Ken Frank, the long-serving city manager who guided Laguna Beach through three decades of growth and natural disasters, has died at the age of 82. Frank held the city’s top administrative post from 1979 until his retirement in 2010, marking one of the longest tenures for a city manager in California history.
Frank is credited with establishing the fiscal and environmental framework that defines modern Laguna Beach. During his 31-year career, he was a pivotal figure in the acquisition of thousands of acres of open space, effectively creating a permanent greenbelt around the coastal community. His oversight of the city’s financial reserves allowed Laguna Beach to maintain high service levels and infrastructure standards through multiple economic recessions.
His leadership was most notable during the 1993 firestorm that destroyed more than 400 homes, including his own. Despite his personal loss, Frank led the immediate emergency response and orchestrated the city’s complex recovery and rebuilding process. He was also instrumental in the city’s response to devastating landslides and floods, earning a reputation for calm and pragmatic governance…