CC MINS 20121120MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 20, 2012
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M. by Mayor Misetich at Fred Hesse
Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION:
At 6:00 P.M. the meeting was recessed into Closed Session, with all Council Members
present.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR SESSION FOR A STUDY SESSION:
At 6:43 P.M., Mayor Misetich reconvened the meeting to Regular Session for a City
Council Study Session.
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Brooks, Duhovic, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
ABSENT: Campbell*
*Mayor Pro Tern Campbell arrived at 6:52 P.M.
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; and, Carla Morreale, City Clerk.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE STUDY
SESSION:
None.
DISCUSSION TOPICS:
Review of Tentative Agendas in Light of City Council Goals, Including Questions
of Staff
Discussion ensued among Council Members, City Attorney Lynch, and staff regarding
items on the upcoming Council Meeting agendas as listed on the Tentative Agendas.
Several items were moved from the December 4, 2012 agenda to future dates.
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November 20, 2012
Page 1 of 11
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman Knight, to approve the
Tentative Agendas, as amended.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Brooks, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
NOES: Campbell and Duhovic
ABSENT: None
Future Agenda Items Proposed by Council Members to be Prioritized:
None.
Councilwoman Brooks removed her Recycling Drawing item from the Future Agendas.
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Misetich called a brief recess from 6:59 P.M. to 7:10 P.M.
REGULAR SESSION:
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Brooks, Campbell, Duhovic, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
ABSENT: 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; Ara
Mihranian, Deputy Community Development Director; Ron Dragoo, Senior Engineer;
Nicole Jules, Senior Engineer; Lauren Ramezani, Senior Administrative Analyst; and,
Carla Morreale, City Clerk.
Also present was Sgt. Dave Rozas, Lomita Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department.
FLAG SALUTE:
The Flag Salute was led by City Clerk Morreale.
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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November 20, 2012
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Sgt. Rozas of the Lomita Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept., provided a status
report and PowerPoint presentation regarding FY 12 -13 Crime Prevention
Enhancements.
Mayor Misetich announced that he and other Council Members recently received letters
from the FPPC regarding the conclusion of an investigation, which cleared them from
allegations of any misconduct regarding expenditures for the production of automated
phone calls for the November 2010 Election (Marymount Initiative - Measure P).
RECYCLE DRAWING:
Mayor Misetich announced Recyclers of the Month from the November 7, 2012 City
Council meeting: Norman Niederman and Keiji Nozaki. He indicated that all winners
receive a check for $250 representing a year of free refuse service and urged everyone
to participate in the City's Recycling Program.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman Knight, to approve the agenda.
Without objection, Mayor Misetich so ordered.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: (Audience Comments regarding Items Not on the Agenda)
None.
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Lehr announced that the City had recently received a letter from the
CEO /Co- founder of Yelp regarding recent favorable consumer ratings about the Pt.
Vicente Interpretive Center.
NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR:
City Clerk Morreale reported that late correspondence was distributed prior to the
meeting regarding Item C (Initiation of a Code Amendment to Revise Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC) Section 17.76.030 [Fences, Walls and Hedges]); and
there was one request to speak regarding Item K (Agreement for Financial Advisor
Services).
Councilman Duhovic requested that Item K be removed from the Consent Calendar.
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November 20, 2012
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Councilman Duhovic and Mayor Pro Tem Campbell asked questions regarding several
Consent Calendar items.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman Duhovic, to approve the
Consent Calendar, with Item K (Agreement for Financial Advisor Services) removed
from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Brooks, Campbell, Duhovic, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
NOES: None
ABSENT: 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.
Approval of Minutes
Approved the Minutes of the October 16, 2012 Regular Meeting; the October 30, 2012
Adjourned Regular Meeting (Interviews); and the October 30, 2012 Adjourned Regular
Meeting.
Initiation of a Code Amendment to Revise Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code
(RPVMC) Section 17.76.030 (Fences, Walls and Hedges)
Initiated a Code Amendment to: 1) Revise Section 17.76.030 of the RPVMC (Fences,
Walls and Hedges) to require new fences, walls and hedges within specified setbacks
be subject to a Fence, Wall and Hedge Permit, thereby affording view protection from
said fences, walls and hedges to more property owners; and, 2) Make minor clean -up
amendments to Section 17.76.030 to clarify combination hedge heights and applicability
of a Minor Exception Permit for fences.
Award Contracts for Construction, Construction Management and Inspection
Services for FY2011 -2012 Areas 3 and 5 Residential Streets Improvement Project
— Phase I (Supports 2012 City Council Goal #4, Public Infrastructure — Citywide
Street Maintenance)
1) Approved the construction plans and project specifications for the FY 2011 -2012
Area 3 and 5 Residential Streets Improvement Phase I Project; 2) Awarded a
construction contract to Hardy and Harper, Inc. in the amount of $2,346,011 for the
project; 3) Awarded a professional services agreement in the amount of $191,056 to
Merit Civil Engineering, Inc. for construction management and inspection services;
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November 20, 2012
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4) Authorized staff to utilize an additional 10% ($253,707) for contingency; 5) Authorized
a budget appropriation of $77,697 for costs associated with the reconstruction of
Woodfern Drive; 6) ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -85, A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING
RESOLUTION 2012 -43, THE BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012-
13, FOR A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO THE CITY'S STREET IMPROVEMENTS
PROGRAM WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND; and, 7) Authorized the Mayor and City
Clerk to execute the agreements.
Finance Advisory Committee Work Plan
Approved the updated 2012 -13 Work Plan for the Finance Advisory Committee (FAC).
Introduction of Ordinance — Correction to the City's Official Zoning Map
INTRODUCED ORDINANCE NO. 5427 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES, APPROVING A CORRECTION TO THE CITY'S OFFICIAL ZONING
MAP, WHEREBY 12 PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PORTUGUESE BEND COMMUNITY
WERE INCORRECTLY IDENTIFIED WITH RS -2 ZONING ON THE RECENT
DIGITIZED VERSION OF THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, WHEREAS THE CORRECT
ZONING FOR THE 12 PROPERTIES IS RS -1.
Adoption of Ordinance No. 539 — Increased Uniform Public Construction Cost
Accounting Act (UPCCAA) Limit for Level 1 Projects and Adding an Exception for
Level 2 Projects
ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 539, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES, AMENDING SECTION 2.42.050 OF THE RANCHO PALOS
VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE TO INCREASE THE LIMIT FOR LEVEL 1 PROJECTS
AND ADD A NEW EXCEPTION TO LEVEL 2 PROJECTS.
Adoption of Ordinance No. 540 — Code Amendment to Establish a Procedure for
Allowing Hedges Over 42" in Height within the Front Yard Setback of Private
Residential Properties and to Simplify the Existing Intersection Visibility Triangle
Review Process (ZON2010- 00293)
ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 540, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES, THEREBY MEMORIALIZING THE CITY COUNCIL'S DECISION TO
AMEND SECTIONS 17.76.030 (FENCES, WALLS AND HEDGES) AND 17.48.070
(INTERSECTION VISIBILITY TRIANGLE) OF TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE CITY'S
MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISH A NEW DISCRETIONARY PERMIT PROCESS
TO ALLOW HEDGES ABOVE 42" IN HEIGHT WITHIN THE FRONT YARD SETBACK
OF PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND TO SIMPLIFY THE REVIEW
PROCESS TO ALLOW IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE INTERSECTION VISIBILITY
TRIANGLE AREA.
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November 20, 2012
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Claim Against the City by Charles D. Knauer, Jr.
Rejected the claim and directed staff to notify the claimant.
Claim Against the City by Lucia Vasquez
Rejected the claim and directed staff to notify the claimant.
Agreement for Financial Advisor Services
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
San Ramon Canyon Stabilization Project Pre - Qualification
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -861 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, APPROVING THE APPEALS PROCESS
REGARDING PRE - QUALIFICATION OF BIDDERS FOR THE SAN RAMON CANYON
STABILIZATION PROJECT.
Register of Demands
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -87 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND
DEMANDS AND SPECIFYING FUNDS FROM WHICH THE SAME ARE TO BE PAID.
Contract and Budget Appropriation to Prepare an Amendment to the City's
General Plan Housing Element
1) Authorized Staff to execute a professional services agreement for the Mayor's
signature in an amount not to exceed $17,950 with Castaneda & Associates to prepare
an amendment to the City's General Plan Housing Element; and, 2) ADOPTED
RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -88, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2012 -43, THE
BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR FY12 -13, TO FUND CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN
HOUSING ELEMENT.
ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR:
Agreement for Financial Advisor Services
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November 20, 2012
Page 6 of 11
Ken Dyda, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that he was present at the October 16, 2012
Council meeting where the agreement for Financial Advisor Services was discussed.
He provided a recap of Council Members' comments and restated the motion made that
evening, noting the focus of the agreement was to be on the financing plan for the San
Ramon Canyon Stabilization Project.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman Knight, to remove this item
from the agenda and schedule it for the second meeting in January.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Brooks, Campbell, Duhovic, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
CONSENT CALENDAR (continued):
Introduction of Ordinance — Correction to the City's Official Zoning Map
City Clerk Morreale reported that an item on the Consent Calendar was to include the
introduction of an ordinance for a correction to the City's Official Zoning Map.
City Attorney Lynch stated that the City Clerk would need to read the title of the
ordinance into the record.
Mayor Misetich moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Campbell, to: INTRODUCE
ORDINANCE NO. 5427 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES, TO REVISE THE CITY'S OFFICIAL DIGITIZED ZONING MAP OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO CORRECT AN ERRONEOUS ZONING DISTRICT
BOUNDARY LINE.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Brooks, Campbell, Duhovic, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
REGULAR BUSINESS:
Amendment to the Lower Point Vicente Portion of the Rancho Palos Verdes Coast
Vision Plan
City Clerk Morreale reported that late correspondence was distributed prior to the
meeting and there were three requests to speak regarding this item.
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November 20, 2012
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Deputy Community Development Director Mihranian provided a brief staff report and
PowerPoint presentation regarding this item.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and staff.
Eva Cicoria, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that she supported staff s recommendation
and encouraged the City to enhance the area with additional improvements to the
outdoor recreation features, such as trails, picnic and vista areas, vista locations,
natural history areas, and natural landscaped areas.
David Sundstrom, California Native Plant Society, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated he was
in support of the staff recommendation and provided a handout containing three
preliminary conceptual restoration and park plans for Lower Pt. Vicente.
Ann Shaw, Rancho Palos Verdes, commended staff for the report and noted she was in
favor of the process suggested to protect the "jewel" of the City which is Lower Pt.
Vicente.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman Knight, to approve the staff
recommendation to: 1) Approve text and graphic amendments to the Coast Vision Plan
reflecting the withdrawal of the Annenberg Facility from Lower Point Vicente; and, 2)
Initiate a public review process for developing an updated concept plan for the Lower
Point Vicente portion of the Coast Vision Plan.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Brooks, Campbell, Duhovic, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Misetich called a brief recess from 8:10 P.M. to 8:17 P.M.
Future Direction of the Neighborhood Beautification Grants Program
City Clerk Morreale reported that late correspondence was distributed and there were
six requests to speak regarding this item.
Interim Director of Public Works Hendrickson provided an introduction and overview of
the Neighborhood Beautification Grants Program.
Senior Administrative Analyst Ramezani provided a history of the Neighborhood
Beautification Grant program (NBG) program and the four options presented in the staff
report for Council's consideration.
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November 20, 2012
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Discussion ensued among Council Members, staff and City Attorney Lynch.
Jeanne Lacombe, Rolling Hills Riviera Homeowners Association (HOA), Rancho Palos
Verdes, spoke in favor of Option No. 4 with some of the funding to include improvement
to walls along arterial corridors, such as Western Avenue.
Jon Cartwright, Rancho Palos Verdes, opined that the Council should reject the four
options suggested in the staff report and reinstate the program as the residents
understand it. He suggested the creation of a seven person committee comprised of
five citizens and two Council Members to determine the facts and the best use of the
money in the NBG program.
Charles Ingraham, Board Director, Ridgegate HOA, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that
the issue with the NBG Program seems to be a perception problem and suggested
turning the matter over to a committee for consideration. He suggested that some of
the recycling funds should be used to hire a municipal architect to create a plan to
improve the medians in the City.
Bill Dom, Monaco HOA, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that the NBG Program has been
used by his HOA to work on the following projects: 1) installation of irrigation and foliage
along a stretch of Hawthorne Blvd.; 2) installation of lighting at the entry of the
neighborhood; and, 3) construction of a decomposed granite walkway on Hawthorne
Blvd. from Crest Road to Rhone. He encouraged the Council to continue to support the
NBG Program.
Ann Shaw, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that she recycles because it is good for the
environment and urged the Council to adopt Option No. 4 to beautify the medians,
rights -of -ways, and major arterials in the City.
Minas Yerelian, Rancho Palos Verdes, stated that when too many people are involved
in a project nothing is accomplished, noting if a subcommittee cannot work together a
new subcommittee should be formed. He noted that Hawthorne Blvd. needs much
improvement and was in favor of planting trees along the side of the roadway and
center medians; and, suggested that the Planning Commission could handle the NBG
Program. He stated that a portion of the recycling money should be rebated to the
residents and encouraged discontinuing the street lighting on Hawthorne Blvd. with
those funds to be allocated to the NBG Program.
Ken Dyda, Rancho Palos Verdes, suggested that staff planners might be able to use
their urban design skills to create a plan to improve the landscaping along the major
arterials. He stated he was not in favor of uniform walls along all the City arterials but
noted each tract or community could adopt aesthetic standards for the walls in their
area; and suggested resurrecting the Landscaping Median Plan for irrigation and
planting of water tolerant plants, which was created in the late 1970s.
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November 20, 2012
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Discussion ensued among Council Members and staff.
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Misetich called a brief recess from 10:25 P.M. to 10:32 P.M.
Mayor Misetich moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks, to continue the meeting to
11:00 P.M.
Without objection, Mayor Misetich so ordered.
Discussion continued among Council Members and staff regarding the NBG Program.
Councilman Duhovic moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks, to approve Option
No. 3 with the entire amount of $296,000 of the Neighborhood Beautification Grant
funds to be refunded to the residents on a per household basis immediately.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Brooks, Campbell, Duhovic, Knight, and Mayor Misetich
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Councilwoman Brooks requested the following items: 1) Use of CIP Funds and
Maintenance Funds for median improvements; and 2) Concerns regarding the
Successor Agency.
Mayor Misetich requested an item regarding a Compensation Value Model for Senior
Management that would itemize all compensation.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Council Member present reported on his /her attendance at various organization
and association meetings since the last City Council Oral Reports were provided on
November 7, 2012.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Lynch reported that Mayor Pro Tern Campbell was not in attendance at
the Closed Session due to a work schedule conflict. City Attorney Lynch reported on
the following Closed Session items: 1) With respect to the item regarding potential
initiation of litigation regarding a slope failure, the Council voted unanimously not to
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November 20, 2012
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initiate litigation (4 -0); and, 2) With respect to the item regarding the conference with
Real Property Negotiators, the Council voted unanimously (4 -0) to authorize a Phase 1
Environmental Report be prepared and if said report is favorable, to authorize the
purchase of the lot on Cherry Hill Lane that had been offered by Niemeyer Land &
Farming Partnership.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 11:09 P.M., Mayor Misetich adjourned the meeting to 7:30 A.M. on Tuesday,
December 4, 2012 for an Adjourned Regular Meeting for a Ground Breaking /Sign
Unveiling for the San Ramon Canyon Stabilization Project to be held at the eastern side
of the Lower Switchback at Palos Verdes Drive East near San Ramon Canyon.
Attest:
City Clerk
WACity Council Minutes\2012120121120 CC MINS.doc
M or
City Council Minutes
November 20, 2012
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