Laguna Beach 5:00 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting - June 9, 2026

June 9, 2026

Executive Summary

The Laguna Beach City Council held its regular meeting on June 9, 2026, beginning with recognitions for the Sawdust Art Festival's 60th anniversary and Sister Cities International Young Artists and Authors Showcase winners. The most significant discussion centered on Providence Mission Hospital's proposal to close the Laguna Beach Hospital emergency room and inpatient beds by 2030, replacing them with a 24/7 ambulatory care center that cannot accept ambulance traffic. Providence Mission Hospital CEO Seth Teigen presented data showing the ER serves approximately 50 patients daily (40 drive themselves, 10 arrive by ambulance), with 84% treated and released without hospital admission. The proposal would eliminate the ability to accept emergency ambulance traffic and hospital admissions while maintaining emergency medicine physicians, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, and adding primary care and specialty care services. Approximately 14-16 community members spoke passionately against the hospital closure, citing safety concerns about 30+ minute travel times to Mission Viejo during traffic, impacts on the community's older population (average age 55), and loss of critical emerge

Key Decisions

- Approved a proclamation recognizing the 60th Anniversary of the Sawdust Art Festival - Recognized six Laguna Beach winners of the Sister Cities International Young Artists and Authors Showcase in art and poetry categories (Shane DiMaggio, Ellis Mink, Zoe, Nico Lefevre, Skylar DiMaggio, and one winner not present) - Continued Item 15 (Presidio Network Solutions cooperative purchasing agreement for Emergency Operations Center network equipment) to a future meeting - Approved consent calendar items 3-14 and 16, including rejection of Claims #26-13 (Emir Bezdrop), #26-21 (The Greeters Corner), a