MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
November 18, 2025
A Study Session of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., 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
STUDY SESSION
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1. DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE VISION PLAN STUDY SESSION: CONCEPTUAL
PLAN DISCISSION
Presentation and Discussion: Staff and the project consultants gave a presentation and responded to Councilmembers’ questions.
Public Testimony: 11 members of the public provided input. Strong concerns were expressed about additional parking loss, beyond what AB 413 already mandates. Suggestions included incorporating bicycle, scooter, and golf cart parking into bulb-outs. It was requested that the Fire Department does truck-turn testing before design concepts are advanced.
Concerns were expressed about tree-well safety, tree-grate maintenance, and some speakers requested consideration of alternative materials (e.g., resin-based permeable surfaces).
Concerns were expressed regarding traffic flow impacts, especially in areas where doubleparking by delivery trucks occurs. A mid-block pedestrian crossing on Broadway was suggested. Those that spoke objected to permanent parklets, with several speakers noting daytime under-utilization and preference that required parking not be repurposed for private dining. Public notification for previous workshops was questioned, particularly stakeholder outreach to downtown businesses. Members of the public questioned the origins of the project, overall costs, and cumulative financial impact of multiple City initiatives.
City Council Direction: The City Council expressed consensus that the City must comply with AB 413 and should use the required daylighting as an opportunity to improve downtown pedestrian experience, and supported further development of the plan for potential inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
A majority of the City Council expressed concern about removing additional parking beyond state-law requirements. The Council preferred exploring limited, selective enhancements where they create significant pedestrian benefit, and requested staff identify offsetting parking gains, including potential recapture of spaces at the former bus turn-around area. The Council directed staff to consider Coastal Commission input, acknowledging that parking reductions may trigger coastal-access issues.
Attachment 1
2 Laguna Beach City Council Study Session Minutes November 18, 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. -2-
Councilmembers favored prioritizing pedestrian-oriented improvements, beautification, and additional public art over supporting existing parklets. Several members supported exploring a Broadway mid-block pedestrian crossing, with the understanding that further traffic and safety analysis would be required. Interest was expressed in improving tree-well design, replacing hazardous surfaces, and ensuring maintenance feasibility.
The City Council emphasized the need for Fire-Department turning-radius modeling, delivery-vehicle access analysis, and continued coordination with Caltrans for affected streets.
The City Council requested that staff return with two refined options: (1) a “required-only” AB 413 compliance option, and (2) a prioritized enhancement option showing where additional bulb-outs would provide the greatest pedestrian benefit. The Council directed staff to analyze parking trade-offs, including locations where spaces could be gained or reconfigured, continue coordination with the Coastal Commission, Public Works, and the Fire Department regarding feasibility and constraints, and consider integration opportunities with ongoing downtown sidewalk and ADA upgrades.
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Rounaghi at 3:55 p.m., Tuesday, November 18, 2025, adjourned to the Closed Session, then to the Regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach California. ****************
Approved: December 9, 2025
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Alex Rounaghi , Mayor
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Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
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