CC MINS 20251202 MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
AND IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY
DECEMBER 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 Bradley at 6:04 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
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; Daniel Trautner, Director of
Recreation and Parks;,Vanessa Godinez, Human Resources & Risk Manager; and Pam
Lee, Special Council with Aleshire & Wynder.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
None
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54957.6, with the
Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern and City Attorney, regarding labor negotiations for the
unrepresented employee position of City Manager
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR
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).
At 6:05 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
*Councilmember Ferraro joined the Closed Session meeting in the Fireside Room at 6:05
P.M
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:06 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 Bradley at 7:06 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; Daniel Trautner,
Director of Recreation and Parks; Deanna Fraley, Principal Engineer; Lukasz Buchwald, IT
Manager; Enyssa Sisson, Deputy City Clerk (via Zoom); and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Victoria Lozzi, Palos Verdes Estates.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder provided the closed session report and reported on two items that
were discussed in closed session.
City Attorney Wynder reported on the first item, discussion with ongoing labor negotiations
with AFSCME District Council 36. The City Council received a privileged and confidential
briefing from its labor negotiator. It reviewed the latest proposal received from District 36
and gave the labor negotiators further direction.
City Attorney Wynder reported on the second item to consider labor negotiations with one
unrepresented employee, the City Manager. As result of those negotiations, the parties
have reached an agreement in principal on an amendment to the City Manager's contract,
which will be brought back at the next City Council Meeting for public review, 111
consideration, and possible action.
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page 2 of 9
CEREMONIAL MATTERS:
1. Presentation to Mayor Bradley
Mayor Bradley was commended for his service as Mayor and was acknowledged for his
various contributions to the City and community. Mayor Bradley was also presented with
certificates from various public officials.
2. Remarks by Invited Elected Representatives, Agencies, and Council Members
Each Council Member acknowledged and thanked Mayor Bradley for his service.
The following representatives spoke and presented a certification to Mayor Bradley for his
service:
Representative Jennifer LaMarque, L.A. County Supervisor; District Representative, Edward
Feves, Senator Ben Allen; District Representative Rohan Abraham, Congressman Ted
Lieu; Board President Dr. Zoe Unno, Palos Verdes Library District; Board Member Eric
Alegria, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District; Mayor Victoria Lozzi, Palos Verdes
Estates; Mayor Debby Stegura, Rolling Hills Estates; Mayor Pro Tem Seo presented for
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker.
Additional remarks were made by residents Mickey Rodich and Totran Radke.
Each Councilmember and City Manager Mihranian shared comments expressing their
appreciation for Mayor Bradley for his service.
Mayor Bradley provided remarks regarding his tenure as Mayor. He expressed great
appreciation to the Council Members, Staff, family, and residents for their support.
3. Council Reorganization
a. Selection of Mayor
City Clerk Takaoka called for nominations for the selection of Mayor.
Councilmember Ferraro, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, nominated Mayor Pro Tern
Seo for Mayor.
With no other nominations, Mayor Pro Tern Seo was appointed as Mayor for the year
2026 with the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, Seo, and Mayor Bradley.
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
b. Selection of Mayor Pro Tem
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page 3 of 9
City Clerk Takaoka called for nominations for the selection of Mayor Pro Tem.
Councilmember Bradley, seconded by Mayor Seo, nominated Councilmember Perestam
for Mayor Pro Tern.
With no other nominations, Councilmember Perestam was appointed as Mayor Pro Tern
for the year 2026 with the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
c. Comments by newly appointed Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Council Members
Comments to congratulate newly appointed Mayor Seo and Mayor Pro Tern Perestam
were provided by the Council. The newly appointed Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem thanked
the Council for their support.
RECESS TO RECEPTION:
Mayor Seo called for a recess at 7:57 P.M.
At 8:14 P.M. Mayor Seo reconvened the meeting, and City Clerk Takaoka conducted a roll
call. City Council roll call was answered as follows:
CALL TO ORDER: Newly appointed Mayor Seo
ROLL CALL: Councilmember Bradley
Councilmember Lewis
Councilmember Ferraro
Mayor Pro Tern Perestam
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Seo, by affirmation, approved the Recycle Winners for November 18, 2025, as
Robert Lauke. 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 Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve the
agenda as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page 4 of 9
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
None.
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following:
1. RPV Public Safety Division - reminding everyone to stay safe this holiday season
2. Help shape our community's Resilience Plan and take our Peninsula-Wide Hazard
Mitigation Plan survey by January 15, 2026.
3. City of Rolling Hills Estates is hosting their annual Peninsula Parade of Lights on
December 6th at 6:00 P.M.
4. Santa is coming to RPV and will be traveling through select neighborhood streets
on December 11,13,15, and 16.
5. Tree Lighting Ceremony at Ken Dyda Civic Center on December 12, from 5:30
P.M.- 9:30 P.M. and Menorah Lighting on Monday, December 15 at 5:30 p.m
6. Winter events schedule at Ken Dyda Civic Center on December 12, 13, 14, 15, 20,
and 27
7. Breakfast with Santa will be held at Ken Dyda Civic Center on December 13 with
the 1st seating at 8:30 A.M.- 10:30 A.M and 2nd seating 11:30 A.M- 1:30 P.M.
8. Holiday Toy Drive donations between December 1-13. Donation bins are available
at Ken Dyda Civic Center.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Bradley, to approve the
Consent Calendar as is.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
A. Approval of Minutes (Sisson)
Approved the Minutes of November 18, 2025 (Regular Meeting).
B. Registers of Demands (Anguiano)
1) Adopted Resolution No. 2025-85, 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 October 2025 Preliminary Cash Balances/Monthly
Treasurer's Report. (Lin)
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page 5 of 9
Received and filed the October 2025 Cash Balances/Monthly Treasurer's Report for
the City and the Improvement Authority.
D. Consider the annual Business License Tax (BLT) for calendar year 2026.
(0'Neill/Carbajal)
1) Affirmed discontinuing the BLT rate of zero ($0) for home occupancy businesses; 2)
Affirmed discontinuing the Small Business Financial Assistance Program; and 3)
Applied an increase of 3.0%, based on the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) as of
September 2025, to the BLT rates.
E. Consider a claim against the City by Patricia Gardner. (Sisson)
Rejected the claim and directed Staff to notify the claimant, Patricia Gardner.
F. Consider canceling the January 6, 2026 City Council meeting. (Takaoka)
Approved the cancellation of the January 6, 2026 City Council meeting.
G. Consider adopting Ordinance No. 696 amending certain sections of Title 17
(Zoning) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to update the status of the
landslide conditions and references to the new Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code Chapter 15.20 entitled "Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex
Regulations on Land Use Permits." (Forbes)
Adopted Ordinance No. 696, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF TITLE 17
(ZONING) OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE TO UPDATE
REFERENCES TO THE GREATER PORTUGUESE BEND LANDSLIDE COMPLEX
REGULATIONS ON LAND USE PERMITS AND ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS IN
TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MUNICIPAL CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS TO
CHAPTER 15.20 APPROVED WITH THE ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 692, AND
DETERMINE THE CODE AMENDMENT IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
H. Consider adopting Ordinance No. 695 to exempt the City's Equestrian Overlay
Districts from Senate Bill 9 (SB9) regulations related to urban lot splits and
second unit/two-unit developments. (Forbes/Bobbett)
Adopted ORDINANCE NO. 695, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES, AMENDING THE 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
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page 6 of 9
TO SENATE BILL 684 (SB 684), AND DETERMINE THE CODE AMENDMENT IS
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CASE NO.
IPLCA2025-0002).
I. Consider appropriating SB1 Roadway Maintenance and Rehabilitation funds to
the Roadway Maintenance Program — Palos Verdes Drive South and West Project
(CIP Project No. 8855). (Sunwoo/Cloke)
Approved an additional appropriation of$175,000 in SB1 funds for engineering and
design services as well as grant administration and support services for the Roadway
Maintenance Program — Palos Verdes Drive South and West Project (CIP Project No.
8855).
J. Consider awarding a professional services agreement to Pipe Tec, Inc. for
condition assessment services for the Storm Drain Asset Management Program.
(Mesker/Fraley)
1) Awarded a professional services agreement to Pipe Tec, Inc. for Citywide storm
drain closed circuit television and condition assessment services for the Storm Drain
Asset Management Program (CIP Project 8701) in the amount of$424,200, with a 15%
contingency of$63,630, for a term of 120 days; and 2) Authorized the Mayor to execute
the agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney.
K. Consider continuing 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
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 Amendment No. 1 to the Public Works Agreement (PWA) with Clarke
Contracting Corporation (Clarke) for emergency on-call landslide stabilization
construction services, storm drain repairs, sanitary sewer repairs and related work,
increasing the not-to-exceed amount for the initial one-year term by $1,000,000 from
$1,500,000 to $2,500,000 while maintaining a 10% contingency, for which the
completed value of work under the amended Agreement will not exceed the project
budget; and 4) Authorized the Mayor to execute PWA Amendment No.1 with Clarke in
a form approved by the City Attorney.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
III PUBLIC HEARINGS:
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page 7 of 9
1. Consider a request to vacate a portion of an abandoned sewer easement located
at 5801 Crestridge Road (Canterbury Senior Living Facility). (Fraley)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that the notice of the public hearing was duly published,
late correspondence was received.
Mayor Seo declared the public hearing open.
Director of Public Works Awwad introduced Principal Engineer Fraley for a staff report
and PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued among Council Members, and questions were asked of Staff.
At this time, the applicant participating via Zoom was called upon but was not available.
Mayor Seo closed the public hearing.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve staff
recommendations as amended to update Resolution Language: Adopted Resolution
No. 2025-86, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES VACATING THE CITY'S INTEREST IN A PORTION OF AN
ABANDONED SEWER EASEMENT AT 5801 CRESTRIDGE ROAD.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
REGULAR BUSINESS:
2. Consider a report on potential future Citywide street and park beautification
projects. (Fraley)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there were no requests to speak.
Director of Public Works Awwad introduced Principal Engineer Fraley for a staff report
and PowerPoint presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and staff.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve Staff
Recommendation as follows: Received and filed a report on potential future Citywide
street and park beautification projects.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page8of9
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
None
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Councilmember present reported on their attendance at various organization and
association meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 8:45 P.M., Mayor Seo adjourned to 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, for a
Closed Session and then to 7:00 P.M. for a Regular meeting.
P uI S or
Attest:
-res: aoka, City Clerk
City Council Regular Minutes
December 2, 2025
Page 9 of 9