Laguna Beach 4:00 p.m. Closed Session; 5:00 p.m. Regular City Council Meeting - August 4, 2026

August 4, 2026

Executive Summary

Mayor Mark Orgill presided over the Laguna Beach City Council meeting on August 4, 2026, with all five council members present (Councilmember Bob Whalen participated remotely via telephone). The Council conducted a closed session with no reportable action, continuing real property negotiation items to September. City Manager Dave Kiff postponed a drowning victim rescue recognition presentation out of respect for an individual who drowned at Crescent Bay the previous night. The Council proclaimed September 2026 as Hunger Action Month, recognizing organizations addressing food insecurity affecting over 387,000 Orange County residents. Major actions included naming the city's new Emergency Operations Center after community member Matt Schneider for his decades of public safety leadership, approving a 12-month AI plan checking pilot contract with Crossbeam to improve permit processing efficiency, and adopting objective design standards for single and two-family residential development to comply with state housing laws. The Council also extended the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance urgency ordinance for 22 months while the California Coastal Commission reviews certification. The Cou

Key Decisions

- Approved resolution establishing objective design standards for single and two-family residential development with direction to add Laguna Canyon annexation area specific plan to applicability map and meet with community stakeholders to prepare future amendments - Adopted resolution extending the Design Review Efficiency Ordinance urgency ordinance for 22 months and 15 days with required 10-day report - Authorized Mayor Mark Orgill and Council Member Rounaghi to request Orange County Board of Supervisors expand glyphosate herbicide prohibition pilot program to include Aliso Creek channel - A