MINUTES
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025
CLOSED SESSION
The Council met in Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. with all Councilmembers present, to discuss the following items:
1. Conference 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 existing facts and circumstances which the City believes are not yet known to potential plaintiff(s), there is a significant exposure to litigation against the City.
Number of Potential Cases: 2
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Kraut called the Regular meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mark Levinson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Peter Kraut , Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian , and Councilmembers Edward Albrecht, David Shapiro, and Alicia Weintraub
Staff: City Manager Kindon Meik; Assistant City Manager Scott Trujillo; Deputy City Manager Michael McConville; City Clerk Lisa Pope; City Attorney Pam Lee; Chief Financial Officer Ron Ahlers; Community Development Director Michael Klein; Public Works Director Curtis Castle; Deputy Public Works Director Tatiana Holden; City Planner Tom Bartlett; and Sheriff’s Deputy Mason De Matteo
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION
Councilmember Weintraub moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried unanimously.
Docusign Envelope ID: 3D183C33-0062-4D23-8BFE-B4043B50ACB2 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2025
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
City Attorney Lee reported that the Council discussed the items on the agenda and took no reportable action.
PRESENTATIONS - NONE
COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilmember Albrecht expressed sympathy to the fire victims ; and encouraged communities to become Fire Wise certified.
Councilmember Shapiro commended staff and the first responders during the Palisades Fire. He thanked the commissioners for volunteering and for their service.
Councilmember Weintraub thanked the first responders ; a cknowledged staff for operation the Emergency Operations Center, working 24 hours a day; and discussed efforts to resolve shortcomings, including SCE, AT&T and Spectrum; the need for a backup generator at the local fire station; and water supplies.
Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian commended the first responders and staff for the work on the Kenneth Fire. He a cknowledged the passing of President Jimmy Carter and former Councilmember Marvin Lopata.
Mayor Kraut commended fire and law enforcement organizations , EOC staff and EPIC; e ncouraged home hardening; discussed m eeting of assemblymembers regarding needs during the fire; and announced Parent’s Night Out on February 21, 2025, and the Egg Hunt on March 23, 2025.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mark Levinson, Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged the City for its work during the fire and discussed resources provided by the Chamber to fire victims . He announced the Installation of the Chamber Board.
Parker Pereora, Calabasas Highlands, requested discussion on fire preparedness for the neighborhood; and the need for additional ingress and egress and F ire Department accessibility.
Sandi Kramer, shopping center owner, expressed concern about the maintenance of State Parks land near her business.
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January 22, 2025
Ali Pauani discussed the Kenneth Fire; commended the first responders; suggested the need for better preparation; and encouraged fundraising to support the fire fighters.
Randi Fe ilich, Calabasas residen t and Environmental Commissioner, announced the 2025 Environmental Forum on February 20, 6- 8 p.m. at Founders Hall. She thanked Joe Chilco, EPIC, for providing two-way radios prior to the fire.
Adam Smith, Calabasas resident, expressed appreciation to the EOC staff for the regular updates; commended EPIC; suggested additional education and use of two- way radios; expressed concern about the traffic lights on Parkway Calabasas and suggested options such as traffic enforcement, generators on standby for resident use, Starlink, and mobile hotspots.
CONSENT CALENDAR
The Consent Calendar consisted of the following items:
2. Meeting Minutes
Recommendation: Approve the December 4, 2024 Special and December 11, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes.
3. Check Register
Recommendation: Receipt of Check Register Report for the period of November 23, 2024 through January 10, 2025.
4. Salary Schedules for Full-Time Permanent and Hourly Employees Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2025-1942 approving a salary schedule for full-time permanent employees and rescind Resolution No. 2024 -1935; and adopt Resolution No. 2025 -1943 approving position titles and an hourly wage range schedule for hourly employees and rescind Resolution No. 2023-1866.
5. As-Needed Emergency Debris Removal Services
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Burns Pacific Construction, Inc. to provide as needed emergency cleaning services, debris/dirt removal and disposal, and other clean -up activities associated with hillside ero sion, excessive rain and other natural or manmade disasters on an as -needed or emergency call -out basis in an amount not to exceed $200,000 per year, for a total of up to five years, with the agreement including two optional one -year renewals at the City Manager’s discretion.
6. Quarterly Investment Report
Recommendation: Receive and file the Quarterly Investment Report for quarter ending December 31, 2024.
7. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Audit Reports Docusign Envelope ID: 3D183C33-0062-4D23-8BFE-B4043B50ACB2 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2025
Recommendation: Receive and f ile: (1) the Metro City of Calabasas Annual Financial Report of its Proposition A Local Return Fund, Proposition C Local Return Fund, Measure R Local Return Fund, Measure M Local Return Fund and Transportation Development Act Article 3 Fund as of and for Years Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023; (2) Independent Auditor’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance with Government Auditing Standards; and (3) Independent Auditor’s Report on Compliance and on Internal Control Over Compliance Required by the Guidelines.
MOTION
Councilmember Shapiro moved and Councilmember Weintraub seconded a motion to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. El Camino Real Bell Marker Historic Designation
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to continue the public hearing to February 12, 2025. The motion carried unanimously.
9. 2025-2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Deputy City Manager McConville presented a PowerPoint outlining the 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant.
In response to Council questions, Deputy City Manager McConville provided contact information for those interested in participating in the Residential Rehabilitation Program.
Mayor Kraut opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, Mayor Kraut closed the public hearing.
The Council indicated support for the program.
MOTION
Councilmember Weintraub moved and Councilmember Albrecht seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2025 -1945 approving the CDBG 51 st program
year for 2025-2026.
CONTINUED BUSINESS - NONE
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NEW BUSINESS
10. Commission, Committee and Council Appointments and Oaths of Office
City Clerk Pope presented the report.
MOTION
Mayor Kraut moved and Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian seconded a motion to appoint Laurel Ford to the Art in Public Places Committee for a 2 -year term expiring January 2027. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION
Mayor Kraut moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to appoint Negin Ghaffari to the Arts Council for a 4-year term expiring January 2029. The motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Weintraub indicated she would defer her appointment to the Environmental Commission.
MOTION
Councilmember Shapiro moved and Councilmember Weintraub seconded a motion to ratify the following appointments:
a) Communications and Technology Commission: Michael Brockman (Albrecht), Carey Melcher (Weintraub), Kartik Nettar (Shapiro), Danah Marie Taylor (Kraut), and Candace Weber (Bozajian) for 2 -year term s expiring January 2027;
b) Environmental Commission: Luresa Byrne (Albrecht), David Cohan (Bozajian), Randi Feilich (Kraut), and Whitney Schwartz (Shapiro) for two - year terms expiring January 2027;
c) Historic Preservatio n: Arvin Ferdows (Albrecht), Justin Ford (Bozajian), Michael Heumann (Shapiro), Mark Silverman (Kraut), and Carol Steffen (Weintraub) for 2-year terms expiring January 2027;
d) Parks, Recreation and Education Commission: Julie Elginer (Bozajian), Brad Klein (Kraut), Patti Mardel l (Weintraub) , Anita McQuillan (Albrecht), and Stephanie Williams (Shapiro) for 2-year terms expiring January 2027; e) Planning Commission: Wendy Fassberg (Shapiro), Michael Harrison (Bozajian), Matthew Huzaineh (Albrecht), Robert Lia (Kraut), and Dennis Washburn (Weintraub) for 2-year terms expiring January 2027; f) Public Safety Commission: Sharon Boucher (Albrecht), Brian Cameron (Shapiro), Joe Chilco (Kraut), Jeff Piraino (Bozajian), and Matt Slatoff (Weintraub) for 2-year terms expiring January 2027; and g) Traffic and Transportation Commission: Richard C assel (Bozajian), Mike Pashai (Albrecht), Heath Patton (Weintraub), Adam Smith (Kraut), and Jason Docusign Envelope ID: 3D183C33-0062-4D23-8BFE-B4043B50ACB2 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2025
Sperling Reich (Shapiro) for 2-year terms expiring January 2027.
The motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian indicated he would defer his appointment to the Library Commission.
MOTION
Councilmember Weintraub moved and Councilmember Albrecht seconded a motion to ratify the appointment of Monica Parmar (Albrecht) and Laurel Ford (Weintraub) to the Library Commission for 3 -year terms expiring in January 2028. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION
Mayor Kraut moved and Councilmember Weintraub seconded a motion to appoint Candice Steiner as alternate to the Planning Commission for a 2 -year term expiring in January 2027. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION
Councilmember Albrecht moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to appoint Richard Sherman as the Calabasas Savvy Seniors Advisory Group representative on the Parks, Recreation, and Education Commission for a 2-year term expiring in January 2027. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem B ozajian moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to acknowledge the Mayor’s appointments to the Mayor’s Youth Council.
Mayor Kraut thanked the appointees for their willingness to serve . City Clerk Pope conducted the Oath of Office for all newly appointed Commissioners.
The Council discussed the proposed amendments to the Municipal Code and Council Protocols and directed staff as follows:
• Retain two-year terms for commissions
• Modify the Municipal Code to clarify the commencement of terms • Modify the Municipal Code to add a Student Commission to the Planning Commission
• Modify the City Council Protocols to remove the requirement of including applications in the agenda packet
• Retain the City Council Protocol requiring nominees to appear before the Council
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11. City Council Meeting Schedule
City Clerk Pope presented the report.
The Council discussed the proposed calendar and made the following changes:
• Add a Special meeting on May 7, 2025
• Cancel the May 14, 2025 Regular meeting
• Cancel the September 24, 2025 Regular meeting
• Add a Special meeting on October 7, 2024
• Cancel the October 8, 2025 Regular meeting
MOTION
Councilmember Albrecht moved and Councilmember Weintraub seconded a motion to approve the City Council meeting schedule for 2025 as amended.
12. Outside Agency / Council Liaison Appointments
City Clerk Pope presented the report.
The Council discussed the outside agency and liai son appointments and determined the following:
• Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center Joint Powers Authority Board no longer existed with the transition of the Community Center to Calabasas;
• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Board did not allow for alternates so Mayor Kraut would be the designee;
• Las Virgenes Unified School District Parent Faculty Club/Association Liaisons should be the Schools Liaisons with Councilmembers Shapiro and Weintraub as the members; and
• Valley Industry Commerce Association (VICA) members would be Mayor Kraut, with Councilmember Shapiro as the alternate.
MOTION
Councilmember Shapiro moved and Councilmember Weintraub seconded a motion to affirm the Outside Agency Appointments for 2025. The motion carried unanimously.
MOTION
Councilmember Weintraub moved and Councilmember Shapiro seconded a motion to affirm the Council Liaisons for 2025. The motion carried unanimously.
13. City Council Standing and Temporary Advisory (Ad Hoc) Committees
City Clerk Pope presented the report.
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The Council discussed the process of transitioning its taskforces into standing committees or ad hoc committees and directed staff to bring the matter back on February 12, 2025 meeting.
14. Goal Setting
Recommendation: Provide direction to staff regarding the development of a strategic plan.
MOTION
Councilmember Weintraub moved and Councilmember Albrecht seconded a motion to continue the item. The motion carried unanimously.
ORAL REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian discussed the Southern California Edison requested rate increase and requested a future agenda item. Councilmember Weintraub seconded the request.
Mayor Pro Tem Bozajian announced the final meeting of the Agoura - Calabasas Community Center JPA on January 30, 2025.
RECESS
Mayor Kraut rececessed the meeting to Closed Session at 9:43 p.m.
The Council convened into Closed Session at 9:50 p.m.
ADJOURN
Mayor Kraut adjourned the meeting 10:04 p.m.
Approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Calabasas on February 12, 2025.
___________________________
PETER KRAUT, Mayor
________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
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