Laguna Beach council forms ad hoc to craft a hospital action plan and public engagement process

Laguna Beach City Council directed an ad hoc group to develop a work plan in response to Mission Hospital's reported intention to cease acute care services at the Laguna campus by 2030 because of seismic-retrofit costs.

Councilmembers Whelan and Ranagi (ad hoc) described a two-track process: internally collect operational data (fire-department call patterns and impacts), legal options (zoning, land-use conditions) and financial context; externally, convene community stakeholders and the hospital operator to explore options that could preserve an emergency-room presence or alternative medical services at the site.

Council discussion emphasized the medical and life-safety importance of local emergency care (stroke, cardiac events), the limits of municipal authority and the need to identify levers the city can use (for example, conditional zoning or land-use requirements) while recognizing statutory constraints. Members agreed that community engagement should begin early and that consultants or legal experts may be necessary to evaluate complex contractual and ownership issues.

Motion and next steps: Council unanimously directed the Mission Hospital ad hoc committee to produce a work plan describing internal and external steps, outreach and a timeline for council consideration. Staff will collect and summarize EMS call data and related operational metrics to inform next steps.