STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
April 28, 2026
CONSENT
12 SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND 8.04.010 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADOPTION
OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING CERTAIN SHADE COVERING ZONES AT
MAIN BEACH AND ALISO BEACH
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the Ordinance 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”; and
2. Adopt the Resolution titled, “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”; and
3. Find the action exempt from the California Environmental Act under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15304.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
On April 14, 2026, the City Council considered the first reading of an ordinance amending Title 18 and Sections 6.16.020 and 8.04.010 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code (“Ordinance”) and adoption of a resolution establishing rules and regulations for special events.
Following public comments, the City Council deliberated modifications to Title 18 relating to establishment of zones for certain shade coverings, such as canopies, tents, and easy-ups, at Aliso Beach and Main Beach (Section 18.04.020 of the ordinance) as opposed to a total ban on such shade coverings within the City of Laguna Beach. While Councilmembers Kempf and Rounaghi voted against the modification to Section
18.04.020 in the proposed Ordinance to create such zones, Councilmembers Whalen, Jones, and Orgill voted for the modification, thereby conducting the first reading and introducing Section 18.04.020 of the Ordinance (the “First Vote”). Following this vote, the Council unanimously voted to introduce for first reading the remainder of the Ordinance and adopted the related Special Events Resolution (the “Second Vote”).
At the end of the April 14th City Council meeting, upon recommendation from City staff, the City Council made a motion to reconsider the Second Vote related to the Ordinance. City staff recommended modifications to clarify the intent of swimming and surfing at Aliso Beach during the summer months and depicted the recommended changes to the City Council. (Attachment 3.) The City Council thereafter unanimously voted to re-introduce for first reading the remainder of the Ordinance (excluding Section
18.04.020, which had been separately considered as part of the First Vote), with the depicted changes.
ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND 8.04.010
OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHING CERTAIN SHADE COVERING ZONES AT MAIN BEACH AND ALISO BEACH
April 28, 2026
Following the April 14, 2026 City Council meeting, City staff prepared a proposed City Council Resolution establishing the zones for certain shade coverings, including canopies, tents, and easy-ups, at Aliso Beach and Main Beach. (Attachment 2.) No changes were subsequently made to the Ordinance (Attachment 1), and thus, it can now be considered for second reading and adoption.
City staff recommends that the City Council (1) conduct the second reading and adopt the Ordinance (Attachment 1); and (2) adopt the Resolution establishing certain shade covering zones at Main Beach and Aliso Beach (Attachment 2).
The subject Ordinance is recommended for second reading and adoption. Unless otherwise directed by a member of the City Council, approval on the consent calendar of this item (for second reading and adoption) will reflect the same vote as the first reading:
The vote on the introduction of Section 18.04.020 of the Ordinance was:
AYES: 3 COUNCILMEMBERS: Whalen, Jones, Orgill
NOES: 2 COUNCILMEMBERS: Kempf, Rounaghi
ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None
The vote on the introduction of the remainder of the whole Ordinance was:
AYES: 5 COUNCILMEMBERS: Whalen, Jones, Orgill, Kempf, and Rounaghi NOES: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: 0 COUNCILMEMBERS: None
If a Councilmember is not present, however, at the second reading, the vote will be reflected as absent.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended 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).) 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.
ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 18 AND SECTIONS 6.16.020 AND 8.04.010
OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE, AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION
ESTABLISHING CERTAIN SHADE COVERING ZONES AT MAIN BEACH AND ALISO BEACH
April 28, 2026
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.
If City Council approves the recommended action, City staff will cause a Notice of Exemption to be filed with the County of Orange County and State Clearing house within five (5) days of the action.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance (Pgs. 4-35)
2. Resolution Regarding Zones for Certain Shade Coverings at Aliso Beach and Main Beach (Pgs. 36-41)
3. Redline of Ordinance (Introduced after Motion for Reconsideration) (Pgs. 42-73) Submitted By: Alexis Braun Approved: Gavin Curran, for
Alexis Braun, Acting Director of
Transit and Community Services
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney Kai Bond, Marine Safety Chief Alexis Braun, Acting Director of Transit and
Community Services