MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
May 12, 2026
A Study Session of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Orgill presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
STUDY SESSION
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1. FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET WORKSHOP
Presentation and Discussion: Staff provided a presentation and responded to Councilmember questions.
Public Testimony: John Thomas, South Laguna Civic Association, advocated for the acquisition of two lots on Catalina Street for additional park space in South Laguna, noting longstanding inadequate public infrastructure and heavy use of Village Green Park. Bob Borthwick expressed appreciation for the $50,000 budget allocation for Hortense Miller Garden. Toni Iseman suggested moving City employee parking to Act V to free up parking by City Hall for public use, as originally intended. Jacquie Schaefgen advocated for maintaining ongoing revenue allocation to the Local Housing Trust Fund to preserve eligibility for the $2.5 million State matching grant. City Clerk Ann Marie McKay requested Council to direct the City Manager to approve reclassification of Records Management Coordinator Julie Shackelford to Records and Information Administrator, citing expanded project management scope of the citywide records management improvement initiative and net minimal fiscal impact. Ann Christoph supported South Laguna Civic Association's request for Catalina lots acquisition, suggesting the South Laguna Fund balance as a potential funding source, and also supported the employee parking relocation concept raised by Iseman.
City Council Direction:
• Address Housing Fund balance to meet the $2.5 million grant matching threshold; develop a permanent housing funding strategy in consultation with the budget ad hoc committee.
• Conduct internal technology discussion (drones, cameras, traffic light synchronization) and bring a recommendation forward for final budget.
Laguna Beach City Council Study Session Minutes May 12, 2026 • Return with a revised CIP (Capital Improvement Program) prioritization proposal, potentially including Main Beach boardwalk, accelerated enclosed lifeguard towers, and City Hall expansion/EOC (Emergency Operations Center) infrastructure. • Staff to prepare information on unlicensed short-term lodging unit count and revenue impact for a future agenda item.
PUBLIC HEARINGS -NON-APPEALS
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CITY STAFF VACANCIES AND RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS (COMPLIANCE WITH ASSEMBLY BILL 2561/GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 3502.3)
Presentation and Discussion: Staff provided a presentation on the City's workforce vacancies and recruitment and retention efforts, as required by AB 2561.
Public Testimony: Laguna Beach Fire Captain Tom Padden, President of the Laguna Beach Firefighters Association, thanked the City Council for its leadership, support, and partnership.
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Orgill at 4:42 p.m., Tuesday, May 12, 2026, adjourned to the Regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach California.
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Approved: May 26, 2026
Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk
Note: All components of minutes shall be for the primary purpose of memorializing decisions made by the legislative body. Any minute component that does not serve this primary purpose will be minimized or eliminated; this includes comments made by individual body members and members of the public. Discussions that occurred during the meeting can be viewed in archived video recordings on the city's website. Public submittals on items received prior to adjournment of the meeting are retained in the administrative record and can be viewed in the city clerk's repository. -2-