City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 April 5, 2022
LAGUNA NIGUEL CITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting
April 5, 2022
7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – Mayor Gennawey called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Elaine Gennawey– Present
Mayor Pro Tem Sandy Rains – Present
Council Member Kelly Jennings – Present
Council Member Rischi Paul Sharma – Present
Council Member Fred Minagar – Present
INVOCATION – Chaplain Serena Cummins, Orange County Sheriff’s Department
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Junior Scout Troop 6486, 5476, and 7382
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Monty McDivitt spoke on the Earth Day Celebration to be held on April 23 rd at the Niguel
Botanical Preserve. He invited everyone to attend.
Mayor Gennawey closed general Public Comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A MOTION was made by Council Member Jennings , seconded by Council Member Sharma, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion carried 5-0.
1. Warrants of April 5, 2022
Approved as written.
2. Payroll Summary Register
Approved as written.
3. Investment Report as of February 28, 2022
Approved as written.
4. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting on March 15, 2022
Approved as written.
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5. Approval of Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement for On-Call Professional Services with EcoNomics, Inc. to Provide Solid Waste Management Consulting, and Grant Revenue Passthrough Recognition
1. Approved of Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement for On- Call Professional Services with EcoNomics, Inc. to provide solid waste management consulting services for a total not -to-exceed amount of $86,494 to assist with implementing Senate Bill 1383;
2. Approved a budget adjustment to recognize awarded grant revenue in the amount of $86,494 and an expenditure appropriation of $86,494 in Fiscal Year 2021-2022; and,
3. Authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 and future amendments to the Professional Services Agreement for On-Call Professional Services with EcoNomics, Inc., subject to the City Attorney making non- substantive changes.
6. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2022 -213, Amending the Laguna Niguel Municipal Code to Preclude the Appointment of Councilmember Relatives to Commissions, Boards and Committees and Preclude the Employment of Such Relatives by the City, Including Requested Revisions from the City Council
City Council conducted second reading, by title only, and adopted Ordinance No. 2022-213:
ORDINANCE
NO. 2022-213
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
AMENDING THE LAGUNA NIGUEL MUNICIPAL CODE TO PRECLUDE
THE APPOINTMENT OF RELATIVES OF COUNCILMEMBERS TO CITY
COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, TO PRECLUDE THE
EMPLOYMENT OF RELATIVES OF COUNCILMEMBERS, AND MAKING
A FINDING OF EXEMPTION UNDER CEQA IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Introduction of Ordinance No. 2022 -212 Amending the Laguna Niguel Municipal Code Related to the Military Support Committee , and Liability Review
Deputy City Manager Martin provided a report on Ordinance No. 2022-212.
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PUBLIC COMMENTS
William “Bill” Sundin spoke in favor of the ordinance and expressed that his concerns about term limits had been addressed.
David Tuma spoke in favor of the ordinance. He expressed that the Military Support Committee had leadership that could lead the committee meetings and extended an invitation to Council Members to attend a meeting.
Kathy Khalifa spoke in favor of the ordinance. She expressed that there was room for change in the organization and administration of the Military Support Committee.
Stephanie Oddo decided to forgo her comments.
Frank McGrath spoke in favor of the ordinance. He expressed that this could help garner buy-in from other Committee members and thanked City Staff for the comprehensive report.
Lynn Hoskins spoke in favor of the ordinance and expressed that it would be extremely easy to fill the Chair and Vice-Chair positions with current Committee members.
Debra Garnreiter spoke in favor of the ordinance and encouraged a vote of “yes” so that the Committee could get back to work.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Jennings expressed her support for the ordinance and made a motion to waive the full reading and approve Ordinance No. 2022- 212. Mayor Gennawey seconded the motion.
Council Member Minagar expressed that he received feedback from anonymous Military Support Committee members and had concerns about the ordinance. He stated that he could not support the ordinance as presented.
Mayor Pro Tem Rains wanted to remind everyone that the Military Support Committee was created to support military members and their families.
Council Member Sharma thanked City Staff for the report on the ordinance. Discussion continued between Council Member Minagar and Sharma. Council Member Sharma made a motion to amend the main motion and move to keep the Council majority vote, the ex -officio listing, and remove the Council Liaison role and Chair and Vice- Chair designation from the ordinance. The motion was seconded by Council Member Minagar.
Mayor Gennawey spoke on the value of the Military Support Committee and in favor of all the proposed updates to the ordinance.
Discussion continued between Council Member Jennings and Minagar.
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Mayor Pro Tem Rains called for the question. City Attorney Ennis re-stated the motions on the floor. The first motion was to introduce the ordinance as presented. An amendment was made to remove the provisions of the role of the City Council Liaisons and designation and selection of Chair and Vice-Chair.
Discussion continued between Mayor Gennawey, Mayor Pro Tem Rains, and Council Member Jennings.
A MOTION was made by Council Member Sharma, seconded by Council Member Minagar t o amend Ordinance No. 2022- 212 by removing the provisions on Council Liaison roles and designation of Chair and Vice-Chair.
Motion carried 3 -2, with Council Member Jennings and Mayor Gennawey dissenting.
A MOTION was made by Council Member Sharma, seconded by Council Member Minagar to waive full reading, and introduce Ordinance No. 2022-212 as amended with the following title:
ORDINANCE
NO. 2022-212
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL
AMENDING THE LAGUNA NIGUEL MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING
TO THE MILITARY SUPPORT COMMITTEE, INCLUDING
PROVISIONS ON APPOINTMENT AND REMOVAL OF MEMBERS,
UPDATING THE LIST OF DUTIES AND LIST OF EX-OFFICIO
MEMBERS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN ADOPTED MILITARY
UNITS AND PROVIDING FOR THE COUNCIL’S SELECTION OF
ADOPTED MILITARY UNITS, AND MAKING A FINDING OF
EXEMPTION UNDER CEQA IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Motion carried 3-2, with Council Member Jennings and Mayor Gennawey dissenting.
A MOTION was made by Council Member Sharma, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Rains to direct that the proposed Ordinance be placed on the agenda for the April 19, 2022 City Council meeting.
Motion carried 4-1, with Council Member Jennings dissenting.
OTHER BUSINESS/COUNCIL REPORTS
1. Council Reports
Mayor Pro Tem Rains reported on her ride-along with the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and the upcoming Girls Empowerment Camp scheduled for May 14 and 15. She spoke on Autism Awareness Month and encouraged everyone to be mindful of community members who may have autism.
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Council Member Minagar reported on his re-appointment to the Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) and spoke on his attendance at a rally in support of Ukraine.
Council Member Sharma commended the City for having information on the City website regarding housing and food resources. He congratulated the Chamber of Commerce on the networking breakfast event that featured the City Center project. He concluded by reminding everyone that April 5
th was Gold Star Spouse Day and encouraged the
community to remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Council Member Jennings reported on the Summer Job Fair, the Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast event, and the Emergency Preparedness Fair . She wished everyone a very Happy Easter.
Mayor Gennawey provided a summary on agenda items approved at the meeting tonight and gave a brief report on various meetings and events she attended , including the Laguna Niguel Senior Citizens Committee meeting, the Mayor’s Mix and Mingle event, the Summer Job Fair , and a presentation of the Mayor’s Challenge Coin to the Police Auxiliary Citizens’ Team (PACT). She thanked City Staff for their efforts at these events.
She discussed that the City Council can, and should, request information to make informed decisions. In the past few months council has directed from the dais the creation of a report by the City Attorney , and this process is most costly to the taxpayers. She named a few budgeted city programs that have comparable annual funding as the one report on tonight’s agenda that was directed from the dais. The same information could have been gained via a conversation with City Staff, which would have been significantly less costly to taxpayers. She respectfully requested that this be kept in mind and information be sought from Staff rather than directing reports from the dais.
2. City Manager Report/Department Reports
Community Development Director Orduna provided an update on the City’s economic development activities.
Parks and Recreation Director Rivera provided a report on upcoming events hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gennawey adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 8:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________
Thy M. Merritt
Deputy City Clerk