CC DM 20230502 A - 20230418 CC MINS DRAFTDRAFT
MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 18, 2023
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular Meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council was called to order by
Mayor Ferraro at 6:18 P.M. at Fred Hesse Community Park, McTaggart Hall, 29301
Hawthorne Boulevard. This meeting took place remotely in accordance with the
requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act, Section 54950 et seq. of the Government
Code. Remote participation by any Councilmember shall be in accordance with
Subdivisions (b)(3) or (f) of Government Code Section 54953. 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* (via Zoom), Seo, and Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank
ABSENT: Ferraro* (excused in Fireside Room)
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager;
Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director; Octavio Silva, Interim Director of Community
Development; Elena Gerli, Assistant City Attorney; and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
None.
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
Assistant City Attorney Gerli announced the item to be discussed in Closed Session.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6, with the City
Manager, Deputy City Manager, and City Attorney, acting as its negotiators,
regarding labor negotiations with the Rancho Palos Verdes Employees’ Association.
*This item was continued to a date uncertain
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1), to
confer with legal counsel regarding pending litigation to which the City is a
party. The title of such litigation is as follows: LIMETREE ESTATES LLC, vs. CITY
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 2 of 10
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES; United States District Court, Central District of
California, Case No. 2:23-cv-01420-SVW (PVCx).
3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1), to
confer with legal counsel regarding pending litigation to which the City is a
party. The title of such litigation is as follows: CONJUNCTION JUNCTION, LLC vs.
ASHLEY E ELLISON, AS TRUSTEE OF THE PORTER TRUST, Los Angeles
County Superior Court Case No. 21STCV34889.
4. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1), to
confer with legal counsel regarding pending litigation to which the City is a
party. The title of such litigation is as follows: CONJUNCTION JUNCTION, LLC vs.
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES & UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE;
United States District Court, Central District of California Case No. 2:22-cv-07688
JAK (JPRx)
At 6:20 P.M., the Council recessed to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:10 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 was called to order by
Mayor Ferraro at 7:10 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), Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager;
Elena Gerli, Assistant City Attorney; Trang Nguyen, Director of Finance; Ramzi Awwad,
Public Works Director; Octavio Silva, Interim Director of Community Development; Cory
Linder, Director of Recreation and Parks; Daniel Trautner, Deputy Director of
Recreation and Parks; Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst; Amy Seeraty, Senior
Planner; and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 3 of 10
Also present, via Zoom, was Sergeant Tina McCoy from the Lomita Sheriff’s Station.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
Assistant City Attorney Gerli reported that there were four items on the Closed Session.
Item number one was continued to a date uncertain. Items 2, 3, and 4 conference with
legal counsel existing litigation pursuant to section Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1)
were all discussed, and no reportable action taken.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Ferraro and the City Council presented a certificate of Congratulations to Janna
Lee. Janna received the 2023 Edison Scholar Award for her environmental research on
the destruction of soil composition that creates famine. The City of Rancho Palos
Verdes commends and congratulated Janna on this accomplishment.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Ferraro announced the Recycle Winners for the April 4, 2023, City Council
meeting: Andrew Noch and Ace Kim. 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 were five requests to speak.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Rick Fox, Dana
Torrey, Quentin Thelen, Angela Lightner, and Cole Stoker.
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 4 of 10
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following: Another successful Whale
of a Day event; the City of Rancho Palos Verdes welcomes interns; Upcoming Virtual
Palos Verdes Nature Preserve Public Forum on April 19 at 6 P.M.; Upcoming Western
Avenue Beautification Open House on April 19 from 6:00 -8:00 P.M.; Wishing everyone
a Happy Earth Day; Free Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste Drive-Through
Collection Event on Saturday, April 29 from 9:00 A.M.- 3:00 P.M.; Pedro Pet Pals Pet
Adoption Event on April 30 from 12:00- 3:00 P.M.; and Happy Birthday wishes to
Councilmember Alegria.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank, to approve
the Consent Calendar as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
This included, by a four/fifths vote, the need to continue the emergency repair work as
called out in Consent Calendar Item C - Consideration and possible action to reaffirm
continuing emergency repair work for the storm sewer drainpipe and roadway at
Hawthorne Boulevard near Seamount Drive/Eddinghill Drive.
A. Approval of Minutes (Zweizig)
Approved the Minutes of April 4 and April 6, 2023 Regular and Adjourned Regular
(Budget Workshop) Meetings.
B. Registers of Demands (Mata)
1) Adopted Resolution No. 2023-13, 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 reaffirm continuing emergency repair
work for the storm sewer drainpipe and roadway at Hawthorne Boulevard near
Seamount Drive/Eddinghill Drive. (Dragoo)
1) Reaffirmed, by a four-fifths vote, there is a need to continue the emergency repair
work identified by Council-adopted Resolution No. 2023-07 on February 21, 2023,
finding an emergency exists requiring immediate repairs to the storm sewer
drainpipe and roadway at Hawthorne Boulevard near Seamount Drive/Eddinghill
Drive; and 2) Directed the City Clerk to affirm the same in the minutes of this City
Council meeting, via Minute Order, reflecting this action.
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 5 of 10
D. Consideration and possible action regarding a claim against the City by
Jeffrey Lewis (Sisson)
Rejected the claim and directed Staff to notify the claimant, Jeffrey Lewis.
E. Consideration and possible action to receive and appropriate $1.5 million in
state funding for Peninsula-wide wildfire detection cameras in Fiscal Year 2022-
23. (Villalpando)
Approved the appropriation of a $1.5 million state funding allocation for the
implementation of the Peninsula-wide network of wildfire detection cameras in FY
2022-23.
F. Consideration and possible action to award a professional services agreement
for Public Works Senior and Associate Civil Engineer recruitments. (Bañales)
1) Awarded a professional services agreement (PSA) to Gallagher Benefit Services,
Inc., a recruiting firm, to conduct two Public Works Civil Engineer recruitments to fill
four vacancies consisting of two Senior Engineers and two Associate Engineer
positions, in an amount not to exceed $40,000; and 2) Authorized the Mayor and
City Clerk to execute the PSA in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
G. Consideration and possible action to award a professional services agreement
for the preparation of the Annual Engineer’s Report for the Citywide
Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District. (Hevener)
1) Awarded a professional services agreement to Harris & Associates for the
preparation of the Annual Engineer’s Report and associated administrative services
for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District, in the
amount of $10,100 with a contingency of $1,515; and 2) Authorized the Mayor to
execute the 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 continue the public hearing regarding a
revision to a previously approved Coastal Permit for a Neighborhood Permit
Parking Program in the Community of Abalone Cove1 (Case No. PLCP2022-
0001). (Silva)
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 6 of 10
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 no request to speak.
Interim Director of Community Development Silva provided a brief staff report.
Mayor Ferraro declared the public hearing open.
Mayor Ferraro declared the public hearing closed.
Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve Staff
recommendation as follows: 1) Continued the public hearing to a date uncertain to
allow the Community of Abalone Cove Homeowners Association (HOA) an
opportunity to submit a property owner petition demonstrating support for the revised
parking program along Seacove Drive and Packet Road; and 2) Directed Staff to
issue a new public notice when a new public hearing date is identified.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
2. Consideration and possible action to conduct the 2022 annual review of
Trump National Golf Club’s compliance with its maintenance obligations
relating to trails and open space (Case No. PLMH2023-0001). (Seeraty)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that the notice of the public hearing was duly publi shed,
no written protests were received, late correspondence was distributed, and there
was one request to speak.
Councilmember Alegria recused himself at 7:46 P.M.
Mayor Ferraro declared the public hearing open.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council: Chip Zelt.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Mayor Ferraro declared the public hearing closed.
Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve
Staff recommendation as follows: Received and filed the 2022 annual review of
Trump National Golf Club’s compliance with its maintenance obligations relating to
trails and open space pursuant to the 2018 City Council-approved Amended and
Restated Declaration of Restrictions.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 7 of 10
AYES: Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
RECUSAL: Alegria
Councilmember Alegria returned to the dais at 7:50 P.M.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
3. Consideration and possible action to receive a status report and consider
operational options for the ParkMobile parking system on Crenshaw Boulevard,
south of Crest Road. (Waters/Trautner)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed, and there were
three requests to speak.
Director of Recreation and Parks Cory Linder introduced Deputy Director of Recreation
and Parks Daniel Trautner who presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Peter Varend, Rick
Daniels, and Bob Moore.
Discussion ensued among Council Members, Staff, and ParkMobile representative Kat
Franchuk.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Alegria, to approve Staff
recommendation as follows: 1) Received and filed a six-month status report on the
operation of the ParkMobile parking system including the ParkMobile Survey results; 2)
Directed Staff to go back to Parkmobile to come up with a suggestion or plan that will
increase utilization to 25% by using the current advance reservation system ; 3)
Approved Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with ParkMobile,
extending the term by one year to December 31, 2023 and increasing the contract sum
by $8,808 for a not-to-exceed total contract sum of $39,988, for an app-based parking
service in the Del Cerro area on Crenshaw Boulevard, south of Crest Road; and 4)
Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the amendment in a form approved by
the City Attorney.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, and Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank
NOES: Ferraro
4. Consideration and possible action to receive a status update on the potential
refurbishment and installation of the Marineland Bubbles statue. (Waters)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that there was one request to speak.
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 8 of 10
Director of Recreation and Parks Cory Linder introduced Senior Analyst Matt Waters
who presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council: Paul Funk.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Mayor Ferraro, to approve Staff
recommendation as follows: 1) Received and filed a status update on efforts to
potentially refurbish and install the Bubbles statue for display at the Point Vicente
Interpretive Center (PVIC); and 2) Directed Staff to review the previous design
submittals and to research a more cost-effective design to mount Bubbles, and as a last
resort, issue a new RFP; and keep the estimated design cost of $75,000 in place for the
CIP for Fiscal Year 2023-24 but to pursue donations through the RPV Foundation and if
it is not required/needed to reduce the budgeted amount.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
5. Consideration and possible action to adopt and implement the City’s
Homelessness Strategic Plan. (Bañales)
Deputy City Manager Karina Bañales presented a staff report and PowerPoint
presentation.
Deputy City Manager Karina Bañales introduced Focus Strategies representative
Vanessa Fenley, who is available for questions.
Discussion ensued among Council Members, Staff, and Vanessa Fenley.
Councilmember Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve Staff
recommendation as follows: 1) Received and filed a presentation on the Rancho Palos
Verdes Homelessness Strategic Plan; 2) Adopted the Rancho Palos Verdes
Homelessness Strategic Plan thereby authorizing Staff to begin implementing the
recommended action items; and 3) Directed Staff to return with a six-month status
update, commencing in July 2023, on the implementation of the Rancho Palos Verdes
Homelessness Strategic Plan.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 9 of 10
6. Consideration and possible action to execute Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws,
and Conflict of Interest Policy for the City’s future nonprofit RPV Community
Foundation. (Wynder)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed, and there were no
requests to speak.
Mayor Ferraro moved to waive the staff report. Without objection, it this was so ordered.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Alegria, to approve
Staff recommendation as follows: Approved and executed the Articles of Incorporation,
By-Laws, and Conflict of Interest Policy for the City’s future nonprofit RPV Community
Foundation by taking the following actions (in a single motion): a) Approved the attached
RPV Community Foundation Articles of Incorporation and authorize the Mayor an d Mayor
Pro Tem to execute the same as incorporators; b) Approved the attached By-Laws of the
RPV Community Foundation; c) Adopted the attached Conflict of Interest Policy of the
RPV Community Foundation; d) Directed Staff and the City Attorney to file the Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws with the California Secretary of State (Form ARTS-PB-
501(c)(3)); e) Directed Staff and the City Attorney to file the Conflict of Interest Policy with
the California Fair Political Practices Commission; f) Directed Staff and the City Attorney
to apply to the Internal Revenue Service (Form IRS 1023) for recognition as a Federal
501(c)(3) tax-exempt foundation; g) Directed Staff and the City Attorney to apply to the
California Franchise Tax Board (California Exempt Organization Annual Information
Return Form 199 or 199N & 3500A) as a tax-exempt foundation; h) Directed Staff and the
City Attorney to register the RPV Community Foundation with the California Attorney
General (Form CT-1; Government Code §§ 12580 et seq.); and, i) Directed Staff to
prepare and submit to the California Secretary of State an Initial Report within 90 days of
incorporation (Form SI-100) of the RPV Community Foundation.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Seo, Cruikshank, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Councilmember Seo requested a proclamation for Asian American and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month at the next City Council meeting.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Council Member present reported on his/her attendance at various organization
and association meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
City Council Regular Minutes
April 18, 2023
Page 10 of 10
At 10:15 P.M., Mayor Ferraro adjourned to 6:00 P.M. on May 2, 2023, for a Closed
Session, followed by a Regular meeting at 7:00 P.M.
__________________________
Barbara Ferraro, Mayor
Attest:
__________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk