CC DM 20260303 A - DRAFT 20260217 CC MINSDRAFT
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 17, 2026
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 Seo at 6:00 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 Seo
ABSENT: Ferraro* (Excused, in Fireside Room) and Bradley (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).
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
None
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 intervene in and object to Southern California Gas
Company Application No. A.25/03-011, before the Public Utilities Commission.
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
A closed session will be held, pursuant to Government Code § 54956.9(d)(1), to
confer with legal counsel regarding the denial, by the California Supreme Court, of
the City’s amicus curia petition to the California Supreme Court, Case No. S294028,
seeking review of the decision of the Second Appellate District in that certain case
styled New Commune DTLA LLC v. City of Redondo Beach, Second Appellate
District Appeal No. B336042.
At 6:01 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
*Councilmember Ferraro joined the Closed Session meeting in the Fireside Room at 6:01
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P.M.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:03 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
Seo at 7:03 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 Seo
ABSENT: Bradley (Excused)
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager;
William Wynder, City Attorney; Vina Ramos, Director of Finance; David Copp, Deputy
Director of Public Works; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development (via Zoom);
Dan Trautner, Director of Recreation and Parks; Brandon Mesker, Associate Engineer;
Amy Seeraty, Senior Planner; Enyssa Sisson, Deputy City Clerk (via Zoom); and Teresa
Takaoka, City Clerk.
Also present was Detective Acosta of the Lomita Sheriff’s Station.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Lewis.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder provided the closed session report for two items.
City Attorney Wynder reported on the first item, involved consideration of whether to
intervene and object to a Southern California Gas Company application A25-03-01, before
the California Public Utilities Commission. There was a privileged and confidential briefing
and discussion by the Council about the City’s options. The City Clerk’s office and the City
Attorney’s office have been told to monitor this application as it proceeds through the
public utilities commission, and if necessary, to report back to the Council for possible
further action.
City Attorney Wynder reported on the second item, and the City Council considered its
legal options in light of the fact that the California Supreme Court has denied review of the
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opinion of the second appellant district in Commune DTLA versus City of Redondo Beach,
second appellant district case number B336042. There was a privileged and confidential
briefing of the Council, and the Council has directed staff to immediately take st eps to
bring the City’s zoning ordinance in compliance with the opinion of the Court of Appeals.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Seo and the entire City Council recognized Bagels Galore for their commitment to
quality service and community spirit since their opening.
Mayor Seo read the 2026 Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse and in celebration of
the rich cultural traditions it represents.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Seo, by acclamation, approved the Recycle Winners for February 3, 2026 as Glenn
Choi and Edward Murphy. 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:
City Manager Mihranian made a brief statement regarding continuing Regular Business
Item 1 to the March 3 City Council meeting.
Mayor Seo moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve the agenda with the
exception of Regular Business Item 1.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS:
None
LOMITA STATION REPORT:
Detective Acosta provided updates on the following:
1. Updates on Crime Data
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following:
1. Thank you to Public Works for responding to the sink hole and storms.
2. Congrats to the Finance Department for receiving the Operating Budget Excellence
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Award FY 2025-26
3. Palos Verdes Peninsula Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan- Comment
Period open February 12-25
4. City Council Goals Workshop, February 23 at 6:00 P.M. at Hesse Park
5. Coffee with the Mayor on Friday, February 27 at 10- 11:00 A.M. at Golden Scoop
Gelato
6. Lomita Sheriff Station 50th Anniversary Celebration on February 28
7. Ramadan Mubarak
8. Happy Lunar New Year
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve the
agenda as presented.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
A. Approval of Minutes (Sisson)
Approved the Minutes of February 3, 2026 (Regular Meeting).
B. Registers of Demands (Anguiano)
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-14, 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. Consider reallocating special revenue funding for two capital improvement
projects. (Cloke)
1) Approved a budget reallocation of $400,000 in Measure R Funds from the Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) project Roadway Management Program - Palos Verdes
Drive East (Project 8858) to the Palos Drive South Landslide Repair (Project 8302) to
avoid restricted funds from lapsing; and, 2) Approved a budget reallocation of $400,000
in Gas Tax (SB-1) Fund from the Palos Verdes Drive South Landslide Repair (Project
8302) to the Palos Verdes Drive East (Project 8858).
D. Consider Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement with Stay
Green, Inc. for fuel modification services through hand-operated machinery.
(Hevener)
1) Approved Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with
Stay Green, Inc. for fuel modification services through hand -operated machinery
extending the original three-year term by two additional years from March 3, 2026 to
March 3, 2028 and increasing the original contract sum of $1,124,117, consisting of
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$774,117 and a contingency of $350,000, by $525,182 and a 15% contingency of
$78,777 for a new total not-to-exceed cost of $1,728,076; and, 2) Authorized the Mayor
and City Clerk to execute Amendment No. 1 approved in a form approved by the City
Attorney.
E. Consideration and possible action regarding a claim against the City by Sean
Fontenot. (Sisson)
Rejected the claim and directed Staff to notify the claimant, Sean Fontenot.
F. Consider the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Mid-Year Financial Report. (Moya)
1) Received and filed the FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Financial Report for the General Fund
and Mid-Year Expenditure Report for the Capital Infrastructure Projects (CIP) Fund,
Special Revenue Funds, and Other Funds. 2) Approve d an additional appropriation of
$11,700 in the State Grant Fund for the Pano AI Wildfire Detection Camera Program.
G. 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; 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. Consider adopting a Tentative Agreement for a successor Memorandum of
Understanding with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal
Employees, District Council 36 (AFSCME). (Godinez)
This item was continued to the March 3 City Council Meeting.
2. Consider revisions to the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code pertaining to
wireless telecommunication facilities in the public right-of-way and on private
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property. (Mesker/Seeraty)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed and there were
no requests to speak.
City Manager Mihranian provided a brief overview and in turn introduced Associate
Engineer, Mesker for the public right-of-way (Chapter 12.18 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code) portion of the staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff and Verizon Representative, Michelle
Brower.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Mayor Seo moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve staff
recommendations as amended: 1) Reviewed proposed amendments to Chapter 12.18
– Wireless Telecommunication Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way; Incorporate
Council’s feedback on streamlining the permitting process, facility height and size
standards, aesthetic protections, and public review procedures; and directing staff to
return with a revised ordinance for City Council consideration at a future date .
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
City Manager Mihranian introduced Senior Planner Seeraty for the private property
(Chapter 17.73 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code) portion of the staff report
and PowerPoint presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Mayor Seo moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve staff
recommendations as amended: 2) Directed staff to amend Chapter 17.73 – Wireless
Telecommunications Facilities on Private Property, incorporating Council feedback to
improve wireless service and streamline the permitting process where appropriate,
while maintain objective development standards, aesthetic protections, and meaningful
opportunities for public review; have appeals come directly to the City Council rather
than the Planning Commission; and initiated the code amendment process by having
the Planning Commission review draft text amendments in an advisory capacity and
forwarding its recommendation to the City Council for consideration at a future public
hearing.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
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NOES: None
3. Consider reaffirming City Council Policy No. 60 to implement new Brown Act
amendments regarding meeting disruption procedures pursuant to Senate Bill
707. (Sisson)
Mayor Seo moved to waive the staff report; without objection, this was so ordered.
Mayor Seo moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve Staff
Recommendation as follows: Reaffirmed City Council Policy No. 60 to incorporate new
Brown Act amendments regarding meeting disruption procedures for two -way remote
attendance pursuant to Senate Bill 707.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: 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 9:42 P.M., Mayor Seo adjourned to 6:00 P.M on Monday, February 23, 2026, for a City
Council Goals Workshop.
_________________________
Paul Seo, Mayor
Attest:
_________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk