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20140715 Late CorrespondenceAbalone Cove Tide Pools - Urban Adventures (Los Angeles, CA) - .. Horne Members Photos Pages Discussions More Abalone Cove Tule Pools August 31,2013 - 11:oo AM Abalone Cove Shoreline Park This is not a hike around the coves but a hike through the coves and swim through channels carved into the rocky cliffs by crashing waves. We will meet at the Abalone Cove Parking lot. Parking here is $5. 597o Palos Verdes Dr. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 From the parking lot it's a short hike down to the water where well make our way around a cliff and onto the first channel. Once there, you must jump into the channel in order to get across and then it's on to a lagoon which forms beautiful tide pools full of marine life when the tide is low. You Will Get wet! You do need to know how to swim (at least a little). The weather tends to be overcast in the mornings, and the water cold, so be prepared for that. 1 of 7 http://www.meetup.conVUrbanAdventures/events/133122172/ . VED FROM MADE A PART OF THE F EC � NCIL MEETING OF OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CARLA MORREALE, CITY CLERK Join us! Howard UA BRUISER, ASSISTANT ORGANIZER EVENT HOST Hiroshi THE GUBERNATOR, ASSISTANT ORGANIZER wary matthews Katherine Cheryl Paul Suzanne Martin Schrader UA T -i000 Amanda 7/15/2014 11:42 AM Abalone Cove Tide Pools - Urban Adventures (Los Angeles, CA) - ... Once we get our fill here it's on to the next, bigger, channel and you guessed it, we need to jump in again to get across. This is also a relaxing place to enjoy a swim, and just chill in the water, specially if it's hot. bttp://www.meetup.com/UrbanAdventures/events/I 33122172/ Jennifer F +i Liz +1 Dennis UA IMPROVISER John Hawley UA UNICORN Chanalisa 2 of 7 7/15/2014 11:42 AM Abalone Cove Tide Pools - Urban Adventures (Los Angeles, CA) - ... http://www.meetup.com/UrbanAdventures/events/133122172/ There are four channels in total, with a big cove in between. There are secluded, sandy beaches along the way where we can hang out and relax too. So if you go past the first channel, but maybe don't feel too adventurous to go beyond that, don't worry. Hang out, relax, catch some waves, or some crabs, or some uni (sea urchin) and catch the group on their way back. 3 of 7 7/15/2014 11:42 AM Abalone Cove Tide Pools - Urban Adventures (Los Angeles, CA) - ... Please wear clothes to get wet in. Please wear some old shoes with sturdy grip, or river shoes to get wet in. Absolutely no flip flops or bare feet allowed. Vans and Converse are Ole, but I find them a little slippery when walking on wet/underwater rocks. We will not stop for you to change, clothes or shoes, etc... How you leave your car is how you're going in. Leave your cell phones in the car. They are useless down there and you run the risk of getting them wet. If you are going to bring any electronics with you, like a camera, please bring waterproof bags, a ziplock or some sort of water tight bag. Keep in mind that you will need to throw your bags/backpack, across the channels. Whether it makes it or not depends on how good you throw;) We will have a pot luck lunch after we are done swimming and checking out the tide pools. Please bring a dish to share with 6-8 people. We will provide plates, napkins, utensil, etc... but if you have reusable camping plates and utensils please bring them and help conserve resources and the UA stash at the same time. Please remember that organizers are untrained volunteers and all events are at your own risk. Adventurous kids OK. No dogs please. Join this Meetup to comment. Suzanne That was the best time ever! My only regret is not jumping from the high cliff. Next time. September 2 John Hawley Here's a video of the octopus we found https://www.facebook.com/photo.p... September i http://www.meetup.com/UrbanAdventures/events/1 33122172/ 4 of 7 7/15/2014 11:42 AM Good evening. As homeowners, we are concerned with: Maintenance. How will the proposed trail be maintained once the project is finished? What will be done about horse excrement, odor, and flies left behind; who will be responsible to address these issues when they arise? We have seen other poorly maintained trails in our city, and we do not want to fall victim to poor maintenance other neighborhoods have suffered. • Connectivity Safety. The proposed trail is to connect to PV Drive East at Dead Man's Curve - the very place where a horse boarded on my property was struck by a car and killed. A child was decapitated in a traffic accident there. Presently, no less than ten guard rail posts are missing or in disrepair because vehicles have crashed into the railing. We question the safety of a city -sponsored trail that spills onto Dead Man's curve, which is life-threatening for pedestrians and equestrians alike. The steepness of our canyon and unstable soil are unsafe. It opens our city up to legal liabilities and potential tragedy. How is the safety of the trail users ensured? Traffic. We are a quiet community. We are alreadyplagued with parking issues. Non -community members are indiscriminately parking on private properties. How will this be addressed by the city without littering our neighborhood with parking regulation signs and barriers? Residents fear the tranquility of our street is being compromised. Security. The Sunnyside Community already suffers from criminal activity. The trail opens an easier pass-through for mail theft, burglars, and transients. What is the city's answer to this? • Privacy. The proposed trail poses privacy threats to the immediate surrounding homes, which in turn could compromise the property value for these homeowners, if privacy is not properly addressed. We respectfully await your solutions. Thank you for your attention. I would like to introduce John DeGirolamo, owner of one of the homes directly impacted by the proposed trail. MADE A PART OF THE ECORD AT —ILNCIL MEETING OF 5-ro OFFICE OF THE CITY ERK CARLA MORREALE, CITY CLERK M Hello. My name is David Hall. This is the first time in my 38 years in RPV that I've felt strongly enough about an issue to address the City Council in public. Each of you has previously been approached about this matter both in private and in public. Tonight I ask that you place discussion of it on the agenda for a future council study session. The issue is that governments at all levels have lost some of their legal rights to establish rules under which elections are held. Municipalities no longer can regulate independent financial expenditures by persons and organizations. This is true whether or not the person or organization is part of the community in which the election is being held. This situation is the result of a 5 to 4 decision of the Supreme Court in 2010 the Citizens United case. Since this decision, there has been an explosion in money spent across the country at all levels of government by independent individuals and organizations to influence the successes of candidates and propositions. I, and many others, believe that the resulting deluge of TV and print advertisements do not serve democracy. Rather, the votes of diligent voters, who follow the news and study the candidates and issues, are swamped by votes from people who only respond to repetitious 30 -second ads on TV and the daily stuffing of their mailboxes. This issue should be of interest to people of all political persuasions: big money has already been spent by individuals and organizations from both the right and the left sides of the political spectrum on government issues and candidates both local to and distant from their locations. Even if you believe that money is a form of free speech, as did 5 Justices of the Supreme Court, that speech should be subject to reasonable regulation. The RPV City Council has regulated the length and content of my speech tonight and justly so. The best solution to this growing problem is for US Congress to pass an amendment to the US Constitution to clarify that governments at all levels can place limits on the independent expenditures of individuals and organizations to influence elections on elections. Amendments of this kind were introduced in the Congress more than a year ago (e.g., S.J.RES. 11, 18, & 19; H.J.RES.14, 21, 25, & 34). However, before a constitutional amendment can pass the Congress we need to create more public awareness of the problems resulting from the court's decision. We need to create more political support for repairing the damage it caused. One way the council can make a contribution is to join the at least 330 cities and 16 states that have passed city resolutions urging the Congress to give priority this issue. These resolutions have urged the Congress to give priority to this issue, and haven't supported specific House and Senate bills. Each of you has been approached on this matter both in private and in public. Tonight I ask that at least one of you place discussion of such a resolution on the agenda for a future council study session. Thank you. D MADE A PART OF' UNCIL MEETING OF OFFICE OF THE CITY VZLERK CARLA MORREALE, CITY CLERK (c. CITYOF toRANCHO PALOS VERDES TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: CITY CLERK DATE: JULY 15, 2014 SUBJECT: ADDITIONS/REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA** Attached are revisions/additions and/or amendments to the agenda material presented for tonight's meeting: Item No. Description of Material G Emails from: Lenee Bilski; Sunshine 4 Emails from: Sunshine; Lenee Bilski 5 Email exchange between Acting City Manager Petru and Rabbi Fradkin 6 Email from Ken DeLong Respectfy ubmitted, 1"Mzx� Carla Morreale ** PLEASE NOTE: Materials attached after the color page(s) were submitted through Monday, July 14, 2014**. W:b4GENDA12014 Additions Revisions to agendas\20140715 additions revisions to agenda.doc From: Sent: To: Subject: July 15, 2014 Consent Calendar Item G L. Bilski <Idb910@juno.com> Tuesday, July 15, 20141:38 PM cc Agenda item G July 15, 2014 Dear Mayor Duhovic and City Council members, Do we need these five contracts for on-call professional services if we are not using these services? L. BIlski The #1 Worst Carb Ever? Click to Learn #1 Carb that Kills Your Blood Sugar (Don't Eat This!) FixYourBloodSu ar.com � NO From: Carla Morreale Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 2:58 PM To: Teresa Takaoka Subject: FW: A thought and well darn. The Item G drawing did not go through Carla Morreale, CMC, City Clerk Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 Phone: (310) 544-5208 Fax: (310) 544-5291 From: SunshineRPV@aol.com [mailto:SunshineRPV@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 1:32 PM To: jduhovic@hotmail.com; jim_knight@juno.com; Susan Brooks <Subrooks08@gmail.com>; mizie@cox.net; Brian Campbell <b.camp@cox.net> Cc: Carla Morreale; Carolynn Petru Subject: A thought and well darn. The Item G drawing did not go through July 15, 2014 Hi Jerry, Jim, Susan, Anthony and Brian Why approve deals with new consultants when Staff does not use the consultants we have on-call to answer old questions? You need to know this before you get to Item 4. I have asked and not received a reply from Michael Throne. Pulling Item G for further discussion may be the only way to find out why the on-call services were not requested when they were needed to preserve an existing trail which was impacted by the Sunnyside Ridge Storm Drain Project and why the on-call services were not requested when they were needed to get a valid construction design and cost estimate to reroute an existing trail onto a new easement etc. Is there a flaw in the program? Without too much "administrative grief', the Building Department was able to determine that it is the pre-existing "garden wall" which is encroaching on the easement at 2477 Sunnyside Ridge Road. Have they different on-call services available? The Staff Report is not clear should Council want to know if this request is to add consultants to an existing list, replace firms on the existing list or limit the firms to this recommended list. Having pre -approved funds and pre -vetted consultants under contract makes perfect sense to me. What appears to be missing is how Staff decides when the use of the on-call consultants is appropriate. "It is not in the Budget.", "It is too steep." And "Sorry, we didn't know about it." are not legitimate excuses for the obliteration of existing trails which cross canyons. Crestmont Canyon (A6), Barkentine Canyon (A8), Vanderlip Canyon (A9), Colt Canyon (A22), Dodson Canyon (A26) and Greenwood Canyon (A28) all needed small, urgent, Engineering and environmental studies in order for the trail connections to survive the onslaught of new watershed infrastructure projects. These are just the most noticeable ones on the Palos Verdes Loop Trail "ideal" route. The trail across San Ramon Canyon has suffered the same fate. I really don't think of it as the City Council "micromanaging" the City Manager if funds are withheld because said funds are not being spent on pursuing the City Council's stated goals. There is a penalty on the cooperative consultant if the work is not needed. There should be some sort of penalty on Staff when the work is needed and not done. Why make deals with new consultants when Staff does not use the ones we have, on-call, to answer old questions? The original of the following drawing was based on misinformation as provided by RPV Staff. One question has been resolved. The other has not. The RPV City Council now has the opportunity to step in and at least expose the theft of our City's amenities. ...S ' 0 From: Lenee Bilski <leneebilski@hotmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 12:34 PM To: CC Cc: Ara Mihranian; Lauren Ramezani; Michael Throne Subject: CC Agenda Item #4 Sunnyside/Sol Vista Trail 7/15/14 Agenda item # 4 Sunnyside/SolVista Trail July 15, 2014 Dear RPV Mayor Duhovic and Council Members, I agree with Jean Longacre, Sharon Yarber, Sunshine, Charlene O'Neil and the Greenwood family that this trail should be restored as soon as possible. If a person does not like horses or trails they should not buy property in an equestrian overlay district. Before buying in RPV (not after), people should become familiar with the City's goals and objectives. The Council already voted on this restoration and the monies have been allocated. We just need a legitimate discussion of the design of the infrastructure - what is wanted and needed. Please use the services of the on-call Soils Engineer as the first action using the budgeted and grant monies. Thank you for all you do for RPV! Lende Bilski 1 4. From: Carolynn Petru Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 6:04 PM To: CityClerk Subject: FW: July 15th City Council Agenda - Status of Liens Hi Carla — Please see the request below from the property owner for a continuance for Item No. 5. Thank you, Carolynn From: Rabbi Yonah Fradkin [mailto:ryf@chabadsd.org] Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 5:05 PM To: Carolynn Petru Subject: Re: July 15th City Council Agenda - Status of Liens Thank you so very much for your constant kindness. Due to a funeral I will have to reschedule the item on your agenda for July 29 if that is at all possible thank you so very much please confirm Sent from my Whone On Jul 12, 2014, at 2:28 PM, Carolynn Petru <Carolynn@Lrpv.com> wrote: Hi Rabbi Fradkin — I had a chance to speak with the Mayor this morning, and he is in support of moving Item No. 5 up on the agenda Tuesday night. He will make that suggestion when the agenda is approved at the start of the meeting. Carolynn From: Carolynn Petru Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 4:53 PM To: Yonah Fradkin Cc:'Simon Malk' Subject: July 15th City Council Agenda - Status of Liens Hi Rabbi Fradkin — Thank you for your voice mail message regarding the hearing next Tuesday night. I will certainly talk to Mayor Duhovic regarding your request to have the lien release item heard earlier in the evening. I anticipate that he will have no objection, but if there is any issue, I will let you know right away. I have attached a copy of the meeting agenda and the staff report for your reference. Please let me know if you have any further questions. I look forward to meeting you in person on the 15th. 1 Best regards, Carolynn Carolynn Petru Acting City Manager City of Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 544-5203 (direct) (310) 544-5291 (fax) carolvnn(c�,Mv. com www.palosverdes.com/�r v E2 From: Ken DeLong <ken.delong@verizon.net> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 20141:32 PM To: CC Subject: Tonight's Council Agenda Item 6 Mayor Jerry Duhovic Council Members: Susan Brooks, Brian Campbell, Jim Knight, Anthony Misetich Subject; July 15, 2014 RPV Council Agenda Item 6. June 3rd the RPV Council approved the FY 2014 / 2015 budget which included the Utility Users Tax (UUT) as recommended by staff for the FY 2014 / 2015 budget period. Now, barely 30 days later, staff has declared that an emergency situation exists and the Council should take immediate action to have a Special Election this November. What has occurred in the past 30 days or so to create this emergency? How much staff / City Attorney time was used to create the resolution and supporting documents? When was the Council aware of this project? Justification: There is NO justification for having a Special Election to amend the Utility Users Tax (UUT). Staff report page 6-2, last paragraph "Accordingly, some types of telephone services currently are not subject to the tax (UUT), while others are. This is not completely fair to City residents (our emphasis) who use telephone services and currently are subject to the City's UUT. Accordingly Staff proposes placing an ordinance on an upcoming ballot that will modernize the UUT." There is no other commentary that RPV is violating any California law whatsoever with the current UUT. Staff has not presented any facts, other than an opinion that the current UUT is unfair, that support staffs belief that this matter is an "emergency" that requires a Special Election. Some Facts for Consideration: My personal Verizon and AT&T services 310 541-8369 — 6/25/14 Verizon (local Services) $47.99 - UUT $1.71- 2.9% 310 541-8369 — 6/20/14 AT&T (Usage Plan) $40.93 — UUT $1.18 — 2.9% 310 377-2426 — 6/16/14 (Verizon ROS) $144.73 — UUT $1.26 - $.9% 310 748-2426 — 6/23/14 (AT&T Mobile) $45 — UUT $.84 —1.9% My 310 541-8369 is "traditional" telecom services and few should be paying more than I do for "traditional" services. I do not consider a $2.89 monthly fee to be so outrageous that we need to have a Special Election to supposedly rectify a few cents. I have checked with several friends who subscribe to Cox bundled services and their UUT is less than $1.00. Is it staffs position that it is unfair that I and others pay a UUT of $2.89 for "traditional" services and those with a ROS bundled service pay only $1.26 and that RPV must take steps to resolve this unfair situation? RPV has greater substantive issues that having staff concern itself over $1.26 per month in UUT fees. Or does staff have other motives? What staff is missing is that Federal law restricts applying any taxes to Internet services and the backbone of FiOS and similar bundled services (AT&T U -Verse / Cox Cable) is Internet technology and protocols. The portion of "bundled services" that is used for "traditional services" is taxable with FCC / Calif. PUC approval of taxing formulas. D Section 3.30.020 — Definitions begin on page 6-12 and conclude on 6-15. What is the purpose? Are these definitions designed to merely cloud the situation or does staff perceive a new taxing opportunity? Why else is this listing of terms included? Staff proposes a'cost reduction of .25% for which the taxpayers will supposedly be appreciative. In view of the Section 3.30.020 Definitions, it does appear that staff likely has other ideas about how UUT taxes might be increased. Before rushing into the questionable UUT modernization scheme, there should be an overall assessment of RPV taxing schemes and revenues. As staff reported (Loss of UUT— Budget Impact) page 6-3, General Fund revenues for FY 2014 / 2015 are projected at $26.5 million which allows transfer of $7.3 million to the Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) fund. Not included is the projected TOT income of over $4 million making a total transfer of over $11 million to the CIP fund for FY 2014 / 2015. Rather than tinker with the UUT, let's get rid of the unneeded Storm Drain User Fee. In conclusion, this proposal appears to be a "Trojan Horse" and we remain unaware of the full implications of the proposed Ordinance modification. Most RPV residents do not want to pay excessive taxes however, until the full implications of the proposed modifications to the UUT Ordinance are clear, I prefer to continue to pay the supposedly unfair $1.26 UUT per month while we await clarification of RPV's financial structure. Ken DeLong 101 ticI CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: CITY CLERK DATE: JULY 14, 2014 SUBJECT: ADDITIONS/REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA Attached are revisions/additions and/or amendments to the agenda material received through Monday afternoon for the Tuesday, July 15, 2014 City Council meeting: Item No. Description of Materials N Email from Bob and Jacki Bacharach 4 Emails from: Russell, Sherree and the Greenwood Family; Sharon Yarber; Jean Longacre; Email exchange between: Acting City Manager Petru and Sunshine; Acting City Manager Petru and Melody Colbert Respectfully submitted, -aria Morreale W:WGENDA\2014 Additions Revisions to agendas\20140715 additions revisions to agenda through Monday afternoon.doc From: Carolynn Petru Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 3:56 PM To: Nicole Jules Cc: Carla Morreale; Teresa Takaoka Subject: FW: Revised Rendering Attachments: Blackhorse Rendering.pdf Hi Nicole — FYI — & I've copied the City Clerk for late correspondence. Thanks! CP From: Jacki Bacharach [mailto:jackibach@cox.net] Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 3:49 PM To: Susan Brooks; Jim Knight <knightjim33@gmail.com>; Brian Campbell; Anthony Misetich; Jerry Duhovic Cc: Carolynn Petru Subject: FW: Revised Rendering Thank you for bringing the concerns of the Blackhorse community to your staff. We are very pleased that they have followed up and provided the attached rendering which includes replacing the area with PV stone cover and the Blackhorse sign. While it isn't what was there before, it responds to what the city needed to accomplish and restores the look that the residents worked together to create many years ago. Just one caution — while we understand that the attachment is a rendering, we want to be sure that the size of the pieces of replacement PV Stone (the pieces removed are no longer available) are similar in size to the unaltered portion of the wall. The residents did ask that every effort be made to get new PV stone of a larger size than pictured in the rendering, to better match the unchanged portion of the wall. We urge your favorable consideration for the improvements that are recommended. Thank you, Bob and Jacki Bacharach 5033 Rockvalley Road Blackhorse area From: Nicole Jules [mailto:NicoieJ r v.com] Sent: Monday, July 07, 2014 4:34 PM To: cptrails@aol.com; staples6t@verizon.net; PJ M1@yahoo.com; Jacki Bacharach; favvavv@verizon.net; ob@mail.com Subject: Revised Rendering Greetings Blackhorse Community, 1 A/ As promised at our meeting last week, I was able to discuss your concerns with our designer and the following items are confirmed: 1) The new wall cannot be slanted at the same angle as the existing wall. The new wall will be perpendicular to the sidewalk. 2) The space in between the wall and the existing curb on Hawkhurst will be capped with pv stone as depicted in the attached rendering. 3) The landscaping will be drought -tolerant and maintained by the City. 4) The Blackhorse sign will be mounted on the new wall as depicted in the attached rendering. Please share with those that I do not have email addresses for. Thank you! Nicole Jules, Deputy Director City of Rancho Palos Verdes Department of Public Works 30940 Hawthorne Blvd. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 nicolei@rpv.com (310) 544-5275 — (310) 544-5292 f eY If From: Russell Greenwood <beachjake@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2014 12;11 PM To: cc Subject: 2477 Sunnyside Ridge Road Trail Restoration We have been residents at 2543 Sunnyside Ridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes for over 26 years. Our property is in a horse overlay zone district and we have utilized the Sunnyside Ridge Trail extensively to connect to Palos Verdes Drive East. The Sunnyside Ridge trail provides a safe route for both pedestrians and horses to the extensive trail system in Rolling Hills Estates and the Peninsula. We are in favor of continuing with the grant process and the trail improvements. Sincerely, Russell, Sherree and the Greenwood Family FA From: sharon yarber <momofyago@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 7:14 AM To: CC; Jerry Duhovic; Brian Campbell; Susan Brooks <Subrooks08@gmail.com>; Jim Knight; Anthony M. Misetich Subject: Sol Vista Trail improvement project Dear Council Members, I am thankful the City has been awarded the $300,000 grant for the trail improvements. They are long overdue and this trail is essential for the horse community on the east side of the Hill. Please do not let a few neighbors bring this to a halt. Please vote to move forward, and the first order of business is to get a soils engineer to determine what is necessary so that hopefully the least obtrusive imrpvoements will be required to complete this project. Thank you, Sharon Yarber q. From: jeanlongacre@aol.com Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 2:08 PM To: cc Subject: Fwd: Sunnyside Ridge Trail Dear City Council Members, Your support in restoring the Sunnyside Ridge Trail would be greatly appreciated. -----Original Message ----- From: jeanlongacre <jeanlongacre@aol.com> To: lezam <lezam@rpv.com> Sent: Mon, Jul 7, 2014 10:27 pm Subject: Sunnyside Ridge Trail Dear Leza, On April 3, 1996, as a member of the Rancho Palos Verdes Recreation and Parks Committee, I made the motion to vacate part of the easement on Sunnyside Ridge so the Nazarian Corporation could build a house on the Narbonne ROW. We were aware that one side of the lot was flat and the other side was steep. My motion specifically stated that a 15 foot trail easement should be reserved on the flat side of the lot. There were no topo lines on the map for us to see. Dean Allison, Senior Engineer, stated that the motion had to define which side was being reserved and that the East side was the flat side. I would not take out the word "flat" so the motion read the trail was to be on the "flat East side". Needless to say, his information was incorrect. At this point, what matters is that we remedy the situation and construct a usable trail. I respectfully request that you make every effort to make this happen. The public has been denied use of this valuable trail connection for 8 years. The member's of the Recreation and Parks Committee went through the democratic process to ensure the public a usable trail. I hope the City of Rancho Palos Verdes will honor our effort. Jean Longacre 6 Martingale Drive Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 301-544-0105 Y. From: Carolynn Petru Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 1:33 PM To: SunshineRPV@aol.com Cc: john@jmc-2.com; Michael Throne; CC Subject: RE: July 15, 2014 RPV City Council Item 4, Sunnyside Trail and Maintaining Hi Sunshine — Thanks for your email. Staff will make sure that it's included as part of late correspondence. I did want to clarify one minor point for the record though. The City never owned the Sunnyside Ridge lot, only the public street easement over it. Unlike the Rockinghorse lot at the south end of the old Narbonne right-of-way, the underlying property on Sunnyside Ridge was privately owned. Therefore, the City did not receive any money from a sale of the property when the public street easement was vacated and replaced with the public trail easement. Best regards, Carolynn From: SunshineRPV@aol.com [mailto:SunshineRPV@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 12:08 PM To: CC; Carolynn Petru; Michael Throne Cc: john@jmc-2.com Subject: July 15, 2014 RPV City Council Item 4, Sunnyside Trail and Maintaining July 12, 2014 MEMO: from SUNSHINE TO: RPV City Council, Staff and interested parties RE: July 15, 2014 RPV City Council Item 4, Sunnyside Trail and Maintaining updated Plan documents Here is another perfect example of what happens when Staff does not update the City's Plans every time the City Council makes a decision which impacts one or more of them. Unfortunately, the description of this project is correct. LA County Agreement page 1 of 11. Development of new trail including, but not limited to, retaining wall, turnaround areas, bridge, and related minor improvements. When the RPV General Plan was adopted, this trail was what is now referred to as a "social trail". Using the latest criteria, it was a TYPE 6. In fact, it was an Eagle Scout Project which improved the trail on the northern side of Greenwood Canyon. Development of a new trail became necessary when the City chose to vacate a portion of the County's Narbonne Right of Way. OK, the City really needed the money which selling this open space produced. The City's Trails Network Plan should have been amended so that the City's Planners would be aware that the application to build a house on the vacated portion would trigger an opportunity to have the developer restore the trail connection in conjunction with his grading permit. That did not happen. Then, the Sunnyside Ridge Storm Drain Project came along. In this case, Staff was aware of the existing trail but was not aware that it was on a City held easement. None of the trail easements which the City has acquired q. since 1984 have been added to the inventory in the in the RPV Trails Network Plan. In this case, the adequate trail which the Eagle Scout built has been scraped away and compacted into a hard dirt steep slope. It is really a shame that we need other people's money to get back what we should not have lost along the way. There is no point in waiting until the RPV Trails Network Plan is updated in its entirety. The Palos Verdes Loop Trail "concept" dates back to 1957. It is a shame that our current Staff does not have the institutional knowledge to defend the rest of us from an outspoken new arrival. (The City provided slope stabilizing and privacy screen planting on the easement. When DeGiralamo bought 2443, he removed it.) The most important thing you as a Council can do about this Item 4 is to direct Staff to get a Soils Engineer's Report before any more time and effort is wasted. Without that, nobody can propose a valid neighborhood compatible scope of work. From: Carolynn Petru Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 1:23 PM To: Melody Colbert Cc: CMOneil@aol.com; momofyago@gmail.com; Lauren Ramezani; CC Subject: RE: Sunnyside Ridge Hi Melody — Thank you for re -sending the letter electronically. I sincerely apologize that we missed including the hard copy in the agenda packet on our end. I see that you copied the Council, which is great. Staff will make sure that Charlene's letter is also included in the late correspondence that is sent out by email on Monday afternoon and provided in hard copy to the Council at the meeting Tuesday night. Best regards, Carolynn Carolynn Petru Acting City Manager City of Rancho Palos Verdes (310) 544-5203 (direct) (310) 544-5291 (fax) carolynn(i,',rpv. corn unuw,pal)syerdes.com/rpy From: Melody Colbert [mailto:melcolbert@aol.com] Sent: Saturday, July 12, 2014 9:21 AM To: momofyago@gmail.com; Lauren Ramezani; CC Cc: CMOneil@aol.com Subject: Re: Sunnyside Ridge Hi - Attached please find the electronic version of the letter that was printed on PVPHA letterhead, signed by the president, and mailed to RPV on June 26. - Melody Colbert, Corresponding Secretary -----Original Message ----- From: sharon yarber <momofvago aC?.gmail.com> To: Lauren Ramezani <laurenr(a.rpv.com>; cc <cc@rpv.com> Cc: Charlene O'Neil <CMOneil aol.com>; Melody Colbert <melcolbert aol.com> Sent: Sat, Jul 12, 2014 8:01 am Subject: Sunnyside Ridge Lauren, I went through all of the correspondence appended to the staff report and the letter from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Horsemen's Association in support of the trail improvements was not included. It is my understanding that it was sent over a week ago. Have you received it? If so, when was it received? If not please let Charlene O'Neil and Mel Colbert (copied hereon) know so they can get another copy to you immediately and before Tuesday's meeting. U �{ I note that the "many" opponents appear to be about three people who live on SSRR and have feigned concerns about increased crime if this trail is used. The trail IS being used now by hikers and occasionally equestrians. I do appreciate staffs position of continuing to support completing these improvements and working with all interested parties to accomplish that in the least obtrusive manner. That said, it is worth reminding the Council that there is a maxim in the law that states in so many words: "One cannot move to the nuisance and then complain about it". Not that I am suggesting that the trail is a nuisance, because it most certainly is not - otherwise the Hill is loaded with nuisances. What I mean is that if someone moves next door to a trail, he accepts the impact that has on his use and enjoyment of his property. If you want extreme privacy do not move next door to a trail. I remain optimistic that Council will adopt staff recommendation and move forward with the project without further delay Sharon Yarber z 25 June 2014 Dear Mayor Duhovic and Members of the City Council, On July 15, 2014 you have the opportunity to correct a mistake made some 18 years ago when the City approved the vacation of the public's rights over the Narbonne Right of Way in exchange for an easement that is only viable by traversing a virtually unusable 10 foot strip of land within the easement. That error caused horse properties on the east side of the City to be cut off from access to the trails network that links all the cities on the Peninsula. Though a prior Council approved the seeking of grant funds to pay for the restoration of this critical trail, those efforts were, unfortunately, unsuccessful. Now that the recently approved grant monies are available it would be extremely regrettable for this Council to decide not to proceed with the Sol Vista Trail restoration project. Some residents in the Sunnyside Ridge Homes Association have expressed opposition to the project based on unsubstantiated claims that crime will increase and their privacy will be impaired. Before giving any credence to these claims please consider that (i) this remote area is not likely to see any greater increase in crime than any other place on the Peninsula, and (ii) when one moves to a property adjacent to a public trail, one assumes the consequences of any actual or perceived loss of privacy. If the Council was to entertain the notion that public trails are a hotbed of crime and should therefore be closed, then logic dictates that all trails, streets as well as the Preserve likewise need to be closed to public use. We are blessed to live in this idyllic semi -rural community with a long and storied equestrian history. In fact, our general plan acknowledges that there are two primary equestrian areas in the City — the East side (Colt Road/PV Drive East area) and the West side (Portuguese Bend area). Our general plan calls for the protection and preservation of public rights of way, especially given the fact that historically many of the trails on the Peninsula traversed private properties where rights to cross could be cut off at any time, and indeed many have since been so cut off. This Sol Vista Trail is part of the Trails Network Plan and the Conceptual Trails Network, and is a vital link for residents on the east side to safely access PV Drive East and hence PV Drive North and the rest of the equestrian trails on the Peninsula. When this matter comes before you, please decide to do the right thing and vote to move forward with the Sol Vista Trail improvement plan with all due speed (as this is 18 years past due) and proceed to its conclusion without further delay. Respectfully submitted, Charlene O'Neil President :90