Mayor's Podcast - City of Laguna Beach

In this episode of the Mayor’s Podcast, Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with Police Chief Jeff Calvert and Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond to debrief the summer. They discuss major surf events, Marine Safety operations, Operation Safe Summer, efforts to address resident concerns, and the coordination required to manage busy beaches, streets, and neighborhoods.

As Laguna Beach prepares for another busy summer, Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with Marine Safety Chief Kai Bond to discuss the people, planning, and preparation that keep Laguna's beaches safe. From lifeguard training and emergency response to ocean rescue operations, and beach safety education, Chief Bond provides an inside look at the vital services the Marine Safety Department delivers every day. Tune in to learn how Laguna Beach's lifeguards prepare for the summer crowds and what residents and visitors can do to help ensure a safe and enjoyable beach experience for everyone.

Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with Sue Kempf for a quick conversation about the City’s Clean Laguna campaign and the community wide effort to keep Laguna Beach clean, safe, and welcoming heading into the busy summer season. In this episode, Councilmember Kempf discusses the goals of the campaign, including reducing litter, improving beach and downtown cleanliness, encouraging responsible visitor behavior, and strengthening community pride through education and outreach. The discussion also highlights how residents, businesses, and visitors can all play a role in protecting Laguna Beach’s coastline, neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces during the peak summer months. 

In this episode, Mayor Orgill tours the newly acquired artist live/work studios in Laguna Canyon alongside Assistant City Manager Jeremy Frimond. The conversation explores how the City and the Laguna Beach Community Land Trust worked to preserve these unique creative spaces through a unique community acquisition effort. Listeners will hear behind the scenes details about the acquisition process, the long term vision for protecting artist spaces in Laguna Beach, and why preserving working studios remains important to the City’s cultural identity. The episode also features interviews with several local artists who share what the preservation of these properties means to them personally and how it supports the future of Laguna Beach’s creative community. 

Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with Community Development Director Matt Schneider for a focused discussion on the City’s planning, building, and code enforcement services. The conversation outlines current priorities, including permit streamlining, code compliance, and managing development pressures in a constrained coastal environment. Director Schneider explains the department’s long range objectives, with an emphasis on improving predictability, reducing processing times, and aligning development outcomes with the City’s policy framework. The episode also examines how emerging tools, including artificial intelligence, will be deployed to improve service delivery, enhance consistency in plan review, and provide residents and applicants with faster, more accessible information. 

 This episode addresses the recent removal of trees along the Promenade and the community response that followed. The discussion explains the safety concerns that led to the decision, the timing under which the action occurred, and the information the City relied upon. It also outlines the updated tree replacement plan, including new eucalyptus and oak plantings, and the steps being taken to restore and improve the space. For additional information, visit www.lagunabeachcity.net/promenade-project

In Episode 5, Mayor Mark Orgill sits down with City Engineer Tom Perez to provide an update on the Promenade construction project.

The discussion covers current construction progress, how the project is being phased to minimize disruption, and what residents and businesses can expect as work continues. Mayor Orgill and Mr. Perez also outline key milestones and provide an updated timeline for completion, offering clarity on when the community can anticipate full delivery of the project.

Listen on the City’s website, your favorite streaming platform, or watch on YouTube.

Episode 4 is a special edition focused on the Downtown Improvement Project and the upcoming Planning Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

In this episode, Mayor Mark Orgill is joined by City Engineer Tom Perez to walk through the project in detail, including its purpose, design objectives, and how it is intended to enhance the downtown area. The discussion outlines key elements of the project, what has been studied to date, and how community input has informed the proposal.

The conversation also explains the scope of the Planning Commission’s role at the March 18 meeting, including what will be reviewed, what decisions may be considered, and how the public can participate in the process.

Residents are encouraged to listen in advance of the meeting to better understand the project and the issues under consideration.

The full episode is available on the City’s website, where residents can also access links to listen on major streaming platforms or watch on YouTube.

In Episode 3, Mayor Mark Orgill discusses several issues that residents have recently raised in the community. The episode includes an overview of the Environmental Impact Report process for the Downtown Specific Plan and explains how environmental review informs decision making before any policy direction is considered.

The conversation also addresses questions about the appraisal values associated with the artist live work properties recently acquired by the Laguna Beach Community Land Trust. Mayor Orgill explains the appraisal process and the City’s role in supporting the preservation of these properties.

The episode concludes with a brief discussion about hillside development and how the City’s General Plan and zoning laws guide where and how development may occur.

Mayor Mark Orgill continues the City’s podcast series with a candid discussion on the 2026 City Council Strategic Planning Session. Joined by City Manager Dave Kiff, this episode provides a transparent look at how the Council evaluates the year ahead, sets priorities, and directs organizational focus.

The conversation highlights both progress and ongoing challenges. Mayor Orgill and City Manager Kiff discuss what is working well, where the City faces constraints, and how those realities shaped the Council’s policy direction for 2026. Topics include major initiatives, service delivery goals, fiscal considerations, and the practical steps the organization will take to implement Council direction.

Listeners will gain insight into how strategic priorities are established, how resources are aligned with policy objectives, and how accountability is maintained throughout the year. The episode offers a clear explanation of what residents can expect in 2026 and how the City measures success against the goals adopted by the Council.