FROM THE DESK OF
LORRAINE HORNBY
RECEIVED
JUN 2 3 2026
June 22, 2026
City Clerk's Office
City Clerk City of Laguna Beach, CA
City of Laguna Beach
RE: opposition to proposed increase in solid waste management rates.
Dear Council and Staff,
This letter serves as my written protest regarding the increase in solid waste collection fees.
1. I, Lorraine Hornby, am the owner of record for the property noted below, and I oppose the proposed solid waste rate increase.
2. My property is located at Anns Lane, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.
When the City transitioned to CR&R for waste management services, this community was promised that the move would save the city and residents $1.7 million.
Instead, my rates immediately increased 23.4%. My household has one person.
I use a set of the smallest waste management carts. In 2023-24, my property tax bill included a waste management charge of $329.58 for a year. The first full year of service by CR&R was 2025, and my waste management charges increased to $406.80. Every single homeowner and business I have talked to to about this has had a similar experience: increased costs.
Sincerely voura
Lorraine Hornby
SVEN DAVIDSON
Cliff Drive
• Laguna Beach, California
RECEIVED 92651
• Parcel •17
MAY 1 4 2026
City Clerk's Office
May 11, 2026
City of Laguna Beach, CA
City Clerk
City of Laguna Beach
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, California 92651
Gentlemen.
1am writing this letter to protest the proposed Solid Waste Collection Services Annual Maximum charges increase.
Sincerely,
Sven Davidson
Record Owner
17 05/13/2026
Jerry & Gwen Myers
Terrace Way
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Public Works & Utilities Department
Attn: Mark McAvoy
505 Forest Ave.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Attn: Public hearing on proposed Solid Waste increases June 23, 2026 -24
Subject: Opposition to Proposed Increases and Adjustments to Solid Waste Service Charges Dear Mr. McAvoy,
We are writing to formally oppose the proposed increases and adjustments to solid waste service charges received on May 11, 2026. I request that the proposed changes to our solid waste fees be denied for the reasons outlined below.
1. Insufficient justification
2. No demonstrated improvement in service or value
3. Short notice of proposed rate increase
4. Equity and affordability concerns
5. Alternatives and benchmarking not addressed
6. Requested action, deny rate increase.
Please confirm receipt of my opposition by email or in writing. We are available to attend public meetings and review support materials.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
RECEIVED
Jerry & Gwen Myers
City of Laguna Beach
Public Works Department
18 05/13/2026
Jerry & Gwen Myers
Terrace Way
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Public Works & Utilities Department
Attn: Mark McAvoy
505 Forest Ave.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Attn: Public hearing on proposed Solid Waste increases June 23, 2026 Re: APN -04
Subject: Opposition to Proposed Increases and Adjustments to Solid Waste Service Charges Dear Mr. McAvoy,
We are writing to formally oppose the proposed increases and adjustments to solid waste service charges received on May 11, 2026. I request that the proposed changes to our solid waste fees be denied for the reasons outlined below.
1. Insufficient justification
2. No demonstrated improvement in service or value
3. Short notice of proposed rate increase
4. Equity and affordability concerns
5. Alternatives and benchmarking not addressed
6. Requested action, deny rate increase.
Please confirm receipt of my opposition by email or in writing. We are available to attend public meetings and review support materials.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jerry & Gwen Myers
RECEIVEL
City of Laguna Beach
Public Works Department
19 05/13/2026
Jerry & Gwen Myers
Terrace Way
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Public Works & Utilities Department
Attn: Mark McAvoy
505 Forest Ave.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Attn: Public hearing on proposed Solid Waste increases June 23, 2026 Re: APN -056
Subject: Opposition to Proposed Increases and Adjustments to Solid Waste Service Charges Dear Mr. McAvoy,
We are writing to formally oppose the proposed increases and adjustments to solid waste service charges received on May 11, 2026. I request that the proposed changes to our solid waste fees be denied for the reasons outlined below.
1. Insufficient justification
2. No demonstrated improvement in service or value
3. Short notice of proposed rate increase
4. Equity and affordability concerns
5. Alternatives and benchmarking not addressed
6. Requested action, deny rate increase.
Please confirm receipt of my opposition by email or in writing. We are available to attend public meetings and review support materials.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jerry & Gwen Myers
RECEIVED
City of Laguna Beach
Public Works Department
20 05/13/2026
Jerry & Gwen Myers
Terrace Way
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Public Works & Utilities Department
Attn: Mark McAvoy
505 Forest Ave.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Attn: Public hearing on proposed Solid Waste increases June 23, 2026 Re: APN -055
Subject: Opposition to Proposed Increases and Adjustments to Solid Waste Service Charges Dear Mr. McAvoy,
We are writing to formally oppose the proposed increases and adjustments to solid waste service charges received on May 11, 2026. I request that the proposed changes to our solid waste fees be denied for the reasons outlined below.
1. Insufficient justification
2. No demonstrated improvement in service or value
3. Short notice of proposed rate increase
4. Equity and affordability concerns
5. Alternatives and benchmarking not addressed
6. Requested action, deny rate increase.
Please confirm receipt of my opposition by email or in writing. We are available to attend public meetings and review support materials.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Jerry & Gwen Myers
RECEIVED
2028
City of Laguna Beach
Public Works Department
21 RECEIVED
Russell & Laura Hansen
Mystic Way
MAY 18 2026
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
City Clerk's Office
City of Laguna Beach, CA
May 14, 2026
City Clerk
City of Laguna Beach
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Subject: PROTEST OF PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASES
Dear City Clerk,
My neighbor, Jeanette Rocchio-Whitlatch, is a widow living on a fixed income and is deeply distressed about the proposed increases to water and sewer rates for the City of Laguna Beach.
I am writing to support her concerns.
Sincerely,
Russell & Laura Hansen
Mystic Way
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
16 March 26, 2026
RECEIVED
MAY 2 8 2026
City Clerk's Office
City of Laguna Beach City of Laguna Beach, CA
City Clerk's Office
Attn: Public Hearing on Solid Waste Rate Increases
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Dear Sir/Madam:
Per the response received by Ashley Moran on method to be used, below is the email sent on May 19, 2026 regarding the objection increase to solid waste charges.
First, I agree we need to increase pricing due to adjustments in cost. Alternatively, I do not feel an 18.0448% increase is warranted especially in these times. In would agree a 10% increase would be fair and hope this is something you would take under consideration.
Thank you.
My parcel is •07
Tricia Lam / Thomas Heenan
Hawthorne Rd
Laguna Beach, CA. 92651
March 26, 2026
Patricia G Lam
X March 26, 2026
Thomas C Heenan
14 Moran, Ashley PW
From: Recycle
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 12:05 PM
To: Moran, Ashley PW
Co: Agtang, Juliet PW
Subject: FW: Protest - Proposed Increase to solid waste service charges -Original Message--__
From: Tricia Lam
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 5:29 PM
To: Recycle <[email protected]>
Cc: Thomas Heenan
Subject: Protest - Proposed Increase to solid waste service charges [NOTICE: This message originated outside of City of Laguna Beach - DO NOT CLICK on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe.]
Dear Laguna Beach City / Recycling
First, I agree we need to increase pricing due to adjustments in cost. However I do not teel an 18.0448% increase is warranted especially in these times. In would agree a 10% increase would be fair and hope this is something you would take under consideration.
Thank you.
Tricia Lam / Thomas Heenan
Hawthorne Rd
Laguna Beach, CA. 92651
-07
Mia Davidson
Chiquita Street RECEIVED
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
JUN 02 2026
City of Laguna Beach, CA City Clerk's Office
5/27/26
City Clerk: Ann Marie McKay
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Re: 6/23/26 Public Hearing on Solid Waste Rate Increase Dear Ms. McKay,
I am writing to formally voice my opposition to the proposed rate increases for our waste hauling services managed by CR&R. Furthermore, I want to bring a serious, ongoing operation issue to your attention that directly undermines our community's conservation efforts.
I live on Chiquita Street. I have fairly consistently observed CR&R trucks picking up both our carefully separated and sorted waste and placing them together into the same truck. s residents, we try to conscientiously take time and effort to sort our waste under the impression tha ve are complying with California's environmental standards and laws. Why bothel When CR&R mix these two together, it makes a mockery of our efforts and fails to deliver the core service we are being billed for. We should not be asked to pay more for a service that appears to be cutting corners at the expense of our community's efforts.
Thank you for your time and attention to this neighborhood matter.
Mia Davidson
Chiquita Street
13 RECEIVED
5/12/2026 JUN D 4 2026
City Clerk's Office
City of Laguna Beach, CA
City of Laguna Beach
Public Works & Utilities Department
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
RE: Notice of Public Hearing
for proposed and adjustments to Solid Waste Service Charges scheduled June 23, 2026 Assessor's Parcel Number: 006
To whom it may concern:
1 Protest CR&R rate increases scheduled 7/1/2026 !
John Church
Glenneyre
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
11 RECEIVED
5/12/2026
JUN 0 4 2026
City Clerk's Office
City of Laguna Beach City of Laguna Beach, CA
Public Works & Utilities Department
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
RE: Notice of Public Hearing
for proposed and adjustments to Solid Waste Service Charges scheduled June 23, 2026 Assessor's Parcel Number: | -007
To whom it may concern:
I Protest CR&R rate increasesl
John Church
Glenneyre
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
12 RECEIVED
To : City of Laguna Beach Public Works June 8, 2026 JUN 1 5 2026 City Clerk's Office
From: Richard Mason
City of Laguna Beach, CA
Temple Hills Dr, Laguna Beach
I am vehemently opposed to the proposed increase in monthly rates for trash collection. 1 am 85 and live on a fixed income and cannot afford these rising costs for this service.
This would allow them to raise the rate for the next five years and thereafter without any further input from the residents of Laguna. At the proposed increase of 18% a year it would be over 90% increase with no input from the residents. Unacceptable!! The city could ask the former waste collectors for a bid along with bids from any other competitors.
The city could raise the price of a parking ticket and pay for the cost of trash for seniors.
In any event the annual increase without input for the residents is not acceptable.
Richard Mason
RECEIVED
June 15, 2026
JUN 15 2026
City Clerk's Office
Laguna Beach City Council City of Laguna Beach, CA
c/o Laguna Beach City Clerk
RE: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING PROPOSED INCREASES TO SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGES.
Please vote to decline the proposed rate increases to
solid waste charges.
It has been only two-years of service and the rates are going up.
Passing would authorize 1.) rate increases on a yearly
basis 2.) for the next five-years of 3.) undisclosed
amounts 4.) without public notice.
The increases benefit for five-years the Producer by
using Producer Price Index (PPI) as a guide (PPI is on
double-digit rise) and without improved benefits to Laguna Beach residents, who are without control or influence over service performance.
With personal inflation on the rise, slowing real wages and only six days to make personal financial adjustments, the spirit of the changes lack public knowledge, scrutiny and transparency.
Please decline passage, consider alternatives. Your
vote will have lasting effect.
Rob Aler
San Nicholas Court
Laguna Beach, California 92651
RECEIVED
Michael LaRiche
Glenneyre Street
City of Laguna Beach Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Public Works Department
RECEIVED
June 10, 2026
JUN 1 6 2026
City of Laguna Beach City of Laguna Beach
505 Forest Avenue Public Works Department
Public Works & Utilities Department
RE: Proposed Increases to Solid Waste Service Charges
APN: -04, Glenneyre Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm in receipt of your mailing regarding the June 23, 2026 Public Hearing at 5:00PM.
I have a few oppositions to these rate increases, some which I expressed when our service was switched to CR&R.
First and mainly l am being charged for (6) bins although I have never in the 30 year history of owning this property ever had more than (3). I believe this is overreach based on the property's designation as a duplex.
I've spoken to Ashley Morin approximately a year ago about what I believe is an overcharge for a service l am not receiving.
In my conversation with Ashley, and to be part of this protest is:
Many homes listed by county assessor were originally considered single family. Over the years some have been turned into multi-unit properties with and without permits. Even though they house 3 or 4 residents/ families they are only paying for a single family home at $26.70 per month.
I've pointed specific addresses out to Ashley that are not in effect single family residents any longer. And at the time I wasn't including any that added a ADJ or JDU which again, on title with county assessor will still be designated a single family residence.
If, unlike me, these owners are paying $26.70 for 3 carts, they are allowed to add bins at a minimal fee, which never will equate to the cost of a 2-unit at $54.00.
Currently, many of these homes paying $26.70l see are (a) piling up trash way over the top or the bins and in some cases (b) leaving additional trash to the side of the bins and still being serviced at no additional charge.
I believe the we should pay for what we use, the amount of carts not some arbitrary fee. There is no other commodity that a person pays for that they do not receive.
I was also told that the city made a deal with CR&R to let them charge per type of home, not how many bins they service. I hope I can receive some reasoning on this to help me understand how the city decided to make residents pay for a service they are not receiving. If there is no reasoning, but perhaps some law or ordinance, I'd like to know about that.
In my opinion this seems like an illegal fee forced onto residents for a service not wanted nor used.
I protest paying even more for a service I am not receiving, and protest any increase to my solid waste collection.
Sincerely,
Michael LaRiche
Homeowner/ Resident since 1989
Sent via USPS
And Also dropped at Cashier Counter
Robin K. Hall
Bernard Court RECEIVED
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
JUN 2 2 2026
June 22, 2026 City Clerk's Office
City of Laguna Beach, CA
Ann Marie McKay
Laguna Beach City Clerk
500 Forest Avenuc
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Dear Ms. McKay:
My property's APN# is 20, and I am writing to formally object to the proposed 18% increase in solid waste collection rates.
When the City approved a new waste-hauling contract, residents were led to believe that the change would provide cost savings and greater value. For that reason, it is difficult to comprehend why such a substantial rate increase is being requested only two years into the agreement. An 18% increase in such a short period raises legitimate questions about the assumptions and projections that supported the original contract.
Before residents are asked to absorb such a significant increase in costs, I believe a more thorough explanation should be provided regarding the factors driving the increase, why those costs were not anticipated when the contract was negotiated, and what alternative cost saving approaches were considered.
While the City's notice satisfies the legal requirements for public notification, receiving a brief notice of a public hearing shortly before implementation of a double-digit rate increase does little to promote transparency or public confidence in this or the original process.
The service provider and the City need to provide a more detailed public justification for the requested increase. If the increase cannot be adequately justified, the City should consider rebidding the contract to better serve the interests of Laguna Beach residents.
Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
Resnect Butly.
Robin K. Hall
RECEIVED
Mary Locatelli
Cress Street JUN 22 2026
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
City Clerk's Office
City of Laguna Beach, CA
Ann Marie McKay
City Clerk
500 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Dear Ms. McKay:
My property parcel number is APN -04 and I am writing in opposition to the proposed 18% increase in solid waste service charges. I am not unhappy with the new service provider, but then I was not unhappy with the last one either. The rationale for the change in providers was to reduce costs. An 18% increase two years into the contract does not fit the description of why a change was necessary. And one would expect a new company that sold its services on an ability to provide the same service at reduced rates, would do a better job of explaining why an 18% increase in fees is needed so soon after the original contract was signed. A post card notice of a public hearing sent a few weeks in advance and announcing an 18% rate increase may be technically legal, but does little to gain customer confidence.
I would suggest the company take the time to better explain the need for this increase to the residents before it goes into effect. Absent that, perhaps the City should think about putting the contract out to bid again.
Respectfully,
Mary Locatelli