CC DM 20200804 B - 20200707 CC MINS DRAFTDRAFT
MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
JULY 7, 2020
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council for the purpose of a Closed
Session was called to order by Mayor Cruikshank at 6:05 P.M. at McTaggart Hall in
Fred Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, and via
teleconference/virtual meeting using the Zoom platform notice having been given with
affidavit thereto on file.
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; William W. Wynder, City Attorney, and
Teresa Takaoka, Deputy City Clerk.
PUBLIC COMMENTS :
None.
CLOSED SESSION ITEMS ANNOUNCED:
City Attorney Wynder announced the items to be discussed in Closed Session , noting
that item 2 would not be considered but would be placed on a future agenda .
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
GC 54956.9 (D)(2) OR (D)(3) & (E)(2)
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code §54956.9 (d)(2) or
(d)(3) & (e)(2) because there is a significant exposure to litigation in two (2)
case. There exists a dispute between certain property owners over whether the
City has the legal authority to issue an encroachment permit to partially
underground certain public utilities within a City right-of-way located at 3867
Crest Road.
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
GC 54956.9 (d)(2) or (d)(3) & (e)(5)
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code §54956.9 (d)(2) or
(d)(3) & (e)(5) because there is a significant exposure to litigation in one (1) case.
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The claim of Jerry and Lucky Simmons is available from the Public Works
Department for inspection and copying and will be included in the agenda
materials for the City Council meeting.
3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
GC SECTION 54956.9 (d)(1)
Name of case: York Point View Properties, LLC v. v. City of Rancho Palos
Verdes, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BS174116
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION (VIA CONFERENCE BRIDGE):
At 6:08 P.M., the Council recessed to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:11 P.M. the Study Session was adjourned to the Regular meeting.
REGULAR MEETING – OPEN SESSION
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council was called to order by
Mayor Cruikshank at 7:12 P.M. Hesse Park, McTaggart Hall, 29301 Hawthorne
Boulevard and via teleconference using the Zoom platform notice having been given
with affidavit thereto on file.
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager;
William W. Wynder, City Attorney; Trang Nguyen, Director of Finance; Octavio Silva,
Interim Director of Community Development; Elias Sassoon, Director of Public Works;
Cory Linder, Director of Recreation and Parks; Lukasz Buchwald, Information
Technology Manager; and Teresa Takaoka, Deputy City Clerk.
Also present was Captain James Powers, Lomita Station, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Bradley.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
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City Attorney Wynder reported that with regards to the three Closed Session items, it
met with legal counsel to consider two cases and one will continue in a future Council
meeting.
With respect to the facts and circumstances which could give rise to an exposure
litigation in two cases tonight the City Attorney’s office with the assistance of staff
provided a privileged and confidential factual report and legal analysis of the issues.
Questions were asked and answered. No reportable action, no action of any kind were
taken on this item it is purely a briefing of the issues.
With respect to matter of pending litigation to which the City is the party, York Properties
litigation versus City of Rancho Palos Verdes the case location case number which was
printed on the closed session of the agenda; a privileged and confidential briefing on Mr.
York’s willingness to consider selling open space involving portions of the lower filiorum
property of approximately 70 acres and the plum tree property of approximately 28
acres. There was a proposal that was part of settlement discussions that the cost of that
appraisal be split three ways (between the City, Mr. York, and the Conservancy). The
council approved the three way split of those costs with Councilmember Dyda and
Councilmember Ferraro voting nay.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
None.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Cruikshank announced the Recycle Winners for the June 16, 2020, City Council
meeting: Mike Revilla and Pedro Rodriquez,Jr. He indicated that all winners receive a
check for $250 and urged everyone to participate in the City’s Recycling Program. He
noted that in addition to winning the Recycler Drawing, the two individuals also won a
Personal Emergency Preparedness Kit from the City valued at $60.00.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilmember Dyda moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Alegria, to approve the
agenda as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
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Deputy City Clerk Takaoka noted that no late correspondence was received for this item
and there were four requests to speak in person.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Giovanni Funiciello,
Christina Funiciello, Micky Rodich, and Maureen Ford.
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian announced the following: the Fourth of July celebration
consisting of various PSAs; rebroadcasts of previous years’ celebrations, flag salutes
around the City and a virtual pie eating contest; SCE Rebate update on LED lighting
conversion; COVID Updates; Welcome to Ken Rukavina, Director of Community
Development.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Deputy City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed prior to
the meeting regarding Item F; and there were requests to speak regarding items E and
F.
Mayor Pro Tem Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Dyda, to approve the
Consent Calendar with items E and F to be heard immediately after the Consent
Calendar.
**Note- later in the evening Councilmembers Ferraro and Bradley amended this vote to
reflect their abstention on the vote for both sets of minutes of October 2019.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
**ABSTAIN: MINUTES ONLY Bradley and Ferraro
A. Motion to Waive Full Reading
Adopted a motion to waive reading in full of all ordinances presented at this meeting
with consent of the waiver of reading deemed to be given by all Council Members
after the reading of the title.
B. Approval of Minutes (Colborn)
Approved the Minutes of the October 1, 2019, Special Meeting, October 1, 2019
Regular Meeting, and June 16, 2020, Regular Meeting.
C. Registers of Demands (Amundson)
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Adopted Resolution No. 2020-38, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, ALLOWING CERTAIN CLAIMS AND
DEMANDS AND SPECIFYING FUNDS FROM WHICH THE SAME ARE TO BE
PAID.
D. Consideration and possible action to adopt an amended City of Rancho Palos
Verdes Conflict of Interest Code prepared by the Fair Political Practices
Commission (Takaoka)
(1) Received and filed the 2020 Local Agency Biennial Notice for the City of
Rancho Palos Verdes to amend the Conflict of Interest Code; and, (2) Adopted
Resolution No. 2020-39, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, ADOPTING AN AMENDED CONFLICT
OF INTEREST CODE PREPARED BY THE FAIR POLITICAL PRACTICES
COMMISSION CONTAINING REVISED DESIGNATED POSITIONS AND
DISCLOSURE CATEGORIES; AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2018-54.
E. Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to
state and county officials regarding school reopening plans. (Barnes)
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
F. Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter in
opposition to SB 902. (Barnes)
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
G. Consideration and possible action to amend the Professional Services
Agreement with Sunbeam Consulting for Automated License Plate
Recognition (ALPR) Phase 1 inspection services. (Eder)
Approved Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with
Sunbeam Consulting, thereby extending the term to July 31, 2020, for inspection
services associated with the Western Avenue Corridor Automated License Plate
Recognition (ALPR) Phase 1 Project.
H. Consideration and possible action to amend the Contractual Services
Agreement with United Storm Water, Inc. for construction of the Santa Monica
Bay Catch Basin Insert Project. (Eder)
Approved Amendment No. 1 to the Contractual Service Agreement with United
Storm Water, Inc. thereby extending the term to December 31, 2020, for
construction of the Santa Monica Bay Catch Basin Insert Project.
I. Consideration and possible action to purchase traffic signal poles and mast
arms for the proposed traffic signal at the intersection of Hawthorne
Boulevard and Via Rivera. (Eder)
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Approve the purchase of traffic signal poles, mast arms, and associated hardware,
including delivery, in the not-to-exceed amount of $62,172, for the proposed traffic
signal at the intersection of Hawthorne Boulevard and Via Rivera.
J. Consideration and possible action to award a construction contract and a
professional services agreement for inspection services for the Palos Verdes
Drive South at Palos Verdes Drive East Traffic Signal Installation Project.
(Eder)
(1) Awarded a construction contract to Crosstown Electrical and Data, Inc., in
the not-to-exceed amount of $205,478, for the installation of a traffic signal at the
intersection of Palos Verdes Drive South and Palos Verdes Drive East; (2)
Authorized the City Manager or Director of Finance to execute change orders up
to an additional 10% of the value of Crosstown Electrical and Data, Inc. contract
(not to exceed $20,548) as contingency funds for potential unforeseen
conditions; (3) Awarded a professional services agreement to Southern
California Electrical Firm, in the not-to-exceed amount of $19,200, for
construction inspection services; and, (4) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to
execute the contracts, in forms approved by the City Attorney.
K. Consideration and possible action to receive and file the May 2020 Cash
Balances/Monthly Treasurer’s Report. (Lin)
Received and filed the May 2020 Cash Balances/Monthly Treasurer’s Report.
L. Consideration and possible action to donate surplus information technology
equipment to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. (Buchwald)
Approved a donation of various surplus information technology equipment to the
Palos Verdes Unified School District.
M. Consideration and possible action to enter an agreement with Azteca Systems
for “CityWorks” licensing and maintenance. (Buchwald)
Authorized the City Manager to enter a License and Maintenance Agreement
with Azteca Systems for “CityWorks” Computerized Maintenance Management
System (CMMS) licensing and maintenance licensing and support.
N. Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign letters in
opposition to AB 2167 and SB 292. (Barnes)
Authorized the Mayor to sign letters in opposition to AB 2167 and SB 292 as it
relates to potential fire insurance premium increases in high-risk areas.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
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E. Consideration and possible to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to state and
county officials regarding school reopening plans. (Barnes)
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Dr. Alex Cherniss;
Suzanne Seymour and Megan Crawford.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Bradley to move staff
recommendation to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to state and county officials
in concurrence with concerns raised by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School
District regarding school reopening plans, as amended to include copies of the letter
to Dr. Cherniss and Suzanne Seymour.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
F. Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter in
opposition to SB 902. (Barnes)
The following member of the public addressed the City Council: Mickey Rodich.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro to move staff
recommendation to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter in opposition to SB 902.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Consideration and possible action to adjust the existing annual sewer service
charge for the Fiscal Year 2020-21 for the Abalone Cove Sewer System.
(Dragoo)
Deputy City Clerk Takaoka noted that the notice of the public hearing was duly
published, no written protests were received and there was no request to speak.
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Mayor Cruikshank declared the public hearing open.
City Engineer Dragoo presented a comprehensive staff report.
Mayor Cruikshank declared the public hearing closed.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Alegria to: (1)
Conduct a public hearing on the proposed levy of the annual Fiscal Year 2020 -21
sewer service charge for the Abalone Cove Sewer System ; and, (2) Adopt
Resolution No. 2020-40, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING A REPORT IN CONNECTION WITH
THE SEWER SERVICE CHARGE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER
13.06 OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE DETERMINING
THE AMOUNT OF SUCH CHARGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-21, AND ORDERING
THAT SUCH CHARGE BE COLLECTED ON THE TAX ROLL.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: Dyda
ABSENT: None
Mayor Cruikshank called for a brief recess at 8:32 P.M. The meeting reconvened at
8:43 P.M.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
2. Consideration and possible action to receive and file biannual reports from
various City advisory boards and committees. (Bañales)
Deputy City Manager Bañales noted that each committee work plan and biannual
report would be presented by the respective chairs of the committees.
Matt Waters introduced Chair Carolynn Petru for the Civic Center Advisory
Committee (CCAC); Jesse Villalpando introduced Chair Diana Feinberg for the
Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC); Trang Nguyen introdroduced Chair
Raquel Brown for the Finance Advisory Committee (EPC); Elias Sassoon introduced
Chair Don Swanson for the Infrastructure Management Advisory Committee; and
Chair Larry Liu for the Traffic Safety Committee.
Each Chair presented their respective committees work plans and biannual reports.
Mayor Pro Tem Alegria moved to extend the meeting to 10:16 P.M to 11:00 P.M.
Without objection, Mayor Cruikshank so ordered.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
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Mayor Pro Tem Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Bradley to receive and
file the FY 2020-21 Work Plans, as amended for the Finance Advisory Committee to
include a general line item for the work plan to capture general remediation; and to
receive and file the biannual reports.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
3. Consideration and possible action to receive a quarterly status report on
Fiscal Year 2020-21 City Council Goals. (Bañales)
Mayor Cruikshank moved to have item for a future council meeting. Without
objection, Mayor Cruikshank so ordered.
4. Consideration and possible action to approve the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department Service Level Authorization for Fiscal Year 2020-21 and adjust the
Public Safety Programs budget for FY 2020-21. (Lee)
Administrative Analyst Lee presented a brief PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Councilmember Dyda moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Alegria to: Authorize the
City Manager to sign the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Service Level
Authorization for Fiscal Year 2020-21 at an estimated total City annual cost of
$7,049,292.94; (2) Authorize the City Manager to reduce the Public Safety Special
Programs budget of $130,500 by $25,500 as follows: a. Traffic Control by $11,000;
b. Coastal Area Patrol by $5,500; c. Western Avenue Patrol by $6,000; and, d.
Summer Evening Patrol by $3,000; and, 3) Directed Staff to provide the City Council
with quarterly reports on costs associated with service levels and Public Safety
Special Programs.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Dyda, Ferraro, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
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Councilmember Dyda requested signs that identify the City and its projects/ future
projects so that residents may know what is happening and who will be doing the
projects.
Mayor Pro Tem Alegria requested the addition of a status report on the 3867 Crest
Road Encroachment Permit
Mayor Cruikshank requested the addition of Airshow Flyover Partne rship with Green
Hills in the distant future (May 2021).
Mayor Pro Tem Alegria moved to extend the meeting to 11:15 P.M. Without objection,
Mayor Cruikshank so ordered.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Council Member present reported on his/her attendance at various organization
and association meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:05 P.M., Mayor Cruikshank adjourned this meeting.
/s/ John Cruikshank
Mayor
Attest:
/s/ Emily Colborn
City Clerk