Mayor Alex Munnaghi said negotiations with Newport Beach and Fountain Valley produced a plan for a Fountain Valley well that could supply two-thirds of Laguna Beach's water and save about $800,000 annually; he also recapped wildfire mitigation investments and plans for a modern fire station.

Laguna Beach’s Design Review Board approved a slate of residential projects Dec. 11, 2025, including historic-home renovations, ADUs, and coastal permits, while attaching conditions to protect views, privacy and public-right-of-way safety. Several items were continued for additional revisions.

City Attorney Megan Garibaldi told a community interview that Laguna Beach settled a 2020 DRB-related housing lawsuit for $2.5 million and warned a 2026 state penalty regime could add automatic fines for violations of housing laws, increasing the stakes for future permit decisions.

The commission approved a conditional use permit, coastal development permit and sign permit for the Seahorse Tavern (1796 S. Coast Highway) under new ownership, adding conditions that include limiting live entertainment to the front of the building and ending music 30 minutes before close, restricting rear-door use to ADA/deliveries/emergency with signage, and limiting trash handling to 7 a.m.–5 p.m.; the commission recommended a historic parking reduction to City Council.

After public testimony from arts organizations, the council supported staff recommendations to pursue a $500,000 assistance package for the Laguna Playhouse and directed staff to return with lease amendments, community-use terms and funding-source options in January.

The council adopted a 2025 wastewater master plan that inventories pipes, manholes and lift stations, prioritizes repairs and recommends $109.6 million in capital work over near-, mid- and long-term horizons; staff will present rate scenarios in spring to fund the program.

Council approved staff recommendations to reinitiate purchase agreements, enter a letter of intent and assign consultant services to a new Laguna Beach Community Land Trust and supported a proposed $8 million bridge loan structure to secure two artist live/work properties.

After extended public comment, the council authorized staff to initiate an EIR/SEQUEL and approve a consultant contract to study restoration alternatives for the Aliso Estuary; staff stressed the step is analytical only and does not commit the city to construction.

Consultants told the Planning Commission and Design Review Board that Laguna Beach’s mixed architectural character makes a single style book impractical and recommended style groupings plus a constrained Phase 1 ‘box‑in‑a‑box’ ministerial path; commissioners and public pressed staff to objectify protections for view equity, privacy, mass/scale and landscaping while complying with SB 9 requirements.

Katrina Foley told Fair Game Laguna Beach she plans a grassroots, nonpartisan re-election campaign focused on local issues, emphasizing volunteer organizing, donor outreach under contribution limits and a record of securing beach funding.

Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and Laguna Beach Mayor Alex Runagi described county investments that support Laguna Beach, citing helipod filling stations tied to wildfire response, county-run library programs including a "library of things," and limited discretionary county funds that shape local priorities.

Mayor Alex Runagi described a new well that will raise Laguna Beach’s local water reliability to about 66%; State Sen. Tony Strickland backed streamlining fuel-modification permitting through CEQA and pressing for full funding of Prop 36 while warning against one-size-fits-all housing mandates and criticized state spending priorities such as high-speed rail.

On Fair Game Laguna, State Sen. Tony Strickland said he campaigned against Prop 50, arguing the redistricting it enables creates "predetermined elections" that split communities and undercut competition; host Tom Johnson and Mayor Alex Runagi agreed local representation could be harmed.

At a study session, city staff and SWA Group presented curb-extension and parklet options to implement AB 413 (the California Daylighting Law). Staff asked council to prioritize whether to follow the minimum state-required changes or pursue a more aggressive streetscape that would reduce parking but add art, plantings and permanent parklets.

Council approved first reading of a 2025 building-code update that folds in State-mandated "Zone 0" ember-resistant requirements for high-fire-hazard areas; staff said new rules take effect Jan. 1 with local amendments final after second reading and outreach planned for retrofit timing and homeowner impacts.

At the Nov. 13 meeting the board approved several coastal design reviews (including 1009 Cliff Dr., 22362 Eagle Rock Way, 225 Viejo, 30801 Driftwood, 32005 Coast Hwy, and 167 Chiquita) and continued or conditioned multiple items — notably 399 Pearl, 490 Hillage and 2500 Glenaire — to allow applicants to revise plans addressing privacy, parking and access. Several votes were unanimous.

Laguna Beach’s Design Review Board spent much of its Nov. 13 session debating a proposed house at 1550 Bluebird Canyon. After extended public comment and legal argument about state housing laws, the chair said she could not make the coastal development permit findings tied to natural landforms and visual compatibility and moved to deny the CDP; the motion and written findings were developed in meeting.

Diane Dixon said she is leaving a safe Assembly seat to run for the Orange County Board of Supervisors (District 5), citing a desire to be part of a majority to accomplish infrastructure, public-safety and housing goals and noting endorsements and district demographics she believes favor her candidacy.

Assemblymember Diane Dixon and Mayor Alex Wenagi discussed the limits CEQA and Coastal Commission processes can place on wildfire mitigation and said Dixon will pursue legislation to streamline mitigation work in coastal zones.

Assemblymember Diane Dixon said a year-and-a-half legislative audit revealed oversight gaps at state agencies and led to a bill, described on-record as AB 1356, that requires reporting of deaths at certain facilities and corrective action; she also outlined follow-up bills on proximity of homes and insurance disclosures.

The Laguna Beach Design Review Board on Nov. 13 approved multiple design-review and coastal permit requests — including homes at 1009 Cliff Drive, 22362 Eagle Rock Way and 225 Viejo Street — while continuing or conditioning complex items after extended neighbor testimony about parking, privacy, views and fire access.

Laguna Beach purchased land in Fountain Valley in 2024 and will partner 50/50 with Newport Beach and Fountain Valley to drill wells and connect them into existing pipelines, officials said. Newport officials said the addition would move the city toward 100% local groundwater supply; Laguna officials said the wells will help exercise long-held local

City staff presented concept designs for sidewalk replacement, tree-well treatments, curb bump-outs and a KOA one-way study for Lower Ocean Avenue. Residents and business owners raised concerns about traffic circulation, parking, tree species and construction timing; staff said the KOA study will go to city council on Nov. 18 and an independent arb

The Laguna Beach Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve an amended development plan for the Pacific Edge Hotel that updates a previously‑entitled remodel, adds an automated parking garage and reconfigures guest amenities. Commissioners required several additional conditions to reduce view and neighborhood impacts and to manage Sleepy H­-o

The commission approved amendments to the Pacific Edge Hotel entitlements, clearing the way for a comprehensive remodel that includes an automated parking garage (220 spaces), circulation changes on Sleepy Hollow Lane, changes to previously‑entitled Reef Wing plans and an addendum to a prior IS/MND. The project team removed a rooftop public retail