City of Laguna Hills
City Council
Special Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 4:00 PM
City Council Chamber
24035 El Toro Road
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Joshua Sweeney
Mayor
Don Caskey
Mayor Pro Tempore
Jared Mathis
Council Member
Erica Pezold
Council Member
Dave Wheeler
Council Member
In Person Public Comments: Any person wishing to address the City Council only on items listed on this Agenda, is asked to complete a pink “Request to Speak” form available on the table at the back of the Chamber and submit the form to the City Clerk. The Request to Speak form assists the Mayor in ensuring that all persons wishing to address the City Council are recognized and ensures accurate identification of meeting participants in the City Council Minutes. Completion of the form is voluntary. It is City policy to limit public testimony to up to three minutes per person, as determined by the Mayor, and a total time limit of one hour for Public Comments. If you are commenting on an Agenda item, your comments will be heard at the time that item is scheduled on the Agenda. If you are addressing the City Council on an item not listed on the Agenda, the City Council is prohibited by law from discussing or taking any action on that item.
Submission of Electronic Public Comments: Those wishing to make electronic public comments may submit their comments by email to the City Clerk by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. In the subject line of the email, please state your name and the item number you are commenting on.
Any public comment received that does not specify a particular agenda item number will be announced during the general public comment portion of the agenda. All comments received by 2:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting will be provided to the City Council and will be provided for public inspection at the meeting. During the applicable agenda item, the City Clerk will announce the name of the sender and subject matter of all electronic comments received by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Email comments will NOT be read by the City Clerk during the meeting.
Electronic public comments may only be submitted via email and comments via text and social media (Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), etc.) will not be accepted.
For questions or assistance, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (949) 707-2635 or via email.
City Council Special Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
2 Call to Order
Resolution No. 96-04-09-1 established rules of decorum for public meetings held by the City of Laguna Hills. Resolution No. 96-04-09-1 is available on the table at the back of the City Council Chamber.
Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Sweeney
Roll Call of City Council Members
Public Comments
Members of the public may address the City Council only on items listed on this Agenda. Public Comments are limited to three minutes per person, as determined by the Mayor, and a total time limit of one hour.
City Council Workshop Items
1 Presentation of Community Outreach Work Efforts for Park Improvements at El Conejo Park, Mackenzie Park, Cabot Park, Veeh Ranch Park, and San Remo Park
Recommendation: That the City Council receive a presentation from David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. on the community outreach results for El Conejo Park and Mackenzie Park and a presentation from RJM Design Group, Inc. on the community outreach results for Cabot Park, Veeh Ranch Park, and San Remo Park.
Adjournment
The next Regular Meeting of the City Council/Planning Agency will be February 11, 2025, at 6:00p.m., in the City Council Chamber, located at 24035 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills, California.
CERTIFICATION
I, JENNIFER LEE, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Hills, do hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing Agenda was posted at Laguna Hills City Hall, Laguna Hills Community Center, and the Courtyard at La Paz Center by February 3, 2025, at 5:00p.m.
City Council Special Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
3 It is the intention of the City of Laguna Hills to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act in all respects. If as an attendee or a participant at this meeting you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City of Laguna Hills will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the office of the City Clerk at (949) 707 2635. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to this meeting.
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the City Council after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office at 24035 El Toro Road, Laguna Hills, California, during normal business hours. In addition, such writings or documents will be made available for public review on the City’s website at: https://www.lagunahillsca.gov/supplementalagenda and at the respective public meeting.
Item No. 1
City of Laguna Hills
City Council / Planning Agency
Staff Report
Date: February 4, 2025
To: Mayor and Council Members
From: Joe Ames, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Issue: Presentation of Community Outreach Work Efforts for Park Improvements at El Conejo Park, Mackenzie Park, Cabot Park, Veeh Ranch Park, and San Remo Park.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive a presentation from David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. on the community outreach results for El Conejo Park and Mackenzie Park and a presentation from RJM Design Group, inc. on the community outreach results for Cabot Park, Veeh Ranch Park, and San Remo Park.
Background:
At the November 21, 2023 City Council meeting, City Council transferred all available Quimby Act Park In-Lieu funds to Capital Improvement Project No. 241, General Park Improvements. The Quimby Act Park In-Lieu funds must be spent by the City on developing new parks, or rehabilitating or enhancing existing parks or recreational facilities/recreational amenities, and must be committed within five years of receiving the funding.
As part of the City staff report, City staff wrote they evaluated the City’s 14 existing parks and chose five parks with the highest need for recreational facility rehabilitation and/or enhancements: Cabot Park, El Conejo Park, MacKenzie Park, San Remo Park, and Veeh Ranch Park.
It is anticipated that the renovation of these parks will be predominantly paid for with “Quimby Act funds,” which are funds local developers pay as “in lieu” park fees. The City has already received $2 million in Quimby Act funds and anticipates receiving $2 million more in 2026.
Item No. 1
Subsequently, on January 29, 2024, City staff released Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to solicit proposals from design professionals and qualified firms for park design services for the rehabilitation of the parks.
On May 14, 2024, the City Council awarded a Professional Services Agreement to David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. (DVD) for landscape architectural design services for El Conejo Park and MacKenzie Park and awarded a Professional Services Agreement to RJM Design Gorup, Inc. (RJM) for landscape architectural design services for Cabot Park, Veeh Ranch Park, and San Remo Park.
One of the goals of these agreements is for DVD and RJM to develop conceptual designs of park improvements at these parks. An essential and first step in this process was for each firm to conduct public outreach for improvements at each of these parks and to compile an inventory and condition assessment of existing park amenities.
DVD held two public workshops at each park as illustrated in the table below to elicit public input for potential park improvements. Additionally, DVD conducted surveys for residents to provide comments and suggestions on park improvements.
Park Workshop Date
El Conejo Park Wednesday, July 31 from 6pm to 8pm
Saturday, August 10 from 10am to 11:30am
Park Workshop Date
Mackenzie Park Thursday, August 1 from 6pm to 8pm
Saturday, August 10 from 1pm to 2:30pm
RJM also held two public workshops at each park as illustrated in the table below to elicit public input for potential park improvements. Additionally, RJM conducted surveys for residents to provide comments and suggestions on park improvements.
Park Workshop Date
Veeh Ranch Park Saturday, July 20 from 9am to 11am
Wednesday, July 24 from 4pm to 6pm
San Remo Park Saturday, July 27 from 9am to 11am
Tuesday, July 30 from 4pm to 6pm
Item No. 1
Cabot Park Saturday, August 3 from 9am to 11am
Tuesday, August 6 from 4pm to 6pm
The Parks and Recreation Commission received presentations from the consulting firms on the results of the public outreach work efforts and park inventories at two Parks and Recreation Commission workshops held on September 16, 2024, and September 18, 2024, At the two workshops, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the public provided feedback on the community requested items listed in the presentations for the consideration of the City Council.
As part of the evaluation process, it was also determined that the existing restroom building at Cabot Park needs renovation and the Cabot Park project may benefit from additional value engineering to determine if the existing age 5-12 playground “super structure” (the upright posts) could be reused to save funds and allow for the renovation of the existing adjoining restroom building. In October and November 2024, City staff worked with RJM Design Group to develop a scope and budget for the restroom building renovation work and with Coast Recreation Group to determine if the age 5-12 playground super structure could be reused. While it was determined that the playground super structure can be reused, City staff concluded the likely cost of renovating the restroom building would not be entirely offset by reusing the age 5-12 playground super structure. Therefore, this additional work will be recommended by City staff for inclusion in the future FY 2025-2027 biennial budget.
Now, as part of receiving a presentation from David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. and RJM Design Group, Inc. on the community outreach results and the Parks and Recreation Commission's recommendations, the next step in the process is for City Council to provide direction to City staff and the consultants on the elements to be included in three potential “low,” “medium,” and “high” construction cost conceptual designs for each park.
Subsequently, the design consultants will return to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council with three conceptual designs and cost estimates for each park. Once the preferred conceptual design is approved by City Council for each park, the consultants will develop final design plans and bid documents.
Fiscal Impact:
CIP No. 241 (General Park Renovations) is active in fiscal year 2024/2025 and currently has an appropriated budget of $2,248,209.68, which includes $2,004,696.68 in Quimby Act Park In-Lieu fees. After factoring in future payments for design services to the
Item No. 1
consulting firms, there is an unencumbered balance of $1,644,563.48 remaining. It is anticipated the City will receive an additional $2 million in Quimby Act Park In-Lieu fees in April 2026. If those funds are allocated to CIP No. 241, combined with the current unencumbered balance, that would provide near-term funding totaling approximately $3.6 million for park construction and other design services. Whether this budget is sufficient for the anticipated park improvements is dependent on the chosen conceptual and final design plans.
Attachments:
1. Park Improvements Location Map
2. Summary of Parks & Recreation Commission Comments
CITY OF LAGUNA HILLS
CITY MAP
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Cabot Park Community Feedback
What new park amenities would
you most like to see in Cabot Park?
Parks & Recreation
Commission
Recommendation for
Inclusion
What existing park amenities would
you like to see improved or
renovated at Cabot Park?
Parks & Recreation
Commission
Recommendation for
Inclusion
Field Lighting No Baseball Field Improvements Maybe
Baseball Fencing Needs Maybe Restroom Improvements Yes
Baseball Enhancements Maybe Snach Shack Improvements No Parking at Maintenance Entrance No Parking at Maintenance Entrance No Fitness Training Circuit No Update Playground Yes
Dedicated Soccer/Football Field No
Restroom Improvements Yes
Snack Shack Improvements No
Update Playground Yes (Native Plants)
Splash Pad No
Lights Yes
Additional Trees No
Dog Drinking Fountain Yes
Native Plants Yes
Playground Style Recommendation: Sports
Online Survey Requests
Parks & Recreation
Commission
Recommendation for
Inclusion
Shade/Shaded Seating Yes
Play Area Improvements Yes
Restroom Yes
Splash Pad No
Additional Trees Yes
Upgraded Light Fixtures Yes
Parking Issues at Rapid Falls No
Native Planting yes
Dog Drinking Fountain yes
San Remo Park Community Feedback
What new park amenities would you most
like to see in San Remo Park?
Parks & Recreation
Commission
Recommendation
for Inclusion
What existing park amenities would you
like to see improved or renovated at San
Remo Park?
Parks & Recreation Commission
Recommendation for Inclusion
Playground Structure Yes Playground equipment improvements Yes Basketball Court Maybe - Low Priority Tennis Court Updates Yes (without pickle ball) Seating (Picnic Tables & Benches) Yes Repurpose Volleyball Court Yes Drinking Fountains/Bottle Filling Stations Yes Swings Yes Pickelball Court No Improve Volleyball Court No
Fitness Maybe Renovate everything No
Shade Yes Seating Yes
Dog Amenities No dog run Lighting Yes
Pollinator Garden Maybe (Native Plants) Shade Yes
Water Feature No
Lighting Yes
Restroom No
Splash Pad No
Playground Style Recommendation: Rock Climbing
Veeh Ranch Park Community Feedback
What new park amenities would
you most like to see in Veeh
Ranch Park?
Parks & Recreation
Commission
Recommendation for
Inclusion
What existing park amenities
would you like to see
improved or renovated at
Veeh Ranch Park?
Parks & Recreation
Commission
Recommendation for
Inclusion
Additional Seating Yes Playgournd Improvements Yes
Shade Yes (Shade sails over playground) Sports Court Improvements No Playground Yes General Park Improvements Yes
Water Play No
Picnic Yes
limited to picnic
benches and not
picnic shelters
Exercise Station Maybe (Along path)
Parking No
Restrooms No
Tennis/Pickleball Courts No
Climbing Structure Yes
Additional Dog Bag Stations Yes
Additional Drinking Fountains Maybe
Landscaping & Maintenance Yes (More Trees)
Online Survey Requests
Parks & Recreation
Commission
Recommendation for
Inclusion
Dog Park No
El Conejo Park Community Feedback
Community Feedback Requests for
Improvements at El Conejo Park
Commission
Recommendation for
Inclusion
Added Shade throughout Park Yes
Shade over Playground Yes
More Seating Yes
More BBQs Yes (addition of 1)
Splash Pad No
Add Bathrooms No
Improve Sight into Playground Yes
(landscape maintenance/plants obscure view of
playground)
No Bathrooms Yes
Pump Track for Bikes No
Added Lighting Yes
More Owl Boxes Yes (with the idea that it should be an eagle scout project) Roller Hockey/Lacrosse/Skate Park No
Less Sand at Playground Yes (prefer rubberized surface/no sand at all) Drinking Fountain with Dog Fountain Yes
Update Basketball Court Yes
(specifically adress the drainage and vegetation issue
affecting court)
Widen Sidewalk No
Dog Runs No
Improve Landscape and Irrigation Yes
Remove Concrete Creek Yes
Fix Broken Concrete Yes
No Monkey Bars Maybe
New Playground Yes
Fitness Equipment Stations Maybe
Social Area Yes (preserve lawn area)
Add Shade over Seating Yes
Playground Accommodate Ages 2-12 Yes
Style Recommendation: Treehouse Theme
1 Large Play Structures (most popular)
2 Playground Shade
3 Swings
4 Climbers
5 Critters/Spinners (least popular)
What playground component is most important?
MacKenzie Park Community Feedback
Community Feedback Requests for
Improvements at Mackenzie Park
Parks & Recreation Commission
Recommendation for Inclusion
Added Shade with Trees Yes
Shade over Playground Yes
More Seating Yes
Dog Park Yes
Splash Pad No
Tennis Courts Only Yes
Pickleball Courts No
Lock Tennis Courts at Night Yes (maintenance issue)
Improve Lighting Yes
No Sand/Rubber Surface Only Yes
Swings/Zip Lines/Climbers Maybe
Drinking Fountain with Dog Fountain Yes
Fix Broken Concrete Yes
Add More Picnic Areas Yes
Shade over Seating Maybe
No E-Bikes Yes (adding signage)
Bike Parking Yes
Added Tennis Court Parking No
Pump Track for Bikes No
Water Feature (ex. Fountain) No
Added Dog Bag Stations Yes
Volleyball and/or Pickelball Courts No
Fitness Equipment Stations Maybe
Style Recommendation: Farm Theme
Community Feedback Question:
What playground component is most
important?
1 Large Play Structures (most popular)
2 Playground Shade
3 Swings
4 Climbers
5 Critters/Spinners (least popular)