by the Project. The properties listed in Exhibit A of the attached resolution are not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5. There are no historical resources on or near the properties such that the Project would result in a substantial adverse change to the significance of a historical resource.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Weed Abatement Resolution with Exhibit A (Pgs. 4-10) Submitted By:
. Approved: .David A Kiff
Niko King, Fire Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Kirsten Gallacher, Senior Administrative
Analyst
Robert Montaghami, Fire Marshal
Niko King, Fire Chief