CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS
CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
GENERAL BUSINESS - CONVENING AT 7:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Wheeler.
INVOCATION: Elder Clay Wilemon of Christ Community Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Heft
ROLL CALL OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Attendee Name Title Status Arrived
Dave Wheeler Mayor Present
Joshua Sweeney Mayor Pro Tempore Late
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 Michael Holland.
2. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
City Clerk Lee announce the upcoming meetings and events.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individual addressed the City Council on non-agendized items:
Shelley Roe, a resident of Laguna Hills, provided public comments regarding sidewalk vending regulations.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar.
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 March 12, 2024, Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the March 12, 2024, Special Meeting.
4.3 Approval of Minutes for March 12, 2024, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the March 12, 2024, Regular Meeting.
4.4 Ratification of March 26, 2024, Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from March 1, 2024, to March 14, 2024, in the amount of $1,365,366.06.
4.5 Treasurer's Investment Report for February 2024
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the Treasurer's Investment Report for the month of February 2024.
4.6 Records Retention Management
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2024-03-26-1: "A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO DISPOSE OF CERTAIN CITY RECORDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S RECORD RETENTION SCHEDULE." City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 4.7 2024 Rooted Campaign Events and Arbor Day Recognition Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report and authorize the Mayor to sign the attached Arbor Day Proclamation as required by the Arbor Day Foundation for the Tree City USA Certification.
4.8 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report
Recommendation: That the City Council approve and direct City staff to forward the 2023 General Plan Annual Progress Report and Housing Element Annual Progress Report-Housing Implementation to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
There were no items removed from the Consent Calendar.
5. PLANNING AGENCY
There were no separate Planning Agency Business Items for this meeting.
6. CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS
6.1 General Plan Amendment No. RZNE-0010-2024 to Amend the Laguna Hills General Plan Housing Element for the 2021-2029 Planning Period to Incorporate Revisions Requested by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and to Amend the Laguna Hills General Plan Land Use Element to Implement the Housing Element; Zoning Text Amendment and Zoning Map Amendment No. RZNE-0011- 2024 to Modify Development Standards Related to High Density Residential Land Uses in the Mixed Use (MXU) Zoning District, Establish a New Housing (H) Overlay Zone and Related Development Standards, and to Modify the City’s Official Zoning Map to Designate Specific Sites Within the H Overlay Zone; and Zoning Text Amendment No. RZNE-0012- 2024 to Establish Citywide Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Residential Development
Community Development Director Longenecker reviewed the information provided in the staff report and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Amanda Tropiano, Principal, De Novo Planning Group, provided information on the Housing Element update and rezoning program, and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 Andrew Watkins, Principal, JZMK Partners, provided information on the Objective Design Standards, provided a PowerPoint presentation, and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Mayor Wheeler opened the Public Hearing.
The following individuals submitted an electronic public comment on Public Hearing Item No. 6.1 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:
Cesar Covarrubias, Executive Director, The Kennedy Commission; Mike Chambers, a resident of Laguna Hills; and Rona Henry, Chair, Welcoming Neighbors Home Initiative on behalf of herself, Denise Letgers, Ann Owens, Kate Van Camp, and Rev. Kent Doss.
The following individuals addressed the City Council on Public Hearing Item No. 6.1:
David, a resident of Laguna Hills; Rona Henry, Chair, Welcoming Neighbors Home Initiative; Philip Mader, KB Laguna Hills, LLC; R.C. Alley, Architects Orange, LLP; and Tibor Kelemen, Kelemen Company.
Mayor Wheeler closed the Public Hearing.
Mayor Wheeler reopened the Public Hearing.
Mayor Wheeler closed the Public Hearing.
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1) Conduct a Public Hearing;
2) Adopt Resolution No. 2024-03-26-2: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE SEVENTH ADDENDUM TO THE 2009 GENERAL PLAN PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, AS PREVIOUSLY ADDENDED, FOR THE 2021-2029 HOUSING ELEMENT
UPDATE, RELATED REZONING PROGRAM, AND OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS, PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT”;
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
5 3) Adopt Resolution No. 2024-03-26-3: “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. RZNE-0010-2024 TO AMEND THE LAGUNA HILLS GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT FOR THE 2021-2029 PLANNING PERIOD TO
INCORPORATE REVISIONS REQUESTED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TO AMEND THE LAGUNA HILLS GENERAL PLAN LAND USE ELEMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE HOUSING ELEMENT”; 4) 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, ADOPTING ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT AND ZONING MAP AMENDMENT NO. RZNE-0011-2024, (1) A TEXT AMENDMENT TO TITLE 9 (ZONING AND SUBDIVISIONS) OF THE LAGUNA HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT THE GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT BY AMENDING CHAPTER 9- 30 (MXU MIXED USE DISTRICT) TO MODIFY DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS RELATED TO HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL LAND USES AND CHAPTER 9-11 (OVERLAY
DISTRICTS) TO ESTABLISH A NEW HOUSING (H) OVERLAY ZONE AND RELATED PROVISIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS; AND (2) AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY’S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP TO DESIGNATE SPECIFIC SITES WITHIN THE HOUSING OVERLAY ZONE”; and
5) 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, ADOPTING ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT NO. RZNE-0012-2024, AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 9 (ZONING AND SUBDIVISIONS) OF THE LAGUNA HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 9-41 (OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS)
ESTABLISHING CITYWIDE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS FOR MULTIPLE-FAMILY
AND MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO ADOPT THE LAGUNA HILLS OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS MANUAL.”
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Joshua Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor Pro
Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Janine Heft,
Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
6 7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
7.1. City Manager
The City Manager provided no administrative reports.
7.2. Public Works Director/City Engineer
7.2.1 Approval of Tract Map No. 19265 and the Subdivision Improvement Agreement with MGP Fund X Laguna Hills, LLC, for the Village at Laguna Hills Project
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames reviewed the information provided in the staff report and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Recommendation: That the City Council: (1) Approve Final Tract Map No. 19265, a portion of Vesting Tentative Tract Map (VTTM) No. 19123, for the property located at 24155 Laguna Hills Mall, subject to minor revisions as may be required by the City Engineer and City Attorney; (2) Approve the Subdivision Improvement Agreement between the City of Laguna Hills and MGP Fund X Laguna Hills, LLC, subject to submittal of the required Security Instruments in a form satisfactory to the Public Works Director and City Attorney; and (3) Authorize the City Manager to execute the Subdivision Improvement Agreement on behalf of the City.
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 1]
MOVER: Janine Heft, Council Member
SECONDER: Don Caskey, Council Member
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor
Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member;
Janine Heft, Council Member
NAYS: 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.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
7 10. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Council Member Pezold
Council Member Pezold expressed her appreciation for the recent Rooted Campaign Planting Event at Clarington Park.
Council Member Pezold expressed her appreciation of Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames and City Manager Hildenbrand for their work efforts and accomplishments.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Wheeler declared the meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Dave Wheeler, Mayor
Approved at meeting of April 9, 2024