What Dana Point is about to decide
The council meets Tuesday in the City Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, Suite 210 — closed session at 5:00 PM, regular business at 6:00 PM. These are pending decisions from the posted agenda — not outcomes. Every item links to the official record.
Source: official agenda (PDF) · meeting page · Next regular meeting: September 15, 2026, 5:00 PM
✅ What actually passed (per the minutes): The city’s minutes of the September 1 meeting — presented to the council for approval on September 15 — record all five members present and every vote 5–0 (Ayes: Federico, Frost, Pagano, Villar, Gabbard). Both ADU ordinances had their first reading. The ordinance for Zone Text Amendment ZTA26-0002 (accessory and junior accessory dwelling units) was introduced on a motion by Frost, seconded by Pagano, with three modifications: a corrected internal citation, revised opening wording in Section 9.07.212(G) on discretionary permits, and removal of Section 9.07.210(D)(5) “related to permit revocation.” One public comment was received by email. The ordinance for ZTA26-0003 (second dwelling unit standards in the Local Coastal Program) was introduced on a motion by Pagano, seconded by Federico, with no public comment. Palm weevil: on a motion by Villar, seconded by Frost, the council directed staff “to conduct community outreach and implement the criteria-based, phased treatment and monitoring program, and to return with phase-specific funding requests through the annual budget process.” Consent passed without Item 8, which Mayor Pro Tem Frost removed; the 2026 community survey contract with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) was then approved separately on his motion. The consent vote also approved the parking lot lease with Point Dana Properties, LLC at 24582 Del Prado. The City Attorney reported nothing out of closed session. Nine speakers addressed the council about the recently removed Dana Woods monument sign.
The headline: two public hearings would rewrite how Dana Point regulates backyard housing. The council will consider first readings of Zone Text Amendment ZTA26-0002, modifying the zoning code's rules for accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units, and ZTA26-0003, reinstating second dwelling unit standards to match the city's certified Local Coastal Program. Both are first readings only; a second reading would be needed before either ordinance takes effect.
🏘️ Housing & zoning
- Public hearing — ADUs and JADUs: first reading of an ordinance approving Zone Text Amendment ZTA26-0002 "to modify the zoning code related to accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units." Item 9
- Public hearing — second dwelling units in the coastal zone: first reading of an ordinance approving Zone Text Amendment ZTA26-0003 "to reinstate second dwelling unit standards consistent with the city's certified Local Coastal Program (LCP)." Item 10
🤝 Agreements & leases
- A Parking Lot Lease Agreement with Point Dana Properties, LLC for use of the lot at 24582 Del Prado as shared public parking. The council would also authorize the City Attorney to approve minor non-substantive changes and the City Manager or designee to execute the agreement. No lease amount is stated on the agenda. Item 7
- A contract agreement with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) to conduct the 2026 Community Survey, with the City Manager or designee authorized to execute it. No contract amount is stated on the agenda. Item 8
🌴 Unfinished business
- Canary Island date palm protection: staff asks the council to direct implementation of a citywide, criteria-based, phased treatment and monitoring program for the South American palm weevil, with phase-specific funding requests to return through the annual budget process. No dollar figure is on the agenda. Item 11
🔒 Closed session (5:00 PM)
- Conference with legal counsel on one anticipated-litigation matter (significant exposure to litigation, Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2)) and four existing cases: Center For Natural Lands Management v. City of Dana Point (Case No. 30-2021-01219668), a second CNLM case under CEQA (Case No. 30-2025-01524239), City of Dana Point v. California Coastal Commission (Case No. 30-2026-01558283), and Dana Point Advocates v. City of Dana Point (Case No. 30-2026-01582868-CU-WM-CXC), all in Orange County Superior Court. Closed Session A–B
🪑 Also on the agenda
- Routine consent: waiving full reading of ordinances; minutes of the August 17, 2026 special council meeting; receipt of the July 27, 2026 Planning Commission minutes; claims and demands; and the Treasurer's Reports for June and July 2026. Items 1–6
- Presentations: certificates of recognition for CERT graduates, and Employee of the Quarter for Management Analyst DyAnne Weamire. New business: none. The agenda lists the next council ordinance number as No. 26-07.
Council Brief summaries are produced from official public records by our automated newsroom and reviewed before publication. Items are described as posted; the council may amend, continue, or remove items at the meeting. Spot an error? hello@councilbrief.com — we publish corrections.
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