1 City of Laguna Hills
City Council / Planning Agency
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
General Business Convening at 6:00 PM
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 6:20 p.m. by Mayor Caskey.
Invocation: Council Member Sweeney
Pledge of Allegiance: Council Member Sweeney
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 Liaisons Katherine Armstrong and Peyton Edberg
Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis presented Certificates of Appointment to Laguna Hills High School Student Liaisons, Katherine Armstrong and Peyton Edberg.
1.2 Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Report
The City Council received a report from Laguna Hills High School Student Liaison Peyton Edberg.
2. Schedule of Future Events
2.1 Schedule of Future Events
Community Services Director Gannon announced the upcoming meetings and events.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
2 3. Public Comments
The following individual(s) provided public comments on non-agendized items:
Katherine Armstrong, District Intern, Supervisor Katrina Foley's Office Curtis Van Buskirk
Danny MacNar
4. Consent Calendar
A motion to approve the Consent Calendar was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, seconded by Council Member Sweeney.
Roll Call 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
4.1 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 27, 2026, Regular Meeting Recommendation: That the City Council approve the City Council/Planning Agency Minutes for the January 27, 2026, Regular Meeting.
4.3 Ratification of February 10, 2026 Warrant Register
Recommendation: That the City Council ratify the accompanying Warrant Register for the period from January 16, 2026, to January 29, 2026, in the amount of $954,423.41.
Items Removed from the Consent Calendar
There were no items removed from the Consent Calendar.
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 6:52 p.m.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
3 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.
5.4 Administrative Reports
There were no Planning Agency administrative reports.
5.5 Planning Agency Public Hearings
5.5.1 Vesting Tentative Tract Map (VTTM)/Site Development Permit (SDP) No. USE-0211-2025 (23161 Mill Creek Drive/Toll Brothers/Khoshbin) Recommendation: That the Planning Agency:
1. Conduct a public hearing;
2. Find and determine that the proposed Project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the Class 32 Exemption applicable to infill development projects (14 Cal.Code.Regs. Section 15332); and
3. Adopt a Resolution entitled: “A Resolution of the Planning Agency of the City of Laguna Hills, California, approving Vesting Tentative Tract Map (VTTM)/Site Development Permit (SDP) No. USE-0211-2025, a request by Toll West Coast, LLC (Toll Brothers) for approval of a 36-unit residential development on an approximately 2.44 acre parcel located at 23161 Mill Creek Drive (APN 588-142-07), and finding that the project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to the Class 32 exemption applicable to infill development projects (14 Cal. Code. Regs. Section 15332).”
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
4 Contract Assistant Planner Blumenthal 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.
Project applicant Eric Everhart, Senior Land Entitlement Manager, Toll Brothers, provided a visual presentation, responded to Agency Member requests for additional information and agreed to abide by the proposed conditions of approval on the project.
Project applicant, Aylene Chu, P.E., Director of Land Entitlements, Toll Brothers, 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 Deputy City Clerk McDonald:
Ana Gromis on behalf of Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southern California, Inc.
James Llyod on behalf of California Housing Defense Fund (CalHDF) The following individual(s) provided public comments on Item No. 5.5.1.:
Cathy Udovch
Project Applicant, Eric Everhart, Senior Land Entitlement Manager, Toll Brothers, provided final remarks.
Chair Caskey closed the public hearing.
A motion to approve staff's recommendation was moved by Agency Member Sweeney, seconded by Vice Chair Mathis.
Vote Result: Passed
Yes 4, No 1, Abstained 0
Ayes: Chair Caskey, Vice Chair Mathis, Agency Member Pezold, Agency Member Sweeney
Nays: Agency Member Wheeler
Abstain: None
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
5 5.6 Planning Agency Adjournment
Chair Caskey adjourned the Planning Agency Meeting at 8:14 p.m. and convened the Public Improvement Corporation (PIC) Meeting.
Mayor Caskey reconvened the City Council meeting at 8:17 p.m. All City Council Members were present in Chamber.
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 Community Services Director
7.2.1 2026 4th of July Fireworks Display
Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Review proposed options and select and approve either Option 1, Option 2, or Option 3;
2. Direct the City Attorney’s office to draft an Amendment No. 1 to the previously approved 2026 4th of July Celebration Fireworks Display Agreement with Garden State Fireworks, Inc. (GSF), reflecting the Council-selected option and any other changes to the Scope of Work;
3. Authorize the City Manager to approve and execute the Amendment;
4. Authorize and direct the Finance Director to amend the budget, accordingly; and
5. Discuss and provide direction for the firework display soundtrack.
Community Services Director Gannon reviewed the information provided in the staff report and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City Manager Wingenroth responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
6 A motion to approve staff's recommendation with Option 3 was moved by Mayor Pro Tempore Mathis, 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
7.2.2 2026-2028 Half Marathon, 5k and 10k Honoring USMC Dark Horse Battalion Medal Series
Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and provide direction for the 2026-2028 Half Marathon, 5k and 10k Honoring USMC Dark Horse Battalion Medal Series design.
Community Services Director Gannon reviewed the information provided in the staff report and responded to Council Member requests for additional information.
The City Council provided direction to staff.
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
There were no reports from City Council Members on City Council Committee Assignments.
10. City Council Member Comments
Council Member Wheeler
Council Member Wheeler requested a discussion regarding a request from Carl Heft, OC Business Council, on the adoption of a resolution against human trafficking and received a second from Council Member Pezold.
Council Member Wheeler expressed his desire to have a discussion amongst the City Council regarding confidential sales tax information and his frustration that the Brown Act prevents it.
City Council/Planning Agency Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
7 Council Member Pezold
Council Member Pezold highlighted the Laguna Hills Little League and their efforts in the community.
Adjournment
There being no further business before the City Council at this session, Mayor Caskey declared the meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm
____________________________________
Jennifer Lee, City Clerk
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Don Caskey, Mayor
Approved at meeting of February 24, 2026.