CITY OF DANA POINT
CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY
REGULAR JULY 21, 2026
MEETING 5:00 P.M. Closed Session
1989 6:00 P.M. Regular Business
MINUTES
Location: City Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210, Dana Point, CA 92629 Next City Council Ordinance No. 26-06
CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Dana Point, California, was called to order by Mayor Gabbard at 5:00 P.M. in the City Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210, Dana Point.
ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS:
John Gabbard, Mayor
Mike Frost, Mayor Pro Tem
Jamey M. Federico, Council Member
Matthew Pagano, Council Member
Michael Villar, Council Member
STAFF PRESENT: Kelly Reenders, City Manager; Jeff Rosaler, Assistant City Manager; Shayna Sharke, City Clerk; Patrick Munoz, City Attorney; Sea Shelton, Director of Administrative Services; Captain Frank Gonzalez; Matthew Sinacori, Director of Public Works/City Engineer; Jonathan Lightfoot, Director of Community Development; Jess McCloskey, Building Official; Jaimie To, Economic Development & Housing Manager; Ryan Haworth, Deputy City Clerk.
CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION, Government Code § 54956.9 (d)(1), (5 cases):
a. Center For Natural Lands Management v City of Dana Point, Orange County Superior Court Case No: 30-2021-01219668
b. Center For Natural Lands Management v City of Dana Point (CEQA), Orange County Superior Court Case No: 30-2025-01524239
c. City of Dana Point v California Coastal Commission, Orange County Superior Court Case No 30-2026-01558283
City of Dana Point
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 21, 2026
d. ST Apartments v City of Dana Point; Orange County Superior Court Case No 30-2024- 01397922
e. Dana Point Advocates v City of Dana Point; Orange County Superior Court Case No 30-2026- 01582868-CU-WM-CXC
Mayor Gabbard recessed the meeting into Closed Session at 5:01 P.M. pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.
RECESS OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING UNTIL 6:00 P.M.
RECONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Gabbard reconvened the meeting at 6:00 P.M.
City Attorney Patrick Munoz stated there was nothing to report out from Closed Session.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Frost.
PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Wildfire Awareness & Prevention Season
Chief Cheyne Maule spoke regarding wildfire awareness and prevention and received a Proclamation from Mayor Gabbard.
READING OF ORDINANCE TITLES
City Clerk, Shayna Sharke, read one (1) Ordinance Title.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 5 was removed from the Consent Calendar by the Mayor Pro Tem Frost.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAGANO, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FEDERICO,
THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS BE ACCEPTED FOR ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR A WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITEM 5.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Federico, Frost, Pagano, Villar, Gabbard
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 21, 2026
1. WAIVE THE READING OF ORDINANCES AND APPROVE READING BY TITLE ONLY
APPROVED THE READING BY TITLE ONLY OF ALL ORDINANCES AND THAT FURTHER READING OF SUCH ORDINANCES BE WAIVED.
2. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES, JULY 7, 2026
APPROVED THE MINUTES.
3. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, JUNE 22, 2026
RECEIVED AND FILED THE MINUTES.
4. CLAIMS AND DEMANDS
RECEIVED AND FILED THE CLAIMS AND DEMANDS.
5. DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
Item 5 was removed from the Consent Calendar by the Mayor Pro Tem Frost.
Discussion ensued.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM FROST, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FEDERICO, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVE AND FILE THE DEVELOPMENT UPDATE.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Federico, Frost, Pagano, Villar, Gabbard
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
6. GUIDELINES ON REPLACEMENT HOUSING UNITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE HOUSING LAW
RECEIVED AND FILED THE REPORT.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no Public Comments.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 21, 2026
PUBLIC HEARINGS
7. AMENDMENT TO THE DANA POINT MUNICIPAL CODE TO REPEAL SECTIONS 8.04 (UNIFORM SIGN CODE) AND 8.08 (TENT CODE) WHICH ARE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED THROUGH THE ADOPTED CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS CODE (TITLE 24) Jess McCloskey, Building Official, provided a Staff Report.
Mayor Gabbard opened the Public Hearing at 6:10 P.M.
There were no Public Comments.
Mayor Gabbard closed the Public Hearing at 6:11 P.M.
IT WAS MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM FROST, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER VILLAR, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCE AND HOLD A FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 26-XX ENTITLED:
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Federico, Frost, Pagano, Villar, Gabbard
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
8. SELECTION OF A CONTRACTOR FOR PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT OF PALMS IN
CAPISTRANO BEACH TO PROTECT AGAINST THE SOUTH AMERICAN PALM WEEVIL Jeff Rosaler, Assistant City Manager, provided a Staff Report.
Mike Palat West Coast Arborists) encouraged the City Council to take action to protect the heritage palm trees as recommended.
Discussion ensued.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 21, 2026
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER FEDERICO, SECONDED BY MAYOR GABBARD, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL:
1) SELECT WEST COAST ARBORISTS TO PROVIDE A PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR THE 98 CITY-MAINTAINED CANARY ISLAND DATE PALMS
LOCATED ALONG CAMINO CAPISTRANO AND AVENIDA LAS PALMAS IN THE
HISTORIC CAPISTRANO BEACH AREA, FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE SOUTH AMERICAN PALM WEEVIL; and
2) AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH WEST COAST ARBORISTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $70,000; and
3) DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH A BROADER PLAN THAT INCLUDES FISCAL IMPACTS.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Federico, Frost, Pagano, Villar, Gabbard
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9. STRATEGIC PLAN METRICS
Jaimie To, Economic Development & Housing Manager, provided a Staff Report.
Discussion ensued.
THE CITY COUNCIL RECEIVED, DISCUSSED, AND FILED THE REPORT.
COUNCIL REPORTS, INCLUDING CITY RELATED MEETINGS ATTENDED Council Member Federico stated that he has turned in his list of meetings and had nothing to report.
Council Member Villar stated that he has turned in his list of meetings and shared how blessed he feels to live in Dana Point.
• Council Member Pagano stated that he will turn in his list of meetings and had nothing to report.
Mayor Pro Tem Frost stated that he will turn in his list of meetings and had nothing to report.
Mayor Gabbard stated that he has turned in his list of meetings and announced upcoming events in Dana Point. He thanked Sea Shelton, Director of Administrative Services, for her service to the City and the City Council.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 21, 2026
STAFF REPORTS
Kelly Reenders, City Manager, thanked the South Coast Water District for providing a generator for Sunday's Concert in the Park so that it did not have to be canceled and thanked the community for its understanding during the equipment issue. She also thanked Sea Shelton for her service to the City and for her outstanding leadership.
Patrick Munoz, City Attorney, thanked Sea Shelton for her service to the City.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Gabbard adjourned the meeting at 7:16 P.M. He announced that the next Regular Meeting of the City Council will be September 1, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. in the City Council Chamber located at 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210, Dana Point, California.
Shaynasha
HAYNA SHARKE CITY CLERI
APPROVED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING OF AUGUST 17, 2026.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 21, 2026
Meetings attended since July 8, 2026
Mayor Gabbard
07/09/2026 Meeting with Art Sanchez
07/01/2026 Fish for Life Kickoff for Cruise
07/12/2026 Concert in the Park
07/15/2026 Monarch Terrace Weed Abatement Meeting
07/15/2026 Lunch with Mo Honarkar
07/15/2026 Mayor Judging Community Garden
07/16/2026 Reset Cove Ribbon Cutting
07/17/2026 Lunch with Zach Stangle
07/19/2026 World Cup Watch Party
07/19/2026 Concert in the Park
Mayor Pro Tem Frost
07/09/2026 TCA
07/12/2026 Fish For Life
07/14/2026 Redo Market
07/15/2026 Orange County Housing Finance Trust
07/16/2026 Dana Point Chamber
Council Member Pagano
Council Member Federico
07/09/2026 Dana Point Sister Cities Board
07/14/2026 Redo Market Planning Meeting
07/15/2026 ACC-OC Board
07/16/2026 OCTA Finance Committee
07/20/2026 OCTA Exec Briefing
Council Member Michael Villar
No meetings attended.
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