CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
October 18, 2023
2:00 P.M.
Laguna Woods City Hall
24264 El Toro Road
Laguna Woods, California 92637
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Conners called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:00 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBER: PRESENT: Horne, McCary, Hatch, Conners
ABSENT: Moore
All councilmembers participated in-person at the meeting location.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Macon, City Attorney Patterson, City Clerk Trippy All staff participated in-person at the meeting location.
Mayor Conners noted that Councilmember Moore is absent due to her attendance at the CALAFCO Conference.
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Jim Beres, City of Laguna Beach, led the pledge of allegiance.
IV. PRESENTATIONS AND CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4.1 Certificate of Commendation for the Chinese American Club of Laguna Woods Village's 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival
(agendized by Mayor Conners)
City Clerk Trippy read the commendation.
Mike Yang, Chinese American Club of Laguna Woods Village, made comments.
Councilmembers made comments.
Moved by Councilmember Horne, seconded by Councilmember McCary, and carried October 18, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
unanimously on a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Moore absent, to approve and present the certificate of commendation.
Mayor Conners called for a brief recess at 2:09 p.m.
The meeting was called back to order at 2:13 p.m.
4.2 Presentation Regarding Coyote Activity and Living Wildlife - Laguna Beach/Laguna Woods Animal Services
(agendized by Mayor Conners)
Jim Beres, City of Laguna Beach, introduced the item.
Justin Taguchi, Animal Services Officer, made a presentation.
Councilmembers made comments and Mr. Beres and Mr. Taguchi responded to questions.
4.3 Presentation Regarding Laguna Woods Mobility Technology Plan - Arcadis IBI Group, Inc.
City Manager Macon introduced the item.
Steve Wilks, Associate with Arcadis IBI Group and Josh Albertson, Mobility Specialist with Arcadis IBI Group, made a presentation.
Councilmember McCary left the meeting at 2:48 p.m. and returned at 2:50 p.m.
City Manager Macon made comments.
Councilmembers made comments and Mr. Wilks and Mr. Albertson responded to questions.
Quarterly Presentation Regarding Status of the Fiscal Years 2023-34 Capital Improvement Program - City staff
Mayor Conners stated that staff requested to pull this item off the agenda.
V. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Catherine Weinberg, representing Kolnick, Inc., Foodline, Inc., Robert Lewis Porter, Gloria Jean Porter, and Mary Louise Furia, commented on a nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by the City regarding a former, illegal cannabis dispensary at 24365 El Toro Road.
Mayor Conners briefly responded to Ms. Weinberg's comments.
Drew Israelsky, member of the public, commented on a nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by the October 18, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
City regarding a former, illegal cannabis dispensary at 24365 El Toro Road.
David Porter, member of the public, commented on a nuisance abatement lawsuit filed by the City regarding a former, illegal cannabis dispensary at 24365 El Toro Road.
Mayor Conners made brief comments.
Thomas Fleming, member of the public, commented on his experiences in Laguna Woods.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
Moved by Councilmember Horne, seconded by Councilmember McCary, and carried unanimously on a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Moore absent, to approve Consent Calendar items 6.1 - 6.4.
6.1 City Council Minutes
Approved the City Council meeting minutes for the regular meeting on September 20, 2023.
6.2 City Treasurer's Report
Received and filed the City Treasurer's Report for the month of September 2023.
6.3 Warrant Register
Approved the warrant register dated October 18, 2023 in the amount of $644,765.11.
6.4 Disability-related Complaints and Grievances Policy Adopted a resolution titled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
WOODS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 3.2 PERTAINING TO RECEIVING AND
RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES ALLEGING
NON-EMPLOYMENT-RELATED DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS
OF DISABILITY IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES, ACTIVITIES,
PROGRAMS, OR BENEFITS BY THE CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
• 7.1 Conditional Use Permit CUP-2023-0003 to allow for the lease or rental of off-street parking spaces for motor vehicles, as well as modifications to the existing configuration and number of off-street parking spaces and addition of a new restroom and hand washing station, within an existing parking lot, at 23810 Via Campo Verde, Laguna Woods, CA October 18, 2023 3 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 92637.
City Manager Macon made a presentation. He noted that the proposed recommendation includes deleting the word "pertinent" from the third recital in the proposed resolution.
Mayor Conners opened the public hearing.
Thomas Fleming, member of the public, provided testimony, including inquiries about the portable restroom.
Mayor Conners briefly responded to Mr. Fleming's testimony.
Steve Moyer, CEO of Age Well Senior Services, provided testimony and briefly responded to Mr. Fleming's testimony.
Councilmembers briefly responded to Mr. Moyer's testimony.
With no other requests to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Councilmembers discussed the item and staff answered related questions.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Hatch, seconded by Councilmember Horne, and carried unanimously on a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Moore absent, to adopt a resolution titled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
WOODS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
CUP-2023-0003 TO ALLOW FOR THE LEASE OR RENTAL OF OFF-
STREET PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, AS WELL AS
MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXISTING CONFIGURATION AND
NUMBER OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES AND ADDITION OF
A NEW RESTROOM AND HAND WASHING STATION, WITHIN AN
EXISTING PARKING LOT, AT 23810 VIA CAMPO VERDE, LAGUNA
WOODS, CA 92637, DETERMINING AND CERTIFYING THAT THE
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT
TO SECTIONS 15301 AND 15303 OF TITLE 14 OF THE CALIFORNIA
CODE OF REGULATIONS
with the word "pertinent" deleted from the third recital.
City Manager Macon requested that Item 8.1 be moved to next on the agenda. There were no objections.
VIII. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
October 18, 2023 4 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
8.1 Unfunded Retirement Liability
City Manager Macon made a presentation.
Councilmembers discussed the item and staff answered related questions.
Moved by Councilmember Horne, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hatch, and carried unanimously on a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Moore absent, to
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
WOODS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING AND ADOPTING THE FISCAL
YEARS 2023-25 BUDGET AND WORK PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR
2023-24 COMMENCING JULY 1, 2023 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024, AND FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 COMMENCING JULY 1, 2024 AND
ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, RELATED TO LUMP SUM PAYMENTS TO
PAY OFF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT
SYSTEM (CALPERS) UNFUNDED ACCRUED LIABILITY, AND
MAKING RELATED AUTHORIZATIONS
VIl. PUBLIC HEARINGS
7.2 Zoning Code Amendments
City Manager Macon made a presentation. He noted that the proposed recommendation includes deleting the proposed addition of "community care facility," to the definition of "family" in Laguna Woods Municipal Code Section 13.26.010(d)(395).
Mayor Conners opened the public hearing.
With no requests to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Moved by Councilmember Horne, seconded by Councilmember McCary, and carried unanimously on a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Moore absent, to approve the introduction and first reading of an ordinance - read by title with further reading waived - titled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS 13.08.010,
13.10.020, 13.12.020, 13.13.020, AND 13.26.010 OF TITLE 13 (ZONING)
OF THE LAGUNA WOODS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND
DETERMINING AND CERTIFYING THAT THE ORDINANCE IS
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ACT
without the proposed addition of "community care facility," to the definition of "family" in Laguna Woods Municipal Code Section 13.26.010(d)(395).
October 18, 2023 5 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
7.3 Objective Design Standards
City Manager Macon made a presentation. He noted that the proposed recommendation includes the following revisions to the code amendments:
• Sec. 11.10.020(10) [Definition of "Awning"] -- Change "weather projection" to "weather protection"
• Sec. 11.10.020(80) [Definition of "Light Box Sign"] -- Change "which may includes images" to "which may include images"
• Sec. 11.10.020(115) [Definition of "Wall"] - Delete "than three, used to enclose space."
• Sec. 11.10.050(7) [Prohibited Design Elements] -- Change "sparking" to "sparkling"
• Sec. 11.10.100(3) [Design Standards for Residential Projects] -- Change "wall pane shall be" to "wall plane shall be"
• Sec. 11.10.060(1) [Driveways; public streets] -
To the extent that such reconstruction results in all or a portion of any driveway or adjacent sidewalk extending beyond the any discrepancy between the new driveway and/or new adjacent sidewalk and the City's existing public street easements or right-of-way, the property owner of record of the applicable parcel(s) shall grant to the City an irrevocable public street easement for that part of the driveway and adjacent sidewalk prior occupying such discrepancy shall be resolved prior to occupying any newly constructed or expanded buildings or structures the result of which requires compliance with this chapter.
Mayor Conners opened the public hearing.
With no requests to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Councilmembers discussed the item and staff answered related questions.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Hatch, seconded by Councilmember Horne, and carried unanimously on a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Moore absent, to approve the introduction and first reading of an ordinance - read by title with further reading waived - titled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LAGUNA WOODS, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 11.10 TO
TITLE 11 (PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT) OF THE LAGUNA
WOODS MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING OBJECTIVE DESIGN
STANDARDS FOR CERTAIN NEW DEVELOPMENT AND
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND DETERMINING AND
CERTIFYING THAT THE ORDINANCE IS EXEMPT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
with the revisions to Exhibit A (Code Amendments) proposed by staff.
October 18, 2023 6 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes VIl. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
8.2 City Council Meeting Schedule
City Manager Macon made comments.
Moved by Councilmember Horne, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Hatch, and carried unanimously on a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Moore absent, to schedule an adjourned regular meeting of the City Council for October 25, 2023, at 3:30 p.m., at Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637.
IX. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
9.1 Coastal Greenbelt Authority
No report.
9.2 Orange County Fire Authority
Mayor Pro Tem Hatch provided a report and shared three videos regarding Orange County Fire Authority matters.
Mayor Conners requested advance notification of next year's girls' empowerment camp.
Division Chief Hunter, Orange County Fire Authority, made comments.
9.3 Orange County Library Advisory Board
No report.
9.4 Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District
Councilmember Horne provided a report.
9.5 San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency
Mayor Conners provided a report.
Mayor Conners reported on a meeting with Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley.
9.6 South Orange County Watershed Management Area
No report.
9.7 Liaisons to Community Bridge Builders
October 18, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Horne provided a report.
9.8 Other Comments and Reports - None
X. CLOSED SESSION - None
XI. CLOSED SESSION REPORT - None
XII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:38 p.m. The next adjourned regular meeting will be at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637. The next regular meeting will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637.
YOLIE TRIPPY, CMO
Approved: November 15, 2023
CanthiS. Connen
CYNTHIA S. CONNERS, Mayor
October 18, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes