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MINUTES
JUNE 3, 2025
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
BUSINESS SESSION:
Mayor Bourne called the Regular meeting of June 3, 2025, of the City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano to order at 5:24 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Campbell led the Pledge of Allegiance and Council Member Taylor gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL:
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Troy A. Bourne, Mayor Pro Tem John Campbell and Council Members Sergio Farias, Howard Hart, and John Taylor.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
CITY CLERK ANNOUNCEMENT: Per Assembly Bill 23, Christy Jakl, City Clerk, announced that each Housing Authority Board Member received a $50.00 stipend for conducting the Housing Authority meeting.
Agenda items are presented in the originally agendized format for the benefit of the minutes’ reader but were not necessarily heard in that order.
INTRODUCTIONS:
B1. COMMISSIONER INTRODUCTION – MAYOR PRO TEM CAMPBELL
INTRODUCED: Evan Burgher, Cultural Heritage Commissioner.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
• Public Comments: Kelly Gill, Assistance League of Capistrano Valley; Judy Price, Assistance League of Capistrano Valley; Tony Bracumontes, City resident; Ricky Acosta, Ladera Ranch resident; Diana Vega, City resident; Fernanda Aguilar, City resident; and Diane Harkey, Dana Point resident.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
D1. CONTINUED CONSIDERATION OF ACCESSORY USE PERMIT 24-001, SITE PLAN REVIEW 24-002, AND ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL 24-011, THE COTTAGE AT RIVER STREET RANCH: A PROPOSED 980 SQ. FT.
STRUCTURE WITH A 345 SQ. FT. PORCH AND 636 SQ. FT. OUTDOOR
DINING AREA FOR A NEW EATING ESTABLISHMENT AND THE SALE AND
ON-SITE CONSUMPTION OF BEER AND WINE WITH FOOD SERVICE AT 31791 LOS RIOS STREET (ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBER: 121-160-17);
AND, A FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15303 (APPLICANT: 31791 LOS RIOS STREET LLC) (PROJECT MANAGER: LAUREL REIMER, AICP, 2 6/3/2025
CONTRACT PLANNER) - CONTINUED TO THE JULY 15, 2025, MEETING (420.25)
Council Member Taylor recused himself because his son rents from him and is employed by the applicant and proximity of his residence. Council Member Taylor left the Chamber.
Joel Rojas, Development Services Director, provided an agenda report.
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Farias, seconded by Council Member Hart, and carried 4-0 with Council Member Taylor recused to continue the Public Hearing for Accessory Use Permit 24-001, Site Plan Review 24-002, and Administrative Approval 24-011, The Cottage at River Street Ranch: A Proposed 980 sq. ft. Structure with a 345 sq. ft. Porch and 636 sq. ft. Outdoor Dining Area for a New Eating Establishment that Would Include the Sale and On-Site Consumption of Beer and Wine at 31791 Los Rios Street (Assessor Parcel Number: 121-160-17); and, a Finding That the Proposed Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 (Applicant: 31791 Los Rios Street LLC) from June 3, 2025, to July 15, 2025.
ROLL CALL:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBER: Farias, Hart, Campbell and Mayor Bourne NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER: None
RECUSED: COUNCIL MEMBER: Taylor
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Farias, seconded by Council Member Taylor, and carried unanimously to approve consent calendar items E1 through E5, as recommended by staff.
E1. MOTION TO READ ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY, APPROVED.
E2. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – SPECIAL MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) OF MAY 6, 2025, APPROVED
E3. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 20, 2025,
APPROVED
E4. CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 7, 2025, THROUGH MARCH 20, 2025, RECEIVED AND FILED (300.30)
E5. RESOLUTION 25-06-03-01, ADOPTED ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA,
AMENDING AND ADOPTING LOCAL GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (PUBLIC RESOURCES
CODE §§ 21000 ET SEQ.)” (410.20)
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E6. RIGHT OF WAY CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FOR THE CALTRANS ORTEGA
HIGHWAY WIDENING PROJECT ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY
CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT OVER CITY EASEMENT AREA, APPROVED; PAYMENT OF $3,500 FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE
TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, ACCEPTED; AND, CITY
MANAGER AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE THE RIGHT OF WAY CONTRACT
AND ANY INCIDENTAL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE CONTRACT (600.50)
Benjamin Siegel, City Manager, provided an agenda report and responded to questions.
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Hart, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Campbell, and carried unanimously to approve a Right of Way Contract with the State of California, Department of Transportation, for the Caltrans Ortega Highway Widening Project establishing a temporary construction easement over City easement area; payment of $3,500 from the State of California for the temporary construction easement, accepted; and, City Manager authorized to execute the Right of Way Contract and any incidental documents necessary to effectuate the contract.
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:
F1a. RESOLUTION 25-06-03-02, ADOPTED ENTITLED, “A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA
OPPOSING THE COMPASS BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT
PROPOSED WITHIN THE CITY; AND A FINDING THAT SAID ACTION IS NOT
A PROJECT UNDER CEQA AND IS ALTERNATIVELY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(b)(3)” (1010.10) Matisse Reischl, Assistant City Manager, provided an agenda report and responded to questions.
• Public Comment: Chris Lobo, Juaneño Band of Mission Indians.
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Farias seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Campbell, and carried unanimously to adopted RESOLUTION 25-06-03-02, entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA OPPOSING THE COMPASS BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT PROPOSED WITHIN THE CITY; AND A
FINDING THAT SAID ACTION IS NOT A PROJECT UNDER CEQA AND IS
ALTERNATIVELY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(b)(3).”
F2a. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE ARTERIAL STREETS PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT (CIP 24108) TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, ALL AMERICAN ASPHALT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,738,769, APPROVED; CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT
AND APPROVE CHANGE ORDERS, FOR THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION
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CONTINGENCY NOT TO EXCEED $500,000; CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZED
TO EXECUTE ANY REQUIRED REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT WITH
SANTA MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT (SMWD) FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF
SMWD-OWNED WATER VALVES AND UTILITY COVERS DURING PROJECT CONSTRUCTION; AND, SAID ACTIONS FOUND EXEMPT FROM CEQA
PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15061(b)(3) (600.30) Benjamin Siegel, City Manager, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to questions.
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Taylor seconded by Council Member Mayor Pro Tem Campbell, and carried unanimously to approve a Construction Contract for the Arterial Streets Pavement Rehabilitation Project (CIP 24108) to the lowest responsible bidder, All American Asphalt, in the amount of $12,738,769; City Manager authorized to execute the contract and approve change orders, for the total construction contingency not to exceed $500,000; City Manager authorized to execute any required Reimbursement Agreement with Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD) for the adjustment of SMWD-owned water valves and utility covers during project construction; and, said actions found exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO HOUSING AUTHORITY: (Refer to Housing Authority Minutes)
COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS:
H1. 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY – CONTINUED TO THE JUNE 17, 2025, MEETING (620.10)
Council Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Campbell, seconded by Council Member Farias, and carried unanimously to continue 250th Anniversary of the City from June 3, 2025, to June 17, 2025.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
• Mayor Pro Tem Campbell reported attending the Orange County Fire Authority’s 17th Annual Best and Bravest Awards.
CITY MANAGER REPORT: Benjamin Siegel, City Manager, provided an update regarding the Summer Trolley Service and announced the upcoming Skatepark Grand Opening.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business Mayor Bourne adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m. to Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. for an Executive Session, and 5:00 p.m. for the public Business Session, in the City Council Chamber at the Community Center – 25925 Camino Del Avion.
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Respectfully submitted,
___________________________
CHRISTY JAKL, CITY CLERK
Approved: June 17, 2025
ATTEST:
___________________________
TROY A. BOURNE, MAYOR