Laguna Beach — 2025-10-28

1.\nConference with Real Property Negotiators\nPursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8\na.\nProperty: APN: 644-151-21\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: Peter Afrasiabi\nUnder\nNegotiation: Price and Terms of Payment

2.\nb.\nProperty: APN: 641-231-11\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: Emma Thier\nUnder Negotiation:\nPrice and Terms of Payment\nc.\nProperty: APN: 641-171-04\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: William Bortz\nUnder Negotiation:\nPrice and Terms of Payment\nd.\nProperty: APN: 644-417-03\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager Negotiating Parties: The Frederick Clairmont Revoc Trust\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment\ne.\nProperty: Assessor Parcel Number (“APN”) 496-11-27 Lots 41, 42, and\nportion of 40 of Tract Map No. 759\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff,\nCity Manager Negotiating Parties: David Perry, President of Board,\nFestival of Arts Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment\nf.\nProperty: 30622 Coast Highway\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: Kenneth J. Cummins Trust\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment\nConference with Labor Negotiators\nPursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6\nAgency Designated Representatives: Dave Kiff, City Manager; Aggie Nesh,\nHuman Resources Director\nEmployee Organization: Police Employee Association\nC. ADJOURN FROM CLOSED SESSION, RETURN TO OPEN SESSION\nREGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - 5:00 P.M.\nA. ROLL CALL – 5:00 p.m.\nB. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Councilmember Kempf\nC. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT(S). A Closed Session report shall be\nprovided, as required pursuant to California Government Code Section 54950 et\nseq.\nD. ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS. As may be deemed necessary by the City\nManager, agenda items may from time to time be deleted from the agenda; in\nsuch event, the City Manager shall endeavor to provide as much advance notice\nto the community as reasonably possible about the removal of such items. Agenda\nitems may only be added in accordance with Government Code Section 54950 et\nseq.\nE. PRESENTATIONS. The City Council shall from time to time recognize\nindividuals and organizations and present awards or Certificates of Appreciation,\nor receive special presentations, as previously scheduled and described below.\n1.\nPROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING ARTIST SUNDAY\nRecommendation: Adopt the Proclamation recognizing the first Sunday after\nThanksgiving as Artist Sunday.\n2.\nMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS\nRecommendation: Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting for the City\nCouncil of October 14, 2025.

1.\nConference with Real Property Negotiators\nPursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8\na.\nProperty: APN: 644-151-21\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: Peter Afrasiabi\nUnder\nNegotiation: Price and Terms of Payment

10. \nADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF PROJECTS\nTO THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM\n(FTIP) TITLED, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH\nWHICH CERTIFIES THAT LAGUNA BEACH HAS THE RESOURCES\nTO FUND THE PROJECTS IN THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 2031/32 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND\nAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENT ALL PROJECTS IN\nTHE PROGRAM\nRecommendations:\n(a) Adopt the attached Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY\nCOUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, WHICH\nCERTIFIES THAT THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH HAS THE\nRESOURCES TO FUND THE PROJECTS IN THE FEDERAL FISCAL\nYEAR 2026/27 – 2031/32 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT\nPROGRAM AND AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO IMPLEMENT ALL\nPROJECTS IN THE PROGRAM”; and\n(b) Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)\n(2) and 15060(c)(3), as it will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable\nphysical change to the environment.

11.\nAWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE DEMOLITION\nOF THE DENTAL BUILDING AT 31796 S COAST HIGHWAY\nRecommendations:\n(a) Award and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with\nPrecision Environmental, Inc. in the amount of $110,000, for demolition of the\nDental Building at 31796 S Coast Highway;\n(b) Authorize the City Manager to approve project-related expenses and\ncontract change orders for unforeseen circumstances in an amount not to\nexceed $11,000; and\n(c) Find that the project has been reviewed under the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act, and that the City Council adopted the Final\nInitial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH No. 2022090383) for the\nproject on November 15, 2022.

12. \nMARINE SAFETY SEASONAL AND JUNIOR LIFEGUARD UNIFORM\nPURCHASE\nRecommendations:\n(a) It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to\npurchase Marine Safety uniforms for a total of 750 lifeguards from Florence\nMarine X, LLC for a not to exceed amount of $119,000; and\n(b) Find that the recommended action is not a project within the meaning of\nthe California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code\nSection 21065.

13. \nUPDATE TO THE CAPITAL ASSET POLICY AND PROCEDURES\nRecommendation: Approve the proposed modifications to the City's Capital\nAsset Policy to incorporate recent changes from the Office of Management and\nBudget's Uniform Guidance for the dollar threshold of classifying capital assets.

14. \nCONDITIONAL WAIVER OF CITY FEES FOR THREE IN-LIEU\nPARKING CERTIFICATES AT 224/226 OCEAN AVENUE\nRecommendations:\n(a) Grant a conditional waiver of fees in the amount of $69,000 for three inlieu parking certificates for the property located at 224 and 226 Ocean\nAvenue in consideration of the public benefit of increasing business\ndevelopment, employment opportunities, and the City’s tax base, on the\ncondition that the property owner obtain an effective coastal development\npermit for the three parking certificates for such property; and\n(b) Find that the action, as described in the Environmental Analysis section of\nthis staff report, is covered by the commonsense exemption under 14 CCR\nSection 15061(b)(3) and the existing facilities exemption under 14 CCR\nSection 15301.

15. \nKXFM OAK STREET HALLOWEEN EVENT - WAIVER OF CITY\nRESOURCE FEES; CEQA DETERMINATION\nRecommendations:\n(a) Confirm/Authorize the waiver of the application fee ($817) and city costs\n($1,626) for this event; and\n(b) Find that the action of a fee waiver is exempt from California\nEnvironmental Quality Act pursuant to State CEQA guidelines section\n15340(E)).

16. \nVISIT LAGUNA BEACH SERVICES AGREEMENT\nRecommendations:\n(a) Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement for\nServices between the City of Laguna Beach and Visit Laguna Beach, in\naccordance with the Property and Business Improvements District Law of\n1994; and\n(b) Find that the action is not a project subject to the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.

17. \nAPPROVAL OF BOND PURCHASE METHOD FOR UNDERGROUND\nUTILITY ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 2021-1 (WEST STREET)\nRecommendations:\n(a) Approve the use of a public bond issuance as the financing method for\nUnderground Utility Assessment District 2021-1 (West Street), based on the\nOctober 13, 2025, recommendation of the Financing Analysis Working\nGroup; and\n(b) Determine that the recommended action is not a project subject to the\nCalifornia Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15378(b)(4) of the\nCEQA Guidelines.

18. \nADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE\nCITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 3.10 TO\nTITLE 3 (FINANCE) OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL\nCODE RELATING TO COLLECTION OPTIONS FOR UNPAID\nTRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX IN THE CITY\nRecommendation: Adopt by title only an Ordinance titled, "AN ORDINANCE\nOF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH,\nCALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 3.10 TO TITLE 3 (FINANCE) OF THE\nCITY OF LAGAUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO\nCOLLECTION OPTIONS FOR UNPAID TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY TAX IN\nTHE CITY AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA\nENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT".

19. \nFIRST READING OF ORDINANCE UPDATING\nCAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATIONS\nTHE CITY’S\nRecommendations:\n(a) Introduce and conduct first reading, proceed by title only, and waive\nfurther reading in full of an Ordinance titled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE\nCITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA,\nAMENDING SECTION 1.14.030 (CONTRIBUTION LIMITATIONS) OF\nTITLE 1 (GENERAL PROVISIONS) OF THE LAGUNA BEACH\nMUNICIPAL CODE TO UPDATE THE CITY’S CAMPAIGN\nCONTRIBUTION REGULATIONS AND DETERMINE THE ORDINANCE\nIS NOT A PROJECT FOR PURPOSES OF THE CALIFORNIA\nENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT”; and\n(b) Determine that the proposed ordinance is not a “project’ for purposes of\nthe California Environmental Quality Act or, in the alternative, determine the\nproposed ordinance is exempt from the CEQA pursuant to section 15061(b)\n(5).

2.\nb.\nProperty: APN: 641-231-11\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: Emma Thier\nUnder Negotiation:\nPrice and Terms of Payment\nc.\nProperty: APN: 641-171-04\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: William Bortz\nUnder Negotiation:\nPrice and Terms of Payment\nd.\nProperty: APN: 644-417-03\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager Negotiating Parties: The Frederick Clairmont Revoc Trust\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment\ne.\nProperty: Assessor Parcel Number (“APN”) 496-11-27 Lots 41, 42, and\nportion of 40 of Tract Map No. 759\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff,\nCity Manager Negotiating Parties: David Perry, President of Board,\nFestival of Arts Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment\nf.\nProperty: 30622 Coast Highway\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City\nManager\nNegotiating Parties: Kenneth J. Cummins Trust\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment\nConference with Labor Negotiators\nPursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6\nAgency Designated Representatives: Dave Kiff, City Manager; Aggie Nesh,\nHuman Resources Director\nEmployee Organization: Police Employee Association

20. \nAPPROVAL OF A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY\nOF LAGUNA BEACH AND THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE\nEMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION REGARDING OVERTIME INCENTIVE\nPAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHERS\nRecommendations:\n(a) Adopt the attached Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY\nCOUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA,\nAPPROVING A SIDE LETTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF\nLAGUNA BEACH AND THE LAGUNA BEACH POLICE EMPLOYEES’\nASSOCIATION REGARDING OVERTIME INCENTIVE PAY FOR\nPUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHERS”; and\n(b) Authorize the City Manager to sign the Side Letter of Agreement between\nthe City of Laguna Beach and the Laguna Beach Police Employees’\nAssociation.

21. \nFORMATION OF AN COMMITTEE (KEMPF)\nECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AD HOC\nRecommendations:\n(a) Form an Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee comprised of Mayor\nPro Tem Mark Orgill and Councilmember Sue Kempf, supported by City\nstaff, to focus on advancing the City’s economic development initiatives; and\n(b) Direct staff to return to the City Council at its November 10, 2026,\nmeeting to review the committee’s progress and determine whether to\ncontinue or sunset the Ad Hoc Committee.

22. \nDISCUSSION OF PUBLIC TREE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES\nRecommendations:\n(a) Continue the July 22, 2025 presentation from staff regarding public tree\nmaintenance practices;\n(b) Discuss the City’s approach to public trees, public tree maintenance\npractices, and provide further direction to staff regarding next steps or\npotential policy considerations; and\n(c) Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA\nGuidelines.

23. \nDOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN PHASE II AMENDMENTS\nRecommendations:\n(a) Review the proposed Downtown Specific Plan Phase II amendments\nsummarized in the agenda report and the attached outline, receive public\ninput, and provide direction on the proposed amendments; and\n(b) Find that the recommended action is categorically exempt from the\nCalifornia Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section\n15306 (Information Collection).

24. \nCITY CONTRIBUTION, RESOLUTION OF INTENTION AND\nRESOLUTION PRELIMINARILY APPROVING THE ENGINEER’S\nREPORT FOR PROPOSED UNDERGROUND UTILITY ASSESSMENT\nDISTRICT 2021-3 (FAIRVIEW/LA BREA)\nRecommendations:\n(a) Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL\nOF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS\nINTENTION TO ORDER THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN\nIMPROVEMENTS AND TO FORM UNDERGROUND UTILITY\nASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 2021-3 (FAIRVIEW/LA BREA) AND\nFINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA\nENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT”;\n(b) Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL\nOF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, PRELIMINARILY\nADOPTING, CONFIRMING, AND APPROVING THE ENGINEER’S\nREPORT AND APPOINTING THE TIME AND PLACE FOR HEARING\nPROTESTS TO IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPOSED UNDERGROUND\nUTILITY ASSESSMENT DISTRICT NO. 2021-3 (FAIRVIEW/LA BREA)\nAND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA\nENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT”;\n(c) Appoint the January 13, 2026, City Council Meeting for a public hearing\nregarding proposed Underground Utility Assessment District 2021-3;\n(d) Acknowledge the intent to contribute $474,580 for the General Benefit\ncost, if the district is approved, and prior to bonds being sold;\n(e) Consider the request from the Fairview/La Brea proponents for the\nadditional City Contribution toward a public safety benefit of\nundergrounding the neighborhood located near open space;\n(f) Direct staff to return with a funding strategy if an additional contribution\nis approved above the General Benefit; and\n(g) Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental\nQuality Act pursuant to CEQA guidelines sections 15301(b), 15302(c) & (d),\nand 15303(d); and further that this action implements the December 4, 2024\nPlanning Commission action, wherein the City previously conducted\nenvironmental review of the proposed undergrounding project and\ndetermined that the project was exempt and there are no changes to the\nproject, no changed circumstances, and no new information that could not\npreviously have been known, that would trigger the need for subsequent\nCEQA review.

25. \nUPDATE ON AMENDMENTS TO GENERAL PLAN, INCLUDING THE\nOPEN SPACE AND CONSERVATION ELEMENT (OSCE), AND\nCOMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT’S ADVANCED\nPLANNING DIVISION; DIRECTION ON FIRST AMENDMENT TO\nPROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR BIOLOGICAL\nSURVEYING SERVICES FOR THE OSCE UPDATE\nRecommendations:\n(a) Receive an update on the General Plan and a possible 2026-28 Update\nprocess for the General Plan, including the Open Space and Conservation\nElement Update, the Housing Element update process, and an Advanced\nPlanning Division of the Community Development Department;\n(b) Authorize staff to begin community discussions and provide community\nawareness about a possible General Plan update to be further directed in\nJanuary 2026;\n(c) Authorize the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the\nProfessional Services Agreement with UltraSystems, in a form approved by\nthe City Attorney, to complete the biological surveying services for the Open\nSpace and Conservation Element Update project; and\n(d) Find recommended actions exempt from the California Environmental\nQuality Act under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15306.

3. \nAPPROVAL OF DISTRIBUTIONS GENERAL\nWARRANTS AD PAYROLL\nRecommendation: Approve the general warrants and Payroll distributions.

4. \nCLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY\nRecommendations:\n(a) Reject Claim #25-09 filed by Kendra Lopez; and\n(b) Reject Claim #25-44 filed by Jeronim Andronesi.

5. \nADOPT A RESOLUTION INCREASING THE NUMBER OF\nINVESTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM THREE\nTO FIVE\nRecommendations:\n(a) Adopt the Resolution titled "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL\nOF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, TO RESCIND AND\nREPLACE RESOLUTION NO. 25.035, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF\nINVESTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS FROM THREE TO\nFIVE"; and\n(b) Determine that the proposed resolution is not a ”project” subject to the\nCalifornia Environmental Quality Act.

6. \nADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.30 OF THE\nLAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE CITY’S\nPURCHASING SYSTEM\nRecommendations:\n(a) Adopt the Ordinance titled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY\nCOUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA,\nAMENDING CHAPTER 2.30 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL\nCODE REGARDING THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH PURCHASING\nSYSTEM AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE IS NOT A PROJECT\nSUBJECT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT";\nand\n(b) Find that the recommended action is not a project under the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.

7. \nAMENDMENT TO SERVICE PROVIDER LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES\nAGREEMENT FOR\nRecommendations:\n(a) Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to Agreement No.\n20-120 with Parkwood Landscape Maintenance, Inc., to extend the term of\nthe agreement through June 30, 2026, and to add an additional $138,330 for\nservices performed through June 30, 2026; and\n(b) Determine that the action consists of organizational or administrative\nactivities of the City that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change\nin the environment and therefore does not constitute a “project” within the\nmeaning of the California Environmental Quality Act. (Public Resources\nCode Section 21065; 14 CCR Section 15378(b)(5).)

8.\nAWARD OF CONTRACT TO PRECISION CONCRETE CUTTING FOR\nCITYWIDE SIDEWALK SLICING\nRecommendations:\n(a) Award and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with\nSouthern California Precision Concrete, Inc., dba Precision Concrete\nCutting, in the amount of $200,000, for sidewalk trip hazard removal,\nassessment and maintenance services; and\n(b) Find that the award of contract is categorically exempt from the\nCalifornia Environmental Quality Act under Section 15301.

9. \nMEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LAGUNA BEACH\nCOUNTY WATER DISTRICT FOR SUMMIT DRIVE PAVING\nRecommendations:\n(a) Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Laguna\nBeach and Laguna Beach County Water District to perform roadway\nimprovements on Summit Drive between La Mirada Street and Katella\nStreet; and\n(b) Determine that this action is not a project under Section 15378 of the\nCalifornia Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, and is exempt under\nSection 15061(b)(3), as there is no possibility it may have a significant effect\non the environment