CC MINS 20230207 MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL AND IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 7, 2023
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular Meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council and the Improvement
Authority was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank at 6:05 P.M. at Fred Hesse
Community Park, McTaggart Hall, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. This meeting took
place remotely in accordance with Government Code section 54953(e) et seq. (AB 361)
and Resolution 2021-59, adopted by the City Council on November 16, 2021. Members
of the public could observe and participate using the zoom participation feature, and
with options called out in the public participation form provided under a separate cover
with the agenda. Notice having been given with affidavit thereto on file.
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Alegria, Seo, and Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank
ABSENT: Bradley* (excused, will participate via Zoom in Fireside Room), and Mayor
Ferraro** (excused, in Fireside Room)
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Karina Beales, Deputy City Manager;
Trang Nguyen, Finance Director; William Wynder, City Attorney; and Teresa Takaoka,
City Clerk.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
None.
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
City Attorney Wynder announced the item to be discussed in Closed Session.
1. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54957 to conduct
an employee performance evaluation for the position of City Manager.
2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54957 to conduct
an employee performance evaluation for the position of City Attorney.
At 6:05 P.M., the Council recessed to Closed Session.
**At 6:05 P.M. Mayor Ferraro joined Closed Session in the Fireside Room.
*At 6:12 P.M. Councilmember Bradley joined Closed Session virtually via Zoom in the
Fireside Room.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:36 P.M. the Closed Session was reconvened to the Regular meeting.
REGULAR MEETING — OPEN SESSION
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council and of the Improvement
Authority was called to order by Mayor Ferraro at 7:36 P.M. at Fred Hesse Community
Park, McTaggart Hall, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, notice having been given with
affidavit thereto on file.
ROLL CALL:
City Council roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: Alegria, Bradley* (via Zoom), Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Karina Bahales, Deputy City Manager;
William Wynder, City Attorney; Trang Nguyen, Director of Finance; Cory Linder, Director
of Recreation and Parks; Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director; Octavio Silva, Interim
Director of Community Development; McKenzie Bright, Administrative Analyst; Robert
Nemeth, Associate Planner; and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
Also present was Sergeant Tina McCoy from the Lomita Sheriff Station.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Attorney Wynder.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder reported that the City Council met in Closed Session. The City
Council conducted the annual performance evaluations for the positions of City
Manager and City Attorney. The City Council delivered the performance evaluations for
both positions, and there will be appropriate adjustments at a future date.
I
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2023
Page 2 of 8
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Ferraro shared that longtime residents Charlie Chinjun Kim and Arthur Lawrence
(Larry) Andrews have passed away. She would like to adjourn the meeting in their
honor.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Ferraro announced the Recycle Winners for the January 17, 2023 City Council
meeting: Helen Ciriello and Patrick Castro. She indicated that all winners receive a
check for $250 and urged everyone to participate in the City's. Recycling Program. She
noted that in addition to winning the Recycler Drawing, the two individuals also won a
Personal Emergency Preparedness Kit from the City valued at $40.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve the
agenda as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Victor Ibarra and Carol
Mueller.
City Manager Mihranian notified speaker Victor Ibarra that his comments should instead
be heard during Regular Business Item 1.
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following: Public Works response to
sinkhole on Hawthorne Blvd. and Seamount Drive; Hatano Farm received historic
designation by the State of California; Portuguese Bend landslide remediation project
draft EIR available beginning February 9; Escrow closed on UCLA purchase of
Marymount California University; Volunteers are needed to participate in the Lomita
Sheriffs Station Volunteers on Patrol program; 50th Anniversary Art Contest
submissions are due February 28; February is Black History Month; City Hall will be
closed to the public for Presidents' Day on February 20; and February 14 is Valentine's
Day.
I
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2023
Page 3 of 8
CONSENT CALENDAR:
City Clerk Takaoka reported that no late correspondence was received and there were
no requests to speak.
Mayor Pro Tern Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Alegria, to approve
the Consent Calendar as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
A. Approval of Minutes (Momoli)
Approved the Minutes of January 17, 2023, Regular Meeting.
B. Registers of Demands (Mata)
1) Adopted Resolution No. 2023-05, 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; and, 2) Adopted Resolution No. IA 2023-01, 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.
C. Consideration and possible action regarding a claim against the City by Salim
Hosseinzadeh. (Momoli)
Rejected the claim and directed Staff to notify the claimant, Salim Hosseinzadeh.
D. Consideration and possible action to award a professional services agreement
to Sky Elements, LLC to perform a drone light show as part of the City's 2023
Fourth of July Celebration. (Trautner)
1) Awarded a professional services agreement to Sky Elements, LLC., in an amount
not to exceed $45,000, to design and perform a drone light show at the Ken Dyda
Civic Center on July 4, 2023; and, 2) Authorized the Mayor to execute the
professional services agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
E. Consideration and possible action to receive and file the November 2022 and
December 2022 Cash Balances/Monthly Treasurers' Reports. (Lin)
Received and filed the November 2022 and December 2022 Cash Balances/Monthly
Treasurers' Reports for the City and the Improvement Authority.
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2023
Page 4 of 8
F. Consideration and possible action to authorize Amendment No. 1 to the
professional services agreement with Transtech Engineers, Inc. for building
and safety permit services. (Garrett)
1) Approved Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with
Transtech Engineers, Inc. to increase the sum by $800,000 thereby increasing the
not-to-exceed total agreement amount from $640,000 to $1,440,000 resulting in an
annual not to exceed contract agreement of$360,000 for Building and Safety permit
services; 2) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the amendment in a
form approved by the City Attorney; and, 3) Approved an additional appropriation of
$200,000 to the Professional and Technical Services account for the Building &
Safety Division within the Community Development Department's budget.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
1. Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to
state officials asking they investigate the statewide spike of natural gas prices.
(Bright)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed, and there was
one request to speak.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council: Victor Ibarra.
Council Members asked questions of the speaker Victor Ibarra.
Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Mayor Ferraro, to approve staff
recommendation as amended: Authorized the Mayor to sign a letter to state officials
asking they investigate the statewide spike of natural gas prices and requesting
measures to harden and increase the resiliency of public utility infrastructure and
encourage SoCalGas to proactively provide information to consumers regarding how
to participate in valuable programs that can especially help our senior residents.
Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank proposed a friendly amendment to add language to
encourage the provider to mitigate this issue to not occur in the future (i.e., to not
have gas shortages during this crucial time) or to minimize this happening in the
future and to speak to State representatives.
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2023
Page 5 of 8
The friendly amendment was accepted by the maker of the motion and the
seconder.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
2. Consideration and possible action to receive a status report on the City's
participation in the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Community Noise
Roundtable and the new FAA proposed departure procedures. (Nemeth)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed, and there were
no requests to speak.
Interim Director of Community Development Silva introduced Associate Planner
Robert Nemeth, who presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued among Council Members, and questions were asked of Staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve
staff recommendation as follows: 1) Received and filed a status report on the City's
participation in the LAX Community Noise Roundtable; 2) Authorized the Mayor to
sign a letter to FAA Western-Pacific Acting Regional Administrator Erik Amend
opposing the FAA's proposal to implement two new departure procedures and
mirroring the Los Angeles World Airports' (LAWA) recommended responses; 3)
Directed Staff to transmit a copy of the above-referenced letter to the mayors and
city managers of El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach,
Torrance, Lomita, Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates and Rolling Hills; 4)
Requested the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) Board of
Directors place an agenda item on its next available meeting to oppose the FAA's
proposal to implement two new departure procedures and to mirror LAWA's three
recommendations; and 5) To add a thank you letter to LAWA for action taken on
behalf of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
3. Consideration and possible action to issue a Homelessness Prevention Plan
Community Survey. (Bright)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that there were no requests to speak.
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2023
Page 6 of 8
Administrative Analyst McKenzie Bright presented a staff report and PowerPoint
Presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Mayor Ferraro, to approve the
following: Authorized Staff to issue the proposed Homelessness Prevention Plan
Community Survey to solicit public input on homelessness response in the City and
to include the following question in the survey—worded as staff wishes — "Are you
aware (as a resident) of any existing County resources?".
Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank proposed a friendly amendment to clean up the
language in the survey removing items of little relevance (i.e., vendor experience,
word LATINX etc.).
The friendly amendment was accepted by the maker of the motion and the
seconder.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
4. Consideration and possible action to pursue Blue City Network certification to
Healthy Waterways and Oceans. (Bañales)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed, and there were
three requests to speak.
Deputy City Manager Banales presented a staff report and PowerPoint Presentation.
Deputy City Manager Banales introduced Chief Operating Officer Evelina Marchetti
of Project-O, who shared some additional information.
Council Members asked questions of Project-O Chief Operating Officer Evelina
Marchetti.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Ken Dyda and
Craig Cadwallader.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and questions were asked of Staff and
Project-O Chief Operating Officer Evelina Marchetti.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Alegria, to approve
staff recommendation as follows: Directed Staff to pursue the Blue City Network
certification to Healthy Waterways and Oceans.
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2023
Page 7 of 8
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, and Seo
NOES: Cruikshank and Mayor Ferraro
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
None.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Council Member present reported on his/her attendance at various organization
and association meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:22 P.M., Mayor Ferraro adjourned to 6:00 P.M. on February 21, 2023, for a Closed
Session meeting followed by a 7:00 P.M. Regular meeting.
Mayor Ferraro adjourned the meeting in honor and memory of Charlie Chinjun Kim,
Arthur Lawrence (Larry) Andrews, and the Monterey Park shooting victims.
a
Barbara rraro, Mayor
Attest:
•
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
City Council Minutes
February 7, 2023
Page 8 of 8