П CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
VIA TELECONFERENCE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(E)
Monday, January 24, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.
indicated further below. The City Council Chambers will not be open to the public. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable modification or accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") please contact Deana Gonzalez at 818-888-9281 or [email protected].
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hidden Hills was duly held via teleconference on Monday, January 24, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 p.m. Mayor Laura McCorkindale called the meeting to order and presided thereover.
ROLL CALL
Council: Mayor Laura McCorkindale
Mayor Pro Tem Steve Freedland
Council Member Eniko Gold
Council Member Larry G. Weber
Council Member Stuart E. Siegel
Staff: City Manager Kerry Kallman
City Attorney Roxanne Diaz
City Engineer Dirk Lovett
City Clerk Deana L. Gonzalez
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APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Council Member Gold and unanimously carried on a roll call vote, it was resolved that the agenda for the January 24, 2022 regular meeting be approved as submitted.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member Weber congratulated the Los Angeles Rams for beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
AUDIENCE
Resident Britt Aaronson stated that she was in attendance on behalf of the Library Commission if anybody has any questions or comments related to Library business. The next Library Commission meeting is February 7, and is open to the public. If anyone is interested, she can forward the meeting information to them.
Mayor Pro Tem Freedland asked Ms. Aaronson if the library is closed at this time. She confirmed that it is closed until January 315, which they will reevaluate then whether or not to reopen.
City Manager Kallman read the following comment received by email from a member of the audience who could not be in attendance:
"Dear Mr. Kallman and Members of the Hidden Hills City Council:
I am writing you today to request the city council consider a resolution in support of recalling DA George Gascon. On January 4, 2021, the city of Beverly Hills unanimously approved a resolution in support of recalling DA George Gascon. This resolution follows a March 2021 resolution by the city of Beverly Hills issuing a vote of no confidence in the district attorney. On June 14, 2021, the Hidden Hills city council became the 19th city in Los Angeles County to issue a vote of no confidence in DA Gascon. The vote received wide community support, with the city council unanimously voting in favor.
Since then, crime in Los Angeles has skyrocketed. Hidden Hills has seen an increase in property crimes and trespassing since Gascon rose to power in December 2020. In addition, City Council Minutes
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Los Angeles County has seen skyrocketing murders and homicides, reaching a 15-year high. As Sheriff Alex Villanueva once said, when you have a DA acting like a public defender, you have no one defending the will of the people. I will be signing the new recall Gascon petition, which is expected to come out by the end of January 2022. Thank you for reading my email, I look forward to your correspondence. Sincerely, Casey Corbin" Mayor McCorkindale asked City Attorney Diaz if it was appropriate to be able to include this on a future meeting agenda as it was a comment in the audience, for which she responded that the Council can agree to agendize it but that there cannot be any discussion on the topic. Mayor McCorkindale then asked if anyone had any issues for including this on a future agenda.
Mayor Pro Tem Freedland recommended to include this item on the next City Council agenda.
Council Member Siegel agreed, and with no objections, this item will be agendized for the next meeting.
PRESENTATION
Introduction of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, 44* District Mayor McCorkindale introduced Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who is currently in the 44th district, and will become the 42nd district next January, which includes Hidden Hills. She's had the great pleasure of chatting with Assemblymember Irwin in great detail about single family housing and our Board of Supervisors race. She feels she is quite a positive match for the people of Hidden Hills.
Assemblymember Irwin introduced herself to the Council, staff and residents and stated that she was on the Thousand Oaks City Council for ten years before she was elected to the Assembly, so she is very familiar with a lot of the City issues, and she was also on the Planning Commission for a year and a half, and really understand about local control and all the challenges the City Councils in California have, she and is really going to be looking forward to working with all of the Council.
She congratulated the Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments (COG), who did an excellent City Council Minutes
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job advocating that all the COG cities stay together, and that all of the COG cities working together are going to be a more powerful voice, than an individual city.
Mayor McCorkindale asked if the City Council Members had any questions for Assemblymember Irwin.
Council Member Freedland welcomed Assemblymember Irwin and he asked AB101, that she authored and became effective January 1 of this year, regarding HOA funds that are deposited into new accounts, must only be deposited in accounts that are FDIC insured or National Credit Union Administration insured.
Assemblymember Irwin stated that it's really to safeguard the finances different ways and we worked with the HOAs to make sure that it wouldn't be problematic. Obviously, we didn't work with the HOA in your in your city, because we weren't representing there yet, but she asked Mr.
Freedland if he felt there may be some issues for on that.
Mr. Freedland offered that the unintended consequence, for lack of a better term, the City did something a little different a few years ago and the City pulled the majority of its money out of Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF). For most of cities that have their monies there, the interest was very low and not helping the city. The City Council hired a firm and drafted a very stringent investment policy, which does include some very high rated AAA bonds and things like that. By their nature are FDIC insured, and the result of that is that the city has received, you know much more than $100,000 additional revenue than we would have had we left the money in LAIF, and so the city was anticipating pitching the same strategy to our HOA. so that they can maybe get a little better return than what they're getting on their money. The clarification that he is looking for is that does this Assembly bill now restrict the HOA from doing what the city did.
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Assemblymember Irwin replied that she would look into it and get back to the Council on this question. She didn't believe that that was an issue with it, but that she'll check to make sure. She also mentioned that she and the Mayor will be having a policy discussion with the City's lobbyist later on so we can get you that answer. Mayor Pro Tem Freedland thanked her and looks forward to that answer forthcoming.
Council Member Siegel and Gold welcomed Assemblymember Irwin and look forward to working with the Assemblymember in the future.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Siegel would like to add an item to a future agenda regarding the City Selection Committee and the City supporting that the Committee continue to hold their meetings by teleconference, as the attendance is much greater than when they were located downtown.
Mayor McCorkindale stated that this is an item that doesn't need to be on a City Council agenda, but an item that our lobbyist could advocate for.
STAFF COMMENTS
City Manager Kallman introduced the City's newest contracted staff member Alex Di, who is working for Charles Abbott Associates, who is the City's contract engineering firm.
Mayor McCorkindale asked City Attorney Diaz to make a brief comment about how the City notices regular and special meetings and why notices go out just before the deadlines and to just give the public a little bit of nuance about that, since it came up last week.
City Attorney Diaz explained that cities have two kinds of meetings, regular and special meetings.
Regular meetings are those meetings that are held on a certain date and time, established by a resolution approved by the City. The City Council meetings for Hidden Hills are held on the second and fourth Mondays currently at 5:30 p.m. in this teleconference environment, and so under City Council Minutes
January 24 2022
the Brown Act, the City provides 72 hours notice of the meeting, which is the end of day Friday before the meeting, to make sure that staff has ample time to finish all staff reports required for the meeting. In terms of special meetings, the Brown Act requires 24 hours notice, and special meetings are for when something comes up unexpectedly, and action should be taken before the next regularly scheduled meeting. These meetings are noticed on the City Hall bulletin board, at the Hidden Hills Community Association office, and also online at the City's website. There is also a distribution list that residents can sign up for, that will be mailed from City staff.
PUBLIC HEARING
Consideration of Adoption of Urgency Ordinance No. 380 Extending Urgency Ordinance No. 379 Pertaining to Senate Bill 9 (SB9)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS EXTENDING URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 379 PERTAINING TO REGULATIONS FOR TWO-UNIT DEVELO MENT IN
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONES TO IMPLEMENT SENATE BILL 9 (SB 9) CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 65852.21 AND 66411.7; DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF AND
FINDING THE PROJECT EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
City Attorney Diaz presented the following report:
on December 13, 2021, pursuant to the Government Code, the City Council enacted an urgency ordinance, which adopted zoning and subdivision standards in single-family residential zones to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 9 ('SB 9"); SB 9, which was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 16, 2021, is to increase housing production and affordability by requiring ministerial approval of a two-lot subdivisions and/or development projects for up to two units per single-family residential lot; SB 9 supersedes several City regulations regarding single-family residential subdivision and development standards; however, the bill did preserve some authority for local jurisdictions to impose objective zoning and subdivision regulations; the urgency ordinance that was adopted in December expires on January 27, 2002, so staff is recommending that the City Council extend the urgency ordinance for a period of ten months and fifteen days to allow staff to continue its research on how best to implement SB 9 on a permanent basis in order to ensure that the City's semi-rural character is maintained while complying with the provisions of the statute.
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Mayor McCorkindale asked if there were any technical questions from the Council or staff. As there were none, Mayor McCorkindale opened the public hearing and asked if there were any audience members who would like to speak on this agenda item.
Resident David Stanley addressed the Council by asking if staff could give some highlights of what the restrictions and limitations are that are included in the ordinance.
City Attorney Diaz responded that the exhibit to the ordinance states some of the following development standards: 1) no residential unit is placed in a way that there is way that it goes through a flood control easement, 2) no more than 25% of the exterior structural walls of an existing dwelling shall be demolished if the dwelling has been occupied by a tenant in the last three years prior to the zoning clearance application; 3) there are standards with respect to trees and the removal of those trees; 4) any new resident until has to meet certain standards in terms of gross floor area that it can't exceed one story and it can't exceed sixteen feet in height; there are standards for attached residential units versus detached residential units; 5) requirements for off street parking and driveways to ensure that there is at least one off street parking space provided for each new unit.
As there were no further comments or objections, Mayor McCorkindale then closed the hearing.
As there was no further discussion, upon MOTION of Council Member Weber, seconded by Council Member Siegel and carried on roll call vote, it was resolved to waive full reading and adopt by title only, Urgency Ordinance No. 380, entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS EXTENDING URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 379 PERTAINING TO
REGULATIONS FOR TWO-UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONES TO IMPLEMENT SENATE BILL 9 (SB 9) CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 65852.21 AND 66411.7; DECLARING THE URGENCY
THEREOF AND FINDING THE PROJECT EXEMPT FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
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MONTHLY DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
A. Los Angeles County Fire Department Reports- October, November and December Community Services Liaison Megan Currier presented the following reports:
the month of October had 7 medical calls, 2 service calls, 1 good intent call, and 1 hazardous condition call (broken 1.5" PVC main from contactors digging near gas meter) for a total of 11 responses. The month of November had 5 medical calls, 1 service call, and 2 good intent calls for a total of 8 responses. The month of December had 5 medical calls, 1 hazardous condition (wires down), 3 service calls (backyard area drains were clogged and unable to keep up with the amount of rain falling, and front yard, driveway, garage flooded), and 4 good intent calls for a total of 13 responses. As always, he is appreciative with all the compliance and support they receive in the Community.
B. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Reports - October, November and December
Deputy Rick Baldi presented the following reports:
during the month of October there were zero Part I crime, two domestic violence misdemeanors and three trespassing calls. The three noteworthy incidents for the month were: a resident of Lake Balboa was arrested for trespassing and possession of burglary tools in the 6000 block of John Muir Road. The suspect and two associates were seen by security walking down a steep dirt hill located on the north end of Hidden Hills. When they noticed the witness, they ran towards a trail at the south end of the hill. Two of the suspects were able to avoid capture; a Sherman oaks resident was arrested/citied for traffic violations in the 5100 block of Round Meadow Road; and a resident of Perris was arrested for trespassing in the 24800 block of Long Valley Road. Theis suspect has been a habitual trespasser in the past and has been told numerous times not to enter Hidden Hills private community; During the month of November there was one Part 1 crime which was a grand theft that occurred in the 25200 block of Walker Road. A watch was stolen from a drawer in a bedroom closet at the location. No suspects) seen or heard. There were four trespassing calls. During the month of December, there was one Part I crime, which was an attempted robbery that occurred in the 5300 block of Lasher Road. The victim was providing security at the location/residence and left to use a restroom nearby. Victim then receive a phone call that security was no longer needed at the location. Victim returned to the location to return an iPad that was used to monitor security cameras. As victim was leaving location, one suspect came out of the residence armed with a weapon and pointed City Council Minutes
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it at the victim. A second suspect shoved the victim and they attempted to take the victim's phone.
Council Member Gold asked Deputy Baldi if on the future reports that all violation codes had descriptions. Deputy Baldi noted that he would ask the traffic secretary to take care of that.
Lt. Chad Watters elaborated on Deputy Baldi's report and added that residents on the perimeters of the City should investigate getting motion sensors, glass break for their second floor windows/doors and moving all patio furniture away from the backs of the houses.
Resident and HHCA President David Stanley expressed his appreciation for how closely the Sheriff's Department and Covered 6 are working together and that security information will be in the upcoming Round Up that goes to the residents.
C. City Engineer Report
City Engineer Lovett presented the following report:
1) Long Valley Entrance Improvement Project - Measure R - preliminary concepts have been reviewed and approved by the City Council and the HHCA; civil and landscape design is 95% complete; in May of 2021, a landscape designer worked with the HHCA Landscape Committee to prepare alternative concepts and profile renderings; the City Council approved a new conceptual design in December; Phase i (parking lot and landscaping improvements inside the Hidden Hills City Limits) will hopefully go out to bid this spring, with Phase 2 (sidewalk and street work in the City of Los Angeles and Caltrans) perhaps spring/summer of 2022. 2) Overhead Power Lines Undergrounding - All undergrounding work on Long Valley Road was completed in November 2021; staff is now working with SCE on the undergrounding of Little Hollow Road. 3) 24314 Long Valley Road - The old grading permit was reissued to the new builder on April 4, 2021. New building and grading plans have been submitted for City review and a revised grading plan as permitted on 1/7/22. Grading work may commence this week. 4) High Pressure Gas Line on Spring Valley Road - As part of Southern California Gas Company's Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan, the Gas Company pertormed in-line inspections of the pipes and an anomaly was discovered in one of the pipes at 25315 Eldorado Meadow Road. The Gas Company is currently making repairs to the pipe.
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January 24 2022
OLD BUSINESS
Consideration of Awarding a Contract to Toro Enterprises, Inc. for the Remediation of Ground Water at Spring Valley Tennis Court Area
City Engineer Lovett presented the following report:
groundwater has been springing up just north of the Spring Valley tennis courts for many years, creating "swamp" like conditions; at its meeting in July, 2021, the City Council awarded a contract to J&L Engineering for the groundwater remediation, in an amount not to exceed $23,700, with a 20% contingency; staff has made many unsuccessiul attempts over the last several months to contact J&L Engineering to enter into a contract to proceed with the remediation work, for which J&L has not responded to phone calls, emails, or letters; staff has solicited quotes from 2 additional contractors; the low bidder, Toro Enterprises, Inc, is a local firm with experience with this type of project, and has stated that he is open to modifications in the field should, after pumping and excavation is done; the proposed cost with Toro Enterprises, including the recommended 20% contingency, is $31,554. An additional budget adjustment of $3,054 is requested.
As there was no discussion upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Council Member Weber and carried on roll call vote, it was resolved enter into a contract with Toro Enterprises, Inc., in the amount of $26,295.00, for groundwater remediation behind the Spring Valley arena tennis courts, and authorize an additional budget adjustment of $3,054, which includes a 20% contingency.
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Council Minutes - January 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Demand List
C. Disbursement List - December
D Financial/Treasurer's Report - December
E. Investment Statement - December
Upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Council Member Gold and unanimously carried on roll call vote, it was resolved to approve items A, B, C D, and E of the consent calendar as submitted.
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NEW BUSINESS •
A.
iscussion and paste al of a Raste Mastemen Non-Basic Services Provided by At this time, Mayor Pro Tem Freedland recused himself from this agenda item as he owns stock in Waste Management and there may be a potential conflict of interest.
City Engineer Lovett presented the following report:
the City of Hidden Hills entered into an agreement with Waste Management for the City's solid waste collection services on December 12, 2016, with a term of seven (7) years with an option for three (3) additional years; this agreement was amended in 2017 and there have been subsequent rate increases, as allowed per the agreement and also provides for annual rate adjustments for non-basic services; the City received a letter from Waste Management requesting a non-basic service rate adjustment, which would be 3.68%; staff has determined that the requested rate increases are in accordance with the agreement.
As there was no further discussion, upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Council Member Weber and carried on roll call vote, it was resolved to approve the 3.86% rate increase for non-basic services as set forth in Waste Management's December 7, 2021 letter to be effective February 1, 2022.
Consideration and Direction Regarding the City Council Meeting Schedule for Summer 2022
City Manager Kallman presented the following report:
and not hold City Council meetings during the month of August 2021; It has been suggested that consideration of "going dark" again this summer should be discussed now to give both the City Council and staff ample time to prepare, and that the City Council consider taking the month of July rather than August off; the July option may be more favorable as the California State Legislature is traditionally busy in the month of August and the City City Council Minutes
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Council Member Weber noted that the month of July is difficult for him as he has many work obligations during that month. However, depending on his schedule, he may be able to attend by teleconference at his destination.
As there was no further discussion, upon MOTION of Council Member Gold, seconded by Council Member Siegel and carried on roll call vote, it was resolved to cancel both of the regular City Council meetings in July.
C. Discussion of Reports from 10/27/21, 11/16/21, 12/14/21, and 1/18/22 Hidden Hills Community Association Board of Directors Meetings
Mayor McCorkindale welcomed resident and new HHCA Board President David Stanley.
Mr. Stanley presented the following report:
the Board has renewed it's equestrian insurance as it was expiring on 12/31/21; approved installation of tennis court lights, but are awaiting City approval before they are installed; will address the uptick in requests of installation of pickleball courts at the next Board meeting; passed a motion to allow Covered to acquire equipment requested, including, handcuffs, tasers and pepper spray; approved windscreens on the tennis courts so as to help with wind, light and noise; will select a Treasurer at the next Board meeting; reinstated the technology committee to bring the HHCA into the 215 century and upgrade all aspects of the technology; reviewed all financial reports and accepted audit reports; discussed the installation of bollards at base of some of trail heads; and the Board will continue working with the City on the Jed Smith flood control catch basin.
D. Discussion of Reports from 11/16/21 and 1/18/22 Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments Meetings
Council Member Siegel and LVMCOG newly appointed Vice President presented the following report:
the Measure R money has been received; the County has allocated $12 million for unincorporated areas, which may be useful for the COG; the COG received a redistricting report; and there is a possible $3.6 million state budget surplus that will assist to fund 11 stormwater planning or COG cities.
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ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
melorkndah
Laura McCorkindale, Mayor
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