LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. — The Laguna Woods City Council on Monday unanimously approved a ground lease that will allow the Orange County Fire Authority to build a new fire station on a portion of City Center Park at 24121 Moulton Parkway.

City staff told the council that the key condition preventing action — a findings letter under the California Surplus Land Act from the state Department of Housing and Community Development — was received last Friday and "agreed with the city that the property qualifies as exempt surplus land, which clears the way for the city council to consider approval of the proposed ground lease agreement," according to a staff presentation (city staff identified in the transcript as Speaker 4).

The approval authorizes a ground lease to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) for construction, operation and maintenance of a new station (referred to in the record as Fire Station 12). Speaker 4 said OCFA’s board of directors previously approved the agreement and that, if the council acted Monday, the lease would take effect the following day and a temporary construction fence would be installed on the site.

Why it matters: Multiple council members described the project as long‑running and overdue. One member said the conversion of a small strip of parkland to a fire‑station site required state legislative action and years of negotiation. Supporters said a local station would reduce call loads on nearby stations and improve response proximity for residents.

Next steps and timelines: City staff told the council the immediate next step would be erecting temporary construction fencing and that OCFA would engage a design team and pursue a design‑build approach. Staff identified two key timeline milestones: entry into an agreement with the El Toro Water District for access‑road improvements by Dec. 31, 2026, and a 2027 target for OCFA to obtain a site development permit from the city (which will require substantially complete design work), after which construction would proceed.

Easement and access: Council members questioned how the adjacent water district driveway would be used. Staff said the city previously obtained an easement from the Altura Water District to allow joint use of its access road so OCFA apparatus can enter and turn on the district property rather than taking more space on the park parcel. "The Orange County Fire Authority is responsible for complying with the terms and conditions of that easement," staff said.

Council action and vote: After hearing no public comments, a council member moved to approve the lease and the motion was seconded. The council voted "Aye" with no opposition; the presiding officer declared the resolution carried unanimously.

Comments from OCFA personnel: An OCFA representative (identified in the transcript as Speaker 7) said he will move to assistant chief of EMS and training and expressed personal support: "Had the honor to serve Laguna Woods ... I know that the need that the city has for Fire Station 12," the speaker said.

Public outreach: Staff said the city and OCFA plan a joint press release in the new year to inform residents about upcoming construction activity and community outreach opportunities.

What the council did not do: The council’s action was limited to approving the ground lease document; detailed design, permitting and construction approvals remain with OCFA and, for certain approvals, with the city or other agencies (for example, the access‑road agreement with the water district).

The council adjourned; the next regular meeting was scheduled for Jan. 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. at City Hall.