OC Supervisor Katrina Foley, Mayor Alex Rounaghi and City Manager Dave Kiff speak to LBOR members at the Rivian Theater
On April 3, 2025, the Laguna Board of REALTORS® (LBOR) held its 101st Membership Meeting at the stunning Rivian Theater in Laguna Beach. The sustainable theater space aligns with LBOR’s values and provided an ideal setting for members to hear from key local leaders, including President Jesse Brossa, OC Supervisor Katrina Foley (District 5), Mayor Alex Rounaghi, and City Manager Dave Kiff.
City Manager Dave Kiff opened the meeting with a detailed update on several key local initiatives. He emphasized efforts to streamline local projects, aiming to reduce delays in building and renovation by moving smaller projects out of the design review process. He also discussed the ongoing Main Beach revitalization project and the city’s renewed focus on fire mitigation and prevention. One exciting development is the use of AI technology to detect fires early. Kiff also addressed the challenge of commercial vacancies in Laguna, noting that the city has four times the commercial vacancy rate of its surrounding neighbors. He stressed the importance of refining the approval process to encourage more businesses to open in town. In closing, Kiff encouraged visitors to Laguna to enjoy the city responsibly and leave it as they found it, as good stewards of the environment.
Mayor Alex Rounaghi followed Kiff by outlining his vision for a thriving and sustainable Laguna Beach and cited the recent work that the mayor along with city staff & representatives from LBOR did to improve the city’s point-of-sale Real Property Report – a model example of government efficiency in practice. He highlighted the Laguna Beach County Water District’s proactive measures to reduce reliance on imported water, and the recent success in securing local water rights from Fountain Valley and the future Doheny Desalination Plant. Rounaghi also brought attention to the need for seismic retrofitting of our older fire stations and the opening of a new station in South Laguna - the first to be built in decades. He concluded by sharing plans to deploy drones for crime prevention and investigations, with the goal of having drones assess situations before police arrive on the scene.
Supervisor Katrina Foley took the stage next, addressing the challenges of developing affordable entry-level housing for lower- and middle-income residents throughout the county. She pointed out that the average income needed to qualify for affordable housing in Orange County is $80,000 per year—a figure that many working residents struggle to meet while at the same time still not being able to find suitable housing locally, pushing them to neighboring counties. She noted that while Laguna Beach offers many employment opportunities, the city lacks the infrastructure to support much more additional housing. Foley emphasized her commitment to keeping taxes low in the county and spoke about her ongoing efforts to accelerate the permitting process to help push delayed projects forward such as the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization project.
Foley also raised concerns about a proposed BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) facility in San Juan Capistrano, citing potential fire & environmental risks posed by its proximity to homes, a watershed & a major transportation artery. While acknowledging the need for improved energy infrastructure, Foley also explained the need for the temporary moratorium on opening any new BESS facilities in the county while alternative development policies are considered. Foley also discussed her work on the Dana Point Harbor revitalization which is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the area and encouraged collaboration among stakeholders to move projects forward. Finally, Foley expressed concern over stalled projects in Laguna Niguel, particularly the City Hall revitalization, which would bring both business and multifamily residential units to the area.
