1 Irvine Bowl Policy Committee
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Council Chambers
505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
3 p.m.
Regular Meeting
- R E V I S E D A G E N D A –
Addition on page 44
1) Call to Order
2) Approval of February 20, 2025, Minutes.
3) Item for Discussion and Action:
A. Request Wayne Baglin be appointed Chair of the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee for 2026. (Item Request:
Festival of Arts.)
B. Request approval of the Irvine Bowl “Policy regarding use of the Bowl,” (Item Request: Festival of Arts.) C. Request approval for updated “Application for Use of the Irvine Bowl” and updated pricing. (Item Request:
Festival of Arts.)
D. September 19-20, 2026: Requests from Coast Film Fest, LBCAC, and KXFM to hold events in the Irvine Bowl this weekend. Each nonprofit will be prepared to present their proposals. (Item Request: Festival of Arts.) E. FOA requests an update from the City on the “Festival of Arts Sound Control Plan.” (Item Request: Festival of Arts.)
F. FOA requests an update from the City on the “Request for Proposal: Entertainment Booking and Coordination Services.” (Item Request: Festival of Arts.)
4) Public Comment
5) Adjournment
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with a disability who require a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in a meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, may request such modification or accommodation from the Arts Manager at 949-497-0722 or email [email protected]. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to the meeting. cc. City Manager
City Clerk
Assistant City Attorney
Director of Community Development
Post through April 17, 2026.
2 Irvine Bowl Policy Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Council Chambers
505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
3 p.m.
DRAFT
- Meeting Recap –
Present: Irvine Bowl Policy Committee Members: Mayor Alex Rounaghi, Council Member Sue Kempf, Festival of Arts President David Perry, Festival of Arts Vice President Wayne Baglin.
Staff: Jane Abzug, Deputy City Attorney, Siân Poeschl, Cultural Arts Manager, Christine Georgantas, Festival of Arts Exhibits and Events Director.
1) Call to order by Mayor Rounaghi.
2) Items for Discussion and Action:
A. Irvine Bowl Policy Committee Sound Policy Amendment; CEQA Guidelines Section 15323 (Class 23) Exemption.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee take the following actions:
1) Approve an amendment to the “Sound Policy” to create an exception for events that meet certain conditions (i.e., “minor events”); and
2) Find the actions exempt from California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15323 (Class 23).
A motion was made to move the recommended action but amend the existing sound policy to read as follows:
• Paragraph 2: Sound equipment will be set up in a way to maximize guests’ enjoyment and minimize sound migration outside the event location. Sound level shall not exceed 75 decibels at the “Neighborhood Sound Boundary.” See diagram below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this sound limitation shall not apply to events at the Irvine Bowl.
• Paragraph 5: No amplified sound is permitted at the Festival of Arts of Terra Laguna Beach before 9 AM OR after 10 PM (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and 9 PM (Monday – Thursday) with the exception of the following: (1) the Pageant of the Masters performances; (2) qualifying events at the Irvine Bowl as defined in Paragraph 2 in this Sound Policy which shall end at 10:30pm.
The motion was made by Mayor Alex Rounaghi and seconded by Councilmember Sue Kempf. Mayor Rounaghi and Councilmember Kempf voted “yes.” Board member David Perry and Board member Wayne Baglin voted “no.” Motion: Mayor Rounaghi: Second: Council Member Kempf.
Vote 2-2
Yes: Rounaghi and Kempf.
Noes: Perry and Baglin.
3 Item 2B: KXFM/ Laguna Radio Event; CEQA Guidelines Section 15323 (Class 23) Exemption (Item 2B) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee take the following actions:
1) Approve the KXFM Laguna Radio Event Project on October 25 and 26, 2025; and 2) Find the action exempt from California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15323 (Class 23).
Mayor Alex Rounaghi made a motion to approve the recommended action but approve the application as requested, subject to the applicable Sound Policy. Councilmember Sue Kempf second the motion.
Mayor Alex Rounaghi, Councilmember Sue Kempf, and Board member David Perry, and Board member Wayne Baglin voted “yes.”
Motion: Mayor Rounaghi, Second: Council Member Kempf.
Vote 4-0
Yes: Rounaghi, Kempf, Perry and Baglin.
Noes: None.
Item 2C: Coast Film and Music Festival; CEQA Guidelines Section 15323 (Class 23) Exemption (Item 2C) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee take the following actions:
1) Approve the Coast Film and Music Festival Project on November 7, 8, and 9, 2025 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and 2) Find the action exempt from California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15323 (Class 23).
Festival Member Wayne Baglin made a motion to approve the recommended action but approve the application as requested, subject to the applicable Sound Policy. Councilmember Sue Kempf second the motion.
Mayor Alex Rounaghi, Councilmember Sue Kempf, Board member David Perry, and Board member Wayne Baglin voted “yes.”
Motion: Festival Member Baglin, Second: Council Member Kempf.
Vote 4-0
Yes: Rounaghi, Kempf, Perry and Baglin.
Noes: None.
Item 3: Policy Regarding Management and Custody of Structures and Buildings on Festival of Arts Grounds This item was continued to July 17, 2025.
4) Public Comment
None
5) Adjournment at 4:55 p.m.
cc. City Manager
City Clerk
Assistant City Attorney
Director of Community Development
4 Agenda Item 3A
Request Wayne Baglin be appointed Chair of the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee for 2026. (Item Request:
Festival of Arts.)
Under the Lease, a committee known as the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee must be formed and must consist of four (4) members. (Lease, Paragraph 7(c).) Two of the members are members of and appointed by the City Council and two members are members of the Festival’s Board of Directors. (Lease, Paragraph 7(c).) Further, under the lease, it is mutually agreed that the chairmanship of said Committee is for one (1) lease year and must rotate each lease year between City and Festival. (Lease, Paragraph 7(c).) Approval for any action shall require an affirmative vote of three (3) members. (Lease, Paragraph 7(c).) If there is a disagreement among the members, the City Council has final authority. (Lease, Paragraph 7(c).) Festival recommends appointment of Wayne Baglin to serve as Chair for calendar year 2026. 5 ATTACHMENT 1
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Agenda Item 3 B
Request approval of the Irvine Bowl “Policy regarding use of the Bowl,” (Item Request: Festival of Arts.) Festival’s Request
City Staff’s Request:
City recommends that the “Availability” section of the proposed “Policy Regarding Use of the Bowl” be amended to read as follows:
Availability
1. Availability for Events:
a. Dates for Events: September 1 – April 301
b. Weekend Events
i. For 2026, 2027, and 2028, below are the available dates for events:
1 This is subject to modification by prior, written approval of the Irvine Bowl Policy Committee (“Committee”). 34 2026 2027 2028
October 23-25 September 17-19 September 15-17
November 6-8 October 22-24 October 20-22
November 13-15 October 29-31 November 3-5
November 20-22 November 5-7 November 10-12
Other Approved
Events during offseason
November 13-14
ii. For 2027, 2028, and 2029, the Committee must consider a calendar of events at its meeting in May 2026 and reserve at least six (6) Weekend Events3 for 2027, at least eight (8) Weekend Events for 2028, and at least ten (10) Weekend Events for 2029. iii. Beginning in calendar year 2028, at the first meeting of the Committee in the calendar year, the Committee must consider a calendar of events and reserve at least ten (10) Weekend Events in 2030. The Committee shall repeat this process each year at its first meeting of the Committee in the calendar year to schedule events at least two years in advance.
iv. The Committee, in its discretion, may schedule Weekend Events, in addition to the minimum number of required Weekend Events per year, as the schedule allows. c. Non-Weekend Events:
i. For 2026, there are presently no available dates for Non-Weekend Events. ii. For 2027, 2028, and 2029, the Committee must consider a calendar of events at its meeting in May 2026 and reserve at least two (2) Week Events4 for 2027, at least three (3) Week Events for 2028, and at least four (4) Week Events for 2029. iii. Beginning in calendar year 2028, at the first meeting of the Committee in the calendar year, the Committee must consider a calendar of events and reserve at least four (4) Week Events for 2030. The Committee shall repeat this process each year at its first meeting of the Committee in the calendar year to schedule events at least two years in advance.
iv. The Committee, in its discretion, may schedule Week Events, in addition to the minimum number of required Week Events per year, as the schedule allows.
City recommends that the following section be added to the end of the Guidelines for Use 3 Weekend Event means an event that occurs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 4 Week Event means an event that occurs on Monday through Thursday. 35 2. Special Rules for Portions of Premises
a. Irvine Bowl
i. There are 2,629 seats in the Irvine Bowl (832 loge, 1,080 main tier, 573 director’s tier, 136 upper tier, and 8 wheelchair section). Applicant must not sell more than 2,589 tickets to the event.
ii. Applicant shall not install seating in addition to the permanent seating available in the Irvine Bowl.
iii. No patron will be allowed to stand in the aisles to view the performance. iv. Festival will regulate all stage passes for performances at the Irvine Bowl. For safety reasons, Festival’s Technical Director will have final authority regarding the number of Applicant’s performers and guests allowed on the Irvine Bowl stage. v. Applicant shall deliver to Administrator 20 tickets in center of second row and 20 tickets in center of third row of main tier at no cost to the Festival (Rows B and C, seats 19, 17, 5, 13, 11, 9, 5, 3, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20.) vi. Applicant will be required to hire a professional security firm supplying a minimum of 15 guards. Guards will be positioned as follows: 6 in Irvine Bowl, 2 at the front gate, 2 backstage, 1 at the tennis court gate, 1 at the Laguna Playhouse gate, 1 at the Olive Street path, and 2 roaming.
vii. Applicant will be required to pay for 1 Festival Security Supervisor and 4 Festival Guards. viii. Applicant will be required to hire a minimum of 12 ushers. One usher will be stationed for each section of the Irvine Bowl and 3 will be stationed at the entrance to the Irvine Bowl.
ix. No food or drink is allowed in the Irvine Bowl.
x. The cover of the orchestra pit must remain in place during Irvine Bowl events. The event organizer is responsible for the cost of building a stage over the orchestra pit, if required for the event. Stages must be built over the orchestra pit, taking care not to damage the cover. Any damage will be covered by the event organizer’s security deposit or insurance.
xi. Applicant is authorized to use the following Festival facilities at and around the Irvine Bowl:
1. Stage
2. Backstage (excluding the first floor of the Stage house)
3. Orchestra pit
4. Stage-level dressing rooms7
5. Restrooms
6. Courtyard in front of workshops8
7 Use of this area may require Festival to reconfigure space at an additional fee. 8 Use of this area may require Festival to reconfigure space at an additional fee. 36 xii. Applicant is prohibited from using the following Festival facilities at and around the Irvine Bowl:
1. Ticket Office
2. Festival lighting and sound equipment
3. Pageant control booth at back of Irvine Bowl;
4. Restaurant facilities (unless rented separately)
5. Festival boardroom
6. Festival tables, chairs, stanchions, hoses, and extension cords. b. Forum Theatre
i. There are 236 seats in the Forum Theatre. Applicant must not sell more than 236 tickets to each performance.
ii. No patrons will be allowed to stand in the aisle to view the performance. iii. There is NO ADA access.
iv. No food or drink is allowed in the Forum Theatre
c. Stage & Green
i. Stage & Green can hold approximately 400 people (table seating) and 750 (theatrestyle) ii. Festival may request Fire Marshall approval of ground set up. iii. A minimum of 2 Festival Security Guards are required. iv. Hired security and janitorial staff may be required. d. Exhibit Pavilions
i. Festival may request Fire Marshall approval of ground set up. ii. A minimum of 2 Festival Security Guards are required. iii. Hired security and janitorial staff may be required. 37 38
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45 Agenda Item 3 C
Request approval for updated “Application for Use of the Irvine Bowl” and updated pricing. (Item Request:
Festival of Arts.)
City Staff suggests the following modifications:
• Remove the Guidelines for Use that are part of the proposed application, as those are proposed to be separately updated. (See Agenda Item No. 3A.) The Guidelines for Use includes the Application as an Exhibit. 46 47
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54 Agenda Item 3 D
September 19-20, 2026: Requests from Coast Film Fest, LBCAC, and KXFM to hold events in the Irvine Bowl this weekend. Each nonprofit will be prepared to present their proposals. (Item Request: Festival of Arts.)
55 PROPOSALS
COAST FILM: Submitted by Ben Warner
Coast Presents: Country Western Nights at the Irvine Bowl is a two-night, thoughtfully curated live music experience produced by the Coast Film Foundation as part of its year-round cultural programming in Laguna Beach.
Scheduled for September 18–19, 2026, the event will feature nationally recognized Country Western artists performing in an intimate, seated amphitheater setting from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with gates opening at 5:00 PM. The evenings are designed as a complete cultural experience, including live music, food and beverage, and select themed vendors, all delivered within a carefully managed, community-oriented environment.
The program intentionally aligns with the character and legacy of the Irvine Bowl—prioritizing high-quality artists, respectful audiences, and strong operational controls, including a strict 10:00 PM curfew and coordinated neighborhood impact planning.
Building on Coast’s successful track record at the Irvine Bowl, including sold-out performances with positive community response, this event is designed to expand access to live music in a way that complements existing programming while contributing to the cultural vitality of Laguna Beach.
LAGUNA BEACH CULTURAL ARTS CENTER: Submitted by Rick Conkey We are proposing a two-day, large-scale arts experience that culminates each evening with a two-hour live program in the Irvine Bowl, integrating film, live music, and storytelling to celebrate Laguna Beach’s rich artistic and cultural legacy. The program is designed to bring Laguna’s history to life, from its early artist colony roots through its evolution as a vibrant creative community.
In addition to the evening performances, we envision activating the Festival of Arts grounds throughout the day with complementary programming, including exhibits, installations, and smaller performances that further explore and deepen the story of Laguna’s arts history. This daytime component would create a more immersive, festival-like environment leading into the evening experience.
At its core, the event is designed as both an example of artivism and a collaborative super fundraiser, bringing together arts, environmental, and community-based organizations. Through a shared participation model, partner organizations would have the opportunity to engage their audiences and benefit directly, creating a unified effort that supports the broader cultural ecosystem while also helping drive strong attendance.
We intend to actively pursue partnerships with organizations such as KXFM and the Coast Film Festival to ensure this is a truly collaborative effort. By aligning our efforts and working together, we can create something far more impactful than any one organization could achieve independently.
Our intention is to create a highly engaging, community-wide experience that not only celebrates Laguna Beach’s identity as an arts-driven town but clearly demonstrates the power of the arts to connect, inspire, and generate meaningful impact.
While this proposal is designed to deliver a meaningful and successful event for the September 2026 weekend, we also see it as a foundation for future expansion. This model could naturally evolve into a larger community-wide celebration aligned with Laguna Beach’s upcoming centennial, further amplifying its impact as a unifying and highly visible expression of the town’s artistic identity and cultural legacy. 56 KXFM RADIO PRESENTS: submitted by Billy Fried
Laguna Roots Music and Arts Festival: Two years in the making, the “Laguna Roots Music & Arts Festival” will be a weekend community celebration of Laguna’s unique culture and heritage, and its roots in reggae, surf, and classic rock and roll. We’ll give well-deserved voice to such local legacy acts as Honk, Beth and Steve Wood, Common Sense, Lee Rocker, Missiles of October, World Anthem, 133 Band, Great North Special, Jason Feddy, Matt Costa, and a couple of national headliners each year who are friends of Laguna, like Michael McDonald, Jackson Brown, Burning Spear and Pato Banton. The entire Festival grounds will be utilized for this annual community celebration of Laguna’s cultural, musical, and artistic roots. 57 Agenda Item 3E
FOA requests an update from the City on the “Festival of Arts Sound Control Plan.” (Item Request:
Festival of Arts.)
58 Agenda Item 3F
FOA requests an update from the City on the “Request for Proposal: Entertainment Booking and Coordination Services.” (Item Request: Festival of Arts.)
Festival of Arts Requested Inclusion of the Following Information. 59