City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 December 19, 2023
LAGUNA NIGUEL CITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting
December 19, 2023
7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – Mayor Jennings called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Kelly Jennings – Present
Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie Oddo – Absent
Council Member Ray Gennawey– Present
Council Member Gene Johns – Present
Council Member Stephanie Winstead – Present
City Clerk Asistin read into the record that Mayor Pro Tem Oddo tested positive for COVID-19 and in accordance with CDC guidelines and to protect others will be absent from the meeting.
INVOCATION – Tanner Jauregui, St. Timothy Catholic Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Cub Scout Pack #872
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A MOTION was made by Council Member Gennawey , seconded by Council Member Winstead, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion carried 4-0.
1. Warrants of December 19, 2023
Approved as written.
2. Payroll Summary Register
Approved as written.
3. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting on December 5, 2023
Approved as written.
4. Adoption of Resolution 2023-1457, Reaffirming and Extending the Existing Proclamation of Local Emergency in Connection with the Recent Earth Movement Under La Paz Road
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Adopted Resolution No. 2023- 1457, reaffirming and extending the proclamation of local emergency in connection with the recent earth movement under La Paz Road.
5. Measure M2 Annual Expenditure Report for FY 2022-23
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2023-1458, Adopting Measure M2 Expenditure Report for Fiscal Year 2022-2023; and
2. Authorized the City’s Finance Director to sign and file the report with the Orange County Transportation Authority.
6. Award of Construction Contract to United Storm Water, Inc. for the Purchase and Installation of Trash Control Devices on Stormwater Catch Basins, Cash Contract No. 23-34
1. Awarded the Construction Contract for the Purchase and Installation of Trash Control Devices on Stormwater Catch Basins, Cash Contract No. 23- 34 to United Storm Water, Inc., in the amount of $196,296;
2. Authorized the Public Works Director/City Engineer to process change orders in an amount not to exceed 10% of the contract for $19,630, for a total not -to- exceed amount of $215,926, if needed;
3. Authorized the City Manager to execute the Construction Contract for the Purchase and Installation of Trash Control Devices on Stormwater Catch Basins, Cash Contract No. 23-34 with United Storm Water, Inc., subject to the City Attorney making non-substantive changes; and,
4. Authorized the Public Works Director/City Engineer to execute the Notice of Completion at the conclusion of construction.
DISCUSSION ITEM
1. Adoption of Resolution No. 2023 -1459, Adopting the Expanded Senior Transportation Program , Senior Wheels, through the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Senior Mobility Program for Added Trips and Destinations for All Laguna Niguel Residents 60 Years of Age or Older Who Are Unable to Drive, and Finding Said Action Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines.
Interim Parks and Recreation Director Jonathon Harmon introduced the discussion item and provided a presentation on the adoption of Resolution No. 2023- 1459, adopting the expanded Senior Transportation Program, Senior Wheels, through the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Senior Mobility Program.
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COUNCIL QUESTIONS
Council Member Gennawey asked what a participant of the program would have to do to receive a ride. Interim Parks and Recreation Director Harmon answered that eligible senior residents would need to enroll into the program first either online or in person at the Sea Country Senior and Community Center. He added that once the participant is enrolled in the program, they will be able to call a phone number and schedule a ri de.
Council Member Gennawey asked if the program is being funded by the Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA). Interim Parks and Recreation Director Harmon answered in the affirmative.
Council Member Johns asked if there was a brochure available that explains what participants can use the updated transportation program for. Interim Parks and Recreation Director Harmon answered that staff are working on a full program packet that will include the application along with all of the information on what qualifies as an eligible ride.
Council Member Winstead asked if medical appointments would be top priority when scheduling. Interim Parks and Recreation Director Harmon answered in the affirmative and added that medical appointment transportation can be scheduled well in advance.
He also added that the more demand and requests for rides that comes from Laguna Niguel participants, the more California Yellow Cab is going to allocate resources to the city, which will result in quicker pickups. Council Member Winstead inquired about the $5 round trip fee. Interim Parks and Recreation Director Harmon answered that the $5 round trip fee is for rides within the city limits of Laguna Niguel and medical appointments outside of the city limits would range anywhere from $4 to $6 one way.
Mayor Jennings opened Public Comments.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Jennings closed Public Comments.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Mayor Jennings thanked Interim Parks and Recreation Director Harmon for his diligence and hard work on the program and shared her appreciation for the expansion of the program.
A MOTION was made by Council Member Gennawey , seconded by Council Member Johns to:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2023- 1459, entitled “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE
EXPANDED SENIOR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, SENIOR WHEELS,
THROUGH THE ORANGE COUNTRY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
(OCTA) SENIOR MOBILITY PROGRAM PROVIDING ADDED TRIP S AND DESTINATIONS FOR ALL LAGUNA NIGUEL RESIDENTS 60 YEARS OF AGE
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OR OLDER WHO ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE, AND FINDING SAID ACTION EXEMPT FROM CEQA PURSUANT TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES”;
2. Direct staff to submit Resolution No. 2023-1459 to OCTA for final approval as the expanded program meets all OCTA Senior Mobility Program eligibility requirements; and,
3. Find that such action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines.
Motion carried 4-0.
OTHER BUSINESS/COUNCIL REPORTS
1. Council Reports
Council Member Winstead thanked everyone who participated and donated toys to the Laguna Niguel Military Support Committee toy drive and shared that the toys went to the families of the sailors of USS Stockdale and the service members of the first 140 th Assault
Helicopter Battalion. Council Member Winstead thanked the members of the Military Support Committee for their work, and she also thanked those community members who participated in the holiday lights decorating contest. She encouraged residents to vi ew some of the holiday lights on Kings Road in the Crown Royal Community. Council Member Winstead shared that the Laguna Niguel Chamber is having a Shop and Dine contest through December 31
st. She also shared the Laguna Niguel Chamber is having a contest where the public can nominate a favorite business in nine different categories at vote.shopdinelagunaniguel.com.
Council Member Johns shared that he attended an Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) demonstration of a hel opod that will help combat wildfires across Orange County. He thanked everyone who worked and attended the Holiday Parade. Council Member Johns shared that he attended the Hanukkah C elebration event and the Senior Citizens Club Christmas Luncheon. He wished everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
Council Member Gennawey thanked Cub Scout Pack #872 for their flag presentation. He shared that the City of Laguna Niguel has had a tremendous year as an organization and emphasized the word team. Council Member Gennawey shared a list of accomplishments for the year which included: a dopting a balanced budget without raising taxes, saving taxpayers millions of dollars by avoiding senseless litigation, saving the taxpayers over a million dollars by appointing two public servants to fill vacancies on the City Council, staff securing a $15.5 million grant to fix La Paz Road, the Niguel Fire being put out without any reported injuries and no reported property damage, h olding a record number of neighborhood watch meetings across the city which included the first ever citywide neighborhood watch meeting, holding a community town hall on the dangers of fentanyl with Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, and having a record number of attendance at events like the Sea Country Festival and Summer Concerts. He shared that the General Plan update would continue in the upcoming year and also shared that one of his goals is to tackle the dangers with e-bikes.
Council Member Gennawey thanked everyone on the team in the City of Laguna Niguel.
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Mayor Jennings thanked everyone for this holiday season and all the events that took place. She congratulated the Holiday Lights decorating contest winners and encouraged residents to take a tour of some of the best holiday lights. Mayor Jennings thanked Animal Services for their presentation at the Junior Civic Workshop. Mayor Jennings expressed her gratitude for the honor of serving as Mayor and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.
2. City Manager/Department Reports
City Manager Letourneau shared that the California Transportation Commission voted unanimously to approve the La Paz Road project for local transportation climate adaptation program funding and the city will receive over $15.5 million in funding to stabilize the land under La Paz Road with permanent street repairs. She added that the city has a 20% match which the city will be applying for some additional grants and in addition the city will receive about $700,000 in the current fiscal year. City Manager Letourneau shared that receiving the previously mentioned funds means that the city will expedite the timeline on the permanent repairs for La Paz Road.
Battalion Chief Justin Neville provided an Orange County Fire Authority Quarterly Report.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Jennings adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Marissa J. Asistin, CMC, City Clerk