CC DM 20260317 A - DRAFT 20260303 CC MINSDRAFT
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
AND IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY MEETING
MARCH 3, 2026
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council and Improvement Authority
was called to order by Mayor Seo at 7:04 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 co uld 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: Bradley (via Zoom), Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
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; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development; Dan Trautner,
Director of Recreation and Parks; Deputy Director of Community Development, Octavio
Silva; Deanna Fraley, Principal Engineer; Nathan Zweizig, Administrative Assistant (via
Zoom); and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Director of Finance Vina Ramos.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Seo and the entire City Council recognized Avenue Italy for their commitment to
quality service and community spirit since their opening in 2013.
Mayor Seo announced Round 4 of the Western Avenue Storefront Improvement Program.
RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Seo, by acclamation, approved the Recycle Winners for February 17, 2026 as Fe
Delgado and Karen Heermans. The winners will each receive a check for $250, as well as
a personal emergency preparedness kit from the City valued at $40.
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March 3, 2026
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APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, 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
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: Sha Tahmasebi.
LOMITA STATION REPORT:
Captain Guerrero provided updates on the following:
1. Crime Data
2. Traffic Unit operation on Palos Verdes Drive East in the switchbacks
3. Gunfire on a patrol unit in Rolling Hills Estates
4. Core Team’s upcoming civilian academy
5. 50th Lomita Sheriff’s Station Foundation Gala
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following:
1. City Manager Mihranian, Mayor Pro Tem Perestam and Councilmember Bradley
visited Washington D.C. to speak with federal representatives regarding the City’s
funding for the landslide, Congressional Direct Spending projects, Civic Center
Deed restrictions, and the potential acquisition of two Coast Guard Properties.
2. Introduced the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR)
3. Tax Safety Tips
4. Coffee with the Mayor on March 20, 10-11:00 A.M. Ladera Linda Community Park
5. Whale of a Day Bookmark Contest. Entries are due March 22 , 2026
6. Recognized that March is Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day
is March 8, 2026
7. A reminder that Daylight Savings Time starts March 8, 2026
8. Recognized that Thursday, March 5 is Employee Appreciation Day
CONSENT CALENDAR:
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed earlier regarding Item I.
Councilmember Perestam asked Staff a question regarding Item I (Declaring Emergency
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March 3, 2026
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for a Deteriorating Storm Drain and Associated Replacement on the Northbound Direction
of Crenshaw Boulevard report).
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, 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/Zweizig)
Approved the Minutes of February 17, 2026 (Regular Meeting) and February 23, 2026
(Adjourned Regular Meeting).
B. Registers of Demands (Anguiano)
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-15, 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;
and, Adopted Resolution No. IA 2026 -02, 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 a Notice of Completion for the Hawthorne Boulevard at
Eddinghill/Seamount Left Turn Signal Construction Contract. (Casil)
1) Accepted the construction contract with Alfaro Communications Construction Inc. for
the Hawthorne Boulevard at Eddinghill/Seamount Left Turn Signal Project as complete;
2) Authorized the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion (NOC) for the project with the
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office; and if no claims are filed within 35
days after recordation, send a notice to the surety company to exonerate the
Performance Bond; and, 3) Authorized the Contract Officer to release the 5%
construction retention payment to Alfaro Communications Construction Inc., 35 days
after recordation of the NOC by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s Office,
contingent upon no claims being filed on the project, and the contractor posting an
acceptable warranty bond with the City.
D. Consider signing the Joint Powers Agreement and appointing City-designated
Board of Director Members for the South Bay Regional Housing Trust. (Forbes)
1) Authorized Mayor to sign the South Bay Regional Housing Trust’s Joint Powers
Agreement; and, 2) Appointed Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Perestam as the City-
designated Board of Director Member and Councilmember George Lewis as the City-
Designated Alternate Board of Director Member, representing the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes on the South Bay Regional Housing Trust.
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March 3, 2026
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E. Consider purchasing State furnished Traffic Signal Controllers for the Western
Avenue Traffic Flow Improvements Project. (Casil)
Authorized procurement of the State furnished Traffic Signal Controllers for the
Western Avenue Traffic Flow Improvements Project through a direct payment to
Caltrans in the amount of $33,800.
F. 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) Directed the City Clerk to confirm the
same in the minutes of this City Council meeting, via Minute Order, reflecting this
action.
G. Consider the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
(ACFR). (Moya)
1) Received and filed the FY 2024-25 ACFR of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes; 2)
Received and filed the FY 2024-25 Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS 114 Letter)
from Independent Auditors to those Charged with Governance; and, 3) Received and
filed the FY 2024-25 Independent Auditors’ Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting, Compliance, and other Matters in accordance with Government Audit
Standards (GAS Letter).
H. Consider awarding a Public Works Agreement to Interstate Striping, Inc. for
various roadway sign and striping projects. (Casil)
1) Awarded a public works agreement for various roadway sign and striping projects to
Interstate Striping, Inc., in the amount of $60,255, and authorize a 15% contingency in
the amount of $9,038, for a total not-to-exceed construction amount of $69,293; and, 2)
Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the contract, in forms approved by the
City Attorney.
I. Consider declaring an emergency for a deteriorating storm drain and associated
replacement on the northbound direction of Crenshaw Boulevard approximately
830-feet north of Crest Road. (Mesker)
1) Adopted Resolution No. 2026-16 “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING AND DECLARING, BY A FOUR-
FIFTHS VOTE OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, THAT AN EMERGENCY EXISTS
WHICH WILL NOT PERMIT THE COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION OF BIDS TO
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March 3, 2026
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REPAIR A STORM DRAIN LOCATED ON CRENSHAW BOULEVARD
APPROXIMATELY 830-FEET NORTH OF CREST ROAD, AND AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO REPAIR AND REMEDIATE THE
SAME”; and, 2) Approved a budget reallocation of $450,000 in the CIP Fund from
Fiscal Year 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program - Storm Drain Improvements at
Montemalaga Canyon (Project 8726) to Storm Drain Asset Management Program &
Master Plan Update (Project 8701); and 3) Authorized the City Manager to execute any
emergency agreements to conduct the repairs and associated work in a form approved
by the City Attorney for ratification by the City Council at a future meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
None
REGULAR BUSINESS:
1. Consider whether to discontinue or continue the Avenida Classica Traffic Circles
Pilot Project. (Fraley)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed and there w ere
12 requests to speak.
Director of Public Works Awwad provided a staff report and PowerPoint presentation
and introduced General Technologies and Solutions (GTS) Traffic Engineer Rawad
Hani, Principal Engineer Fraley, and Traffic Safety Committee Chair Crossman who
were available for questions.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
The following members of the public addressed the City Council: Dean Zamani, Brad
Spellberg, Dan Myers, Sandra Hammersmark, Sam Shang, Dana Graham, Dane Mott,
Igor Obraztsov, and Dr. Kit Song.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and questions were asked of Staff, Traffic
Engineer Hani, and City Attorney Wynder.
Mayor Seo moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to: continue the Item to a
future meeting and directed Staff to further study alternative recommendations
including speed humps.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
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March 3, 2026
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NOES: None
2. Consider amending Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC) Chapter
17.47 Mixed Use Overlay District (MUOD) and Chapter 17.48 Residential Overlay
District (ROD). (Brandy)
Community Development Director Forbes provided a staff report and PowerPoint
presentation.
Discussion ensued among Council Members and questions were asked of Staff and
City Attorney Wynder.
Councilmember Lewis moved, seconded by Councilmember Bradley, to approve Staff
Recommendation as follows: 1) Adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 697U, AN URGENCY
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 17.47 (MIXED USE OVERLAY DISTRICT
(MUOD)) AND CHAPTER 17.48 (RESIDENTIAL OVERLAY DISTRICT (ROD)) OF
TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE TO
CONTINUE TO EFFECTUATE THE 2021-2029 HOUSING ELEMENT THEREBY
REQUIRING THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT AND ADDITIONS MUST ALLOW 100
PERCENT RESIDENTIAL USE, RESIDENTIAL USE OCCUPY AT LEAST 50
PERCENT OF THE TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF A MIXED-USE PROJECT, AND THE
OVERLAY IS APPLICABLE TO ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THESE
OVERLAY DISTRICTS; and, 2) Initiated regular Code Amendment proceedings to the
Zoning Code (Title 17 of RPVMC) thereby having the Planning Commission, in an
advisory role, make recommendations to the City Council on proposed text
amendments to Chapter 17.47 Mixed Use Overlay District (MUOD) and Chapter 17.48
Residential Overlay District (ROD) to require that any new development or additions in
these districts must allow 100 percent residential use and require that residential use
occupy at least 50 percent of the total floor area of a mixed -use project, and will also
require that the overlay is applicable to all new development projects in these overlay
districts.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Mayor Seo requested to receive a report from SCE regarding electrical grid upgrades.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
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March 3, 2026
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Each Councilmember present reported on their attendance at various organization and
association meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:07 P.M., Mayor Seo adjourned to 6:00 P.M on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, for a Closed
Session meeting followed by a 7:00 P.M. Regular meeting.
_________________________
Paul Seo, Mayor
Attest:
_________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk