STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
March 24, 2026
BUSINESS
18 SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION FOR PUBLIC TREE REMOVALS AND REPLACEMENT
TREE PLANTINGS
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Uphold removal of the Torrey pine tree located at the Festival of Arts property and authorize planting an in-kind Torrey pine replacement tree at an alternate location within the same site;
2. Uphold removal of the Carob tree located at 264 Legion Street and authorize planting a Redbud replacement tree within the landscaped area of the Catalina roundabout;
3. Uphold removal of two Ficus trees located along Short Street adjacent to 585 Legion Street and authorize planting of two Queen palm replacement trees at same location;
4. Determine that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) according to State CEQA Guidelines section 15304 (Class 4) categorical exemption; and
5. Direct staff to file and post a Notice of Exemption within five days of this approval.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report presents staff recommendations for the removal of four public trees and the planting of replacement trees at alternate or nearby locations within the city. The proposed removals include one Torrey Pine at the Festival of Arts property, one Carob tree at 264 Legion Street, and two Ficus trees along Short Street adjacent to 585 Legion Street. Each tree has been evaluated by the City Arborist and determined to pose structural risks, infrastructure conflicts, or irreversible health decline.
Consistent with the City’s Tree Removal and Planting Policy for Public Trees, notices of the proposed removals and replacement plantings were issued on February 10, 2026, and public comments were received and addressed. On March 2, 2026, Mayor Pro Tem Jones requested that the proposed removals be agendized for City Council discussion and additional public awareness.
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 adopted budget contains sufficient funding to complete the recommended tree removals and replacement plantings. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the recommended removals and replacement plantings and determine the actions are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land).
RECOMMENDATION FOR PUBLIC TREE REMOVALS AND REPLACEMENT TREE
PLANTINGS
March 24, 2026
DISCUSSION
Background:
On August 13, 2024, the City Council adopted updates to the Tree Removal and Planting Policy for Public Trees. This policy establishes a transparent process to notify the City Manager, City Council, and interested members of the public about proposed public tree removals or plantings, as well as providing a mechanism for any City Councilmember to request that a proposed removal or planting be agendized for public discussion (Attachment 1).
On February 10, 2026, the Public Works & Utilities Department issued several notices to recommend the removal of five public trees and planting of nine new trees, including recommendations for the removal and replacement planting of one Torrey Pine at the Festival of Arts property, one Carob tree at 264 Legion Street, and two Ficus trees located on Short Street adjacent to 585 Legion Street. During the week following the issuance of the notices, public comments were received regarding the proposed actions and on February 25, 2026, Department staff responded to all questions received and issued Final Recommendation notices (Attachment 2).
On March 2, 2026, Mayor Pro Tem Jones requested that the proposed actions affecting the four trees noted above be placed on the agenda for City Council discussion, in accordance with the Tree Removal and Planting Policy for Public Trees
Torrey Pine Located at Festival of Arts Near Tennis Courts A declining Torrey Pine on City property at the Festival of Arts site was evaluated after several years of observed canopy thinning, chlorosis, and increasing deadwood. Soil and foliar laboratory testing conducted in June 2025 confirmed the presence of Phytophthora root rot, a soil-borne pathogen that disrupts root function and causes progressive canopy decline. The tree also exhibits symptoms consistent with ghost canker, an emerging pine disease with no established treatment. Secondary and opportunistic pests have further exploited the tree’s weakened condition, accelerating its decline beyond the point of recovery.
Additionally, no curative treatment options exist to restore long-term health or structural viability of this tree. Based on these findings, the City Arborist recommends immediate removal to mitigate the risk to public safety associated with the potential of future tree failure.
If removed, an in-kind replacement Torrey Pine is recommended to be planted at an alternate location within the same site, as the existing tree’s location is not suitable for replanting.
Carob Tree Located at 264 Legion Street
Following discussions and mutual agreement with the owners of the adjacent property at 264 Legion Street, the City formally assumed ownership of this tree in July 2025 and accepted responsibility for its ongoing maintenance. Immediately after, the tree was pruned and inspected by the City Arborist, which revealed a previously obscured trunk cavity requiring advanced Level III diagnostic testing. Resistograph and sonic tomography results confirmed extensive internal decay extending to the outer sapwood, significantly reducing the tree’s structural strength. Because this off-center decay compromises the trunk’s load-bearing capacity and increases the likelihood of whole-tree failure, the risk to the public and other nearby targets, including adjacent private property, is elevated. Based on these findings, the City Arborist recommends
RECOMMENDATION FOR PUBLIC TREE REMOVALS AND REPLACEMENT TREE
PLANTINGS
March 24, 2026
immediate removal to mitigate the risk to public safety associated with the potential of future tree failure.
If removed, a replacement Redbud tree is recommended to be planted at an alternate location within the landscaped area of the Catalina roundabout, as the existing tree’s location is not suitable for replanting due to several conflicts with the pedestrian path of travel within the public right of way.
Ficus Trees Located Along Short Street Adjacent to 585 Legion Street Two mature Ficus trees are located within the narrow parkway strip between Short Street and the sidewalk adjacent to 585 Legion Street. The species profile of Ficus trees includes aggressive surface roots that are significantly disturbing adjacent public and private improvements, including the street pavement, public sidewalk, and various elements of the private residence at 585 Legion Street. Removal of these trees will facilitate the repair of the damaged public infrastructure and prevent future similar damage to both public and private improvements. Additionally, failure to remove these trees and continued damage to private improvements may lead to future liability claims of damage from adjacent private owners.
If removed, two replacement Queen palm trees are recommended to be planted at the same locations, which is the recommended street tree species for Short Street identified in the Laguna Beach Landscape and Scenic Highways Resource Document.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 adopted budget contains sufficient funding with the Public Works operating budget for tree maintenance and replacement. No additional appropriations are needed for the recommended actions.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
The recommended actions support the City Council’s priorities related to infrastructure maintenance, environmental stewardship, and public safety. Proactively removing structurally compromised or declining trees reduces the risk of failure and associated public safety hazards, while the planting of replacement trees helps maintain the City’s urban forest canopy and long-term landscape sustainability.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Staff recommends that pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the City Council find the proposed tree removals and tree plantings are discretionary actions under CEQA that are categorically exempt from further review pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15304 (Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land). City staff proposes to remove four (4) public trees (and planting of four (4) replacement trees) in various public rights-of-way in the City as described above. CEQA Guidelines section 15304 exempts, “minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes.” Based on the arborists report, each one of the trees subject to removal either have health issues and pose a risk to the public safety or are actively damaging public infrastructure and private property and causing increased liability risk. thus, of these trees appears to meet all three criteria of “healthy, mature, scenic trees” and thus
RECOMMENDATION FOR PUBLIC TREE REMOVALS AND REPLACEMENT TREE
PLANTINGS
March 24, 2026
their removal is permitted. Further, none of the exceptions listed in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply.
Staff recommends that City Council direct staff to file and post a Notice of Exemption within five days of approval of the recommended actions.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Tree Removal and Planting Policy for Public Trees, Revised 8/13/2024 (Pg. 4-7)
2. Response to Public Comments and Final Recommendations for 5 Public Tree Removals and 9 Public Tree Plantings (Pgs. 8-58)
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 Matthew Barker, City Arborist