Laguna Beach lays out wildfire mitigation, fuel-mod zones and fire-station projects amid utility-undergrounding debate

City Manager Dave Kiff used a town-hall presentation to describe Laguna Beach’s wildfire and facilities priorities, including completed fuel-mod zones, upcoming construction, and multi-million-dollar facilities needs that the city may fund through reserves or potential voter measures.

Kiff said the city set aside $4 million last year after area fires and has used those funds for fuel-modification-zone construction and maintenance, undergrounding portions of utility lines, pilot AI fire detection investments and expansion of outdoor warning sirens. ‘‘We’ve constructed over 27 fuel modification zones,’’ he said, and identified two major upcoming construction sites at Diamond Crest View and Hobo Canyon.

Infrastructure and facilities

Kiff described a facilities master plan that estimates roughly $400 million to replace aging public facilities over time. He identified Fire Station 4 as the first station slated for replacement, noted work on a retaining wall contract to create a build site, and said the station design will return to the planning commission for final details. Kiff also described a modest interior remodel of the branch library (roughly $6–7 million) and listed other capital priorities tied to visitor impacts and emergency response.

Undergrounding and Laguna Canyon Road

Kiff reiterated the city’s policy of contributing about 20% toward distribution and communications undergrounding costs in assessment districts and cited previous projects (Woods Cove ~$2.7M; West Street ~$1.4M). He said lingering questions about undergrounding on Laguna Canyon Road stem from right-of-way ownership: Caltrans and County Parks controls in places prevent burying utilities beneath the roadway; Kiff said city acquisition could permit undergrounding under the road but warned acquisition, tolling and construction would carry community and equity trade-offs.

Public safety, staffing and response

Kiff noted the city fields roughly 56,000 calls for service annually (about 45,000 police and 11,000 fire/EMS) and that marine safety manages thousands of rescues tied to weather and visitor volumes. He described the city’s funding of three firefighters after a standards-of-cover study and argued continued investments are needed to maintain response capacity in the face of growth in calls and beach visitors.

Community questions

During Q&A residents raised specifics about siting, timing and funding for the fire-station project and asked about the scope of undergrounding and whether the city should pursue acquisition of rights to Laguna Canyon Road. Kiff said staff will return more detailed cost information (a staff report was promised), and that some projects will require planning reviews and permitting before construction can begin.

Ending: Kiff closed by reiterating the city’s focus on protecting evacuation routes and critical infrastructure while seeking community feedback on funding priorities and possible ballot measures.