Laguna Beach City Council / Planning Commission Joint Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025
MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL / PLANNING COMMISSION
JOINT PROMENADE STUDY SESSION
February 4, 2025
A Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Rounaghi presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Jones, Kempf, Whalen, Orgill, Rounaghi COMMISSIONERS: Dubin, Goldman, Whitin, Kellenberg, Sadler ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS/ COMMISSIONERS: None
Councilmember Bob Whalen led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CONSIDERATION OF PROMENADE ON FOREST CONCEPTUAL DESIGN
********************************************************************** Presentation and Discussion: Staff and the consultant provided a presentation and responded to Councilmembers' questions. The City Council and Planning Commissioners raised questions regarding fire safety and impact of eucalyptus trees, open seating versus restaurant-designated areas, alcohol regulations and coordination with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), maintenance concerns regarding permeable surfaces and landscaping, and the construction timeline and impact on businesses.
Public Testimony in Support of the Permanent Promenade Concept:
Greg and Barbara MacGillivray, Jeffrey Redeker (Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce), Ted Hathaway, Jeff Roffner, Mark Brown, Chris Gonzales, Steve Jones. Jim Sullivan, Mark Christy (businesses in Laguna Beach). Ben Warner (Coast Film Festival), MJ Coveny, Marisa (Bushard's), David Rubel (business on Forest Avenue), Stacy Udin (business on Forest, but not on the Promenade, Kristin Winter (Good Together House), Roger Kempler, Perez (Brussels Bistro), Diane Klosky, Billy Fried, Francine Sinto, PJ, and an unnamed member of the public.
Public Testimony Opposed to the Permanent Promenade Concept:
Jacob Cherub, Charmain and Alice Brown (Shoe Cellar), Merrill Anderson (Village Laguna), George Weiss and Deborah Laughton, Paulette Adams, Brendan Krigler, Ann Christoph, Toni Iseman, Mary Locatelli, Leah Vasquez, Ruben Flores, Bob Borthwick, John Thomas, Violet Sorhad, Anne Krizman (Fresh Produce, downtown retail business), and Jerome Pudwill.
The City Council provided direction that the Ad Hoc Committee continue to work with City staff the consultant, continuing engagement with ABC, and conduct further analysis on the construction timeline and cost estimates, with additional outreach to affected businesses. The modified concept plan is to be presented to the Planning Commission at a workshop, then the design review and related entitlements approved at a Planning Commission, which will then be brought back before the City Council for final design approval, along with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination.
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Laguna Beach City Council / Planning Commission Joint Meeting Minutes February 4, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Rounaghi at 9:25 p.m., Tuesday, February 4, 2025, adjourned 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. ****************
Approved: February 25, 2025
ell Roman
Alex Rounaghi, Mayor
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. -2-