City of Laguna Hills
City Council / Planning Agency
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
General Business Convening at 6:00 PM
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Sweeney.
Invocation: Council Member Wheeler
Pledge of Allegiance: Council Member Wheeler
Roll Call of City Council Members (Erica Pezold, Appearance Via Teleconference)
Present:
Mayor Joshua Sweeney
Mayor Pro Tempore Don Caskey
Council Member Erica Pezold, via teleconference
Council Member Jared Mathis
Council Member Dave Wheeler
Absent:
1. Presentations and Proclamations
1.1 Appointment of Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Sophia Kim Mayor Sweeney presented a Certificate of Appointment to Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Sophia Kim.
1.2 Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Report
The City Council received a report from Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Sophia Kim.
2. Schedule of Future Events
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
The Community Services Director announced the upcoming meetings and events.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
2 3. Public Comments
The following individual(s) provided public comments on non-agendized items:
Karen Litfin, a resident of Laguna Hills
Jimmy Hanes, a resident of Laguna Hills
At Mayor Sweeney's request, City Attorney Simonian provided information.
4. Consent Calendar
A motion to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar with Council Member Pezold removing Item No. 4.9 was moved by Council Member Wheeler, seconded by Council Member Mathis.
Roll Call Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Mathis, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
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 August 20, 2025, Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the August 20, 2025, Special Meeting.
4.3 Approval of Minutes for August 26, 2025, Special Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the August 26, 2025, Special Meeting.
4.4 Approval of Minutes for August 26, 2025, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the August 26, 2025, Regular Meeting.
4.5 Ratification of September 9, 2025 Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from August 15, 2025, to August 28, 2025, in the amount of $365,373.14.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
3 4.6 Award of Public Works Construction Contract to GA Technical Services, Inc. for CIP 520, Community Center Electrical Improvements
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1. Award the Public Works Construction Contract for the Laguna Hills Community Center Electrical Upgrades Project, CIP No. 520, to the lowest responsive bidder, GA Technical Services, Inc., in the amount of $293,059.26; 2. Find that the Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Class 1 Existing Facilities, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301; 3. Reject all other construction bids; 4. Reject the bid protest; and 5. Authorize the Interim City Manager to sign the Public Works Construction Contract with GA Technical Services, Inc.
4.7 Authority to Advertise FY25/26 Community Development Block Grant Curb Ramp Replacement Project, CIP 170
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1. Approve the plans and specifications for the FY25/26 Community Development Block Grant Curb Ramp Replacement Project, CIP 170; 2. Authorize the advertisement for bids for the FY25/26 Community Development Block Grant Curb Ramp Replacement Project, CIP 170; 3.
Authorize the City Engineer to make 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.”
4.8 2025 Summer Event Series Post-Event Report
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
Items Removed from the Consent Calendar
4.9 2025 Holiday Event Series Pre-Event Report
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
Council Member Pezold removed Item No. 4.9 from the Consent Calendar to request the addition of items to the events series.
City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Community Services Director Holland responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
4 A motion to receive and file the report, taking into consideration requests made by Council Member Pezold, was moved by Council Member Pezold, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey.
Roll Call Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Mathis, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
5. Planning Agency
There were no separate Planning Agency Business Items for this meeting.
6. City Council Public Hearings
6.1 General Plan Amendment RZNE-0013-2024, a Minor Amendment to the Laguna Hills General Plan Mobility Element to Reflect Changes Made to the Orange County Master Plan of Arterial Highways to Modify Major and Secondary Arterials to Collector Arterials
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing;
2. Find and determine that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378; and
3. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-09-09-1: “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Laguna Hills, California, Making a Determination that the Project is Exempt from CEQA under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378, and Approving General Plan Amendment No. RZNE-0013-2024, a Minor Amendment to the General Plan Mobility Element to Modify Major and Secondary Arterials to Collector Arterials for Paseo de Valencia Between Alicia Parkway and Cabot Road, and Cabot Road Between Paseo de Valencia and El Paseo.”
Council Member Mathis does not have a legal conflict of interest, but out of an abundance of caution, he recused himself from discussion/action on Item No. 6.1.
City Attorney Simonian provided clarifying comments.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
5 Mayor Sweeney called for a brief recess at 6:26 p.m. Mayor Sweeney reconvened the meeting at 6:28 p.m.
Community Development Director Lowe reviewed the information provided in the staff report and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Interim City Manager Ames responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Mayor Sweeney resumed the public hearing continued from the June 24, 2025, regular meeting.
Mayor Sweeney closed the public hearing.
A motion to approve staff's recommendation was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey, seconded by Council Member Wheeler.
Roll Call Vote Result: Passed
Yes 4, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
Council Member Mathis rejoined the meeting.
6.2 Second Reading of Proposed Ordinances Amending Title 10 (Buildings and Construction) and Chapter 5-16 (Fire Code) of the Laguna Hills Municipal Code and Adopting by Reference the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24) Consisting of the California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Historical Building Code, Fire Code, Existing Building Code, Green Building Standards Code, and Referenced Standards Code, and the Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Together with Certain Amendments, Additions, and Deletions Thereto, and Adopting By Reference the 2025 International Property Maintenance Code
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Conduct a Public Hearing;
2. Adopt Ordinance No. 2025-5: “An Ordinance of the City of Laguna Hills, California, Amending Title 10 (Buildings and Construction) of the Laguna Hills Municipal Code and Adopting by Reference the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24), City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
6 Consisting of the 2025 California Building Code, the 2025 California Residential Code Including Appendices BF and CI, the 2025 California Electrical Code, the 2025 California Mechanical Code, the 2025 California Plumbing Code, the 2025 California Energy Code, the 2025 California Historical Building Code, the 2025 California Existing Building Code, the 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, the 2025 California Referenced Standards Code, and the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Including Appendices F and G, Together with Certain Amendments, Additions, and Deletions Thereto; and Adopting by Reference the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code.”
3. Adopt Ordinance No. 2025-6: “An Ordinance of the City of Laguna Hills, California, Amending Chapter 5-16 (Fire Code) of Title 5 (Health and Sanitation) of the Laguna Hills Municipal Code and Adopting by Reference the 2025 Edition of the California Fire Code Including Appendices B, BB, C, CC, and H together with certain amendments, additions, and deletions thereto.”
Community Development Director Lowe reviewed the information provided in the staff report and provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Sweeney opened the public hearing.
City Attorney Simonian responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Mayor Sweeney closed the public hearing.
A motion to approve staff's recommendation was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey, seconded by Council Member Mathis.
Roll Call Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Sweeney, Mayor Pro Tempore Caskey, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Mathis, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
7. Administrative Reports
7.1 Interim City Manager
The Interim City Manager provided no administrative reports.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
7 7.2 Chief of Police Services
7.2.1 Public Safety Update
Chief of Police Services, Captain Burk, provided a public safety update report.
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 Report
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
Mayor Sweeney
Mayor Sweeney thanked our 1st responders for keeping our City safe, thanked City staff for their work, and thanked the members of the audience for joining us this evening.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Sweeney declared the meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
____________________________________
Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Joshua Sweeney, Mayor
Approved at meeting of September 23, 2025.