CC MINS 19950404M I N U T E S
REGULAR MEETING
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 4, 1995
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 P.M. by Mayor Lee Byrd at
the Hesse Park Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, and
immediately recessed to a closed session agenda checklist. The
meeting reconvened at 7:10 P.M. by the Mayor and following the
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, roll call was answered as
follows:
PRESENT: LYON, McTAGGART, BROOKS, AND MAYOR BYRD
ABSENT: NONE
Also present were City Manager Paul Bussey, Assistant City Manager
Pamela Antil, Planning & Building Director Bret Bernard, Public
Works Director Trent Pulliam, Planning Administrator Carolynn
Petru, Recreation Administrator Ron Rosenfeld, City Clerk Jo
Purcell,. City Attorney Carol Lynch and Associate Planner Terry
Silverman.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilwoman Lyon. to
approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR:
Speaking to the minutes of March 21, February 21, February 7 and
January 21 was Lois LarUe, 3136 Barkentine Road.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilwoman Lyon to approve
the Consent Calendar as follows:
WAIVER OF READING
Adopted a motion to waive reading in full of all ordinances and
resolutions adopted at this meeting with consent to the waiver of
reading deemed to be given by all councilmembers after the reading
of the title.
MINUTES (301)
Approved the minutes of March 21, March 16, February 21, February
7 and January 21, 1995.
CDBG REIMBURSABLE CONTRACT (601 x 1204)
Authorized the City Manager and the City Clerk to execute the
annual CDBG reimbursable contract authorizing the City to
participate in the FY 95 -96 program.
CONTRACT - FY 94 -95 CITYWIDE STREET PAVEMENT OVERLAY PROGRAM
(140S X 12 04 )
(1) Awarded a contract and authorized staff to issue contract
change order No. 1 to All American Asphalt for the Citywide
Residential Street Program FY94 -95 (part A) in the amount of
$798,844.63 And the Mira leste Drive overlay (part B ) in the amount
of $ For a total contract price of $906,,859.56 And
authorize staff to spend up to an.addi.tional $40,,000 for the part
A and $5,400 for part B to cover project contingencies for a total
authorization not to exceed $952,259.56; And (2) Authorized the
Mayor and City Clerk to execute a contract with All American
Asphalt, for the, construction of the FY94 -95 Street Pavement
Overlay Program and Miraleste Drive Overlay from Via Colinita to
the Palos Verdes Drive East.
CONTRACT - FY94 -95 SIDEWALK REPAIR PROGRAM
(1405 X 1204)
(1) Awarded a contract and change order No. 1 To Ranco Corporation
in the amount of $60,823.40 and authorized staff to spend up to
$2,500 contingency for the FY 1994-95 Sidewalk Repair program;. and
(2) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the agreement
with Ranco Corporation.
RESOL. NO. 95 -31 - REGISTER OF DEMANDS (602)
Adopted Resolution No. 95 --31.
The motion to approve the Consent Calendar carried on the following
roll call vote:
AYES: LYON, McTAGGART, BROOKS & MAYOR BYRD
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
U
RECYCLE DRAWING: Councilwoman Brooks drew a card from the
recycling drum for the month of April.
Mayor Byrd announced that the John R. Buck family was the recycle
winner for the month of March and was eligible for one year's work
of free refuse pick -up. Additionally, he announced that since
spring had arrived that this was an ideal time to consider
composting garden clippings. Such composting could be accommodated
by purchasing a composting bin from local nurseries and that the
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 41 1995
PAGE 2
City provided a $20 discount on these bins. Residents were
encouraged to call the Public Works Department to get more
information about composting.
VARIANCE NO. 378 - COASTAL PERMIT NO. 124 APPEAL
LOCATION: 6470 SEACOVE DRIVE (1804 X 1203)
Mayor Byrd opened this public hearing and City Clerk Purcell
announced that notice of this hearing had been duly published and
that a letter of protest had been made part of the agenda packet.
Associate Planner Terry Silverman presented the staff report of
April 4th and the recommendation to adopt Resol. No. 95- Denying
the appeal, thereby upholding the Planning Commission's decision
with respect to an after - the -fact fountain located in the front
yard setback area.
Responding to Council's inquiry, Ms. Silverman summarized the other
code violations existing on this property.
Fred Gains, the attorney representing the appellants and property
owners Dr. and Mrs. Hunt, said that the only issue being considered
at the hearing was the fountain in the front yard, that the
Planning Commission had allowed the fountain to stay at six feet
thus requiring them to remove the top it inches. He said that the
discrepancy in the height of the fountain depends on the reference
point used for measuring the fountain and he requested that they be
allowed to keep six additional inches on the top. He said that the
fountain has never been an issue, that complaints have been about
the palm trees that blocked views. Continuing, he said that his
clients were willing to remove palm trees and would be submitting
a landscape plan for approval for the whole site. He suggested
that the matter be continued for 30 days to allow his clients to
move forward on correcting other violations. Complicating the
landscape plan, however, was ensuring that drainage is appropriate
for protection of the coastal bluff.
Responding to Council's inquiry, Mr. Gains said that none of the
trees have been taken out and that all construction and landscaping
has been stopped. He volunteered that the bluff behind the house
fared better than any other of the bluff top residences in the
area.
Dr. Rick Quintero, 6490 Seacove Drive, said that he lives next to
the property in question, that over the past several years numerous
promises to correct these violations have been made but that none
have been carried through. For example, he said that over 90 days
ago the Hunts promised to present a landscape plan but that has not
yet been submitted and they continue to be in violation of the
tract's CC &Rs. He said that he had no problem with the fountain,
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 41 1995
PAGE 3
but that no correction had been made on the other violations.
Planning Commission Chairman Nick Mowlds summarized the Planning
Commission's action on this matter and in particular stressed that
the even after a 30 delay, a compromise on the issues could not be
reached.
Council then deliberated on the suitability of Alternative No. 3 to
continue the item for a period of 30 days to allow the landowner
the opportunity to make significant progress towards bringing the
property into compliance with previous City actions, prior to
taking action on the subject appeal. Debate then ensued about the
term "significant" and how that would be measured by staff.
Attorney Gains then summarized the corrections that his clients
would make within 30 days: submit a landscape plan for the entire
site and that said plan would identify walkways and plants; and,
replace with wrought iron that section of the solid wall seaward of
the building line and which had been identified by the northerly
neighbor as blocking views.
City Attorney Lynch directed attention to
Commission Resolution No. 93 -27 which
conditions governing the landscaping plan
queen palm trees on the property. . ."
conditions were not being revisited and
remove all palm trees except four.
Exhibit "A" of Planning
contained all of the
including "removal of all
She opined, that these
that the order was to
Focusing on the fountain and whether it should be reduced in
height, it was the consensus that if compliance was received within
60 days that the fountain could remain as is.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart to
continue the hearing to June 6, 1995. Motion carried.
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE OVERLAY CONTROL DISTRICT MORATORIUM
(701 X 1203)
City Manager Bussey presented the April 4 report that contained a
detailed background on the adoption of the Automotive Service
Overlay District Ordinance No,, 294, Continuing, Mr. Bussey
briefed the Council on the application for a CUP for the station
on the corner of Hawthorne and Granvia Altamira which already had
been approved by the Planning Commission and was now scheduled to
be heard by the Council on April 18 . If Council wished to consider
possible changes to the Automotive Service Overlay Control District
prior to any further public hearings on such applications, he
suggested that Council consider adoption of an urgency ordinance
declaring a moratorium on further approvals.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 4, 1995
PAGE 4
City Attorney Lynch advised that comments should focus solely on
the overlay ordinance and not on any pending individual
application.
Speaking in favor of exploring the possibility of a moratorium was
Kenneth and Nancy Moore, 6344 Villa Rosa Drive who expressed
concern for the effects this overlay district had on the residents
of the peninsula and questioned whether it was maintaining an
essential or inessential convenience. Additionally, they were
concerned that without property controls this type of business
would result in a loss of property value. They said they were not
interested in putting anybody out of business and were in favor of
setting up a citizens ad hoc committee to study the issue.
Steve Saporito, 28004 Ridgebluff Court, said that this ordinance
took three years to set in place, that it allows business owners
the opportunity to modernize, expand and improve their businesses,
most of which had been in operation since the mid 1960s. He said
that he has over $1 million at stake in his business, that the
required conditional use permit process allowed everybody the
chance to appeal what was being considered for approval at each
site and he urged the Council to keep the ordinance the way it
presently is written.
Bill Myers, 28103 Hawthorne Boulevard presented a written statement
and he urged that a moratorium not be implemented.
Discussion of the matter then focused on the original purpose of
this ordinance was to prevent further reduction in the number of
gas stations on the Peninsula and the undesirable situation this
would cause in the event of a major disaster such as an earthquake.
However, concern was now being expressed about the ancillary uses
proposed for these gas stations in the event of their renovations.
While none of the renovations had yet been completed, it was felt
that the one station on Hawthorne Boulevard and Granvia Altamira
might provide the City with such practical experience. Since these
stations would be examined on a case by case basis through the
conditional use permit process, it was also argued that a
moratorium would not be a responsible way to deal with the issue.
To address the concern that more guidelines be given to the
Planning Commission to aid in their deliberation of such
applications, it was suggested that a joint session be held with
the Commission. Of particular concern was that consideration be
given to building design and signage.
City Attorney Lynch opined that the code could be amended in a
public hearing and when the Council considered such project
conditions, that limits could be fine tuned and, if necessary,
projects would be remanded to the Planning Commission with policy
limits.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 4, 1995
PAGE 5
Director Bernard reported that the Planning Commission had not
closed the public hearing on this matter and that there was still
an opportunity to consider modifying or changing the chapter of the
Development Code before the Commission finished its review.
The Council suggested that a joint workshop with the Planning
Commission to review the overlay guidelines would be beneficial and
should take place before the Commission finishes its Code review.
EASTVIEN PARK PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT (1201)
Recreation Administrator Ron Rosenfeld presented the staff report
of April 4 and the recommendation to: (1) Approve the Recreation
and Park Committee's recommendation to install playground equipment
and benches at Eastview Park. (2) Direct staff to include an
amount not to exceed $45,000 in the 1995 -96 Fiscal Budget for the
design, purchase and installation of playground equipment.
Upon Council inquiry about the practicality of installing motion
detectors and lights in the area of this equipment, staff responded
that the matter would be investigated.
Speaking in favor of the installation of this equipment were the
following residents of that area: Don Shults 2129 Velez Drive,
representing the Rolling Hills Rivera Homeowners Association,
Heather Douvinbus , 28612 Fr iarstone Court; Linda West, 2037 Avenida
Aprenda, and David & Kristy Trujillo, 2015 Toscanini Drive. These
residents cited the lack of playgrounds in that area and felt it
would be a good investment in the neighborhood.
After a brief discussion of how soon installation would take place
and what the additional cost would be to install the motion
detectors and lights, Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by
Councilman McTaggart to approve an amount not to exceed $47,500 to
install playground equipment and benches at Eastview Park; said
installation to be made as soon as possible this fiscal year and
that funding come from the unappropriated Quimby funds. The motion
carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: LYON, McTAGGART, BROOKS & MAYOR BYRD
NOES NONE
The suggestion was made that after the installation of the
equipment that this park be rededicated.
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF CRESTRIDGE RD. - VICINITY OF
P. V. ARTS CENTER (12 0 4 X 15 0 2)
Director Pulliam presented the April 4 staff memorandum and the
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
APRIL 41 1995
PAGE 6
recommendation to deny the request to temporarily close Crestridge
Road in the vicinity of the Art Center because of the resulting
unsafe conditions and combined with the heavy church traffic on
weekends.
Council discussion of this requested closure centered on whether
the Traffic Committee should review this request. Concern was
expressed, however, that since the Traffic Committee was not due to
meet until sometime in May, that such a delay might hinder the
preparation for the Art Center's event. It was the consensus that
staff should determine the last practical date that a decision
could be made on this matter and, if necessary, a special meeting
of the Traffic Committee during April should be called to
deliberate on the matter.
Lois Larue spoke in favor of this temporary closure.
SHORELINE PARR (12 01 X 1101)
City Manager Bussey presented the report of April 4 and the
recommendation to provide direction to staff if Council wished to
take any action toward the City purchase of Shoreline Park.
Considering the geology of the surrounding area, of major concern
to the Council was that this property be kept as open space. While
no price was set on the property, it was the consensus that the
Council wished to be kept informed of the County's progress on this
sale and, if the price was affordable, the Council indicated that
there may be some interest on the part of the City in buying this
property. It was agreed that the City Manager should write a
letter reflecting such a position.
RECESS & RECONVENE: At 8:55 P . M. Mayor Byrd declared a recess. The
meeting reconvened at 9:05 P.M.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS: Responding to the Mayor's call for audience
comments for items not on the agenda was Lois Larue who talked
about her experience with a rattlesnake.
ADJOURNMENT: At 9:10 P.M. the meeting adjourned on motion of
Councilman McTaggart.
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APRIL 41 1995
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