CC MINS 19761221 ADJ M I N U T E S
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
Regular Adjourned Meeting
December 21, 1976
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified
School District Building, 30942 Hawthorne Boulevard, Rancho Palos Verdes. Follow-
ing the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Councilmembers Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
ABSENT: None
Also present were City Manager Leonard Wood, Director of Planning Sharon W.
Hightower, Director of Public Works Dennis Pikus, City Attorney Pat Coughlan,
Community Services Officer Tom Bandy, Administrative Services Officer George
Wunderlin and Deputy City Clerk Mary Jo Lof thus.
AUDIENCE QUESTIONS Mrs. Jan Simon, 4272 Stalwart Drive, came
before the Council citing the matter of one
of her neighbors who was not maintaining
their property and who allegedly was performing commercial car repair in their
garage.
After a discussion of the matter, Council directed staff to research this subject
and report back to them at the next Council meeting.
AGENDA APPROVAL On motion of Councilman Dyda, seconded by
Councilman Ryan, and unanimously carried,
the Agenda was approved as amended, adding
discussion of the following: Bottle Bill Legislation, Franchise Committee Report
on the Undergrounding District, meeting between Mayor Anderson of Rolling Hills
Estates and Mayor Buerk on the design of the Highridge Bike Path.
WAIVER OF FULL READING OF Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by Council-
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS man Ruth, and unanimously carried, to waive
further reading in full of all ordinances
and resolutions adopted at this meeting with
consent to the waiver of reading to be deemed to be given by all councilmembers
after reading of the title, unless specific request was made at that time for the
reading of such ordinance or resolution.
CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by Council-
man Ryan, and unanimously carried, that the
Consent Calendar be approved.
CLAIM AGAINST CITY OF Denied personal injury claim of Charles
RANCHO PALOS. NERDES BY Stanley McArthur against the City of Rancho
CHARLES STANLEY McARTHUR Palos Verdes.
(303)
SEWER EASEMENT - CHANDELEUR DRIVE Accepted the vacation of sewer easement on
(1402) Chandeleur Drive.
RESOLUTION NO. 76-88 Adopted RESOLUTION NO. 76-88 - A RESOLUTION
ORDERING THE VACATION OF OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
A PORTION OF A SEWER EASEMENT PALOS VERDES ORDERING THE VACATION OF A
(1402) PORTION OF A SEWER EASEMENT.
SANITARY SEWER PRIVATE Accepted Sanitary Sewer Private Contract
CONTRACT NO. 76-1 No. 76-1.
(1402)
PUBLIC HEARING: The Director of Planning reported to the
VARIANCE #10 Council that this variance had been denied
(1804)
Council December 21, 1976
564
by the Planning Commission and that proper notice had been published and mailed
for this public hearing.
The Director summarized for the Council her memorandum of November 9, 1976 to the
Planning Commission on the details of this variance.
At this point in the proceedings, Mayor Buerk declared the public hearing open.
Representing the applicants in this matter was their attorney Gordon E. Phillips,
who proceeded to tell the Council of the cost of repairing this wall, and the
reasons for having a wall of this height and design. Mr. Phillips distributed to
the Council pictures of the wall in its before and after repair state.
Mr. Burt Laur, the applicant in this matter, also came before the Council and told
them that he had built the fence in good faith and was unaware of any violation of
City codes.
Ann Shaw, Chairwoman of the Planning Commission, stated that the Commission felt
that they regretted having to deny this application since it was the consensus of
opinion that this was a minor error, however, they were unable to make the neces-
sary findings.
Since there was no further testimony to be made on this matter, the Mayor declared
the public hearing closed.
Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Councilman Ruth, that there was proof of enough
exceptional and extraordinary circumstances and conditions to satisfy the findings
necessary under 3A of the Variance Application.
The Mayor stated that he felt there were no extraordinary circumstances existing
with regard to the height.
The roll call vote for this finding was as follows:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan and Dyda
NOES: Buerk
ABSENT: None
Finding 3B Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Council-
man Ruth, that the variance was necessary
for the preservation of enjoyment of sub-
stantial property rights which were enjoyed by other property owners under similar
conditidx s:'within the City.
Mayor Buerk stated he felt increase in wall height was unnecessary since the pro-
perty owners could have built the wall according to the ordinance and still enjoy
property rights. On roll call vote:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan and Dyda
NOES: Buerk
ABSENT: None
Finding 3C Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Council-
man Ruth, that the granting of this variance
would not be detrimental to the public wel-
fare or injurious to property and improvements in the area since there was evidence
that the three most adjacent neighbors approved the wall because the top of the
fence is wrought iron and does not impact view. On roll call vote:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Finding 3D Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Council-
man Dyda, that the granting of this variance
would not be contrary to the objectives of
Council 565 December 21, 1976
the General Plan, the Plan encourages privacy and asked for view maintenance and
both of these findings were met. On roll call vote:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by Councilman Ryan, that the appeal be sustained
and staff be directed to prepare a resolution identifying the criteria under which
the Council sustained the appeal.
Mayor Buerk moved, seconded by Councilman Dyda and carried, that the City Attorney
should come back at the next Council meeting with a report on the findings for
variances in a way which gives the Council alternatives to instruct the Planning
Commission to change ordinances and possibly some discussion.
There being no objection, the Mayor so ordered.
AGREEMENT WITH The Director of Planning gave a follow-up
KENNETH CARRE report on the graphic service necessary to
(1203 x 309) produce a draft of the Coastal Specific
Plan. Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by
Councilman Ryan and carried, that the Mayor
be authorized to execute the agreement with Kenneth Carre to conduct graphic ser-
vices on the Coastal Specific Plan, not to exceed $4,000. On roll call vote:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
CREST ROAD "U" TURN Traffic Engineer Tom Brohard summarized for
PROHIBITION the Council his memorandum of December 15,
(1503) 1976, to the City Manager on his findings
and analysis of the traffic along Crest
Road between Hawthorne Boulevard and
Crenshaw Boulevard.
Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by Councilman Ruth and carried, that since priori-
ties had been established, that the first "No U Turn" sign to be installed should
be at the entrance to Northrop, both eastbound and westbound, and the next priority
should be reviewed at some time in the future.
The Mayor stated that he wanted it recorded in the minutes that the language in
this report, insofar as it discusses the necessity of the "U" turns and medians,
refers to the priorities and not to the necessity.
Councilman Dyda also requested that it be recorded in the minutes that this report
makes it clear that the Council has decided, based on information from the Traffic
Committee at the last meeting, that "U" turns will be prohibited there and in the
order of priority.
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS The City Manager reported to the Council
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS from his December 17, 1976 memorandum re-
(307) garding this matter which outlined the al-
ternatives that the Council could adopt
with regard to the procedure on this portion
of the Council meetings.
After Council discussion of the alternatives, Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by
Councilman Ryan and carried, that the Council retain the present format and pro-
cedure for audience participation and observe the five minute time limit, and that
no final Council action should be expected on any matter not appearing on the
agenda, but that items requiring staff shall be set for future agenda. On roll
call vote:
Council 566 December 21, 1976
AYES: Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
It was the consensus of the Council that the agenda format should reflect this in-
formation for the public.
DECLARATION OF THE MONTH Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Council-
OF JANUARY AS ENERGY man Dyda and carried, that the City should
CONSERVATION MONTH support the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber
(304) of Commerce in its proclamation of declaring
the month of January as Energy Conservation
Month. On roll call vote:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
HAWTHORNE/HIGHRIDGE The Director of Public Works reported to
CROSSING GUARD the Council from his memorandum of
(1503) December 15, 1976 to the City Manager on
the background and history of this request
for a crossing guard.
The County Traffic Engineer reported to the Council on his study of the intersection
which was outlined in his memorandum of November 23, 1976 to the City Manager.
Mrs. Natalie Cooke, Safety Chairman, Pedregal, came before the Council and spoke
in favor of having a crossing guard at this intersection.
Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by Councilman Ryan and carried, that there was a
sufficiently special problem in this area with the grammar school children; that
the warrants and conditions were close enough to being filled and, because of the
special configuration of the intersection and the heavy traffic, that a crossing
guard should be provided at this intersection until the end of the school year and
at that time the Council would review this matter. On roll call vote:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Council requested staff to prepare a report for them at the end of the trial period.
CRENSHAW/CREST CROSSING GUARD The Director of Public Works reported to
(1503) the Council from his memorandum of
December 15, 1976 which outlined his re-
quest for a crossing guard from St. John
Fisher School.
The Traffic Engineer also briefed the Council on his study of this intersection.
Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Councilman Dyda to deny the request for a
crossing guard at this intersection. On roll call vote:
AYES: Dyda, Ryan and Buerk
NOES: Ruth
ABSENT: None
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBER TO Councilman Dyda nominated Joyce Watt to fill
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE the vacancy on the Environmental Committee.
(1205)
Council 567 December 21, 1976
Councilman Ruth nominated Barbara Gleghorn to serve on this Committee.
After a Council discussion of the appointees, it was decided that this matter
should be continued until the next Council meeting.
REGISTER OF DEMANDS Approved upon motion of Councilman Dydal
(1504) seconded by Councilman Ryan, and unanimously
carried, RESOLUTION NO. 76-87 - A RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND DEMANDS IN THE SUM OF $370,243.32, DEMAND
NUMBERS 2949 THROUGH 2999 AND 3003. On roll call vote:
AYES: Ruth, Ryan, Dyda and Buerk
NOES: None
11/ ABSENT: None
STREET SWEEPING CONTRACT Council requested that staff make some re-
(1405) commendation allowing the street sweeper to
work on Saturday rather than late at night
to finish the required day's work.
BOTTLE LEGISLATION Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Council-
(306 x 310) man Dyda and carried, to endorse the pro-
posed bottle legislation proposed by
Senator Rains of Ventura.
FRANCHISE COMMITTEE The Director of Public Works reported on
(605) the meeting of the Franchise Committee where
it was agreed that Palos Verdes Estates
would be the lead agency on the underground-
ing being done along Palos Verdes Drive West which borders the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes.
Councilman Ryan moved, seconded by Councilman Dyda and carried, that the staff and
Franchise Committee recommendation be adopted, whereby the City of Palos Verdes
Estates would administer the Palos Verdes West Boundary project and the City of
Rancho Palos Verdes would reimburse them for one-half of the cost, and also that
the City proceed on its own with the Hawthorne Boulevard project.
HIGHRIDGE BICYCLE TRAIL Mayor Buerk reported on his meeting with
(112) Mayor Anderson of Rolling Hills Estates to
discuss the proposed bikeway on Highridge
Road.
Councilman Dyda moved, seconded by Councilman Ruth and carried, to adopt the design
that was worked out by Mayor Buerk and Mayor Anderson in concept for the City.
MAYOR'S ABSENCE Council excused the Mayor from the January
4 and January 18, 1977 Council meetings.
ADJOURNMENT At 11:05 p.m. Councilman Dyda moved,
seconded by Councilman Ruth and unanimously
carried, to adjourn the meeting.
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/7 ,414 PRO TEMPORE
LEONARD G. WOOD, CITY CLERK AND
EX OFFICIO CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
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Council 568 December 21, 1976