CITY OF ALISO VIEJO
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025, 7: 00 PM
Council Chambers, City Hall, 12 Journey
Aliso Viejo, California
CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Ackley called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Aliso Viejo to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: MAYOR TIFFANY ACKLEY
MAYOR PRO TEM MAX DUNCAN
COUNCILMEMBER RICHARD W. HURT
COUNCILMEMBER MIKE MUNZING
COUNCILMEMBER TIM A. ZANDBERGEN
STAFF PRESENT: MITZI ORTIZ, CITY MANAGER
SCOTT SMITH, CITY ATTORNEY
JANET MARTINEZ, CITY CLERK
ANN EIFERT, FINANCIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR
SHAUN PELLETIER, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
SO KIM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
LIZZY MENDOZA, RECREATION & COMMUNITY SERVICES MANAGER
ISAAC AZIZ, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGER
CAPT. RYAN BUHR, CHIEF OF POLICE SERVICES
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Youth resident Grant led the pledge of allegiance.
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION:
City Attorney Scott Smith stated there was no reportable action.
1. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS:
1. 1 RECOGNITION OF THE ALISO VIEJO GIRLS SOFTBALL ( AVGS) ALL STARS Mayor Ackley presented the certificates of recognition to 12U Destroyers Coach Alderman, 10U Ravens Coach Avila, and 8U Warriors Coach Akers. who each spoke about their teams' accomplishments and recognized the individual members of their respective teams. They expressed their appreciation.
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1. 2 BUSINESS OF THE MONTH - URBANE CAFE
Mayor Ackley introduced the video and presented a certificate of recognition to Urbane Cafe General Manager Jessica Anderson and New Restaurant Opening Manager Maricel Steenson, who provided a brief history of the business and expressed their appreciation
2. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, REORDERING TO THE AGENDA:
Addition of Item: Councilmember Zandbergen requested to add a proclamation regarding the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk to the agenda.
Motion: Councilmember Zandbergen moved and Councilmember Munzing seconded to approve the addition of the item. Motion failed 3- 2, as a 4/ 5 vote was required, with Councilmember Hurt and Mayor Ackley dissenting.
Reordering of Item: Mayor Ackley reordered Item No. 3 Community Input to follow Item No. 6 Discussion Items.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR:
Unless otherwise indicated below, the following pertains to all items on the Consent Calendar.
Motion: Mayor Pro Tern Duncan moved and Councilmember Zandbergen seconded to approve the recommended actions. Motion carried 5- 0.
4. 1 WAIVE THE READING OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS Recommended Action: Approve the reading by title only of all ordinances and resolutions wherein the titles appear on the public agenda; said titles shall be determined to have been ready by title, and further reading is waived.
4. 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Recommended Action: Approve the minutes as submitted for the August 20, 2025 Special and Regular Meetings.
4. 3 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE
Recommended Action: Ratify accounts payable checks and electronic funds transfers issued between August 15, 2025, and August 28, 2025, in the amount of$ 386, 683. 42.
4. 4 TREASURER' S STATEMENT - JULY 2025
Recommended Action: Receive and file the July 2025 Treasurer' s Statement.
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4.5 SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS
9.02. 030 AND 9.04.090 OF THE ALISO VIEJO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO
OVERSIZED VEHICLE PARKING AND DETERMINING THE ORDINANCE TO BE
EXEMPT FROM CEQA
Recommended Action: Consider and adopt Ordinance No. 2025- 247 entitled: AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALISO VIEJO, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS 9.02.030 and 9.04.090 OF THE ALISO VIEJO MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO OVERSIZED VEHICLE PARKING; AND FINDING
THE ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15060 AND 15061.
4. 6 RELEASE OF BONDS FOR THE GRADING AND LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE ST. MARY' S GRADING AND LANDSCAPING PROJECT
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-15 exonerating Grading Surety Bond No. 72BCSJB9767 and Landscaping Surety Bond No. 72BCSJB9771 for the St.
Mary' s Grading and Landscaping Project.
4. 7 ADOPTION OF THE 2024- 2025 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND
EVALUATION REPORT ( CAPER) FOR EXPENDITURES OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ( CDBG) FUNDS
Recommended Action:
1. Find that the 2024- 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report CAPER) is not subject to the California Environmental QualityAct (CEQA) because the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378 ( b)(5) of the State CEQA Guidelines;
2. Approve and adopt the 2024- 2025 CAPER; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to submit the CAPER to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD) and authorize the City Manager to submit all related documents.
4. 8 RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY EMPLOYEE SALARY SCHEDULE TO
REFLECT THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
Mayor Ackley opened for public comment and the following person spoke:
1 . Jennifer Engle inquired about the salary increase being subject to a vote.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-16 amending the City employee salary schedule to reflect the First Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement between the City of Aliso Viejo and Mitzi Ortiz adopted on September 3, 2025, and memorializing the terms of her continued employment in the position of City Manager.
Regular Meeting Minutes
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None.
6. DISCUSSION:
6. 1 COMMUNITY YOUTH PRESENTATION, PROPOSAL, AND DISCUSSION TO BUILD
A PUMP TRACK IN ALISO VIEJO ( DUNCAN) - VERBAL PRESENTATION ONLY Mayor Pro Tern Duncan introduced community youth that provided the presentation.
The presenters, along with David Browning of Orange County Mountain Bike Association, responded to questions regarding annual maintenance costs, corporate sponsorships, park lighting, fencing, obtaining signatures of support, water stations, and liability issues. Mayor Ackley opened for public comment and the following persons spoke:
1. James Gilbert expressed support for the pump track.
2. Sutton Loughran expressed support for the pump track.
3. Matt Waldon expressed support for the pump track.
4. Sonia Terwiske expressed support for the pump track.
5. Sarah Tehrani, AVCA President, expressed support for the pump track.
Recommended Action: Receive and file.
Motion: Mayor Pro Tern Duncan moved, and Councilmember Zandbergen seconded to establish a Pump Track Ad Hoc committee meeting consisting of Mayor Pro Tern Duncan and Councilmember Zandbergen. Motion carried 5- 0.
MAYOR ACKLEY RECESSED THE MEETING AT 8: 23 P. M. AND RECONVENED AT 8: 30 P. M.
6. 2 EMPLOYEE MONTHLY HEALTH BENEFIT ALLOWANCE
City Manager Mitzi Ortiz provided the presentation.
Recommended Action: Adopt Resolution No. 2025- 17 approving an increase to the employee monthly health benefit allowance for Plan Year 2026.
Motion: Councilmember Munzing moved and Mayor Pro Tern Duncan seconded to approve the recommended action. Motion carried 5- 0.
3. COMMUNITY INPUT: ( Reordered Item)
1. Bret Pool expressed appreciation for street improvements on Hummingbird Lane.
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2. SoniaTerwiskecommentedon a recentFacebookpost by MayorAckley.
3. JenniferEnglecommentedon a recentFacebookpostby MayorAckley.
4. SamuelPenrodcommentedon a recentFacebookpost by MayorAckley.
7. CITY MANAGER' S REPORT:
City Manager Mitzi Ortiz expressed appreciation for the City Council's support of staff; announcedregistrationforfallrecreationclasses; AlisoViejoTrailsandCreekCleanupEvent on September 20, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Furry Friends Pet Fair at Aliso Viejo Ranch on October 4, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; and Movie Night at Aliso Viejo Ranchon October10, 2025 with event beginningat 5:30 p.m. and moviestartingat 6:30 p. m.
8. ANNOUNCEMENTS / COUNCIL COMMENTS / COMMITTEE UPDATES:
Councilmember Munzing:
Commented on the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk
Councilmember Zandbergen:
Commented on the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk
Councilmember Hurt:
Commented on positive impacts of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds Commented on the City's strategic plan
Commented on addition to the agenda
Reflected on the work of Martin Luther King Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem Duncan:
Commented on recently obtaining his AWS Solutions Architect certification Commented on the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk
Mayor Ackley:
Commented on a recent Facebook post and freedom of speech
9. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Ackley adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m. to the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of October 1, 2025.
Respectfully submitted: Ap ve _ by:
J TM TINEZ Y C Y
Y CLERK MAYOR
Regular Meeting Minutes