CC MINS 19930831M I N U T E S
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 31, 1993
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes City Council convened in a
regular session at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 31, 1993, in the
Fred Hesse Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. The Pledge
of Allegiance followed.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Councilmembers McTaggart, Bacharach
Kuykendall and Mayor Brooks.
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Bussey, Assistant City Manager
Antil and Director of Finance Mattingly.
At this time, Palos Verdes Estates' Mayor Moody presented
a proclamation congratulating the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
on its 20th year of incorporation.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Councilmember McTaggart moved for the approval of
the meeting agenda as written. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Kuykendall and, there being no objection, it was so
ordered by Mayor Brooks.
REGULAR BUSINESS
1. Revenue Measures - Utility User Tax, Golf Course Tax and
the 1972 Act Landscaping & Lighting District (306 X 602 X
901 X 1501)
Mayor Brooks read aloud a written statement regarding the idea
of imposing a Utility User Tax and a Golf Course Tax and continuing
the 1972 Act Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District.
Background information was provided by City Manager Bussey.
He called attention to increases in public safety expenditures over
the past. five years. Mr. Bussey addressed the topic of street
improvements and related expenditures.
Updated information on the projections for the City's annual
funding requirements during fiscal years 1994 -95 to 1998 -99 was
supplied by Director of Finance Mattingly (per Exhibit "A" attached
to the staff report).
Council discussed the possibility of combining some City
services with those of other nearby cities and combining supply
purchases with other cities to further reduce expenditures.
Assistant City Manager Antil explained the tax options
included ' in Exhibit "B" to the staff report.
During discussion of a Utility User Tax, Council commented on
the idea of earmarking revenues; noted the difficulty of collecting
revenues from the utility companies with a previous tax of this
nature in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes; pointed out that,
contrary to information provided by staff, a sunset clause would be
for the assessments and not the District; and considered possible
exemptions.
The following speakers expressed their general support of
these revenue measures;
Mr. Warren Sweetnam
Mr. Lin Hendrich
Mr. Don Crane
Ms. Sharon Hegetschweiler
Mr. Roy Fulwider
Mr. Paul Christensen
Mr. Lee McGee
Mr.- Richard McGirr
Mr. Dave Ruth
President, Rockinghorse
Road Homeowners' Association
7 Top Rail
27915 Longhill Drive
30653 Rue Valois
6 Clovetree Place
28219 Hazelridge Drive
6317 Tarragon Road
34 Avenida Corona
28 Santa Barbara Drive
40 Cinnamon Lane
The comments focused on support of a Utility User Tax, a Golf
Course Tax and the continuance of the 1972 Act Landscaping &
Lighting Assessment District. They discussed the idea of re-
evaluating the distribution of the Landscaping & Lighting
Assessment District; the designation of Utility User Tax revenues
for infrastructure maintenance and improvement; the County of Los
Angeles' possible litigation over a Golf Course Tax in the City of
Rancho Palos Verdes; and, the idea of earmarking Utility User Tax
revenues. It was their general consensus that cable television
companies should be considered a utility.
Ms. Hegetschweiler asked that the City's loan to the
Redevelopment Agency be repaid.
Mr. McGee maintained that a Golf .Course Tax would be unfair.
Mr. Craig Kessler, 7035 Orangethorpe Avenue, Suite 3, Buena
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 31, 1993
PAGE 2
Park, related the So. CA Golf Links Association's strong opposition
to a Golf Course Tax. Should such a tax be imposed, Mr. Kessler
asked that publicly owned golf courses within the City limits be
exempted.
Referring to written material of record she distributed at the
meeting, Ms. Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, expressed her
opposition to imposing any new taxes, to the focus groups and to
the Citizen Opinion Poll pertaining to the subject taxes. She
voiced her objection to various positions of employment within the
City.
Ms. Marcella Low, So, CA Gas Co., 3365 Crownview Drive,
provided clarification concerning Gas Co. procedures for collecting
and remitting Utility User Tax funds. She addressed the natural
gas vehicle exemption proposed by the Gas Co.
Mr. Scott Gobble, So. CA Edison Co., 505 Maple Avenue,
Torrance, suggested that "natural gas vehicles" be referred to as
"low emission vehicles." He supplied background information about
the utility companies' exemption requests.
Mr. Steve Fowler of Dimension Cable, explained his company's
lack of a position on the matter in that cable television companies
are not utilities. He called attention to the franchise tax
Dimension Cable already pays.
City Manager Bussey stated staff's understanding of a previous
legal decision determining that cable television companies can be
included as utilities.
Council discussion and direction on the ideas of a Utility
User Tax, a Golf Course Tax and the continuance of the 1972 Act
Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District was as follows:
Golf Course Tax
Council supported a Golf Course Tax and private courses,
including driving ranges, in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Council directed staff to prepare information on a tax for
private courses, including driving ranges, in the City and to
return with language for periodic review of such a tax.
1972 Act Landscapina & Liahtina Assessment District
Council supported the continuance of the 1972 Act Landscaping
& Lighting Assessment District and also discussed the idea of re-
evaluating the distribution or the assessment formula of the
District.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
AUGUST 31, 1993
PAGE 3
Council directed staff to look into extending the 1972 Act
Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District and re- evaluating the
distribution of the District.
Council asked staff to obtain input on the annual cost of
administrating the Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District.
Utility User Tax
Council supported a Utility User Tax and discussed the idea of
earmarking funds and requiring periodic review. Possible
exemptions discussed included utility companies, low- income
residents, public buildings and other governmental agencies.
Council supported exemptions for low - emission vehicles and,
with the exception of Councilmember Bacharach, Council agreed that
cable television companies are not utilities.
City Manager Bussey indicated that staff will examine possible
exemptions and provide further direction at a future meeting.
Assistant City Manager Antil clarified that a Utility User Tax
would go into effect 90 days after the date of adoption.
MOTION: Councilmember Kuykendall moved to request the
preparation of a resolution showing $2,000,000 derived from a
Utility User Tax. for public infrastructure maintenance. The motion
was seconded by Mayor Brooks and passed by unanimous voice vote.
Council asked staff to provide a synopsis on the Capital
Improvement Program.
City Council and staff thanked Mr. Andy Lorenzen for his
assistance in obtaining and preparing information on this topic.
At 8:30 P.M. there was a recess until 8:45 P.M. when
discussion convened in regular agenda order.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Road, distributed photographs
to substantiate her concern over the damage resulting from
dewatering wells in the upper portion of the Portuguese Bend
Landslide feeding into the lower portion.
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AUGUST 31, 1993
PAGE 4
City Manager Bussey explained that staff has examined the
problem and is preparing the project for bid.
Mr. Roy Fulwider, 28219 Hazelridge Drive, stated his objection
to a 90 lb. felt roof on a home in his neighborhood. He suggested
the development of an ordinance prohibiting same.
Council suggested that staff look into whether the roof
referred to by Mr. Fulwider violates the Building Code.
1993.
2. ELECTION FOR ACLAD BOARD MEMBERS -
SEPTEMBER 7, 1993 ELECTION (1801)
Council asked staff to ask each candidate for a resume.
The item was delayed until the Council meeting of September 7,
ADJOURNMENT
At 10:30 P.M. the meeting was duly adjourned to Tuesday,
September 7, 1993, 7:00 P.M.
Ma or
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AUGUST 31, 1993
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