Laguna Beach council hears summer enforcement and trash-cleanup updates; approves contract service schedule

City staff and councilors on July 29 described stepped-up summer enforcement across Laguna Beach beaches and parks, clarified trash-service enhancements for high-season weeks, and approved an ongoing contract to maintain summer litter pickup schedules.

Key points from staff: The city manager presented year-to-date enforcement statistics through June showing a nearly 20% increase in parking enforcement (about 13,000 citations year-to-date), almost a 60% increase in speeding enforcement and about 700 citations for drinking and smoking in public (up from 331 last year). Chief Calvert and council members noted the addition of park rangers and motor officers and said enforcement is being driven by data about accidents and calls-for-service.

Trash and summer service: Public Works described a summer-enhanced service with Spectrum that adds second and third pickups per day at roughly 400 of the city’s public receptacles during the high season; the added summer service is about $156,000 for the May–September period. Public Works said crews also run a “litter cruise” (teams working Friday–Sunday nights plus morning pickups) and separate day‑porter services for Aliso Beach that include litter pickup on sand and shoreline. Staff said recycling and trash are initially collected in bags by a single truck for efficiency and are separated at the city’s corporation yard.

Cove beaches pilot and signage: Council members and staff described a pilot program at cove beaches that will add temporary bold signage listing prohibited activities (drinking, excessive noise) and enforcement fines, increased ranger coverage, targeted trash can placement and additional targeted trash pickups. Council directed staff to proceed with a pilot signage program and community outreach; the measure was adopted.

Community comments: Residents thanked crews and emphasized needs in South Laguna and Woods Cove, including trash can placement, restroom relief planning, and more visible signage; several praised individual rangers and requested high-visibility vests for community volunteers who pick up trash.

Outcome: Council approved the recommended contract actions and directed staff to continue implementing the enhanced summer trash/litter program, the cove-beach pilot signage, and to report July statistics again at the Aug. 12 meeting.