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
Attachment 2
20 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 21 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 Ppublic Ccomments, 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 cComments beyond 45 minutes shall be reconvened at the conclusion of all public hearings and heard with pPublic cComments 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 22 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
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