Laguna beach city news City of Laguna Beach, California

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024

City Council Appoints New City Manager Dave Kiff

The Laguna Beach City Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Kiff as the next City Manager for the City of Laguna Beach. Dave Kiff’s employment agreement was unanimously approved by the Laguna Beach City Council at its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. His anticipated start date is May 6, 2024.

"Dave Kiff's appointment as the new City Manager represents an exciting moment for Laguna Beach," said Mayor Sue Kempf. “He is an experienced leader with an impressive track record of initiatives that he championed or co-championed on the City, County and State level. As a City Council, we are confident Dave will not only address immediate opportunities for enhancing services, but we believe he is a good fit for Laguna overall.”

Dave Kiff, a former 23-year resident of Laguna Beach, brings a wealth of experience and a deep love for the community. "Returning to Laguna Beach to serve as City Manager is a tremendous honor for me," said Dave Kiff.

"I am deeply committed to serving the people and community of Laguna Beach. My goal is to work collaboratively with residents, businesses, and community organizations to ensure that Laguna Beach remains a vibrant and inclusive place to live, work, and visit."

Dave Kiff brings substantial local government experience and expertise to the City of Laguna Beach. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Division Director for the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, overseeing homelessness programs totaling $30 million annually.
Click HERE to Read the Full Press Release

This Week's City Council Action:

City Council Extends Urgency Ordinance Related to Residential Development

On Tuesday, the City Council extended the urgency ordinance to regulate residential development in line with California Senate Bill 9 (SB 9). The urgency ordinance amends the Zoning Code to maintain the City’s current residential lot split and residential development regulations in conformance with SB 9 regulations, while imposing reasonable restrictions, such as a maximum floor area and height, which would allow for greater local control. City Staff will continue to evaluate the March 11, 2024, correspondence from the Housing and Community Development Department regarding the City’s pending permanent SB 9 ordinance and obtain future certification of the ordinance by the California Coastal Commission.

City Council Approves Outsourcing Management of City's Investment Portfolio

On Tuesday, the City Council approved The Citizens’ Audit Review Committee’s recommendation to retain Meeder Public Funds, Inc. to manage the City’s investment portfolio. The Committee identified several advantages to outsourcing the management of City Investments: expertise and specialization, improved investment solutions, risk management, cost efficiency, and compliance and regulatory oversight. City Staff will prepare a transition plan, including modifying roles and responsibilities as appropriate.

City Council Adopts Local Housing Trust Fund

On Tuesday, the City Council adopted a resolution to establish the Laguna Beach Local Housing Trust Fund (LHTF). The LHTF will support ongoing affordable housing investments, demonstrate the City’s commitment with ongoing revenue, and promote the City’s efforts to support lower-income households. The City Council also authorized the City Manager to issue a Notice of Funding Available (NOFA), which will help increase the competitiveness of the City’s LHTF grant program application. City Staff will return at the May 14, 2024 meeting with the results of the NOFA and a request to issue letters of intent.

City Council Approves Resolution Regarding Sale of Bonds for Woods Cove Undergrounding

On Tuesday, the City Council adopted resolutions for Underground Utility Assessment District 2014-2 (Woods Cove) approving the purchase of municipal serial bonds to fund construction of the project. The City Council also authorized the use of the Utility Underground Assessment Deferment Loan Program for qualified applicants and authorized the City Manager to enter into utility company agreements and make advance payments for construction services.

The Next Regular Meeting of the City Council is Tuesday, April 23 at 5:00 P.M.

The "Tentative Agenda" is strictly tentative and there is no guarantee that items listed will be agendized as scheduled due to changing priorities, new information, staff workloads, and other unforeseeable events.
Click HERE for the City Council Tentative Agenda
Click HERE for the "The Week That Was"

New Video Podcast: Stu New's Fair Game with Tom Johnson & Mayor Sue Kempf

In this week's Fair Game podcast with Tom Johnson, Mayor Sue Kempf talks about the City Council appointing new City Manager Dave Kiff, and the City Council decision to outsource the management of the City's investment portfolio.

Congratulations to the Winners of the 22nd Art That's Small at City Hall 🏅

Congratulations to winners of the 22nd annual Art That's Small at City Hall exhibition! From left to right: Jonathan McHugh (Honorable Mention), David Kizziar (City Hall Choice Award), Sarah Ciavarella (1st Place), Mayor Sue Kempf, and Mika Denny (2nd Place). The 22nd annual Art That's Small at City Hall exhibition is on display now through April 18, 2024. View original artworks from 56 Orange County artists in the first-floor hallway gallery of Laguna Beach City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue. Admission is free and the exhibit open to the public during City business hours.

Restoration of Historic "Seagrave" Fire Engine

The City of Laguna Beach is looking at the possible restoration of a 1931 Seagrave fire engine, with efforts being led by City Councilmember George Weiss. The 1931 Seagrave fire engine was the first fire apparatus purchased by the City of of Laguna Beach for $7,500.

Since its retirement in 1962, the Seagrave fire engine has served as a public-facing symbol of the Laguna Beach Fire Department, making appearances at hundreds of parades, pancake breakfasts, and community gatherings. Over time, the Seagrave fire engine has naturally deteriorated and has been placed behind Fire Station 2 awaiting restoration.
Click HERE to Find Out More About the Seagrave Restoration!

LBPD Recognizes Citizen's Academy Graduates

LBPD recently congratulated the recent graduates of LBPD's Citizen Academy. The Citizen Academy provides a great way for members of the Laguna Beach Community to learn more about the police department and get engaged in their community. The academy is a twelve-week low-stress course designed to foster better communications between police Personnel and citizens. If you would like information, please call (949) 715-0831.
On Monday, April 8, the Laguna Beach Police Department held an informal swearing-in ceremony for Dispatcher Stacy Arnold, Police Officer Kristen Groninger, and Police Officer Hunter Ketzel. LBPD also congratulated Jailer Abraham Stephan Ocampo for completing Jailer training. 🚔

Meet Your New Fire Safety Inspector Christopher Caisip

Christopher Caisip joins the Laguna Beach Fire Department as the City's new Fire Safety Inspector. His responsibilities will be supporting the Fire Department with keeping residents, businesses, and visitors of Laguna Beach safe as it pertains to fire prevention.

Christopher joins the City after having previously worked for the La Habra Heights Fire Department, LA County Office of Emergency Management, and Loma Linda University Health's EH&S Office. He also has a Masters of Public Administration from CSUF.

Welcome, Christopher!

The Goats are Coming Ba-ack to Laguna Beach

The City's first herd of 200 goats will be arriving this weekend. They will be munching on vegetation in the hills above 3 Arch Bay.

Since the early 1990s, goats have played a key role in fuel reduction and vegetation management in Laguna Beach. As a reminder, please do not try to pet or come in contact with the goats.

Sweet Pup, Maria, is Looking for a Forever Home

Meet Maria, a sweet and loving 4-year old spayed female Chihuahua mix looking for her forever home! 💕 Maria is incredibly friendly, affectionate, and gets along great with other dogs. She would make the perfect companion for anyone looking for a loving pup to join their family.

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.
Click HERE for More Information on Adoption Procedures!

Inspections of City's North Coast Interceptor Sewer Line Start Monday

From Monday, April 15 to Thursday, April 18, the City’s Contractor, Insta-Pipe, LLC, will be conducting night work to clean and inspect the North Coast Interceptor sewer pipeline.

Work hours will be 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Planned work will take place on St. Ann’s Drive between Catalina Street and Glenneyre Street and Glenneyre Street between St. Ann’s Drive and Calliope Street.

Traffic and noise impacts are expected during the working hours. The work is being conducted at night when there is less flow in the sewer line.

For more information, please contact Ulises Escalona, Senior Project Manager at (949) 497-0792 or uescalona@lagunabeachcity.net.

The Annual City Youth Track Meet is open to Laguna Beach residents under 14 years old. Participants will compete in either the 50 m, 100 m, or 200 m runs or the 400 m, 800 m, or 1600 m longer runs. Field events include the Long Jump & Softball throw. The top 3 winners in each age division advance to the county meet. Pre registration is highly encouraged.
Click HERE to Register for the Annual Youth City Track Meet!
Click HERE to Register for recreation classes!

American Idol's Ava August to Perform at the Promenade 🎶

  • Friday at 5:30 PM: Andrew Corradini
  • Saturday at 5:30 PM: Beth Wood
  • Sunday at 5:00 PM: American Idol's Ava August

Have a Fantastic Weekend! ☀️

Have a Question? Click HERE to Contact the City of Laguna Beach!
Printed copies of the newsletter are available Fridays at the Community & Susi Q Center. Alternative Language Options Available Upon Request.