Laguna Beach — 2026-03-10

1.\nConference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation\nPursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)\nNumber of Cases: One (1)\n1a.           City of Laguna Beach v. Laguna Beach Coalition for Environment Protection,\nCalifornia Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, Case No. G065514

10.\nAWARD OF TASK ORDER AMENDMENT FOR DESIGN OF THE LAGUNA BEACH\nLIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS\nRecommendations:\n1. Authorize the City Manager to award a task order amendment to IDS Group in the\namount of $451,597 for the design of the Laguna Beach Library Improvements\nProject;\n2. Authorize project-related expenses and change orders for additional design-related\nservices that may be required in an amount not-to-exceed $20,000; and\n3. Find that the action consists of government activities, which do not result in a direct\nor indirect physical change in environment and therefore does not constitute a\n“Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

11.\nFORMATION OF A FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY AND STRUCTURAL EFFICIENCY AD\nHOC COMMITTEE (KEMPF)\nRecommendations:\n1. Appoint Councilmember Alex Rounaghi and Councilmember Sue Kempf to serve on\nthe Fiscal Sustainability and Structural Efficiency Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate\npotential cost-reduction strategies and operational efficiencies for consideration\nduring the development of the Fiscal Year 2026–27 budget process; and\n2. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental\nQuality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b) because it\ninvolves an organizational and administrative activity of government that will not\nresult in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment.

12.\nAWARD OF CONTRACT TO CALIFORNIA GRAZING COMPANY FOR FIRE\nPREVENTION GOAT GRAZING SERVICES\nRecommendations:\n1. Award and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with California Grazing\nCompany (CGC) in the amount of $748,029 for fire prevention goat grazing services\nover a three-year term; and\n2. Find that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act\n(“CEQA”) pursuant to pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15301 and § 15304, and are\nfurther statutorily exempt as specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate a\nwildfire emergency under Public Resources Code § 21080(b)(4) and CEQA\nGuidelines § 15269(c);

13.\nAPPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER KEMPF AND MAYOR PRO TEM JONES TO\nTHE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 COMMUNITY\nASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATIONS\nRecommendations:\n1. Appoint Council member Kempf and Mayor pro Tem Jones to serve as the ad hoc\ncommittee responsible for reviewing the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Community Assistance\nGrant applications;\n2. Direct the ad hoc committee to report back to the City Council with grant award\nrecommendations at the budget adoption meeting on June 23, 2026; and\n3. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental\nQuality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, as it constitutes\nan administrative activity that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change in\nthe environment.\nD.

14.\nHOSPITAL ACTION PLAN / FRAMEWORK\nRecommendations:\n1. Receive public input on a proposed “Mission Hospital Laguna Beach Action Plan /\nFramework” for the City to approach the possible closure of the Emergency Room\nand larger site changes at Mission Hospital / Laguna Beach;\n2. Discuss, consider, and adopt a preliminary Action Plan; and\n3. Determine that the recommended action is not a project under the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, as\nthe action consists of receiving information and providing policy direction and does\nnot authorize any physical change to the environment.

15.\nCONSIDERATION OF (1) A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN AMENDED AND\nRESTATED CITY COUNCIL POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, INCLUDING\nADOPTION OF A DISRUPTION POLICY PER SB 707 AND A CITY COUNCIL\nAPPEALS POLICY, AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nORGANIZATION POLICY, REMOTE ATTENDANCE POLICY, AND OTHER MINOR\nADMINISTRATIVE POLICY CHANGES; (2) SELECTING DATES FOR APPEALS\nDAYS FOR 2026; AND (3) FINDING SUCH ACTIONS EXEMPT FROM THE\nCALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT\nRecommendations:\n1. Adopt the attached Resolution, titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL\nOF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AN\nAMENDED AND RESTATED CITY COUNCIL POLICY AND PROCEDURES\nMANUAL, AND FINDING SUCH ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA\nENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES\nSECTION 15061,” which in addition to formatting, correction of scrivener’s errors,\nand minor administrative revisions, includes:\na. Amendments to:\ni. Policy 1.1, “City Council Meeting Order of Business”;\nii.  Policy 1.3, “Establishing Time and Location for Regular City Council\nMeetings; Remote Participation,” including specifying whether to\nutilize a two-way audio/visual or telephonic platform for remote\nparticipation at City Council meetings, effective July 1, 2026; and\niii.  Policy 2.2, “Use of City Seal/Emblem.”\nb.Adding Policy 1.7, “Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During\nPublic Meetings” (SB 707); and\nc.   Adding Policy 1.8, “Processing and Consideration of Appeals to the City\nCouncil Pursuant to Title 25 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code.”\n2. Provide direction regarding scheduling and dates for three (3) proposed Appeals\nDays for 2026;\n3. Direct staff to return at the end of 2026 to evaluate the efficacy of the policies\nrelating to meeting organization and remote meeting attendance; and\n4. Finding such action not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act\n(CEQA), or alternatively, exempt from CEQA.\nE.

16.\n2020 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 25-1036 AND\nCOASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-2021 FOR A REDUCTION OF FOUR\nREQUIRED OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES BASED ON THE IMPLEMENTATION\nOF A PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN\nPURSUANT TO LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 25.52.006(G)(3) TO\nEXPAND AN EXISTING HOTEL IN THE C-1 (LOCAL BUSINESS DISTRICT) ZONE\nAND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT PURSUANT TO STATE\nCEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15303 (CLASS 3)\nRecommendations:\n1. Conduct a Public Hearing, including receiving a staff report and taking public\ntestimony and all evidence relating to the consideration of Conditional Use Permit\n25-1036 and Coastal Development Permit 25-2021 and the categorical exemption\nunder the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15303; and\n2. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE\nCITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE\nPERMIT 25-1036 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 25-2021 FOR A\nREDUCTION OF FOUR REQUIRED OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES BASED\nON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION\nDEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN PURSUANT TO LAGUNA BEACH\nMUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 25.52.006(G)(3) TO EXPAND AN EXISTING\nHOTEL AT 2020 SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY IN THE C-1 (LOCAL BUSINESS\nDISTRICT) ZONE, AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT\nPURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15303 (CLASS 3)”.

31526 VALIDO ROAD: APPEAL OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPROVAL OF\nDESIGN REVIEW 24-0658 AND COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 24-0657 FOR A\nNEW SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING, ATTACHED TWO-CAR GARAGE, ELEVATED\nDECKS, GRADING, AND LANDSCAPING, AND DEMOLITION OF AN EXISTING\nSINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING IN THE R-1, RESIDENTIAL LOW-DENSITY ZONE,\nAND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT UNDER THE\nCALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES SECTION 15303\n(CLASS 3)\nRecommendations:\n1. Open the public hearing, take public testimony, and continue the public hearing to a\ndate certain special meeting of the City Council, dedicated to the consideration of\nappeals; and\n2. Find that the action to continue the public hearing is exempt from the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)\n(Common Sense Exemption).

Conference with Real Property Negotiators\nPursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8\n2a.     Property: 30622 Coast Highway (Ruby’s Diner)\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City Manager\nNegotiating Parties: Kenneth J. Cummins Trust\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment\n2b.     Property: APN: 656-012-08; 656-012-05; 656-032-20; and 656-032-03\nAgency Negotiator: Dave Kiff, City Manager\nNegotiating Parties: Merrick W & Mary L Leckey\nUnder Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment

3.\nMINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS\nRecommendations: 1. Approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting for the City Council of\nFebruary 24, 2026.

4.\nAPPROVAL OF GENERAL WARRANTS AND PAYROLL DISTRIBUTIONS\nRecommendations: 1. Approve the general warrants and payroll distributions.

5.\nMONTHLY TREASURER’S AND INVESTMENT REPORT (JANUARY 2026)\nRecommendations:\n1. Receive and file the January 2026 report.

6.\nREVIEW OF THE PROPOSED ANNUAL INVESTMENT POLICY\nRecommendations:\n1. Review and provide comments on the proposed version of the 2026 Investment\nPolicy;\n2. Direct that staff return on or after March 24, 2026, with a resolution that adopts the\n2026 Investment Policy, including a provision within the resolution that the Policy\ncontinues until such time as a subsequent adoption occurs; and\n3. Authorize the Deputy Treasurer, Victoria McIntosh, CPA, to complete the investment\nduties of the City Treasurer if the Treasurer cannot perform her duties.

7.\nPROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL 24, 2026, AS ARBOR DAY IN LAGUNA\nBEACH\nRecommendations:\n1. Adopt the attached proclamation recognizing April 24, 2026, as Arbor Day in\nLaguna Beach;\n2. Authorize staff to host an Arbor Day celebration event on April 24, 2026;\n3. Authorize staff to apply for re-certification as a Tree City USA with the Arbor Day\nFoundation; and\n4. Find the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental\nQuality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to\nLand) and Section 15061(b)(3) (General Rule Exemption).

8.\nSECOND AMENDMENT TO INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT FOR\nSEWER LIFT STATION SERVICES\nRecommendations:\n1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Second Amendment to Agreement No. 25-\n55 with DownStream Services Inc., to increase the contract amount by $120,000 for\nservices through June 30, 2027, resulting in a revised not-to-exceed amount of\n$220,000;\n2. Authorize the City Manager to exercise up to two (2) one-year extensions, subject to\nsatisfactory performance, each in the amount not-to-exceed $120,000, for a total\ncontract award of amount not-to-exceed $460,000; and\n3. Find that the agreement amendment is categorically exempt from the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15301(b).

9.\nSERVICE AGREEMENT WITH C3 TECH FOR CITYWIDE COPIER LEASE AND\nMAINTENANCE SERVICES\nRecommendations:\n1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a fifty-four (54) month service agreement\nwith C3 Office Solutions LLC dba C3 Tech for Citywide Copier Lease and\nMaintenance in an amount not to exceed $6,456.59 per month;\n2. Authorize the City Manager to approve a contingency amount of up to ten percent\n(10%) of the total contract amount for additional copiers and related services\nidentified during the term of the contract, for a total not to exceed contract amount\nof $383,521.45; and\n3. Find that the action does not constitute a project under the California\nEnvironmental Quality Act pursuant to Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and\nSection 15378(b)(5).