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, March 3, 2026, 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:
Mark Tettemer
Scott Voigts
Benjamin Yu
Doug Cirbo
Robert Pequeno
Debra Rose
Matthew E. Richardson
Thy Merritt
INVOCATION: The Invocation was provided by Associate Pastor Beth Webb, Foothill Family Church.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our Country was led by Scout Troop # 818.
REPORT FROM STUDENT LIAISON: Ethan Barro, Student Liaison from EI Toro High School, provided a report.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Walter Nobrega expressed concerns with current immigration, shared he supports the United Stated Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and requested a resolution in support of the agency.
Connor Hurn provided information on the Young Marines program.
Mark Hermanson expressed concerns with the small pay for elected and appointed officials and reminded everyone to be respectful at council meetings.
Bob Holtzclaw expressed concern with a homeless individual and shared he supports the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Andrew O'Connor expressed his concerns with the Council's response to the Student Liaison's public comment on the EI Toro High School walk out.
Lareina Tullez shared her experiences and concerns with animal control services provided by Orange County Animal Care.
Sean Fletcher shared his concerns with the January 3, 2026, Council meeting and public comments made by Canyon Democrats regarding the Student Liaison.
CONSENT CALENDAR: ( Item No. 1)
Consent Calendar Item Nos. 2 — 4 were pulled for discussion.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Voigts, seconded by Council Member Yu, to approve Consent Calendar Item No. 1. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.
1. 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 waived.
ITEMS PULLED FOR DISCUSSION: ( Item Nos. 2 - 4)
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Voigts, seconded by Council Member Yu, to approve Consent Calendar Nos. 2 - 4. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.
2. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL HELD ON FEBRUARY 17, 2026
Andrew O'Connor offered public comment, expressed concern with Council Member Tettemer and the Lunar New Year Proclamation.
ACTION: The minutes were approved as submitted.
3. AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR RETAIL RECRUITMENT CONSULTING
SERVICES
Andrew O'Connor offered public comment and expressed concerns with the cost of the contract.
Mark Hermanson offered public comment and requested more information be provided on the website.
ACTION: 1. A professional consultant services agreement with the Retail Coach for Retail Recruitment Consulting Services in the amount of $ 55,000 was approved. 2. The Mayor was authorized to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, the Professional Consultant Services Agreement, substantially in the form attached.
4. AMENDMENT TO CLASSIFICATION PLAN AND COMPENSATION SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 AND AMENDMENT TO EXHIBIT A OF THE PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Andrea Alexander offered public comment and shared her support for this item.
ACTION: 1. A Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF March 3, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 2 of 5
THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A REVISED CLASSIFICATION PLAN AND COMPENSATION SCHEDULE was adopted.
2. A Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO EXHIBIT A OF THE PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS was adopted.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS: ( Item Nos. 5 - 8)
5. APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSIONER TO FILL VACANCY EXPIRING DECEMBER 2026
City Manager Rose introduced the item and invited Council Member Yu to provide a presentation. Andrea Alexander offered public comments and expressed concerns with Council Member Yu's appointment process.
ACTION: It was moved by Council Member Yu, ratified by Council Member Voigts, to appoint Jolene Fuentes to fill the Planning Commission vacancy.
6. LAKE FOREST EQUESTRIAN FACILITY LEASE
City Manager Rose introduced the item and invited Economic Development/Housing Manager Grijalva to provide a presentation. No public comment was offered.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Voigts, seconded by Council Member Yu, to: 1. Approve the lease with the Lake Forest Equestrian Center, Inc., dba Serrano Creek Ranch. 2. Authorize the City Manager to execute, and the City Clerk to attest, the document. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.
7. FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED AFFORDABLE
HOUSING LOAN AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL COMMUNITY
RENAISSANCE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE ASPAN COURT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING PROJECT
City Manager Rose introduced the item and invited Economic Development/Housing Manager Grijalva to provide a presentation. Andrea Alexander offered public comment and shared she supports this agreement.
Andrew O'Connor offered public comments and expressed concerns with the timeline and location of the project. Council questions were asked and answered.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Yu, seconded by Council Member Voigts, to: Adopt a Resolution entitled: " A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, AND THE
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING LOAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LAKE March 3, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 3 of 5
FOREST, LAKE FOREST HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND NATIONAL
COMMUNITY RENAISSANCE". The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.
8. FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 MID - YEAR BUDGET REVIEW
City Manager Rose introduced the item and invited Assistant Director of Finance Lewis to provide a presentation. Andrew O'Connor offered public comment and expressed concerns with the sales tax at Tilly's Warehouse Pop -Up. Council questions were asked and answered.
MOTION: It was moved by Council Member Voigts, seconded by Council Member Yu, to: Adopt a Resolution titled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE 2025-2027 OPERATING BUDGET; AMENDING THE 2025-2032 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AMENDING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26. The motion was carried by a vote of 5-0.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: City Manager Rose had nothing further to report.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Council Member Tettemer:
Council Member Voigts:
Council Member Yu:
Mayor Pro Tem Cirbo:
Mayor Pequerio:
Council Member Tettemer had nothing further to report.
Council Member Voigts had nothing further to report.
Council Member Yu had nothing further to report.
Mayor Pro Tem Cirbo reported on his visits to the Lake
Forest Equestrian Center and Mission Viejo Animal
Services Center. Mayor Pro Tem Cirbo wished his son
Brandon a Happy Birthday.
Mayor Pequerlo reported on his attendance at Applied
Medical's open house tour, a grand opening ribbon -
cutting ceremony for aMAZing Kidz and toured the
Mission Viejo Animal Services Center. Mayor Pequerio
also called the first pitch for Lake Forest Little League's opening day game, attended an Iftar dinner and
attended a breakfast at Forest Gardens Mobile Home
Community. Mayor Pequeflo assisted Embrace Relief
and the Pacifica Institute with handing out blankets at Forest Gardens and El Toro Mobile Home Estates.
ADJOURNMENT: The Regular Meeting of the City Council was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
March 3, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 4 of 5 Respectfully submitted:
THY MERRITT
CITY CLERK
APPROVED:
ROBER EQUENO
MAYOR
March 3, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Page 5 of 5 t