What San Clemente is about to decide

The council meets Tuesday for a 4:45 PM special-meeting closed session and a 5:30 PM business meeting in the Council Chambers, 910 Calle Negocio, 2nd Floor. These are pending decisions from the posted agenda — not outcomes. San Clemente has since posted a revised agenda adding one item — Item 10C, a proclamation of a local state of emergency — and this page reflects it. Every item links to the official record.

Source: Revised Special and Regular Meeting agenda (PDF) · original posted agenda (PDF) · Legistar meeting detail · Next regular meeting: October 6, 2026 — closed session 4:30 PM, business meeting 5:30 PM

✅ What actually passed (confirmed from the Legistar meeting record): Per the draft minutes entries on the city’s meeting record, every recorded vote was 5-0. The record has no action entry yet for Item 10C, the local state of emergency proclamation — so whether Resolution 26-160 was adopted is not yet recorded, and this page will be updated when it is. What the record does show: under Item 5 the council voted 5-0, on Councilmember Cabral’s motion with Mayor Pro Tem Knoblock’s support, “to find that an emergency exists due to storm impacts of Hurricane Marie and agendize for consideration with item 10C to consider emergency placement of sand at North Beach to protect public and private infrastructure and allocate $1 million dollars for the project.” Ordinance No. 1813 on building regulations and construction enforcement (10A) was introduced at first reading, 5-0, on a motion by Cabral, seconded by Enmeier. The $135,000 sole-source Meridian Vehicle Mitigation System purchase (11F) was approved 5-0 as Resolution No. 26-155, moved by Cabral, seconded by Knoblock, after two speakers opposed it. The $116,213 Duncan Engineering pier inspection and design contract (11D) was awarded 5-0 as Resolution No. 26-153. Also 5-0: Resolution No. 26-152 cancelling the April 6, 2027 meeting (10B, moved by Wu); the OCTA Pedestrian Beach Trail license amendment (11E, Resolution No. 26-154); the farmers’ market license to Introductions Unlimited, Inc. (11G, Resolution No. 26-156); the South El Camino Real paving notice of completion (11H, Resolution No. 26-157); the CDBG year-end report (11I, Resolution No. 26-158); the resolution supporting Senate Bills 329 and 490 (11J, Resolution No. 26-159); the Wall of Recognition resolution for Jay “Sparky” Longley (1B); the $4,172,366.02 warrant register; and the minutes. The City Attorney reported “direction given, no reportable action” from the closed session on the City Manager’s evaluation. Under future agenda items, Mayor Loeffler, with support from Knoblock and Enmeier, agendized consideration of strengthening the city’s smoking ordinance. The minutes are still marked draft.

The headline: the council will consider proclaiming a local state of emergency over what the revised agenda calls “the unanticipated costs associated with current and near-future weather, tidal and El Niño events,” and asking the Orange County Board of Supervisors to proclaim a county emergency as well — an item added after the agenda was first posted. The council also gives a first reading to Ordinance No. 1813, rewriting the municipal code chapter that governs building regulations and construction enforcement, and takes up a $135,000 sole-source purchase of a Meridian Vehicle Mitigation System — a vehicle barrier — on a finding that only the manufacturer sells it. The pier gets a structural look: $116,213 to Duncan Engineering for waterfront inspection and design. The council also weighs a resolution supporting Senate Bills 329 and 490 on oversight of alcohol and drug treatment and sober living facilities, and would cancel its April 6, 2027 meeting to line up with the Capistrano Unified spring recess. Before the public meeting, the council evaluates the City Manager behind closed doors.

🔒 Closed session, 4:45 PM special meeting

City Manager performance evaluation under Government Code Section 54957(b). The agenda lists the title only. Closed Session A

🌪 Added by revision: a local state of emergency over storm and tidal costs

Item 10C was not on the originally posted agenda. The revised agenda’s cover page states it was revised “to add item 10C - PROCLAMATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY AND REQUEST FOR A PROCLAMATION OF A COUNTY STATE OF EMERGENCY.” Item 10C
The item as printed reads: “PROCLAMATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY AND REQUEST FOR A PROCLAMATION OF A COUNTY STATE OF EMERGENCY BY THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ADDRESS THE UNANTICIPATED COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CURRENT AND NEAR-FUTURE WEATHER, TIDAL AND EL NIÑO EVENTS.” Under Potential Action(s): “If the City Council finds the information in this report warrants the Proclamation of a local emergency, the City Council should adopt Resolution 26-160 proclaiming a local emergency with an initial duration of sixty (60) days.” Item 10C
The agenda does not state a dollar figure for the costs, name the specific events, or describe what the proclamation would authorize. This is a pending decision — the council has not proclaimed an emergency. Item 10C

📜 New business: building code enforcement, and the 2027 calendar

First reading of Ordinance No. 1813, which would amend Chapter 15.04 of Municipal Code Title 15 — Buildings and Construction — “relating to building regulations and construction enforcement,” and find the ordinance exempt from CEQA under Guidelines Section 15378. The posted agenda gives the ordinance title but does not summarize the substantive changes; a second reading would be required before it takes effect. Item 10A
The 2027 meeting calendar. Resolution No. 26-152 would cancel the April 6, 2027 City Council meeting “to align with the Capistrano Unified School District Spring Recess.” Item 10B

🚧 A $135,000 vehicle barrier, bought sole-source

Resolution No. 26-155 would authorize a sole source exemption to competitive bidding under City Purchasing Policy 201-2-1 “based on the proprietary nature of the Meridian Vehicle Mitigation System, which is only sold by the manufacturer,” and approve the purchase of the system and associated equipment in an amount not to exceed $135,000. The agenda does not name the manufacturer or state where the system would be deployed. Item 11F

🏖 The pier, the beach trail and the farmers’ market

$116,213 for pier inspection and design. Resolution No. 26-153 would award a professional consultant services agreement to Duncan Engineering for waterfront structural inspection and design services for the Pier Improvements project (CIP No. 17419) and authorize Contract No. C26-54 in an amount not to exceed $116,213. Item 11D
Pedestrian Beach Trail license amended. Resolution No. 26-154 would approve Amendment No. 1 to C23-20 with the Orange County Transportation Authority, amending the license agreement for the Pedestrian Beach Trail. The agenda does not state a dollar figure. Item 11E
Farmers’ market operator. Resolution No. 26-156 would award a revocable license agreement to Introductions Unlimited, Inc. for operation and management of the San Clemente Certified Farmers’ Market, and authorize Contract No. C26-55. The agenda does not state a dollar figure or a term. Item 11G

🚗 Roads, grants and a state-legislation resolution

South El Camino Real paving accepted. Resolution No. 26-157 would accept the Arterial Pavement Preservation Program for South El Camino Real (W. Ave. Gaviota to W. Ave. San Antonio, CIP No. 12303) from contractor All American Asphalt, record the Notice of Completion, release the payment bond 35 days after recordation absent liens, and release the performance bond on receipt of a warranty bond equal to 25% of total construction cost. Item 11H
CDBG year-end report. Resolution No. 26-158 would approve the FY 2025-26 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report on Community Development Block Grant spending for submittal to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Item 11I
Sober living oversight bills. Resolution No. 26-159 would put the council on record supporting Senate Bill 329 (Blakespear) and Senate Bill 490 (Umberg) — described on the agenda as concerning oversight and enforcement of facilities providing alcohol and drug treatment and sober living services — and authorize the Mayor to sign letters asking the Governor to sign them. Item 11J

🪑 Also on the agenda

$4,172,366.02 warrant register: Wire Transfer No. 3494 and Warrant Nos. 613584 through 613731, paid 8-28-26. The payroll register is listed as none. Item 11C
An OCTA project update presented by Dan Phu, OCTA’s Director of Strategic Planning; and Resolution No. 26-151 accepting Jay “Sparky” Longley as the 2026 Wall of Recognition inductee on the Wall of Recognition Committee’s unanimous recommendation. Items 1A & 1B
Consent minutes: the September 1, 2026 regular council meeting, plus the Cultural Heritage Subcommittee minutes of July 29 and the Planning Commission adjourned meeting minutes of August 5. Items 11A & 11B
No public hearings and no unfinished business are scheduled; both sections are listed as “None.” Items 8 & 9
Council roster as printed on the agenda: Mayor Loeffler, Mayor Pro Tem Knoblock, and Councilmembers Cabral, Enmeier and Wu. Roll call

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.