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.

Mayor Mark Orgill launches the City’s inaugural podcast with a focused discussion on one of the most consequential issues facing coastal communities today: the intersection of State housing law and local decision making. Joined by City Attorney Megan Garibaldi, the conversation provides a clear and practical overview of how recent State legislation shapes what the City can and cannot do when reviewing housing proposals and adopting local policy.

The episode explains why State housing mandates carry legal force over local ordinances, where the City retains meaningful discretion, and how objective standards guide project review. Mayor Orgill and City Attorney Garibaldi walk through real world scenarios that illustrate how conflicts between local preferences and State requirements are resolved, what that means for coastal planning, and how the City continues to advocate for community priorities within the bounds of the law.

This discussion is intended to demystify a complex regulatory framework, clarify common misconceptions, and provide residents with a transparent explanation of the rules that govern housing decisions. Listeners will come away with a better understanding of the legal landscape, the limits of local control, and the tools the City still has to shape outcomes consistent with adopted plans and community values.