Minutes, regular meeting — Laguna Hills City Council, April 11, 2023

CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS

CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING AGENCY

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
GENERAL BUSINESS - CONVENING AT 7:00 PM

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Heft.

INVOCATION: Council Member Sweeney
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Sweeney

ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Janine Heft Mayor Present
Dave Wheeler Mayor Pro Tempore Present
Don Caskey Council Member Absent
Erica Pezold Council Member Absent
Joshua Sweeney Council Member Present

1. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS

1.1 Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Report
The City Council received an oral report from Laguna Hills High School 2023 Spring Student Liaison Audrey Masson.

1.2 Presentation of Proclamation for "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week"
The City Council issued a Proclamation declaring April 9, 2023, through April 15, 2023, as "National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and Mayor Heft presented the Proclamation to Baryic Hunter, Division Chief, Orange County Fire Authority.

Deputy City Manager Reynolds introduced the City’s new Community Services Manager, Holland Gannon.

2. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS

2.1 Schedule of Future Events
City Clerk Lee announce the upcoming meetings and events.

City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individuals addressed the City Council on non-agendized items:

Bayaneh Nikpour and Maryam Mosallaie each provided public comments urging the City Council to adopt a Resolution condemning crimes against humanity committed by the Islamic Republic.

4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar with Mayor Heft removing Item No. 4.5 and Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler removing Item No. 4.7.

4.1 Waive Reading in Full of all Ordinances and Resolutions on the Agenda Recommendation: That the City Council waive reading in full of all ordinances and resolutions on the agenda and declare that said titles which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.

4.2 Approval of Minutes for March 28, 2023, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the March 28, 2023, Regular Meeting.

4.3 Approval of Minutes for March 28, 2023, Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the March 28, 2023, Special Meeting.

4.4 Ratification of April 11, 2023, Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from March 17, 2023 to March 30, 2023, in the amount of $413,239.97.

City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 4.6 Initiation of the 2023 Weed Abatement Program
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2023-04-11-1: "A

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA,

DECLARING WEEDS AND RUBBISH ON SPECIFIED PRIVATE PROPERTY TO BE A

PUBLIC NUISANCE, COMMENCING PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS, AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 9, 2023."

ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR

4.5 2023 Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K Event PreEvent Update Report Mayor Heft removed Item No. 4.5 from the Consent Calendar to allow for discussion on the item.

Deputy City Manager Reynolds responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Mike Bone, President, Spectrum Sports Management, Inc., responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Mayor
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
ABSENT: Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member

4.7 Legislative Update for the 2023 Legislative Session of the California State Legislature
Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler removed Item No. 4.7 from the Consent Calendar to allow for discussion on the item.

Recommendation: That the City Council approve the letters of opposition to Assembly Bill 742 (Jackson) and Senate Bill 423 (Wiener) and authorize the Mayor to execute the letters.

City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 A motion to move staff’s recommendation and to direct staff to send the same letters of opposition to the City’s local state representatives was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler, seconded by Council Member Sweeney.

5. PLANNING AGENCY
There were no separate Planning Agency Business Items for this meeting.

6. CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS

6.1 Introduction and First Reading of a Proposed Ordinance Modifying the Parking Requirement for Low-Intensity Medical Office Uses Community Development Director Longenecker reviewed the information provided in the staff report and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Mayor Heft opened the Public Hearing and upon seeing no one rise, closed the Public Hearing.

City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Recommendation: That the City Council:
1) Conduct a public hearing; and
2) Find and determine that this Ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, Sections 15060 (c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
5 3) Introduce for first reading, read by title only, and waive further reading of an Ordinance entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. RZNE0007-2023, AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 9 (ZONING AND SUBDIVISIONS) OF THE LAGUNA HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE, UPDATING CHAPTER 9-44 (ACCESS AND

PARKING) TO MODIFY THE PARKING REQUIREMENT FOR LOW-INTENSITY

MEDICAL OFFICE USES INCLUDING CHIROPRACTIC, ACUPUNCTURE, OPTOMETRY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND PSYCHOTHERAPY OFFICES”.

A motion to move staff’s recommendation with the discussed edit to the ordinance title, changing the word “including” to “specifically”, was moved by Council Member Sweeney, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
SECONDER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
ABSENT: Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member

7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

7.1. City Manager

7.1.1 Naming of the City’s New Electronic Newsletter
City Manager Hildenbrand reviewed the information provided in the staff report and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Recommendation: That the City Council approve “The Roundup” as the official name of the City’s electronic newsletter.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
SECONDER: Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro
Tempore; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
ABSENT: Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
6 7.2. Public Works Director/City Engineer

7.2.1 LH on the Hill Lighting
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames reviewed the information provided in the staff report and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

City Manager Hildenbrand responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Recommendation: That the City Council review the report and provide direction to City staff.

A motion to take no action on the item at this time was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler and no second was made. As a result, no action was taken on this motion.

A motion to direct staff to conduct more research on potential lighting options was moved by Council Member Sweeney, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler.

RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
SECONDER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro
Tempore; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
ABSENT: Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member

7.3. Community Development Director

7.3.1 Introduction and First Reading of a Proposed Ordinance Prohibiting the Advertisement and Rental of Property for ShortTerm Rental in All Residential Zones Community Development Director Longenecker reviewed the information provided in the staff report and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

The following individuals submitted an electronic public comment on Item No. 7.3.1 that was received, forwarded to the Council prior to the meeting, posted on the City’s website, and announced into the record by City Clerk Lee:

City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
7 Mazin Shakra and Patrice Mills each submitted an electronic public comment inquiring about existing short-term rentals in the City.

Neel Patel submitted an electronic public comment inquiring about staff outreach after the ordinance has passed.

Rob Stratton, Jean Samuel, Linda Azamain, and Brian Mitchell on behalf of Nellie Gail Ranch Owners Association each submitted an electronic public comment in favor of the proposed ordinance.

The following individuals addressed the City Council on Item No. 7.3.1:

Adrian Placinta and Tatiana Taleb each provided public comments in opposition to the proposed ordinance.

City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Recommendation: That the City Council:
1) Receive the staff report; and
2) Find and determine that this Ordinance is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to state CEQA guidelines because it is not considered a project (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15378) and there is no possibility that this Ordinance or its implementation would have a significant negative effect on the environment (14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15061(b)(3)); and
3) Introduce for first reading, read by title only, and waive further reading of an Ordinance entitled: “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 6-40 (SHORT-TERM RENTALS) TO TITLE 6 (PUBLIC WELFARE) OF THE LAGUNA HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT THE ADVERTISEMENT AND RENTAL OF PROPERTY FOR SHORTTERM RENTAL IN ALL RESIDENTIAL ZONES.” RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
SECONDER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro
Tempore; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
ABSENT: Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
8 7.4. Chief of Police Services

7.4.1 2022 Laguna Hills Polices Services Annual Report
Chief of Police Services Captain Burk reviewed the information provided in the staff report, provided a PowerPoint presentation, and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

The following individual submitted an electronic public comment on Item No. 7.4.1 that was received, forwarded to the Council prior to the meeting, and posted on the City’s website:

Neel Patel submitted an electronic public comment inquiring about panhandling in medians and overnight parking in the City.

Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the 2022 Laguna Hills Police Services Annual Report.

RESULT: RECEIVE AND FILE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
SECONDER: Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro
Tempore; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
ABSENT: Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member

8. MATTERS AGENDIZED AND PRESENTED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

8.1. Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler

8.1.1 Street/Sidewalk Vending - SB 946
The following individual submitted an electronic public comment on Item No. 8.1.1 that was received, forwarded to the Council prior to the meeting, posted on the City’s website, and announced into the record by City Clerk Lee:

Neel Patel submitted an electronic public comment inquiring about specific requirements that could be part of an ordinance.

The following individual addressed the City Council on Item No. 8.1.1:

Shelley Roe provided public comments including a handout regarding an action planning proposal to abate the street/sidewalk vending issue in her neighborhood.

City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
9 City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Member requests for additional information.

Recommendation: Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler recommends that the City Council direct City staff and the City Attorney to research and prepare an ordinance regulating street/sidewalk vendors operating within the City in accordance with SB 946.

A motion to move Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler’s recommendation and to direct staff to return to the City Council at a future meeting, no later than June 13, was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler, seconded by Council Member Sweeney.

9. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
There were no City Council Member Committee Reports.

10. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Mayor Heft
Mayor Heft announced that she will be adding the requested resolution regarding crimes against humanity committed by the Islamic Republic to a future agenda.

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Heft declared the meeting adjourned at 9:43 p.m.

City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
10 Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:

Janine Heft, Mayor
Approved at meeting of April 25, 2023

Laguna Hills City CouncilApril 11, 2023

Laguna Hills City Council
April 11, 2023