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Votes at a glance: Laguna Beach council approves several consent items, moves forward on zoning update
Summary
Council approved the consent calendar and several items pulled for discussion: adoption of an ADU amnesty roll, amendment to a design-review resolution, and a professional services amendment for the comprehensive zoning code update; it also directed more analysis for bond purchasing on the West Street undergrounding item.
Laguna Beach City Council on July 22 approved its consent calendar and acted on several pulled items. Key outcomes included:
- Consent calendar: Council adopted the consent calendar after members moved items not pulled (agenda items 1–6, 9, 11–12, 14–16). Items pulled for discussion were handled separately. (Motion carried.)
- Item 10 — ADU amnesty/Code compliance: Council moved forward with the proposed amnesty program to legalize eligible unpermitted accessory dwelling units built before the applicable cutoff date consistent with state and Coastal Commission guidance. Staff will continue to coordinate the permanent Local Coastal Program amendment. (Motion to adopt recommended action: approved.)
- Item 13 — Design review / Exterior paint (call-up): Council reviewed a planning commission decision and added clarifying language to the resolution before overturning a planning commission condition. The council vote on that item was close: the final vote to adopt the amended resolution passed 3–2. The council directed staff to include record language clarifying the basis for the decision.
- Item 17 — GIS professional services: Council awarded a professional services agreement for GIS work (motion approved). The council asked for an update on CAD (computer-aided dispatch) integration timing; staff said vendor Hexagon recently delayed delivery to November 2026 and the city is negotiating dates.
- Item 20 — Comprehensive zoning code update (amendment): Council approved an amendment to the professional services agreement with De Novo Planning Group to expand the scope to include objective design standards, updated commercial parking standards, and other zoning cleanups. Council prioritized objective design standards and commercial parking work and asked staff to proceed. No new appropriation was requested for the remainder of the contract in the current fiscal year; staff said it will include the rest of the budget in the FY 26/27 proposal.
- Item 19 — West Street undergrounding (public meeting): No final financing decision was taken; the council directed staff to obtain additional analysis from the investment committee and city treasurer comparing bond-purchase options (public offering vs. private placement vs. internal city purchase) before selecting a purchase method.
Votes recorded during the meeting included several unanimous consent motions for the consent calendar and contract awards. The notable contested decision was item 13, which passed on a 3–2 vote.
