Laguna Beach City Council Study Session - September 22, 2026

September 22, 2026

Executive Summary

- The City Council directed staff to finalize the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a comprehensive General Plan Update covering nine elements over a 32-34 month timeline through 2029, with no formal vote recorded on the direction. - The Council endorsed adding community stewardship as an organizing theme for the update and confirmed that the Mission Statement and Guiding Principles adopted on February 7, 2012 remain aligned with the city's priorities, with Council Member Bob Whalen suggesting modest additions emphasizing environmental resiliency, hospital and healthcare, wildfire and flood risk, and housing. - Staff proposed a 13-member General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) with a City Council ad hoc committee of two members, seven topic-area seats, two neighborhood seats for South Laguna and the canyon, and two at-large seats, with the committee structure to return to Council on December 8, 2026. - Mayor Pro Tem Hallie Jones expressed concern about avoiding an unbalanced committee and urged a structured selection process, while Council Member Alex Rounaghi emphasized demographic representation over representation of community groups. - Staff proposed including a high school studen

Key Decisions

- Directed staff to finalize the Scope of Services consistent with City Council direction and to issue the Request for Proposals for the Comprehensive General Plan Update (no formal vote recorded) - Confirmed that the Mission Statement and Guiding Principles adopted on February 7, 2012 remain aligned with the City's priorities and will serve as the framework for the Comprehensive General Plan Update - Endorsed adding stewardship as an organizing theme for the general plan update - Directed staff to return to the City Council on December 8, 2026 with a resolution establishing the General Plan A