Mayor's Podcast - City of Laguna Beach

As Laguna Beach prepares for another busy summer, Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond to discuss the people, planning, and preparation that keep Laguna's beaches safe. From lifeguard training and emergency response to ocean rescue operations, and beach safety education, Chief Bond provides an inside look at the vital services the Marine Safety Department delivers eve...

Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with Sue Kempf for a quick conversation about the City’s Clean Laguna campaign and the community wide effort to keep Laguna Beach clean, safe, and welcoming heading into the busy summer season. In this episode, Councilmember Kempf discusses the goals of the campaign, including reducing litter, improving beach and downtown cleanliness, encouraging responsible visitor beh...

In this episode, Mayor Orgill tours the newly acquired artist live/work studios in Laguna Canyon alongside Assistant City Manager Jeremy Frimond. The conversation explores how the City and the Laguna Beach Community Land Trust worked to preserve these unique creative spaces through a unique community acquisition effort. Listeners will hear behind the scenes details about the acquisition process, t...

Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with Community Development Director Matt Schneider for a focused discussion on the City’s planning, building, and code enforcement services. The conversation outlines current priorities, including permit streamlining, code compliance, and managing development pressures in a constrained coastal environment. Director Schneider explains the department’s long range objectiv...

 This episode addresses the recent removal of trees along the Promenade and the community response that followed. The discussion explains the safety concerns that led to the decision, the timing under which the action occurred, and the information the City relied upon. It also outlines the updated tree replacement plan, including new eucalyptus and oak plantings, and the steps being taken to resto...

In Episode 5, Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with City Engineer Tom Perez to provide an update on the Promenade construction project. The discussion covers current construction progress, how the project is being phased to minimize disruption, and what residents and businesses can expect as work continues. Mayor Orgill and Mr. Perez also outline key milestones and provide an updated timeline for compl...

Episode 4 is a special edition focused on the Downtown Improvement Project and the upcoming Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM. In this episode, Mayor Mark Orgill is joined by City Engineer Tom Perez to walk through the project in detail, including its purpose, design objectives, and how it is intended to enhance the downtown area. The discussion outline...

In Episode 3, Mayor Mark Orgill discusses several issues that residents have recently raised in the community. The episode includes an overview of the Environmental Impact Report process for the Downtown Specific Plan and explains how environmental review informs decision making before any policy direction is considered. The conversation also addresses questions about the appraisal values associat...

Mayor Mark Orgill continues the City’s podcast series with a candid discussion on the 2026 City Council Strategic Planning Session. Joined by City Manager Dave Kiff, this episode provides a transparent look at how the Council evaluates the year ahead, sets priorities, and directs organizational focus. The conversation highlights both progress and ongoing challenges. Mayor Orgill and City Manager K...

Mayor Mark Orgill launches the City’s inaugural podcast with a focused discussion on one of the most consequential issues facing coastal communities today: the intersection of State housing law and local decision making. Joined by City Attorney Megan Garibaldi, the conversation provides a clear and practical overview of how recent State legislation shapes what the City can and cannot do when revie...