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CC DM 20230307 A - 20230221 DRAFT CC MINSDRAFT MINUTES RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 21, 2023 CALL TO ORDER: A Regular Meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council was called to order by Mayor Ferraro at 7:12 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, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro ABSENT: None Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager; William Wynder, City Attorney; Trang Nguyen, Director of Finance; Cory Linder, Director of Recreation and Parks; Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works; Octavio Silva, Interim Director of Community Development; Amy Seeraty, Senior Planner; Jesse Villalpando, Senior Administrative Analyst; Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst, and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk. Also present was Deputy Darlene Lopez from the Lomita Sheriff Station (via Zoom). PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Henry Jurgens. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Ferraro shared the passing of Joseph Rebeck, a longtime Rancho Palos Verdes resident. She stated she would like to adjourn the meeting in his memory. Mayor Ferraro and City Council presented a proclamation to Christopher Gastelum. The City Council recognized Christopher Gastelum for taking a lead role in raising funds for cancer research and increasing access to advanced treatment options. Chris’s multigenerational team is called “Together Against Cancer” because no one should have to face cancer alone. Chris accepted the proclamation. Mayor Ferraro and Councilmembers thanked Chris Gastelum for being an inspiration and example for the community. DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 2 of 9 RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING: Mayor Ferraro announced the Recycle Winners for the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting: Marianne Mansour and Patsy V. Gloor. 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: Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Alegria, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro NOES: None PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS: City Clerk Takaoka reported that there was one prerecorded voicemail. The following member of the public addressed the City Council via pre -recorded voicemail: Brandee Keith (South Coast AQMD Representative). CITY MANAGER REPORT: City Manager Mihranian provided a report on the following: submissions for the 50th Anniversary Art Contest are due on February 28; upcoming Whale of a Day bookmark contest for grades TK-5; Reminder to submit public comments for Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project Draft EIR by April 14; To date, reported 317 responses from Homelessness Plan Community Survey, final survey responses are due February 23; Mental health resources hub available on the City website; and upcoming notice of annual brush clearance requirements. CONSENT CALENDAR: Councilmember Bradley requested to pull item F for discussion after Regular Business. Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Alegria, to approve the Consent Calendar without item F. City Clerk Takaoka noted that the motion would include the adoption of Resolution No. 2023-07, presented as item letter J, by a 4/5th vote of the entire City Council. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 3 of 9 AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro NOES: None A. Approval of Minutes (Zweizig) Approved the Minutes of February 7, 2023, Regular Meeting. B. Registers of Demands (Mata) 1) Adopted Resolution No. 2023-06, 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 to accept Gifts for Parks donations. (Hirsch) Accepted Gifts for Parks donations and directed Staff to prepare donor letters of appreciation for the Mayor’s signature. D. Consideration and possible action to amend an existing professional service agreement with Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG) for state lobbying services. (Bright) 1) Approved Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with RPPG to increase the contract sum by $56,000, thereby increasing the not -to-exceed total agreement amount from $56,000 to $112,000 and extending the term by one year for state lobbying services; and, 2) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the amendment in a form approved by the City Attorney. E. Consideration and possible action to approve Amendment No. 3 to the employment agreement with Mr. Ara M. Mihranian, AICP, as City Manager. (Bañales) 1) Approved Amendment No. 3 to City Manager Employment Agreement, thereby extending the terms for an additional three years with a term date of February 18, 2026, and increasing the annual salary compensation of the City Manager by 3% to an annual salary of $232,800 and authorize the Mayor to execute the same on behalf of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, the Successor Agency to the Dissolved Rancho Palos Verdes Redevelopment Agency and the Rancho Palos Verdes Improvement Authority effective February 19, 2022, the firs t pay period after the amendment is approved; 2) Approved an employee retention payment, not otherwise subject to CalPERS, to the City Manager of approximately 4.5% of his salary in the amount of $10,500 to be paid directly to the City Manager; and, 3) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the amendment in a form approved by the City Attorney. DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 4 of 9 F. Consideration and possible action to authorize Amendment No. 1 to a professional services agreement with McGee Surveying Consulting to perform landslide movement surveys. (Dragoo) This item was removed for separate consideration. G. Consideration and possible action to authorize a professional services agreement with Dudek, Inc. for the preparation of compliance measures related to the City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element Update. (Silva) 1) Approved a professional services agreement with Dudek, Inc. for a term of three years and at a total contract sum of $366,000, that is not to exceed $122,000 annually, for the preparation of compliance measures related to the City’s 2021 -2029 Housing Element Update; and, 2) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the professional services agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney. H. Consideration and possible action to approve Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Public Works Services with Hardy & Harper for roadway repairs within the landslide. (Dragoo) 1) Approved Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Public Works Services with Hardy & Harper, Inc, to increase the contract sum by $250,000 during Fiscal Year 2022-23, thereby increasing the not-to-exceed total Agreement amount from $3,300,500 to $3,550,500, to provide maintenance repairs on roads within landslide areas of the City; 2) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Public Works Services Agreement, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and, 3) Approved an additional appropriation of $143,000 in Fund 215, Proposition C Landslide Area Resurfacing Program. I. Consideration and possible action to approve Amendment No. 2 to the Contract Services Agreement for City Attorney Legal Services with Aleshire & Wynder, LLP. (Bañales) 1) Approved Amendment No. 2 to the Contract Services Agreement for City Attorney Legal Services with Aleshire & Wynder, LLP increasing all rates for all legal services by the annual CPI-U or three (3) percent, whichever is less effective July 1, 2023; and, 2) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the amendment in a form approved by the City Attorney. J. Consideration and possible action to declare an emergency for the sinkhole and associated repair on Hawthorne Boulevard near Seamount Drive/Eddinghill Drive. (Dragoo) 1) Adopted Resolution No. 2023-07 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING AND DECLARING, BY A FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, THAT AN EMERGENCY DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 5 of 9 EXISTS WHICH WILL NOT PERMIT THE COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION OF BIDS TO REPAIR A SINKHOLE LOCATED AT HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD NEAR SEAMOUNT DRIVE/EDDINGHILL DRIVE, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO REPAIR AND REMEDIATE THE SAME”; 2) Approved an appropriation of $480,000; 3) Based on the competitive solicitation of on-call bids performed by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, authorized the City Manager and Director of Public Works to finalize negotiations for the emergency repairs not-to-exceed $350,000, with a 20% contingency of $70,000 that can be authorized by the City Manager to execute change orders for unforeseen work during the performance of the emergency repairs; 4) Authorized a Professional Services Agreement in the not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 with Sunbeam Consulting, Inc., with a contingency of $10,000, for related sinkhole repair construction management and inspection services; and, 5) Authorized the emergency repairs to commence upon final negotiations to the scope of work and authorize the Mayor to execute the Sunbeam agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: None. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 1. Consideration and possible action to conduct the 2022 Annual Review of Green Hills Memorial Park’s compliance with the Conditions of Approval of Conditional Use Permit No. 155 and to approve revisions to CUP No. 155 on property located at 27501 S. Western Avenue (Planning Case No. PLCU2022- 0009). (Seeraty) City Clerk Takaoka reported that the notice of the public hearing was duly published, no written protests were received, late correspondence was distributed, and there was one request to speak. Mayor Ferraro declared the public hearing open. Interim Director of Community Development Octavio Silva introduced Senior Planner Amy Seeraty who presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation. Council Members asked questions of Staff. Discussion ensued among Council Members. The following member of the public addressed the City Council: Barbara Sattler. The following applicant addressed the City Council: Nick Resich. DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 6 of 9 Mayor Ferraro declared the public hearing closed. Discussion and questions ensued among Council Members and Staff. Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Bradley, to approve Staff recommendation as amended: 1) Received and filed a report finding that Green Hills Memorial Park is in compliance with its Conditional Use Permit; 2) Adopted Resolution No. 2023-08, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING REVISION “F” TO THE APPROVED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 155 THEREBY AMENDING CONDITION NO. 7 AND APPROVING A MAJOR GRADING PERMIT TO ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 2,800 FT2 CREMATORIUM BUILDING WITH 193.4 YD3 OF ASSOCIATED GRADING TO REPLACE THE CEMETERY’S EXISTING CREMATION FACILITY; AND AMENDING CONDITION NO. 12.C, TO REDUCE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EXISTING PARKING SPACES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING PARKING LOT FROM 95 TO 93 and; 3) Directed Staff to reach out to AQMD and request further analysis on inspections and how they relate to the crematorium and if there are concerning effects regarding emissions to bring it back to Council for its review and consideration. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro NOES: None REGULAR BUSINESS: 2. Consideration and possible action to receive an update on a proposed Palos Verdes Historical Society museum. (Waters) City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed, and there were seven requests to speak. Director of Recreation and Parks Cory Linder introduced Senior Administrative Analyst Matt Waters who presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation. The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Ken Dyda, Dana Graham, Henry Jurgens, Bob Cash, Dwight Abbott, and Barbara Sattler. The following member of the public addressed the City Council via pre -recorded voicemail: Eileen Paterson. Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff. DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 7 of 9 Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve Staff recommendation as follows: 1) Received and filed a status update report on a proposed Palos Verdes Historical Society (PVHS) museum based on City Council direction at its November 15, 2022 meeting. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro NOES: None 3. Consideration and possible action to receive a report on resources available for wildfire residential property insurance coverage for Rancho Palos Verdes residents. (Villalpando) City Clerk Takaoka noted that no late correspondence was received, and there was one request to speak. Senior Administrative Analyst Jesse Villalpando presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation. Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff. The following member of the public addressed the City Council: Larry Maizlish. Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank, to approve Staff recommendation as follows: 1) Received and filed a report on resources available for wildfire residential property insurance coverage for Rancho Palos Verdes residents; 2) Directed Staff to pursue the City’s participation in the National Fire Protection Association’s “Firewise USA” program and the Fire Risk Reduction Community designation developed by the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection; and 3) Coordinate with the City's Emergency Preparedness Committee in the drafting and mailing of a residential fire insurance information and resources letter to all households, including a survey of residents regarding the affordability and availability of homeowner insurance for future City Council consideration. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro NOES: None 4. Consideration and possible action to receive an update on maintenance and repair issues at U.S. Coast Guard properties in Rancho Palos Verdes. (Waters) City Clerk Takaoka noted that no late correspondence was received, and there were no requests to speak. DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 8 of 9 Senior Administrative Analyst Matt Waters presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation. Discussion and questions ensued among Council Members and Staff. Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve Staff recommendation as follows: 1) Received and filed a report on maintenance and repair issues at the two U.S. Coast Guard properties in Rancho Palos Verdes; and, 2) Directed Staff to send a strongly worded letter, under the Mayor’s signature, expressing continued interest in acquiring both of the U.S. Coast Guard Properties that are currently under divestiture consideration inclusive of the Battery Barnes property notations and the Coast Guard Museum; with emphasis on how integral this property is to the City. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro NOES: None CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER: F. Consideration and possible action to authorize Amendment No. 1 to a professional services agreement with McGee Surveying Consulting to perform landslide movement surveys. (Dragoo) City Clerk Takaoka noted that there were no requests to speak and that this item was pulled earlier this evening by Councilmember Bradley. Discussion and questions ensued among Council Members and Staff. Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank, to approve staff recommendation as amended: 1) Authorized Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Michael R. McGee, PLS, dba McGee Surveying Consulting, increasing the contract sum by $19,020 for a total not-to- exceed amount of $44,019 for landslide movement surveys and associated reports, with a 15% contingency of $2,850; 2) Authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney; and, 3) Directed Staff to move forward with the use of more modern 3D technology for monitoring as expeditiously as possible. The motion passed on the following roll call vote: AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro NOES: None DRAFT City Council Regular Minutes February 21, 2023 Page 9 of 9 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 10:12 P.M., Mayor Ferraro adjourned to 6:00 P.M. on March 7, 2023, for Interviews, followed by a Regular meeting at 7:00 P.M. Mayor Ferraro adjourned the meeting in honor and memory of Joseph Rebeck. ___________________________ Mayor Attest: ___________________________ City Clerk