[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6521816,"mediaKeyId","5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45","parentId",5082354,"title","Laguna Beach mayor: balanced 2025–26 budget but infrastructure funding, fee policy and investment changes remain priorities","audioSeconds",408,"startMs",570880,"endMs",979730,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45&start=570&end=979","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45/thumbnail_570880.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6521816/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-mayor-balanced-202526-budget-but-infrastructure-funding-fee-policy-and-investment-changes-remain-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521816-62a090621585b07e4537d8d135dfe05a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175925&Signature=mdrzYMJ5FtCgQVctM2nEdHU4hvI7FHG9ln1GjNngrjnC73Gzokz4pGSfnIbJomBuA9kqLjUAk6GMibPHnMtf0NqeDzWn9yjm9XlATtCSrBLJ5~cBuVOCcqUuS~9LNhencmCK6gkM2~xJkCsmHsa2FgB0RVwbCiS6Ap1VCM4RjpzgvBy6hsNwGldP-wjcHde7RsQNp~7L9bZgdYzdjJGeVn9TJD~yOJTMoFwrt8beNoAF32Gq0hRqZ3jCmkzKoTybvS8YUVnaPOX0dVynuV3vN3u1MwScGedK6SUyMwSoTUQw8WEp8TZJc2IoPD4oMvY-R1MlGtnfRW4rGu4R70pDLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-26T21:18:46Z","article","The City of Laguna Beach adopted a balanced 2025–26 budget, Mayor Alex Unagi said, and the budget includes new positions such as park rangers. “Yes. So we have a balanced budget, which is good. We're investing, you know, continuing to make the investments in public safety, you know, adding we added Park Rangers in this budget,” Unagi said.

Unagi said the city faces significant infrastructure needs and that the community development department has historically been subsidized by the general fund because fees did not fully cover processing costs. He said the council previously decided to subsidize application processing and that the long-term goal is for community development to become a 100% cost-recovery department after process improvements.

Unagi described a policy change in which the council stopped delegating investment authority solely to the elected city treasurer and instead delegated authority to the city manager and an outside investment firm, METER. He said the change gives the city access to a team-based investment approach while retaining the elected treasurer’s statutorily required functions under the Government Code.

Citing a cash-flow analysis prepared by the city manager and METER, Unagi said the council agreed to invest $25,000,000 of funds the city did not expect to need for near-term cash flow in vehicles intended to earn higher returns. He credited City Manager Dave Kiff’s leadership for improvements in the city’s financial operations and auditing results.

Unagi did not provide detailed line-item budget figures, fee levels or the specific investment vehicles METER will use; he said the city will maintain conservative investment practices consistent with legal requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Stu News Laguna's Fair Game with Tom Johnson and Mayor Alex Rounaghi | June 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Alex Unagi said Laguna Beach adopted a balanced 2025–26 budget that adds park rangers but acknowledged large long-term infrastructure and capital needs.","taxTitle","Laguna Beach, Orange County, California","taxId",56774,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6521820,"Laguna Beach mayor: Fire Station 1 seismically insecure; council considering relocation and station upgrades",160,268550,429320,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45&start=268&end=429","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45/thumbnail_268550.jpg","/articles/6521820/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-mayor-Fire-Station-1-seismically-insecure-council-considering-relocation-and-station-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521820-99e41c12e2728f9ff8e672cca2656d76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175925&Signature=TgPU~cJ9-wy6Q6dR209z63v1~jiZFt72OyFPzsLu9-YPyTbYpBTJcdbeq940C3Xwkk1MqsyFVyFPejDyb21m8wMrvtZdMxPuIWxWe~hDY4D3u8MiDIikocvJqQa2cRlB4JmchyLMmoBT4oSgBlmSSZo2-EplGmYHzhEzdrCbGeqXG3N~KNxqQGSPnp7Ni2TNiNs~8gj9IwT6hps6i07h03z6mYmkChAzuQxLQFH34r75DnQX5yiOsJC25v4c5UPjojpRS0KZ3qZc-6bcAAt59TuXOtVm6lfKi~6IZ3HzJhJad3~3ipTqS5XAsHA7sjvr2MjJ76nw7oLhdmKwGK0Y-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Alex Unagi said the city’s facilities master plan identifies Fire Station 1, next to City Hall, as seismically insecure and too small for current needs. “Right now, it's seismically insecure, and it is also just not the right size that you need for a fire station,” Unagi said during a radio interview.

Unagi said council members agreed there is “really no way that we could keep that in the same location that that it currently is.” Options under consideration include relocating the station to the parking lot adjacent to City Hall or exploring other sites that would improve the city’s standards of cover and response times.

The facilities master plan also addresses renovations to Fire Stations 2 and 3 and the planned Fire Station 4 in South Laguna. The mayor said the city hopes “shovels will be in the ground this year” for Station 4, and that achieving “four functioning fire station[s] in town” is a top priority to ensure response capability during an earthquake or other major incident.

Unagi discussed broader facility needs as well, including the Lincoln Beach Community and Recreation Center (referred to in the interview as St. Catharines) and Lane Park. He said the city is weighing options such as ground leases or joint development to generate revenue to pay for major facility improvements, while stressing the city must be realistic about funding availability.

The mayor encouraged public engagement on the facilities master plan and said staff will provide additional analysis on options, costs and siting before the council selects a path forward.","Mayor Alex Unagi said Fire Station 1, adjacent to City Hall, is seismically unsafe and likely cannot remain in its current location. The city’s facilities master plan prioritizes creating or refurbishing four functioning stations and assessing options, possibly within five years.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6521826,"Laguna Beach mayor says city studying concerts at Irvine Bowl; CEQA and sound analysis planned",207,24061,231355,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45&start=24&end=231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45/thumbnail_24061.jpg","/articles/6521826/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-mayor-says-city-studying-concerts-at-Irvine-Bowl-CEQA-and-sound-analysis-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521826-d6feebafe680c6deadc8ab8ae6f53de2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175925&Signature=cbd9j0DNgOvCrnIc9WDcqPuc-5ae4T~-oPv0yo3U0X1vv-1b9mdBXCVlued-m-TNlp3Fci3jdxQSmAanqgR4AFln2JCb99-nqhCX2LIL5zHZYW0qzL546ZWZBpj99rfuhyQlnODApO5jeURCKP6H9cEsTXpNJm-X5gKWYYS4dIWS19t-yTy6osW-WHZ~fonMZOf~8w97xpo3sxOuR442~S-xlxRv8OCbxQRnLSKc2O~xQdSTyhnIkNywS60dC4GryNxO8ctnK2puRnPn6qwy9EAnRGRUtUcQ~gGOX14WmizsEuzpUgwuK2cl3RzvzK0r54QzqRWJNP6d8n~aVb9qjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Alex Unagi said Laguna Beach is exploring expanded live-music use of the Irvine Bowl and will pursue sound studies and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review before any concert approvals. “So we're looking at ways to, later in early July, on our council meeting, we have an agenda item related to the Irvine Bowl policy committee and and having a a a concert at the Irvine Bowl this fall,” Unagi said.

The mayor framed the study as part of a broader effort to support the city’s arts scene. “Well, arts really define what Laguna Beach is all about,” Unagi said, noting the Sawdust Festival, Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters as ongoing summer events. He said officials planned to examine how similar venues—he specifically referenced the Santa Barbara Bowl—manage sound mitigation while operating in neighborhood settings.

Unagi said the city will do more research and collaborate with the Festival of the Arts and community stakeholders on potential uses of the Irvine Bowl. He told the program the city is pursuing a sound analysis and CEQA review and expects to seek formal approval at an early July City Council meeting if the analyses support the proposal.

A specific concert referenced in the interview is the event organized by Ben Warner scheduled for this fall; Unagi said that approvals are required before it can go forward. The mayor did not give dates, ticketing details, or funding sources for any proposed shows, saying only that staff will complete the required analyses.

If approved, expanded Irvine Bowl programming could increase live-music options in Laguna Beach but would first require the technical and environmental reviews Unagi described.","Mayor Alex Unagi told a radio interview that the city is researching expanded music use of the Irvine Bowl, citing sound mitigation work and a planned California Environmental Quality Act review ahead of a possible council approval for a fall concert.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6521811,"Laguna Beach restores July 4 fireworks; mayor emphasizes lifeguard readiness for holiday crowds",31,1133025,1164225,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45&start=1133&end=1164","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5082354-0ceb6b480e56f9d0638db37aa25b0f45/thumbnail_1133025.jpg","/articles/6521811/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-restores-July-4-fireworks-mayor-emphasizes-lifeguard-readiness-for-holiday-crowds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6521811-db9b44d9644ce02c386b00e30021f6c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175925&Signature=R~On0zJE7pJXHNdHtI0WUJxZeXzmGOnRLzmZjK3Pco245qE51M~5~Jgy7ap7L7QSaDqC5cQKi7aNAVEMtulQP1Bmtln7JxwiQ4qJx5D7wv2g2OcZk~FcP0LM9qKaDc6~M338t0s2yCud~zwk3mQj0mb2JfQswMCiYQaZibgEEAc4fuXZXfegd8clF2O3tT-OWPO0gy9Zv98bdVLIrvw1FTo-SIATl1xL8XW77EJGlJOkmfMsa07P6BKy8ODUAo1gpVA8HQhwfiDWurYr8usTg4B3ryWLvzMvwTEYB8GtiGAuZ6G23lPsPFnCMCG4wsf~j5LeQepfgoY6qUyg7DGJoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Alex Unagi confirmed that Laguna Beach will restore a traditional fireworks show for the July 4 evening and will not repeat the drone show used the previous year. “The fireworks are back. We are do you know, there there will not be a drone show,” Unagi said.

Unagi emphasized public-safety preparations for the holiday, giving special recognition to lifeguards, police and firefighters. He described shadowing lifeguards and swimming out to the wave-watch boat to observe operations, and said lifeguards face a high volume of rescues and calls on July 4.

The mayor said city staff have prepared for larger crowds and that lifeguards are a critical public-safety resource on crowded holiday weekends. He encouraged residents and visitors to be mindful of water safety and credited staff with preparations for the event. Unagi did not provide operational staffing numbers, exact patrol plans or the fireworks vendor.","Mayor Alex Unagi said Laguna Beach will hold a fireworks show for July 4 instead of a drone show and highlighted lifeguard preparations and staffing for the holiday weekend.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Laguna Beach mayor: balanced 2025–26 budget but infrastructure funding, fee policy and investment changes remain priorities

Laguna Beach mayor: Fire Station 1 seismically insecure; council considering relocation and station upgrades

Laguna Beach mayor says city studying concerts at Irvine Bowl; CEQA and sound analysis planned

Laguna Beach restores July 4 fireworks; mayor emphasizes lifeguard readiness for holiday crowds