1 City of Laguna Hills
City Council / Planning Agency
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
General Business Convening at 6:00 PM
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Caskey.
Invocation: Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis
Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis
Roll Call of City Council Members
Present:
Mayor Don Caskey
Mayor Pro Tempore Jared Mathis
Council Member Erica Pezold
Council Member Joshua Sweeney
Council Member Dave Wheeler
Absent:
1. Presentations and Proclamations
1.1 Appointment of Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Katherine Armstrong
Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Katherine Armstrong was not available at the meeting to receive the Certificate of Appointment.
1.2 Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Report
Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Katherine Armstrong was not available at the meeting to provide the report.
2. Schedule of Future Events
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
Community Services Director Gannon announced the upcoming meetings and events.
3. Public Comments
There were no public comments on non-agendized items.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
2 Mayor Caskey took Item No. 8 out of order on the Agenda.
8. Matters Agendized and Presented by City Council Members
8.1 Recycle From Home Program
Recommendation: Council Member Pezold and Mayor Caskey recommend that the City Council receive a presentation from Recycle From Home and discuss a potential implementation of a residential recycling program in Laguna Hills.
Damion and Ryan Hickman provided a visual presentation to the City Council on the Recycle From Home program and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Assistant City Attorney Eggart responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Assistant City Manager Ames responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
A motion to direct staff to implement the Recycle From Home program was moved by Council Member Pezold, seconded by Council Member Wheeler.
Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Caskey, Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Sweeney, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
4. Consent Calendar
A motion to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar with Council Member Wheeler removing Item No. 4.5, Item No. 4.6, Item No. 4.7, and Item No. 4.9 was moved by Council Member Wheeler, seconded by Council Member Pezold.
Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Caskey, Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Sweeney, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
3 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 January 13, 2026, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council Minutes for the January 13, 2026, Regular Meeting.
4.3 Ratification of January 27, 2026 Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from January 2, 2026, to January 15, 2026, in the amount of $1,989,367.79.
4.4 Treasurer's Investment Report for December 2025
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the Treasurer's Investment Report for the month of December 2025.
4.8 Informal Bidding Ordinance Use Quarterly Report for Public Works Projects Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
Items Removed from the Consent Calendar
4.5 2025 Holiday Event Series Post Event Report
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the 2025 Holiday Event Series Post-Event Report.
Council Member Wheeler removed Item No. 4.5 from the Consent Calendar to request additional information.
Community Services Director Gannon responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
A motion to receive and file the report was moved by Council Member Wheeler, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis.
Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Caskey, Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Sweeney, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
4 4.6 2026 4th of July Fireworks Agreement
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the Fireworks Display Agreement between Garden State Fireworks ("GSF") and the City of Laguna Hills for 2026 and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
Council Member Wheeler removed Item No. 4.6 from the Consent Calendar to request additional information.
Community Services Director Gannon responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
A motion to approve staff's recommendation was moved by Council Member Wheeler, seconded by Council Member Pezold.
Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Caskey, Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Sweeney, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
4.7 Award of Professional Services Agreement to Advantec Consulting Engineers, Inc. for Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program for Avenida de la Carlota Corridor Project, CIP 168-N
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1. Award a Professional Services Agreement to Advantec Consulting Engineers, Inc. for Regional Traffic Signal Synchronization Program for Avenida de la Carlota Corridor Project in the amount of $146,500.00, and 2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
Council Member Wheeler removed Item No. 4.7 to request additional information.
Assistant City Manager Ames responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
A motion to approve staff's recommendation was moved by Council Member Wheeler, seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis.
Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Caskey, Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Sweeney, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
5 4.9 Development Application Status Report
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the report.
Council Member Wheeler removed Item No. 4.9 from the Consent Calendar to request additional information.
Community Development Director Lowe responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
Assistant City Attorney Eggart responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
A motion to receive and file the report was moved by Council Member Wheeler, seconded by Council Member Pezold.
Vote Result: Passed
Yes 5, No 0, Abstained 0
Ayes: Mayor Caskey, Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, Council Member Pezold, Council Member Sweeney, Council Member Wheeler
Nays: None
Abstain: None
5. Planning Agency
Mayor Caskey recessed the City Council Meeting, and acting in capacity as Chair, called the Regular Meeting of the Planning Agency of the City of Laguna Hills, California, to order at 7:39 p.m.
5.1 Roll Call of Planning Agency Members
Present:
Chair Don Caskey
Vice Chair Jared Mathis
Agency Member Erica Pezold
Agency Member Joshua Sweeney
Agency Member Dave Wheeler
Absent:
5.2 Public Comments
There were no public comments for the Planning Agency on non-agendized items.
5.3 Approval of Minutes
The Planning Agency Minutes are approved by the City Council.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
6 5.4 Administrative Reports
There were no Planning Agency administrative reports.
5.5 Planning Agency Public Hearings
5.5.1 Vesting Tentative Parcel Map/ Site Development Permit/ Precise Plan/ Parking Use Permit No. 0166-2023 (Oakbrook Plaza Senior Housing Project)
Recommendation: That the Planning Agency:
1. Conduct a public hearing;
2. Find and determine that the proposed project is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.66; and
3. Adopt Resolution No. PA2026-01-27-1: A Resolution of the Planning Agency of the City of Laguna Hills, California, conditionally approving Vesting Tentative parcel Map / Site Development Permit / Precise Plan / Parking Use Permit No. 0166-2023, a request by Matthew Haugen, on behalf of BSP Oakbrook, LLC, to permit a project that consists of: the subdivision of an existing 8.42-acre parcel located at 24422 Avenida de la Carlota into one 4.18-acre parcel (Lot 1) and one 4.24-acre parcel (Lot 2); construction of a new 250-unit senior living development with a 752- stall parking structure on Lot 1; a reduction in the amount of parking spaces required for the existing office building on Lot 2 to facilitate its conversion to medical office uses; and the joint use of the parking facilities between the residential uses on Lot 1 and the medical office uses on Lot 2, and finding the Project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.66.
Contract Assistant Planner Pisarkiewicz reviewed the information provided in the staff report, provided a visual presentation, and responded to Agency Member requests for additional information.
Community Development Director Lowe responded to Agency Member requests for additional information.
Assistant City Attorney Eggart responded to Agency Member requests for additional information.
Chair Caskey opened the public hearing.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
7 Project applicant Matthew Haugen, Senior Vice President, Buchanan Street Partners, L.P., responded to Agency Member requests for additional information and agreed to abide by the proposed conditions of approval on the project.
Project applicant Tobin Symmank. Principal, AO, responded to Agency Member requests for additional information.
The following individuals submitted an electronic public comment on Item No.
5.5.1 that was received, forwarded to the Planning Agency prior to the meeting, posted on the City's website, and announced into the record by City Clerk Lee:
Bruce Schilder
The following individual(s) provided public comments on Item No. 5.5.1.:
Scott Miller
Heidi Prescott
Edna Weber
David Fauls
Chair Caskey closed the public hearing and upon seeing another public speaker, reopened the public hearing.
The following individual(s) provided public comments on Item No. 5.5.1.:
Ken Weber
Project applicant Matthew Haugen, Senior Vice President, Buchanan Street Partners, L.P., provided final remarks.
Chair Caskey closed the public hearing.
Chair Caskey reopened the public hearing.
Project applicant Matthew Haugen, Senior Vice President, Buchanan Street Partners, L.P. agreed to abide by an additional proposed condition of approval.
Chair Caskey closed the public hearing.
A motion to approve staff's recommendation with discussed changes to the conditions of approval for the project was moved by Agency Member Sweeney, seconded by Vice Chair Mathis.
Roll Call Vote Result: Passed
Yes 3, No 2, Abstained 0
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
8 Ayes: Chair Caskey, Vice Chair Mathis, Agency Member
Sweeney
Nays: Agency Member Pezold, Agency Member Wheeler
Abstain: None
5.6 Planning Agency Adjournment
Chair Caskey adjourned the Planning Agency Meeting at 10:36 p.m. and reconvened the City Council 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.
7.2 Chief of Police Services
7.2.1 Public Safety Update
Chief of Police Services, Captain Burk, provided a public safety update report, including a visual presentation.
9. City Council Member Committee Reports
9.1 Committee Assignment Report
The City Council received reports from City Council Members on City Council Committee Assignments.
10. City Council Member Comments
Council Member Pezold
Council Member Pezold provided comments on the use of AI.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis
Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis congratulated Sweeney on being elected as Chair of the OCFA Board of Directors.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis reported that the Laguna Hills Hawks Girls Varsity Soccer team is currently undefeated and, as of tonight, are league champions.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
9 Council Member Wheeler
Council Member Wheeler provided comments on the method used by the County to determine property tax amounts.
Council Member Sweeney
Council Member Sweeney provided comments on City spending and provided a quote from President Reagan.
Mayor Caskey
Mayor Caskey followed up on Council Member Wheeler's comments.
Council Member Wheeler
Council Member Wheeler provided additional comments on tax dollar amounts.
Council Member Pezold
Council Member Pezold requested that a discussion on street banners be agendized for a future meeting and received a second from Council Member Wheeler.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Caskey declared the meeting adjourned at 11:09 p.m.
____________________________________
Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Don Caskey, Mayor
Approved at meeting of February 10, 2026