Laguna Beach City Council Minutes July 21, 2026
MINUTES
LAGUNA BEACH CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
July 21, 2026
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was called to order at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in the City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California, Mayor Mark Orgill presiding.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
Councilmember Sue Kempf led the Pledge of Allegiance.
CLOSED SESSION
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Conference with Labor Negotiators
Pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6
1a. Agency-designated representative: Dave Kiff, City Manager Employee Organization: Police Employee's Association
1b. Agency-designated representative: Dave Kiff, City Manager Employee Organization: Municipal Employee's Association
CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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Assistant City Attorney Pat Donegan reported that all Councilmembers were present and there were no public comments prior to the City Council convening into the Closed Session, and that there was no reportable action on the items discussed.
ADDITIONS and DELETIONS - None.
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Laguna Beach City Council Minutes July 21, 2026
MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER **************************************************************** Councilmember Alex Rounaghi thanked Aquagrom for their efforts, and reported on his ride- along with the Fire Department. He also reported on the Hospital Task Force's first meeting, and he advised that he will be asking for City Council support to request that the County include Aliso Creek in its pilot program to not use glyphosate for one year.
Councilmember Bob Whalen reported on events and meetings he attended, and advised that the next Hospital Task Force meeting will be on August 20 at 4:30 p.m. at the Susi Q. He also announced that the Community Land Trust has acquired 75 artist studio spaces, and thanked Horvath, the Quilters, and Mark Christy for making that possible.
Mayor Pro Tem Hallie Jones reported on various meetings with members of the public and events she attended.
Mayor Mark Orgill reported on various meetings with members of the public and events he attended.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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Moved by Councilmember Sue Kempf, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hallie Jones, and carried unanimously 5/0 to approve items 1 - 6, 8 - 9, and 11 - 12.
MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Received and filed the minutes of the July 7, 2026, City Council Regular Meeting.
APPROVAL OF GENERAL WARRANTS AND PAYROLL DISTRIBUTIONS
Date Description Reference Nos. Amount
Payroll-Related Payments
06/08/26 Payroll Checks and Wires FY 2026 #24-3 6,818.28 06/12/26 Payroll Checks and Wires FY 2026#25 S 2,012,321.73 06/15/26 Payroll Checks and Wires FY 2026 #25-1 635.28
06/15/26 Payroll Checks and Wires FY 2026 #25-2 4,236.26 06/17/26 Payroll Checks and Wires FY 2026 #25-3 3,144.69 Total Payroll-Related Payments $ 2,027,156.24
Payments to Vendors:
06/06/26-06/18/26 Wire Payments to Vendors 56-58 29,572.71 06/06/26-06/18/26 Check Payments to Vendors 23013110-23013400 $ 4,924,974.38 Total Payments to Vendors $ 4,954,547.09
TOTAL PAYMENTS $ 6,981,703.33
Approved the general warrants and payroll disbursements. -3-
Laguna Beach City Council Minutes July 21, 2026
AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR DOWNTOWN (ZONE 4) STREET OVERLAY
AND WALKWAY IMPROVEMENTS
(a) Awarded and authorized the City Manager to execute contract #26-227 with CT&T Concrete Paving, Inc., in the amount of $621,041.94 for the C2217 - Downtown (Zone 4) Street Overlay and Walkway Improvements;
(b) Authorized the City Manager to approve project-related expenses and construction change-orders for unforeseen circumstances in an amount not to exceed $58,950; and
(c) Found that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c).
9. APPROVE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT WITH THE LEAGUE OF OREGON CITIES AND A PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH LIFE-ASSIST, INC. FOR
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT
(a) Authorized the City Manager to execute Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement #26-228 with the League of Oregon Cities, enabling the City to participate in the National Purchasing Partners Government (NPPGov) cooperative purchasing program;
(b) Authorized the City Manager to execute Master Purchase Agreement #26-229 with Life-Assist, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $63,000 per fiscal year, commencing upon execution and continuing through January 19, 2030, with authority for the City Manager to approve up to one (1) additional one-year extensions through January 19, 2031, provided the underlying League of Oregon Cities Master Price Agreement No.
PS25830, or any renewal, extension, replacement, or successor cooperative purchasing contract, remains active and available for use by the City, and subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
(c) Found that approval of the Intergovernmental Cooperative Purchasing Agreement is not a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it is an administrative activity that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
10. AWARD OF TASK ORDER FOR DESIGN OF PERMANENT LIFEGUARD TOWERS This item was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Sue Kempf.
Discussion: Staff responded to Councilmember questions. -5-
Laguna Beach City Council Minutes July 21, 2026
(c) Approve a budget adjustment to increase grant revenues and expenditures by $475,800 (1332102-45100-G2701 and 1332102-79999-G2701), respectively; and (d) Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute any subsequent grant-related documents and amendments that do not increase the City's financial obligation or materially alter the approved scope of work.
REGULAR BUSINESS
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13. STATUS UPDATE ON THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN PHASE I UPDATE, TENANT MIX
AND ECONOMIC DIVERSITY, AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Presentation and Discussion: Staff gave a presentation and responded to Councilmembers' questions.
Public Testimony: Merrill Anderson (Village Laguna), Cathy Jurca, Kathy Jepson and Ann Christoph commented on the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) Phase II Update and the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), urging transparency and release of completed studies.
Moved by Councilmember Alex Rounaghi, seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf, and carried unanimously 5/0 to:
(a) Receive and file the status update on the DSP Phase Il Update; (b) Direct staff to publish the environmental technical studies/documents completed so far as part of the EIR work, so the public can see the environmental impacts that have been analyzed;
(c) Direct staff to narrow the DSP Phase Il update scope to focus the update on allowing different types of residential uses in the Arts District and consider provisions for adaptive reuse of existing buildings for residential purposes; and (d) Direct staff to explore creative/legislative strategies to address issues unique to Laguna Beach (wildfire risk, coastal regulatory issues, etc.).
14. AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR MOBILE PARKING PAYMENT SYSTEM TO IPS GROUP, INC. AND
RELATED ACTIONS
City Manager Dave Kiff introduced the item and briefly outlined the agenda report. Staff and the representative from IPS responded to the Councilmembers' questions.
Moved by Councilmember Alex Rounaghi, seconded by Councilmember Bob Whalen, and carried unanimously 5/0 to:
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Laguna Beach City Council Minutes July 21, 2026
(b) Waive second full reading and adopt by title only Ordinance #1731 titled, "AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ITS MUNICIPAL CODE TO MODIFY CHAPTER 7.25 (NOISE), 12.08 (PRESERVATION OF HERITAGE TREES), 12.16 (VIEW PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION), AND 17.50 (PRIVATE SEWER LATERALS) TO IMPROVE CONSISTENCY WITHIN THE CODE; AND FINDING SAID ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301"; revising verbiage stating "10 days" to state "15 working days," during the iterative process with the California Coastal Commission;
(c) Adopt Resolution #26.059 titled "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ITS LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM TO
MODIFY THE DESIGN GUIDELINES - A GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND
FINDING SAID ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301"; and
(d) Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and in the alternative is statutorily exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15265.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Hallie Jones, seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf and carried unanimously 5/0 to:
(e) Conduct a public hearing, waive full reading and adopt by title only Urgency Ordinance #1732 titled, "AN URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING ITS LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM AND MUNICIPAL CODE TO MODIFY TITLE 25 (ZONING), TITLE 21 (SUBDIVISIONS), AND TITLE 22 (EXCAVATING, GRADING, AND FILLING) TO STREAMLINE THE DESIGN REVIEW AND OTHER PERMIT PROCESSES; AND FINDING SAID ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301"; revising verbiage stating "10 days" to state "15 working days"; and (f) Find that the recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and in the alternative is statutorily exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15265.
16. PUBLIC HEARING RELATIVE TO PLACING THE ANNUAL SEWER SERVICE CHARGE FOR SEWER SERVICES ON THE PROPERTY TAX ROLL FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 Presentation and Discussion: Staff briefly outlined the agenda report and responded to Councilmembers' questions.
Public Testimony: None.
Moved by Councilmember Bob Whalen, seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf, and carried unanimously 5/0 to:
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Laguna Beach City Council Minutes July 21, 2026
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.
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NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
(GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54995)
EXCERPT OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
July 21, 2026
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The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Beach was held at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in the City Council Chambers, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California.
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PRESENT COUNCILMEMBERS: Kempf, Rounaghi, Whalen, Jones, Orgill PARTICIPATING REMOTELY: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ADJOURNMENT
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There being no further business, Mayor Orgill at 9:21 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2026, adjourned to the Appeals-Only Special Meeting at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, then to the Closed Session at 4:00 p.m. and Regular Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at City Hall, 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, California.
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE SS.
CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH
1, Ann Marie McKay, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true, and correct copy of the Minute entry on record in my office. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and affix the official seal of the City of Laguna Beach, California, on this 22nd day of July 2026.
NCORPORATED
JUNE 29. 1927
ORANGE COU CALIFO