City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 December 17, 2024
LAGUNA NIGUEL CITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting
December 17, 2024
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 Ray Gennawey – Present
Mayor Pro Tem Gene Johns – Present
Council Member Kelly Jennings– Present
Council Member Stephanie Oddo – Present
Council Member Stephanie Winstead – Present
INVOCATION – James Wenger, Grace Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Boy Scout Troop #772 and Pack #705
PRESENTATION
1. Proclamation Commending Commander Lt Col Wagner of the 1 st Battalion
4th Marines
The City Council presented a proclamation to Commander Lt Col Wagner of the 1 st
Battalion 4th Marines and his unit who have enjoyed an 18-year adoptive relationship with the City of Laguna Niguel.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jennifer Barb, Susan Aaronson, Melissa Pearl, Ivana Dorin, and Laura Bennett spoke regarding the Selection of Mayor that took place during the December 3 rd Regular City Council Meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A MOTION was made by Mayor Pro Tem Johns, seconded by Council Member Winstead, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion carried 5-0.
1. Warrants of December 17, 2024
Approved as written.
2. Payroll Summary Register
Approved as written.
3. Investment Report as of October 31, 2024
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Received and filed the City of Laguna Niguel Investment Report as of October 31, 2024.
4. Minutes of the December 3, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting
Approved as written.
5. Measure M2 Annual Expenditure Report for FY 2023-2024
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-1496 (Attachment A), Adopting the Measure M2 Expenditure Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024; and
2. Authorized the City’s Finance Director to sign and file the report with the Orange County Transportation Authority.
6. Appointment of City Council Liaisons to Regional Agency Boards and City Commissions, Committees, and Boards
1. Appointed Council Representatives to the Regional Agency Boards as identified in Attachment A; and,
2. Appointed Council Liaisons to City Commissions, Committees, and Boards as identified in Attachment B.
7. Approval of Product and Services Agreement with ACTIVE Network
1. Approved the Product and Services Agreement with ACTIVE Network in the not-to-exceed amount of $121,563 to provide recreation management software for the Parks and Recreation Department from 2025 through 2029; and,
2. Authorized the City Manager to execute the Product and Services Agreement, and future amendments to the Agreement, subject to the City Attorney making non-substantive changes.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Public Hearing to Consider Zoning Code Amendment ZCA 24-1001 and Zoning Code Amendment ZCA 24-1002 to Address State Mandates
Senior Planner Erica Roess provided a report to consider Zoning Code Amendment ZCA 24-1001 and Zoning Code Amendment ZCA 24-1002 to address state mandates.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS
There were no City Council questions.
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Mayor Gennawey opened the Public Hearing.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Gennawey closed the Public Hearing.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
There was no further City Council discussion.
Mayor Gennawey stated that the zoning code amendments are state -required and that he had several questions, which were also raised by the Planning Commission. He acknowledged the thorough staff report and meeting minutes, which answered all the questions and saved him time. He emphasized that the amendments are mandatory, and non-compliance with state requirements would have serious consequences.
A MOTION was made by Mayor Gennawey, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Johns to:
Open the public hearing, take public testimony, close the public testimony, and then take the following actions:
1. Find that adoption of Zoning Code Amendment ZCA 24- 1001 and Zoning Code Amendment ZCA 24 -1002 are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because they are both an administrative activity that will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change to the environment and thus is not a “project” under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 (see State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15060(c)(2) and (3)). Alternatively, even if adoption of ZCA 24-1001 and ZCA 24-1002 did qualify as a project under CEQA, find that it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), which provides that a project is exempt from CEQA where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. And find that, moreover, Zoning Code Amendment ZCA 24- 1001 is statutorily exempt from CEQA under Public Resources Code section 21080.17.
2. Waive full reading, make any amendments to, and introduce Ordinance No. 2024- 232 (Attachment A) by title:
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-232
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING ZONING CODE AMENDMENT ZCA 24-1001 AMENDING REGULATIONS
PERTAINING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS TO CONFORM WITH REVISIONS TO STATE LAW; AND
DETERMINING THE ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS
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15060(C)(2), 15060(C)(3), 15061(B)(3), AND PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE SECTION 21080.17.
3. Waive full reading, make any amendments to, and introduce Ordinance No. 2024- 233 (Attachment C) by title:
ORDINANCE NO. 2024-233
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING ZONING CODE AMENDMENT (ZCA) 24-1002 AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE GATEWAY SPECIFIC PLAN TO ADDRESS SEVERAL STATE MANDATES; AND
DETERMINING THE ACTION TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTIONS 15060(C)(2), 15060(C)(3), AND 15061(B)(3)
4. Direct that the proposed ordinances, with any changes, be placed on the agenda for the January 21, 2025, City Council Meeting and adopt the ordinances at that meeting.
Motion carried 5-0.
OTHER BUSINESS/COUNCIL REPORTS
1. Council Reports
Council Member Jennings expressed her gratitude to the Parks and Recreation Department team and all City staff for their efforts in organizing a successful Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday P arade. She thanked everyone involved, including Police Services, and wished everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a blessed New Year.
Council Member Winstead expressed gratitude for the staff and volunteers who made the annual Holiday Parade possible. She also thanked those who participated in the holiday lights decorating contest, congratulating the winners and noting that a map of the winning homes is available on the City website. Council Member Winstead encouraged residents to shop locally, mentioning a contest hosted by the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce where participants can win gift cards by submitting receipts through an app. Council Member Winstead shared that she will be spending the next few weeks with her diverse family and friends, celebrating Christian, Jewish, and Persian traditions, and wished everyone a healthy and happy New Year.
Council Member Oddo shared her plan to track Assembly Bill 1 regarding insurance in the new year. She also shared a significant legal victory for sober living homes, following a precedent-setting ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court, which upheld local governments' right to regulate recovery residences. Council Member Oddo thanked the City of Costa Mesa for their efforts and legal expenses in the case. She also shared h er appointment as Chair of the Orange County Housing and Community Development Commission and her attendance at the opening of a new jewelry business in Laguna Niguel. Council Member
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 December 17, 2024
Oddo praised the staff and volunteers for their work on the H oliday Parade. She expressed condolences for the tragic loss of Cole Constantino, a former Laguna Niguel resident, and offered her sympathies to the Constantino family and the St. Anne School community. Council Member Oddo congratulated lifelong Laguna Niguel resident Sam Rafizad for being selected for the prestigious Scoville Peace Fellowship. Council Member Oddo wished everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and joyous holidays, hoping for peace and joy in the new year.
Mayor Pro Tem Johns expressed gratitude for the staff's efforts in organizing recent holiday events, including the Christmas Tree Lighting, the reindeer display, and the Holiday Parade. He thanked the Park and Recreation Department staff, as well as Police and Fire personnel, for their contributions to the parade's success, noting it was a fun and well-executed event. Mayor Pro Tem Johns encouraged everyone to spend quality time with family and friends during the holiday season and reflect on what they are thankful for. Mayor Pro Tem Johns thanked Councilmember Kelly Jennings for her leadership as Mayor over the past two years and expressed his excitement to continue working with her in the coming years.
Mayor Gennawey shared that he attended the ribbon cutting events for Knolls Restaurant and Mercedes-Benz Laguna Niguel, emphasizing the positive impact of new ownerships.
He praised the City’s staff, mentioning a special appearance of real reindeer at City Hall during the City’s Tree Lighting Ceremony , which was a hit with residents. Mayor Gennawey recognized the Tuma family for their continuous volunteer efforts and expressed gratitude for the C ity staff's contributions. He noted the City's successes this year, including a balanced budget without tax increases, the implementation of a pioneering e- bike safety ordinance, and improvements in the appearance of the City , including streamlining of campaign signage. Mayor Gennawey expressed optimism for 2025 and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
2. City Manager/Department Reports
Chief of Police Services Isaac Flores provided a Police Services Quarterly Report.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Gennawey adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Marissa J. Asistin, CMC, City Clerk