CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH HYBRID VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON
05 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach JOINT CITY COUNCIL,
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING
CALIFORNIN MINUTES
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m.
WELCOME
LAGUNA BEACH
UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CALIFORNIN ROLL CALL
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Members of the City Council LBUSD Board Members
Mayor Bob Whalen President, Jan Vickers
Mayor Pro Tem Sue Kempf Clerk, Kelly Osborne
Councilmember Mark Orgill Member, James Kelly
Councilmember Alex Rounaghi Member, Joan Malczewski
Councilmember George Weiss Member, Dee Perry
President LBUSD Jan Vickers led the Pledge of Allegiance
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
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Ed Steinfeld announced the new commercial radio station, the Voice of Laguna found at www.VoiceofLaguna.com. He explained the radio format including the continuation of Mornings with Ed Show that would include conversations with City Officials. Steinfeld commented that an anti- bullying campaign would begin June 7.
Regina Hartley invited the City Council and members of the audience to attend Laguna Tunes 20th Anniversary Concert on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
Kimberly Leeds voiced concerns about the need for city transportation for Laguna Beach students that live off El Toro Road.
Joint City Council meeting with the Laguna Beach Unified School District June 6, 2023
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS CONTINUED
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Susan Elliott urged the City Council to address a Planning Department historic map that had not been located by city staff.
Heidi Miller, Laguna Beach business owner, commented on the disrespectful activities taking place in Laguna Beach surrounding the Hotel Laguna and 14 West Hotel ownership.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
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TWO-YEAR AMENDMENT TO JOINT USE AGREEMENT
City Manager Shoreh Dupuis introduced the item.
Staff Report: Senior Recreation Supervisor Alexis Braun gave a PowerPoint presentation briefly describing the two-year amendment to the joint-use agreement between the city and the Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD).
Questions of Staff: Councilmember Alex Rounaghi confirmed with staff that there was not a joint-use agreement in place for the high school's Artists' Theater.
LBUSD President Jan Vickers asked about the one-year extension for the agreement.
City Manager Shoreh Dupuis responded to Clerk Osborne explaining the terms of the joint use agreement.
LBUSD Member Joan Malczewski clarified with staff that city-sponsored gym programs would no longer be utilizing the middle school gym and would now be held at the city's recreation center.
Councilmember Mark Orgill confirmed with staff that the high school track was included in the joint use agreement.
LBUSD Clerk Kelly Osborne asked about joint use of the beach volleyball courts.
Senior Recreation Supervisor Alexis Braun clarified the reasons the sand volleyball courts were not included in the joint use agreement.
Public Testimony: Ann Christoph discussed the need for the community to utilize the high school theater.
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Joint City Council meeting with the Laguna Beach Unified School District June 6, 2023 LBUSD Superintendent Jason Viloria clarified that the community was not precluded from utilizing the Artists Theater for programs and he explained.
David Richardson asked about the rationale for extending the agreement for two, rather than the standard five years.
City Manager Shoreh Dupuis responded to the public comment discussing the basis for the two, rather than the five-year joint use agreement extension.
Councilmember and LBUSD Board Comments: Councilmember Alex Rounaghi said he supported utilizing existing facilities and he suggested including the middle school theater, sand volleyball courts and potential pickleball courts to the agreement.
LBUSD Clerk Kelly Osborne stated that she supported the two, versus five-year extension and she suggested the formation of a pool ad hoc committee focused on joint use.
UPDATE ON POTENTIAL HOUSING PROJECTS ON SCHOOL OWNED PROPERTIES LBUSD Superintendent Jason Viloria introduced the item.
Staff Report: Housing Program Coordinator Jennifer Savage gave a brief PowerPoint presentation updating the City Council and the LBUSD Board on the potential housing projects on school-owned properties.
Mayor Pro Tem Bob Whalen discussed a viable affordable housing solution at Vista Aliso location in South Laguna.
LBUSD Assistant Superintendent Jeff Dixon explained the implications of extending the district's lease with the National Church Residences at Vista Aliso.
A discussion ensued regarding the potential use of the Vista Aliso property as a city-owned affordable housing project.
Public Testimony: Ann Christoph gave a historic perspective to the property now operating as Vista Aliso.
Jacquie Schaefgen, Housing and Human Services Committee, said she was encouraged that the LBUSD would be open to further investigate the Vista Aliso property's viability to create more development of affordable housing in Laguna Beach.
Sheri Morgan commended the City Council for the opportunity to allow open dialogue with the public.
Gary Kasik discussed the Bus Barn property as a potential affordable housing project. -3-
Joint City Council meeting with the Laguna Beach Unified School District June 6, 2023 LBUSD Assistant Superintendent Jeff Dixon responded to Mr. Kasik's comment explaining why the Bus Barn would be cost prohibitive at this time.
Councilmember Alex Rounaghi added that the site was too far from downtown to obtain federal funding.
City Manager Shoreh Dupuis stated that the city would be meeting with the school district to discuss a possible future joint use agreement for electric vehicle charging stations on this property.
CITY'S FACILITIES MASTER PLAN SCOPE OF SERVICES
Staff Report: Assistant City Manager and CFO Gavin Curran gave a brief PowerPoint presentation on the city's facilities master plan scope of services.
Public Testimony: Chris Catsimanes said he did not support more government growth in Laguna Beach because it would not be sustainable.
Councilmember and LBUSD Board Comments: Councilmember Alex Rounaghi confirmed with Curran that the master plan could include potential sites for a city pool. He suggested potential partnerships with the school district for the remodeling of the library.
LBUSD Clerk Kelly Osborne confirmed with city staff that the city was in the early stages of its facilities master plan.
LBUSD President Jan Vickers said it would be important that the school district's and the city's master plans timing somewhat aligned.
SCHOOL DISTRICT MASTER PLAN UPDATE
LBUSD Assistant Superintendent Jeff Dixon gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the school district's facilities master plan.
Public Testimony: Regina Hartley, Ben Simon, Kiersten Warner, Steve Brown, Steve McIntosh, Sheri Morgan, Robin Hall, Walter Stender, Susan Elliott, Chris Alonzo, Ryan Blahnik, Clint Christie, Chad Nelson, Ali Baheshty, Andrew Mateljan, Gene Felder, Johanna Felder, Trish Cooper, Erich Fischer, Jolie Eisner, Derrek Day, Jacque Schaefgen, Laura Jumani, Craig Brosha, Jacob Cherub, Chris Catsimanes and Louis Weil made suggestions and commented on the school district's master plan for its facilities. -4-
Joint City Council meeting with the Laguna Beach Unified School District June 6, 2023 Councilmember and LBUSD Board Comments: LBUSD President Jan Vickers discussed the joint use pool background. She stated that she appreciated the public's input, and the project was in its early stages of deliberations.
LBUSD Clerk Kelly Osborne commented that the school district concentrated on the number of programs and services provided to each student, and they did not focus on future declining numbers of enrollment. She explained that although Laguna Beach had a smaller number of students, they fielded the same number of athletic programs as the larger schools. Osborne said the facilities programs met the needs of the students.
LBUSD Member Dee Perry stated that she appreciated the public's comments, and it was clear that the pool needed to be upgraded. She voiced concerns about safety on Park Ave. with any major construction impeding emergency access on that street. Perry suggested a traffic study be conducted
LBUSD Member James Kelly asked city staff if there were plans to build a city pool in town.
LBUSD President Jan Vickers stated that she supported the city stepping up to build an additional pool to support city activities.
Councilmember George Weiss commented on the importance of collaboration with the property owners that live in the area surrounding the high school and to minimize the impact to their neighborhood
Councilmember Alex Rounaghi asked for clarification with the school district and how a second city pool would affect the high school pool.
LBUSD President Jan Vickers responded that the pool uses for the city and the school district were distinct and she explained. She stated that combining all uses into one pool created a larger pool that would impact the area where the current pool resided and yet it would not improve the needs of the community.
LBUSD Clerk Kelly Osborne discussed the requirements for a water polo pool versus the needs for a multi-use pool and how the two diverged. She said that in order to accommodate both of these uses, a larger pool would be required or the creation of two pools. Osborne voiced concerns about the master planning timing disconnect between the city and the school district.
Councilmember George Weiss said he supported the building of a separate municipal pool and it stated it was important to work alongside the school district in this endeavor to build two pools.
LBUSD Member Joan Malczewski commented that the LBUSD had been responding to public input and holding study sessions regarding the pool; however, if the city were to confirm that a second pool could be an option, the school district could alter its costs and designs in those study session.
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Joint City Council meeting with the Laguna Beach Unified School District June 6, 2023 LBUSD Clerk Kelly Osborne explained that the pool was a shared asset to the community, and she suggested that the city partner with the district to modernize the pool. She added that a pool ad hoc committee should be formed to ensure both the city and board were working together on the project.
Mayor Bob Whalen stated that although there was general support for a second pool, that decision would not be made tonight. However, he said that there was a path to move forward, and he explained.
5. SRO PROGRAM UPDATE AND JOINT EFFORTS ON PREPAREDNESS FOR MAJOR
INCIDENTS
Staff Report: Captain Mike Peters gave a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the role of the School Resource Officer (SRO).
Emergency Operations Coordinator Brendan Manning continued with the presentation discussion the city's and school district's efforts on emergency preparedness for major incidents.
Questions of Staff: Councilmember Sue Kempf asked about a bike lane for Park Ave.
City Manager Shoreh Dupuis responded that the design of the Park Ave. bike lane was complete and it was currently going through the permitting process.
LBUSD Member Joan Malczewski asked how the police department was handling safety when it came to speeding automobiles and e-bikes in town.
Captain Mike Peters responded, and he described the traffic officers that had been recently added to ensure that speeding vehicles and e-bikes would be closely monitored.
Councilmember Alex Rounaghi confirmed with staff that an analysis had been conducted to determine that the current number of SROs was appropriate to manage the four schools in Laguna Beach.
LBUSD Kelly Osborne asked school gun violence and the possibility of fencing the school properties.
LBUSD Superintendent Jason Viloria stated that the school district regularly worked with the county to evaluate the school sites emergency needs and to make recommendations.
Public Testimony: Sarah Campbell voiced concerns about speeding and loud noises of vehicles on Park Ave.
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Joint City Council meeting with the Laguna Beach Unified School District June 6, 2023
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Whalen at 7:52 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, adjourned to Beach, California.
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Approved August 22, 2023 Bakesh
Bob Whalen, Mayor
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NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
(GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54995
EXCERPT OF THE MINUTES OF THE
HYBRID VIRTUAL/IN-PERSON REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
June 6, 2023
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The hybrid virtual/in-person Joint Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach and Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Directors was held at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in the City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California. ***************
PRESENT COUNCILMEMBERS: Orgill, Rounaghi, Weiss, Kempf, Whalen PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Whalen at 7:52 p.m., Tuesday, June 6, 2023, adjourned to the Special Closed Session at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, 2023, then to the Interviews and Appointments at 3:00 p.m., Closed Session at 5:00 p.m., and the hybrid virtual/in-person Regular City Council Meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California.
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE SS.
CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
I, Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of the Minute entry on record in my office. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and affix the official seal of the City of Laguna Beach, California, on this 7 day of June 2023.
NCORPORATS
JUNE 29. 192
LOE COUNTY CAME
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT
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1, Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, California, DO CERTIFY that at the hybrid virtual/in-person Joint Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach and Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Directors held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, said meeting was ordered adjourned to the time and place specified in the notice of adjournment.
ATTACHED HERETO; and that on June 7, 2023, at the hour of 9:00 a.m., a copy of the Notice was posted at a conspicuous place on or near the door of the place at which said meeting of the City Council was held.
Muk.
City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, California