Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes August 27, 2025
MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
August 27, 2025
A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Alex Rounaghi presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Jones, Kempf, Orgill, Rounaghi PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Whalen
SPECIAL MEETING
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AWARD OF TASK ORDERS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE PERMANENT PROMENADE ON FOREST
Presentation and Discussion: Staff gave a presentation and responded to Councilmembers' questions.
Public Testimony: Ann Christoph, Mary Locatelli, Pat Menne, and Ruben Flores expressed concerns regarding the process.
Edward Bayuk submitted information regarding his concerns related to the vendor, SWA.
Moved by Mayor Alex Rounaghi, seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf, and carried unanimously 4/0 to:
(1) Approve a task order amendment to SWA Group for a total not-to-exceed amount of $348,500, for final landscape architecture design of the permanent Promenade on Forest project, and approve project-related expenses and change orders for additional design-related services that may be required in an amount not-to-exceed $35,000, and direct the City Manager to execute the required documents as approved by the City Attorney;
(2) Approve a task order amendment to Psomas Engineering for a total not-to-exceed amount of $232,750, for final civil engineering design of the permanent Promenade on Forest project, and approve project-related expenses and change orders for additional design-related services that may be required in an amount not-to-exceed $23,000, and direct the City Manager to execute the required documents as approved by the City Attorney; and (3) Find the proposed action statutorily exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 922/Public Resources Code Section 21080.25(b)(1), as the action implements the previously-approved Promenade on Forest project, which the City Council found to be statutorily exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.25(b), as amended by Senate Bill 922 (SB 922), on March 25, 2025.
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Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting Minutes August 27, 2025
ADJOURNMENI
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There being no further business, Mayor Rounaghi at 6:50 p.m., Wednesday, August 27, 2025, adjourned to the Study Session at 3:00 p.m., the Closed Session at 4:00 p.m., and to the Regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach California.
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Approved: September 23, 2025
Ally koummm
Alex Kounaghl, Mayor
i Marie McKay, City CTerk
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-