CC MINS 20250318 MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 18, 2025
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular Meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council for the purpose of a Closed
Session was called to order by Mayor Bradley at 6:01 P.M. at Fred Hesse Jr. Community
Park, McTaggart Hall, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. 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: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo, and Mayor Bradley
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; William Wynder, °City Attorney; John Fox,
Assistant City Attorney; Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager; Vina Ramos, Director of
Finance; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development; Hector Gomez, Interim
Deputy City Clerk (via zoom); and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk (in Chambers).
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
A closed session will be held pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(e) because
the City is considering whether to initiate litigation in four cases.
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6, with the City
Manager, Deputy City Manager, Finance Director, Human Resources Manager and
City Attorney, acting as its negotiators, regarding labor negotiations with the Rancho
Palos Verdes Employee Association (RPVEA).
At 6:02 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:08 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
Bradley at 7:08 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: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; William Wynder, City Attorney; Catherine
Jun, Deputy City Manager; Vina Ramos, Director of Finance; Ramzi Awwad, Director of
Public Works; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development; Jessica Bobbett,
Senior Planner; Daniel Trautner, Director of Recreation and Parks; Jennifer Schmid, Public
Safety Manager; Hector Gomez, Interim Deputy City Clerk; and Teresa Takaoka, City
Clerk.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Ferraro.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder provided the closed session report and reported that regarding Item
No.1 there was no reportable action and regarding Item No.2 it will be resumed in closed
session after the meeting.
City Attorney Wynder also said that the city has recently received correspondence that
involves potential litigation against the city for Public Hearing Item No.1 and he requested
the City Council move to continue that item to an uncertain future date and to direct staff
and the City Attorney's Office to brief the City Council on the development options
available to the property owner.
Mayor Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to continue Public Hearing
Item No.1 to an uncertain future date and to direct staff and the City Attorney's office to
brief the City Council on the development options available to the property owner.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Bradley and Los Serenos Docent Rosalie Green announced the honorable mentions
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March 18, 2025
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and winner of the Whale of a Day poster contest. Mayor Bradley shared the Whale of a Day
Festival will take place on April 12, 2025 at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
By affirmation the City Council approved the Recycle Winners; Patricia Stenejem and
Brandi Bourgon. The winners will each receive a check for $250 as well as a personal
emergency preparedness kit from the city valued at $40.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Mayor Pro Tem Seo, to
approve the agenda as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there were seventeen requests to speak.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Eric Chang; Rob Kautz;
Liz Ryan; Pritam Matharu; Yogi Matharu; Kitty Callahan; Sharon Yarber; Tom Hartman;
Shannon Hartman; Stasys Petravicius; Song Song Wang; Lydia Hsu; Michelle Carbone;
Richard Schleicher; John Bacon; Marilyn Bacon; and Robert Gottesman (zoom).
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following:
1. An update on the funding the City received from LA County Flood Control District for
the Winterization efforts ($2M)
2. Introduced the new Public Safety Liaisons
3. The Public Safety Divisions Survey deadline of March 31
4. The Firewise Landscaping Presentation by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land
Conservancy on March 25th from 6:00-7:30 PM
5. The MyShake Earthquake app
6. The Western Avenue Storefront Improvement Program (applications due March 28)
7. The upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Roundup on March 29 9am-3pm at City
Hall
8. EDCO's Spring Brush Clearing Event (March 29-April 26)
9. The Little Fish Tales by the Sea storytime event at PVIC 10:30am-11:30am third
Thursdays
111 10. How to participate in the 40th Whale of a Day Bookmark contest; visit
whaleofaday.com
11.The upcoming Whale of a Day Festival on Saturday April 12 10am-4pm
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12.The ongoing Youth Advisory Recruitment (deadline to apply June 30th)
13.Commemoration of Nowruz Mobarak (Persian New Year) and Cesar Chavez Day
CONSENT CALENDAR:
I
Mayor Pro Tem Seo moved, seconded by Councilmember Perestam, to approve the
Consent Calendar as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
A. Approval of Minutes (Gomez)
Approved the Minutes of March 4, 2025 (Regular Meeting).
B. Registers of Demands (Anguiano)
Adopted Resolution No. 2025 -15, 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 to submit the 2024 Annual General Plan Progress Report on
implementing the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan to the appropriate state
agencies. (Kim)
Authorized Staff to forward the City's 2024 Annual General Plan Progress Report on
the status of the implementation of the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan during the
2024 calendar year to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
D. Consideration to submit the 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report to
the appropriate state agencies. (Kim)
Authorized Staff to forward the City's 2024 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
on the 6th Cycle Housing Element's status, and its implementation progress during the
2024 calendar year, to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
E. Consideration to receive the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Annual Comprehensive
Financial Report (ACFR) of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. (Ramos)
1) Received and filed the FY 2023-24 ACFR of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes; 2)
Received and file the FY 2023-24 Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS 114 Letter)
from Independent Auditors to those Charged with Governance; and, 3) Received and
filed the FY 2023-24 Independent Auditors' Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting, Compliance, and other Matters in accordance with Government Audit
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Standards (GAS Letter).
F. Consideration to approve professional service agreements for services related to
the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Voluntary Buyback Program. (Garrett)
1) Approved a Professional Service Agreement with Integra Reality Resources in the
amount of$34,800 for appraisal services with a not-to-exceed cost of$2,900 per
appraisal; 2) Approved a Professional Service Agreement with The Property Science
Group in the amount of$34,800 for appraisal services with a not-to-exceed $2,900 per
Appraisal; 3) Approved a Professional Service Agreement with Fidelity National Title
Company in the amount of$96,000 for title insurance services; 4) Approved a
Professional Service Agreement with Habor Lights Escrow Inc. in the amount of
$207,000 for Escrow Services with a not-to-exceed $4,500 per side; and, 5) Authorized
the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the contracts, in forms approved by the City
Attorney.
G. Consideration to continue the emergency justification for work and emergency
contracting for the Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide
Emergency Project. (Copp)
1) Reconfirmed, by a four-fifths vote, there is a need to continue the work on the Deep
Vertical Dewatering Emergency Project declared by Council-adopted Resolution No.
2024-20 on May 7, 2024, finding an emergency exists requiring immediate action in the
Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide Complex to seek to mitigate the
movement of the landslide; and, 2) Directed the City Clerk to confirm the same in the
minutes of this City Council meeting, via Minute Order, reflecting this action.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Consideration to revise the City Council-adopted Housing Element to remove
Site Nos. 16, 18, and 19 from the Housing Sites Inventory. (Forbes/Bobbett) (45
mins)
This item was continued to a date uncertain earlier in the meeting.
REGULAR BUSINESS:
2. Consideration to receive updates on the Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient
Altamira Landslide Complex (Awwad) (60 mins)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there were three requests to speak.
Director Awwad and Geologist Mike Phipps presented a comprehensive staff report
and PowerPoint presentation.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Jeff Bassler; Nikki
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Noushkam; and, Gordon Leon.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Seo, to approve staff
recommendations to: 1) Receive and file an update on current activities and conditions
in the Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide Complex; 2) Receive and
file the update on the Abalone Cove Landslide Hazard Abatement District's (ACLAD)
deep dewatering well plan implementation; 3) Approve amending the $1.6 million loan
agreement to ACLAD, approved on July 2, 2024, by extending the first loan payment
from December 1, 2025 to December 1, 2026, and updating the scope to include the
implementation of deep dewatering wells;4) Receive and file a 10-year historical
financial report, including sources and uses, for the Abalone Cove Landslide Hazard
Abatement District's (ACLAD) and the Klondike Canyon Landslide Abatement district
(KCLAD); 5) Receive and file an update on City expenditures for emergency protective
and stabilization measures in response to the acceleration of the Greater Portuguese
Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide Complex; 6) Approve an additional appropriation of
$710,000 from the CIP Fund for repairs to the Abalone Cove Sanitary Sewer System
by: a. Reallocating $400,000 from the Measure R Fund to the CIP Fund for landslide
emergency road repairs, b. Reallocating $200,000 from the Gas Tax Fund to the CIP
Fund for landslide emergency road repairs, and, c. Appropriating the remaining
$110,000 from the CIP Fund; 7) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-17, A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA,
EXTENDING FOR A TERM OF 60 DAYS THE TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON
TRAVEL BY UNICYCLES, BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, AND OTHER ONE- OR
TWO-WHEELED VEHICLES ON PALOS VERDES DRIVE SOUTH WITHIN THE
LANDSLIDE COMPLEX DUE TO CONTINUED ROADWAY CONDITIONS; 8) Adopt
Resolution No. 2025-18, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, CONTINUING THE LOCAL EMERGENCY
DECLARATION AS ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2023-47 ADOPTED ON
OCTOBER 3, 2023 FOR AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAY PERIOD; and, 9) Adopt Resolution
No. 2025-16, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING THE STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY
WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE PORTUGUESE BEND
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, PORTUGUESE BEND BEACH CLUB, AND SEAVIEW
NEIGHBORHOODS BASED ON SUDDEN ENERGY SHORTAGES, PLANNED
DEENERGIZING EVENTS, AND INTERNET SERVICE SHUT OFFS AS
ESTABLISHED BY RESOLUTION NOS. 2024-52 AND 2024-57 FOR AN ADDITIONAL
60 DAYS.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Mayor Pro Tem Seo requested the Council consider writing a City letter to the Los Angeles
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County Board of Supervisors to increase funding for training and recruitment within the Los
Angeles County Sheriffs Department.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Councilmember present reported on his/ her attendance at various organization and
association meetings.
RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION:
At 9:44 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 10:26 P.M. the Closed Session was reconvened to the Regular meeting.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder provided the closed session report regarding Closed Session Item
No. 2 and reported that the City Council has concluded, and it has given negotiating
authority to its representatives.
ADJOURNMENT:
111 At 10:30 P.M. Mayor Bradley adjourned to 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, for a
Closed Session meeting followed by a 7:00 P.M. Regular meeting.
41110..,411i
David L. Bra. ey, Mayor
Attest:
Tere. - -kaoka, City Clerk
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