Laguna Beach to welcome public back at next City Council meeting

When the Laguna Beach City Council convenes for its next meeting on Tuesday, June 29, the public will be able to sit in on the proceedings.

Council members voted in favor of an option providing for the return of public seating on Tuesday, a day that marked the full reopening of the state and the end of the mask order for the vaccinated population.

Following the decision, the meetings will continue to offer a hybrid format. An option to attend the meetings and participate online will be available.

The capacity for public attendance at the council meetings could be up to 80 people, unless new guidance requires it to be reduced. Face coverings would still be required at the meetings if members of the public cannot provide proof of vaccination.

City Council meetings will be subject to Cal-Osha guidelines going forward.

“Throughout the pandemic, our approach has been to just follow the state guidelines, and I think that’s stood us in good stead,” Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said. “I think that minor modification here … would make sense.”

Since April 6, the public has been able to enter council chambers to speak on a subject of interest, but they have had to exit the building after doing so.

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