RESOLUTION NO. 26.XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING CERTAIN
SHADE COVERING ZONES AT MAIN BEACH AND ALISO
BEACH, AND FINDING SUCH ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER
CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304
WHEREAS, the City of Laguna Beach, California (“City”) is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the California Constitution and laws of the State of California; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the police powers delegated to it by the California Constitution, the City has the authority to enact laws which promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2026, the City Council adopted an ordinance amending Title 18 (Beaches and Parks) to create a special event permit process to authorize private events at Aliso Beach and other South Laguna Beaches, as needed, as well as at other City property and to make changes to streamline and add consistency to the application of Title 18 as a whole; and WHEREAS, more specifically, such ordinance prohibits shade coverings, other than certain umbrellas, on all beaches within the City except for Main Beach and Aliso Beach, subject to exceptions; and
WHEREAS, in the case of shade coverings at Main Beach and Aliso Beach, such ordinance, in part, limits shade coverings in size to eight feet in width by eight feet in depth by six feet in height and authorizes such shade coverings only in certain zones, which are located in line with or behind the lifeguard towers and approved by resolution of the City Council, subject to exceptions; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish the zones where certain shade Attachment 2
36 -2- Reso. #
coverings are allowed at Main Beach and Aliso Beach; and WHEREAS, all other legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Resolution have occurred.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
BEACH DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council finds and determines that the foregoing recitals, which are incorporated herein by this reference, are true and correct.
SECTION 2. The City Council finds and determines that, at Main Beach, shade coverings, other than umbrellas, are limited in size to eight feet in width by eight feet in depth by six feet in height and limited in location to a certain zone that is in line with or behind the lifeguard towers, as depicted in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 3. The City Council finds and determines that, at Aliso Beach, shade coverings, other than umbrellas, are limited in size to eight feet in width by eight feet in depth by six feet in height and limited in location to a certain zone that is in line with or behind the lifeguard towers, as depicted in Exhibit B, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
SECTION 4. The use of shade coverings shall comply with the standards and regulations set forth in Municipal Code Section 18.04.020.
SECTION 5. The City Council finds and determines that this action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land, Class 4) which exempts minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes. Examples include but are not limited to minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment, including carnivals, sales of Christmas trees, etc. (14 CCR Section 15304(e).) 37 -3- Reso. #
Here, this action will allow people to use portions of the City’s parks and beaches and other City property for special events for a temporary period of time subject to rules and regulations of the City and makes other changes to streamline and add consistency to the application of Title 18. This action does not authorize permanent infrastructure and merely creates an administrative system to allow persons to coordinate use of the beach and other City property. Therefore, this action falls within the minor alterations to land exemption.
None of the exceptions to the use of the categorical exemptions identified in State CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply. The Project will not result in a cumulative impact from successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time. Moreover, there are no unusual circumstances surrounding the Project that would result in a reasonably possibility of a significant effect on the environment. Additionally, the Project will not damage scenic resources, including trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources. The Project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Finally, the Project does not include any hazardous waste sites. Thus, Class 4 exemption applies, and no further environmental review is required. The City Council directs staff to cause a Notice of Exemption to be filed with the County of Orange County and State Clearing house within five (5) days of adoption of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. This Resolution shall become effective upon the operative date of the Ordinance No. XXXX, titled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND
8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE; AND FINDING SUCH ACTION
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304.”
38 -4- Reso. #
ADOPTED this 28th day of April, 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 April 28, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
City Clerk, City of Laguna Beach, California
39 -5- Reso. #
EXHIBIT “A”
(Main Beach – Certain Shade Covering Zone)
40 -6- Reso. #
EXHIBIT “B”
(Aliso Beach – Certain Shade Covering Zone)
EXHIBIT “B”
(Aliso Beach – Certain Shade Covering Zone)
41