CC MINS 19960402MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 2, 1996
REGULAR MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 P.M. by Mayor Marilyn Lyon at the Fred Hesse
Park Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard and was immediately recessed
to closed session per the Brown Act Checklist attached to the agenda. The meeting
reconvened at 7:00 P.M.
The colors and flag salute were presented by members of Boy Scout Troop No. 213.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was answered as follows:
Present: McTaggart, Byrd, Ferraro, Hollingsworth &
Mayor Lyon
Absent: None
Also present were City Manager Paul Bussey, Planning, Building and Code
Enforcement Director Bret Bernard, interim Public Works Director Joe Lopez, Senior
Planner Joel Rojas, City Clerk Jo Purcell, Assistant City Manager Brent Mattingly,
Senior Public Works Engineer Dean Allison, Planning Administrator Carolynn Petru,
Recreation & Parks Director Ron Rosenfeld, and City Attorney Carol Lynch.
Recycle Drawing
There was no recycle winner for the month of April; Planning Director Bernard drew
two cards from the recycle drum the month of May.
Ceremonial Matter (304 X 1101)
Mayor Lyon presented Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Director Bret Bernard
with a City plaque upon his departure from the City to assume the position of Planning
Director at the City of El Segundo.
Approval of Agenda
Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilman Byrd, to approve the agenda.
Motion carried.
Approval of Consent Calendar
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, spoke to the minutes of March 11, 1996.
Page three of the minutes were corrected to read: "Consequently, staff recommended
that the Council not follow the Planning Commission's recommendation with
regard to this one chapter." Councilman Hollingsworth moved, seconded by
Councilman Byrd to approve the consent calendar as follows.
Waiver of Full Reading
Adopted a motion to waive reading in full of all ordinances and resolutions adopted at
this meeting with consent of the waiver of reading deemed to be given by all
councilmembers after the reading of the title.
Minutes (301)
Approved the minutes of March 11, 1996 as amended.
Sale of Western Waste to USA Waste Services (1204 X 1301)
Approved the transfer of control of Western Waste Industries to USA Waste Services.
Resol. No. 96 -26 - Tarapaca Sewer Project (1204 X 1402)
Adopted RESOL. NO. 96 -26 GRANTING A LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY TO
THE CONSOLIDATED SEWER MAINTENANCE DISTRICT TO NEGOTIATE ON THE
CITY'S BEHALF WITH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
(FEMA) AND THE CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (OES) FOR
DISASTER RELATED EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TARAPACA SEWER
REALIGNMENT PROJECT.
Resol. No. 96 -27 - Register of Demands (602)
Adopted RESOL. NO. 96 -27 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 to approve the Consent Calendar carried on the following roll call vote:
Ayes: McTaggart, Byrd, Ferraro, Hollingsworth, &
Mayor Lyon
Noes: None
City Council Minutes
April 2, 1996
Page 2
PUBLIC HEARING
CODE AMENDMENT NO. 34 - AMENDMENTS TO TITLES
16& 17 (1204 x 1801)
Mayor Lyon noted that this was a continued public hearing and the City Clerk
announced that since the March 19 meeting, approximately ten form letters had been
received voicing protest to the proposed changes in the language in the Development
Code Open Space Hazard zone; additionally, that a letter had been received from the
law firm of Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger on behalf of Peninsula Preservation requesting
that the Council preclude conditional use permits within the Open Space Hazard
Districts.
City Manager Bussey stated that certain inconsistencies existed in the code relative to
conditional use permits and staff recommendation was modified to request that Council
take public testimony relative to this section, however, staff would not be making a
recommendation until the April 16 meeting.
The following persons then spoke in opposition to allowing certain permitted uses in
the moratorium area: Cathy Nichols, 14 Crest Road West, Rolling Hills, who referred to
the March 28, 1996 letter from the law firm of Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger stating
objection to the development of golf courses and other uses in Open Hazard (OH)
districts. Representing the League of Women Voters was Sheila Hoff, 28205
Ambergate, who read a prepared statement indicating the League's position on
development in the OH districts. John Beringer, Treasurer of the Rancho Palos Verdes
Council of Homeowners Associations, also read a prepared statement requesting that
Chapter 17.60.020 be amended to include the language "except in open space hazard
districts." Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine, stated that a golf course was not a passive
use in the OH district. (The written statements of these speakers are on file with the
City Clerk's Office.)
Representing Palos Verdes Land Holdings Company was Mike Walker, 25200 La Paz
Road, Laguna Hills, who presented a prepared statement from his company
expressing their concern regarding any amendment to the zoning ordinance prohibiting
the development of a golf course on property within the OH district. (Mr. Walker's
statement is on file with the City Clerk's Office.)
Council then proceeded to make the following amendments in the identified chapters as
follows: requested that generally throughout the code that all references be identified
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April 2, 1996
Page 3
not only with the chapter number but also with a brief description. With regard to the
use of helistops, two suggestions were proffered: that a requirement be imposed
whereby such service could be used on an occasional basis for v.i.p's. requiring City
Permission and that it not be a regular service; also, that helicopters be required to
approach over water rather than over land. Staff was directed to ascertain who would
be the controlling authority with regard to the issue of flight direction.
Chapter 17.62 ,special Use Permits: Staff to clarify the process and timeframe for
granting a Special Use Permit; keep application time at minimum so it is business
friendly. Chapter 17.64 Variances: Allow the justification procedure by the director to
be deleted because of the length of time it takes to get an application through the
Planning Commission process. Chapter 17.66. 020 (Q) Minor Exception Permits:
Limit reduction of a lot dimension only to one dimension of the lot. Chapter 17.70 Site
Plan Review: City Attorney to determine if it is permissible for the City allow appeals of
ministerial site plan review applications. Chapter 17.60 Conditional Use Permits: City
Attorney to prepare amendment disallowing certain uses in the OH districts.
Recess & Reconvene: At 8:30 P.M. the Council recessed to conduct the business
of the Redevelopment Agency. The meeting reconvened at 9:50 P.M. and Council
resumed discussion of the amendments to the Development Code.
Chapter 17.72 Coastal Permits - staff to meet with the Coastal Commission to discuss
new amendments to the Coastal Act that streamline the City's review process and will
report back to Council after that meeting.
It was the consensus that the definition section should have cross references.
Councilwoman Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilman Byrd to continue the public
hearing to April 16. Motion carried.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
LOWER HESSE PARK DEVELOPMENT (1201)
Recreation & Park Director Ron Rosenfeld presented the April 2 staff report and the
recommendation that after the Pacific View Homeowners Association presentation and
Council discussion of the possible development of Lower Hesse Park that the matter be
directed to the Recreation & Parks Committee with Council guidelines.
Speaking in favor of this development were the following persons: Ted Paulson,
President of the Pacific View Homeowners Association, 6802 Faircove Drive; Katherine
Santarosa, 6538 Verde Ridge Drive; Jim Moore, 6810 Locklenna Lane; and, Shelby
City Council Minutes
April 2, 1996
Page 4
Jordan, 29208 Posey Way. These speakers expressed their desire to see a passive
park with perhaps a sand volley ball court that could be used by the children in the
neighborhood and said that it had overwhelming support in the neighborhood.
Tom Lockett of Land Images, Panay Way, Marina Del Ray, summarized the
background on his invitation by the neighbors to explore the potentials for this property
and said that it was an ideal location for a passive park. He said that landscaping
would consist of indigenous plants that could survive with a minimum of watering; and,
that certain areas could be used for casual picnicking.
Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart to adopt the staff
recommendation and report back to the Council in 90 days and that updates be
reported in the Administrative Report. Motion carried.
Recess and Reconvene: At 10:05 P.M. Mayor Lyon declared a recess. The meeting
reconvened at 10:11 p.m.
TRACT MAP NO. 50667 (OCEAN TRAILS) - PROPOSED
(1203 x 701)
Planning Administrator Carolynn Petru presented the April 2 staff report and the
recommendation to authorize staff to send a letter to the California Coastal Commission
(CCC) indicating that the City conceptually approved the latest proposed minor
revisions to the Ocean Trails project, subject to review by the Coastal Commission and
formal review by the City.
Kay Bara, 1 Peppertree Drive, representing the Coastal Conservation Coalition,
expressed her concern that the proposed changes were inconsistent with their
Settlement Agreement with the landowners and urged the Council not to issue a
conceptual approval until she had the opportunity to review the plans.
Ken Zuckerman, representing the landowners, 2 El Portal, Palos Verdes Estates,
responded to Ms. Bara's comments and said that the changes were indeed consistent
with their agreement and requested permission to proceed with this method of approval
and then return to the City Council for approval after CCC approval.
Council discussion then centered on the fact that this was a method of allowing the
CCC to review and approve these changes first, but that the revisions would still
require City Council approval following action by the CCC. The rationale for requesting
this conceptual approval was simply to allow the landowners to go through the CCC
process first thereby, hopefully avoiding the need for the City to review the proposed
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April 2, 1996
Page 5
revisions more than once, since the CCC tended to modify the City's approvals. Also
clarified was that one change was the result of the Fire Department's review of the
trails and easements vis -a -vis the use of their emergency vehicles.
In rebuttal, Ms. Bara said that to the contrary, these changes were instigated by the
Developer and referred to a letter received from the Attorney General advising her that
the changes did not meet with the settlement agreement.
Lois Larue requested that the Council not grant this conceptual approval.
Discussion then returned to the immediacy of this request because of the CCC's
hearing schedule, the anticipated start of construction this summer and the mating
season of certain protected species found on the property during which time all
construction would be prohibited.
Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart to issue a conceptual
approval but view the plans at the April 8 meeting. In the event Council did not agree
with the conceptual changes then that approval would be withdrawn and the CCC so
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notified. The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
Ayes: McTaggart, Hollingsworth, Byrd &Mayor Lyon
Noes: Ferraro
REVISION OF SLOPE EASEMENT (1204 X 1411)
Associate Engineer Dean Allison presented the April 2 staff report and the
recommendation to authorize revision of Tract Map No. 24423, Amendment No. 1 to
reduce a slope easement at 5901 Clint Place, provided the applicant established a
cash payment of $2,200.
Representing the property owner was Jim Nazemi, 5901 Clint Place, who stated his
client's agreement with the staff recommendation.
Lois Larue stated objection to the requirement for the cash payment by the applicant.
Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilwoman Ferraro to approve the
staff recommendation. Motion carried.
Public Comments: Lois Larue read part of the Political Reform Act relative to
postgovern mental employment restrictions.
City Council Minutes
April 2, 1996
Page 6
Report on Closed Session: City Attorney Lynch reported that with regard to the
threatened litigation, that no Council action had been taken; however, Council
requested that staff write a short letter to the two individuals who submitted letters.
With regard to the purchase of property, the negotiating team was directed to continue
to pursue all options.
Adjournment: At 11:12 P.M. the meeting adjourned to 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 8 for a
Budget Issues Workshop to be held in the City Hall Community Room. Motion made by
Councilman Byrd.
MAYO
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
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City Council Minutes
April 2, 1996
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