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Laguna Beach to plant mature eucalyptus and oaks after Promenade removals; mayor says decision was 'not an option'
Summary
City Manager Dave Kiff and Mayor Mark Orgill said nine Promenade trees were removed after arborists found fungus and root damage; the city plans to install substantial eucalyptus and Southern live oaks with enhanced planting methods and will post a site plan before a council discussion Tuesday night.
City Manager Dave Kiff said the City of Laguna Beach will bring in mature eucalyptus and Southern live oaks to replace trees removed from the Promenade after arborists documented fungus and root damage.
Mayor Mark Orgill said the choice to remove the failing trees was compelled by safety concerns. "This decision really wasn't an option," Orgill said, adding that the trees "were infected with fungus and had root damage" and were at risk of falling and potentially injuring someone.
Kiff said the city will post two arborist reports and a soils report on its website and will upload an updated site plan and images showing where the replacement trees will be planted. "Please look at our website. We're going to upload an updated site plan that will show you where these trees will go along with more images of the trees," he said.
Officials said the replacements will include several eucalyptus in larger containers and multiple Southern live oaks grown in 10-foot containers (a speaker described one oak in a "120-in box" and roughly 28 feet tall). After learning more trees required removal than originally planned, city staff and landscape consultant SWA located three additional mature oaks and a range of eucalyptus stock in 48-in, 45-in and 24-in boxes as well as several trees in 15-gallon containers.
City staff described several planting changes intended to prevent the problems that led to the earlier failures: the replacements will sit under tree grates to keep soil away from the root collar, receive automated watering to regulate moisture, and be installed with Silva cells (vertical structural soil cells and pipes filled with porous soil) so roots avoid compacted roadway soils. Officials also said they will treat the soil to address high salinity and plant trees at the correct elevation to avoid burying the root collar, which can cause root rot.
Kiff said the item is on the City Council agenda for Tuesday night to allow council members and the public to ask questions of staff about the removals and next steps. Officials emphasized the decision was difficult for the council and staff but framed the work as an obligation to protect pedestrians, workers and future users of the Promenade.
No motions or formal votes were recorded in the briefing itself; officials directed the public to posted reports and to Tuesday night's council meeting for additional public comment and staff Q&A.
