CC MINS 19781017 MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 17, 1978
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Ken Dyda at the Palos Verdes
Peninsula Unified School District Building, 30942 Hawthorne Boulevard. Following
the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: BUERK, SHAW, HEIN AND MAYOR DYDA
11/ ABSENT: RYAN
Also present were City Attorney Patrick Coughlan, City Manager Leonard G. Wood,
Director of Planning Sharon W. Hightower, Director of Public Works Dennis J. Pikus,
Deputy City Clerk Mary Jo Lofthus.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA Mayor Dyda stated that he had received two
requests for changes in the order of business:
it was the consensus of the Council that
Item No. 10 (Pt. Vicente Walkway) be heard as the first item under Continued Business.
On motion of Councilman Buerk, seconded by Councilwoman Shaw, Variance No. 32 was con-
tinued to the Council Meeting of November 7, 1978. The motion carried unanimously.
After addition of SCAG Annual Meeting (Rein); League of California Cities (Hem );
Setting date for Council Retreat (Dyda); and, Council/Planning Commission meeting
(Dyda) the amended agenda was approved on motion of Councilwoman Shaw, seconded by
Councilwoman Hein. The motion carried unanimously.
WAIVER OF FULL READING OF Councilwoman Hein moved, seconded by Council-
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS woman Shaw, and unanimously carried, to waive
reading in full of all ordinances and resolu-
tions adopted at this meeting with consent to the waiver of reading to be deemed to
be given by all members of Council after the reading of the title, unless specific
request was made at that time for reading of such ordinance or resolution.
CONSENT CALENDAR: After removal of the minutes of October 3, 1978,
the Consent Calendar was approved as follows on
motion of Councilman Buerk, seconded by Councilwoman Hein.
RESOLUTION NO. 78-66 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 78-66 OF THE CITY COUNCIL
REGISTER OF DEMANDS OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ALLOWING
(1504) CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF
$576,004.09, DEMAND NUMBERS 5477 THRU 5529.
RESOLUTION NO. 78-67 ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 78-67 OF THE CITY COUNCIL
UNIFORM STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING
( 505 ) SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 TO LOCAL AGENCY-STATE AGREEMENT
NO. 07-5413.
PARCEL MAP NO. 6879 Approved Parcel Map No. 6879 and made the
(1410) appropriate findings.
SIGN PERMIT NO. 49 Approved the request subject to the condition
EL PRADO PARKS & REC. that the proposed light source not exceed 11,000
DISTRICT lumen (mercury vapor or equivalent ) and that
(1201 x 1801) a similar fixture replace the existing light.
-1-
SIGN PERMIT NO. 50 - Approved request subject to the sign meeting
ALTA VISTA TRACT NO. 32673 all City requirements and design criteria.
(1411)
The motion to approve the Consent Calendar carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BUERK, SHAW, HEIN AND MAYOR DYDA
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: RYAN
# # # #
PT. VICENTE WALKWAY Director Pikus reported from the Staff
(1404) memorandum of October 3, 1978 which in-
dicated that the County Engineer had provided
the City with alternate alignments for this
walkway. It was recommended that the Council adopt alignment No. 2 and that the
Director be authorized to proceed with acquisition of the necessary easements and
plans for construction. The cost of this project was estimated to be $4,000.
Mrs. Nancy Kline, 30330 Camino Porvenir, told the Council that she was in favor of
this design for the walkway because it would reduce the number .of bikes and skate-
boards that might otherwise be used on a straight ramp.
Mr. Joe Clifford, 30907 Rue de la Pierre, President of the West Palos Verdes Estates
Homeowners Association, said his organization opposed such a walkway unless the af-
fected homeowners were compensated. Additionally, it was their opinion that other
routes could be used. They also questioned who would pay for the maintenance of
this walkway. Citing the difficulty of the terrain and the length of time it took
to walk the route, he suggested the design be reworked. Also mentioned was the fact
that snakes were found in this area.
Mr. Ray Lightbody, principal of Pt. Vicente School, told the Council that there had
been no reports of snakes in the area for a couple of years.
Alan Bennett, 30944 Rue de la Pierre, whose property would abut the walkway told the
Council that he has had two snakes in his backyard within the past year. He felt
that such a project would not be sufficiently used to justify the expense, and cited
problems with skateboarding and motorbikes in the area.
Robert Steitman, 30942 Rue de la Pierre, whose property would back up to the project,
also talked about the snake problem that he has experienced. He questioned who would
pick-up the litter and maintain the walkway.
John Westenhaven, 30902 Rue de la Pierre questioned the cost of construction and in-
quired who would pay for its maintenance. He read the letter of October 11, 1978
from Mr. John T. O'Connor, member of the Board of Governors of the Vista Del Pacifica
Association. (This letter is on file with the City Clerk's office. )
Mr. Matthew Portz, 30724 Rue de la Pierre, urged the Council to consider another
solution to the walkway design, suggesting that Council consider the first alter-
native outlined in Mr. O'Connor's letter.
Speaking in favor of the walkway was Mrs. Joy Caswell, 30573 Camino Porvenir, who
questioned the provision of the CUP under which this walkway was approved.
Mr. Howard Culver, 30525 Camino Porvenir, told the Council that there would be quite
a separation between the walkway and the homes on Rue de la Pierre. He stated his
willingness to participate in a maintenance district for the upkeep of this walkway.
Speaking in rebuttal, Mr. Westenhaven voiced his support for a Maintenance District.
After Council discussion of concerns regarding maintenance, design, and the formation
of a maintenance district, it was the consensus that such a pathway was needed, but
these issues needed further study, particularly with regard to the purchase of ease-
ments that would lead into the existing driveway on Rue de la Pierre. Use of the
driveway would be contingent upon using it as it already existed and that it not
require improvement to a full service street.
Council Meeting -2- October 17, 1978
Councilman Buerk moved to ask Staff to investigate a solution for a direct path-
way which considers changing the CUP, and also consider the acquisition of ease-
ments which would be necessary, not necessarily assuming easements through driveways,
but also look at other solutions. Additionally, Staff was directed to investigate
the necessary steps to form a maintenance district. The motion was seconded by Council-
woman Shaw and carried unanimously.
Council directed Staff to report back at the next meeting.
RECESS At 9:12 P.M. Mayor Dyda declared a brief recess.
At 9:25 P.M. the meeting reconvened with the
same members present.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH
MEDIAN BREAK -
Director Hightower reported on the results of
a meeting between• representatives of Mercury
TRACT NO. 33358 Enterprises and St. Peter's Church. Mercury
(1111) is planning to go ahead with their construction
and after the Church has finalized its plans
and gets approval, they will then proceed with
their phase of the work. The Church will be contacting the developer directly to
work out the final arrangements.
These plans have to be submitted to the Coastal Commission for approval and the City
has no control over the length of time it will take for their approval.
PROGRESS REPORT ON GEOLOGIC Director Pikus told the Council that he had met
STUDIES FOR LANDSLIDE AREA with the engineering firms involved and based
(1801) upon their discussion, they would be submitting
revised proposals.
It was the consensus of Council to discuss these revisions at an Adjourned Regular
Meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 1978.
Dr. Mervyn Lewin, 30 Narcissa Drive, representing the Portuguese Bend Homeowners
Association, described how his home is being affected by the land movement. He re-
quested that the Council act as quickly as possible in having this study made.
Noting that the moratorium ordinance passed allowed for remedial work, Council sug-
gested that Dr. Lewin consider getting together with some of his neighbors who are
in a similar situation and that they think about some short term solution to this
problem.
INDIAN PEAK ROAD - Director Pikus referred to the Staff memorandum
REQUEST FOR CURB CUT of October 11, 1978 which recommended that the
(1503) Council accept the Traffic Committee's recom-
mendation to approve a curb cut in the same
location and with all the other requirements
and conditions as outlined in the Traffic Committee's memorandum of July 25, 1978.
It was further recommended that the City reserve the option to chain off the access
and restrict its use for emergency purposes only in the event a hazardous condition
. results from vehicular movements in and out of the proposed development.
Mr. Matt Brunning, representing South Bay Engineering, told the Council that install-
ing a chain on this access would be highly undesirable to the developer and that they
didn't anticipate any traffic problems.
Councilwoman Shaw moved to accept the Traffic Committee's recommendation to allow the
curb cut on Indian Peak Road with all the required conditions. The motion was seconded
by Mayor Dyda.
After discussion of Councilman Buerk's proposed amendment of when an assessment of
the traffic should be made to determine if the access should be chained off, Mayor
Dyda moved, seconded by Councilwoman Hein, that six months after completion of the
project that the Staff assess the traffic in the area to determine if the Council
should consider removal of the left turn pocket or placing a chain across the access
limiting its use for emergencies or both.
Council Meeting -3- October 17, 1978
The amendment carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: BUERK, HEIN AND MAYOR DYDA
NOES: SHAW
ABSENT: RYAN
The main motion carried unanimously.
ZONE CHANGE NO. 3 Mayor Dyda declared the public hearing open
ORDINANCE NO. 110 and the Clerk reported notice given.
(lo2)
Director Hightower summarized the Staff report of October 17, 1978 which stated
that this would change the current official zoning map designation of Residential
Single Family Four units per acre (RS-4) to Residential Multiple Family Twelve
dwelling units per acre (RM-12) on lots 1 through 8 of Tract No. 27832. The
Planning Commission was recommending this change based upon the determination
that the single family designation was inconsistent with the recent General Plan
Amendment.
Applicant Charlotte Ferris, told the Council that she purchased the lot as RS3, that
it was the only vacant lot in the area, and that this change to RM12 would make it
more compatible with the existing -adjoining structures.
Since there was no response to the Mayor's call for public testimony, he declared
the hearing closed.
ORDINANCE NO. 110 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING ZONE CHANGE NO. 3 was read by title. Councilwoman Shaw moved, seconded
by Councilwoman Hein to introduce ORDINANCE NO. 110 and pass to a second reading.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: SHAW, HEIN AND MAYOR DYDA
NOES: BUERK
ABSENT: RYAN
SCAG CONFERENCE Councilwoman Hein reported on her attendance
at the Annual Conference of SCAG. Reports on
air quality, water quality and low income
housing allocations were being prepared by SCAG and it was her intention to submit
these to Council for their consideration.
LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES Councilwoman Hein made a brief report on her
attendance at the League meeting.
COUNCIL RETREAT Mayor Dyda requested that Councilmembers
contact either him or the City Manager
about an appropriate date for a Council
retreat.
COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION Mayor Dyda suggested that Councilmembers give
JOINT MEETING consideration to a date for a meeting with
the Planning Commission.
CALIFORNIA CONTRACT City Manager Wood told the Council that it had
CITIES ASSOCIATION been approximately four years since the Peninsula
cities co-hosted a League meeting. The City's
share of the cost would be approximately $400.
Council Meeting -4- October 17, 1978
Council then discussed if each representative should pay for their own meal at
the meeting rather than have the host cities pay.
Mayor Dyda moved, seconded by Councilwoman Shaw, to join the cities of Rolling
Hills and Rolling Hills Estates in co-hosting the November meeting of the League
of California Cities. The motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: SHAW, HEIN AND MAYOR DYDA
NOES: BUERK
ABSENT: RYAN
NOTICE OF CONSULTATION FROM
THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
ESTATES RE PROPOSED RETAIL
The City Manager referred to the Notice
of Consultation dated October 12, 1978
from the City of Rolling Hills Estates.
COMPLEX This notice requested the City of Rancho
(1203) Palos Verdes provide comments on the
potential effects of this project.
It was the consensus of Council that the City should respond to this notice. The
Director of Planning was instructed to prepare a response and present to Council
for their approval.
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 3, 1978 Councilwoman Shaw requested the motion
dealing with the City Manager's salary
on page 937 be amended to read: ". . .
City Manager's salary, including 1977 COLA, at. . ." The motion was seconded by
Councilwoman Hein and carried unanimously.
The minutes of October 3, 1978 were approved as amended on motion of Councilwoman
Shaw, seconded by Councilwoman Hein. The motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT: At 10:40 P.M. Mayor Dyda moved, seconded
by Councilman Buerk to adjoin the meeting
to October 24, 1978 at 7:30 P.M. in Council Chambers. The motion carried unanimously.
MAYOR /
ATTEST:
LEONARD G. WOOD, CITY CLERK AND
EX OFFICIO CLERK OF THE COUNCIL •
/IP
,,1 /' C ER;i0
Council Meeting _5_ October 17, 1978