CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS
CITY COUNCIL/PLANNING AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
Tuesday, April 9, 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 Dave Wicker of Christ Community Church PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Council Member Pezold
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.
2. SCHEDULE OF FUTURE EVENTS
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
The City Clerk announce the upcoming meetings and events.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The following individuals addressed the City Council on non-agendized items:
Kim Carr, representative from the office of Senator Blakespear, announced an upcoming Laguna Hills District Office Open House on April 12, 2024.
Dawn Ford, a resident of Laguna Hills, provided public comments regarding road maintenance.
Andrea Crean, a resident of Laguna Hills, provided public comments regarding trees in Santa Vittoria Park.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
2 4. CONSENT CALENDAR
The following individual submitted an electronic public comment on Consent Calendar Item No. 4.4 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 Motion to approve the Consent Calendar with Mayor Wheeler removing Item No. 4.4 and Item No. 4.6 and Council Member Pezold removing Item No. 4.7 and Item No. 4.8.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Janine Heft, 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
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 26, 2024, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the March 26, 2024, Regular Meeting.
4.3 Ratification of April 9, 2024, Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from March 15, 2024, to March 28, 2024, in the amount of $348,457.25.
4.5 Initiation of the 2024 Weed Abatement Program
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2024-04-09-1: "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 14, 2024."
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
3 ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR
4.4 Second Reading & Adoption of Proposed Ordinances for 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
Mayor Wheeler removed Item No. 4.4 from the Consent Calendar to request additional information.
Community Development Director Longenecker responded to Council Member requests for additional information
City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Members requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1) Adopt Ordinance No. 2024-1: “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"; 2) Adopt Ordinance No. 2024-2: “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 MIXEDUSE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO ADOPT THE LAGUNA HILLS OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS MANUAL”; and 3) Authorize the Mayor/Mayor Pro Tempore to execute the Ordinances.
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
4 RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Janine Heft, Council Member
AYES: Joshua Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Janine Heft, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member
ABSTAIN: Dave Wheeler, Mayor
4.6 Informal Bidding Ordinance Use Quarterly Report
Mayor Wheeler removed Item No. 4.6 from the Consent Calendar to request additional information.
Public Works Director/City Engineer Ames responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Dave Wheeler, Mayor
SECONDER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
AYES: Dave Wheeler, Mayor; Joshua Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore; Don Caskey, Council Member; Janine Heft, Council Member; Erica Pezold, Council Member
4.7 2024 Memorial Day Race Update
Council Member Pezold removed Item No. 4.7 from the Consent Calendar to request additional information.
Community Services Manager Gannon responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
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, April 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
5 4.8 Annual (And Final) Review of Development Agreement No. 12-11-2137 (Ordinance No. 2012-4) Between the City of Laguna Hills and Laguna Hills Investment Company: Oakbrook Village Shopping Center Mixed-Use Project
Council Member Pezold removed Item No. 4.8 from the Consent Calendar to request additional information.
City Manager Hildenbrand responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Community Development Director Longenecker responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file a report demonstrating the property owner's good faith compliance with the terms and conditions of the Development Agreement determining that the Laguna Hills Investment Company complied in good faith with the terms and conditions of the Development Agreement for the period of January 2023 to December 28, 2023, the date of expiration of the Development Agreement.
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Erica Pezold, Council Member
SECONDER: Don Caskey, 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.
6. CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no City Council public hearings.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
7.1. City Manager
The City Manager provided no administrative reports.
8. MATTERS AGENDIZED AND PRESENTED BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
8.1 Laguna Terrace Beautification Team Plein Air Painting Contest Sponsorship Opportunity
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
6 Council Member Pezold provided information on the item.
Harry Huggins, a representative of the Laguna Terrace Beautification Team and resident of Laguna Hills, provided a video presentation and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
The following individual addressed the City Council on Item No. 8.1:
Sergio Prince, a resident of Laguna Hills, provided public comments in favor of the item.
Deputy City Manager/Community Services Director Reynolds responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City Manager Hildenbrand responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Community Services Manager Gannon responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Recommendation: Council Member Pezold and Council Member Heft recommend that the City Council discuss opportunities to support the Laguna Terrace Beautification Team's Plein Air Painting Contest.
A motion to direct staff to work with the Laguna Terrace Beautification Team on the event and to set a budget for the event at up to $8,000 was moved by Council Member Heft, seconded by Council Member Pezold.
A substitute motion to combine the Laguna Terrace Beautification Team Plein Air event with the Community Services Department’s Mother’s Day painting event, allocate staff time and $5,000 of City funds for the event, create a finalized budget for the event, and to return the item for further consideration at the April 23, 2024, City Council regular meeting 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
City of Laguna Hills City Council/Planning Agency Tuesday, April 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
7 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 Heft
Council Member Heft reported on the Association of California Cities – Orange County (ACC-OC) 2024 Sacramento Advocacy Trip.
Mayor Pro Tempore Sweeney
Mayor Pro Tempore Sweeney reported on the Association of California Cities – Orange County (ACC-OC) 2024 Sacramento Advocacy Trip.
Council Member Pezold
Council Member Pezold provided comments on the use of financial resources by the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Wheeler declared the meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:
Dave Wheeler, Mayor
Approved at meeting of April 23, 2024