CC DM 20240917 A - 20240903 DRAFT Special CC MINS
DRAFT
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
CALL TO ORDER:
A Special Meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council for the purpose of a Closed
Session was called to order by Mayor Cruikshank at 3:08 P.M. at Fred Hesse Jr.
Community Park, McTaggart Hall, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. This meeting took place
both in person and remotely. Remote participation by any Councilmember was in
accordance with 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: Bradley, Ferraro, Seo, Alegria and Mayor Cruikshank
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Elena Gerli, City Attorney; Brandy
Forbes, Director of Community Development; Ramzi Awaad, Director of Public Works;
Vina Ramos, Director of Finance; Daniel Trautner, Director of Recreation and Parks;
David Rasor, Building Official; William Wynder, City Attorney Emeritus; and Christine
Carlson, Aleshire and Wynder.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
None.
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
City Attorney Gerli announced the items to be discussed in Closed Session.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL –INITIATION OF LITIGATION
GC SECTION 54956.9(c), (d)(4)
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(c) and
(d)(4), because the City Council has decided or is deciding whether to initiate
litigation.
At 3:09 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 4:05 P.M. the Closed Session was reconvened to the Special meeting.
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Page 2 of 4
REGULAR MEETING – OPEN SESSION
CALL TO ORDER:
A Special meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council was called to order by Mayor
Cruikshank at 4:05 P.M. at Fred Hesse Jr. 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: Bradley, Ferraro, Seo, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Elena Gerli, City Attorney; Vina Ramos,
Director of Finance; Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works; Daniel Trautner, Director of
Recreation and Parks; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development; Enyssa
Sisson, Deputy City Clerk; Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk; and William Wynder, City Attorney
Emeritus.
Also present was Captain Kimberly Guerrero of the Lomita Sheriff’s Station.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Gerli reported that City Council met in Closed Session to discuss one item.
City Attorney Gerli reported that Item 1 was discussed and no reportable action was
taken.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Mayor Pro Tem Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve the
agenda as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Seo, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
None.
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REGULAR BUSINESS:
1. Consideration and possible action to declare a Local State of Emergency based
on a sudden and severe energy shortage due to planned de-energization events.
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there were three requests to speak.
City Manager Mihranian summarized what transpired days before the power shutoffs
over the Labor Day Weekend and introduced Larry Chung, Southern California Edison
Representative who provided a report on customer engagement services and in turn,
introduced George Mundorf, Southern California Edison Representative who provided
a technical overview.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and questions were asked of Larry
Chung, Southern California Edison Representative, and George Mundorf, Southern
California Edison Representative.
City Attorney Gerli provided the remainder staff report and PowerPoint Presentation.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Anne Cruz, Nikki
Noushkam, Marc Costa, Eva Albuja, and Jerry Yutronich.
At this time, the fourth speaker participating via Zoom was called upon but was not
available.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Alegria, to approve
Staff recommendations as amended: 1) Receive a report from Southern California
Edison on the recent de-energization of the Portuguese Bend Community Association
and Seaview neighborhoods; 2) Adopt, as updated at the meeting by the City Attorney,
Resolution No. 2024-57, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, TO AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 2024-
52, DECLARING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY WITHIN THE
GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE PORTUGUESE BEND COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION BASED ON A SUDDEN AND SEVERE ENERGY SHORTAGE AND
A PLANNED DEENERGIZATION EVENT, AND TO EXPAND THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY TO INCLUDE THE SEAVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD BASED ON A
PLANNED DEENERGIZING EVENT; 3) Authorize the Mayor to sign a letter to
CalOES and FEMA requesting individual assistance for residents impacted by the
accelerated movement in the Landslide Complex; and, 4) Modify and Authorize the
Mayor to sign a letter to Governor Newsom requesting he declare a state of
emergency to deploy financial and in-kind public and individual assistance.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Seo, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
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NOES: None
2. Consideration and possible action to receive a report on the installation of a
Southern California Edison (SCE) temporary power pole at the Ladera Linda
Community Center. (Jun)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there were three requests to speak.
City Manager Mihranian provided a staff report.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Anne Cruz and Eva
Albuja.
At this time, the second speaker participating via Zoom was called upon but was not
available.
Mayor Pro Tem Alegria moved, seconded by Councilmember Seo, to approve Staff
recommendations as follows: 1) Receive and file this report and direct staff to continue
processing a retroactive encroachment permit for SCE to install a temporary power
pole at the Ladera Linda Community Center, with the Clarification that the pole must
be removed from Ladera Linda site entirely within the timeframes called out in staff
report; and, 2) Direct Staff to continue monitoring SCE’s progress towards meeting all
conditions, including a permanent solution, and providing the City Council will periodic
progress reports ensuring that the temporary power pole will be removed from Ladera
Linda Community Center within the specified timeframes.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Seo, Alegria, and Mayor Cruikshank
NOES: None
ADJOURNMENT:
At 6:05 P.M., Mayor Cruikshank adjourned to September 3, 2024, for a Closed Session
meeting followed by a 7:00 P.M. Regular meeting.
_______________________________
John Cruikshank, Mayor
Attest:
__________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk