CC DM 20250916 A - DRAFT 20250902 CC Regular MeetingDRAFT
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
AND IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
SEPTEMBER 2, 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 Pro Tem Seo at 6:02 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: Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley (Via Zoom)
ABSENT: Ferraro* (Excused, in Fireside Room)
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; William Wynder, City Attorney; Catherine
Jun, Deputy City Manager; Vina Ramos, Director of Finance; Nathan Zweizig, Acting
Deputy City Clerk (Via Zoom); and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Quentin Thelen.
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
City Attorney Wynder shared that Item #1 would not be discussed in closed session and
Councilmember Perestam will not be participating on Item #2 due to his ownership of
property within proximity to the issue in the litigation.
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
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 American Federation of State, County, and
Municipal Employees District Council 36 (AFSCME DC36).
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED 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: Ying Mou, an individual; Chunxiao
Zhang, an Individual vs. City of Rancho Palos Verdes, LASC No. 25TRCP00361
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September 2, 2025
Page 2 of 7
At 6:06 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
*Councilmember Ferraro joined the Closed Session meeting in the Fireside Room at 6:06
P.M.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:00 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 Improvement Authority
was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Seo at 7:00 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 (Via Zoom)
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager;
William Wynder, City Attorney; Vina Ramos, Director of Finance; Ramzi Awwad, Director
of Public Works; Octavio Silva, Deputy Director of Community Development; Daniel
Trautner, Director of Recreation and Parks; Emily Rodin, Deputy Director of Recreation
and Parks; Jessica Bobbett, Senior Planner; Jennifer Schmid, Public Safety Manager;
Lukasz Buchwald, IT Manager; Nathan Zweizig, Acting Deputy City Clerk (Via Zoom); and
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
Also present was Captain Kimberly Guerrero of the Lomita Sheriff’s Station.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Perestam.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder provided the closed session report and reported on the one item that
was discussed in closed session.
City Attorney Wynder reported that there was one item of pending litigation to which the
City is a party. The title of such litigation is as follows: Ying Mou, an individual; Chunxiao
Zhang, an Individual vs. City of Rancho Palos Verdes, LASC No. 25TRCP00361. The City
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September 2, 2025
Page 3 of 7
Attorney’s office provided a privileged and confidential briefing on the status of the litigation
and the recommended strategy for defending the City’s interest in the litigation. Questions
were asked and answered, and no reportable action was taken.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Pro Tem Seo and the entire City Council recognized and thanked the Los Angeles
County Fire and Sheriff’s Departments for their courageous response to the large
apartment fire on Caddington Avenue on August 25.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
City Clerk Takaoka noted due to Mayor Bradley participating via Zoom, a motion and roll
call vote would be required for this item, instead of proceeding via acclamation.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve the
Recycle Winners for August 19, 2025, as Judy Jobes and Irma Rivera. The winners will
each receive a check for $250 as well as a personal emergency preparedness kit from the
City valued at $40.
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Perestam, 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 was one request to speak.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Eva Albuja (Via Zoom).
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following:
1. One-year anniversary of utility shutoffs in the Portuguese Bend landslide area.
2. AB 986 heads to the Senate floor.
3. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
4. September is National Emergency Preparedness Month.
5. Wildfire Home Hardening Expo will be held at Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park,
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September 2, 2025
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McTaggart Hall on September 27 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
6. Los Serenos de Point Vicente will host their 2025 Coastal Cleanup Day at Founders
Park on September 20 at 9:00 A.M.
7. Trunk or Treat hosts needed. The Trunk or Treat event will be held at the Ken Dyda
Civic Center on Saturday, October 11 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
8. Round 3 applications are due on October 31 for the Western Avenue Storefront
Improvement Program.
9. Happy Anniversary, RPVtv! RPVtv celebrates 20 years since its first broadcast held
on August 27, 2005.
10. City Hall Anniversary Open House will be held at the Ken Dyda Civic Center on
September 4 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.
11. Happy 52nd Anniversary of the City’s incorporation.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
City Clerk Takaoka noted that there was one request to speak on Item F.
Councilmember Ferraro requested to hear the speaker for Item F prior to the approval of
the Consent Calendar. Without objection, Mayor Pro Tem Seo so ordered.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Eva Albuja (Via Zoom).
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve the
Consent Calendar.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
A. Approval of Minutes (Zweizig)
Approved the Minutes of August 19, 2025 (Special and Regular Meetings)
B. Registers of Demands (Anguiano)
Adopted Resolution No. 2025-63, 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 receive the July 2025 Preliminary Cash Balances/Monthly
Treasurer’s Report. (Lin)
Received and filed the July 2025 Cash Balances/Monthly Treasurer’s Report for the
City and the Improvement Authority.
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D. Consideration to designate voting delegate alternates for the upcoming Cal
Cities Annual Business Meeting. (Takaoka)
Designated Mayor Bradley as the voting delegate; Mayor Pro Tem Seo as the voting
alternate; and Councilman Perestam as the first voting alternate for the Cal Cities
Annual Business Meeting scheduled for October 10, 2025.
E. Consideration to amend City Council Policy No. 59 on Security Cameras and
Video Retention. (Steffen)
Approved amending City Council Policy No. 59 (Security Cameras and Video
Retention) to reduce the required video retention period from 180 to 60 days with
exemptions.
F. 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
Landslide 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 (Landslide Complex)
to seek to mitigate the movement of the landslide; and, 2) Direct ed 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:
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
REGULAR BUSINESS:
1. Consideration to initiate code amendment proceedings to exempt the Equestrian
Overlay District from Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) regulations in the Rancho Palos Verdes
Municipal Code. (Forbes)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed and there were
no requests to speak.
Deputy Director of Community Development Octavio Silva introduced Senior Planner
Jessica Bobbett who presented a comprehensive staff report and PowerPoint
presentation.
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Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Perestam, to approve
Staff Recommendation as follows: Initiated code amendment proceedings to amend
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC) Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) of
Title 16 (Subdivisions) and Chapter 17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit Developments
in Single-Family Zones) of Title 17 (Zoning) to exempt the Equestrian Overlay District
(Q) from the applicability of these regulations pursuant to Senate Bill 684 (SB 684).
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
2. Consideration to receive a report on the use of technology as potential speed
safety system and loud vehicle exhaust enforcement programs. (Schmid/Balbi)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed and there were
no requests to speak.
City Manager Mihranian provided an introduction and brief summary of the item and
introduced Public Safety Manager, Jennifer Schmid, who presented a detailed staff
report and PowerPoint presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff and Captain Guerrero.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Mayor Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve staff
recommendations as amended, excluding recommendation No. 2: 1) Received and
filed a report on speed safety system programs including legislation enacted by
Assembly Bill 645 (AB 645) and Senate Bill 1297 (SB 1297) to use camera technology
to enforce posted speed limits; 2) Considered whether the City should pursue inclusion
in the State of California’s Speed Safety System Pilot Program; 3) Affirmed collecting
data from the speed feedback signs throughout the City to use for enforcement
operations with the Lomita Station; and, 4) Received and filed a report on loud exhaust
enforcement operations throughout the City and legislation enabling cities to use
camera technology as an enforcement tool.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
3. Consideration to hold 2025 Winter Holiday Celebrations events at the Ken Dyda
Civic Center. (Rodin)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there were no requests to speak.
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Director of Recreation and Parks Daniel Trautner and Deputy Director of Recreation
and Parks Emily Rodin presented a detailed staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Mayor Bradley, with a friendly
amendment made by Councilmember Lewis, to approve staff recommendations as
amended: 1) Affirmed holding 2025 Winter Holiday Celebration events at Ken Dyda
Civic Center; 2) Identified the preferred option for the 2025 Winter Holiday Celebration
event as the Tree and Menorah Lighting ceremonies, and a series of winter-themed
events throughout the month of December 2025, amended to include allowing Staff to
re-calendar the event as appropriate to not conflict with other Peninsula-wide events;
and, 3) Directed Staff to begin planning and securing services for the selected
preferred option.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Seo and Mayor Bradley
NOES: Perestam
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
None
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
At 8:34 P.M., Mayor Pro Tem Seo adjourned to 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, September 16,
2025, for a Closed Session and then to 7:00 P.M. for a Regular meeting.
_________________________
David L. Bradley, Mayor
Attest:
_________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk