Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Laguna Beach officials defend emergency removal of nine promenade trees after arborists warn of root failure
Summary
City manager and staff told the council two arborist reports and insurer warnings left no safe option but to remove nine eucalyptus trees on Lower Forest Avenue; residents reacted with anger and grief while some urged trust in staff’s safety assessment and praised plans to plant more, healthier trees.
Laguna Beach city leaders on Monday defended the emergency removal of nine mature eucalyptus trees along the Lower Forest Avenue promenade, saying two independent arborist reports and an insurer's assessment showed the trees posed an imminent safety and financial risk.
City Manager Dave Kiff told the council and a crowded chamber that a eucalyptus tree fell overnight on March 22, prompting an accelerated inspection. A Dudek arborist report and a second, level‑2 review found buried root collars, girdling root barriers and inadequate root structure on multiple trees. “When the second arborist confirmed the recommendation for removal,” Kiff said, “our options were bad — we either act to remove or shut down the entire site.”
City Attorney Megan explained the insurance stakes: the city's joint insurance pool indicated that with evidence of a known dangerous condition insurers could exclude related claims, exposing the city to large judgments. Staff cited a recent outside case that settled for $28 million as a cautionary example.
Kiff and staff also presented a revised planting plan that will increase the promenade tree count to 33 and use larger boxed specimens, new SilvaCell soil systems, improved root barriers, and three years of post‑planting maintenance. Tom Perez, the city engineer, described planting details, root monitoring tubes and temporary tree‑protection measures.
The presentation and council discussion drew hours of public comment. Hundreds of residents attended; dozens spoke. Supporters said the city acted responsibly to protect public safety and the city’s fiscal exposure. “They put in so many hours … they put themselves on the grenade for this town,” said Mark Christie, a lifetime resident who urged trust in staff.
Opponents criticized the timing and communications, citing grief over the loss of mature shade trees and questioning whether alternatives—more notice, on‑site protections or slower removals—were adequately pursued. “This felt like it was taken in the middle of the night so that there wouldn’t be a local fight,” resident Christina read from a poem delivered during public comment. Speakers urged the council to favor native species, seek more input on species selection, preserve trunk sections for artwork, and provide clearer public outreach.
Councilmembers acknowledged the communications gap and stressed shared responsibility. Several members asked staff to seek local expertise on species selection and to explore options to memorialize removed trunks and reuse chips. Councilmember questions also focused on ensuring replacement species will thrive in Laguna Beach’s coastal soils and salt exposure.
Staff said the trees selected for removal were identified after air‑spading roots and soils testing revealed decades‑old root barriers and buried collars that left the trees unstable. The revised plan calls for a mix of eucalyptus and southern live oaks in large containers and for establishing larger uncompacted soil volumes via SilvaCell systems to improve long‑term survival.
Kiff said the decision was “profoundly sad” but defended it as the safest course given the evidence and insurer guidance. He told the council the city would post the arborist reports, soils results and planting plans and would follow up with additional community meetings on species selection. The council did not vote to reverse the removals; staff committed to returning with implementation details and to consider public input on the final plant palette.
The city also said two large trunk sections currently remain on site and staff will evaluate options to preserve or memorialize material for community use.
