CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
FEBRUARY 10, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBERS – 505 FOREST AVENUE, LAGUNA BEACH, CA 92651 CLOSED SESSION – 4:00 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING 5:00 P.M.
MARK ORGILL, Mayor
HALLIE JONES, Mayor Pro Tem
SUE KEMPF, Councilmember
ALEX ROUNAGHI, Councilmember
BOB WHALEN, Councilmember
DAVE KIFF, City Manager
MEGAN GARIBALDI, City Attorney
LAURA PARISI, City Treasurer
ANN MARIE McKAY, City Clerk
LEVINE ACT DISCLOSURE: Pursuant to the Levine Act (Govt Code Section 84308), any party to a permit, license, contract, or other entitlement before the City Council is required to disclose on the record any campaign contribution, including aggregated contributions, of more than $500 commencing on January 1, 2025, made by the party or the party’s agents within the preceding 12 months to any City official.
Participants and agents are requested to make this disclosure as well. The disclosure should be made when the agenda item is called and must include the name of the party, participant, or agent, and any other person making the contribution, the name of the recipient, the amount of the contribution, and the date the contribution was made. Council Members are also required to make such disclosures and recuse themselves.
Public Participation: You may submit comments in person on any agenda item or any item not on the agenda. You may also submit written comments on any agenda item or on any item not on the agenda via mail to the City Clerk at 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA. 92651 or by email to [email protected]. In order to allow sufficient time for members of the City Council and staff to review and consider your written comments, written comments will be accepted for consideration up until the close of business (i.e., 5:30 p.m.) on the business day before the date on which this public meeting is scheduled. Written comments WILL NOT be read aloud during the City Council Meeting. Please note that written comments are posted on the City’s website, so do not include any personal information you do not want posted on the web. Any comments received after the deadline for submittal may not become part of the public record for that meeting. For comments submitted on a topic not on the agenda, please indicate that you would like your comments included in the official record for this meeting. mail to the City Clerk at 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA. 92651 or by email to [email protected]. In order to allow sufficient time for members of the City Council and staff to review and consider your written comments, written comments will be accepted for consideration up until the close of business (i.e., 5:30 p.m.) on the business day before the date on which this public meeting is scheduled. Written comments WILL NOT be read aloud during the City Council Meeting. Please note that written comments are posted on the City’s website, so do not include any personal information you do not want posted on the web. Any comments received after the deadline for submittal may not become part of the public record for that meeting. For comments submitted on a topic not on the agenda, please indicate that you would like your comments included in the official record for this meeting.
Courtesy Virtual Broadcast: Please take notice that the City also plans to broadcast the meeting via the below listed mediums. These virtual broadcast mediums are also provided as a courtesy only and are not guaranteed to be technically feasible or uninterrupted. Thus, in order to guarantee livetime viewing, members of the public are encouraged to attend in person.
1. Online on the City of Laguna website: www.lagunabeachcity.net/meetings
2. Cox cable channel 852
3. Online on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQsj8cEM7IvTH6p4uf3NUzQ CLOSED SESSION
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A. ROLL CALL 4:00 p.m.
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS
Public Comment can be provided on any item on the Closed Session agenda, in Council Chambers at 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, after the City Council roll call, then the City Council will convene in Conference Room A for the Closed Session.
1. Conference with Legal Counsel—Existing Litigation
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1)
Number of Cases: Two (2)
a. Edward B. Riahi, Trustee of the EBR Trust, Dated May 29, 2015 v. City of Laguna Beach, Superior Court of California County of Orange, Case No. 30202501498304CUWMCJC b. David Dyrnaes, as Trustee for the David Neil Dyrnaes and Mayumi Nagakura Joint Living Trust, dated August 11, 2010 v. City of Laguna Beach, Superior Court of California County of Orange, Case No. 30202501519061CUWMCJC
2. Conference with Legal Counsel Anticipated Litigation Significant Exposure to Litigation pursuant to Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2) & (e) (5)
One (1) potential case. There is significant exposure to litigation against the City based on a threat of litigation made outside of a noticed meeting, which is based on the following facts:
On September 16, 2025, the City Attorney, Megan Garibaldi, met with attorneys for the property owners of 31774 5th Avenue (the Flemings), Jamie Sprague and Morgan Gallagher of Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP, regarding the property owners' demand for payment based on the City's January 23, 2025, stop work order for construction at 31774 5th Avenue, which proceeded without the proper entitlements. At the September 16, 2025, meeting, the attorneys for property owners of 31774 5th Avenue threatened litigation if the City did not make the demanded payment.
C. ADJOURN FROM CLOSED SESSION, RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
owners of 31774 5th Avenue (the Flemings), Jamie Sprague and Morgan Gallagher of Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP, regarding the property owners' demand for payment based on the City's January 23, 2025, stop work order for construction at 31774 5th Avenue, which proceeded without the proper entitlements. At the September 16, 2025, meeting, the attorneys for property owners of 31774 5th Avenue threatened litigation if the City did not make the demanded payment.
C. ADJOURN FROM CLOSED SESSION, RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
********************************************************** A. ROLL CALL – 5:00 PM
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Councilmember Kempf
C. CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT(S). A Closed Session report shall be provided, as required pursuant to California Government Code Section 54950 et seq.
D. ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS. As may be deemed necessary by the City Manager, agenda items may from time to time be deleted from the agenda; in such event, the City Manager shall endeavor to provide as much advance notice to the community as reasonably possible about the removal of such items. Agenda items may only be added in accordance with Government Code Section 54950 et seq.
E. PRESENTATIONS. The City Council shall from time to time recognize individuals and organizations and present awards or Certificates of Appreciation, or receive special presentations, as previously scheduled and described below.
F. PUBLIC COMMENTS NONAGENDIZED ITEMS. The City Council shall consider Public Comments, of up to three minutes each as determined by the Mayor and for a total of 45 minutes, from the audience concerning items not appearing on the agenda, but this is within the subject matter of the City Council. Public comments beyond 45 minutes shall be reconvened at the conclusion of public hearings. In accordance with the provisions of the Brown Act (Government Code Section 54950 et seq.), no action of discussion may take place by the Council on any item not on the posted agenda.
Speaker cards may be sed by the City Clerk’s Office for the orderly conduct of the meeting; those not completing speaker cards may speak after those who completed speaker cards. Pursuant to California Government Code section 54953(b)(3), any member of the public wishing to address the legislative body directly pursuant to California Government Code section 54954.3 may do so at each teleconference location at the time the item is considered.
G. MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER. This is a time for brief updates to the public from the City Council and the City Manager on various City matters.
H. CONSENT CALENDAR. All matters listed under Consent Calendar are considered by the City MtbtidillbtdblllltThillbdiifth
completing speaker cards may speak after those who completed speaker cards. Pursuant to California Government Code section 54953(b)(3), any member of the public wishing to address the legislative body directly pursuant to California Government Code section 54954.3 may do so at each teleconference location at the time the item is considered.
G. MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER. This is a time for brief updates to the public from the City Council and the City Manager on various City matters.
H. CONSENT CALENDAR. All matters listed under Consent Calendar are considered by the City Manager to be routine and will be enacted by one roll call vote. There will be no discussion of these items unless a Councilmember, the City staff, or a member of the public requests removal of an item (please identify the item by its number) from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion, and that person shall be identified and noted in the minutes for the item. Once any additions or removals are made, the City Council will vote to approve all items remaining on the Consent Calendar. Any item that was removed will be considered following the action on the Consent Calendar; each speaker shall have up to three minutes, and may be shortened or extended, or a cumulative limit on the time for all public speakers may be imposed, at the discretion of the presiding officer (the Mayor).
1. MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Recommendations: Approve the minutes of the Study Session and the Regular Meeting of the City Council of January 27, 2026, and the Special Meeting of the City Council of January 30, 2026.
2. APPROVAL OF GENERAL WARRANTS AND PAYROLL DISTRIBUTIONS Recommendations: 1. Approve the general warrants and payroll distributions.
3. ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE CITY’S RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE Recommendations:
1. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING THE CITY’S RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE, AUTHORIZING DESTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CITY RECORDS, AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION NO. 25.006”; and
2. Find the action is not a “project” within the meaning of the California Environment Quality Act under Public Resources Code Section 21065.
4. RECREATION COMMITTEE 2026 WORK PLAN
Recommendations:
1. It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Recreation Committee to proceed with its 2026 Work Plan.
5. PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS AT GLENNEYRE PARKING STRUCTURE AND ANITA STREET BEACH ACCESS
Recommendations:
1. Approve the installation of the sculpture titled, “A Breeze, Floating Bloom” by Arne Quinze to satisfy the Art in Public Places requirement in Chapter 1.09 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code for 501 Glenneyre Street (Parking Lot 6);
2. Approve the expenditure of $130,000 and appropriation of $21,605 from the Art in Lieu Fund for the installation of the sculpture titled, “A Breeze, Floating Bloom” by Arne Quinze;
3. Approve the installation of the untitled tile mural by Kevin A. Myers at the Anita Street Beach AccessRenovationProject;
Recommendations:
1. Approve the installation of the sculpture titled, “A Breeze, Floating Bloom” by Arne Quinze to satisfy the Art in Public Places requirement in Chapter 1.09 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code for 501 Glenneyre Street (Parking Lot 6);
2. Approve the expenditure of $130,000 and appropriation of $21,605 from the Art in Lieu Fund for the installation of the sculpture titled, “A Breeze, Floating Bloom” by Arne Quinze;
3. Approve the installation of the untitled tile mural by Kevin A. Myers at the Anita Street Beach Access Renovation Project;
4. Approve the expenditure of $30,000 installation of an untitled tile mural by artist Kevin A.
Myers; and
5. Find that these actions are exempt under California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303.
6. AMENDMENT TO SERVICE PROVIDER AGREEMENT FOR BUILDING AND PLANNING
SERVICES
Recommendations:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a third amendment to Agreement #2264 with the Code Group, Inc. (dba VCA Code) to increase the contract amount by $190,000 for continued building and planning services; and
2. Find this action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
7. AMENDMENT TO AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT RELATED TO RIGHT OF WAY ADJACENT TO 31131 MONTEREY STREET; AND FINDING ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(b)(3)
Recommendations:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an Amendment to an Easement Agreement related to right of way adjacent to 31131 Monterey Street; and
2. Find the recommended action is not a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) based on the reasons in the staff report.
8. CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATION FOR VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMITTEES Recommendations:
1. Confirm City Council appointments to various organizations and committees listed in Attachment 1;
2. Confirm City Council representation on Ad Hoc Committees as listed in Attachment 2; and
3. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15378(b)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines.
9. ORANGE COUNTY POWER AUTHORITY (OCPA) STUDY SESSION SUMMARY AND COUNCIL DIRECTION
Recommendations:
1. Affirm Council direction to refer the matter to the Environmental Sustainability Committee for
3. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15378(b)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines.
9. ORANGE COUNTY POWER AUTHORITY (OCPA) STUDY SESSION SUMMARY AND COUNCIL DIRECTION
Recommendations:
1. Affirm Council direction to refer the matter to the Environmental Sustainability Committee for review and recommendation regarding potential participation in OCPA;
2. Direct staff to initiate a nocost feasibility study with OCPA in parallel, and return to the City Council with the Committee’s findings and any recommended next steps for formal consideration; and
3. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
I. REGULAR BUSINESS. This section is for a wide variety of matters generally worthy of separate discussion such as the consideration of ordinances for introduction, resolutions, extraordinary policy and business matters, staff reports and recommendations. The presiding officer will take public comment on each Regular Business item. Each speaker shall have up to three minutes for each agendized Regular Business item, as may be shortened or extended, or a cumulative limit on the time for all public speakers may be imposed, at the discretion of the Presiding Officer. Pursuant to California Government Code section 54953(b)(3), any member of the public wishing to address the legislative body directly pursuant to California Government Code section 54954.3 may do so at each teleconference location at the time the item is considered.
10. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC) DISCUSSION
Recommendations:
1. Hear a presentation from staff as to options for a fullyequipped Emergency Operations Center (EOC); and
2. Make any appropriate recommendations as to next steps.
11. HOSPITAL ACTION PLAN DISCUSSION
Recommendations:
1. Hear from and discuss thoughts from Council Members Rounaghi and Whalen as to possible next steps to further protect the community’s interest via a further evaluation of possible changes in service by the operators of Mission Hospital in South Laguna; and
2. Make any appropriate recommendations as to next steps.
12. CITY CHARTER DISCUSSION
Recommendations:
1. Hear a presentation from the City Manager and the City Attorney as to options to consider should the City Council wish to ask the voters to adopt a City Charter in November 2026; and
2. Provide direction to staff and make any appropriate recommendations as to next steps.
J. PUBLIC HEARINGS NON APPEALS. This section is for matters (other than appeals) that are structured as Public Hearings. Public hearings are different from regular business items in that there is a specific time period where a formal hearing is opened by the presiding officer, public comment is acceptedfromanymemberofthepublicandthehearingisclosedbythepresidingofficerGenerally Recommendations:
1. Hear a presentation from the City Manager and the City Attorney as to options to consider should the City Council wish to ask the voters to adopt a City Charter in November 2026; and
2. Provide direction to staff and make any appropriate recommendations as to next steps.
J. PUBLIC HEARINGS NON APPEALS. This section is for matters (other than appeals) that are structured as Public Hearings. Public hearings are different from regular business items in that there is a specific time period where a formal hearing is opened by the presiding officer, public comment is accepted from any member of the public, and the hearing is closed by the presiding officer. Generally each public speaker has one opportunity to speak. The City Council conducts all Public Hearings in accordance with the provisions of applicable Laguna Beach procedure and State law. The presiding officer shall have discretion to establish the time allocated for public comment.
13. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION UPDATING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE Recommendations:
1. Adopt the Resolution titled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING ITS MASTER FEE SCHEDULE AND FINDING SUCH ACTIONS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT”; and
2. Find the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(4), 15273(a)(1), and 15273(a)(2).
K. PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR APPEALS. This section is specifically for appeals of determinations of the Planning Commission, the Design Review Board, or other Boards or Commissions. Public Hearings (Appeals) are different from other public hearings in two ways: (1) In some cases, the City Council can only consider whether a lower body abused its discretion in granting or denying a project application. In other cases, the Council can conduct the hearing “de novo,” meaning that it can consider old and new information and make a determination unbound by the lower body’s decision.
The item’s staff report will clearly state which review standard applies to each appeal item; and (2) public comment generally occurs this way: Staff presents a report about the appeal, Council members ask questions about the report. Then the presiding officer opens the public hearing, inviting the person who filed the appeal (the appellant) to speak first, followed by persons supporting the appellant’s position. Then the presiding officer invites persons disagreeing with appeal to speak. When all speakers have spoken, the presiding officer invites the appellant up a second time to address any comment and to conclude their argument. Following that, the presiding officer closes the public hearing, and the Council deliberates further and ultimately votes on a motion. The City Council conducts all Public Hearings in accordance with the provisions of applicable Laguna Beach procedure and State law. The Mayor shall have discretion to establish the time allocated for persons who wish to speak, often allowing more time for the appellant and/or the applicant.
L. COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM(S). The City Council shall consider matters submitted by members of the City Council in accordance with Resolution No. 24.011, as it may be amended.
M. ADJOURNMENT. The Laguna Beach City Council will adjourn to its next regular or other meeting, tentatively set for:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
LAGUNA BEACH CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
505 FOREST AVENUE, LAGUNA BEACH, CA
CLOSED SESSION AT 4:00 P.M. AND
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 5:00 PM.
meeting, tentatively set for:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
LAGUNA BEACH CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
505 FOREST AVENUE, LAGUNA BEACH, CA
CLOSED SESSION AT 4:00 P.M. AND
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 5:00 PM.
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS
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Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with a disability who require a disabilityrelated modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, may request such modification or accommodation from the City Clerk at (949) 4970705 (telephone) or (949) 4970771 (facsimile). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to the meeting.
COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.5
********************************************************* Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the City Council after distribution of the agenda packets are available for public inspection in the City Clerk's Office at 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, during normal business hours.
Testimony given before the City Council is recorded.
The timer light at the podium will turn yellow and beep once when the speaker has 30 seconds remaining. The timer light will turn red and buzz when the speaker’s time has expired.
PLEASE TURN CELL PHONES OFF OR SET TO SILENT MODE.