CC MINS 20120731 ADJMINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
JULY 31, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M. by Mayor Misetich *, at Fred Hesse
Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, notice having been given with affidavit
on file, and was immediately recessed into Closed Session. The meeting was
reconvened at 7:04 P.M.
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Brooks, Duhovic, Knight and Mayor Misetich*
ABSENT: Campbell (excused)
*Mayor Misetich was present via teleconference from 6:00 P.M. through 8:30 P.M. from
the Blue Park Building, Calle 45, Suite 1902, Panama, Republic of Panama.
Mayor Misetich moved, seconded by Councilman Knight to select Councilwoman
Brooks to Chair this Council meeting.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
Brooks, Duhovic, Knight and Misetich
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Campbell
ABSTAIN:
None
Also present were Carolyn Lehr, City Manager; Carolynn Petru, Deputy City
Manager /Interim Director of Recreation and Parks; Carol Lynch, City Attorney; Dennis
McLean, Director of Finance /Information Technology; Joel Rojas, Community
Development Director; Jim Hendrickson, Interim Director of Public Works; Ron Dragoo,
Senior Engineer; Andy Winje, Associate Engineer and, Teresa Takaoka, Deputy City
Clerk.
Also present were: Scott Kerwin Associate Engineering Geologist with AMEC; Dr.
Robert Douglas, Professor Emeritus, University of Southern California; and, James
Lancaster Jr., Principal Engineering Geologist, Kling Consulting Group.
FLAG SALUTE:
The Flag Salute was led by Councilman Knight.
City Council Minutes
July 31, 2012
Page 1 of 8
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS: Councilwoman Brooks asked that this meeting be
adjourned in memory of Daily Breeze columnist John Bogert, who wrote a daily column
covering a variety of topics from politics to family life, for many years.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilman Knight moved, seconded by Councilman Duhovic to approve the Consent
Calendar, as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
Brooks, Duhovic, Knight and Misetich
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Campbell
ABSTAIN:
None
PUBLIC COMMENTS: (For Audience Comments for Items not on the Agenda)
None.
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Lehr provided an update on the Employee Pension Reform noting that the
contract revisions to revise the pension to include the 2 -Tier plan should be completed
by September 21, 2012. She also discussed current staffing levels and year to date
savings based on the increased employee contributions.
Councilman Knight stated that there is a current synopsis on the City's website relating
to the City's finances, which he hopes residents will review. He also wanted to assure
the residents, that, unlike other cities that are experiencing excessive deficit financing,
budgets dependent upon RDA funding, large fluctuations in Ad Valorem evaluations and
non - contract cities providing public safety services such as Police or Fire, Rancho Palos
Verdes is financially sound.
Councilman Duhovic inquired as to how long it has been since all the employee
positions were staffed.
City Manager Lehr opined that some positions may have been vacant for about two
years due to recruiting challenges.
Councilwoman Brooks inquired if the upcoming performance audit would have any
bearing on when the vacant positions would be filled.
City Manager Lehr expressed that it would be most prudent to await the results of the
audit prior to filling the vacant positions.
City Council Minutes
July 31, 2012
Page 2of8
NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR:
Deputy City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed prior to
the meeting regarding Item B and there were no requests to speak.
Councilman Knight moved, seconded by Councilman Duhovic, to approve the Consent
Calendar, as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
Brooks, Duhovic, Knight and Misetich
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Campbell
ABSTAIN:
None
Motion to Waive Full Reading
Adopted a motion to waive reading in full of all ordinances presented at this meeting
with consent of the waiver of reading deemed to be given by all Council Members after
the reading of the title.
Establishment of the Annual User Fee Rate — F12 -13 Water Quality and Flood
Protection Program (Supports 2012 City Council Goal for Public Infrastructure)
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -521 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, FINALLY ADOPTING A REPORT, AS
AMENDED, IN CONNECTION WITH THE STORM DRAIN USER FEE ESTABLISHED
PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 3.44 OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL
CODE; DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF SUCH FEE FOR FY12 -13; AND
ORDERING THAT SUCH FEE BE COLLECTED ON THE COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES TAX ROLL FOR FY12 -13.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Adoption of Annual Conformance Resolution Certifying Compliance with the 2010
Los Angeles County Congestion Management Program (Kim)
Deputy City Clerk Takaoka reported that notice of the public hearing was duly published,
no written protests were received and there were no requests to speak on this item.
City Council Minutes
July 31, 2012
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Councilwoman Brooks declared the public hearing open.
Director Rojas provided a brief staff report regarding this item.
Discussion ensued among the Council Members.
Councilman Knight moved, seconded by Councilman Duhovic, to approve staffs
recommendation to: ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -531 A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, THEREBY ADOPTING
THE CITY'S 2012 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT (LDR) AND SELF - CERTIFYING
THE CITY'S CONFORMANCE WITH THE 2010 CONGESTION MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM (CMP) FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
Councilwoman Brooks closed the public hearing.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
Brooks, Duhovic, Knight and Misetich
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Campbell
ABSTAIN:
None
REGULAR BUSINESS:
Landslide Workshop (Supports 2012 City Council Goal — Public Infrastructure)
Deputy City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed prior to
the meeting and there were two requests to speak on this item.
Interim Director Hendrickson provided a brief introduction of the item, noting that the
presentation would take approximately one hour. He asked that Council kindly hold their
questions until the end of the presentation in order to facilitate the order of the
presentation and to allow ample time for questions of staff, from Council and the
residents in attendance.
Senior Engineer Dragoo provided a brief staff report and introduced the geologists that
would be presenting various portions of the presentation.
James Lancaster Jr., Principal Engineering Geologist, Kling Consulting Group, provided
a brief overview using PowerPoint slides depicting: the various landslides and their
progression over time; previous mitigation measures that were attempted over the
years, and lessons learned.
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July 31, 2012
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Scott Kerwin Associate Engineering Geologist with AMEC, provided a brief overview
using PowerPoint slides depicting: the Klondike Canyon Landslide; remediation efforts
that were recommended and attempted over time; current conditions of the roadway
and slide area.
Robert Douglas, Professor Emeritus, University of Southern California, provided a brief
overview using Powerpoint slides that depicted: the slow moving slides in the
Portuguese Bend area; how the landslides have progressed over time; how different
components of the larger landslide mass have coincided with development of homes in
the area; and, what effect the buildup of groundwater has had in the slide areas.
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Councilwoman Brooks called a brief recess from 8:30 P.M. to 8:44 P.M.
Mayor Misetich signed off from the call at this point, thus ending his participation in the
meeting.
Discussion continued with staff recommendations and potential mitigation measures
including dewatering wells; instrumentation wells; monitoring with Global Positioning
Satellite Systems (GPS); gabion improvements in Klondike Canyon; and topographic
surveys.
Senior Engineer Dragoo opined that using the Los Angeles Region Imagery Acquisition
Consortium (LARIAC) in conjunction with the City's GIS aerial surveys would greatly
enhance tracking movement in the landslide area. He also noted that the same aerials
could be augmented to include flood plain models and building outlines so the product
would be beneficial for use by staff in other City departments.
Interim Public Works Director Hendrickson provided a brief recap of the reports as
presented and requested further direction from Council after hearing from the public
speakers.
Ken Dyda, stated that though the report was long overdue, it was very comprehensive.
He also stated that if some solutions that were looked at in 1983 had been implemented
the City would have been closer to controlling the slide area now. He suggested that the
one well that the experts believe would help, at the top of the slide area, might not be
adequate but to add interceptor drains, as proposed in 1983, to intercept water before it
gets into the slide area —and to then divert it with culverts to ocean. As far as roadway
maintenance is concerned, he opined that perforated steel plates could be used instead
of traditional pavement and readjusted as land moves, for no additional costs. Mr. Dyda
also recommended that the erosion of the toe of the landslide should be controlled and
perhaps the use of an artificial reef would be effective by reducing the strength of
waves, by means of the coanda effect, to move water along the coastline at low energy
levels and thereby protect the toe.
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July 31, 2012
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Mickey Rodich, thanked staff and the panel for the presentation that was very detailed
and comprehensive. He is concerned with the control of the toe of the landslide, noting
that some time ago a portion of the hill near the Portuguese Bend Club was removed
and added to /along roadway by Palos Verdes Drive South which he feels is contrary to
what the experts have recommended tonight. Mr. Rodich also asked for clarification on
the Portuguese Bend Landslide as he thought initially one of geologist may have noted
that it is dormant. Lastly, Mr. Rodich noted that many years ago, Dr. Ehlig had
suggested that the drainage from septic tanks, from the Rolling Hills area above the
slide, may be a contributing factor in ground water build -up and he suggested this be
investigated.
Barry Hildebrand, spoke to the amount of water that is currently delivered to homes on
south side of the hill. According to a conversation with the California Water Company it
is 55 million gallons or roughly, 8 million cubic feet per year. Mr. Hildebrand suggested
not moving soil near Portuguese Bend Club to Palos Verdes Drive South as it did not
appear to help slow the land movement. He would also like to talk privately concerning
the Rolling Hills septic tank issue.
Councilwoman Brooks thanked the speakers and asked the panel to respond to the
questions /concerns raised by the speakers.
Discussion ensued between Council Members, staff and the panel of geologists.
Councilman Duhovic inquired about long term goals to remediate the slide.
Mr. Lancaster responded that these remediation measures are ongoing and although
this maintenance would be continual, they will likely never completely mitigate the
landslide.
Senior Engineer Dragoo opined that if some of these measures are implemented and
moved forward on a yearly basis, they do become the long term plan.
Councilman Knight clarified that these measures are similar to the ongoing maintenance
procedures in the Abalone Landslide Abatement District.
Councilman Knight asked a series of questions to clarify the use of level loggers; how
the Sanitation District would contribute to the roadway stabilization; and, issues
concerning storm water runoff.
Councilman Duhovic inquired as to the environmental impacts concerning the
landslides.
Dr. Douglas spoke to the environmental issues and the impact on marine life.
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July 31, 2012
Page 6 of 8
Concilman Duhovic inquired as to the limitations of mitigation measures that are
allowable /can be conducted in the Preserve Area.
Director Rojas stated that the City addressed those issues in the NCCP so those
aspects are covered and the Council does have recourse to handle these measures,
but that work in the water courses is out of the City's jurisdiction.
Councilman Knight moved, seconded by Councilman Duhovic, to: 1) Recoive and file
the staff report; 2) direct staff to return with a report summarizing recommendations
from the panel of geologists, including prioritizing cost v. effectiveness of the
recommendations; and 3) request Finance staff to review sources of funding, including
the creation of new potential CIP projects.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
Brooks, Duhovic, Knight
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Campbell, Misetich
ABSTAIN:
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
None.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
This item was deferred to the next meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Lynch reported on the closed session item concerning Monks v Rancho
Palos Verdes a report was provided, no action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT:
Councilman Duhovic moved, seconded by Councilman Knight, moved to adjourn the
meeting at 10:08 P.M., in memory of John Bogert.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
Brooks, Duhovic, Knight
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Campbell, Misetich
ABSTAIN:
None
City Council Minutes
July 31, 2012
Page 7of8
Attest:
City Clerk
WACity Council Minutes=12\20120731 CC MINS ADJ MTG.doc
1
Mayor
City Council Minutes
July 31, 2012
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