CC MINS 20250916 MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 16, 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 6:50 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 and Mayor Bradley
ABSENT: Ferraro* (Excused, in Fireside Room) and Seo (Excused)
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; William Wynder, City Attorney; Catherine
Jun, Deputy City Manager; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development (via
Zoom); Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works; Nathan Zweizig, Acting Deputy City Clerk
(via Zoom); and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
None
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION
54957.6
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(e) because
the City is considering whether to participate as an amicus in a petition to the United
States Supreme Court from a decision of the Ninth Circuit in the following
case: City of Huntington Beach, et al. v. Newsom, et al., Ninth Circuit Appeal No.
23-3694.
3. 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: City Rancho Palos Verdes, et al. v.
Bonta, et al., Second Appellate District Appeal No. B332315
At 6:51 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
*Councilmember Ferraro joined the Closed Session meeting in the Fireside Room at 6:51
P.M.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:16 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 7:16 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 and Mayor Bradley
ABSENT: Seo (Excused)
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; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development (via Zoom); Emily
Rodin, Deputy Director of Recreation and Parks; Luna Mohammad, Emergency
Management Coordinator/Senior Administrative Analyst (via Zoom); Jennifer Schmid,
Public Safety Manager (via Zoom); Katie Lozano, Open Space Manager (via Zoom); Matt
Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst (via Zoom); Lukasz Buchwald, IT Manager; Nathan
Zweizig, Acting Deputy City Clerk (via Zoom); and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Deputy Director of Recreation and Parks Emily
Rodin.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder provided the closed session report and reported on the two items
that were discussed in closed session.
City Attorney Wynder reported that Item 1, conference with labor negotiator (American
City Council Regular Minutes
September 16, 2025
Page 2 of 10
Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees District Council 36 (AFSCME
DC36)), this item was not discussed and will be moved to a future City Council meeting.
As to Item 3 regarding pending litigation (City Rancho Palos Verdes, et al. v. Bonta, et al.,
Second Appellate District Appeal No. B332315), there was a privileged and confidential
briefing on the opinion issued recently by the Second Appellate District. The City Council
authorized the City to participate in a petition for California Supreme Court review, if all
other named parties to that litigation that were plaintiffs join in the petition. Otherwise, no
further action will be taken regarding the litigation.
In addition, regarding Item 2, the City Attorney's office briefed the City Council on the
possibility of filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court, asking the United
States Supreme Court to review the opinion in the City of Huntington Beach, et al. v.
Newsom, et al., Ninth Circuit Appeal No. 23-3694 case. The City Attorney's office briefed
the City Council on the issues involved in the litigation because the City of Huntington
Beach is a charter city and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is a general law city. The City
Council has elected to not submit an amicus brief.
MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Bradley and the entire City Council recognized Dagny Tang who was recently
named the 2025 Palos Verdes Library District Bookmark Contest winner for the third year.
Mayor Bradley and the entire City Council joined in recognizing the following two Western
Avenue businesses on their grand openings: U.S. Bank and Habit Burger & Grill.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Bradley, by acclamation, approved the Recycle Winners for September 2, 2025, as
Marilou Lieman and Judy Hildebrand. 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 Perestam, to approve the
agenda as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
City Clerk Takaoka noted that there were three requests to speak.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Peggy Sivert Zask;
Esther Lan; and Thomas Hyatt.
City Council Regular Minutes
September 16, 2025
Page 3 of 10
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following:
1. Caltrans approves Western Avenue traffic flow improvement project plans.
2. AB 986 passes the Senate floor and is on to the Governor's office.
3. Wildfire Home Hardening Expo will be held at Fred Hesse Jr. Community Park,
McTaggart Hall on September 27 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.
4. A survey is available for the public's input regarding the Palos Verdes Peninsula
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
5. Round 3 applications are due on October 31 for the Western Avenue Storefront
Improvement Program.
6. Neighborhood Beautification Grant Program is now open and accepting application
through October 17.
7. Los Serenos de Point Vicente will host their 2025 Coastal Cleanup Day at Founders
Park on September 20 at 9:00 A.M.
8. EDCO's Fall Brush Clearing Event (October 4 - November 1)
9. 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.
10.Happy Rosh Hashanah to all who celebrate.
11.Happy Birthday to Mayor Bradley.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
City Clerk Takaoka noted that there was one request to speak on Item D.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve the
Consent Calendar with the exception of Item D.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
A. Approval of Minutes (Zweizig)
Approved the Minutes of September 2, 2025 (Regular Meeting).
B. Registers of Demands (Anguiano)
Adopted Resolution No. 2025-64, 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 updated information on the transfer of operator
interests in Crestridge Senior Apartments from AMCAL to TruAmerica.
(Luck/Ramos/Forbes)
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September 16, 2025
Page 4 of 10
1) Received and filed the Consent Letter, prepared by the City Attorney's Office and
signed by City Manager Mihranian, related to the transfer of operator interests in
Crestridge Senior Apartments from AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc.'s Administrative
General Partner Interest to TA MIM Mirandela LLC.; and 2) Replaced the Nonprofit
General Partnership from Las Palmas Foundation to AHA MGP Los Angeles IX, LLC.
D. Consideration to continue the emergency justification for work and emergency
contracting for the Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide
Emergency Project. (Copp)
This, item was removed for separate consideration.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
D. Consideration to continue the emergency justification for work and emergency
contracting for the Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide
Emergency Project. (Copp)
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Mickey Rodich.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Perestam, to approve
staff recommendations as follows: 1) Reconfirmed, by a four-fifths vote, there is a need
in
111 to continue the work on the 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; 2) Directed the
City Clerk to confirm the same in the minutes of this City Council meeting, via Minute
Order, reflecting this action; 3) Approved Retroactive Amendment No. 1 to the
Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Cotton, Shires and Associates for City-
wide geotechnical consulting, including landslide emergency stabilization geotechnical
consulting through June 30, 2025, and related services, increasing the not-to-exceed
amount for the initial 5-year term by $1,190,474 from $400,000 to $1,590,474 while
maintaining a 15% contingency, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute
Amendment No. 1, to the PSA with Cotton, Shires and Associates, Inc. in a form
approved by the City Attorney; 4) Approved Retroactive Amendment No. 1 to the PSA
with McGee Surveying Consulting for Portuguese Bend Landslide Monitoring Program
Surveying and related services, increasing the not-to-exceed amount for the term
between September 5, 2023 and June 30, 2024 by $405,123 from $64,400 to
$469,523, and extending the contract term by one year, with an amended contract end
date of June 30, 2025, and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Amendment
No. 1 to the PSA with McGee Surveying Consulting, in a form approved by the City
Attorney; 5) Approved Retroactive Amendment No. 2 to the PSA with Ocean Blue
Environmental Services, Inc. for City-wide environmental cleanup and related services,
increasing the not-to-exceed amount for the term between May 17, 2022 and June 30,
2024 by $1,738,479 from $532,082 to $2,270,561 while maintaining a 15%
contingency, and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Amendment No. 2, to
the PSA with Ocean Blue Environmental Services, Inc. in a form approved by the City
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September 16, 2025
Page 5 of 10
Attorney; 6) Approved Retroactive Amendment No. 1 to the PSA with Hardy & Harper,
Inc. for city-wide public works maintenance and related services, increasing the not-to-
exceed amount for the initial 5-year term by $261,213 from $2,167,651 to $2,428,864
while maintaining a 15% contingency, and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to
execute Amendment No. 1 to the PSA with Hardy & Harper, Inc., in a form approved by
the City Attorney; 7) Approved Retroactive Amendment No. 1 to the Public Works
Agreement (PWA) with Hardy & Harper, Inc. for roadway maintenance and related
services, increasing the not-to-exceed amount for the initial 5-year term by $2,324,438
from $2,000,435 to $4,324,873 while maintaining a 10% contingency, and authorized
the Mayor and City Clerk to execute Amendment No. 1 to the PWA with Hardy &
Harper, Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney; 8) Approved Retroactive
Amendment No. 2 to the PSA with Monaco Mechanical, Inc. for City-wide plumbing and
related services, removing the annual not-to-exceed amount of$100,000 as a result of
actual expenditures for services needed to respond to the landslide emergency, for the
initial 6-year term with no change to the total contract not-to-exceed amount, and while
maintaining a 10% contingency, and authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute
Amendment No. 2 to the PSA with Monaco Mechanical, Inc., in a form approved by the
City Attorney; 9) Ratified payments for emergency repairs to the Abalone Cove
Sanitary Sewer System during the period between July 22, 2024 and November 6,
2024 to Ramona, Inc. in the amount of$191,602; 10) Ratified payments for delivering
soil for fissure filling within the Landslide Complex during the period between
December 6, 2023 and June 30, 2025 to BD White Topsoil Co., Inc. in the amount of
$127,052; 11) Ratified payments for emergency repairs to the Abalone Cove Sanitary
Sewer System during the period between July 17, 2023 and June 4, 2025 to Clarke
Contracting Corporation in the amount of$1,977,321; 12) Ratified payments for
emergency repairs to the Abalone Cove Sanitary Sewer System during the period
between January 31, 2025 and April 16, 2025 to Colich and Sons, LP in the amount of
$243,684; '13) Ratified payments for emergency roadway repairs within the Landslide
Complex during the period between August 2, 2024 and June 11, 2025 to Inland
Engineering Services, Inc. in the amount of$91,853; 14) Ratified payments for fueling
services for the Abalone Cove Sanitary Sewer System lift station generators during the
period between September 10, 2024 and May 28, 2025 to Ferrellgas, LP in the amount
of$101,068; 15) Ratified payments for maintenance and repair services for the
Abalone Cove Sanitary Sewer System lift station generators during the period between
October 18, 2024 and July 30, 2025 to Genesis Electrical, Inc. in the amount of
$83,313; 16) Ratified payments for emergency sewer and storm drain repairs within the
Landslide Complex on April 15, 2024 to Southwest Pipeline Technologies, Inc. in the
amount of$33,000; and, 17) Ratified payments for sewer and storm drain repairs within
the Landslide Complex during the period between March 7, 2024 and April 30, 2025 to
Performance Pipeline Technologies, Inc. in the amount of$92,710.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
City Council Regular Minutes
September 16, 2025
Page 6 of 10
None
REGULAR BUSINESS:
1. Consideration to receive updates on the Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient
Altamira Landslide Complex and revise the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 budget.
(Awwad/Ramos/Forbes)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was received and there were
eight requests to speak.
City Manager Mihranian provided an overview and introduced Director of Public Works
Ramzi Awwad for an update. Director Awwad then introduced Bill McCormick, Geo-
Logic Associates Consultant (via Zoom); Pat Shires, Cotton Shires & Associates
Consultant (via Zoom); and Gordon Leon of ACLAD, who were available for questions.
Public Works Director Awwad presented a comprehensive staff report and PowerPoint
presentation along with Finance Director Ramos.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Kent Attridge; Eva
Albuja (via Zoom); Jeff Bassler (via Zoom); Sandra Valeri; LynnDee Ronlov; Jay
Golison; Claudine Manning; Grace Yung; and Gordon Leon.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and questions were asked of speaker
Gordon Leon of ACLAD.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Mayor Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve Staff
Recommendation as=amended: 1) Received and filed an update on the Greater
Portuguese Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide Complex (Landslide Complex) conditions,
activities, and financials; 2) Affirmed, as presented, the ranked priority order list and the
updated budget estimates for the FY 2025-26 Landslide Complex program; 3) Ratified,
nunc pro tunc (meaning to replace the prior version correcting an inadvertent omission)
the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Geo-Logic Associates, Inc. (GLA) for
final engineering design, environmental documents, and related services for the
Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project to add federal grant compliance
clauses with no change to the PSA amount, and authorized the Mayor to execute the
PSA in a form approved by the City Attorney; 4) Awarded a PSA to Geosyntec
Consultants, Inc. for a Landslide Hydrology and Hydraulics Study in the amount of
$1,100,200 with a 15% contingency for a total amount of up to $1,265,230, and
authorized the Mayor to execute the agreement in a form approved by the City
Attorney; 5) Awarded a PSA to Michael R. McGee, PLS, dba McGee Survey Consulting
for surveying services in connection with the Portuguese Bend Landslide Emergency
Stabilization Project in FY 2025-26 in the not-to-exceed amount of$320,000 for a one-
year term, and authorized the Mayor to execute the PSA in a form approved by the City
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September 16, 2025
Page 7 of 10
Attorney; 6) Awarded a revised PWA with Ocean Blue Environmental Services, Inc. for
on-call landslide emergency spill response and related services in Fiscal Year 2025-26
in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,400,000 for a one-year term, and authorized the
Mayor to execute the PWA in a form Approved by the City Attorney; 7) Adopted
Resolution No. 2025-65, 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) Adopted Resolution No. 2025-66, 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; 9) Adopted Resolution No. 2025-67, 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; 10) Directed Staff to return to the City Council with
amended ACLAD loan terms to allow using the remaining funds for winterization
projects; and, 11) Authorized the use of up to $200,000 of contingency funds in the
priority order list for the Lower Altamira Canyon and Palos Verdes Drive South Culvert
winterization projects.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
2. Consideration to approve permanently relocating a Southern California Edison
(SCE) temporary power pole currently at the Ladera Linda Community Park.
(Fraley)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there were no requests to speak.
Public Works Director Ramzi Awwad presented a brief staff report and PowerPoint
presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Councilmember Perestam moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve staff
recommendations as follows: 1) Authorized an extension through March 16, 2026, to
the terms and conditions of the City-approved encroachment permit for SCE's
temporary power pole located at the Ladera Linda Community Park originally approved
by the City Council on September 3, 2024, and extended thereafter; 2) Reviewed the
power pole relocation design options prepared by both City Staff and SCE; 3)
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September 16, 2025
Page 8 of 10
Determined that SCE's preferred overhead design option is most practical for a
permanent solution, and authorized City Staff to coordinate with SCE to remove the
temporary power pole located at the Ladera Linda Community Park and permanently
relocate it using SCE's preferred overhead option and under the terms and conditions
of a City-approved permit; and, 4) Authorized the City Manager to approve the required
easement on City land for the implementation of the overhead variation of the City's
preferred option to permanently relocate the temporary power pole located at the
Ladera Linda Community Park.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
3. Consideration to receive the first quarter status update of the Fiscal Year (FY)
2025-26 City Council Goals. (Jun)
Discussion ensued among Council Members and Staff.
Deputy City Manager Catherine Jun presented a staff report and PowerPoint
presentation along with Emergency Management Coordinator/Senior Administrative
Analyst Luna Mohammad (via Zoom), Public Safety Manager Jennifer Schmid (via
Zoom), Director of Public Works Ramzi Awwad, Open Space Manager Katie Lozano
(via Zoom), Senior Administrative Analyst Matt Waters (via Zoom), Director of
Community Development Brandy Forbes (via Zoom), and Director of Finance Vina
Ramos.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and questions were asked of Staff.
Mayor Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve Staff
Recommendation as amended: 1) Received and filed the first quarter status update of
the FY 2025-26 City Council Goals; and 2) Directed staff to provide City Council Goals
updates three times a year (October, February, and June), in lieu of quarterly updates
moving forward.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam and Mayor Bradley
NOES: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
None
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September 16, 2025
Page 9 of 10
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Councilmember present reported on their attendance at various organization and
association meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:57 P.M., Mayor Bradley adjourned to Tuesday, October 7, 2025, for a 6:00 P.M
Closed Session followed by a 7:00 P.M. Regular Meeting.
Mayor Bradley adjourned the meeting in honor and memory of EDCO Waste & Recycling
Senior Vice President Efrain Ramirez.
David L. Bradley, Mayor
Attest:
0Ter -11/ -Ialealia___.
Takaoka, City Clerk
I
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September 16, 2025
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