RDA MINS 19960115 ADJ M I N U T E S
RANCHO PALOS VERDES REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 15, 1996
Agency Chair Marilyn Lyon called the meeting to order at 8:30
P.M. , the City Council meeting having been recessed to conduct
the business of the agency.
PRESENT: McTaggart, Hollingsworth, Ferraro, Byrd & Chair
Lyon.
ABSENT: None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Member Byrd moved, seconded by Member
Ferraro to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR:
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine , spoke to several items on the
register of demands.
Withdrawn from the Register of Demands was the charge for
Monterey airfare for Member McTaggart to attend the CMANC
conference. No trip was taken.
Member Byrd moved, seconded by Member Hollingsworth to approve
the Consent Calendar as follows:
Register of Demands (602 x 1900)
ADOPTED RESOL. NO. RDA 96-01.
Dewatering Wells - Acceptance of Easements (1204 x 1900)
(1) ACCEPT EASEMENTS FROM FIVE PROPERTY OWNERS FOR THE PURPOSES
OF INSTALLING AND OPERATING DEWATERING WELLS AND DISCHARGE LINES
WITHIN THE ABALONE COVE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. (2) AUTHORIZED THE
AGENCY CHAIR AND SECRETARY TO EXECUTE THE EASEMENT AGREEMENTS.
AND, (3) DIRECTED THE AGENCY SECRETARY TO RECORD EASEMENT
AGREEMENTS WITH THE L. A. COUNTY RECORDER.
General Telephone Easement Agreement (1204 x 1601 x 1900)
(1) APPROVED THE REQUEST FROM GENERAL TELEPHONE COMPANY,
CALIFORNIA, INC. , FOR AN EASEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF INSTALLING
AND MAINTAINING UTILITY FACILITIES; AND, (2) AUTHORIZED THE
CHAIRMAN AND THE AGENCY'S SECRETARY TO EXECUTE AN EASEMENT
AGREEMENT WITH GENERAL TELEPHONE.
# # # #
REGULAR BUSINESS:
Altamira Canyon Drainage Control Project Final EIR
(1203 x 1900)
Senior Planner Rojas summarized the January 15, 1996 staff
memorandum which detailed the Agency's action on this project
beginning in September 1993 through the review period for the
draft EIR through the review period for the final EIR.
Continuing with his report, Mr. Rojas then proceeded to summarize
the Project Description, the Environmental Review process,
Project Issues Identified During the EIR Process, Concerns Raised
by the Public, Biological Resource Impacts, Storm Drain
Improvement Impacts, Cumulative Project Impacts, EIR
Certification Documents, Mitigation Monitoring Program, Project
Findings and Facts in Support of Findings Statement of Overriding
Consideration, and Special Rule 4 (d) Findings.
Lois Larue, stated her objection to approval of the EIR because
the alternative of diverting runoff water around Altamira Canyon
had not been considered.
A brief discussion then ensued about whether all Agency members
were prepared to vote on this issue inasmuch as some had not been
able to read all of the EIR material. Member McTaggart moved,
seconded by Member Ferraro to continue this matter to February
20th Motion carried.
Stabilization of the Portuguese Bend Landslide North of Palos
Verdes Drive South (1900)
Roy Rawlings, 29624 Grandpoint Lane, questioned why the
developer was willing to make this expenditure; said he was
alarmed that $3.5M had been spent on stabilization and
questioned the success of the stabilization program. At some
point, he said that the City will have to deal with the matter
of indemnification.
Don Fraser, 26 Peppertree Drive, said he has lived in the area
since 1949, that he was alarmed at the conclusion of the staff
report. He said that within the 1st five months he has had to do
more jacking of his house than he has had to do in 20 years and
that he did not agree that these stabilization projects have been
successful.
Lois Larue, stated her opposition to the project and agreed with
the suggestion of looking at the landslide and the RDA before any
new projects are started.
Kay Bara, 1 Peppertree, speaking for the Coastal Conservation
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Coalition and a number of other organizations, said that the
position of these groups is that there not be any development;
that the moratorium be maintained and that the Agency consider
using the $4. 3M from Measure A money to buy the property.
RDA MINUTES
JANUARY 15, 1996
PAGE 2
Dawn Henry, 6525 Via Colinita, said she was concerned about the
liability if the area is developed and there are subsequent
slides. She requested to know if the Board members had spoken
with Hon Development about this proposal.
Executive Director Bussey said that the developer had previously
made application for use of the land; that although the previous
planning director considered the application complete, it was
later determined to be incomplete. The issue was whether the
data gathered should be done by the City or the developer; that
there were certain advantages to the City doing it inasmuch as we
would then be privy to all of the information and data gathered.
All of the Board members stated that they had met with
representatives of Hon Development along with the Executive
Director and were apprised of the concept for the development of
the land owned by Palos Verdes Land Holdings in the Portuguese
Bend area North of Palos Verdes Drive South.
City Geologist Dr. Perry Ehlig, said that there was a
considerable amount of misinformation about the slide area; that
the stabilization project performed in 1986 and 1988 did indeed
slow the slide; that Mr. Fraser did benefit from that
stabilization; that the original studies in Abalone Cove were
funded by the City; that last winter was hard because of the
ground water conditions and the intense rainfall most of which in
the Portuguese Bend area went into underground fissuers; and,
that there have been a series of adverse conditions not
anticipated in 1986 or 1988. Continuing, he said that when the
plan was developed they felt that they could control the runoff
in Paintbrush Canyon but that the City of Rolling Hills would not
cooperate. That this project will give more precise data; that
work done in the past didn't involve removing and recompacting
material in the slide area; and, that the purpose of the
investigation is to find the precise depth to the base of the
slide. He then explained the nature and location of certain
elements of the slide and said that Dr. Bing Yen will also work
on this because of his expertise; that the costs are mostly for
drilling; that the testing cost will be modest.
Responding to the Board's inquiry, he said that the study is
designed to establish stabalization feasibility and will indicate
the volume of earth to be moved; that it will put a price tag on
the stabilization project.
The Board then discussed how the costs will be monitored;
clarification that the City will not be paying for this study but
rather the developer.
Member McTaggart moved, seconded by Member Byrd to approve the
proposed exploration program and authorize the Agency Chair and
Secretary to execute the agreements to proceed with the work.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
RDA MINUTES
JANUARY 15, 1996
PAGE 3
Ayes: Byrd, Hollingsworth, McTaggart, & Chair Lyon.
Noes: Ferraro
AUDIENCE COMMENT: Maureen Griffin, 5 Gingeroot Lane, requested
when there would be a review of the RDA.
Executive Director Bussey stated that the financial study is
being prepared and the review will be held when that has been
completed.
Bill Griffin, 5 Gingeroot Lane, requested that citizens have the
opportunity to comment on the Agency's purchase of any land in
the slide area.
Agency Attorney Lynch opined that negotiations for the property
are in the preliminary stage that when an agreement is ready for
approval it will be placed on the agenda and the public will have
an opportunity to comment on it.
Lois Larue distributed copies of a publication entitled "Coastal
Landslides in Southern California" by Bernard W. Pipkin and
MichaePloessel.
Adjournment: At 9:50 P.M. the meeting adjourned on motion of
Member Byrd.
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