RPVCCA_CC_DM_2014_02_04_B_20140107_CC_MINS_ADJ_REG_SACTO_DRAFT Draft City Council Minutes
Adjourned Regular Meeting
January 7, 2014
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DRAFT
MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
WITH STATE LEGISLATORS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
The meeting was called to order at 1:54 P.M. in the office of State Senator Ted Lieu at the
California State Capitol located at 1315 10th Street, Room 4061, Sacramento, CA 95814,
notice having been given with affidavit thereto on file.
PRESENT: Brooks, Misetich, and Mayor Pro Tem Knight
ABSENT: Campbell (excused) and Duhovic (excused)
The minutes were taken by Mayor Pro Tem Knight.
Also present in the audience were the following: Britt Huff (Rolling Hills Estates Council
Member), Frank Zerunyan (Rolling Hills Estates Council Member) and Bea Deiringer
(Rolling Hills Council Member).
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilwoman Brooks moved, seconded by Councilman Misetich, to approve the agenda,
as presented.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: (Audience Comments regarding Items Not on the Agenda)
None.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
Public Records Act (PRA) Requests
Senator Lieu inquired if the California Contract Cities Association is sponsoring a bill to
address the increase in numbers of PRA requests over the recent years and the resulting
impacts on staff time and cost to local agencies in producing the requested records.
Council Members stated that they had no knowledge of a sponsored bill.
Discussion ensued among Senator Lieu and Council Members, with Councilman Misetich
pointing out one example where the City of Rancho Palos Verdes spent over $75,000 of
staff time and materials for a PRA request in which the requesting party never bothered to
come by and pick up the material. Council Members stated that the Federal Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) does allow some compensation for staff time and suggested that the
State could mirror this model.
Southern California Edison (SCE) Fire Safety and Reliability
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Councilwoman Brooks reviewed the list of outages provided by staff and pointed out the
increase between 2008 and 2011, although 2012 showed a decrease in incidents.
Senator Lieu stated that Ted Craver, Chief Executive Officer, SCE, reported that SCE will
be spending more money on infrastructure but the Senator didn’t have any further
clarification other than that.
Discussion continued regarding a rate case and the topic of further investment in SCE
infrastructure and the fear of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that a large
infrastructure rate case request would result in a substantial increase in consumer rates.
Councilman Misetich reported that the customer rate increase was relative to the payback
period used by SCE. He noted that SCE’s infrastructure investment could be amortized over
the life expectancy of the improvements (20-30 years) which would make the rate increase
probably be very little. Councilman Misetich also suggested solar power as a possible solution
to reliability.
Additional discussion ensued among Senator Lieu, Council Members, and members of the
audience regarding attaining SCE infrastructure data, and above ground versus
underground infrastructure costs.
MS4 Regulations
Mayor Pro Tem Knight explained to Senator Lieu the two main issues with the MS4
permitting as the following: 1) An unfunded mandate and costs of compliance for cities
would be in the millions; and, 2) Unreasonable criteria for compliance put forth from the
Regional Water Quality Control Board (WQCB) citing the nitrogen total maximum daily load
(TMDLs) for the Machado Lake watershed exceeded drinking water standards. Mayor Pro
Tem Knight suggested Senator Lieu look into some source of State funding to help the
cities comply with the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (WQCB) regulations.
Additionally, Mayor Pro Tem Knight inquired if Senator Lieu could help with making the
regulations more realistic and the possibility of the WQCB to allow more Best Management
Practices to qualify for compliance.
Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Succession/Clean up Legislation
Mayor Pro Tem Knight requested an update on the RDA succession plan. Senator Lieu
stated there was no new information regarding any of the RDA succession issues.
RECESS AND RECONVENE:
Mayor Pro Tem Knight called a recess at 2:28 P.M.
The meeting was reconvened at 2:56 P.M. for a meeting with State Assembly Member Al
Muratsuchi at the State Capitol (Room 4117).
PRESENT: Brooks, Misetich, and Mayor Pro Tem Knight
ABSENT: Campbell (excused) and Duhovic (excused)
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Also present was Chris McKenzie, Executive Director, League of California Cities.
MS4 Regulations
Mayor Pro Tem Knight explained to Assemblyman Muratsuchi the two main issues with the
MS4 permitting as discussion with Senator Lieu. Mayor Pro Tem Knight explained his idea
of using Assessment Districts for a funding source and suggested that there may need to be
a change in legislation to apply to water quality issues.
Executive Director McKenzie offered to research the matter and forward information to
Mayor Pro Tem Knight.
Public Records Act (PRA) Requests
Discussion ensued among Assemblyman Muratsuchi and Council Members regarding the
increase in numbers of PRA requests over the recent years and the resulting impacts on
staff time and cost to local agencies in producing the requested records.
Assemblyman Muratsuchi stated that he was concerned about limiting public access to
information and the Council Members responded that the Federal model (FOIA) has been
vetted. Both Assemblyman Muratsuchi and Executive Director McKenzie indicated they
would research the matter.
Southern California Edison (SCE) Fire Safety and Reliability
Brief discussion ensued regarding the extensive involvement of the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes with Assemblyman Muratsuchi regarding Assembly Bill (AB) 66 and SCE fire safety
and reliability. Assemblyman Muratsuchi requested a copy of the City’s data regarding this
issue.
Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Succession/Clean up Legislation
Mayor Pro Tem Knight requested an update regarding the RDA succession plan.
Assemblyman Muratsuchi stated that there was little new information regarding this issue.
Executive Director McKenzie stated there were still 140 lawsuits pending.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 3:28 P.M., Mayor Pro Tem Knight adjourned the meeting.
__________________
Mayor
Attest:
_________________
City Clerk
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