City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 January 10, 2024
LAGUNA NIGUEL CITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting
January 10, 2024 – 4:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – Mayor Jennings called the Special City Council Meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
Mayor Kelly Jennings – Present
Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie Oddo – Present
Council Member Ray Gennawey– Present
Council Member Gene Johns – Present
Council Member Stephanie Winstead – Present
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Council Member Johns
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
CITY COUNCIL
1. Conduct Interviews to Fill Two- Year Term Vacancies, Unless Otherwise Specified, for the Senior Citizens Committee; Investment, Banking and Audit Committee; Planning Commission; Parks and Recreation Commission; Traffic and Transportation Commission; and Military Support Committee.
The City Council conducted interviews for the following applicants on January 10, 2024, to fill two -year vacancies, unless otherwise specified, for the Senior Citizens Committee (4); Investment, Banking and Audit Committee (2); Planning Commission (2); Parks and Recreation Commission (2); Traffic and Transportation Commission (3); and Military Support Committee (9):
Senior Citizens Committee (4 vacancies)
Hinchet, Renae
Mudry Ann (incumbent)
Investment, Banking and Audit Committee (2 vacancies)
Levitin, Michael
Ruhl, Kathy
Planning Commission (2 vacancies)
Burkhalter, Ben
Frink, Cheryl
Gokbudak, Kurt
Hamedani, Hootan
Meihaus, Brian
Savage-Lebhart, Sally (incumbent)
Washington, Gunnar (withdrew)
City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 January 10, 2024
BREAK – 5:55 p.m. – 6:05 p.m.
Parks and Recreation Commission (2 vacancies)
Brandon, Leif
Burrola, Dayna
Lambino, Christine (incumbent)
Vanderhoff, Kristin
Traffic and Transportation Commission (3 Vacancies)
Abbaszadeh, Nasser
Davaran, Milad (did not attend)
Falk, James
Kinney, John
Lee, John
Military Support Committee (9 vacancies)
*Abrams, Daniel
Brown, Robert
Caldwell, Melissa (incumbent)
Hoskins, Lynn
McGrath, Frank (incumbent)
Tuma, David (incumbent)
*Council Member Winstead recused herself from the interview of Daniel Abrams due to their professional working relationship.
The City Council reviewed candidate submittals and interview notes, held discussion, and appointed the following individuals to serve on City Commissions and Committees each for a two-year term ending December 31, 2025:
A MOTION was made by Mayor Jennings, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Oddo to approve the following appointments:
Senior Citizens Committee (4 vacancies)
Hinchet, Renae, Alternate
Mudry Ann, moved from 2nd Alternate to Regular Member (incumbent)
and to move current 3 rd alternate, Greg Smith, to Regular Member for the remainder of his term.
Motion carried 5-0
A MOTION was made by Council Member Gennawey, seconded by Council Member Johns to approve the following appointments:
Investment, Banking and Audit Committee (2 vacancies)
Levitin, Michael
Ruhl, Kathy
City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 January 10, 2024
Motion carried 5-0
A MOTION was made by Mayor Jennings, seconded by Council Member Gennawey to approve the following appointments:
Planning Commission (2 vacancies)
Meihaus, Brian
Savage-Lebhart, Sally (incumbent)
Motion carried 5-0
A MOTION was made by Council Member Gennawey, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Oddo to approve the following appointment:
Parks and Recreation Commission (2 vacancies)
Lambino, Christino (incumbent)
Motion carried 5-0
A MOTION was made by Council Member Johns, seconded by Council Member Gennawey to approve the following appointments:
Traffic and Transportation Commission (3 Vacancies)
Brown, Robert
Kinney, John
Motion carried 5-0
A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tem Oddo, seconded by Mayor Jennings to approve the following appointments:
Military Support Committee (9 vacancies)
Abrams, Daniel
Brown, Robert
Caldwell, Melissa (incumbent)
Hoskins, Lynn
McGrath, Frank (incumbent)
Tuma, David (incumbent)
Motion carried 5 -0, with Council Member Winstead abstaining from voting on the appointment of Daniel Abrams.
Following the appointments, City Manager Letourneau shared that staff would advertise for remaining vacancies on the Parks and Recreation and Traffic and Transportation Commissions in late-February/early-March.
City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 January 10, 2024
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Jennings adjourned the Special City Council Meeting at 8:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__
Marissa J. Asistin, CMC, City Clerk
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 January 16, 2024
LAGUNA NIGUEL CITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting
January 16, 2024
7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – Mayor Jennings called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Mayor Kelly Jennings – Present
Mayor Pro Tem Stephanie Oddo – Present
Council Member Ray Gennawey– Present
Council Member Gene Johns – Present
Council Member Stephanie Winstead – Present
INVOCATION – Mayor Pro Tem Oddo
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Boy Scout Pack #702
PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar Item No, 5, 6 and 9 were pulled from the consent calendar.
A MOTION was made by Council Member Johns, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Oddo, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion carried 5-0.
1. Warrants of January 2, 2024 and January 16, 2024
Approved as written.
2. Payroll Summary Register
Approved as written.
3. Investment Report as of November 30, 2023
Approved as written.
4. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting on December 19, 2023
Approved as written.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 January 16, 2024
7. Adoption of Resolution No. 2024- 1461, Adopting the Updated City of Laguna Niguel Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023
Adopted Resolution No. 2024-1461, adopting the Updated City of Laguna Niguel Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2023.
8. Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Engineers (LLG) to Support Continued Coordination of the Laguna Niguel General Plan Update Traffic Study
1. Approved Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Engineers (LLG) to increase the contract amount by $130,297 for coordination with City staff regarding questions and comments throughout the General Plan Update Traffic Study, for a total not to exceed amount of $350,000;
2. Approved a not-to-exceed 10% contingency of the total contract in the amount of $35,000 for unforeseen additional work and authorize the Community Development Director to approve additional work for a total not -to-exceed amount of $385,000, if needed; and,
3. Authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement between the City and Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Engineers (LLG), subject to the City Attorney making non-substantive changes.
ITEM PULLED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
5. Adoption of Resolution 2024 -1460, Approving the Submittal of the Laguna Niguel Summer Trolley Project to the Orange County Transportation Authority for Funding Under the Competitive Measure M2 Community -Based Transit/Circulators Program (Project V)
Mayor Pro Tem Oddo shared that the project proposes to add a second line to the Summer Trolley that will service the residents from the Metrolink Station to the Crown Valley Community Center. Mayor Pro Tem Oddo expressed her excitement and hope that the City will be successful in securing the funding to expand the project.
Councilmember Johns shared that the Summer Trolley has been a great success and hopes that the City can obtain the funding to expand the program.
A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tem Oddo, seconded by Council Member Johns to:
Adopt Resolution No. 2024- 1460, approving the submittal of the Laguna Niguel Summer Trolley Project to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for funding under the competitive Measure Community -Based Transit/Circulators Program (Project V).
Motion carried 5-0.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 January 16, 2024
6. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2023-226 Adding Division 9 of Title 2 of the Laguna Niguel Municipal Code Establishing By -District Elections, Defining District Boundaries, and Scheduling Elections Within the Districts
Jerry Negger expressed his opposition to the city following dictates from Sacramento and, the potential consideration of creating a city charter.
Cheryl Frink spoke against districting.
A MOTION was made by Council Member Gennawey , seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Oddo to:
Conduct second reading, by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 2023-226:
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-226
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, ADDING DIVISION 9 OF TITLE 2 OF THE LAGUNA NIGUEL
MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING BY-DISTRICT ELECTIONS, DEFINING
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, AND SCHEDULING ELECTIONS WITHIN THE
DISTRICTS
Motion carried 5-0.
9. Award of Construction Contract to Western State Builders, Inc. for the Marina Hills Park Improvements, Cash Contract No. 22-15
Mayor Pro Tem Oddo stated that she would be recusing herself for this item given that she lives within 500 feet of Marina Hills Park.
A MOTION was made by Council Member Johns , seconded by Council Member Gennawey to:
1. Award the Construction Contract for the Marina Hills Park Improvements Project, Cash Contract No. 22- 15 to Western State Builders, Inc., in the amount of $718,576;
2. Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to process change orders in an amount not to exceed 15% of the contract for $107,786, for a total not -to-exceed amount of $826,362, if needed;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute the Construction Contract for the Marina Hills Park Improvements Project, Cash Contract No. 22- 15 with Western State Builders, Inc., subject to the City Attorney making non-substantive changes;
4. Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to execute the Notice of Completion at the conclusion of construction; and,
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 January 16, 2024
5. Transfer $166,566 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the Crown Valley Park Wi-Fi Project to the Marina Hills Park Improvements Project.
Motion carried 4-0-1 (Oddo recuse).
OTHER BUSINESS/COUNCIL REPORTS
1. Council Reports
Mayor Pro Tem Oddo wished everyone a Happy New Year and asked the community to be careful with increasing COVID-19 infection rates. She shared that she was recently appointed to the League of California Cities Environmental Quality Policy Committee and is honored to serve. Mayor Pro Tem Oddo shared a Holiday and New Year message with the community.
Council Member Winstead shared that Dana Hills High School PTSA and CSF students will be collecting recycling and e- waste items on Saturday, January 27 th from 10 a.m. to
12 p.m. in the Dana Hills High School parking lot.
Council Member Johns wished everyone a Happy New Year and shared that he attended a ribbon cutting for Vision Works. He shared that he attended the Lions Club Vision Screening event where over 230 people had their vision screened and had their eyes checked by an eye doctor for free. Council Member Johns thanked the Lions Club for hosting the event.
Council Member Gennawey shared that he attended the Youth Committee meeting and that they will be hosting a Pizza with Police event on Thursday, January 18 th at 5:30 p.m.
at California Pizza Kitchen , in conjunction with Laguna Niguel Police Services. Council Member Gennawey thanked all the Committee and Commission applicants that recently interviewed with the City Council. He shared that he was recently appointed to the League of California Cities Public Safety Committee and that he is honored to serve in this role.
Mayor Jennings thanked Moulton Niguel Water District who spoke at the Junior Civic Workshop on Tuesday, January 9
th. She thanked all the Committee and Commission
applicants for interviewing and congratulated those appointed to serve. Mayor Jennings announced the kick-off of Laguna Niguel Cares, a monthly campaign that will feature a local organization, non-profit, or volunteer group that will be recognized monthly for their positive impact on the community, and to create awareness of upcoming volunteer opportunities.
2. City Manager/Department Reports
Finance Director Trevor Agrelius shared that the City received the ‘ Certificate of Achievement’ from the Government Finance Officer s Association for the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Audit Report, making it the 23
rd consecutive year that the city has received
the recognition. He also shared that for the first time, the City received the ‘Distinguished
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 January 16, 2024
Budget Award’ from the Government Finance Officer Association for the 2023- 2024 budget report.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Jennings adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:29 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__
Marissa J. Asistin, CMC, City Clerk