Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting - Local Emergency Declaration - September 14, 2026

September 14, 2026

Executive Summary

- The City Council unanimously approved the recommended action ratifying and extending the local emergency declared after coastal erosion damaged public infrastructure, beaches, and private seawalls; the declaration may support reimbursement, emergency permitting and procurement, and a coordinated regional response - Staff reported six properties with limited-entry yellow tags—two on Ocean Way and four on Lagunita—along with damage at the Aliso Beach parking lot and tree losses at 10th Street Beach; an exposed wastewater line was reported secured with large sandbags - The Council formally directed the City Manager to return at least once every 60 days to review whether the emergency should continue and to recommend ending it when conditions warrant - Staff described coordination with other coastal cities, Orange County emergency management, and Coastal Commission staff, including temporary protection under emergency coastal permits followed by traditional review of eligible like-for-like seawall replacements - Emergency-services staff announced a forthcoming El Niño preparedness workshop, an upcoming Friday sandbag distribution from 3–6 p.m. at the Public Works Yard/Act 5 parking l

Key Decisions

- Unanimously adopted the resolution ratifying and extending the proclamation of local emergency arising from coastal erosion and anticipated El Niño impacts - Directed the City Manager to return at least once every 60 days to review the need to continue the emergency and recommend termination at the earliest warranted date - Approved the recommended CEQA finding that the ratification action is not a project subject to CEQA or, alternatively, is exempt as an emergency project