What Aliso Viejo is about to decide

The council convenes a special closed session at 6:30 PM, followed by its regular meeting at 7:00 PM, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 12 Journey, Aliso Viejo. These are pending decisions from the posted agenda — not outcomes. Every item links to the official record.

Source: official agenda · Next regular meeting: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 7 p.m.

✅ What actually passed (per the signed minutes): The minutes, signed by the City Clerk and Mayor Duncan, record all five members present and every vote 5-0. On the closed session over the four homebuilder properties, “City Attorney HongDao Nguyen stated no reportable action was taken.” Consent Items 4.1 through 4.4 passed in one motion (Ackley/Munzing) — ratifying $1,180,741.08 in accounts payable and adopting Resolution No. 2026-22 amending the Conflict of Interest Code. Councilmember Ackley pulled Item 4.5, the $29,627 Willdan Financial Services amendment, asking for “more precise contract language” on how the 10% contingency applies; it then passed 5-0 on her motion, seconded by Munzing. The 2027 health benefit allowance was adopted 5-0 as Resolution No. 2026-23 (Munzing/Dwyer) — Human Resources Manager Cora Swanson recommended “an increase in the employee monthly health benefit allowance to help offset rising CalPERS health insurance premiums for 2027”; the minutes state no dollar figure and record no speakers. Two residents spoke under community input, one asking the council to consider “a formal resolution supporting e-bike safety reform at the Orange County level” and one about vehicles parking in bike lanes; Mayor Duncan said the bike-lane matter “will be reviewed.” The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

The headline: before the public meeting begins, the council will meet behind closed doors with its real property negotiator, City Manager Brett Channing, on four separate properties — each paired with a homebuilder (Shea Homes, Meritage Homes, Brandywine Homes, and Lennar) and each listed as a negotiation over "price and terms of payment for public facilities." No terms are disclosed on the agenda; any action taken must be reported out when the council reconvenes in open session at 7:00 PM. The open-session agenda itself is light: $1,180,741.08 in accounts payable, a $29,627 consultant amendment, and the 2027 employee health benefit allowance.

🔒 Closed session — property negotiations with four homebuilders

Conference with real property negotiators (Government Code Section 54956.8), agency negotiator Brett Channing, City Manager, on four properties. All four are listed under negotiation as "price and terms of payment for public facilities." Closed Session Item 1
27081 Aliso Creek Road — negotiating party Emilie Simard, Shea Homes. Closed Session Item 1.1
400-700 Freedom Lane — negotiating party Vanessa Scheidel, Meritage Homes. Closed Session Item 1.2
15 Argonaut — negotiating party Emanuel Robinson with Brandywine Homes. Closed Session Item 1.3
26800-26970 Aliso Viejo Parkway — negotiating party JR Jones, Lennar. Closed Session Item 1.4
The agenda lists a "Report from Closed Session" immediately after the regular meeting is called to order at 7:00 PM. Members of the public may address the council on the closed-session items before the council goes into closed session at 6:30 PM.

💰 Budget & payroll

Accounts payable: ratify checks and electronic funds transfers issued between July 31, 2026 and August 13, 2026 totaling $1,180,741.08. Item 4.3
2027 health benefit allowance: the lone discussion item — a resolution approving the employee monthly health benefit allowance for 2027. The agenda does not state the dollar amount. Item 6.1

🤝 Agreements & consultants

Willdan Financial Services: a First Amendment to the firm's Professional Services Agreement, not to exceed $29,627 plus a 10% contingency, with a matching $29,627 General Fund appropriation to the FY 2026-27 budget. Item 4.5

⚖️ Ordinances & ethics rules

Conflict of Interest Code biennial review: a resolution adopting amendments to the city's Conflict of Interest Code under the Political Reform Act (Government Code sections 87300–87313, including section 87303). The resolution number is shown as 2026-XXX on the posted agenda. Item 4.4

🪑 Also on the agenda

Special presentations recognizing the Aliso Viejo Girls Softball 10U Gold All-Stars team and Aliso Viejo student Julian Stambouli. Items 1.1–1.2
Routine consent: waiving the reading of ordinances and resolutions, and approving draft minutes. Items 4.1–4.2
No public hearings are scheduled. The City Manager's report, council comments, and committee updates follow the discussion item. Items 5, 7–8