Laguna Beach City Council Study Session Minutes June 9, 2026 -1-
MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
June 9, 2026
A Study Session of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Orgill presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Jones, Kempf, Whalen, Orgill, Rounaghi PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS
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1. INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION Moved by Councilmember Sue Kempf, seconded by Councilmember Bob Whalen, and carried unanimously 3/0 (Councilmember Rounaghi and Mayor Pro Tem Jones arrived during the vote) to re-appoint Jorg Dubin, Steven Kellenberg, and Susan McLintock Whitin to the Planning Commission for two-year terms, beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
2. INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE EMERGENCY/DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
COMMITTEE (EDPC)
Moved by Councilmember Bob Whalen, seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf, and carried unanimously 5/0 to appoint Shelly Bennecke, Bill Dodge, and Drake Smith to the Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Committee for two-year terms, beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
3. INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE HOUSING & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE Moved by Councilmember Bob Whalen, seconded by Councilmember Alex Rounaghi, and carried unanimously 5/0:
(a.) Re-appoint Diane Harrison and Adam Redding-Kaufman to the Housing and Human Services Committee for two-year terms, beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028; (b.)Direct the City Clerk to enact a rolling application deadline until enough applications are received to fill all vacant positions and return at a future City Council meeting for the remaining appointments; and
(c.) Extend the term of current committee member Joe Hanauer until the two open positions are filled.
Attachment 1
2 Laguna Beach City Council Study Session Minutes June 9, 2026 -2-
4. INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS TO THE ARTS COMMISSION
The following applicants were interviewed for a position on the Arts Commission: Rosalie Marsh-Boinus, Michael Ervin, Pat Kollenda, Sindi Schwartz, and Carl Smith. Adam Schwerner provided a video statement in lieu of his attendance.
Roll Call:
Rosalie Marsh-Boinus: None
Michael Ervin Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill
Pat Kollenda Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill
Adam Schwerner Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill
Sindi Schwartz Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill
Carl Smith Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Hallie Jones, seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf, and carried unanimously 5/0 to re-appoint Michael Ervin, Pat Kollenda, Adam Schwerner, and Carl Smith, and Sindi Schwartz as the alternate, to the Arts Commission for two-year terms, beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
REVENUE BALLOT MEASURE DISCUSSION
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5. 2026 SURVEY RESULTS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH UPDATE, AND CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL NOVEMBER 2026 REVENUE BALLOT MEASURE
Presentation and Discussion: Staff and the consultants provided a presentation and responded to Councilmember questions.
Public Testimony: George Weiss, Jim Danzinger, John Thomas, Mary Locatelli, and Jennifer Zeiter opined on the item, expressing opposition to the options proposed.
The City Council directed staff to:
(a.) Have the consultant conduct additional polling focused specifically on the Business License Tax (BLT) for bars and restaurants, incorporating the information discussed at the study session, to better gauge voter support with more complete information presented to respondents; and
(b.)Return to the City Council on July 7, 2026, with the following for City Council consideration of placing one or both revenue measures on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election ballot:
(1) A draft Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increase ballot measure reflecting a 2% rate increase, updated ordinance language addressing the definition of "rent," 3 Laguna Beach City Council Study Session Minutes June 9, 2026 -3-
facilitating collection through third-party booking platforms (e.g., Expedia), and consideration of a differential rate for short-term lodging units; and (2) A draft Business License Tax increase ballot measure applicable to bars and restaurants.
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Orgill at 4:42 p.m., Tuesday June 9, 2026, adjourned to the Regular City Council Meeting at 5:00 p.m., at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach California. ****************
Approved: June 23, 2026
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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. 4