CC MINS 20100123 ADJ MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING/
TACTICAL PLANNING WORKSHOP
JANUARY 23, 2010
The meeting was called to order at 9:34 A.M. by Mayor Wolowicz at Fred Hesse
Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, notice having been given with affidavit
thereto on file.
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
ABSENT: None
Also present were Carolyn Lehr, City Manager; Carolynn Petru, Deputy City Manager;
Dennis McLean, Director of Finance/Information Technology; Joel Rojas, Director of
Community Development; Director of Public Works Ray Holland; Interim Director of
Recreation and Parks Tom Odom; Kathryn Downs, Deputy Director of Finance/
Information Technology; Nicole Jules, Senior Engineer; and, Carla Morreale, City Clerk.
Also present: Traffic Safety Commissioners David Kramer (Chair), Lynn Swank, and
Shawn Nejad.
FLAG SALUTE:
The Flag Salute was led by Traffic Safety Commission Chair Kramer.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilman Stern moved, seconded by Councilman Misetich, to approve the agenda,
as presented.
Without objection, Mayor Wolowicz so ordered.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REGULAR NEW BUSINESS:
Palos Verdes Drive East Safety Improvements Preliminary Study Report
Director of Public Works Holland introduced Senior Engineer Jules to provide an
overview of the item.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 1 of 10
Senior Engineer Jules provided a staff report and PowerPoint presentation regarding
the Palos Verdes Drive East (PVDE) Safety Improvement Preliminary Study Report and
the year long process of obtaining public input and review by the Traffic Safety
Commission regarding the improvement of traffic and roadway safety along this
corridor.
David Kramer, Chair, Traffic Safety Commission, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that the
PVDE Safety Improvement Preliminary Study Report was a beneficial and collaborative
effort between the staff, Traffic Safety Commission, and public. He reported that the
original report was rewritten after review and input from the Traffic Safety Commission.
He noted that the final report before the Council for approval was reprioritized to identify
the most significant problem areas on Palos Verdes Drive East regarding traffic issues
and roadway safety concerns.
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding specific aspects of the PVDE Safety
Improvement Preliminary Study Report.
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Councilman Stern, to approve the Palos
Verdes Drive East Safety Improvements Preliminary Study Report and instruct staff to
proceed expeditiously to implement proposed revised Milestone Nos. 1 and 2 for the
Citywide Traffic and Roadway Safety Goal in the Tactical Plan for 2010.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Wolowicz called a brief recess from 10:14 A.M. to 10:25 A.M.
Tactical Plan for 2010
City Clerk Morreale reported that late correspondence was distributed prior to the
meeting and there were three requests to speak on this item.
Deputy City Manager Petru provided a staff report regarding the Tactical Plan for 2010
and an overview of the eight top priority goals for the upcoming two-year period
including the following: 1) Capital Improvement Program; 2) Citywide Traffic and
Roadway Safety; 3) Emergency Preparedness; 4) Military Student Enrollment in Local
Schools; 5) New Civic Center; 6) Palos Verdes Nature Preserve; 7) Recreation and
Educational Facilities; and, 8) Re-examination of City Plans including the General Plan
and Trails Network Plan. She noted that the attachments to the staff report included
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 2 of 10
Council worksheets, a status update from 2009 Tactical Plan for comparison, and the
2008 Tactical Plan for historical reference, respectively.
Council discussion ensued regarding the goals, sub-goals and milestones for the
Tactical Plan for 2010.
Ken Dyda, Rancho Palos Verdes, commented on the extensive nature of the necessary
work at San Ramon Canyon and Tarapaca and his concern that it may affect adjoining
properties as did the work performed by the County years ago along Crenshaw
Boulevard. He suggested the exploration of the protection of the City regarding the
liabilities related to the upcoming project, including the possibility of forming a
Geological Hazard Abatement District.
Mr. Dyda spoke regarding the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the control of
the problems in the Portuguese Bend Landslide area. He stated that he was
disappointed in not seeing incremental goals leading to the ultimate potential solution
for the Portuguese Bend Landslide under the CIP goal.
Director of Public Works Holland reported that staff and the City's grant writer have
been in search of grants to fund the necessary studies for the Portuguese Bend area.
He reported that in discussions with resource agencies, staff was directed to a professor
at Cal State Fullerton who is an authority on landslides, who has proposed to work with
staff to gather and enter the data that the City currently has on the geology of the
Portuguese Bend Landslide area into the Geographic Information System to analyze the
information on a three-dimensional basis.
Richard Smith, Rancho Palos Verdes, complimented the City on its mitigation of the
problems associated with the recent storms and the process of the sharing of
Emergency Preparedness goals and resources with other Peninsula cities. He stated
that there is a difference between Emergency Preparedness and Disaster
Preparedness and that a truly resilient community should have a multiple layer
response capability beyond the first responders, including programs such as
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and the Neighborhood Watch
program.
Capital Improvement Program
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding goals, milestones, work plans, action
items, and funding of the various projects under the Capital Improvement Program
(CIP), including the storm drain program.
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Councilman Stern, to adopt the CIP goal as
stated with the addition of the following specific sub-goal: Implementation of the Lower
San Ramon Canyon Stabilization Project.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 3 of 10
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Wolowicz called a brief recess from 11:04 A.M. to 11:08 A.M.
Council discussion of the CIP goal and sub-goal resumed.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Council and staff discussion continued regarding the milestones of the Capital
Improvement Program.
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Councilman Misetich, to adopt the
milestones for the Capital Improvement Program Goal, as stated by staff, with the
addition of the following three milestones: 1) Identify and report to Council specific storm
drain work to be completed in the current year; 2) If Federal funding is denied, identify
and report to Council on the necessary alternatives to accomplish the Tarapaca project;
and, 3) Identify and report to Council alternatives for potential improvement work to
open space land, with staff to propose appropriate dates for the milestones to be
returned to Council for approval.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Citywide Traffic and Roadway Safety Goal
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Councilman Stern to adopt the Citywide
Traffic and Roadway Safety Goal milestones, as proposed by staff.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Eastview School Boundary Goal
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Councilman Stern, to adopt the staff
recommendation to eliminate the goal.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 4 of 10
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Emergency Preparedness Goal
Councilman Stern moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Long, to adopt the Emergency
Preparedness Goal and milestones, as presented.
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved an amendment to the motion, seconded by Councilman
Campbell, to modify the goal to read "Improve Disaster and Emergency Preparedness."
Without objection, Mayor Wolowicz so ordered the approval of the amendment.
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved a substitute motion, seconded by Mayor Wolowicz, to
adopt the Improve Disaster and Emergency Preparedness goal and to adopt the
milestones as stated by staff, with the addition of the following milestone: Conduct an
appropriate emergency preparedness training exercise, involving the emergency
operation center, such as a tabletop exercise, involving Council and staff regarding the
respective roles of each during disasters and emergencies.
Council and staff discussion ensued.
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Wolowicz called a brief recess from 11:48 A.M. to 11:55 A.M.
Mayor Pro Tem Long modified the substitute motion to add the following additional
milestone: Make available demonstrations of CERT and Peninsula Volunteer Alert
Network (PVAN) to the City Council.
Richard Smith, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that the table-top exercise could be
implemented in conjunction with the Great California Shake-Out which will be held on
October 21, 2010 with the participation of multiple agencies and organizations.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Military Student Enrollment in Local Schools,
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 5 of 10
Mayor Pro Tern Long moved, seconded by Councilman Campbell, to adopt the goal, as
modified, to read "Allow military students to attend school within the Palos Verdes
Unified School District," and to adopt the milestones, as stated.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Wolowicz called a recess for lunch from 12:13 P.M. to 12:43 P.M.
New Civic Center Goal
Mayor Pro Tern Long moved, seconded by Councilman Stern, to adopt the goal and
add the following sub-goal: Construct the first Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall.
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding the operating and maintenance costs of
the existing City Hall and the consideration of funding options for the development of a
new City Hall and Civic Center.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Council and staff discussion continued regarding a program to educate the public
regarding the need for a new City Hall; and the potential benefits of a shared substation
for the Sheriff, ambulance company, and Fire Department paramedic at the Civic
Center.
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Councilman Campbell, to adopt the Civic
Center milestones as presented by staff with the addition of the following milestones,
with staff to bring back dates on each milestone: 1) Identify and report to Council with
estimated costs and specific tasks to be accomplished for Civic Center planning;
2) Identify and report to Council the conclusions regarding the most likely plans and cost
ranges for each of the major elements including the addition of a Sheriff substation;
3) Identify and report to Council the potential funding sources, including but not limited
to, presentation of private-public partnership prospects and potential private donations;
and, 4) Develop an informational program regarding the need for a new Civic Center.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 6 of 10
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Council discussion ensued regarding the addition of another milestone regarding the
Civic Center to the Emergency Preparedness Goal.
Emergency Preparedness Goal (continued)
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Councilman Campbell, to add an additional
milestone to the Emergency Preparedness Goal to identify and report to Council the
benefits, if any, and the means to implement the opening of a Sheriff's substation
combined with ambulance and possible EMT or paramedic site at the Civic Center.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Palos Verdes Nature Preserve
Council discussion ensued regarding the need to complete the tasks regarding the
Palos Verdes Nature Preserve.
Councilman Stern moved, seconded by Councilman Campbell, to adopt the goal and
milestones regarding the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Recreational/Educational Facilities Goal
Mayor Pro Tern Long moved, seconded by Councilman Campbell, to adopt the
Recreational/Educational Facilities Goal, as stated, with the addition of the following
sub-goal: Provide park improvements to Grandview Park and Lower Hesse Park.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 7 of 10
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Pro Tern Long moved, seconded by Councilman Misetich, to adopt the
Recreational/Educational Facilities milestones, as stated, with the addition of the
following milestone: Develop a proactive public outreach program for public input
regarding park improvements.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Re-Examination of City Plans
Councilman Misetich moved, seconded by Councilman Stern, to adopt the Re-
Examination of City Plans goals and milestones, as stated.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Wolowicz inquired if there were any new goals to be proposed by Council
Members.
Commercial Zone Revitalization
Councilman Misetich moved, seconded by Councilman Campbell, to propose a new
goal which would be a program for business revitalization and the exploration of a sales
tax sharing arrangement incentive to attract new businesses along the Western Avenue
business corridor.
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding this proposed new goal.
Mayor Pro Tem Long made an amendment to the motion to phrase the goal as the
following: Revitalize the City's commercial zones with the milestone to be "submit to the
City Council a preliminary report regarding the feasibility of offering a sales tax sharing
program" with staff to determine a milestone date.
The maker and seconder of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 8 of 10
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
City Charter
Mayor Pro Tern Long moved, seconded by Mayor Wolowicz, to propose a new goal to
consider adopting a City Charter with a milestone to receive a report regarding the
advantages, costs, etc. of adopting a City Charter.
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding this proposed new goal.
Councilman Campbell made an amendment to the motion for the milestone to read
"identify and report to Council the pros and cons of adopting a City Charter."
The maker and seconder of the motion accepted the amendment to the motion.
Ken Dyda,, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that when a city has a charter, it has more
latitude as to what can be included in it; however, when a city wants to amend that
charter it becomes a very difficult problem because the entire charter is opened to
discussion and the potential of eliminating some benefits contained in the charter.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Campbell, Long, and Misetich
NOES: Stern and Mayor Wolowicz
ABSENT: None
Mayor's Appointment of City Council Members to an Ad Hoc Subcommittee —
Employee Compensation Policies
Mayor Wolowicz provided a brief oral report regarding the need for discussion of several
issues related to employee compensation policies prior to the upcoming discussion of
the adoption of the Budget.
Council and staff discussion ensued regarding the scope of issues to be discussed by
the Ad Hoc Subcommittee.
Mayor Pro Tem Long moved, seconded by Mayor Wolowicz, to establish an Ad Hoc
Subcommittee to discuss with and assist staff in gathering information regarding
compensation policies and alternatives to assist in the formulation and evaluation of
employee compensation prior to the item coming before Council.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
Page 9 of 10
AYES: Campbell, Long, Misetich, Stern, and Mayor Wolowicz
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Wolowicz appointed Councilman Misetich and himself to serve as an Ad Hoc
Subcommittee to address Employee Compensation.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 2:29 P.M., Mayor Wolowicz adjourned the meeting to Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at
5:00 P.M. at Hesse Park to conduct interviews of applicants for the Planning
• Commission.
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411101A •
ayor
Attest:
CY71
City Clerk
W:\City Council Minutes\2010\20100123 CC MINS.doc
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2010
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