The City of Laguna Woods occupies approximately three-square miles of land that was once a part of South Orange County’s expansive Moulton Ranch. Prior to the 1960s, dry farming and cattle grazing dominated the area, with a few scattered ranch dwellings and barns.
On March 24, 1999, the City of Laguna Woods was incorporated as Orange County’s 32nd city. It is a general law city with a council-manager form of government and 10.25 full-time equivalent employees. In addition to being one of California’s safest and fiscally healthiest cities, the City of Laguna Woods is unique in that the median age of its 17,644 residents is approximately 75.
The City of Laguna Woods is located just over one mile from Laguna Canyon and approximately five miles from the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by the cities of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, and Laguna Hills, as well as the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and other protected open space areas.
Laguna Woods Village is the largest and most populous of the five private communities that residents of the City of Laguna Woods call home. Residents enjoy easy access to five local shopping centers and a short drive to the Irvine Spectrum and other shopping and entertainment destinations.
The City of Laguna Woods is a general law city with a council-manager form of government, meaning that it operates within the parameters of California municipal law with an elected City Council as its legislative body. The City Council appoints a City Manager who serves as the City of Laguna Woods’ chief executive officer and a City Attorney who serves as the City of Laguna Woods’ primary legal counsel.
The five members of the City Council are residents of Laguna Woods who are elected by registered voters to four-year terms. Elections occur “at-large” (citywide) in even-numbered years with two and then three members of the City Council elected at subsequent elections. All five offices are nonpartisan.
The City Council appoints a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem from amongst its membership to preside over City Council meetings, execute certain legal instruments and authorizations, and attend to various ceremonial and representative matters. The Mayor Pro Tem serves as the Mayor in their absence.
The City of Laguna Woods has 10.25 full-time equivalent employees who are responsible for delivering a full range of municipal services. The City of Laguna Woods operates as a “contract city,” meaning that its small staff leverage the resources of contract, franchise, and joint powers agencies to provide efficient, effective, and economical services. If the City of Laguna Woods were a “full-service city,” employees would provide those services, often at higher costs and with considerably greater liability.
