Item No. 6.3.2
• Community – Encouraging neighborhood participation and bringing residents together through community-driven events.
• Service – Promoting volunteerism and civic pride through service-oriented activities.
• Education – Providing opportunities for residents, families, and youth to learn more about American history and the founding of the nation. • Celebration – Hosting fun, family-friendly events that celebrate patriotism and community spirit.
Proposed initiatives include the following:
Service Activities:
• Community trash cleanup day
• Rooted event
Community Events:
• Community Baseball Day (TBD)
• Patriotic and educational movie nights at the Community Center • Independence Hall video playing throughout the day on the Community Center and Civc Center televisions
Neighborhood Events:
• Call for “neighborhood captains” to help organize parties in neighborhood parks • City will allocate“Block Party Bucks” funding to help reimburse neighborhood captains
Arts and Décor
• Patriotic tile painting program
o Give tiles to youth in the City via schools, nonprofit organizations, and at the Community Center
o Creation of a “Freedom Wall” showcasing community artwork and messages celebrating America250. The Parks and Recreation Commission
Item No. 6.3.2
will hold an unveiling ceremony
• Flags at entry monuments
• Red, white, and blue uplighting for trees along Paseo de Valencia and Alicia Parkway
• Flag photo op in the Community Center Courtyard
• Installation of StoryWalk at Knotty Pine Park. First “story” will be the Declaration of Independence
• America250 Street Pole Banners
Giveaways using logo (Attachment 1)
• Shirts
• Frisbees
• Hats
• Pinwheels
Additional 4th of July Celebration Enhancements
• Declaration of Independence signing photo op
• Fife and Drummer Band
• Additional Stage Lighting
• Larger fireworks display (approved at the January 24, 2026 City Council meeting) • "250" photo op
These programs are intended to create multiple opportunities for residents to participate throughout the celebration period while highlighting community in Laguna Hills.
Fiscal Impact:
Staff estimates that the cost of America250 in Laguna Hills will be approximately $100,000. It is anticipated that the recent donation from CR&R will cover the cost of the event series.
Attachments:
1. Attachment 1: America250 in Laguna Hills Logo
Attachment 1:
America250 in Laguna Hills Logo
Item No. 7.1
City of Laguna Hills
City Council / Planning Agency
Staff Report
Date: March 24, 2026
To: Mayor and Council Members
From: Joshua Sweeney, Council Member
Issue: Discussion of a Proposed City Council Policy Establishing A City Council Meeting Curfew
Recommendation: That the City Council discuss and provide direction to City staff.
Background:
At the March 10, 2026, City Council meeting during City Council Member comments, Councilmember Sweeney requested and Mayor Pro Tem Mathis seconded placing on the March 24, 2026, City Council meeting agenda an item for discussion establishing a scheduled time to end City Council meetings ("City Council meeting curfew") and a scheduled time to review remaining agenda items to evaluate which items would be considered prior to the curfew.
As only one example, since 1990, the City of Mission Viejo has an established curfew time for its City Council meetings. Mission Viejo's Council Policy, City Council Meeting Rules of Order and Procedures, establishes this procedure regarding review of agenda items and city council meeting curfew:
"Review of Remaining Agenda Items. At the hour of 9:30 p.m., the City Council will review the remaining Agenda items and make a decision regarding which items will be considered before the 11:00 p.m. curfew and which items will be continued to the next meeting.
City Council Meeting Curfew. The City Council Meeting curfew is 11:00 p.m. A threefifths vote of the Council is required to extend a meeting beyond that hour."
Item No. 7.1
As another example, the City of Irvine sets a curfew time at midnight and review of remaining agenda items at 11:00 p.m.
Councilmember Sweeney respectfully requests that City Council discuss establishing a time-certain curfew and a time-certain review of remaining agenda items for City Council meetings, and provide direction to City staff on whether to return to City Council with a new City Council policy establishing the same.
Fiscal Impact:
None associated with receiving this agenda report.
Attachments:
None
Item No. 8.1
City of Laguna Hills
City Council / Planning Agency
Staff Report
Date: March 24, 2026
To: Mayor and Council Members
From: Don Caskey, Mayor
Jared Mathis, Mayor Pro Tempore
Issue: Village at Laguna Hills Ad-Hoc Committee Update Report Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the oral report from Mayor Caskey and Mayor Pro Tem Mathis.
Background:
Fiscal Impact:
Attachments:
None