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CC MINS 19960408 ADJ MINUTES RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING APRIL 8, 1996 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Mayor Marilyn Lyon at the City Hall Community Room, 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard, notice having been given with affidavit thereto on file. After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was answered as follows: Present: McTaggart, Byrd, Hollingsworth, Ferraro & Mayor Lyon Absent: None Also present were City Manager Paul D. Bussey, Assistant City Manager Brent Mattingly, City Clerk Jo Purcell, Planning Administrator Carolynn Petru, Senior Administrative Analyst Rick Otto, Public Works Director Joe Lopez, Senior Engineer Dean Allison, Associate Engineer David McBride, and Maintenance Supervisor Vic Hillstead. Approval of Agenda: Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilwoman Ferraro to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. Ocean Trails - Tract Map No. 50667 (701 x 1203) Planning Administrator Petru summarized the proposed changes as discussed in the staff memorandum of April 2. With the use of a map mounted for Council and audience viewing, Ms. Petru indicated the location of the areas affected by these proposed changes. Representing the Coastal Conservation Coalition (Coalition) was Kay Bara, 1 Peppertree Drive, who presented a written statement expressing concern about the revisions and that the spirit of their settlement agreement with the developer was not being observed. (This statement is on file with the City Clerk's Office.) Sunshine, 1 Limetree, stated her concerns about the trail width and referred to her letter of April 2, 1996. (This letter is on file with the City Clerk's Office.) Angelika Brinkman Busi, 1354 Stonewood Court, San Pedro, representing the California Native Plant Society, South Coast Chapter, said her organization was disturbed to learn that changes were proposed that might affect the existing habitat. Lois Larue, spoke in support of horse access to the ocean. Ken Zuckerman, 3 EI Portal, representing th&landowners, presented a letter from Dudek & Associates, Inc., which responded to the issues raised in the Coalition's April 8 letter. (Mr. Zuckerman's letter is on file with the City Clerk's Office.) Council discussion clarified that drainage from the lots would now be directed toward the streets rather than toward the coastal bluff and this was felt to be a more desirable design. With regard to a horse crossing on P. V. Dr. So., concern was expressed about the hazards of such a feature. Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart, that the action taken by the Council at the April 2 meeting remain the same. Discussion of the motion included the fact that staff would work closely with the California Coastal Commission (Commission) and the resource agencies. It was the consensus that a follow-up letter should be sent to the Commission providing specific comments from the staff on the proposed changes to the project and reiterating that the City's approval was conceptual and that the City would conduct full public hearings on the project after the Commission considered the proposed changes. City Attorney Lynch said that she did not have an opportunity to speak with the attorney for the Conservation but that she understood that they were taking the position that any change to the project required the approval of all of the parties to the Settlement Agreement. To briefly summarize, the Settlement Agreement required the golf course to be located farther from the bluff-tops and imposed additional requirements for easements for habitat purposes and public use. Based on language in the Agreement, as amended, it was the City Attorney's position that unless changes to the project affected the matters that were expressly addressed in the Settlement Agreement, the agreement of the plaintiffs to revisions of the project was not required, and the Settlement Agreement did not specifically preclude other changes to the project. The preliminary review of the proposed revisions by the City's Planning staff indicated that the areas addressed in the Settlement Agreement might not be affected by the proposed revisions. If that was the case, the plaintiffs' approval would not be required. Of course, there might be a disagreement among the parties as to whether the proposed revisions would affect matters that were specifically.addressed in the Settlement In any event, all of these issues would be discussed in detail at the public hearings which would be conducted by the Planning Commission and the City Council in connection with the formal review of the proposed revisions to the project, which would occur after the Coastal Commission review. The motion carried on a 4 - 0 - 1 vote with Councilwoman Ferraro abstaining because she did not agree with the departure from the normal process of having such changes City Council Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 2 heard by the City first and then by the Coastal Commission. Recess & Reconvene: At 7:40 P.M. Mayor Lyon declared a recess. The meeting reconvened at 7:50 P.M. Fiscal Year 1996-97 Budget Policy Issues (602) City Manager Bussey presented the April 8 staff report and the recommendation to discuss the budget policy issues and provide direction to staff regarding the inclusion of such items in the Fiscal Year 1996-97 budget. Council requested that if a project is carried over from a previous year that the expenditure be considered new funding and that the budget identify any project that requires multiple year expenditures. Council then proceeded to review each of the policy issues and generally by consensus indicated whether or not to approve them for inclusion in the draft budget document. Requests from Non-Profit Agencies: The suggestion was made that if other non profit groups are interested in requesting a contribution that they send their requests in time for consideration during the budget process. Councilman Byrd moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart to adopt the staff recommendation that the contributions to these agencies be kept at the current level of funding of$15,450 with the exception of the Community Helpline which would be raised to $2,500. Motion carried. Two Wav Radio Communication: Concern was expressed about the expense of this equipment and whether it would provide adequate telephone coverage considering the terrain of the City and the Peninsula in general. The suggestion was made to seek grants to help defray the cost. The consensus was that a placeholder be put in the budget for this expenditure, however that no equipment be ordered until Council is satisfied that the equipment would provide satisfactory coverage throughout the City. Technical Improvements to the City Council Meeting Cablecast: Concern was expressed whether the size of the viewing audience for the Friday re-broadcasts justified the expenditure for a SVHS video recorder. Staff was directed to include this item in the budget, determine the cost of installing additional speakers in the rear of the Council chambers; and, delete the On/Off Switches component unless it was determined that more background noise would be picked up with the new microphones. City Council Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 3 Disaster Preparedness Training: The suggestion was made to determine if any grants were available for funding this state required training and that staff should also find out the cost of follow-up training. Merit Comp_atio P= Approved the staff recommendation to include a total of $98,000 for the City's new merit pay plan pool and for awards under the City's bonus program. Council requested that an explanation of the efforts for award of a bonus be presented at the budget workshop. Western Avenue Specific Plan: A brief discussion took place regarding the proposed legislation that would give the City control over Western Avenue. It was the consensus to leave a placeholder of$30,000 of seed money in the budget until a plan implementing some type of economic development is prepared. NCCP Plan and Vegetative Map Consultant: Council reiterated their concern about the open ended approach to this major expenditure and stated their desire for some method of reimbursement to the City from land developers benefiting from the development of this plan. It was the consensus to approve the staff recommendation to rebudget the remaining unspent amount of$72,000 for FY 1996-97. Purchase of Updated Aerial Photographs & Composite Maps for the City Approved a placeholder for the staff recommendation of budgeting $140,000 to develop these aerial photographs and the accompanying composite maps. Coastal Specific Plan Review and Update Consultant: Council inquired about the necessity in updating this plan inasmuch as major developments were processed using the present document and how this proposed update might be influenced by coastal projects presently or soon to be considered for development and/or change. It was the consensus to not consider this item at this time. Point Vicente Park Development: City Manager Bussey summarized the preliminary discussions with the new owner of Long Point regarding a potential joint private/City golf course, however since a decision had yet to be made about the development of upper Point Vicente, he felt it would be ill-advised to proceed with any phase of the Development Plan, discussed for last year (1995-96) budget. The City Manager di.d recommend that $100,000 be placed in the 1996-97 budget for consultants to assist with negotiations, should the Council proceed with a joint golf course effort. Council then expressed concern that since a prescreening workshop would be scheduled on this joint venture within the next year, perhaps budgeting for consultants to prepare such a development plan could be viewed as accommodating the developer. City Council Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 4 It was agreed to keep a placeholder in the budget for this expenditure. Councilman Byrd stated his opposition to this placeholder. Transit JPA Funding: Approve the staff recommendation to consider placing in the FY 96-97 budget a contribution equal to that in the FY 95-96 budget pending discussion with the JPA. Landscaping of Cribwall on Palos Verdes Drive South: Deleted from the budget. Installation of Handicapped Access Ramps: Approved the staff recommendation to: (1) install ramps at all corners of an intersection if any one of the streets is being overlaid and the grade is less than six percent; and (2) install ramps at all corners of an intersection where sidewalk repairs are being made to one of the corner properties if the grade of the immediate adjacent roadway is less than six percent. Tree Trimming Program: Approved the staff recommendation to (1) Establish a seven-year tree trimming program based on a uniform allocation of approximately $72,000/yr. and (2) Approve the funding sources. Audience Comments: Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine, spoke to a variety of items on the agenda. Adjournment: At 9:45 P.M. the meeting adjourned on motion of Councilman Byrd. M&- bR- 7 ATTEST: UIT-Y CLERK :1GROUPICITYCLRKWIINUTES14896CCM.WPD City Council Minutes April 8, 1996 Page 5