Laguna Beach City Council Regular Meeting - December 10, 2024

December 10, 2024

Executive Summary

- Mayor Alex Ranaghi presided over the December 10, 2024 Laguna Beach City Council meeting with all five members present (Council Members Jones, Kempf, Whalen, Mayor Pro Tem Morgan, and Mayor Ranaghi). - The City Council recognized 12 young artists for the 2024 Children's Holiday Pallet Awards, marking the 20th anniversary of the exhibition with 140 total submissions. - City Engineer Mark Orgill was honored at retirement after 23 years of service, during which he oversaw more than 120 capital projects valued at over $75 million and secured over $10 million in gas tax funding. - The Council continued several major items: the Community Land Trust and Artist Live-Work Housing item (Item 24) to a future date, and the appeal for 1560 Sunset Ridge to January 28, 2026, with a January 3rd deadline for parties to reach an agreement. - The Council approved a $100,000 price reduction for the Tiamo property purchase (reducing the price to $3.45 million) and extended the escrow period. - The Council postponed approval of a contract for preliminary design of a third level at the Glenary parking structure to allow for updated cost estimates and comprehensive project review at the January 31st str

Key Decisions

- Approved continuance of Appeal A (1560 Sunset Ridge) to January 28, 2026, with a deadline of January 3, 2026 for the appellant and applicant to reach an agreement. - Approved a $100,000 price reduction on the Tiamo property purchase, reducing the full purchase price to $3.45 million, and extended the escrow period (Items 1 and 13). - Approved the annual investment policy with an amendment to Section 8.8 to clarify that city bonds can exceed the 5% issuer limit with specific council authorization under Section 2.0 (Item 5). - Approved budget carryovers with direction to staff to scrub carryov