Is there a reason the path doesn’t go to the road fully?

Glad you are concerned about low water use and there are a lot of wonderful water sippers to choose from. A yard by us that i really like has some shrubs that i think would look good with your large trees. They are Texas ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens) and Cassias.

Succulants like Agaves, Yuccas, and cacti are great accents with very low water needs. Will show pic of our foundation bed of thornless octopus agave. You can buy some drought tolerant plants and place them while in pots until you are happy with the arrangement and then plant. We have our yard on drip irrigation and it isn’t hard to set up.

@WestCoast Hopeful No clue. I think when the house was originally built, they assumed at some point the city would put in sidewalks.

Move your trash bins and water hose around by the fence and car area. Pull out the random and overgrown hedges. Perhaps that bloomer at the corner could stay. Rake up and dispose of the mulch. Extend the walk to the street. If the city ever installs one, you can adjust accordingly. Plan on planting something tall to the right to help hide that big contraption in the neighbor's yard. Then enlist a local xeriscape designer to plan a low-maintenance/low-water yard you can install over time.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/native-plants-bring-10-southern-california-front-yard-gardens-to-life-stsetivw-vs~64039226

Move to a condo - no maintenance.