City of Laguna Hills
City Council / Planning Agency
Regular Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - 6:00 PM
(Closed Session at 5:00 p.m. when scheduled)
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/Planning Agency on any matter, whether or not it appears 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/Planning Agency 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 thirty minutes 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 no later than 2 hours prior to the meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 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 the deadline 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 the deadline on Tuesday, July 8, 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/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
2 General Business Convening at 6:00 PM
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.
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey
Roll Call of City Council Members
1. Presentations and Proclamations
1.1 Certificates of Recognition - Little League District 55 Tournament of Champions 2025 Winners, Laguna Hills Major Division Dodgers Recommendation: That the City Council congratulate the Laguna Hills Little League Major Division Dodgers for their victory in the 2025 Tournament of Champions for District 55 and that Mayor Sweeney present Certificates of Recognition to the team.
1.2 Certificate of Recognition-Eagle Scout Luke Friedl
Recommendation: That the City Council congratulate Luke Friedl for earning the rank of Eagle Scout as a member of Troop 700, and that Mayor Sweeney present him with a Certificate of Recognition in honor of this outstanding achievement.
2. Schedule of Future Events
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
Recommendation: That the Deputy City Clerk announce the upcoming meetings and events.
3. Public Comments
This is the time to address the City Council on any matter not listed on this Agenda that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Public Comments are limited to three minutes per person, as determined by the Mayor, and a total time limit of thirty minutes.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
3 4. Consent Calendar
All matters listed under “CONSENT CALENDAR” are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion approving the recommendation listed on the Agenda. There will be no separate discussion unless Members of the City Council or City staff request specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar.
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 June 24, 2025, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the June 24, 2025, Regular Meeting.
4.3 Approval of Minutes for June 25, 2025, Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the June 25, 2025, Special Meeting.
4.4 Ratification of July 8, 2025 Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from June 14, 2025, to June 26, 2025, in the amount of $513,284.96.
4.5 Authority to Advertise Laguna Hills Community Center Electrical Improvements Project, CIP 520
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1. Approve the plans and specifications for the Laguna Hills Community Center Electrical Improvements Project, CIP No. 520; 2. Authorize the advertisement for bids for the Laguna Hills Community Center Electrical Improvements Project, CIP No. 520; 3. Authorize the City Engineer to make minor edits to the plans and specifications as necessary; and 4. Find that environmental review is not required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, Section 15301 as a Class 1 Categorical Exemption - “Existing Facilities.”
4.6 Opposition Letter to the Proposed Compass Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Facility in San Juan Capistrano
Recommendation: That the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign and submit the attached letter expressing the City of Laguna Hills’ formal opposition to the proposed Compass Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility in the City of San Juan Capistrano.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
4 Items Removed from the Consent Calendar
5. Planning Agency
The Planning Agency is called to order only if there are items scheduled to be presented to the Planning Agency.
6. City Council Public Hearings
6.1 Confirmation of 2025 Weed Abatement Cost Report
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing regarding the 2025 Weed Abatement Cost Report; and
2. Adopt a Resolution entitled: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laguna Hills, California, Confirming the 2025 Weed Abatement Cost Report and Providing for the Collection of Weed Abatement Assessments on the Next Regular Tax Bill Levied Against the Subject Parcels for Municipal Purposes."
6.2 Proposed Update to City's False Alarm Fee
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing; and
2. Adopt a Resolution entitled: "A Resolution of the City of Laguna Hills, California, Updating the City’s False Alarm Fee, Repealing Resolution No. 2021-10-12-4, and Finding that the Action is Statutorily Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Per Section 15273 of the CEQA Guidelines and Public Resources Code Section 21080(B)(8)”
7. Administrative Reports
7.1 City Manager
7.2 City Attorney
7.2.1Approval of Resolution to Appoint Joseph Ames as Interim City Manager and Approval of Resolution to Appoint Joseph Ames as Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director/City Engineer After City Council Appoints A Permanent City Manager
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
5 Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Receive an oral report providing a summary of proposed changes to the annual base salary and benefits for Joseph Ames, Assistant City Manager/Public Services Director/City Engineer, to serve as Interim City Manager as set forth in the Proposed City Manager Employment Agreement;
2. Adopt a Resolution entitled: “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laguna Hills, California, Appointing Joseph Ames as Interim City Manager and Approving and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Interim City Manager Employment Agreement”;
3. Receive an oral report providing a summary of the annual base salary and benefits for Joseph Ames, Assistant City Manager/Public Services Director/City Engineer, provided to Joseph Ames upon conclusion of his temporary appointment as Interim City Manager and continuing to serve as Assistant City Manager/Public Services Director/City Engineer as set forth in the Proposed City Manager Employment Agreement; and
4. Adopt a Resolution entitled: “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laguna Hills, California, Appointing Joseph Ames as Assistant City Manager and Approving and Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Assistant City Manager Employment Agreement”.
7.3 Assistant City Manager
7.3.1 Vegetation Management on City-Owned Parcels
Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and provide direction to City staff.
7.4 Community Services Director
7.4.1 2025 Senior Mobility Program Update
Recommendation: That the City Council receive an update on the Senior DialA-Taxi program.
7.5 Chief of Police Services
7.5.1 Public Safety Update
Recommendation: That the City Council receive an update on public safety activities, including updates on crime trends.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
6 8. Matters Agendized and Presented by City Council Members
9. City Council Member Committee Reports
9.1 Committee Assignment Report
Recommendation: That the City Council receive reports from City Council Members on the City Council Committee Assignments listed in the staff report.
10. City Council Member Comments
Adjournment
The next Regular Meeting of the City Council/Planning Agency will be August 26, 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 July 3, 2025, at 5:00p.m.
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.
City Council Members receive no additional compensation or stipend as a result of simultaneously convening meetings of the Laguna Hills Planning Agency.