AGENDA
LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL
Regular Meeting of the City Council
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Public Session 6:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California NOTICE: Pursuant to Lake Forest Municipal Code Section 2.04.010, Regular Meetings of the City Council are held the First and Third Tuesday of each month at the hour of 5:30 p.m. for Closed Session matters, if required.
The Public Session of the meeting shall commence at 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible. Special Meeting times may be held at a different time and date as listed on the Agenda.
AGENDA DOCUMENT REVIEW: The Agenda and staff reports are available on the Internet at https://www.lakeforestca.gov/en/government/meeting-agendas-and-minutes/meeting-agendas and at the City Clerk’s Office, 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California, on the Friday before the meeting on Tuesday.
AGENDA DESCRIPTION: The Agenda descriptions are intended to give notice to members of the public of a general summary of items of business to be transacted or discussed. The listed Recommended Action represents staff’s recommendation. The City Council may take any action which it deems to be appropriate on the agenda item and is not limited in any way by the recommended action.
AGENDA ON SOCIAL MEDIA: This meeting will be streamed through Facebook Live. Comments will not be taken via Facebook Live. The City provides the Facebook Live stream as an additional service to the public.
However, the City cannot guarantee that its network and/or the site will be uninterrupted. The City is not responsible for any interrupted service.
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE MEETING AND PUBLIC COMMENT:
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: In addition to attending in person, members of the public may access the meeting live on our website at https://www.lakeforestca.gov/en/government/meeting-agendas-and-minutes/meeting-agendas.
PUBLIC COMMENT PRIOR TO THE MEETING: Members of the public may submit email comments to [email protected]. Email comments will be uploaded to the agenda packet and made part of the official public record of the meeting and will not be read at the meeting. To ensure staff reviews all comments prior to the City Council meeting, please submit email comments no later than 5:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Members of the public may provide comments in-person at the meeting. Public comments will no longer be accepted remotely. Those wishing to provide comments in-person at the meeting will be asked to submit a request to speak to the City Clerk. To ensure prompt distribution to the City Council, members of the public wishing to provide written materials to the City Council should do so prior to the start of the meeting or as close thereto as possible, as time will not be taken during the public comment period to distribute written materials to the City Council.
TRANSLATION SERVICE: Interpreters are available by request to members of the public that prefer to make their public comments in Spanish or Chinese. Requests for a translator need to be received by 8:00 a.m. the Monday before the scheduled City Council meeting. Such requests must be received via email at [email protected]
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 1 Los intérpretes están disponibles previa solicitud para el público que prefiera hacer sus comentarios públicos en español o chino. Las solicitudes de traductor deben recibirse antes de las 8:00 a. m. del lunes anterior a la reunión programada del Concejo Municipal. Dichas solicitudes deben recibirse por correo electrónico a [email protected]
如果大眾願意用西班牙語或中文發表公開評論，我們可應要求提供口譯服務。需要在預定市議會會議之前的周一上
午 8:00 之前收到翻譯請求。此類請求必須透過電子郵件收到：[email protected] Rúguǒ dàzhòng yuànyì yòng xībānyá yǔ huò zhōngwén fābiǎo gōngkāi pínglùn, wǒmen kě yīng yā oqiú tígōng kǒuyì fúwù. Xūyào zài yùdìng shì yìhuì huìyì zhīqián de zhōuyī shàngwǔ 8:00 Zh īqián shōu dào fānyì qǐngqiú. Cǐ lèi qǐngqiú bìxū tòuguò diànzǐ yóujiàn shōu dào: translat [email protected]
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 p.m.
Council Members: Mark Tettemer
Scott Voigts
Benjamin Yu
Mayor Pro Tem: Doug Cirbo
Mayor: Robert Pequeño
City Manager: Debra Rose
City Attorney: Matthew E. Richardson
City Clerk: Thy Merritt
PUBLIC SESSION: 6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC SESSION: At this time, the City Council will convene to consider public matters. Those wishing to address the City Council may submit a completed “Request to Speak” form to the City Clerk prior to City Council action.
INVOCATION: The Invocation will be provided by Pastor Vanessa Howard, South County Outreach.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our Country to be led by Scout Troop #4321.
PRESENTATIONS (Item No. 1)
1. RECOGNITION OF 2025 COMMISSION CHAIRS
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 2 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Recognize the 2025 Chairs of the Community Services, Traffic and Parking, and Planning Commissions.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Members of the public can submit an e-comment to [email protected] . E-comments will not be read at the meeting.
Members of the public may also provide comments in-person at the meeting. Those wishing to provide comments in-person at the meeting will be asked to submit a request to speak to the City Clerk.
CONSENT CALENDAR (Item Nos. 2 – 10)
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted by one vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless Members of the City Council, the public, or staff request specific items be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate action.
2. MOTION TO WAIVE READING OF RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES RECOMMENDED ACTION: Said Ordinances and Resolutions which appear on the public agenda shall be determined to have been read by title and further reading waived.
3. MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL HELD ON MARCH 3, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve as submitted.
4. CERTIFICATION OF WARRANT REGISTER
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the warrant register in the amount of $4,910,976.84.
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 3
5. 2025 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Authorize staff to submit the 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and the State’s Housing and Community Development Department.
6. 2025 ANNUAL HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Authorize staff to submit the 2025 Annual Housing Element Progress Report to the State Department of Housing and Community Development and the Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
7. FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH NIEVES LANDSCAPE, INC., FOR MEDIANS, PARKWAYS, AND SLOPES LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1. Approve the First Amendment to the Agreement for Maintenance Services for Medians, Parkways, and Slopes Maintenance Services with Nieves Landscape, Inc. 2. Authorize the Mayor to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, the First Amendment substantially in the form attached.
8. FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH NIEVES LANDSCAPE, INC., FOR PASSIVE PARKS LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1. Approve the First Amendment to the Agreement for Maintenance Services for Passive Parks Landscape Maintenance Services with Nieves Landscape, Inc. 2. Authorize the Mayor to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, the First Amendment substantially in the form attached.
9. FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH ORANGE COUNTY
YELLOW MANAGEMENT, LLC FOR SENIOR TAXI TRANSPORTATION
SERVICES
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 4 RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1. Approve the Fourth Amendment to the Agreement with Orange County Yellow Management, LLC with a compensation amount of $345,543.62 for Senior Taxi Transportation Services. 2. Authorize the Mayor to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, the Fourth Amendment to the Agreement with Orange County Yellow Management, LLC., substantially in the form attached.
10. FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH INTERWEST CONSULTING GROUP, INC. FOR BUILDING AND
SAFETY SERVICES
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1. Approve the Fifth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. (“Interwest”) for Building and Safety Services. 2. Authorize the Mayor to sign and the City Clerk to attest the Fifth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Interwest, substantially in the form attached.
PUBLIC HEARING(S) (Item No. 11)
Public Hearings are scheduled for a time certain of 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible. City Council, when considering the matter scheduled for hearing, will take the following actions: 1. Open the Public Hearing. 2. Receive staff report. 3. Accept public testimony. 4. City Council comments and questions. 5. Close the Public Hearing and take appropriate action.
11. APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE
COSTCO WHOLESALE PROJECT (SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 05-
25-5800, USE PERMITS 05-25-5801 THROUGH -5803, PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM 05-25-5804, AND PUBLIC CONVENIENCE OR NECESSITY DETERMINATION 12-25-5850)
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1. Find that the project is exempt pursuant to Article 12 – Special Situations, Sec. 15183, Projects Consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan, or Zoning, which mandates that projects which are consistent with the development density established by existing zoning, community plan, or general plan policies for which an EIR was certified shall not require additional environmental review, except as might be necessary to examine whether there are project-specific significant effects which are peculiar to the project or its site; and
2. Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING SITE
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 5 DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 05-25-5800 TO DEMOLISH THE EXISTING
MOVIE THEATER BUILDING AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT 26602
TOWNE CENTRE DR AND CONSTRUCT A NEW 34-FT TALL, 165,068 GROSS SQ. FT. COSTCO WHOLESALE RETAIL BUILDING TO INCLUDE
SURFACE-LEVEL PARKING, LANDSCAPING, SEASONAL OUTDOOR
SALES AND DISPLAY AREAS, AND OTHER ASSOCIATED
IMPROVEMENTS AND USE PERMIT 05-25-5803 FOR EXCEPTIONS TO
THE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND DETERMINING
THE PROJECT TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA; and
3. Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING USE
PERMIT 05-25-5801 AND PUBLIC CONVENIENCE OR NECESSITY
DETERMINATION 12-25-5850 TO ALLOW FOR THE RETAIL SALE OF
BEER, WINE, AND DISTILLED SPIRITS FOR OFF-SITE CONSUMPTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH A TYPE 21 LICENSE FOR COSTCO
WHOLESALE AT 26602 TOWNE CENTRE DRIVE; and
4. Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING USE
PERMIT 05-25-5802 TO ALLOW FOR LIGHT AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR IN THE TIRE CENTER FOR COSTCO WHOLESALE AT 26602 TOWNE
CENTRE DRIVE; and
5. Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM 05-25-5804, MODIFYING THE EXISTING PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM APPROVED UNDER PSP 10-17-5094 FOR PHASE 4
OF THE FOOTHILL RANCH TOWNE CENTRE (26562-26672 TOWNE
CENTRE DRIVE).
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS (Item Nos. 12 – 13)
The following matters are for City Council consideration/discussion/action. Members of the public may have the opportunity to address these items if they wish to do so. Please complete the Request to Speak form and give to the City Clerk.
12. AGREEMENT WITH ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL CARE FOR ANIMAL
CARE SERVICES
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1. Receive and file a presentation from Baker Tilly Advisory Group summarizing findings of an animal care service review.
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 6
2. Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the proposed Agreement for Animal Care Services with Orange County Animal Care.
13. FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 DRAFT ACTION PLAN AND DRAFT
EXPENDITURE PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM
RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1. Approve the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2026-27 Draft Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”).
2. Approve a 30-day public review and comment period and direct staff to return the item to City Council for final approval and adoption on May 5, 2026.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
At this time, the City Manager may comment on agenda and non-agenda items; and report on items of interest to the City Council and community.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
At this time, City Council Members may comment on agenda or non-agenda matters. No discussion may take place on any item not appearing on the posted agenda. Council Members may ask a question for clarification, respond to statements made or questions posed by the public, make a brief announcement, or make a brief report on his or her own activities. In addition, the City Council may refer to staff or other resources for factual information, request staff to report back at a subsequent meeting or direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda. No action may be taken on non-agenda matters unless authorized by law (Government Code Section 54954.2).
Council Member Tettemer:
Council Member Voigts:
Council Member Yu:
Mayor Pro Tem Cirbo:
Mayor Pequeño:
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 7
ADJOURNMENT
In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this Meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, you should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (949) 461-3400.
Notification 48 hours prior to the Meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to this meeting. The City Council agenda and agenda back-up materials can be obtained from the Office of the City Clerk on the Friday prior to the City Council meeting. Copies of all Agendas, Staff Reports and Supporting Materials can also be found on the City’s website – https://www.lakeforestca.gov/129/Agendas.
Agenda and agenda packets, if requested, will be made available in an appropriate alternative format to persons with a disability as required by the Americans With Disabilities Act. Copies of the agenda are provided at no cost and agenda back-up materials are available at the per page copy cost.
The City of Lake Forest mailing address is City Council Chambers, 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California.
Phone: (949) 461-3400. FAX (949) 461-3511
CERTIFICATION: I, Thy Merritt, City Clerk of the City of Lake Forest, California, hereby certify that the foregoing agenda was posted for public review at City Hall on March 12, 2026.
Thy Merritt
City Clerk
March 17, 2026 LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Page 8