Laguna Beach City Council Annual Strategic Planning Session Minutes January 31, 2025
MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL ANNUAL STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION January 31, 2025
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Friday, January 31, 2025, in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Rounaghi presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Jones, Kempf, Whalen, Orgill, Rounaghi PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Orgill led the Pledge of Allegiance. 2025 STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION
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Public Testimony: The following members of the public provided testimony: Barbara McMurray, Cindy Shopoff, Sue Cross, and Slate Carlton (affordable housing), Ed Almonza, Laguna Ocean Foundation (stewardship), Ann Christoph (City's portion of the Caltrans sidewalk project in South Laguna, replacement of the trees removed without a permit at Ruby's Diner, construction of the new South Laguna fire station, and acquisition of the lots on Catalina Street), Jonah Iger (City's intentions regarding a community pool), Carrie Reynolds (investment of resources, such as statt, on undergrounding, technology solutions to provide neighborhood communications, stance on the pool issue, and affordable housing), Ann Marie McKay (accounting for animal companions in the City's Fire Strategic Plan, such as ensuring emergency shelters are required to allow people to bring their animals, ensuring those with kennel permits have evacuation plans, and ensuring there is a plan for extricating animal companions trapped in structures when emergency situations occur when people are away), Sheri Morgan (importance of knowing what residences are likely vacant versus occupied for evacuations, and providing incentives for owners to provide their second homes as affordable housing), Laura Jumani and daughter Elle, who plays water polo (encouraged the City to partner with the Laguna Beach Unified School District on the new pool), and an unnamed member of the public (for fire mitigation condemn certain trees, sell the Dartmoor Trail lots to fund undergrounding).
Presentation and Discussion: Staff provided a presentation on five-year financial projections, highlighting potential budget shortfalls, and there was discussion on hotel tax revenue impacts and consideration of cost-saving strategies and potential new revenue sources.
Regarding the Strategic Themes for 2025, for Safety & Resilience, priorities are fire preparedness, law enforcement, marine safety, and emergency response; for Sustainability, environmental initiatives, economic development, and maintaining a fiscally sound government; for Cultural & Historical Preservation, support for arts, historic property protections, and creative communities; and for Government Effectiveness, transparent budgeting, improved public communication, and performance-based decision-making.
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Laguna Beach City Council Annual Strategic Planning Session Minutes January 31, 2025 There was agreement amongst the City Councilmembers to conduct department-by-department budget study sessions for more detailed analyses, to direst staff to report on the feasibility of implementing Lean Six Sigma for efficiency improvements, prioritization of key projects, and to direct staff provide updates on ongoing initiatives.
Regarding the Fire Department Strategic Plan, the City Council requested a presentation for the public on the Fire Wise Community Program, a debrief on the Pacific Palisades wildfire, and for the Fire Department to achieve ISO Level II certification.
Regarding Stewardship / Resource Protection / Planning for Summer 2025, key tasks identified were tidepool protection, additional parking, possible expansion of parking enforcement to other City employees, and improving communications to the community on the City's preparation for the summer influx.
Regarding the Facilities Master Plan (FMP) / Financing the FMP Update, it was agreed that additional seismic analyses should be performed on certain structures prior to any improvements.
Regarding the Environmental Sustainability Efforts Update, the immediate priority is obtaining grants for solar and battery microgrids.
Regarding Becoming a More Effective Organization, the City Council agreed to review Finance Department Changes / Raftelis Report at a regular City Council meeting.
Regarding the community pool, the City Council directed staff to pursue a lease option with the Laguna Beach Unified School District.
Regarding the Downtown Action Plan, the City Council directed staff to present the Plan at a future City Council meeting with recommendations on projects to focus on.
Regarding the Village Entrance parking structure, the City Council directed staff to pause the project until after the results from the Facilities Master Plan are presented in March.
Regarding Lang Park, the City Council confirmed that park renovations are to be folded into the Facilities Master Plan effort.
Regarding the Community and Recreation Center (CRC) and parking, the City Council confirmed that temporary use of the field for parking in the interim should be implemented. The City Council directed staff to estimate the Center's potential parking needs and report back to the City Council in March.
Regarding the Design Review Changes, Comprehensive Zoning Code Update, it was noted that parameters need to be defined for exemptions from design review. The City Council also clarified that the comprehensive Zoning Code update is not just a cleanup, but needs to also address the City's goals.
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Laguna Beach City Council Annual Strategic Planning Session Minutes January 31, 2025 Regarding frequency and timing of joint meetings, the City Council confirmed that joint meetings should be scheduled annually with the Planning Commission, Design Review Board, Arts Commission, and the Laguna Beach Unified School District. The City Council directed that the City Manager and City Council liaison determine if any other joint meetings are appropriate.
The City Council directed staff to present the Police Department's suggested ordinances to address quality-of-life issues related street vending, e-bikes, and tobacco sales to the City Council for consideration.
The City Council also directed staff to schedule a study session to review services currently provided by BeWell, the Alterative Sleeping Location, and the Day Labor site in March as the contracts near expiration.
Staff will establish quarterly strategic planning updates for City Council review, develop performance tracking metrics for capital projects, provide a detailed breakdown of new staff positions and budget impacts, scrub the capital improvement budget for possible reallocations, address the affordable housing development process and funding gaps, and accelerate the Fire Station 4 project timeline and community engagement.
The City Council will review potential ballot measure(s) for revenue enhancement, define specific Downtown Action Plan implementation steps, expand economic revitalization strategies beyond the downtown, and explore partnership opportunities for walkability improvements.
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Rounaghi at 2:55 p.m., Friday, January 31, 2025, adjourned to the Joint City Council/Planning Commission Special Meeting on Promenade Plans and Scope, Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., then to the City Council Regular Meeting, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. for the Interviews & Appointments, the Closed Session at 4:00 p.m. and the Regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m., at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach California.
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Approved: February 25, 2025 Aler hommi
Alex Rounaghi, Mayor
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Ann Marie Mckay, City Clerk
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Laguna Beach City Council Annual Strategic Planning Session Minutes January 31, 2025 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. -4-