STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 12, 2026
NON APPEAL
21 SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing to hear protests regarding any noticed nuisance as established by Resolution No. 26.XXX (Attachment 1) and Resolution No. 26.010;
2. Allow or overrule any protests based on facts or circumstances presented by the protestor (Mayor Rounaghi, Council Members Orgill, Whalen, Kempf, and Jones to recuse if the protest concerns properties listed in the subsequent recommendations);
3. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING THE FIRE CHIEF TO PROCEED WITH
ABATING ALL NOTICED NUISANCES ON PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT ABATE THE
NUISANCES WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT” directing the Fire Chief to abate all noticed nuisances established by Resolution No. 26.010 on Exhibit A for property # 186 (APN 644-044-20) not removed by May 12, 2026 (Councilmember Orgill to recuse);
4. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING THE FIRE CHIEF TO PROCEED WITH
ABATING ALL NOTICED NUISANCES ON PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT ABATE THE
NUISANCES WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT” directing the Fire Chief to abate all noticed nuisances established by Resolution No. 26.010 on Exhibit A for property # 242 (APN 644-254-12) not removed by May 12, 2026 (Councilmember Jones to recuse);
5. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING THE FIRE CHIEF TO PROCEED WITH
ABATING ALL NOTICED NUISANCES ON PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT ABATE THE
NUISANCES WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT” directing the Fire Chief to abate all noticed nuisances established by Resolution No. 26.010 on Exhibit A for properties # 325 and 326 (APN 656-053-17 and 656-053-27) not removed by May 12, 2026 (Councilmember Kempf to recuse);
6. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING THE FIRE CHIEF TO PROCEED WITH
ABATING ALL NOTICED NUISANCES ON PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT ABATE THE
NUISANCES WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT” directing the Fire Chief to abate all noticed nuisances established by Resolution No. 26.0010 on Exhibit A for property #356, 357, and 358 (APN 658-091-01,658-091-05, and 658-091-06) not removed by May 12, 2026 (Mayor Rounaghi to recuse);
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM
May 12, 2026
7. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING THE FIRE CHIEF TO PROCEED WITH
ABATING ALL NOTICED NUISANCES ON PROPERTIES THAT DO NOT ABATE THE
NUISANCES WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT” directing the Fire Chief to abate all noticed nuisances established by Resolution No. 26.010, for properties # 1-185, 187- 241, 243-324, 327-355, and 359 -368 on Exhibit A if not removed by May 12, 2026; and
8. Identify the abatement of public nuisances exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15304 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
On March 24, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution 26.018, which declared weeds, rubbish, and refuse located upon city streets, sidewalks, parkways, or in front of various specified parcels of private property within the City to be a public nuisance. The resolution also set a May 12, 2026, public hearing date for the City Council to consider any protests and objections to removing the noticed nuisances.
On March 24, 2026, the City Clerk notified the 368 affected property owners of the public hearing by mail. The property owners were provided with a deadline of May 12, 2026, to abate their properties or be subject to weed abatement by City-contracted hand crews. The City's contractors abate approximately 50 properties annually at a cost of $200 to $300 per property. Service fees are assessed on the property owner's tax bill.
DISCUSSION
Staff performs annual inspections of all City streets, identifying privately maintained vegetation or other improvements that present obstructions to pedestrians and vehicles. These public nuisances need to be abated under abatement procedures of the City's Municipal Code and the California Government Code.
Staff completed inspections and identified 368 parcels that constitute a public nuisance. As of this meeting, approximately 200 parcels have not responded with nuisance abatement remedial actions.
Upon the City Council’s determination to overrule any such protests presented at the public hearing, it is recommended that the City Council direct the Fire Chief to abate all overruled noticed nuisances not removed by the property owners by May 12, 2026. The costs of the City's efforts for such nuisance abatements will be charged to the responsible property owners through property tax bills next year and will be provided to the City Council on July 7, 2026.
Separate votes are recommended in order to segment the decision based on conflicts of interest for certain Council Members due to proximity to real property interests. One property is within 500 feet of Councilmember Orgill’s residence (644-044-20), two properties are within 500 feet of Mayor Kempf’s residence (656-053-27 and 656-054-07), one property within 500 feet of Councilmember Jones’ Residence (644-254-12), and three properties are within 500 feet of Councilmember Rounaghi’s Residence (658-091- 01,658-091-05, and 658-091-06).
PUBLIC HEARING FOR ANNUAL WEED ABATEMENT PROGRAM
May 12, 2026
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact on the budget.
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 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 Section 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. Resolution (Pgs. 4-6)
2. Weed Abatement Resolution 26.018 with Exhibit A (Pgs. 7-13) Submitted By:
. Approved: .David A Kiff
Niko King, Fire Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Robert Montaghami, Fire Marshal
Christopher Gort, Fire Safety Inspector
Niko King, Fire Chief