MINUTES
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024
CL
OSED SESSION
The
Council met in Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. with all Councilmembers present, to discuss the following item:
1. C
onference with Legal Counsel: Potential for Litigation Against the City Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2) & (e)(1) A point has been reached where, in the opinion of the City Council, on the advice of its legal counsel, based on the below -described existing facts and circumstances, there is a significant exposure to litigation against the City. Facts and circumstances that might result in litigation but which the City believes are not yet known to potential plaintiff or plaintiffs. (Government Code Section 54956.9(e)(1))
Number of Potential Cases: 1.
O
PENING MATTERS
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ALL TO ORDER
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ayor Weintraub called the Regular meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
R
OLL CALL
Pr
esent: Mayor Weintraub, Mayor Pro Tem Kraut, and Councilmembers Albrecht, Bozajian and Shapiro
S
taff: City Manager Meik; Deputy City Manager McConville; City Clerk Pope; City Attorney Summers; Chief Financial Officer Ahlers; Community Development Director Klein; Community Services Director Green; City Librarian, Lockwood; Public Works Director Castle ; Public Safety Manager Dyer; Planner Rackerby; Assistant Engineer Bezdecny; and Sheriff’s Deputy Mason De Mateo
PL
EDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Girl Scout Troop 3256.
R egular City Council Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2024
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
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ouncilmember Shapiro moved and Mayor Pro Tem Kraut se conded a motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
CL
OSED SESSION REPORT
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ity Attorney Summers reported that the Council discussed the item on the agenda and took no reportable action.
A
NNOUNCEMENTS/INTRODUCTIONS
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ayor Pro Tem Kraut announced the Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening of Poppy Bank on October 15, 2024.
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ouncilmember Bozajian announced the Pumpkin Festival on October 20, 2024.
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ouncilmember Shapiro congratulated staff on the Grand Reopening of Brandon’s Village and on the Calabasas Classic 5K Run/Walk for the Heroes of Childhood Cancer. He announced the Mayor ’s Youth Council V oter Information Night on October 14, at 6 p.m. and the Green Street Project Ribbon Cutting on October 23.
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ouncilmember Albrecht commended Community Services on the condition of the tennis courts at the Tennis and Swim Club.
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ayor Weintraub commended staff on the opening of the De Anza Park playground; and the hard work completing nine park projects in the past 10 months.
O
RAL COMMUNICATIONS – PUBLIC COMMENT
Ma
rk Levinson announced Poppy Bank opening on October 15 and Chamber Luncheon hosted by Elevated Healing Treatment Center; and introduced the new owner of Mathnasium.
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mirah Meghani, owner of Mathnasium, introduced the services of Mathnasium.
C
ONSENT ITEMS
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ouncilmember Shapiro pulled Item No. 3.
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ouncilmember Bozajian pulled Item No. 6.
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tem No. 4 was pulled by the public.
R egular City Council Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2024
The
following items were pulled f rom the Consent Calendar for individual consideration:
3. R
ecommendation to Award a Construction Contract for the Bike Lane Striping Project, Specification No. 23-24-06, to Sterndahl Enterprises, LLC in an amount not to exceed $258,635
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n response to Council questions, Assistant Engineer Bezdecny and Public Works Director Castle discussed the proposed t imeline; Caltrans permit expiration; and AQMD and Metro grant funds.
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onsideration of Resolution No. 2024 -1929 supporting Proposition 36, The Homeless, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act
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ouncilmember Bozajian indicated Proposition 36 was supported by both Cal Cities and California Contract Cities and encouraged a yes vote.
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ayor Weintraub expressed her strong support for Proposition 36.
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onsideration of adoption of City Council Resolution No. 2024 -1927, approving an overall reduction in size and the number of residential units for Site Plan Review 2023-005, Conditional Use Permit Nos. 2023 -003, 2023-004 and 2023-005, Scenic Corridor Permit 2023-003 and Tentative Tract Map 2023- 002, a mixed-use project located at 4799 Commons Way (APN:2068-003-021) within the Commercial Mixed -Use Zoning District, Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone and Affordable Housing Overlay
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ichael Harrison stated the new design was much better but expressed concern with loss of parking. He expressed d isappointment with Building A being eight stories tall, only four affordable units located next to the trash area, facing a driveway and cement wall. He suggested staff request Building A be reduced and the color changed.
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ouncilmember Bozajian thanked the Planning Commission for its review of the project. He indicated the newly proposed project was better ; addressed concerns regarding parking and building height, therefore he could support the project.
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ayor Pro Tem Kraut stated the movie theater was removed, therefore, there was adequate parking.
R egular City Council Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2024
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
1. A
pprove the minutes of the September 25, 2024 Regular Meeting.
2. Receipt of Check Register Report for the period of September 14, 2024 through September 27, 2024.
3. Recommendation to Award a Construction Contract for the Bike Lane Striping Project, Specification No. 23-24-06, to Sterndahl Enterprises, LLC in an amount not to exceed $258,635
4. Consideration of adoption of City Council Resolution No. 2024 -1927, approving an overall reduction in size and the number of residential units for Site Plan Review 2023-005, Conditional Use Permit Nos. 2023 -003, 2023-004 and 2023-005, Scenic Corridor Permit 2023-003 and Tentative Tract Map 2023- 002, a mixed-use project located at 4799 Commons Way (APN:2068-003-021) within the Commercial Mixed -Use Zoning District, Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone and Affordable Housing Overlay
5. Adoption of Resolution No. 2024 -1928 approving Human Resources Guidelines and rescinding Resolution No. 2009-1191
6. Consideration of Resolution No. 2024 -1929 supporting Proposition 36, The Homeless, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act
M
OTION
Councilmember Shapiro moved and Mayor Pro Tem Kraut seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously.
NE
W BUSINESS
7. A
pproval of Resolution No. 2024-1930 Terminating Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center Joint Powers Agreement to Complete Land Transfer from Agoura Hills to Calabasas for the Community Center
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ity Attorney Summers presented the staff report.
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n response to Council questions, City Attorney Summers anticipated recordation of the deed before the end of the year.
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ouncilmember Bozajian suggested an event commemorating the transfer and thanking the City of Agoura Hills.
The
Council expressed its excitement for the transfer, thanked the City of Agoura Hills, and thanked the Community Services Department for running the Community Center.
R egular City Council Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2024
MOTION
Councilmember Bozajian moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2024-1930 terminating the Agoura Hills and Calabasas Community Center Joint Powers Authority . The motion carried unanimously.
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emorandum of Understanding between Calabasas and Hidden Hills for the Annexation of Craftsman Corner and for Reciprocal Library Access C
ity Attorney Summers presented the staff report.
The
Council indicated support for the agreement.
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idden Hills Mayor Eniko Gold reaffirmed the partnership between the City of Calabasas and Hidden Hills and looked forward to the City of Hidden Hills’ action on Tuesday, October 15.
M
OTION
Councilmember Albrecht moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to: 1) authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding Between Calabasas and Hidden Hills for the Annexation of Craftsman Corner and for Reciprocal Library Access (“MOU”), and 2) direct and delegate authority to the City Manager to make m inor revisions to the MOU to obtain the approval of the agreement by Hidden Hills, if necessary.
The motion carried unanimously.
P
UBLIC HEARING
9. R
eceive Comments on the Draft application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Pathwa ys to Removing Obstacles to Housing grant program
Pl
anner Rackerby presented the staff report.
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ayor Weintraub opened the public hearing.
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ichael Harrison expressed concern with the City being asked to approve affordable housing without planning or design review.
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oe Chilco expressed concern regarding fire risk and evacuation traffic; sacrifice of public participation; and objective design standards leading to box ticking due to lack of trust of Planning staff.
R egular City Council Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2024
There being no additional speakers, Mayor Weintraub closed the public hearing.
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n response to Council questions, Community Development Director Klein and City Attorney Summers explained the potential objective design standards and ministerial project approval; option for developers to pursue the normal permitting process ; risk of creating objective design standards but retaining legacy code ; unique application of the grant and o bjective design standards to housing; g oal for funding to rewrite portions of the General Plan and required rewrite of the Housing Element ; and reimbursement for work completed and the ability to amend the grant after award.
The
Council indicated support for affordable housing; expressed concern with sacrificing the character of the community, unfettered growth and State mandates; expressed gratitude to staff for finding the grant; recognized the public’s concerns; need for community workshops once funds were received; and suggested rewording the s ection on P age 16 regarding the lack of communities’ support for new housing.
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OTION
Councilmember Shapiro moved and Mayor Pro Tem Kraut seconded a motion to receive comments and direct staff to proceed with the grant application. The motion carried unanimously.
RE
CESS
Mayor Weintraub called a recess at 8:07 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:15 p.m. with all Councilmembers present.
F
UTURE INFORMATION/AGENDA ITEMS
10. D
irection from Council on requested agenda items
A. Direction to Staff on Development of the 2024 Legislative Platform D
eputy City Manager McConville presented the staff report.
The
Council discussed the proposed Legislative Platform.
C
ONSENSUS
By consensus, the Council provided direction to staff regarding the legislative platform including: retain ing a high- level platform; reviewing every two R egular City Council Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2024
years; and not allowing the City Manager or Mayor to formally express support or oppose without prior Council review.
B. D
iscussion on the Procurement of Grant Writing/Lobbyist Services Deputy City Manager McConville presented the staff report.
The
Council discussed the need for a grant writer ; p rimary goal to find sources of money; and issuance of a request for proposals (RFP).
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ity Manager Meik commended staff for bringing in grant funds through known sources; and discussed the need for outside expertise.
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OTION
Mayor Pro Tem Kraut moved and Councilmember Albrecht seconded a motion to direct staff to issue an RFP for grant writing/lobbyist services. The motion carried unanimously.
11. N
ew Requests for future information/agenda items
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ouncilmember Albrecht requested consideration of renaming the Calabasas Senior Center.
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ONSENSUS
By consensus, the Council referred the matter to the Recreation, Youth and Seniors Task Force.
TA
SK FORCE REPORTS
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ayor Pro Tem Kraut discussed his participation in the Budget Committee meeting on September 30; Walk to School on October 2; and Brandon’s Village Ribbon Cutting.
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ouncilmember Albrecht stated he attended the Walk to School event; and announced the Valley Economic Alliance meeting on Friday, September 11, at 10 am at Peddler’s Fork.
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ouncilmember Shapiro discussed the recent Sustainability Task Force meetings; Mayor’s Youth Council meetings; PFC at Bay Laurel ; SCAG meetings; and Valley Economic Alliance meeting. He wished everyone a happy new year.
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ayor Weintraub discussed her participation in the Economic Alliance Mayor’s Roundtable, Walk to School Day and Bay Laurel PFC meeting.
R egular City Council Meeting Minutes
October 9, 2024
CI
TY MANAGER’S REPORT
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ity Manager Meik discussed the s uccessful Flu C linic and plaza rental for the October 7 A ttack Anniversary event. He comm ended the City Clerk on implementation of the use of DocuSign and transition to an agenda management system.
INF
ORMATIONAL REPORTS
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one.
ADJ
OURN
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ayor Weintraub adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m.
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Lisa Pope, City Clerk