RESOLUTION NO. 26.XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF LAGUNA
BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ADDING POLICY 4.1
REGARDING LEAVES OF ABSENCE TO, AND
AMENDING POLICIES 1.1 AND 1.3 RELATING TO CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR, THE CITY COUNCIL
POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL, RESCINDING
ANY PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL ACTION
INCONSISTENT WITH POLICY 4.1, AND FINDING SUCH
ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
WHEREAS, the City Council routinely reviews and updates its policies and procedures regarding the organization and administration of the City and its business; and WHEREAS, the City Council is engaged in an ongoing effort to develop and consolidate a clear, transparent, and comprehensive City Council Policy and Procedures Manual; and WHEREAS, various State and Federal laws pertain to leaves of absence without pay; and WHEREAS, currently, the City has policies and procedures for the discretionary granting of unpaid leaves of absence that are not otherwise required or protected by State or Federal law; and
WHEREAS, the City’s existing policies on unpaid administrative leave are not practical in that leaves of absences in excess of four (4) months must be heard during a public meeting by the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the review and granting of requests for unpaid leaves of absence at public meeting raise privacy concerns, risks the disclosure of protected medical information, and creates a scenario where the City Council is opining on personnel issues of specific employees, which is the purview of the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to add Policy 4.1 to the City Council Policy and Attachment 1
6 -2- Reso. #26.XXX
Procedures Manual, thereby vesting the City Manager with the discretion to review and grant leaves of absence subject to rule and regulations promulgated by the City Manager; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to rescind any previously adopted polices, rules or other action in conflict with this resolution and Policy 4.1 of the City Council Policy and Procedures Manual; and
WHEREAS, the City Council further desires to amend Policies 1.1 and 1.3 of the City Council Policy and Procedures Manual to clarify the City Council’s procedures governing public meetings; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendments are intended to promote transparency, consistency, orderly meeting administration, and compliance with applicable provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, and the City Council’s existing meeting practices.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH DOES RESOLVE:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct, and incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. Policy 4.1, attached as Exhibit A hereto, entitled “Unpaid Leaves of Absence” is hereby adopted and added to the “City Council Policy and Procedures Manual.” SECTION 3. Rule 8.16 in the City’s existing Personnel Rules is hereby rescinded in its entirety. To the extent any other City Council adopted policies, rules, or procedures conflict with Policy 4.1, this Policy 4.1 shall constitute the operative policy on unpaid leaves of absence and such previously adopted policies, rules, or procedures shall be considered rescinded only to the 7 -3- Reso. #26.XXX
extent of such conflict.
SECTION 4. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to ensure any existing City policy, rule, or procedure (e.g., Administrative Policy Manual, Personnel Policy 2-15) is amended, replaced, or rescinded in accordance with the City Manager’s discretion as states in Policy 4.1.
SECTION 5. Policy 1.1, attached hereto as Exhibit B and entitled “City Council Meeting Order of Business,” is hereby adopted as part of the “City Council Policy and Procedures Manual,” superseding and replacing the existing Policy 1.1 in its entirety.
SECTION 6. Policy 1.3, attached hereto as Exhibit C and entitled “City Council Meeting Order of Business,” is hereby adopted as part of the “City Council Policy and Procedures Manual,” superseding and replacing the existing Policy 1.3 in its entirety.
SECTION 7. The proposed action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to the State CEQA Guidelines, because it does not qualify as a “project” as it constitutes an organizational and administrative activity of government that will not result in either a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. A “project” specifically does not include continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as general policy and procedure making. (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15378(b)(2).) A The addition of Policy 4.1 to, and the amendments to Policies 1.1 and 1.3 of, the City Council Policy Procedure Manual relate solely to the adoption and amendment of internal City Council policies and procedures governing meeting administration and personnel leave procedures. Accordingly, no further environmental review is required.
SECTION 8. If any action, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Resolution or 8 -4- Reso. #26.XXX
the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution that can be given effect without the invalid provisions SECTION 9. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
ADOPTED this 9th day of June, 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 June 9, 2026, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
City Clerk, City of Laguna Beach, CA
9 -5- Reso. #26.XXX
EXHIBIT A
Policy 4.1
10 Policy 4.1
Reference: Resolution No. XXXX
Section 1. Purpose
To establish that the City Manager is vested with the power and discretion to grant unpaid leaves of absence in excess of what is otherwise required by Federal, State, or local law.
Section 2. Unpaid Leaves of Absence
The City Manager may grant a regular or probationary employee a leave of absence without pay or seniority for any amount of time determined to be beneficial to the City. The approval, if granted, shall be issued in writing and shall provide an expiration date for the leave of absence.
The City Manager may promulgate rules and regulations related to unpaid leaves of absence, at his or her discretion, including but not limited to eligibility criteria and the requirement that all other leave benefits (i.e., sick leave, vacation leave, other paid or unpaid leave granted by the City, etc.) must be exhausted prior to the granting of any unpaid leave pursuant to this policy.
Adopted: June 9, 2026
City Council Policy/Procedure
Unpaid Leaves of Absence
11 EXHIBIT B
Amended Policy 1.1
12 Policy 1.1
Reference: Municipal Code: § 2.04.020
Resolution 24.010
Resolution No. 26.014
Section 1. Purpose
In addition to procedures set forth in the Ralph M. Brown Act (the “Brown Act,” Government Code § 54950 et seq.) and § 2.04.020 of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, the following policies and procedures have been adopted by, and shall be followed by, the City Council with regard to agenda preparation and the conduct of public meetings. Where applicable, this policy shall also apply to City commissions, boards, committees, and City staff. The purpose of this policy is to set forth standardized procedures for the administration of City business at public meetings.
Section 2. Policy and Procedures
2.1 Agenda Posting and Descriptions
The City Manager shall cause an agenda to be posted in accordance with the Laguna Beach Municipal Code, the Brown Act, and with respect to appeals to the City Council, City Council Policy 1.8, as may be amended. The agenda shall include a brief description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting together with the time and location of the meeting. The description shall be sufficient to apprise interested persons of the subject matter of the discussion or the business to be conducted.
2.2 Agenda Preparation for Regular Meetings
An agenda shall be prepared for each Regular Meeting containing the specific items of business to be transacted and the order thereof. Items of business may be placed on the agenda by the City Manager, his representative, the City Attorney, or by a majority vote of the City Council at a prior Council meeting. Individual City Council Members may place items for initial discussion on the agenda under “Council Member Items,” in accordance with Resolution No. 24.011, as may be amended, and City Council Policy 1.2, as may be amended. The City Clerk shall thereafter post the agenda under the direction of the City Manager.
The agenda, together with all reports pertaining thereto, shall be delivered to the Council Members and the public no later than the 72 hours preceding the Regular Meeting. No matters other than City Council Policy/Procedure
City Council Meeting Order of Business
13 those listed on the agenda shall be acted upon by the City Council, except as otherwise authorized by the Brown Act.
2.3 Conduct of City Business at Regular Meetings.
At the time set for each Regular Meeting, the Council Members, City Clerk, City Manager, City Attorney and such Department Heads and staff as have been requested to be present, shall take their regular places. The Mayor shall call the meeting to order and the business of the City Council shall be taken up for consideration and disposition in the order set forth in Section 2.4, below, except that absent the objection of a majority of the Council Members present, the Mayor or City Manager may request that items be taken out of order.
2.4 Agenda Contents for Order of Business
The Order of Business of meetings of the City Council shall be in conformance with the following, which shall be listed on the agenda in the following order:
(a) Roll Call for Closed Session (when agendized). The City Clerk shall call the roll of the Council Members prior to closed session and the names of those present and absent shall be entered in the minutes.
(b) Public Comment on Closed Session Items (when agendized). Each speaker shall have up to three (3) minutes for each item, as may be shortened or extended, at the discretion of the Mayor.
(c) Recess into Closed Session (when agendized). All Closed Session items shall be listed on the Agenda, announced, and considered pursuant to the requirements of the Brown Act prior to the City Council’s recess into closed session.
(d) Roll Call. The City Clerk shall call the roll of the Council Members at commencement of the Regular Meeting and the names of those present and absent shall be entered in the minutes.
(e) Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the of the United States of America. (f) Closed Session Announcement(s). A closed session report shall be provided, as required pursuant to the requirements of the Brown Act.
(g) Presentations. The City Council shall from time to time recognize individuals and organizations and present awards, proclamations, or certificates of appreciation, or receive special presentations, as previously scheduled and described on the agenda cover sheet. (h) Additions and Deletions – City Manager. The City Manager may, absent the objection of a majority of the Council Members present, remove items listed on the agenda, if the City Manager determines a need to do so. If, in the event the City Manager knows in advance of the meeting of his/her intention to delete an item from the posted agenda, he/she shall 14 make every practical attempt to advise the public of such intention to minimize inconvenience to the public. Additions to the agenda are limited by California Government Code Section 54954.2 (of the Brown Act).
(i) Public Comments – Non Agendized Items (In-Person Participation). The City Council shall consider public comments, of up to three (3) minutes each as determined by the Mayor and for a total of 45 minutes, from the members of the public in attendance in person at the meeting location listed on the agenda concerning items not appearing on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council (“Public Comments”). Public Comments beyond 45 minutes shall be reconvened at the conclusion of all public hearings and heard with Public Comments from members of the public participating remotely. In accordance with the provisions of the Brown Act, no action or discussion may take place by the Council on any item not on the posted agenda. At the direction of the City Council, speaker cards may be used by the City Clerk’s Office for the orderly conduct of the meeting; those not completing speaker cards may speak after those who completed speaker cards.
(j) Matters from the Mayor, City Council Members and City Manager. The City Council shall consider all oral and written communications from Council Members and City Manager. (k) Consent Calendar. All matters listed under Consent Calendar are considered by the City Manager to be routine and will be enacted by one roll call vote. There will be no discussion of these items unless members of the City Council, City staff, or members of the public request specific items to be removed from the Consent Calendar for comment or separate discussion. Each speaker shall have up to three (3) minutes for each item, as may be shortened or extended, at the discretion of the Mayor.
(l) Regular Business. This section is for a wide variety of matters such as consideration of ordinances for introduction, resolutions, extraordinary policy and business matters, staff reports and recommendations. Any member of the public may address the City Council on any item of Regular Business. Each speaker shall have up to three (3) minutes for each agendized Regular Business item, as may be shortened or extended, or a cumulative limit on the time for all public speakers may be imposed, at the discretion of the Mayor. (m)Public Hearings (Non-Appeals). The City Council shall conduct all Public Hearings for items that are not quasi-judicial appeals to the City Council in accordance with the provisions of applicable Laguna Beach procedure and all applicable law. Any member of the public may address the City Council on any Public Hearing item during the public testimony portion of the item. Each speaker shall have up to three (3) minutes for each agendized Public Hearing (Non-Appeal) item, as may be shortened or extended, or a cumulative limit on the time for all public speakers may be imposed, at the discretion of the Mayor. Any member of the public may address the City Council on any Public Hearing item during the public testimony portion of the item.
(n) Public Hearings (Appeals). The City Council shall conduct all Public Hearings for items that have been appealed to the City Council in accordance with the provisions of City 15 Council Policy 1.8, as may be amended, and all applicable law. The Mayor shall have discretion to establish the time allocated for the appellant and the applicant; further, each speaker in support or against, respectively, shall have up to three (3) minutes for each agendized Public Hearing (Appeal) item, as may be shortened or extended, or a cumulative limit on the time for all public speakers may be imposed, at the discretion of the Mayor.
Any member of the public may address the City Council on any Public Hearing item during the public testimony portion of the item.
(o) Public Comments – Non Agendized Items (Remote Participation). The City Council shall consider Public Comments, of up to three (3) minutes each as determined by the Mayor, from the members of the public attending the meeting remotely concerning items not appearing on the agenda but within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. In accordance with the provisions of the Brown Act, no action or discussion may take place by the Council on any item not on the posted agenda. Any in-person public comment on non-agendized items that was not completed pursuant to Item (i), above, shall be heard in conjunction with this item, with the members of the public attending the meeting in person commenting first.
(p) Council Member Item(s). The City Council shall consider matters submitted by members of the City Council in accordance with Resolution No. 24.011, as may be amended. (q) Adjournment.
2.5 Estimated Timed Agenda
To assist the City Council, staff, and members of the public in planning for City Council meetings, City staff will endeavor to include the estimated amount of time for which each separate item of business listed on the agenda is anticipated to be considered. The estimated times are provided solely for planning and expectation-setting purposes and are not binding. Agenda items may take less or more time than the estimated time indicates based on the progress of the meeting, the length of discussion, public comment, or other meeting circumstances.
Adopted: March 13, 2024
Amended: March 10, 2026
16 EXHIBIT C
Amended Policy 1.3
17 Policy 1.3
Reference: Resolution No. 24.012
Resolution No. 26.014
Resolution No. 26.XXX
Section 1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish the regular meeting schedule, location, and platform for remote public attendance and participation in meetings of the City Council. This policy is intended to facilitate public access and participation in accordance with applicable provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (“Brown Act,” codified at Government Code section 54950 et seq.).
Section 2. City Council Regular Meeting Schedule
A. Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, unless otherwise set by the City Council through adoption of its annual meeting schedule, which shall be posted to the City’s website following its adoption. All regular meetings shall commence at the hour of 3:00 p.m.
B. It shall be the City’s general practice to hold closed sessions and workshops (including but not limited to study sessions) between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., as part of its regular meeting agenda; however, the City Council meeting may commence with its regular business meeting items (e.g., presentations, general public comment, consent calendar, regular business items, public hearings, etc.) at any time starting at or after 3:00 p.m., as may be deemed necessary by the City Manager to accommodate the City Council’s schedule and aid in agenda management. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event there is no scheduled closed session or workshop, and in the event the City Council’s schedule or agenda management does not otherwise dictate the need to start between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the regular meeting shall commence at the hour of 5:00 p.m. In all events, the posted agenda for the regular meeting shall indicate the start time of the meeting, at any time between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m., whether for closed session, a workshop, or the regular meeting.
Section 3. Location
In accordance with Laguna Beach Municipal Code section 2.040.010, regular meetings of the City Council shall be held in the Council Chambers at Laguna Beach City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, City Council Policy/Procedure
City Council Meetings; Establishing Time and Location
for Regular City Council Meetings; Remote Participation 18 Policy 1.3
Laguna Beach, CA 92651. The location for closed sessions, following the convening of the meeting in the Council Chambers, shall be as specified on the agenda.
Section 4. Remote Participation
In accordance with Senate Bill (“SB”) 707, which amended the Brown Act, effective July 1, 2026, meetings of an “eligible legislative body” must allow for public participation through a two-way phone or video platform, unless the technology is not available at the meeting location or the meeting qualifies for an exemption. (See Government Code section 54953.4(e)(2).) For purposes of the City’s legislative bodies, an “eligible legislative body” is defined by the Brown Act to only include the City Council and no other board, commission, or committee. Accordingly, extension of public participation though a two-way phone or video platform bodies to other City commissions, boards, and committees shall be at the sole discretion of the City Council only.
Effective July 1, 2026, City Council meetings at which the technology is available or are not otherwise exempt under SB 707 (Gov. Code section 54953.4(e)(2)) shall allow for public participation, subject to the requirements of the Brown Act, the City’s ordinances, regulations, and policies, and all other applicable law, via a two-way telephonic or audio/visual platform.
Section 5. Special Meetings
Any special meeting of the City Council shall be called in accordance with the provisions of the Brown Act.
Adopted: March 13, 2024
Amended: March 10, 2026
June 9, 2026
19