THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
Laguna Beach Honors 9/11
This morning at 8:30 a.m., Laguna Beach held its 9/11 Memorial Ceremony at Monument Point. Public safety personnel, city officials and community members gathered to honor the lives lost, recognize the sacrifices made and reflect on the lasting impact of September 11, 2001. The ceremony concluded around 9 a.m. after approximately 30 minutes of remembrance.
Mayor Alex Rounaghi Discusses New Idea to Bring Local Voices into the Podcast 🎙️
In this week’s Fair Game podcast with Tom Johnson, Mayor Alex Rounaghi previews his upcoming Colorado River inspection to learn more about the region’s water infrastructure, discusses new leadership at both the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visit Laguna Beach, highlights next week’s Fire Insurance Town Hall, and shares ideas for bringing more local voices into the podcast.
Share Your Feedback at the Town Hall Meeting hosted by LBUSD
LBUSD will host a series of Town Halls at each school site to provide families and community members an opportunity to share feedback directly with the superintendent. The conversations will focus on what the district should continue, what may need to change, and new opportunities to consider. All Town Halls are open to anyone, regardless of school affiliation. Families and community members are encouraged to attend the session most convenient for them.
6–7:30 p.m. on September 16 - El Morro Elementary School - MPR
6–7:30 p.m. on September 30 - Thurston Middle School - Library
Attend the Town Hall Meeting for the Laguna Canyon Road: Protect and Connect Project
- Who: Open to all public
- When: September 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
- Where: City Council Chambers
What to Expect: The meeting will be an opportunity for the public to share their questions, comments, and concerns for the proposed project and City acceptance of the roadway. Staff will provide a brief presentation with project background, then will open to public questions.
Prior to the meeting questions and comments can be emailed to City Engineer, Thomas Perez at tperez@lagunabeachcity.net. Any questions received prior to the meeting will be addressed by staff at the meeting.
Fall 2025 Activity Guide is Here!
Join Us for Coastal Cleanup Day!
Be part of the effort to keep Laguna Beach beautiful by joining us for Coastal Cleanup Day. Participants must sign up before the event begins. At the end of the day, visit the weighing station to see just how much trash was collected. Enjoy live music, coffee, and browse booths from local non-profits supporting this important cause.
Tip-a-Cop Fundraiser at Ruby’s Diner
Support Laguna Beach police officers and Special Olympics athletes at the Tip-a-Cop fundraiser! During this special event, officers and athletes will serve as waiters at Ruby’s Diner, with all tips donated to benefit the Special Olympics team. Donations help cover the cost of uniforms, sporting events, and training. Guests can also enjoy a classic car show outside while supporting a great cause.
The City of Laguna Beach will be conducting public tests of our emergency alert systems
Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 10 am and 4 pm.
We will be testing two of our systems:
10 AM: A text, email, and phone call test alert will be sent to all registered devices and home phone lines. Register at AlertOC.com and text 92651 to 888-777 to receive the test alert and alerts during actual emergencies. This is part of a countywide emergency alert drill.
4 PM: The city will test the citywide Outdoor Warning System, which is a network of speakers and sirens. A loud tone and message indicating it is a test will be projected from the outdoor speakers and will last no more than 1 minute.
Testing our emergency alert systems is critically important to ensure they are operating correctly and that the public knows what to expect in an emergency.
For more information on our emergency alert systems, watch this quick video.
September is National Preparedness Month!
This year’s theme is Preparedness Starts at Home and focuses on getting back to the essentials of preparedness. This includes understanding the hazards we face here in Laguna Beach, making a family emergency plan, building an emergency supply kit, and signing up for emergency alert systems. To support you in your preparedness efforts, we created the new City of Laguna Beach specific all-hazard Emergency Preparedness Guide. Be sure to share the guide with your family, friends, and neighbors.
Another essential step in preparedness is getting trained on basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, and basic medical operations. You can do this by attending the upcoming Community Emergency Response (CERT) Academy. The academy is open to adults and teens who live, work, or attend school in Laguna Beach.
LBFD Annual Fire and Life Safety Business Inspections
The Fire Prevention Division of the Laguna Beach Fire Department, under the direction of the Fire Marshal, is responsible for enforcing fire and life safety regulations throughout the city. Its primary responsibilities include fire prevention, hazard mitigation, maintenance of fire protection systems, and management of hazardous materials.
The Annual Fire & Life Safety Inspection Program ensures compliance across various occupancies—from small businesses to complex structures like schools and large multi-family buildings. These inspections identify hazards and help protect property and public safety.
Inspections are conducted by both the Fire Prevention Division (Fire Marshal and Fire Inspector) and Engine Companies from the city’s four fire stations. Engine Companies primarily inspect offices and retail spaces, while the Fire Prevention Division handles larger and more complex occupancies and target hazards (e.g. multi-family complexes, restaurants, places of assembly).
Annual fire inspections are required by law and tailored to each business’s occupancy classification, providing a cost-effective way to protect lives and property.
On April 12, 2022, the Laguna Beach City Council approved an updated fee schedule for Fire Department inspection and permitting services based on a cost-recovery analysis. The Agenda Report, Resolution, and Fee Schedule are available at lagunabeachcity.net/fireprevention.
For details on the inspection process and requirements, visit the Annual Fire & Life Safety Inspections Page. For questions about fire inspection billing and sample invoices, see the FAQ for Fire Inspection Billing.
For further inquiries, contact the Fire Prevention Division at fireprevention@lagunabeachcity.net.
Meet Lionel, the friendly and affectionate Shorthair
Lionel is a lovable 3-year-old neutered male shorthair with a unique trait—he’s polydactyl, with extra toes on all four paws! Friendly and affectionate, Lionel will make a very special addition to any home.
The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter adoption procedures are designed to make sure that both the potential family and the animal adopted are in the very best situation possible. The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road. For any questions, please call (949) 497-3552.
Beautification in Action – Awning Replacement at 888 Glenneyre Street Enhances Local Streetscape
The City’s Commercial District Beautification and Property Maintenance Program continues to make a positive impact throughout the community, with yet another visible enhancement recently completed. This time, the spotlight is on 888 Glenneyre Street, where brand-new awnings have been installed—further advancing the City’s goal of creating attractive and well-maintained commercial areas.
The replacement of the aging awnings at 888 Glenneyre Street may seem like a small change, but it brings a noticeable boost to the building’s overall curb appeal. The new awnings not only refreshes the exterior but also contributes to a more inviting streetscape for both residents and visitors.
This simple yet effective upgrade highlights how minor improvements can significantly enhance the character and charm of our commercial corridors. Projects like these embody the mission of the City’s beautification program, which supports property owners in revitalizing their buildings through maintenance, repairs, and aesthetic updates. The City provides outreach and incentives—including reimbursement of certain City fees—to encourage these efforts.
Like the recent upgrades to Bushard’s Pharmacy at 244 Forest Avenue and 304 Forest Avenue, including paint repairs and a vibrant new mural, the awning replacement at 888 Glenneyre Street shows how property owners across Laguna Beach are investing in their spaces and the community as a whole.
These visible improvements help maintain Laguna Beach’s unique identity while fostering a welcoming environment for residents and visitors. The City remains committed to promoting these collaborative efforts and looks forward to highlighting additional examples of beautification in the weeks ahead.
For more information about the City’s Commercial District Beautification and Property Maintenance Program, please contact Louie Lacasella, City Manager’s Office at llacasella@lagunabeachcity.net
Non-Summer Season Trolley Routes (Sept. 2, 2025 - June 24, 2026)
Coastal Route
Free trolley service on Coast Highway between North Laguna/ Heisler Park, downtown, South Laguna/ Mission Hospital and Ritz Carlton in Dana Point.
- Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes.
Canyon Route
Park for free at Lot 16/Act V (1900 Laguna Canyon Road) and ride a free trolley to downtown Laguna Beach every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Frequency: Every 30 minutes.
Note: Lot 16 is closed to the public Monday-Friday.
Enjoy Live Music at Sunset Serenades in Heisler Park
Spend an evening by the ocean with singer-songwriter Jason Feddy at Sunset Serenades in Heisler Park, Laguna Beach, on Friday, September 12.
Concerts take place from 5:30 p.m. to sunset. Low-back beach chairs are encouraged. Alcohol is permitted for guests 21 or older, but must be accompanied by a full meal. Solicitation of any kind is not permitted at City events.
Enjoy Your Weekend Ahead! ☀️
Printed copies of the newsletter are available Fridays at the Community & Susi Q Center. Alternative Language Options Available Upon Request.