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MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
BUSINESS SESSION:
Mayor Campbell called the Regular meeting of September 15, 2026, of the City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano to order at 5:02 p.m. Mayor Campbell led the Pledge of Allegiance and Council Member Hart gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL:
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor John Campbell, Mayor Pro Tem John Taylor and Council Members Troy A. Bourne, Sergio Farias and Howard Hart.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
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 TAYLOR
INTRODUCED: Evan Burgher, Cultural Heritage Commission; Shelly Barker, Parks, Equestrian and Community Services Commission; Jeff Moore, Planning Commission; and Larry Kramer, former Mayor and City Council Member.
B2. SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2026, PROCLAIMED AS “CONSTITUTION WEEK” ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Public Comments: Ric Franzi, City resident (provided handout); Sylvia Robles, City resident (provided handout and petition); Carol Brickman, City resident; and Kevin Clements, Rancho Mission Viejo resident.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Farias, seconded Council Member Bourne, and carried unanimously to approve consent calendar items E1 through E11, as recommended by staff.
E1. MOTION TO READ ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY, APPROVED
E2. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2026, APPROVED
E3. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES – REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2026,
APPROVED
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E4. CHECK REGISTERS FOR THE PERIOD JULY 10, 2026, THROUGH JULY 23, 2026, RECEIVED AND FILED (300.30)
E5. CASH AND INVESTMENTS REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDED JUNE 30, 2026, RECEIVED AND FILED (350.30)
E6. NEW DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION STATUS REPORT, RECEIVED AND FILED (440.10)
E7. OPERATING BUDGET AMENDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 TO
CONTINUE THE APPROPRIATION OF UNEXPENDED FUNDS FOR
PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WERE BUDGETED IN FISCAL YEAR 2025-26, BUT WERE NOT COMPLETED BY YEAR END, APPROVED; AND,
SCHEDULE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) BUDGET
CARRYOVERS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2024-25, RECEIVED AND FILED (330.20)
E8. CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE THE SOFTWARE AS A
SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH CIVICPLUS, LLC FOR HOSTING AND
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE CITY’S WEBSITE (600.30)
E9. REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE REVISED BY ADDING A CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2026, AND REINSTATING THE REGULAR MEETING OF TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2026 (610.15)
E10. VACANCY DECLARED ON THE PARKS, EQUESTRIAN & COMMUNITY
SERVICES COMMISSION AND THE CITY CLERK DIRECTED TO PREPARE AND POST APPROPRIATE NOTICES TO SOLICIT APPLICATIONS (110.20) E11. TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES IN SUPPORT OF THE CITYSPONSORED ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION AND ASSOCIATED FESTIVITIES, FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, FROM 2026 THROUGH 2030, APPROVED; AND THE ACTION FOUND CATEGORICALLY
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) PER SECTION 15061 (B)(3) (820.70)
E12. ACTION FOUND EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) GUIDELINES, SECTION 15301, CLASS 1 (EXISTING FACILITIES); CITY MANAGER AUTHORIZED TO EXECUTE A LANDSCAPE
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH RANCHO VIEJO OWNER, LLC, FOR
THE MAINTENANCE OF LANDSCAPE, IRRIGATION, FENCING,
SIDEWALKS, PEDESTRIAN RAMPS, DRIVEWAYS, AND STORM WATER
QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED WITHIN THE RANCHO VIEJO ROAD
AND MALASPINA ROAD PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ADJACENT TO THE
SWALLOW’S CREEK INDUSTRIAL PARK DEVELOPMENT AT 30700 RANCH VIEJO ROAD; AND, THE CITY CLERK DIRECTED TO RECORD THE
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF
ORANGE (600.30)
Benjamin Siegel, City Manager, provided an agenda report and responded to questions.
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Council Action: Moved by Mayor Campbell, seconded Council Member Farias, and carried unanimously to find the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15301, Class 1 (Existing Facilities); to authorize the City Manager to execute a Landscape Maintenance Agreement with Rancho Viejo Owner, LLC, for the maintenance of landscape, irrigation, fencing, sidewalks, pedestrian ramps, driveways, and storm water quality improvements located within the Rancho Viejo Road and Malaspina Road public right-of-way adjacent to the Swallow’s Creek Industrial Park development at 30700 Ranch Viejo Road; and, direct the City Clerk to record the Landscape Maintenance Agreement with the County of Orange.
E13. RESOLUTION 26-09-15-01 ADOPTED AMENDING THE EXECUTIVE
EMPLOYEE SALARY SCHEDULE TO REFLECT ADJUSTMENT TO THE
SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THREE EXECUTIVE CLASSIFICATIONS; CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
JACOB GREEN AND ASSOCIATES TO CONDUCT THE EXECUTIVE
RECRUITMENT FOR THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR POSITIONS; AND, APPROPRIATE $230,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND THE
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS, APPROVED (740.10)
Jimmee Medina, Interim Human Resources Manager, provided an agenda report and responded to questions. Benjamin Siegel, City Manager, responded to questions.
Council Action: Moved by Mayor Campbell, seconded Council Member Farias, and carried unanimously to adopt RESOLUTION 26-0915-01 entitled, “A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN
CAPISTRANO AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 26-07-21-02, THE CITY’S
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLANS, AMENDING THE
EXECUTIVE SALARY SCHEDULE TO REFLECT ADJUSTMENT TO THE
SALARY SCHEDULE FOR THREE EXECUTIVE CLASSIFICATIONS”; and authorize the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with Jacob Green and Associates to conduct the executive recruitment for the Assistant City Manager, Development Services Director and Public Works Director Positions; and, approve the appropriation $230,000 from the General Fund to fund the recommended actions.
ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS:
F1a. ACTION FOUND EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) GUIDELINES SECTION 15301, CLASS 1 (EXISTING FACILITIES); CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
AGREEMENT, SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM ATTACHED, WITH SAN JUAN
HILLS GOLF CLUB, LP, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF
LANDSCAPE, IRRIGATION, FENCING, AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS
LOCATED WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY ALONG SAN JUAN CREEK ROAD, ADJACENT TO ASSESSOR PARCEL NUMBERS 661-011-27 AND 661- 011-28; AND, THE CITY CLERK DIRECTED TO RECORD THE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF ORANGE (600.30) 4 9/15/2026
Public Correspondence: Dale Wood, City resident.
Jeremy Hohnbaum, Public Works Director, provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to questions.
Public Comments: Steve Behmerwhold, City resident; Shelley Barker, City resident; and Larry Kramer, City resident.
Council Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Taylor, seconded by Council Member Hart, and carried unanimously to find the action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1 (Existing Facilities); authorize the City Manager to execute a Landscape Maintenance Agreement, substantially in the form attached, with San Juan Hills Golf Club, LP, for the construction and maintenance of landscape, irrigation, fencing, and other improvements located within the public right-of-way along San Juan Creek Road, adjacent to Assessor Parcel Numbers 661-011-27 and 661-011-28; and, direct the City Clerk to record the Landscape Maintenance Agreement with the County of Orange.
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO COMMUNITY
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY: (Please refer to Successor Agency Minutes) COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS:
H1. CITY STAFF DIRECTED TO COMMISSION A STUDY OF A POTENTIAL ORDINANCE FOR A NATIVE PLANT POLICY AND PROGRAM (530.10) Public Correspondence: Bethany Nelms, City resident; and, Carolyn McCuan, Toxic-Free OC.
Council Member Farias provided an agenda report and responded to questions. Public Correspondence: Bethany Nelms, City resident.
Council Action: Moved by Council Member Hart, seconded by Council Member Bourne, and carried unanimously to direct City staff to commission a study of a potential ordinance for a native plant policy and program.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Council Member Hart reported attending the 9/11 25th Anniversary Memorial Event at Patriot Hill and expressed his appreciation of staff and Orange County Sherrif Department assistance to support the event.
CITY MANAGER REPORT: None.
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ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business Mayor Campbell adjourned the meeting at 6:46 p.m. to Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 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.
Respectfully submitted,
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CHRISTY JAKL, CITY CLERK
Approved: October 6, 2026
ATTEST:
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JOHN CAMPBELL, MAYOR