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Council accepts nearly $334,000 FEMA grant to fund fuel modification work in two canyons
Summary
The council accepted $334,102.50 in combined FEMA/Cal OES funding toward a fuel‑modification project in Hobson and Diamond canyons and approved local match spending from the wildfire mitigation and fire safety fund.
The Laguna Beach City Council voted to accept a FEMA/Cal OES hazard mitigation grant of $334,102.50 to fund Phase 1 work — environmental study, design and entitlement — for new fuel‑modification areas in Fuel Modification Zones 16 (Hobson Canyon) and 19 (Diamond Canyon).
Why it matters: The projects aim to thin heavy brush, remove dead and dying vegetation, trim or remove hazardous trees and create defensible space to reduce wildfire risk in canyon neighborhoods identified by the fire department. The grant supports the city’s wildfire mitigation program and reduces the net local cost for this phase of the work.
Funding and timeline: The total Phase 1 estimate is $445,470; FEMA/Cal OES will provide $334,102.50 and the remaining $111,367.50 would be funded from the city’s wildfire mitigation and fire safety fund as a local match — staff said no additional appropriation is required for FY24/25. Robert Montagami, the city fire marshal, told council that the city has completed biological studies and is working on a restoration project report requested by the Coastal Commission; once that documentation is submitted and reviews/appeals, if any, are resolved, Phase 2 construction could proceed within the grant timeline.
Council action and next steps: Council accepted the grant and authorized staff to proceed with environmental clearance and entitlements; staff will return with details on the Phase 2 activities and timing once Coastal Commission and other programmatic approvals are secured. The council and staff noted the governor’s executive orders aimed at expediting vegetation management could affect permitting timelines if those rules are finalized and apply to the project.
Ending: Staff said it will pursue the faster, abbreviated permitting process if the state guidance applies; otherwise the city will continue the scheduled entitlement steps and complete Phase 1 work supported by the grant.
