CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS
CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
GENERAL BUSINESS - CONVENING AT 7:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Wheeler.
INVOCATION: Mayor Pro Tempore Sweeney
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Caskey
ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Dave Wheeler Mayor Present
Joshua Sweeney Mayor Pro Tempore Present
Don Caskey Council Member Present
Janine Heft Council Member Present
Erica Pezold Council Member Present
1. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
1.1 Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Report
The City Council received a report from Laguna Hills High School 2024 Spring Student Liaison Ava Kornegay.
1.2 Oath of Office and Certificate of Appointment for One Traffic Commissioner
Mayor Wheeler administered the Oath of Office and presented a Certificate of Appointment to Traffic Commissioner Scott Miller.
2. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
City Clerk Lee announced the upcoming meetings and events.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individuals addressed the City Council on non-agendized items:
Harry Huggins, a resident of Laguna Hills and member of the Laguna Terrace Beautification Team, announced an upcoming 2024 Plein Air Painting Contest event.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar with Council Member Heft removing Item No. 4.7 and Mayor Wheeler removing Item No. 4.8.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Council Member
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Janine Heft, Council Member; Erica Pezold, 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 February 27, 2024, 4:00PM Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the February 27, 2024, 4:00pm Special Meeting.
4.3 Approval of Minutes for February 27, 2024, 5:00PM Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the February 27, 2024, 5:00pm Special Meeting.
4.4 Approval of Minutes for February 27, 2024, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council/Planning Agency Minutes for the February 27, 2024, Regular Meeting.
4.5 Ratification of March 12, 2024, Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from February 16, 2024, to February 29, 2024, in the amount of $256,614.31.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 4.6 Amendment No. 1 to Professional Services Agreement with De Novo Planning Group Regarding Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Recommendation: That the City Council approve proposed Amendment No. 1 to the Current Professional Services Agreement with De Novo Planning Group to provide for continued uninterrupted consulting services regarding preparation of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, and authorize the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore to execute the Amendment.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
4.7 Reserve Study for the Laguna Hills Civic Center
Council Member Heft removed Item No. 4.7 to allow for discussion on the item.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City Manager Hildenbrand responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
4.8 Reserve Study for the Community Center
Mayor Wheeler removed Item No. 4.8 to allow for discussion on the item.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
A motion to receive and file the reports for both Item No. 4.7 and Item No. 4.8 was moved by Council Member Pezold, seconded by Council Member Heft.
RESULT: RECEIVE AND FILE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Council Member
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Janine Heft, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member
5. PLANNING AGENCY
There were no separate Planning Agency Business Items for this meeting.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 6. CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no City Council Public Hearings.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
7.1. City Manager
7.1.1 Update on Comprehensive Review of City Council Policies and Administrative Orders
City Manager Hildenbrand reviewed the information provided in the staff report and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council review the City Council Policies and Administrative Orders and provide direction to staff.
A motion to approve the list of policy update recommendations as provided in the staff report attachment with the edit of “update and keep” to City Council Policy 126 and to direct staff to proceed with the recommended changes for future consideration by the Council was moved by Mayor Wheeler, seconded by Council Member Heft.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Council Member
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor
Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member;
Janine Heft, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council
Member
7.2. Public Works Director/City Engineer
7.2.1 Studying No Overnight Parking in North Laguna Hills and the Urban Village Specific Area
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames reviewed the information provided in the staff report, provided a PowerPoint presentation, and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
5 Traffic Commission Vice Chair Patel provided additional information on the item 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 provide direction to the City Attorney and City staff on this issue.
A motion to direct City staff and the City Attorney to research no overnight parking for areas specified during the discussion on Item No. 7.2.1 and to return to the City Council for consideration at a future meeting was moved by Council Member Pezold, seconded by Council Member Heft.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Council Member
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor
Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member;
Janine Heft, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council
Member
7.2.2 Studying a Change to the Residential Permit Parking Program that Would Reduce Guest Permit Parking Passes from Four Permits to One Permit Per Household
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames reviewed the information provided in the staff report, provided a PowerPoint presentation, and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Traffic Commission Vice Chair Patel provided additional information on the item and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council provide direction to the City Attorney and City staff on this issue.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
6 A motion to direct City staff to work with the Traffic Commission to research a change to the Residential Permit Parking Program, including research of a third-party software solution, and to return to the City Council for consideration at a future meeting was moved by Council Member Pezold, seconded by Council Member Heft.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Council Member
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor
Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member;
Janine Heft, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council
Member
8. MATTERS AGENDIZED AND PRESENTED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS There were no matters agendized by City Council Members.
9. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
9.1 Committee Assignment Reports
The City Council received reports from City Council Members on the City Council Committee Assignments listed in the staff report.
10. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Council Member Pezold
Council Member Pezold reported on a recent meeting she and Mayor Pro Tempore Sweeney attended on opioid awareness.
Council Member Pezold announced the upcoming Rooted Planting Event on March 16, encouraged the public to attend, and requested staff reach out to local private schools, churches, the Scouts, and other organizations to encourage attendance.
Council Member Heft
Council Member Heft reported on a recent upgrade to the Fitch Rating of Foothill Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA) toll revenue bonds.
Council Member Heft provided a PowerPoint presentation on upcoming spring tours of conservation areas protected by Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA).
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
7 Council Member Caskey
Council Member Caskey provided comments on e-bike regulations in neighboring cities and indicated his desire for the Traffic Commission to research the issue.
Mayor Wheeler
Mayor Wheeler requested staff to reach out to the Boy Scouts to be involved in the upcoming Rooted Planting Event and indicated they expressed interest in the past.
Mayor Wheeler reported on his participation as a Community Read In Volunteer in this year’s Lomarena Elementary School Read In.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Wheeler declared the meeting adjourned at 9:56 p.m.
Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Dave Wheeler, Mayor
Approved at meeting of March 26, 2024