STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 26, 2026
CONSENT
12 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ASSUME MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 25 (IRVINE COVE)
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize the Fire Department to proceed with establishing a contract for the ongoing maintenance of Fuel Modification Zone 25 (Irvine Cove), with the City assuming responsibility for maintenance costs previously funded by the Irvine Cove Community Association HOA; and
2. Find that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15301 and § 15304, and is further statutorily exempt as an action necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency pursuant to Public Resources Code § 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines § 15269(c).
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends that the City Council authorize staff to initiate procurement for the ongoing maintenance of Fuel Modification Zone (“FMZ”) 25 (Irvine Cove), and authorize the City to assume responsibility for future maintenance costs previously funded by the Irvine Cove Community Association HOA.
The City of Laguna Beach maintains an extensive FMZ program intended to reduce wildfire risk and provide defensible space throughout the community, particularly within the Wildland-Urban Interface (“WUI”). FMZ 25, located above the Irvine Cove neighborhood, is one of approximately 25 fuel modification zones maintained for wildfire prevention purposes.
Unlike the City’s other FMZs, which are funded and maintained by the City, FMZ 25 has historically been maintained through funding provided by the Irvine Cove Community Association HOA. The proposed action would authorize the City to assume responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and associated costs for FMZ 25 in order to align the zone with the City’s broader wildfire mitigation program and ensure consistent maintenance standards and funding practices across all fuel modification zones.
DISCUSSION
The City’s FMZ program was established following the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire and serves as a critical component of the City’s wildfire prevention and vegetation management strategy. The program currently encompasses approximately 25 fuel modification zones consisting of hundreds of acres throughout Laguna Beach. Maintenance activities generally include vegetation thinning, weed abatement, brush clearance, mechanical mowing, and goat grazing where appropriate to create defensible space and reduce wildfire intensity and spread.
AUTHORIZATION TO ASSUME MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 25 (IRVINE COVE)
May 26, 2026
FMZ Area/Name Acres Method Annual Cost
1 Dartmoor 30.1 Goat grazing $ 26,864.00
2 Skyline-Alta Laguna 60.2 Goat grazing $ 50,658.00
3 Hidden Valley/Pacific 42.9 Goat grazing $ 37,194.00
4 Bluebird Canyon 40 Goat grazing $ 34,680.00
5 Nestall - TOW 30.5 Goat grazing $ 27,221.00
6 Fire Road 37.8 Goat grazing $ 33,737.00
7 Ceanothus 10.1 Goat grazing $ 1,122.00
8 Three Arch Bay 15.9 Goat grazing $ 16,218.00
9 Del Mar 7.5 Goat grazing $ 7,650.00
10 Barracuda (East/West) 8.9 Varies by section $ 9,078.00 11 Driftwood/Hobo-Aliso 3 Hand/goat mix $ 8,140.00
12 Arch Beach Heights View Park 1.4 Hand crew $ 3,800.00 13 Oro Canyon 6.7 Hand crew $ 18,180.00
15 Nyes & Oro Canyons 24.1 Hand crew $ 65,395.00
16 Lower Hobo 18.8 Hand crew $ 51,013.00
17 Upper Bluebird Canyon 8.6 Hand crew $ 23,336.00
18 South Bluebird Canyon 8.7 Hand crew $ 23,607.00
19 Diamond/Crestview 26.9 Hand crew $ 72,992.00
20 Sunset 7 Hand crew $ 18,994.00
21 South Laguna 12.3 Hand crew $ 33,376.00
22 Park Ave 7.2 Hand crew $ 19,537.00
23 Canyon Acres 13.6 Hand crew $ 36,903.00
24 Laguna Canyon 29 Hand crew $ 78,691.00
26 Emerald Bay - HOA 18 HOA-managed $ -
27 City Corporate Yard 1.5 Hand crew $ 4,070.00
TOTAL: $ 2,173,816.00
25 Irvine Cove - HOA 6.9 Hand crew $ 20,800.00
As shown above, FMZ 25 represents approximately 1.5% of the City’s overall fuel modification program acreage and would constitute a relatively minor expansion of the Citywide wildfire mitigation program.
Located above the Irvine Cove community on approximately 6.93 acres of State-owned land, the zone provides wildfire protection benefits to surrounding residential properties and supports broader community resilience by reducing fuel loads within the surrounding Wildland-Urban Interface (“WUI”) area. Although FMZ 25 provides the same public safety benefits as the City’s other fuel modification zones, it has historically been funded and maintained through the Irvine Cove Community Association HOA rather than through City operations.
AUTHORIZATION TO ASSUME MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 25 (IRVINE COVE)
May 26, 2026
Assuming maintenance responsibility for FMZ 25 would align the zone with the City’s existing wildfire mitigation framework and ensure consistency in maintenance practices, budgeting, oversight, and long-term planning. Irvine Cove residents contribute to Citywide tax revenues and benefit from the same wildfire protection services provided throughout Laguna Beach. Incorporating FMZ 25 into the City’s operational program would also centralize administration of fuel modification activities and improve consistency across all zones.
To assist in developing a preliminary understanding of potential maintenance costs, staff obtained a general cost estimate from E. Stewart and Associates, Inc. dated May 5, 2026. The estimate approximates the cost of initial maintenance work associated with the 170-foot fire break clearance at approximately $18,800, including vegetation reduction performed by hand crews and mechanical mowing operations. In addition, annual permit costs payable to the State of California are estimated at approximately $2,000 annually. The estimate was obtained solely for budgeting and planning purposes and does not constitute a proposed contract award or vendor selection.
If the City Council approves the recommended action, staff will proceed with soliciting informal bids for the maintenance work in accordance with the City’s purchasing policy and applicable procurement requirements. Any resulting contract award, budget adjustment, or related appropriation request will be returned to the City Council for formal consideration and approval, as applicable.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The estimated annual cost associated with ongoing maintenance of FMZ 25 is approximately $18,800, in addition to an estimated $2,000 annual State permit fee. Future costs associated with the program will be incorporated into the Fire Department’s operational budget and brought forward to the City Council for approval as part of future contract awards or budget actions
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
The proposed action supports the City Council’s goals related to public safety, wildfire preparedness, and environmental stewardship by ensuring the continued maintenance of critical wildfire mitigation infrastructure within the WUI. Incorporating FMZ 25 into the City’s existing FMZ program promotes consistent wildfire prevention efforts, enhances community resilience, and supports the protection of residents, property, and natural resources.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
AUTHORIZATION TO ASSUME MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FUEL MODIFICATION ZONE 25 (IRVINE COVE)
May 26, 2026
The proposed action involves ongoing vegetation management and maintenance activities within an existing fuel modification zone intended to reduce wildfire hazards and maintain defensible space. The project consists of minor vegetation removal, brush clearance, mowing, and related maintenance activities with no expansion of existing use. Accordingly, the proposed action is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) and § 15304 (Class 4 – Minor Alterations to Land), which exempt the maintenance and minor alteration of existing public facilities and vegetation management activities involving negligible or no expansion of use. The action is also statutorily exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code § 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines § 15269(c) as a specific action necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency related to wildfire risk and public safety. The proposed project does not involve unusual circumstances, significant cumulative impacts, damage to scenic resources, impacts to historical resources, or impacts to environmentally sensitive habitat areas. Therefore, none of the exceptions identified in CEQA Guidelines § 15300.2 apply.
ATTACHMENTS
1. E. Stewart and Associates, Inc. Preliminary Cost Estimate for FMZ 25 Maintenance (Pgs. 5-6) Submitted By:
. Approved: .David A Kiff
Niko King, Fire Chief Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Kirsten Gallacher, Senior Administrative
Analyst
Niko King, Fire Chief