CC MINS 19951003 ADJM I N U T E S
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 31 1995
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Lee Byrd at
the Fred Hesse Park Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: LYON, McTAGGART, BROOKS & MAYOR BYRD
ABSENT: NONE
Also present were City Manager Paul Bussey, Planning & Building
Director Bret Bernard, Public Works Director Trent Pulliam, City
Clerk Jo Purcell, City Attorney Carol Lynch, Assistant Planner Kim
Klopfenstein, Assistant Planner Fabio de Freitas, Recreation &
Parks Administrator Ron Rosenfeld, and Assistant City Manager Pam
Antil.
CEREMONIAL EVENT: Mayor Byrd presented a City the to Gary Amo,
editor of the Palos Verdes Peninsula News, in recognition of his
services to the community during his tenure at the paper.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Mayor
Pro Tem. Lyon, to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine, spoke to several items on the consent
calendar: Minutes, hiring of the architect for the Pt. Vicente
Interpretive Center Expansion and the manner of notification for
the closed session.
Elizabeth Kelly, spoke to matters not under Council's jurisdiction
and was called out of order by Mayor Byrd. At 7:15 P.M. the Mayor
then declared a recess for the purpose of asking Mrs. Kelly to
leave the meeting.
The meeting reconvened at 7:20 p.m.
Councilwoman Brooks, moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart, to
approve the Consent Calendar as follows:
WAIVER OF FULL READING
Adopted a motion to waive reading in full of all ordinances adopted
at the 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 September 19, 19950
RESOL. NO. 95 -89 - ANNUAL RECORDS DESTRUCTION (301)
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 95 -89 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES AUTHORIZING THE DESTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CITY
RECORDS AS PROVIDED BY SECTION 34090 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
STREET PAVEMENT OVERLAY PROGRAM -
NOTICE OF COMPLETION (1204 X 1404)
(1) ACCEPTED THE WORK AS COMPLETE; (2) AUTHORIZED THE CITY CLERK
TO FILE A NOTICE OF COMPLETION WITH THE COUNTY RECORDER; AND IF NO
CLAIMS ARE FILED 35 DAYS AFTER RECORDATION, AND UPON ALL AMERICAN
ASPHALT POSTING AN ACCEPTABLE SECURITY, NOTICE THE SURETY COMPANY
OF THE EXONERATION OF THE PAYMENT AND PERFORMANCE BONDS; AND, ( 4 )
AUTHORIZED THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO RELEASE THE 10% RETENTION
PAYMENT 35 DAYS AFTER RECORDATION OF THE NOTICE OF COMPLETION BY
THE COUNTY RECORDER CONTINGENT UPON NO CLAIMS BEING FILED ON THE
PROJECT, AND THE CONTRACTOR POSTING ACCEPTABLE SECURITY,
PT. VICENTE EXPANSION - ARCHITECT SELECTION (1201)
APPROVED RON YEO, FAIA ARCHITECTS-, INC., AS THE FIRM SELECTED TO
PROVIDE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES RELATED TO THE EXPANSION OF THE PT.
VICENTE INTERPRETIVE CENTER AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ENTER INTO
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
RESOL. NO. 95 -90 - REGISTER OF DEMANDS (601)
ADOPTED RESOL, NO. 95 -90 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: LYON, MCTAGGART, BROOKS & MAYOR BYRD
NOES: NONE
RECYCLE DRAWING: There was no recycle winner for the month of
October. Mayor Byrd, however, announced that the County of Los
Angeles Department of Public Works and the Sanitation Districts of
Los Angeles County were sponsoring a household hazardous waste
roundup on Saturday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at
Hughes Electro- Dynamics Division, 3100 W. Lomita Boulevard,
Torrance.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 31 1995
PAGE 2
HEIGHT VARIATION NO. 806 APPEAL (1203 x 1804)
Mayor Byrd announced that this was a continued public hearing from
the September 5 meeting.
Mayor Byrd reported that Council was in receipt of a letter from
the City Attorney relative to this second story addition and that
the letter raised questions about this matter not previously
discussed. Mayor Pro Tem Lyon moved, seconded by Councilwoman
Brooks to listen to the speakers, however continue the public
hearing to a later date. Motion carried.
Speaking in opposition to this project were the following
residents: Jason Hung, 4 La Vista Verde; Howard Johnson, 59 Avenida
Corona; and, Paul Mathews, 57 Avenida Corona. The concerns of
these neighbors centered on the view obstruction caused by this
proposed structure if it is left on the north elevation; the
incompatibility of this project inasmuch as it was a two story
structure whereas all of the other homes are only one story; and,
that the structure wwould block the flow of air and perhaps even
affect the property value of adjacent property.
Jo Boehm, 6 La Vista Verde was in favor of the project as proposed
and emphasized that shifting the second story toward her home would
be a negative impact to her property.
The appellant's attorney Charles Brumbaugh, Jr., read from his
letter of October 3, 1995 which cited two areas of concern with
this project: adherence to CEQA guidelines; and, meeting the
required criteria for a height variation. (Mr. Brumbaugh's letter
is on file with the City Clerk's office.)
Kim Mantikas, 60 Avenida Corona, the applicant in this matter, said
that it has now been 14 months since they submitted plans for this
project, that they have complied with all of the required changes,
and that Hung's primary view was toward the north this proposed
project would not affect his view.
No action was taken by Council and the matter was continued to
October 17.
LANDSLIDE MORATORIUM EXCEPTION PERMIT NO. 9 (12 03 x 18, 01 )
Assistant Planner de Freitas summarized the background on this
matter with the last action being taken by the Council on September
5 to allow the applicants to rebuild their house which had been
demolished and to add an additional 400 sq . ft. of new area, Along
with that approval, the Council imposed the requirements that the
applicants install a holding tank. As a result of that condition,
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 31 1995
PAGE 3
the applicants had now decided to seek the Council's approval for
a larger scale project which the council had already reviewed but
in a different format.
Referring to the plans submitted to Council at the meeting, Mr. de
Freitas continued that these plans represented what the Council had
requested at the last meeting; however, they represent a new
project inasmuch as the applicants now want a home in the same
general configuration, plus an addition on a vacant lot, Moreover,
the applicant is also requesting that the Council reconsider the
requirement for a holding tank.
Finally, Mr. de Freitas referred to the letter dated September 27,
1995 from the Portuguese Bend Club Architectural Committee
disapproving the applicants' request, albeit based on a procedural
matter and not on the merits of the project itself.
Council then requested clarification of several items on this
matter: when was this first heard by the council; and, the
anticipated date for installation of a sewer system in this area
thus obviating the need for installation of this holding tank.
At 7:49 P . M. Mayor Byrd declared a recess to allow Council time to
review the newly submitted plans. The meeting reconvened at 8:10
P.M.
Speaking in favor of this project was June Dunbar, 83 Spindrift,
who explained the changes she has seen taking place in the area.
She said that she would prefer see a house on the lot rather than
leaving it empty. She said that the architectural committee
consists of only three people: John McCarthy and Donald Ury and
Lyman Lokken, the latter two being representatives of Transamerica.
Applicants Sandi and Jerry Mulliner, 102 Spindrift, said the cost
of installing a holding tank would be from $18,000 to $20,000; and ,
that because of the steep terrain of the area, that weekly service
on the tank would run close to $200.
Council discussion ensued and covered such aspects of the project
as limiting the number of fixtures as shown on the plans just
submitted to Council; clarifying that the lot was not buildable
because it was in the moratorium area; the amount of setback, if
any, that should be required; and, considering the financial
hardship of installing the holding tank and the costliness of the
weekly service whether that requirement could indeed be waived
inasmuch as sewers would eventually be installed in this area.
At this point in the discussion, City Attorney Lynch opined that
perhaps the best approach would be for Council to consider an
amendment to the code. It was the consensus that staff should
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 3® 1995
PAGE 4
prepare such an amendment.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lyon, to waive
the holding tank, and set the setbacks at five feet on the left
side and a zero setback on the south side of the property. Motion
carried.
Recess & Reconvene: At 8:39 P.M. the meeting recessed; the meeting
reconvened at 8:45 P.M.
BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR ABALONE COVE ZONE II
PEER REVIEW (12 0 4 X 19 0 0)
Public Works Director Pulliam presented the staff report of October
31 1995 and the recommendation to (1) ADOPT THE PROPOSED
RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOL. NO. 95 -20, THE CITY BUDGET APPROPRIATION
FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995 -96; THEREBY APPROVING AN APPROPRIATION
INCREASE OF $30,000 TO PROVIDE FOR PEER REVIEW OF THE GEOTECHNICAL
CONDITIONS INVOLVED WITH THE ABALONE COVE ZONE II LANDSLIDE
MORATORIUM EXCEPTION PROJECT; AND (2) AUTHORIZE STAFF TO RETAIN
THE SAME GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTANTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING THE
PEER REVIEW FOR THE PORTUGUESE BEND AREA TO PROVIDE PEER REVIEW OF
THE ABALONE COVE ZONE II AREA PAST GEOTECHNICAL WORK.
Council expressed concern about the City getting reimbursed for the
expense of this study; if parameters could be set such as the scope
of documents to be reviewed, the timeframe, who would be conducting
the review, and the manner of informing the Council about the
review.
Lois Larue, questioned the necessity for this review.
It was the consensus that staff should report on the scope of the
work to be done by this group.
RESOLUTION FROM THE CITY OF CLAREMONT (306 x 1101)
City Manager Bussey presented the staff report of October 3, and
explained that the City of Claremont is requesting the City to
support a resolution which proposes to prohibit state and counties
from taking local government revenue without their consent.
Lois Larue, requested clarification of this resolution.
Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks moved,
to support the resolution submitted by the City of Claremont.
Motion carried.
Audience Comments: Richard Bara, 1 Pepper Tree, spoke relative to
the 75 acres of land located in the Portuguese Bend area and urged
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OCTOBER 3, 1995
PAGE 5
the Council to consider this distressed land and not to pay more
for it than the price at the time it was purchased by the current
owner.
Recess to Closed Session: At 9:12 P.M. the Council recessed to a
closed session which would be held after the Redevelopment Agency
Meeting. Motion made by Councilman McTaggart.
Reconvene: At 10:00 p.m, the meeting reconvened and the City
Attorney reported that the Council took no action with regard to
the labor negotiations; that with regard to the real property
negotiations, the Council directed the negotiators to continue
negotiations but no agreement was reached and no price was set.
Adjournment: At 10:00 p.m. the meeting adjourned to Saturday at
8:00 a.m. at Hesse Park for a Community Leader Breakfast. Motion
made by Mayor Pro Tem Lyon.
ATTEST:
MAYOR
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
OCTOBER 31 1995
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