CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS
CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday, September 26, 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: Joyce Swaving of St. George Episcopal Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler
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 Present
Erica Pezold Council Member Present
Joshua Sweeney Council Member Present
1. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
1.1 Appointment of Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Evan Figueroa for the 2023 Fall Semester
Mayor Heft presented a Certificate of Appointment to Laguna Hills High School 2023 Fall Student Liaison Evan Figueroa.
1.2 Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Report
The City Council received an oral report from Laguna Hills High School 2023 Fall Student Liaison Evan Figueroa.
1.3 Presentation by Mercy House on Homeless Outreach
The City Council received an update from Chief Program Officer, Timothy Huynh, on Mercy House’s homeless outreach efforts in the City of Laguna Hills.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, September 26, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 1.4 Fire Prevention Week, October 8, 2023, through October 14, 2023 The City Council issued a Proclamation declaring October 8, 2023, through October 14, 2023, as "Fire Prevention Week" and Mayor Heft presented the Proclamation to Baryic Hunter, Division Chief, Orange County Fire Authority.
1.5 City of Laguna Hills Recreation Software and Website Presentation The City Council received a presentation from Management Analyst Durham on the new CivicRec recreation software and the CivicPlus City website.
2. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
Deputy City Clerk McDonald announce the upcoming meetings and events.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments on non-agendized items.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar with Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler removing Item No. 4.3.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
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 September 12, 2023, Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the September 12, 2023, Special Meeting.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, September 26, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 4.4 Ratification of September 26, 2023, Warrant Register Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from September 1, 2023, to September 15, 2023, in the amount of $1,608,955.08.
4.5 Treasurer's Investment Report for August 2023
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the Treasurer's Investment Report for the month of August 2023.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
4.3 Approval of Minutes for September 12, 2023, Regular Meeting Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler removed Item No. 4.3 to provide clarifying comments for his Nay vote on Item No. 4.7 of the Minutes.
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the September 12, 2023, Regular Meeting.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
SECONDER: Don Caskey, Council Member
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
5. PLANNING AGENCY
Mayor Heft recessed the City Council Meeting, and acting in capacity as Chair, called the Regular Meeting of the Planning Agency of the City of Laguna Hills, California, to order at 8:05 p.m.
5.1. ROLL CALL OF PLANNING AGENCY MEMBERS
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Janine Heft Char Present
Dave Wheeler Vice Chair Present
Don Caskey Agency Member Present
Erica Pezold Agency Member Present
Joshua Sweeney Agency Member Present
5.2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no Planning Agency public comments on non-agendized items.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, September 26, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 5.3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5.3.1 Approval of Planning Agency Minutes for September 12, 2023, Regular Meeting
City Clerk Lee responded to Agency Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the Planning Agency approve the Planning Agency Minutes for the September 12, 2023, Regular Meeting.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Agency Member
SECONDER: Joshua Sweeney, Agency Member
AYES: Janine Heft, Chair; Dave Wheeler, Vice Chair;
Don Caskey, Agency Member; Erica Pezold, Agency
Member; Joshua Sweeney, Agency Member
5.4. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
There were no Planning Agency administrative reports.
5.5. PLANNING AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.5.1 Site Development Permit/Master Sign Program (SDP/MSP) No.
USE-0140-2023, a Request by Diana Nagel, Project Manager with Promotional Signs on Behalf of Property Owner Milan Capital Management for Approval of a Master Sign Program for Laguna Hills Plaza Located at 24901 Alicia Parkway
Assistant Planner Ash reviewed the information provided in the staff report, provided a PowerPoint presentation, and responded to Agency Members request for additional information.
Chair Heft opened the Public Hearing.
The following individuals addressed the Planning Agency on Item No. 5.5.1:
Project Applicant Diana Nagel, Project Manager, Milan Capital Management responded to Agency Members request for additional information.
Project Applicant Bret Bernard, AICP, Director of Planning & Development, Milan Capital Management responded to Agency Member requests for additional information.
Dick Christie, President, Promotional Signs responded to Agency Member requests for additional information.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, September 26, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
5 Community Development Director Longenecker responded to Agency Members request for additional information.
City Attorney Simonian recommended that Agency Member Sweeney recuse himself from participating in the item.
Agency Member Sweeney recused himself from participating in the item due to a potential conflict of interest caused by his residence being located within 1,000 feet of the subject parcel and left the dais.
Chair Heft closed the Public Hearing.
Chair Heft reopened the Public Hearing.
Recommendation: That the Planning Agency
1) Conduct a public hearing;
2) Find and determine that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15311(a) (Class 11, Accessory Structures); and
3) Adopt a Resolution entitled: “A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING
AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT/MASTER SIGN PROGRAM (SDP/MSP) NO. USE0140-2023, A REQUEST BY DIANA NAGEL, PROJECT MANAGER WITH
PROMOTIONAL SIGNS ON BEHALF OF PROPERTY OWNER MILAN CAPITAL
MANAGEMENT FOR APPROVAL OF A MASTER SIGN PROGRAM FOR
LAGUNA HILLS PLAZA LOCATED AT 24901 ALICIA PARKWAY.”
A motion to continue the public hearing to October 24, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as possible, in order to give the applicant an opportunity to work with the Community Development Director to revise the proposed MSP to allow for additional signage was move by Vice Chair Wheeler, seconded by Agency Member Caskey.
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Dave Wheeler, Vice Chair
SECONDER: Don Caskey, Agency Member
AYES: Janine Heft, Chair; Dave Wheeler, Vice Chair;
Don Caskey, Agency Member; Erica Pezold, Agency
Member
RECUSED: Joshua Sweeney, Agency Member
Agency Member Sweeney returned to the dais and rejoined the meeting.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, September 26, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
6 PLANNING AGENCY ADJOURNMENT
Chair Heft adjourned the Planning Agency Meeting at 9:00 p.m. and reconvened the City Council Meeting. All Council Members were present in Chamber.
6. CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no City Council public hearings.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
7.1. City Manager
The City Manager gave no administrative reports.
8. MATTERS AGENDIZED AND PRESENTED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
8.1 Amendment to City Council Policy No. 120
Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler provided comments on the item.
City Manager Hildenbrand responded to Council Member request for additional information.
City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Members request for additional information.
Recommendation: Mayor Pro Tempore Wheeler and Mayor Heft recommend that the City Council direct Staff to draft a Resolution amending City Council Policy No. 120 for approval at the October 10, 2023, regular meeting.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Mayor
AYES: Janine Heft, Mayor; Dave Wheeler, Mayor Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council
Member; Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
9. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
9.1 Committee Assignment Reports
The City Council receive reports from City Council Members on the City Council Committee Assignments listed in the staff report.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, September 26, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
7 10. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Council Member Sweeney
Council Member Sweeney recognized OCFA Division Chief Baryic Hunter for his service.
Council Member Sweeney reported on the City’s 2nd Annual Heritage Day event and expressed his appreciation to Deputy City Manager Reynolds and the Events, Communication, and Beautification Committee for their efforts staging the event.
Mayor Heft
Mayor Heft reported on the City’s 2nd Annual Heritage Day event and thanked Staff, Moulton Museum, Laguna Hills Chamber of Commerce, Consul General of Spain in Los Angeles Juan Carlos Sánchez and Congresswoman Young Kim for their assistance in making it a successful event.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Heft declared the meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Janine Heft, Mayor
Approved at meeting of October 10, 2023