MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Lake Forest held Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at the Lake Forest City Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California, was called to order at 6:30 p.m. with all members present.
ROLL CALL: Council Members:
Mayor Pro Tem:
Mayor:
City Manager:
City Attorney:
City Clerk:
Doug Cirbo
Mark Tettemer
Benjamin Yu
Robert Pequeno
Scott Voigts
Debra Rose
Matthew E. Richardson
Lisa Berglund
INVOCATION: The Invocation was provided by Dave Evans, Grace Community Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our Country was led by Daisy Troop # 3618.
PRESENTATIONS: ( Item No. 1)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Yu, seconded by Council Member Cirbo, to approve Presentation Item No. 1. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.
1. POPULAR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 City Manager Rose introduced this item and invited Finance Analyst Shrago to provide a presentation. Andrew O'Connor offered public comment and expressed concerns with overspending. Council questions were asked and answered.
ACTION: The presentation was received and filed.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Mayor Pro Tem Robert Pequeno expressed concerns about members of the public harassing and cyberbullying current and previous members of the City Council.
Sean Fletcher expressed concerns with public comments made by Andrew O'Connor.
Andrew O'Connor thanked various staff and expressed concerns with Council members' behavior.
CONSENT CALENDAR: ( Item Nos. 2 — 5)
Item No. 3 was pulled for discussion.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Yu, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Pequeno, to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 2, and 4 — 5. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.
2. MOTION TO WAIVE READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ACTION: Said Ordinances and Resolutions which appeared on the public agenda were determined to have been read by title and further reading was waived.
4. PROCLAMATION DECLARING FEBRUARY 16 - 22, 2025, AS NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK.
ACTION: The proclamation designating February 16 - 22, 2025, as National Engineers Week in the City of Lake Forest was approved.
5. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF ORANGE FOR ON -
CALL CONSULTING AND STREET MAINTENANCE SERVICES
ACTION: 1. The Agreement with the County of Orange for On - Call Consulting and Street Maintenance Services was approved. 2. The Mayor was authorized to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, the Agreement substantially in the form attached.
ITEM(S) PULLED FOR DISCUSSION: ( Item No. 3)
MOTION: It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Pequerro, seconded by Council Member Cirbo, to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 3. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-
0. 3. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL HELD ON FEBRUARY 4, 2025
Andrew O'Connor provided public comment.
ACTION: The minutes were approved as submitted.
PUBLIC HEARING(S): ( Item No. 6)
6. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
Mayor Voigts opened the public hearing. City Manager Rose introduced this item and invited Community Development Assistant Director Stonich to provide a presentation. Andrew O'Connor offered public comment. Council questions were asked and answered. Mayor Voigts closed the public hearing.
February 18, 2025 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 2 of 5 MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Yu, seconded by Council Member Cirbo, to: 1. Find that the adoption of the proposed ordinance is statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (" CEQA") under Public Resources Code section 21080.17. B.
2. Introduce for first reading an Ordinance Entitled: " AN ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST FOR ZONING CODE AMENDMENT 12-24-5760 AMENDING SECTION 9.146.050 OF CHAPTER
9.146 OF TITLE 9 OF THE LAKE FOREST MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING
UNITS, AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE § 21080.17." The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Rose had nothing further to report.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Council Member Cirbo: Council Member Cirbo provided remarks on his military service and on public comments made during
council meetings. He reported on the Audit Committee
meeting. He requested that staff coordinate a
pickleball tournament between the homeowners
associations located in Lake Forest. Mayor Pro
Tem Pequeno and Mayor Voigts provided
consensus.
Council Member Tettemer: Council Member Tettemer had nothing further to report.
Council Member Yu: Council Member Yu provided the following statement:
February 18, 2025
There was a protest against immigration enforcement
and deportation in Lake Forest, near Trabuco and El
Toro, last week. Like many protests in Southern
California and across the nation, many feature foreign
nations' flags.
As an immigrant, 1 struggle to express my deep
concern and disappointment over decades of open -
border policies, as well as the tolerance and support
of illegal border crossings using taxpayer funds — at
the expense of our welfare system and public safety.
LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 3 of 5
Under the previous administration, the United States
has witnessed a historic surge in illegal entries.
Additionally, so-called sanctuary cities not only shield and shelter illegal aliens but, at times, even criminals, while downplaying criminal acts to manipulate public
perception.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of
speech and assembly that protesters enjoy. However,
just because illegal aliens and their supporters have
the right to protest does not necessarily mean they
are right. 1 also question whether, hypothetically
speaking, protestors openly bearing the flags of
nations like Russia, Iran, China, or North Korea would
be treated the same way in public opinion or receive
the same sympathetic media coverage.
The United States was built by immigrants and
remains a nation of immigrants, but it must also be a
nation of laws. Respecting our country means
respecting our borders. There is no exit control at U.S.
Customs and Border Protection people are free to
leave and live where they feel proud.
May God bless America and the people who love it."
Mayor Pro Tem Pequeno:
Mayor Voigts:
Mayor Pro Tem Pequerio thanked staff for their hard
work and reported on his attendance at a Families
Forward ribbon cutting event for a new pantry, and a
ribbon cutting event at Mamon.
He reported that certain Lake Forest residents have
been charged with various felony counts. The felonies
involve attempts to victimize Lake Forest elected
officials. He provided a court case number and
summarized the charges.
Mayor Voigts reported on his attendance at a Families
Forward ribbon cutting event for a new pantry, and a
ribbon cutting event at Mamon.
ADJOURNMENT: The Regular Meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
February 18, 2025 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 4 of 5 Respectfully submitted: APPROVED:
LISA BERGL
CITY CLERK
SCOTT VOIGTS
MAYOR
February 18, 2025 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 5 of 5