CC MINS 19920505M I N U T E S
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MAY 51 1992
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Mayor McTaggart at
the Hesse Park Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, roll call was
answered as follows:
PRESENT: BROOKS, RYAN, KUYKENDALL, BACHARACH AND
MAYOR McTAGGART
Also present were City Manager Paul Bussey, Deputy City Manager
Mark Rohloff, Director of Environmental Services Dudley Onderdonk,
Senior Planner Carolynn Petru, Director of Recreation and Parks
Mary Thomas, Director of Public Works Trent Pulliam, City Attorney
Carol Lynch and City Clerk Jo Purcell.
CEREMONIAL MATTER
Mayor McTaggart presented a ceremonial proclamation to Battalion
Chief Glen Mutch representing the Los Angeles County Fire
Department. This proclamation proclaimed May 9th as Fire Service
Day. Chief Mutch suggested that the residents of Rancho Palos
Verdes visit their local Fire Station and meet with the men and
women who respond to calls for assistance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Councilwoman Bacharach to
approve the agenda. The motion carried.
CONSENT CALENDAR
The resolutions of intent to levy and collect assessments for
Fiscal Year 1992 -93 for both Landscape and Open Space Maintenance
District No. 1 and No. 2 were deleted; the item regarding the Loan
Agreement between the City and the Redevelopment Agency was also
removed to be scheduled for a later agenda. The minutes were moved
to the end of the agenda. The consent calendar was then approved
as follows on motion of Councilwoman Bacharach, seconded by
Councilman Kuykendall.
Adopted a motion to waive full reading of all ordinances and
resolutions adopted at the meeting with consent to the waiver of
reading deemed to be given by all councilmembers after the reading
of the title.
LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1 - ANNUAL REPORT
(901)
Adopted RESOLUTION NO, 92 -40 OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
ORDERING STAFF TO PREPARE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR MAINTENANCE
DISTRICT NO. 1,
LANDSCAPE AND OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 2 - ANNUAL REPORT
(901)
Adopted RESOLUTION NO, 92 -41 OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
ORDERING STAFF TO PREPARE THE ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR MAINTENANCE
DISTRICT NO, 2.
RESOLUTION NO. 92 -42 - VACATION OF SEA RAVEN DRIVE (1204 X 1408)
Adopted RESOLUTION NO. 92 -42 ORDERING THE VACATION OF SEA RAVEN
DRIVE FROM HEROIC TO THE CUL -DE -SAC AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO.
91 -08.
FUEL STORAGE TANKS ON CIVIC CENTER GROUNDS (1201 x 1402)
Authorized staff to dispose of unused fuel tanks on Civic Center
grounds.
LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION STUDY (1505)
(1) Received and ordered filed the full report for the Rancho Palos
Verdes Long Range Transportation study prepared by Aldaron Inc, (2)
Instructed staff to forward a copy of this report to Palos Verdes
Peninsula Transportation Authority Joint Powers Authority for their
review.
RESOLUTION NO. 92 -43 BUDGET ADJUSTMENT FOR RECREATION SALARIES
(602 x 1201)
City Council increased the appropriation in the General Fund -
Recreational User Fee department by $6,700 for salaries and
benefits.
Adopted RESOLUTION NO, 92 -43 AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 91 -33, THE
BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 1991 -92.
RESOLUTION NO. 92 -44 - REGISTER OF DEMANDS
Adopted RESOLUTION NO, 92 -44 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:
0
AYES: BROOKS, RYAN, KUYKENDALL, BACHARACH AND
MAYOR McTAGGART
MA
GREEN HILLS MEMORIAL PARK - PRESENTATION OF FREE PARR MAINTENANCE
SERVICE ( 3 05 x 12 01)
Representing Green Hills Memorial Park was John Resich, their
Corporate Secretary, who presented to the Mayor the Green Hills
Memorial Park offer to provide a four person grounds maintenance
crew from their staff to help with grounds keeping needs in the
City for one full day each month over the next year. The crew will
include a supervisor their own transportation and the equipment
appropriate to perform light grounds maintenance duties. Mr.
Resich said that he hoped this contribution of service could be
accepted by the City and that it would encourage other members of
the business community to apply their particular expertise to
sustaining the quality of life in Rancho Palos Verdes.
The Mayor and the City Council expressed their appreciation to Mr.
Resich.
Staff was requested to determine the dollar value of such service
and to prepare a press release on the matter.
PUBLIC HEARING:
VIA COLINITA - VEHICULAR USE RESTRICTION OPTIONS (1502)
Mayor McTaggart declared the public hearing opened and the City
Clerk reported that notice of the meeting had been duly published
and that letters of objection had been copied and presented to
Council.
Associate Planner Joel Rojas presented the staff memorandum of May
5th and the recommendation 1) that the Council certify the Focused
EIR, 2) Implement the installation of stop signs and a minimum
number of speed bumps at carefully' selected intersections within
the Eastview residential area. (Alternative C) . Other
alternatives to reduce traffic impacts in the project area have
been analyzed in the Focused EIR and are also available for the
Council's consideration.
Assistant Public Works Director Kevin Smith responding to a Council
question about the location for speed humps said that the Public
Works Department would study the area and determine appropriate
locations.
Council inquiries then centered on the following: if speed was a
factor in the nature of the traffic using Via Colinita; where the
proposed speed humps would be located; if there had been a change
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MAY 51 1992
in the traffic patterns since the closure of Miraleste High School;
clarification of the difference between speed bumps and speed
humps; the status of the law regarding the use of speed humps; the
effects of the speed humps on drivers traveling at the posted speed
limit; the kinds of traffic counts that were conducted in the area;
and, if radar studies had been performed.
Speaking in favor of installation of some modification to traffic
patterns on Via Colinita were the following: Marta Houske, 2062
Trudie Dr, ; Stan Heif etz , 2043 General St, ; Nick Agid, 2062 Trudie
Dr.; Walter Donahue, 29679 Enrose Ave.; and, Luverne Apperson,
29215 Trotwood. Their objections to the current traffic conditions
centered around such quality of life issues as the inappropriate
use of these residential streets in the Eastview area as collector
street; that as many as 5,000 cars cut through these residential
streets; that pets have been run over and that people have been
hurt because of the high volume of traffic and excess speed.
Speaking in opposition to traffic modifications were the following:
Dawn Henry, 6525 Via Colinita; M. Tomich, 6617 Via Sienna; James
Lehman, 2056 Elberon; Steve Nemeth, 3162 Crownview Dr.; John
Sorrels, 2738 Vista Mesa Dr.; Arthur E. Gardner, 6429 Via Colinita;
Warren Sweetnam, representing the Rockinghorse Rd. Homeowners
Assoc., 7 Top Rail Lane; Kenneth Gale, 4136 Lorraine Rd.; Jerry
Gaines, representing the San Pedro and Peninsula Homeowners
Collation, 2101 West 37th St., San Pedro; Mary Sommer, 29655 Grand
Pointe Lane; Paul Garmus, 3324 Seaclaire Dr.; Elsa Cortez, 29681
High Point Rd., representing the Miraleste Hills Homeowner Assoc.;
John L. Beringer, representing the Mediterrania Homeowners Assoc.,
3412 Seaglen Dr.; Ann DI Amato , representing Los Angeles
Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores; Allen Schor, 4041 Miraleste Dr.;
Dan Stanton, 6248 Via Canada; Ivan Halaj, 6341 Via Colinita;
Frances Cornelius, 2736 San Ramon Pr., representing the San Ramon
Homeowners Assoc., Paul Mathews, representing the La Vista Verde
Homeowners Assoc., 57 Avenida Corona; Charles Kawai, 6533 Nancy
Rd.; Cheryl Caughlin, representing the Miraleste Parks and
Recreation District, 6412 Via Canada; Alex Haidos, 4317 Miraleste
Dr.; John Vilicich, 4205 Miraleste Dr.; Stan Kielniarz, 3565
Starline Dr., representing the Crestmount Homeowners Assoc.; and,
Dorian Dunlavey, 32555 Parkhurst Dr. These speakers questioned
some of the statements made in the E . I . R. ; cited the fact that this
road gave them access to the remainder of the Peninsula; said that
Via Colinita has been used by the residents for thirty years; that
the portion of the road to be closed goes through San Pedro and
that this would have an adverse impact on the people who live on
Palos Verdes Dr. East; that diverting . the traff is from Via Colinita
would cause serious traffic problems along First Street in San
Pedro and that this may trigger a similar restriction on First St;
that restriction of the traffic pattern would cut off access to
shopping along Western Ave.; questioned the efficacy of speed
bumps; and, that this restriction would cause the Miraleste Parks
and Recreation maintenance men to drive through San Pedro to access
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park property.
Speaking in rebuttal was Marta Houske, who stated that this street
has between 5,000 - 6,000 cars traveling on it daily and that it
was not designed to handle such a flow of traffic.
RECESS AND RECONVENE
At 9:05 P . M . the Mayor declared a recess, At 9:10 P . M . the meeting
reconvened.
VIA COLINITA (CONTINUED)
Councilman Ryan. moved, seconded by Councilman Kuykendall to close
the public hearing. The motion carried unanimously.
Council discussion then centered on the following: the reasons why
the City found it necessary to have an E.I.R. prepared on these
proposed modifications to the traffic pattern; the fact that this
street did indeed provide access to the schools in the City; the
number of cars that come from within the Eastview area and-use Via
Colinita; the effect that this closure would have on access to the
shopping area along Western Ave.; whether stop signs at some
locations would be the effective way to handle the traffic; if
increased enforcement should be considered for the area; and, if
there should be a prohibition on turning at certain hours of the
day.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Mayor McTaggart to adopt a
modified version of alternative "C", install a minimum of stop
signs and send the matter to the Traffic Committee for follow -up.
Discussion continued and centered on the efficacy of stop signs:
what intersections would be appropriate locations; and, Council
stressed that only the minimum number be installed.
Additional discussion focused on the experience that the cities of
Pasadena and Santa Monica may have had with these speed humps; the
cost of special event patrols for the area; and, the impact that
restricting left turns at certain hours would have on First St.
Councilwoman Bacharach proposed an amendment, seconded by
Councilman Ryan that the staff obtain information from the Cities
of Pasadena and Santa Monica relative to their use of the speed
humps. The motion as amended carried on the following roll call
vote:
AYES: BROOKS, RYAN, KUYKENDALL, BACHARACH AND MAYOR McTAGGART
Council discussion then turned to the use of radar studies in the
area and the fact that they should be done prior to the
installation of the stop signs. It was the consensus that implicit
5 MAY 51 1992
in the motion was the fact a radar speed survey would be conducted,
that the stop signs recommended for installation would be presented
to Council and their impact studied.
Councilwoman Bacharach's motion that staff get the location and
history on maintenance, neighborhood reaction and legal problems
with speed humps in Pasadena and Santa Monica died for lack of a
second.
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman Ryan to certify
the E.I.R. The motion carried unanimously.
RECYCLE DRAWING:
Two cards were drawn for the month of May.
COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT FUND - AWARD OF MERIT (601)
Mayor McTaggart read a commendation the City had received from the
County of Los Angeles in recognition of exceptional progress in
implementing the Community Development Block Grant Program. The
Mayor thanked the Charles Abbott organization for their management
of the use of these funds,
LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE DISTRICT (901)
The City Manager presented the May 1st staff memorandum and the
recommendation that BSI Consultants, Inc. be selected as the
assessment engineer for the Citywide landscaping and lighting
district and be directed to initiate prepare the engineering
report.
Council questioned whether it was necessary to hire a special legal
counsel for the implementation of this district and inquired of the
schedule for the hearings involved in its adoption.
Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Councilman Kuykendall and
carried to approve the staff recommendation.
Speaking in opposition to this district was Warren Sweetnam, 7 Top
Rail Lane, and representing the Rockinghorse Rd. Homeowners Assoc.
He said that residents of his street should not be included in this
special district since they don't have any street lighting or
median landscaping.
Council explained that assessment for this district would be done
on a benefit ratio and that those who receive more benefits from
such items would be assessed at a higher rate than those who
receive lesser benefits,
C1
TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 46628 (HMDI) COASTAL COMMISSION APPEAL
(1411)
Senior Planner Carolynn Petru presented the staff memorandum of May
5th and the recommendation to take an action to support the
H.M;D.I. project as approved by the City Council and oppose any
action by the California Coastal Commission to prohibit the use of
portions of the common open space for a future public golf course.
Speaking against the recommendation was John Sharkey, 30320 Avenida
de Calma, who read a prepared statement which stated his objection
to an addendum to the approval to include active recreation use as
part of the common open space in Subregion 1. He recommended that
a public hearing be re- noticed on this project so consideration
could be taken on the total project. (Mr. Sharkey's statement is
on file with the City Clerk's Office.)
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Rd., also questioned the staff
recommendation.
City Attorney Lynch opined that it was staff's concern that unless
some recommendation was made to the Coastal Commission that the
City's position on this project would not be protected.
Council discussion then centered on the cost of the appeals to the
City's various coastal projects and the fact that these appeals
take away flexibility on the part of the Council in managing these
City resources. Also discussed was the fact that appeals to the
Coastal Commission are without fee and the suggestion was made that
perhaps the State legislature should be asked to institute a fee
for these coastal appeals.
Councilman Kuykendall moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks to
strongly support the H.M.D.I. project as approved by the City
Council and strongly oppose any action by the California Coastal
Commission to prohibit the use of portions of the common open space
for a future public golf course. The motion carried unanimously.
COUNCIL DIRECTIVES
Peninsula Wide Recreation District
In response to Council inquiries staff reported that any responses
received from the other cities would be put in the Friday report.
Also that staff would provide Council with an outline for the
preliminary meeting with the other cities who are interested in
this program.
Traffic Controls - Crest Road, Lucania and Starline Dr.
Staff was requested to consider the installation of a sign to be
located in front of the light on the uphill side of Lucania and
7 MAY 5, 1992
that such an installation be done prior to the new school year.
FEMA Update
Councilwoman Brooks reported that she would contact Senator
Seymour's Office to expedite this matter.
JULY 4TH CELEBRATION (1201)
Director Mary Thomas presented the staff memorandum of May 5th and
the recommendation to receive and consider the proposals for
promotion of the City's 1992 July 4th Celebration and provide
direction to staff regarding Council's desire to move forward with
the conduct of the event. Should Council be unwilling to take the
risk that a cost greater than $2,500 (up to $6,000) may be incurred
should the successful bidder fail to attain revenue projections,
then Council should reject the proposal and cancel the July 4th
Celebration,
Mark Conte, of Mark Conte Productions, 12 Yacht Club Way, Redondo
Beach, referred to his May 4th letter to the City which described
and listed the various events that he had produced in the South Bay
area. He explained that all of these events are community affairs;
that he would need to spend more time to develop the City's
program, and at this point could not say how much could be made
with the event until he has had the opportunity to do more
evaluation.
Councilman Kuykendall moved, seconded by Mayor McTaggart, to go
ahead with the July 4th Celebration at an expense no greater than
$6,000.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BROOKS, RYAN, KUYKENDALL, BACHARACH AND MAYOR McTAGGART
AUDIENCE COMMENTS:
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine Rd., reported on various programs .
relative to the history of the Peninsula that were being conducted
at the Malaga Cove Library.
LEGISLATION - AB 152 ( 3 06 )
Mayor McTaggart presented the letter he received from Councilwoman
Judy Hathaway Francis City of La Habra Heights opposing AB 152, the
merger of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and the
Southern California Rapid Transit District. A brief Council
discussion ensued relative to the fact that this bill had received
no opposition in the State Assembly. No action was taken on this
item
8
GRAFFITI REPORT
Councilwoman Brooks inquired about the difference in cost for
replacing certain signs that had been destroyed with graffiti.
It was the consensus that staff would determine why there was such
a difference in the cost for replacement of these signs.
SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE REPORT - MIRALESTE POOL
Councilwoman Brooks reported on the approval of the Palos Verdes
School District Board to waive charging the City for the District's
fixed costs of $5,000.
MINUTES - APRIL 21, 1992
Council discussed the appropriateness of including certain remarks
by Council in the minutes, and if when substantial changes are made
to the minutes if they should be removed from the consent calendar.
Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Councilwoman Brooks, that with
the exception of the changes made to page 11 that the minutes of
April 21, 1992 be approved as amended. The motion carried on a
three -two vote with Councilmembers Kuykendall and Bacharach
dissenting.
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:15 P.M. the meeting adjourned on motion of Councilman
Kuykendall, seconded by Councilwoman Bacharach.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK.
5 9,
9 MAY 51 1992