Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024
MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
November 20, 2024
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Kempf presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Orgill, Rounaghi, Weiss, Whalen, Kempf PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION - 4:15 p.m.
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CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8
Property: 2307 and 2535 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach Agency negotiator: Dave Kiff, City Manager
Negotiating party: Burkhardt Family Trust
Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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City Attorney Megan Garibaldi reported that all Councilmembers were present and participated in the discussions, and there was no public comment prior to the City Council convening into the Closed Session. Garibaldi advised that there was no reportable action (negotiations are ongoing).
SPECIAL WORKSHOP
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2. WORKSHOP REGARDING ARTIST LIVE-WORK SPACE ALONG LAGUNA
CANYON ROAD
Presentation and Discussion: Staff gave a presentation providing an update on Laguna Canyon Road work/live and responded to Councilmembers' questions and comments.
Public Testimony: Jorg Dubin, Hedy Buzan, Jeff Randolph, Cody Engle, Mark Christy, Billy Fried, Randy Bader, and Roger Kempler spoke in support of the plan presented.
Toni Iseman, Jacquie Schaefgen, Mary Locatelli, and Penelope Milne expressed support for the intent of the effort, but noted concerns. Penelope Milne, CANDO (Canyon Alliance of Neighborhoods Defense Organization), requested that regardless of the outcome of the purchase of the Laguna Canyon Road properties, that the City rezone the back portion of 2307 Laguna Canyon Road to Open Space/Conservation.
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Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 Paulette Adams suggested that the City instead invest in artist work/sell space in the downtown.
The City Council provided feedback and direction to staff to pursue the next steps noted in the presentation, and return to the City Council with a financing structure with an all- cash option and a borrowing option, with another entity for assignment of the properties while the Community Land Trust is being established.
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Kempf at 5:45 p.m., Wednesday, November 20, 2024, adjourned to the Special Closed Session at 5:45 p.m., then to the City Council Special Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024, then to the Closed Session at 4:00 p.m. and Regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach California.
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION - 5:45 p.m.
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CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8
Property: 31727/31729 & 31735 Coast Highway, Laguna Beach Agency negotiator: Dave Kiff, City Manager
Negotiating party: Donna Baldwin and Stephen J. Muller, D & S Partners, LLC Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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City Attorney Megan Garibaldi reported that the City Council adjourned from Closed Session at 6:14 p.m., all Councilmembers were present and participated in the discussions, and there was no public comment prior to the City Council convening into the Closed Session. Garibaldi advised that there was no reportable action.
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Approved: December 10, 2024
Aler Romanti
Alex Rouraghi, Mayor
Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
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Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 20, 2024 Note: All components of minutes shall be for the primary purpose of memorializing decisions made by the legislative body. Any minute component that does not serve this primary purpose will be minimized or eliminated; this includes comments made by individual body members and members of the public. Discussions that occurred during the meeting can be viewed in archived video recordings on the city's website. Public submittals on items received prior to adjournment of the meeting are retained in the administrative record and can be viewed in the city clerk's repository.