STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
May 26, 2026
BUSINESS
16 SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE HOSPITAL TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Discuss and select an appointment process for the Hospital Task Force;
2. Determine the number of members to be appointed to the Hospital Task Force; and
3. Find that the recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because the action involves organizational and administrative activities that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This item allows the Council to consider an appointment process for the Hospital Task Force, as well as selecting the number of members to the Task Force.
DISCUSSION
In recent months, leadership at Mission Hospital, Laguna Beach, have relayed information to the community that Providence St. Joseph’s intends to reenvision and replace the hospital structure and programs in South Laguna with a different model. On March 10, 2026, the Council created two committees – a Community Advisory Committee made up of residents (referred to as the Hospital Task Force) and other interested parties, and an internal working group (made up of Council Members Rounaghi and Whalen as well as City staff) – to help guide the City’s response to the changes.
The City received 28 applications to serve on the Hospital Task Force, which is indicative of the interest in the community as Mission Hospital Laguna Beach prepares for its next iteration. Direction at the March 10, 2026 Council meeting suggested that the Council as a group would interview and select the appointees.
While that process is ideal, the number of applicants may make that challenging.
Accordingly, Ad Hoc Committee members Whalen and Rounaghi asked that the Council discuss the appointment process again in light of the number of applicants. This agenda item allows the Council to discuss in public the best appointment process to review and select the applicants, as well as the total number of appointments.
The Ad Hoc Committee suggests allowing the Ad Hoc Committee to nominate 11 or 13 members and to bring those back to the Council for ratification.
Potential appointment approaches for Council consideration include:
• Ad Hoc Committee review and recommendation followed by Council ratification (Recommended); • Full City Council interviews and appointments of all applicants;
APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR THE HOSPITAL TASK FORCE
May 26, 2026
• Appointment of a smaller initial working group with future expansion, if needed.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES
A key strategic priority of the City and City Council is public safety, which includes ensuring that residents of and visitors to Laguna Beach have appropriate and proximate quality medical care.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because the action involves organizational and administrative activities that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment
ATTACHMENTS
1. List of names of persons who applied for the Hospital Task Force (Pg. 3) Submitted By: . Approved: .David A Kiff
Dave Kiff, City Manager Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Dave Kiff, City Manager Alex Rounaghi, Council Member
Bob Whalen, Council Member