RESOLUTION NO. 26.XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AN AMENDED
AND RESTATED CITY COUNCIL POLICY AND
PROCEDURES MANUAL, AND FINDING SUCH ACTION
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION
15061
WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized to adopt rules for the conduct of its meetings, proceedings, business, and administration, in accordance with the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.), and all other applicable laws; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has previously adopted a City Council Policy and Procedures Manual to provide guidance regarding the conduct of City Council meetings, the organization of City Council business, and other administrative practices of the City Council and the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has also from time-to-time adopted other policies and procedures regarding the organization of the City Council, its business, and other administrative matters; and
WHEREAS, review and periodic updating of city council policies is a best practice among cities to provide clear guidance to elected officials, city staff, and members of the public regarding city council procedures and expectations, and where necessary, to reflect changes in law; and WHEREAS, as a result of the recent enactment of Senate Bill (“SB”) 707, which amended the Brown Act, eligible legislative bodies must provide remote public participation effective July 1, 2026, for qualifying City Council meetings, and must also adopt procedures addressing disruptions in telephonic or internet service during meetings (“Disruption Policy”); and Attachment 1
8 -2- Reso. #
WHEREAS, in compliance with SB 707, the City Council desires to adopt the requisite Disruption Policy and to amend such other policies to allow for remote meeting participation, effective July 1, 2026, and to organize City Council meetings in a manner that provides for continued efficiencies while mitigating the impacts of possible disruption, including but not limited to through the adoption of a policy addressing the efficient and certain processing of City Council appeals; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend and restate the City Council Policy and Procedures Manual to incorporate these new policies and previously adopted policies that were not clearly included in the Policy Manual, clarify existing procedures, and ensure consistency with current law, including amendments to the Brown Act; and WHEREAS, the revised City Council Policy and Procedures Manual attached to this Resolution reflects these updates and is intended to serve as the official compilation of City Council policies and procedures.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH DOES RESOLVE:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct, and incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. The amended and restated City Council Policy and Procedures Manual fixed and attached as Exhibit A hereto, entitled “City Council Policy and Procedures Manual,” which includes new Policy 1.7 (Policy for Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service During Public Meetings (SB 707)) and new Policy 1.8 (Policy for Processing and Consideration of Appeals to the City Council), is hereby adopted.
9 -3- Reso. #
SECTION 3. Certain City Council policies and procedures were previously created by the adoption of City Council Resolutions 19.059, 21.103, 24.010, 24.011, 24.012, 25.044, and
25.045 (“Policy Resolutions”), respectively. To the extent of any conflict between those Policy Resolutions and this Resolution, including the amended and restated City Council Policy and Procedures Manual attached as Exhibit A, exist, this Resolution and amended and restated City Council Policy and Procedures Manual shall constitute the operative policies and procedures on such topics as are identified therein, and such Policy Resolutions shall be considered rescinded only to the extent of such conflict.
SECTION 4. The proposed action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to the State CEQA Guidelines, as the action not a “project” and has no potential to result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change to the environment. (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15378(a).) A “project” specifically does not include continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as general policy and procedure making. (14 Cal.
Code Regs. § 15378(b)(2).) Alternatively, the proposed actions are exempt from CEQA, as there is no possibility that such action would have a significant negative effect on the environment. (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15061(b)(3).) Rather, the proposed actions are administrative in nature and merely set forth policies and procedures for the conduct of the City Council’s meetings, proceedings, business, and administration.
SECTION 5. If any action, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Resolution or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution that can be given effect without the invalid provisions. 10 -4- Reso. #
SECTION 6. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
ADOPTED this 10th day of March, 2026.
Mark Orgill, Mayor
ATTEST:
Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
I, Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 26.XXX was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on March 10, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
Ann Marie, City Clerk, City of Laguna Beach, CA
11 -5- Reso. #
EXHIBIT A
(City Council Policy and Procedures Manual)
12