STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
March 10, 2026
CONSENT
13 SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER KEMPF AND MAYOR PRO TEM JONES TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FISCAL YEAR 2026-27
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATIONS
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Appoint Council member Kempf and Mayor pro Tem Jones to serve as the ad hoc committee responsible for reviewing the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Community Assistance Grant applications;
2. Direct the ad hoc committee to report back to the City Council with grant award recommendations at the budget adoption meeting on June 23, 2026; and
3. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, as it constitutes an administrative activity that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report recommends that the City Council appoint two City Council members to serve on an ad hoc committee to review applications submitted for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Community Assistance Grant (CAG) program and provide funding recommendations at the June 23, 2026, budget adoption meeting.
DISCUSSION
The Community Assistance Grant (CAG) program provides funding to local non-profits and public organizations that provide special services to Laguna Beach residents. The program supports local organizations in funding new projects and expanding services within the community. The CAG program is funded through lease payments received from the Festival of Arts (FOA) which contributes 3.5% of FOA’s annual gross revenue. For the Fiscal Year 2026-27, approximately $234,500 is available for distribution.
To ensure broad awareness, notification of funding availability for the CAG program was advertised on the City’s website, as well as through other City communication channels, and was also promoted in local media publications. Applications will be accepted online from January 12, 2026, and March 19, 2026.
Each year, the City Council appoints two members to review applications and present funding recommendations to the City Council during the budget adoption meeting scheduled for June 23, 2026..
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER KEMPF AND MAYOR PRO TEM JONES TO THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATIONS March 10, 2026
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it does not qualify as a “project.” Section 15378 defines a project as an activity that may cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The appointment of City Council Members to an ad hoc committee is an administrative organizational activity that will not result in any physical change to the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
None
Submitted By: Alexis Braun Approved: .David A Kiff
Alexis Braun, Acting Director of
Transit and Community Services
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Alexis Braun, Acting Director of Transit and
Community Services, Transit and Community
Services