STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
March 24, 2026
CONSENT
9 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE ANNUAL
SIDEWALK AND INTERSECTION VISIBILITY NUISANCE ABATEMENT
PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING AND DETERMINING THAT
VEGETATION OR WEEDS 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
VEGETATION OR WEEDS AS REQUIRED BY LAW, AND FIXING THE TIME FOR
HEARING OBJECTIONS AND PROTESTS, AND FINDING THE PROJECT EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT,” which will set a public hearing date of May 12, 2026, for the Annual Sidewalk and Intersection Visibility Nuisance Abatement Program; and
2. Determine that the Annual Sidewalk and Intersection Visibility Nuisance Abatement Program is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land) of the State CEQA Guidelines, and that none of the exceptions set forth in Section 15300.2 apply.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution declaring vegetation and weeds located on streets, sidewalks, parkways, and private property within the City of Laguna Beach to be a public nuisance and setting a public hearing date of May 12, 2026, for the Annual Sidewalk and Intersection Visibility Nuisance Abatement Program.
Each year, the City inspects streets and intersections to identify privately maintained vegetation that obstructs pedestrian travel on sidewalks or limits visibility for motorists at intersections. Pursuant to Laguna Beach Municipal Code (“LBMC”) Chapter 12.12 and California Government Code Sections 39560–39588, the City may address multiple nuisance properties through a single public hearing process.
Staff has identified 99 parcels requiring vegetation abatement this year. Adoption of the attached resolution will initiate the required notice process and schedule the public hearing at which property owners may submit objections or protests before the City Council considers ordering abatement.
DISCUSSION
RESOLUTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE ANNUAL SIDEWALK AND
INTERSECTION VISIBILITY NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM
March 24, 2026
The Public Works & Utilities Department performs annual inspections of all City streets to identify privately maintained vegetation or other improvements that present obstructions to pedestrians and vehicles, in violation of LBMC Sections 11.30.010 and 11.30.040. California Government Code Sections 39560- 39588 provide a process for the abatement of such public nuisances for any number of properties at one time. That process is codified in LBMC Chapter 12.12 (Abatement of Weeds and Obstructions to Intersection Visibility), pursuant to Government Code Section 39501. In order to efficiently carry out the abatement of all of the properties identified by City staff through this annual inspection, the City follows the process in LBMC Chapter 12.12. This year, there are 99 parcels requiring abatement. These properties are listed on Exhibit A of the attached resolution. (Attachment 1).
In accordance with LBMC Chapter 12.12, to proceed with abatement of the public nuisances, the City Council is required to set a public hearing date to consider any protests to the proposed abatement of public nuisances. Upon adoption of the attached resolution, affected property owners will be notified of the public hearing date by mail. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution setting a public hearing date of May 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Those properties that are not in compliance with the order to abate by June 12, 2026, will be abated by the City, and the abatement costs will be added to the owners’ property tax bills.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
If property owners fail to complete the required vegetation abatement, the City may perform the work and recover the associated costs through assessments placed on the property owners’ tax bills, consistent with the procedures outlined in Government Code Sections 39560–39588 and LBMC Chapter 12.12.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The annual abatement of public nuisances (Project) qualifies for a categorical exemption pursuant to Section 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 are public nuisances to pedestrians and vehicles constitute minor alterations 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 section 153002. There are no cumulative impacts resulting from successive projects of the same type on the same sites over time because the vegetation and weeds only need be removed permanently one time. There are no unusual circumstances that apply to the Project that would result in a reasonable possibility for a significant effect on the environment since these involve minor removal of vegetation and weeds. There are no scenic resources within an officially designated scenic highway on or near the abatement of vegetation and weeds that would result in damage to those scenic resources as a result of the Project. The properties listed on 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 there would be a substantial adverse change in the significance of such historical resource. Thus, the Project is exempt pursuant to Class 4, and no further environmental review is required.
RESOLUTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE ANNUAL SIDEWALK AND
INTERSECTION VISIBILITY NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM
March 24, 2026
RESOLUTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE ANNUAL SIDEWALK AND
INTERSECTION VISIBILITY NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM
March 24, 2026
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution and Exhibit A (Pgs. 4-9)
Submitted By:
.Mark McAvoy Approved: .David A Kiff
Mark McAvoy, Director of Public
Works & Utilities
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Reza Jafari, Deputy Director/ Public Services