City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 8 May 19, 2026
LAGUNA NIGUEL CITY COUNCIL
Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting
May 19, 2026
7:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL – Mayor Johns called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Gene Johns – Present
Mayor Pro Tem Kelly Jennings – Present
Council Member Ray Gennawey– Present
Council Member Stephanie Oddo – Present
Council Member Stephanie Winstead – Present
INVOCATION – Farshad Jahed, Baha’i Community of Laguna Niguel
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Boy Scout Troop #772
PRESENTATIONS
1. National Poppy Day Proclamation
Mayor Johns presented a proclamation to the members of the American Legion Auxiliary designating National Poppy Day as May 22, 2026. He thanked the members on behalf of the City Council, for their ongoing commitment to the community.
2. Recognition of Col Jason Armas, Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Regiment
The scheduled presentation was continued to a future meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jena Minnick -Bull, Director at South Coast Conservatory, provided updates on South Coast Conservatory programs and invited the community to upcoming events.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A MOTION was made by Council Member Winstead, seconded by Council Member Oddo, to approve the Consent Calendar as presented.
Motion carried 5-0.
1. Warrants of May 19, 2026
Approved as written.
2. Payroll Summary Register
Approved as written.
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3. Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting on May 5, 2026
Approved as written.
4. Update of the City’s Legislative Advocacy Efforts
Received and filed this update on the City’s Legislative Advocacy Efforts.
5. Approval of Maintenance Services Agreement Amendments for Various Maintenance Services in Support of Public Works Department Functions
1. Approved attached Amendments to the Maintenance Services Agreements, to exercise an optional one-year term extension with (listed alphabetically):
• Animal Pest Management Services,
Inc.
• MCE Corporation
• Bapptre Landscaping, Inc. dba Shine
Illumination
• Merchants Landscape Services, Inc.
• Creative Commercial Services • Pacific Plumbing Company of Santa Ana dba Pacific Plumbing of Southern
California
• First Response Air Conditioning &
Heating, Inc.
• Real Green, Inc.
• Golden West Arbor Services, Inc. • Verne’s Plumbing, Inc. • Knorr Systems Int’l., LLC • Waterline Technologies, Inc
2. Approved attached rate increases (3.0% or less) with Animal Pest Management Services, Inc., First Response Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc., Golden West Arbor Services, Inc., MCE Corporation, Merchants Landscape Services, Inc. , and Pacific Plumbing Company of Santa Ana dba Pacific Plumbing of Southern California;
3. Approved the increases in the total annual not-to-exceed contract amounts for Fiscal Year 2026- 27 Maintenance Services Agreements to accommodate additional maintenance needs:
Facilities Maintenance
Knorr Systems Int’l., LLC $30,000 increase
Pacific Plumbing Company of Santa Ana dba Pacific Plumbing of Southern California
$30,000 increase
Verne’s Plumbing, Inc. $30,000 increase
Waterline Technologies, Inc. $30,000 increase
First Response Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. $60,000 increase
Park Maintenance
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Golden West Arbor Services, Inc. $35,000 increase
Merchants Landscape Services Inc. $220,000 increase
Real Green Inc. $30,000 increase
Street Maintenance
MCE Corporation $100,000 increase
4. Approved the addition of a price escalation clause applicable to the remaining future option year extension in the Amendment to the Maintenance Services Agreements with Animal Pest Management Services, Inc., First Response Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc., Golden West Arbor Services, Inc., Merchants Landscape Services, Inc., MCE Corporation, Pacific Plumbing Company of Santa Ana dba Pacific Plumbing of Southern California, Real Green, Inc. and Verne’s Plumbing, Inc.; and,
5. Authorized the City Manager to execute the Amendments to the Maintenance Services Agreements, subject to the City Attorney making non- substantive changes.
6. Award of Maintenance Services Agreements to Jamey Clark, Inc., Real Estate Consulting & Services, Inc. and, Zimprich Engineering, Inc. for General Facilities Maintenance Services
1. Awarded a Maintenance Services Agreement for General Facilities Maintenance Services to Jamey Clark, Inc., Real Estate Consulting & Services, Inc., and Zimprich Engineering, Inc. in the not -to-exceed amount of $150,000 per year for Fiscal Years 2026- 27 through 2028- 29, subject to extension administratively for two additional one-year periods;
2. Approved a not-to-exceed 20% contingency per year of the total contract in the amount of $30,000 for unforeseen conditions or additional work and authorized the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve additional work with Jamey Clark, Inc., Real Estate Consulting & Services, Inc., and Zimprich Engineering, Inc. for a total not-to-exceed amount of $180,000 per year if needed;
3. Authorized the City Manager to execute the agreements and future amendments to the Maintenance Services Agreements with Jamey Clark, Inc., Real Estate Consulting & Services, Inc., and Zimprich Engineering, Inc., subject to the City Attorney making non-substantive changes.
DISCUSSION ITEM
1. Recodification of the Laguna Niguel Municipal Code – Title 5 Updates
Assistant City Manager Martin introduced the item and provided a report on the recodification of the Laguna Niguel Municipal Code Title 5 updates.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS
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Council Member Gennawey thanked the City Attorney’s Office for its work on the municipal code update and suggested expanding the list of disqualifying criminal offenses related to permits for massage parlors and adult-oriented businesses. He recommended adding penal code references to offenses related to human trafficking, pandering, rape, incest, sodomy, oral copulation, lewd acts on a child, and unlawful recording offenses to strengthen public safety protections. He asked staff for guidance on whether the recommendations could be incorporated into the current code update or should be brought forward separately. Assistant City Manager Martin explained that the purpose of the discussion was to review the proposed code updates and gather C ity Council feedback on any additional changes or clarifications. He stated that the City Council could direct staff to further expand the list of disqualifying Penal Code offenses and noted that staff would seek City Council consensus before proceeding. He added that the proposed additions could either be incorporated into the curr ent municipal code update or brought back as a separate item at a future meeting before being folded into the first reading of the municipal code update scheduled for July.
Council Member Oddo expressed support for strengthening regulations related to massage parlors, noting that neighboring cities have adopted stricter rules and emphasizing the importance of preventing problematic businesses from relocating to Laguna Niguel. She stated that the goal was to protect workers from exploitation and human trafficking- related activities that can occur in some establishments. Council Member Oddo outlined several potential ordinance enhancements for further discussion, including requi ring licenses to be issued only to the applicant, mandating visible technician photo identification cards, limiting operating hours, prohibiting locking interior rooms, and restricting access points to front-door entry only. She also highlighted the idea of holding shopping center landlords accountable by limiting future massage parlor permits at locations where violations occur, which she said could strengthen enforcement efforts. She suggested continuing the discussion at a future City Council meeting, allowing City Council members to research the issue further and submit additional recommendations to staff so an updated ordinance could be prepared for future consideration.
Mayor Johns stated that he had previously discussed massage parlor regulations with City Manager Letourneau several months earlier after reading an article on the issue. He noted that the City currently does a strong job through law enforcement oversight and inspections but acknowledged the broader concerns surrounding sex trafficking connected to some massage parlor operations. Drawing from his law enforcement background in Los Angeles, he recognized the seriousness of the issue and stated that such activity also exists in South Orange County. He expressed appreciation to Council Members Gennawey and Oddo for raising the topic and supporting further discussion on strengthening regulations.
Council Member Winstead expressed appreciation for the proposed massage establishment regulations included in Sections 5- 3-1 through 5- 3-8 and suggested additional language be considered to strengthen anti -human trafficking measures. She recommended adding provisions requiring the display of anti -human trafficking notices and referenced existing regulations in the municipal codes of nearby cities, San Juan
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Capistrano and San Clemente as potential models for consideration. Council Member Winstead encouraged further discussion of the issue at a future meeting and noted that neighboring cities already have established code sections addressing massage establishment regulations. She also stated that she valued the input of her fellow City Council Members, particularly Council Member Gennawey , given his professional experience related to human trafficking issues through the District Attorney’s Office.
Mayor Pro Tem Jennings expressed concern that adding overly specific language to the massage establishment regulations could unintentionally create limitations in the future.
She noted that the current proposed language is broad and comprehensive, which may provide greater flexibility for enforcement and regulatory actions. While supportive of strengthening protections, she cautioned that narrowing the language too much could create situations where certain conduct or violations may not be covered because t hey were not specifically listed in the ordinance.
Assistant City Manager Martin cautioned against making the regulations too overly restrictive, emphasizing the importance of maintaining flexibility within the ordinance. He stated that while the City Council has the ability to strengthen and refine the regulations as discussed, staff would work to balance clearer standards with enough flexibility to address potential future situations effectively.
Mayor Johns referred to the municipal code’s practice of incorporating or referencing existing state laws. He sought clarification on whether the specific offenses and provisions mentioned by Council Member Gennawey were not already fully covered under state law.
He asked for confirmation that the additional Penal Code sections being discussed would go beyond what is currently addressed in state statutes referenced in the City’s ordinance.
Council Member Gennawey explained that the proposed ordinance changes would expand the list of criminal convictions that disqualify an applicant from obtaining a massage establishment permit, adding additional Penal Code sections related to sexual offenses and exploitation. He emphasized that these additions would strengthen protections by ensuring individuals with serious convictions, including offenses involving minors and sexual exploitation, would be ineligible to operate such businesses. He also noted that Penal Code and sex offender registration laws are frequently updated at the state level, and incorporating broader or additional references at the local level could help ensure the C ity’s ordinance remains comprehensive. Council Member Gennawey expressed pride in the City Council’s shared commitment to addressing human trafficking and highlighted his experience as a prosecutor with the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force. He stated that enforcement efforts already involve coordination between the County, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and local Police Services, and suggested that the C ity should ensure its ordinance aligns with existing enforcement practices to avoid redundancy while remaining effective. He concluded by suggesting further discussion with Police Services and City Council Members to refine the proposal and determine how best to bring a strengthened ordinance back for formal consideration.
Assistant City Manager Martin explained that staff would follow up with the City C ouncil to gather specific feedback on which portions of the massage establishment regulations they would like to further strengthen or refine. He stated that staff, in coordination with the
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City Attorney’s Office and Police Services, would use that input to draft updated language for the ordinance. He further noted that the proposed revisions could be brought back for City Council review at the June 16 meeting, with the potential to incorporate any approved changes into the broader municipal code recodification scheduled for first reading in July.
City Attorney Smith provided guidance on the proposed massage establishment ordinance revisions and summarized key areas for refinement. He noted that one focus area was the “corporate licensing” issue, specifically clarifying who is responsible for a permit when ownership or management changes, while preventing businesses from avoiding accountability by transferring licenses between individuals or entities. He also distinguished between regulating business operations versus regulating individual patrons, suggesting that the City’s concerns appear to be more appropriately focused on business conduct rather than customer behavior. He cautioned that overly strict patron- focused regulations could unnecessarily burden lawful businesses and potentially discourage legitimate operations. He recommended that staff and C ity Council focus on refining the ordinance in a way that targets business practices and corporate accountability while avoiding measures that could unintentionally overregulate individual customers or hinder compliant businesses.
Mayor Johns asked Council Member Oddo to clarify h er earlier suggestion regarding shopping center accountability in massage establishment regulation. He specifically sought confirmation on whether the proposal meant that a shopping center owner could be restricted from leasing space to another massage parlor within their property for a set period of time if a tenant violated applicable rules or laws.
Council Member Oddo clarified that under her proposed concept, if a massage establishment operating within a shopping center violates applicable laws or regulations, the property owner or shopping center would face consequences, potentially including a prohibition on licensing approval for another massage parlor at that location for a set period of time. She explained that the intent of the approach is to create stronger enforcement by holding shopping center owners accountable for repeated violations by tenants, rather than allowing problematic businesses to easily relocate within the same property or to similar locations. She also noted that other nearby cities, including San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, have implemented or are updating similar, more restrictive ordinances, and expressed concern that Laguna Niguel should not become a more lenient jurisdiction in comparison.
Mayor Johns stated that he would like input from Police Services as part of the ordinance review process, emphasizing their day -to-day enforcement perspective on massage establishments. He noted that while he had previously been informed there was not a significant issue with illegal activity in the C ity’s existing massage businesses, he acknowledged that sex trafficking is a broader concern that exists regionally and should still be proactively addressed. He expressed support for strengthening local regulations to prevent Laguna Niguel from becoming a more permissive jurisdiction compared to neighboring cities adopting stricter rules. He concluded by requesting that law enforcement provide feedback ahead of the June 16 meeting to help inform any final ordinance revisions.
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Council Member Gennawey clarified for the public that the discussion of massage establishment regulations was not prompted by any specific incident or event in the City.
He explained that the City Council was currently undertaking a comprehensive review and update of the municipal code, and the massage establishment provisions were simply one part of a broader set of business permitting updates being reviewed during that process. He emphasized that t he discussion was part of the C ity’s ongoing code recodification effort.
Assistant City Manager Martin summarized the next steps for the massage establishment ordinance review. He stated that staff would reach out to City Council Members following the meeting to gather input and refine the proposed subchapter related to massage establishments. He noted that staff would coordinate with Police Services and the City Attorney’s Office, as well as review examples from other referenced cities, to draft updated language based on City Council discussion and feedback. The revised municipal code section would then be presented for Council consideration at the June 16 meeting.
Mayor Johns opened Public Comment.
There were no public comments.
Mayor Johns closed Public Comment.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION
There was no further discussion from the City Council.
OTHER BUSINESS/COUNCIL REPORTS
1. Council Reports
Council Member Oddo highlighted the Citizens Academy G raduation, praising the program for building community engagement and providing residents insight into law enforcement through the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. She also congratulated graduates of Dana Hills High School who received the Hidden Hills First -Generation Scholarship, noting that all six applicants were awarded $1,300 scholarships to support their pursuit of college or trade school.
Council Member Gennawey stated that he is looking forward to the upcoming Memorial Day Ceremony and thanked Parks and Recreation Department staff for distributing summer concert materials, noting his enthusiasm for the start of the S ummer Concert Series and upcoming community events.
Council Member Winstead announced the summer trolley service would begin Thursday and encouraged residents to use it for summer concerts and events. She also shared a parking tip, recommending attendees park at City Hall and use the free shuttle to Crown Valley Park.
Mayor Pro Tem Jennings thanked Police Services for the Citizens Academy and related events, noting strong community engagement and positive impact. She also
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congratulated participants involved in the Little League closing ceremony and highlighted the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship, and youth development. She concluded by recognizing Memorial Day, encouraging residents to honor fallen service members and noting the upcoming Memorial Day Ceremony at the Sea Country Senior and Community Center.
Mayor Johns thanked Police Services for the Citizens Academy, noting its positive impact on residents understanding of law enforcement and expressing appreciation for officers dedication beyond regular duties. He also commended Little League leadership for successful closing ceremonies and encouraged strong community attendance at the upcoming Memorial Day Ceremony honoring fallen service members. He additionally shared reflections from attending Police Week in Washington, D.C., honoring fallen officers and recognizing the sacrifices made by law enforcement families, and concluded by thanking law enforcement for their ongoing service and commitment to public safety.
City Manager/Department Reports
There were no additional reports.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Johns adjourned the Regular City Council Meeting at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__
Marissa J. Asistin, CMC, City Clerk