Joint City Council / Heritage Committee Study Session - July 21, 2026

The City of Laguna Beach held a joint City Council and Heritage Committee study session on July 21, 2026, focused on historic preservation programs and policies. Key procurement-related discussions centered on potential modifications to the Mills Act program, which provides tax incentives for historic property preservation. The city currently has 142 Mills Act contracts, and staff proposed evolving the program to include updated 10-year work plans and clearer definitions of eligible activities, aiming to improve oversight and compliance. The session also explored the possibility of the city pursuing Certified Local Government (CLG) status to access federal and state preservation grants and consolidate historic resource review authority into a single body, potentially the Heritage Committee acting as a quasi-judicial commission. Additionally, the introduction of a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) permit was discussed to streamline and clarify the review process for work on designated historic resources. Staff indicated that near-term actions could be advanced with existing resources, while longer-term initiatives might require ordinance amendments, consultant support, and additional budget allocations. The council and committee members provided feedback and requested further public engagement and detailed presentations before final decisions. No formal votes were recorded during this session.