CC MINS 20010403MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 3, 2001
The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. by Mayor Lyon at Fred Hesse Community
Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was
answered as follows:
PRESENT: Byrd, Ferraro, McTaggart, Stern, and Mayor Lyon
ABSENT: None
Also present were City Manager Les Evans, Assistant City Manager Carolynn Petru;
City Attorney Carol Lynch; Director of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Joel
Rojas; Director of Public Works Dean Allison; Director of Finance Dennis McLean; City
Clerk/Administrative Services Director Jo Purcell; and, Deputy City Clerk/Recording
Secretary Jackie Drasco.
RECYCLING DRAWING:
There was no winner from the last drawing. Another card was selected.
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APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilman Stern moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern McTaggart, to approve the
agenda. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR:
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, spoke to the register of demands and suggested
that the Planning Commission, particularly, the Chair, should receive a larger stipend.
Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilwoman Ferraro, to approve the Consent
Calendar as follows:
Minutes (301)
Adopted the Minutes of March 20, 2001.
Resol. No. 2001 -29 - Arterial Rehabilitation Program (1204 x 1601)
(1) Awarded a professional service contract to Willdan and Associates for services
related to the City's Arterial Rehabilitation Program. (2) Authorized the Mayor and the
City Clerk to execute a contract with Willdan and Associates for a not to exceed amount
of $ 50,000, and authorized the expenditure of up to an additional $3,000, for a total
authorization of $ 537000. (3) ADOPTED RESOLUTION 2001 -29, A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING
RESOLUTION 2000 -33, THE BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000-
01, FOR A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO THE CITY'S CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
February 2001 Treasurer's Report (602)
Ordered received and filed.
Resol. No. 2001 -30 - Register of Demands (602)
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2001 -30, 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.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Byrd, Ferraro, McTaggart, Stern, and Mayor Lyon
NOES: None
Mayor Lyon suggested that Councilmember Stern's memo under City Council Reports
be heard at this time.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Memorandum from Councilmember Douglas Stern (310 x 1109)
Councilmember Douglas Stern presented his report recommending that the Recreation
and Parks Committee Obtain Public Input and Review the Options for Public Use of City
Hall Property and Upper Point Vicente Park.
Speaking in response to Councilmember Stern's recommendation were: Todd
Anderson, 2 Masongate Drive, Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274, representing the Palos
Verdes Peninsula Girls Softball League; Rowland Driskell, 30 Via Capri; Barbara
Gleghorn, 28850 Crestridge Road, representing SOC II (Save our Coastline II); Stasys
Petrevicius; Tom Redfield, 31273 Ganado Drive; Joseph Picarelli, 30311 Via Borica,
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2001
Page 2
representing St. Paul's Lutheran Church; Jim Knight, 5 Cinnamon Lane; Marianne
Hunter, 1 Cinnamon Lane; Samuel Van Wagner, 2763 San Ramon; Juan Torres, 27600
Warrior Drive, President of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Girls Softball League; Diane
Weinberger, 4206 Exultant Drive, President of Seaview Homeowners Association; and,
Alyda White, 32614 Coastsite, President of PV Peninsula League of Women's Voters.
A summary of their comments is as follows: Because of increasing youth population
and overcrowding of facilities or lack of regulation fields, there is a need for additional
recreational facilities on the Peninsula, particularly for girls softball and possibly at lower
Point Vicente Park; suggestions were given for cleaning up the City Hall property and
palm trees being removed from LAX were offered for cost of pickup only; the proposal
presented by SOC II at the January 16 Council meeting should be seriously considered;
a survey should be sent to all residents requesting input for use of the Point Vicente
Park areas and the League of Women's Voters offered assistance; there was concern
that the Planning Commission was condensing their meeting schedule to hear the Long
Point proposal in a shorter time frame; the Long Point proposal should be considered
equally with other suggestions for use of the land; more residents would use the
recreational facilities proposed as alternates to the Long Point golf course; the
suggestions being made would comply with the restrictions the Federal Government
placed on the land when it was deeded to the City; there was a sense of frustration that
the people were not being heard and that the Long Point Developer was given priority
in inclusion of the public land in the resort/golf course proposal; it was questioned why
an EIR was being performed and its cost incurred by someone who does not own the
land; it was wrong to assume that a softball field could be built on the Lower Point
Vicente property since it was owned by the County which might object, and because of
the lead contamination; it was hoped that the residents and the City could work together
as a team to decide the use of the public land in question; it was felt that additional
income was not needed by the City and that a majority of the people would rather
maintain an open space atmosphere, while others felt that open space was not needed
so much as children's' playing fields; the land use decision on this public property is
critical and irrevocable; there was concern about the loss of slow moving wildlife who
would be destroyed by bulldozers in development of the resort complex and the EIR
dismissed this because they were not endangered species; and, other suggestions
were a swimming pool and a new City Hall.
Mike Mohler, representing Destination Resorts, 11777 San Vicente Blvd., #900, Los
Angeles, CA 90049, clarified that the EIR was performed by the City, but that the
developer had incurred the cost. He said that he respected the residents proposing
alternatives to the use of the land and explained that the developer had indicated
cooperation and contribution if it was possible for a softball field to be built at the lower
Point Vicente property but no offers or promises had been made. He stated that their
proposal had not yet been presented in its complete form; that there were residents
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2001
Page 3
who supported the concept; he encouraged public input; felt the process was being
followed correctly; and, that he felt their project would be good for the City.
Councilman Stern moved to approve his recommendation, which included obtaining
public input, conducting public meetings, and directing the Recreation and Parks
Committee provide a report to the Council so that the Council can make an informed
decision regarding the use of the City Hall Property and Upper Point Vicente Park.
Council discussion centered on the importance of public input but the two types of
meetings, Planning Commission and Council Budget Meetings, are already established
for the quickest, most accurate way to receive this input; residents are willing to attend
Recreation and Parks meetings and the schedule is published on the reader board and
the website; there are not sufficient City funds to develop the suggestions submitted by
residents as there are more critical expenses such as repairing and improving the storm
drain system; the General Fund has decreased in the last year by $3 million because of
expenses related to problems with the storm drains and other unexpected problems;
$2.4 million in revenue could be lost if the vehicle license fee taken from cities by the
governor is not longer backfilled; although the City's financial situation is good at
present, spending must be conservative to avoid depletion of the General Fund; there is
a need to provide playing fields, particularly for girls softball; the Long Point project will
likely be downsized by the Planning Commission and it is not known whether City land
will be made available or needed with the revised project. It was argued that the motion
did not authorize the spending of any City funds; that the SOC II proposal included very
little expense; that residents' suggestions for use of public land should not be merely an
adjunct to a discussion of the Long Point project; and that residents will feel that the
decision for use of public land will be rushed if all alternatives are not heard and
studied.
The motion died for lack of a second.
RECESS & RECONVENE:
At 8:25 P.M., Mayor Lyon declared a recess. The meeting reconvened at 8:37 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
John Carmichael, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 1150, Los Angeles, CA 90067,
attorney for SOC II, expressed his concerns with the Long Point EIR and said that he
would submit his opinion in writing before the April 6 comment deadline.
Tom Redfield, 31273 Ganado Drive, stated his appreciation for the improvements
provided by the new systems for television cable coverage of the Council meetings.
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2001
Page 4
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, spoke on the following subjects: her opposition to
the house on Portuguese Point which was built for a movie; deficiencies in the City's
website; appreciation of the cookies furnished at Council meetings; and, her opposition
to the manner in which the City handles EIR's.
Maria Guerra, 11 Via San Remo, spoke in opposition to additional development in the
City which she felt would decrease increase traffic safety and expressed concern about
golf ball hazards if a portion of the proposed golf course was near her home at Villa
Capri.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
Engineering Services for Drainage Improvements along Palos Verdes Drive East
(11204 x 604)
Director Allison presented the staff report of April 3, 2001 and the recommendation to
(1) Award a professional service contract to RBF Consulting for engineering services
for drainage improvements along Palos Verdes Drive East in an amount not to exceed
$179,800, and authorize the expenditure of up to an additional $15,200 for possible
extra services for a total authorization of $195,000. (2) Authorize the Mayor and the
City Clerk to execute an agreement with RBF Consulting. (3) Authorize the expenditure
of up to $10,000 under the `on -call' contract with Zeiser Kling Consultants Inc, for
engineering services for Palos Verdes Drive East drainage improvements.
Council discussion focused on repairing damaged pipes; enlarging some of the pipes,
which would require following an environmental process; the possibility of input from the
public at community meetings; the five -year plan being established and anticipated
future cost; the importance to public safety of maintaining the storm drain system; and
the presentation on this subject to be given at the Community Leaders' Breakfast on
April 7.
Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern MCTaggart to adopt the staff
recommendation.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Byrd, Ferraro, MCTaggart, Stern, and Mayor Lyon
NOES: None
Appointment of View Restoration Commission and Equestrian Committee
Members (301 x 106)
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2001
Page 5
City Clerk Purcell presented the staff report of April 3, 2001 and the recommendation to
appoint one member to the Equestrian Committee and one regular and one alternate
member to the View Restoration Commission for a term of office until April 2002.
The Council voted and appointed Carolyn Ann Bojorquez to the Equestrian Committee
and Luis de Moraes as a regular member and Russell T. Ginese as an alternate
member to the View Restoration Commission for a term of office until April 2002.
Resol. No. 2001 -31- Telecommunications Facilities within the Public Right of Way
(1204 x 1601
This item was continued to an unspecified date to allow time for City Attorney Lynch to
analyze correspondence received from Cellular telephone companies regarding legal
issues.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Lynch reported that regarding the possible purchase of the Filiorum
property, the Council unanimously authorized the City's negotiators to make a counter
offer to Jim York. Regarding the Echevarrieta litigation, the Council voted 4 -1, with
McTaggart dissenting, to request that City Attorney Lynch communicate with Mr.
Keilbach, and since he was present at the meeting, she already has spoken with him.
Regarding the evaluation of City Manager Evans, the Council unanimously directed City
Attorney Lynch to prepare a contract amendment to be submitted to the City Council at
a future meeting.
ORAL CITY COUNCIL REPORTS:
Mayor Pro Tern McTaggart reported on the last COG meeting that he attended,
specifically describing SCAG's position on Scenario No. 8 of LAX expansion and how it
could affect the air traffic noise over the Peninsula.
ADJOURNMENT:
Adjourned at 9:14 P.M. on motion of Councilwoman Ferraro to the Community Leaders'
Breakfast at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 7, at Hesse Park.
/9A
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2001
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ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
WA2001 City Council Minutes \04032001 cc min.doc
City Council Minutes
April 3, 2001
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