CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS CALIFORNIA
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
July 17, 2024
2:00 P.M.
Laguna Woods City Hall
24264 El Toro Road
Laguna Woods, California 92637
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hatch called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Laguna Woods to order at 2:01 p.m.
II. ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBER: PRESENT: Conners, McCary, Moore, Horne, Hatch ABSENT:
All councilmembers participated in-person at the meeting location.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Macon, City Attorney Patterson, Administrative Services Director/City Treasurer Torres, City Clerk Trippy All staff participated in-person at the meeting location.
III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mark Monin, resident, led the pledge of allegiance.
IV. PRESENTATIONS AND CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4.1 Presentation Regarding Water Supply Conditions and Conservation - Dennis P. Cafferty, General Manager, El Toro Water District
( agendized by Councilmember McCary)
Mark Monin, President of the El Toro Water District, introduced the item.
Dennis P. Cafferty, General Manager of the El Toro Water District, Vu Chu, Water Use Efficiency Analyst for the El Toro Water District, and Sherri Seitz, Public Affairs Manager for the El Toro Water District, made a presentation.
Councilmembers discussed the item and Mr. Cafferty and Mr. Chu answered related questions.
July 17, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
James Tung, resident, asked about water supply in the event of an earthquake.
Mr. Cafferty responded to Mr. Tung's question.
V. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Vicki Johnson, resident, spoke in opposition to the City potentially joining the Orange County Power Authority. Mayor Hatch briefly responded to Ms. Johnson's comments.
City Attorney Patterson responded to a question from Mayor Hatch.
Mike Raugh, resident, spoke in opposition to the City potentially joining the Orange County Power Authority.
Mayor Hatch briefly responded to Mr. Raugh's comments.
Jeni Miller, resident, spoke about a claim she filed against the City regarding landscaping.
Mayor Hatch briefly responded to Ms. Miller's comments.
City Attorney Patterson made comments.
Bill O'Dowd, resident, spoke regarding traffic enforcement on El Toro Road and provided the City Council with written correspondence.
Councilmember Conners briefly responded to Mr. O'Dowd's comments.
Tula Larsen, Policy Intern for Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, provided an update from Supervisor Foley's Office.
The following representatives of United Sovereign Americans expressed concern regarding voting data from the 2022 general election and requested the City Council pass a resolution for a legally valid 2024 election:
1. Mary H., member of the public
2. George Ganett, member of the public
3. An unidentified member of the public
4. An unidentified member of the public
5. An unidentified member of the public
6. An unidentified member of the public
7. An unidentified member of the public
8. An unidentified member of the public
9. An unidentified member of the public
10. An unidentified member of the public
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11. Arson Russell, member of the public
Mayor Hatch briefly responded to the public comments.
Mark Monin, resident, made comments regarding a Heli-Hydrant project in Orange County and spoke in support of constructing an additional fire station in Laguna Woods.
VI. CITY TREASURER'S REPORT
6.1 City Treasurer Report
Administrative Services Director/City Treasurer Torres made a presentation.
Councilmember McCary left the meeting at 3:25 p.m.
Moved by Councilmember Conners, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Home, and carried on a 4-0 vote with Councilmember Mc Cary absent, to receive and file the City Treasurer's Report for the month of June 2024.
VII. CONSENT CALENDAR
Moved by Councilmember Moore, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Home, and carried on a 4-0 vote with Councilmember McCary absent, to approve Consent Calendar items 7.1-7.5. 7 .1 City Council Minutes
Approved the City Council meeting minutes for the adjourned regular meeting on June 5, 2024 and the adjourned regular meeting on June 26, 2024. 7 .2 Warrant Register
Approved the warrant register dated July 17, 2024 in the amount of $452,664.53.
7.3 Landscape Maintenance Services
1. Waived the provisions set forth in Laguna Woods Municipal Code Section 3.06.080(c) related to competitive bidding for an extension of an agreement with BrightView Landscape Services.
AND
2. Approved an extension of the agreement with BrightView Landscape Services for landscape maintenance services and authorized the City Manager to execute the extension, subject to approval as to fonn by the City Attorney.
7.4 Procurement of Recovered Organic Waste Products
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Approved a first amendment to the agreement with the Golden Rain Foundation of the Laguna Woods for procurement of mulch in connection with California Senate Bill 13 83 and authorized the Mayor to execute the amendment, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
7.5 National Opioids Settlement
Authorized the City Manager to execute the settlement agreement with Kroger Co. as part of the National Opiods Settlement and elect for the City to receive direct payment of settlement funds. For the purpose of this recommendation, "settlement agreement" includes the participation form for the settlement including a release of claims and a separate signature page for California's Proposed State-Subdivision Agreement Regarding Distribution of Use of Settlement Funds, as well as any other documents or certifications that may be necessary to finalize or implement the settlement agreement.
Councilmember McCary returned to the meeting at 3 :28 p.m.
VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.1 Sign Program Amendment SP-2024-0001 to amend Sign Program SP-1508, which allows for various signage at 24902 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 City Manager Macon made a presentation.
Mayor Hatch opened the public hearing.
Kathryn Freshley, resident, asked about the need for additional signage on the south side of the building and expressed concerns regarding issues that could arise with other tenants.
Lauren Fontein, representative of The Artist Tree, provided background on the request and responded to a question from Mayor Hatch.
With no other requests to speak, the public hearing was closed.
Councilmembers discussed the item and staff answered related questions.
Moved by Councilmember Conners, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Home, and carried on a 4-1 vote with Councilmember Moore voting no, to adopt a resolution titled:
July 17, 2024
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
WOODS, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING SIGN PROGRAM
AMENDMENT SP-2024-0001 TO AMEND SIGN PROGRAM SP-1508,
WHICH ALLOWS FOR VARIOUS SIGNAGE AT 24902 MOULTON
PARKWAY, LAGUNA WOODS, CA 92637, AND DETERMINING
AND CERTIFYING THAT THE SIGN PROGRAM IS
CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
4 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15311
OF TITLE 14 OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS
IX. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
9.1 Golden Rain Foundation of Laguna Woods' Use of 800 Megahertz Radios as part of the Orange County Countywide Coordinated Communications System City Manager Macon made a presentation.
Kathryn Freshley, resident, spoke in support of the recommendation and suggested that the City take on the costs as opposed to the Golden Rain Foundation of Laguna Woods.
Councilmembers and staff briefly responded to Ms. Freshley' s comments.
Moved by Councilmember Moore, seconded by Councilmember Conners, and carried unanimously on a 5-0 vote, to approve a memorandum of understanding with the Golden Rain Foundation of Laguna Woods' use of 800 megahertz radios as part of the Orange County countywide Coordinated Communications System and authorize the Mayor to execute the memorandum of understanding, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
9.2 2023-2024 Orange County Grand Jury Report, "Talking Trash: Recyclables and Organic Waste"
City Manager Macon made a presentation.
Councilmember Conners left the meeting at 4:02 p.m. and returned at 4:05 p.m.
Councilmembers discussed the item and staff answered related questions.
Moved by Mayor Pro Tern Home, seconded by Councilmember Conners, and carried unanimously on a 5-0 vote, to approve a response to the 2023-2024 Orange County Grand Jury Report, "Talking Trash: Recyclables and Organic Waste," authorize the Mayor to execute the response, and direct the City Manager to submit the response as required by applicable law.
9.3 2023-2024 Orange County Grand Jury Report, "E-bikes Friend or Foe" City Manager Macon made a presentation. Councilmembers discussed the item.
Moved by Councilmember Moore, seconded by Councilmember Conners, and carried unanimously on a 5-0 vote, to approve a response to the 2023-2024 Orange County Grand Jury Report, "E-bikes, Friend or Foe," authorize the Mayor to execute the response, and July 17, 2024 5 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
direct the City Manager to submit the response as required by applicable law.
9.4 Fiscal Years 2023-34 Capital Improvement Program
City Manager Macon made a presentation.
Councilmember Conners made comments.
9.5 Sign Regulations
( agendized by Councilmember Moore)
Councilmember Moore introduced the item and discussed billboards.
City Manager Macon made a presentation.
Councilmembers discussed the item and staff answered related questions.
Mark Monin, resident, spoke in support of streamlining permitting processes.
Mike Raugh, resident, spoke in opposition to distracting and flashing signs.
X. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS AND COMMENTS
10.1 Coastal Greenbelt Authority
Councilmember McCary provided a report and shared a PowerPoint presentation with photographs of native and invasive species of lizards.
10.2 Orange County Fire Authority
Mayor Hatch provided a report and shared a video from the Orange County Fire Authority's 16th Annual Best & Bravest Awards.
Mayor Hatch and Mike Summers, Division Chief, Orange County Fire Authority, responded to a question from Councilmember Moore.
10.3 Orange County Library Advisory Board
Councilmember Moore provided a repo1i and responded to comments from Mayor Hatch.
10.4 Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District Mayor Pro Tern Home provided a report.
10.5 San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency
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Councilmember Conners stated that there had been no meeting since the last meeting.
10.6 South Orange County Watershed Management Area
Councilmember Moore stated that there had been no meeting since the last meeting.
10.7 Liaisons to Community Bridge Builders
Mayor Pro Tern Horne and Councilmember McCary provided a report and responded to a question from Mayor Hatch.
10. 8 Other Comments and Reports
Councilmember Conners reported on a recent meeting of the Garden Villa Association regarding disaster preparedness and expressed interest in providing preparedness training to residents.
Mayor Hatch thanked members of the audience for attending.
XI. CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Patterson introduced the closed session agenda.
City Attorney Patterson noted that prior to convening in closed session, the City Council will hear public comments on items appearing on the closed session agenda.
Vicki Johnson, resident, spoke in support of the City Manager's performance.
11.1 The City Council met in closed session under the authority of California Government Code Section 54957(b )(1) to consider the following: Public Employee Performance Evaluation- City Manager.
Councilmember McCary left the meeting following closed session.
XII. CLOSED SESSION REPORT
The City Council (with the exception of Councilmember McCary) reconvened in open session at 5 :28 p.m. City Attorney Patterson stated that there was no reportable action.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:29 p.m. The next regular meeting will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at Laguna Woods City Hall, 24264 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637.
July 17, 2024 7 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Approved: August 21, 2024
July 17, 2024 8 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes