CC DM 20230919 A - DRAFT CC MINS_IA MeetingDRAFT
MINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL AND IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular Meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council and the Improvement
Authority for the purpose of a Closed Session was called to order by Mayor Ferraro at
6:01 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, Seo, Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank and Ferraro
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; William Wynder, City Attorney; Octavio
Silva, Interim Community Development Director and Karina Bañales, Deputy City
Manager.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
City Clerk Takaoka noted that there were no requests to speak.
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
City Attorney Wynder announced the items to be discussed in Closed Session.
1. PENDING LITIGATION – POTENTIAL LITIGATION AGAINST THE CITY
GC 54956.9(d)(2) and (e)(1)
A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the legislative body of the local
agency on the advice of its legal counsel, based on existing facts and
circumstances, there is a significant exposure to litigation against the local
agency in two (2) cases.
At 6:03 P.M., the Council recessed to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
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September 5, 2023
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At 7:03 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 7:03 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, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager;
William Wydner, City Attorney; Vina Ramos, Interim Director of Finance; Cory Linder,
Director of Recreation and Parks; Daniel Trautner, Deputy Director of Recreation Parks;
Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director; Octavio Silva, Interim Director of Community
Development; Shaunna Hunter, Administrative Analyst; Enyssa Sisson, Administrative
Analyst and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
Also present, was Lieutenant Michael White, Interim Captain from the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager Mihranian.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder reported that the City Council had two items on the Closed
Session agenda, both were facts and circumstances which could give rise to the
exposure litigation in two cases. In each case, there was a privileged and confidential
briefing of the City Council, and questions were asked and answered. City Council
unanimously approved litigation avoidance strategies in both such facts and
circumstances.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Remarks by invited electeds/representatives and Council Members
The following representatives spoke and presented a certification for the City’s 50th
anniversary celebration:
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September 5, 2023
Page 3 of 7
Janice Hahn, County Board of Supervisors; Raymond Jackson, Mayor of Hermosa
Beach; Britt Huff, Mayor of Rolling Hills Estates; Patrick Wilson, Mayor of Rolling Hills;
Bea Dieringer, Councilmember of Rolling Hills; Lieutenant Michael White, Interim
Captain of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; Jennifer Addington, District
Director and Trustees of Palos Verdes Library District; Ami Gandhi, Board President of
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District; Edward Feves, Representative of
Senator Ben Allen’s Office; Melissa Ramoso, District Director Representative of
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s Office; Tim McOsker, Los Angeles Councilmember;
and Ken Dyda, Former Councilmember.
Mayor Ferraro called for a brief recess at 7:49 P.M., Without objection, Mayor Ferraro
so ordered. The meeting reconvened at 8:11 P.M.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Ferraro announced the Recycle Winners for the August 15, 2023 City Council
meeting: Rocio Martinez and Beverley Western. 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 Bradley, 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:
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed and there were four
requests to speak.
The following members of the public addressed th e City Council: Joan Carbonel, Chris
Carbonel, Casey Carbonel, and Craig Weintraub.
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following: Awarded 23.33 Million
FEMA Grant for Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project; Open recruitment to
become a docent; City Hall open house on September 7 from 2:00- 6:00 P.M.; RPV’s
Run for Myles will be held on September 9; the City’s 50th Anniversary Gala Banquet
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September 5, 2023
Page 4 of 7
will be held on September 9; Thanking all sponsors who assisted with the City’s Gala
event; September is National Emergency Preparedness month, stay connected and
stay informed with PVPready; Remembering September 11th and all those who lost their
lives; National POW/MIA recognition day will be honored with a 24hr relay on
September 14; Wishing Everyone a Happy Rosh Hashanah and Happy Hispanic
Heritage Month.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there was one request to speak on Item E.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank, to approve
the Consent Calendar with Item E to be considered immediately after the Consent
Calendar.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
A. Approval of Minutes (Zweizig)
Approved the Minutes of August 15, 2023, Regular Meeting.
B. Registers of Demands (Mata)
1) Adopted Resolution No. 2023-41, 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 (Check run dated 20230818); Adopted Resolution No. 2023-42, 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 (Check run dated 20230804);
and, 2) Adopted Resolution No. IA 2023-09, 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 authorize the Mayor to sign a letter
opposing Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 10 (Fundamental Right
to Housing). (Hunter)
(1) Authorized the Mayor to sign a letter opposing ACA 10 (Fundamental Right to
Housing).
D. Consideration and possible action to support Senate Bill (SB) No. 244 (Right
to Repair (Hunter)
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September 5, 2023
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(1) Authorized the Mayor to sign a letter supporting SB 244 (Right to Repair Act).
E. Consideration and possible action to change the audio-visual equipment
vendor for the Ladera Linda Community Park Project. (O’Neill)
This item was removed for separate consideration immediately after the adoption of
the consent calendar.
F. Consideration and possible action to award a professional services agreement
to Coyote, Wildlife and Pest Solutions, Inc. to conduct selective coyote
trapping.
(Monroy)
(1) Authorized a professional services agreement with Coyote, Wildlife and Pest
Solutions, Inc. for a two–year term with an optional one–year extension to be
exercised at the discretion of the Contract Officer, in an amount not to exceed
$180,000 for all three years for supplemental selective coyote trapping services.
(2) Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the professional services
agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
E. Consideration and possible action to change the audio-visual equipment
vendor for the Ladera Linda Community Park Project. (O’Neill)
City Clerk Takaoka noted that there was one request to speak.
The following member of the public addressed the City Council: Ken Dyda.
Discussion ensued among Council Members, and questions were asked of Staff.
Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank moved, seconded by Councilmember Bradley to
approve Staff recommendations:(1) Authorized using AMG & Associates, the
project’s primary general contractor and the existing project budget, to procure and
install audio-visual equipment for the Ladera Linda Community Park project by
increasing the contract contingency in the amount of $179,119.98 above the existing
7.5% contingency.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
1. Consideration and possible action to approve a continuation of the existing
Landslide Monitoring Program. (Awwad)
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September 5, 2023
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City Clerk Takaoka noted that there were three requests to speak.
Director of Public Works Awwad presented a brief staff report and PowerPoint
presentation.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Mickey Rodich,
Nikki Nonshkam; and Eva Albuja.
Discussion ensued among Council Members, and questions were asked of Staff .
Director of Public Works introduced consultant Sam Hout with Hout Construction
Services, to provide further information.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo to approve Staff
recommendations: (1) Approved a continuation of the landslide monitoring program
for September 2023 through June 30, 2024, with some enhancements; (2) Awarded
a professional services agreement to Michael R. McGee, PLS DBA McGee
Surveying Consulting for landslide surveying and monitoring services in the amount
of $64,400 with a 15% contingency of $9,660 for a total cost of $74,060 through
June 30, 2024; (3) Awarded a professional services agreement to Hout Construction
Services, Inc. DBA Hout Engineering for management and related services for
landslide surveying and monitoring in the amount of $59,513 with a 15%
contingency of $8,927 for a total cost of $68,440; and (4) Authorize d the Mayor to
execute both professional services agreements in a form approved by the City
Attorney.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Alegria, Bradley, Cruikshank, Seo, and Mayor Ferraro
NOES: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None.
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Councilmember Seo requested an update from Cal Water regarding their
responsiveness to water pipe breaks within the Portuguese Bend Landslide.
Mayor Ferraro requested a letter be sent to California Public Utilities Commission
regarding the Portuguese Bend Landslide and the utilities responsiveness.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Council Member present reported on his/her attendance at various organization
and association meetings.
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September 5, 2023
Page 7 of 7
ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:26 P.M., Mayor Ferraro adjourned to 6:00 P.M. on September 19, 2023, for a
Closed Session, followed by a Regular meeting at 7:00 P.M.
__________________________
Barbara Ferraro, Mayor
Attest:
__________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk