CC DM 20260407 A - DRAFT 20260317 CC MINSDRAFT
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
AND SPECIAL IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY MEETING
MARCH 17, 2026
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular meeting of the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council and Special Improvement
Authority 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 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, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
ABSENT: None
Also present were Ara Mihranian, City Manager; William Wynder, City Attorney; Catherine
Jun, Deputy City Manager; Brandy Forbes, Director of Community Development and
Amanda Whitehead, Aleshire & Wynder Special Counsel (via Zoom).
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION:
None
CLOSED SESSION ITEM(S) ANNOUNCED:
1. 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 pending litigation to which the City is a
party. The title of such litigation is as follows: People of the State of California ex
rel William Wynder. City Attorneys v. Peter J. Cavanna, Los Angeles County
Superior Court Case No. 25TRCV01056
At 6:01 P.M. the Council recessed to Closed Session.
RECONVENE TO REGULAR MEETING:
At 7:00 P.M. the Closed Session was reconvened to the Regular meeting.
REGULAR MEETING – OPEN SESSION
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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: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
ABSENT:
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; Vanessa Godinez, Human Resources and Risk
Manager; Amy Seeraty, Senior Planner; Luna Mohammad, Senior Administrative
Analyst/Emergency Management Coordinator; Associate Planner, Jeffrey Kim; Nathan
Zweizig, Administrative Assistant (via Zoom); and Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk.
Also present was Deputy Derek Clotworthy of the Lomita Sheriff’s Station.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by City Manager Mihranian.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT:
City Attorney Wynder provided the closed session report for one item.
City Attorney Wynder reported that City Council met in Closed Session to discuss one
matter of pending litigation. The title of such litigation is as follows: People of the State of
California ex rel William Wynder. City Attorneys v. Peter J. Cavanna, Los Angeles County
Superior Court Case No. 25TRCV01056. The City Attorney provided a privileged and
confidential briefing. Questions were asked and answered, and the City Council
unanimously directed the City Attorney’s Office in consultation with the City Manager to
open negotiations with the receiver for possible acquisition of the property, which is the
subject of this litigation.
MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Seo and Los Serenos Docent Martin and Deborah Lopez announced the honorable
mentions and the winner of the Whale of a Day poster contest. Mayor Seo shared that the
Whale of a Day Festival will take place on April 11, 2026 at the Point Vicente Interpretive
Center.
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RECYCLE AND EMERGENCY PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS KIT DRAWING:
Mayor Seo, by acclamation, approved the Recycle Winners for March 3, 2026 as Cherie
Johnson and David Fuiji. 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: Ferraro, Bradley, 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: Michael Schnabel.
LOMITA STATION REPORT:
Deputy Clotworthy provided updates on the following:
1. Traffic Statistics Overview
2. Update on Crime Reports
3. Update on Community Relations Reports
CITY MANAGER REPORT:
City Manager Mihranian provided updates on the following:
1. Wishing everyone Happy Saint Patrick’s Day
2. Accepting applications to fill vacancies on various advisory boards due by April 27
3. Western Avenue Storefront Improvement Program , Round 4 now open and
applications are due on April 30
4. Coffee with the Mayor on Friday, March 20 between 10:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. at
Ladera Linda Community Park
5. Whale of a Day Bookmark Contest. Entries are due March 22, 2026 .
6. Whale of the Day Event on April 11 at 10:00 A.M- 4:00 P.M. at Point Vicente
Interpretive Center
7. EDCO Spring Brush Clearing Event on March 28-April 25
8. Upcoming Helicopter Activity at Ken Dyda Civic Center
9. Wishing Everyone a Happy Nowruz Mobarak
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CONSENT CALENDAR:
City Clerk Takaoka noted that late correspondence was distributed earlier regarding Item s
H and L, and there were no requests to speak.
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
A. Approval of Minutes (Zweizig)
Approved the Minutes of March 3, 2026 (Regular Meeting).
B. Registers of Demands (Anguiano)
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-17, 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 Professional Service Agreement with Architectural
Resources Group for consultant services related to the Voluntary
Property Buyout Program within the Greater Portuguese Bend
Landslide. (Garrett)
1) Approved a Professional Service Agreement (PSA) with Architectural Resources
Group (ARG) for consultant services related to the Request for Information (RFI) for the
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Voluntary Property Buyout Program within
the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide in the not to exceed amount of $53,060, for a
term of one year from the date of approval; 2) Authorize d the Mayor and City Clerk to
execute the PSA, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and, 3) Approved an
additional appropriation of $53,060 in Fund 331, Federal Grant (Expenditure and
Revenue), which will be reimbursed by the grant program.
D. Consider a claim against the City by Jayalata Ubhayakar. (Zweizig)
Rejected the claim and directed Staff to notify the claimant, Jayalata Ubhayakar.
E. Consider a claim against the City by Shivadev Ubhayakar. (Zweizig)
Rejected the claim and directed Staff to notify the claimant, Shivadev Ubhayakar.
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F. Consider installing and operating a Citywide emergency AM radio station.
(Mohammad)
1) Approved the installation and operation of a Citywide emergency AM radio station,
including installing three antennas, a 10-foot tall antenna to the roof at City Hall; a 27-
foot tall antenna to the auditorium roof and a 10-foot tall antenna at Ridgecrest
Intermediate School, to communicate critical emergency response and preparedness
information to the Rancho Palos Verdes community; 2) Authorized the City Manager to
sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) to install
and operate the emergency AM radio station and associated equipment, including a
27-foot and 10-foot tall antenna, at Ridgecrest Intermediate School; and, 3) Directed
staff to return with a recommended radio station name for City Council consideration
at a future meeting.
G. Consider the January 2026 Cash Balances/Monthly Treasurer’s Report. (Lin)
Received and filed the January 2026 Cash Balances/Monthly Treasurer’s Report.
H. Consider the 2025 Annual General Plan Progress Report on implementing the
Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan. (Kim)
Authorized Staff to forward the City’s 2025 Annual General Plan Progress Report on
the status of the implementation of the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan during the
2025 calendar year to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the
California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
I. 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)
1) Adopted Resolution No. 2026-18, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING, APPROVING,
AND ADOPTING THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT FOR A SUCCESSOR
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES AND THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND
MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES DISTRICT COUNCIL 36 FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1,
2025 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2028; and, 2) Waived Administrative Instruction No. 2-20,
which requires the City Council to take action on a Tentative Agreement only after it
has been placed on a City Council agenda as a Regular Business item and for a
minimum of two City Council meetings that are held at least two weeks apart.
J. Consider continuing the emergency justification for a deteriorating storm drain
on Crenshaw Boulevard approximately 830-feet north of Crest Road. (Mesker)
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. 2026-16 on March 3,
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2026, finding an emergency exists requiring immediate action to replace a deteriorating
storm drain across Crenshaw Boulevard, approximately 830 -feet north of Crest Road;
and, 2) Directed the City Clerk to confirm the same in the minutes of this City Council
meeting, via Minute Order, reflecting this action.
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)
Ratified Payments to Sunbeam for construction inspection services for the emergency
sewer repairs performed on the Abalone Cove Sanitary Sewer System in February
2026; 4) Ratified the Public Works Agreement (PWA) with Williams Pipeline
Contractors, Inc. (Williams) for on-call emergency pipeline repairs within the Landslide
Complex in the not-to-exceed amount of $750,000 with a 10% contingency of $75,000
and a contract term expiration date of June 30, 2026; and, 5) Ratified the Professional
Services Agreement (PSA) with Sunbeam Technologies, Inc. (Sunbeam) for on-call
construction inspection services for pipeline repairs within the Landslide Complex in the
not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 with a 15% contingency of $7,500, and a contract
term expiration date of June 30, 2026.
L. Consider awarding a Public Works Agreement to FS Contractors,
Inc. for the Sidewalk Management Program for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and extending
the professional services agreement Watearth, Inc. for engineering support
during construction. (Ascencio)
1) Awarded a Public Works Agreement (PWA) for the Sidewalk Management
Program to FS Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $172,366 with a contingency of
10%, or $17,237, for a total amount of up to $189,603; 2) Approved Amendment No. 1
to the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Watearth, Inc. to extend
the agreement term through June 30, 2026, with no change to the not-to-exceed
amount for sidewalk engineering and related services during construction; and, 3)
Authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the above PWA and PSA amendment,
in forms approved by the City Attorney.
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Consider conducting the 2025 Green Hills Memorial Park Conditional Use Permit
Compliance Review (Case No. PLCU2026-0001). (Seeraty)
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Mayor Seo declared the public hearing open.
City Clerk Takaoka reported that the notice of the public hearing was duly published,
late correspondence was submitted, and there was one request to speak.
Director of Community Development Forbes introduced Senior Planner Seeraty to
provide a staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff and Green Hills Representative, Nick
Resich.
Mayor Seo closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Bradley, to approve
Staff Recommendation as follows: Received and filed a report finding that Green Hills
Memorial Park was in compliance with Conditional Use Permit No. 155 in 2025.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
REGULAR BUSINESS:
2. Consider receiving the results of the Community Needs Survey and awarding a
contract to The Lew Edwards Group (LEG) for Ballot Measure Outreach and
Strategic Communications. (Jun)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed and there were
no requests to speak.
Deputy City Manager Jun provided a staff report and PowerPoint presentation and in
turn introduced FM3 Representative Richard Bernard to provide survey results.
Council Members asked questions of FM3 Representative, Richard Bernard.
Deputy City Manager Jun finalized her staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Mayor Pro Tem Perestam moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve
staff recommendations as follows: 1) Received and filed the results of the Community
Needs Survey conducted in February 2026 by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz &
Associates (FM3); and 2) Awarded a Contract Services Agreement (Agreement) to The
Lew Edwards Group (LEG) for Ballot Measure Outreach and Strategic
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Communications.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
3. Consider adopting the City’s 2026 Palos Verdes Peninsula Multi-Jurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan. (Mohammad)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there was no request to speak.
Senior Administrative Analyst/Emergency Management Coordinator Mohammad
introduced Black & Veatch Representative Jenny Meegan to provide a brief report and
PowerPoint presentation.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve Staff
Recommendation as follows: 1) Adopted Resolution No. 2026-19, A RESOLUTION OF
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES THEREBY
ADOPTING THE 2026 PALOS VERDES PENINSULA MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL
HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN VOLUME NO. 1 AND THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PORTION OF VOLUME NO. 2; and, 2) Authorized Staff to submit the 2026 Palos
Verdes Peninsula Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to the California Office of
Emergency Services (CalOES) for approval by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA).
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
4. Consider updates on the Greater Portuguese Bend-Ancient Altamira Landslide
Complex. (Awwad/Ramos/Forbes/Lozano)
City Clerk Takaoka reported that there was no request to speak.
Director of Public Works Awwad presented a staff report and PowerPoint presentation
on Dewatering Wells updates.
Director of Public Works Awwad introduced Director of Finance Ramos who in turn
reported on the Financial Expenditures and PowerPoint Presentation
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Councilmember Ferraro moved, seconded by Councilmember Lewis, to approve Staff
Recommendation as follows with the exception of item 3: 1) Received and filed an
update on the Greater Portuguese Bend -Ancient Altamira Landslide Complex
(Landslide Complex) conditions, activities, and financials; 2) Approved an appropriation
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of $2,154,416 for eligible project costs and $140,676 for grant administration costs in
the Federal Grant Revenue for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
(BRIC) Grant Program and Transfers-Out to reimburse the Capital Infrastructure
Projects (CIP) Fund; 4) Received and filed an update on the watering restriction within
the Landslide Complex; 5) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-20, 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; 6) Adopted
Resolution No. 2026-21, 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; and, 7) Adopted
Resolution No. 2026-22, 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.
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Discussion ensued among Council Members.
Councilmember Lewis moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve Staff
Recommendation as follows: 3) Approved an updated grant match for the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
for the Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Project, increasing the City’s
commitment match approved by the City Council on August 19, 2025 from $10 million
to $12,179,797 based on 60% engineered plans;
The motion passed on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Bradley, Ferraro, Lewis, Perestam, and Mayor Seo
NOES: None
5. Consider forwarding the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report to the
appropriate state agencies. (Kim)
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City Clerk Takaoka reported that late correspondence was distributed and there were
no requests to speak.
Director of Community Development Forbes introduced Associate Planner Kim for a staff
report and PowerPoint presentation.
Council Members asked questions of Staff.
Councilmember Bradley moved, seconded by Councilmember Ferraro, to approve Staff
Recommendation as follows: Authorized Staff to forward the City’s 2025 Housing Element
Annual Progress Report on the 6th Cycle Housing Element’s status, and its implementation
progress during the 2025 calendar year, to the Governor’s Office of Planning and
Research (OPR) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD).
CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM(S) PULLED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER:
None
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS:
Councilmember Lewis requested staff to report on movement rates in the landslide area,
including data from 2022 to present for consideration as part of the discussion on
extending the 60-day prohibition of two-wheeled vehicles along Palos Verdes Drive South.
CITY COUNCIL ORAL REPORTS:
Each Councilmember present reported on their attendance at various organization and
association meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:41 P.M., Mayor Seo adjourned to 6:00 P.M on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, for a Closed
Session meeting followed by a 7:00 P.M. Regular meeting.
Mayor Seo adjourned the meeting in honor and memory of longtime resident Bill Tillison.
_________________________
Paul Seo, Mayor
Attest:
_________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk