CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
11 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
VIA TELECONFERENCE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(E)
Monday, April 11, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.
Consistent with Government Code Section 54953(e) (Assembly Bill 361), all members of the such teleconference locations are not accessible to the public and are not subject to special posting requirements. Members of the public may participate in the meeting electronically as 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, April 11, 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
П
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Happy Anniversary to Accounting Specialist Theresa Folk for her 5TH year anniversary with the City on 4/17, and Happy Birthday to Building Official Greg Robinson on 4/15, and Happy Anniversary to City Clerk Deana Gonzalez on her 32nd year anniversary with the City on 4/10.
AUDIENCE
Resident and Library Commissioner representing Hidden Hills stated that she was available to answer any questions about library policy, programs, services and budget. Ms. Aaronson also mentioned that starting April 12, 2022, residents who have a Calabasas library card can now get free entry to most California state parks and beaches.
Resident Bret Katz had a question in relation to Item D on the Consent Calendar. Mayor McCorkindale reminded Mr. Katz that as that item is on the agenda, it will be discussed after Old Business, and his question could be addressed then.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council Member Siegel stated that he will step down as the Hidden Hills Board Member of the LVMCOG and become the alternate, and Council Member Gold will become the Board Member.
He would like to suggest that at the next meeting, staff bring to the Council, an item on the agenda to approve this action, if necessary. The Council was in consensus.
Mayor McCorkindale commented that she had a meeting last week with Senator Stern and a group working on the new found airline routes above our City and many other of the communities in the San Fernando Valley. Senator Stern stated that as the Chair on the Natural Resources and Water Committee, he will begin an investigation into their operations and the impact they're having on cities and what recourse, if any, there might be. His office is going to try to arrange an event to get the Community involved in. Legislation that would place conditions on airport expansion statewide will be explored, as this is an important topic and there was much discussion about the pollutants and other particulates coming into our Community.
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
STAFF COMMENTS
City Manager Kallman stated that the repair of the Spring Valley drainage issue has been completed. He also announced that the FEMA grant was submitted on Friday. Mr. Kallman asked City Attorney Diaz to update the City Council on a staff training she recently conducted.
City Attorney Diaz reported that all staff was in attendance. Brown Act training and compliance was discussed, including: 1) modernization of the agenda, as well as a discussion about agenda descriptions, and properly describing what action staff is asking the Council to take and what will be discussed; 2) various templates in terms of public hearing notices and agreements; and 3) reviewed issues of conflict with respect to the Council Member's property interests and staff will be prepare a radius map of each Council Member's property in terms of their property interest and flagging agenda items. She felt that it was a very well received training by the staff.
At this time, Mayor McCorkindale asked that the Consent Calendar be moved to the end of the meeting and bring forward the Old Business item. The Council was in agreement.
OLD BUSINESS
Review and Discussion of the Recommendations of the Traffic Engineer as set forth in the 2022 Hidden Hills Engineering and Traffic Surveys (Speed Study) regarding the lowering of the speed limits on El Dorado Meadow Road, Jed Smith Road, Jim Bridger Road, Long Valley Road, Round Meadow Road, Spring Valley Road to 25 MPH as well as the lowering of the speed limits near schools and the Community Center; the Designation of All-Way Stop Controls at the Intersection of Jed Smith Road and Fitzpatrick Road and Round Meadow Road and Hoback Glen Road; and consideration of other related recommendations regarding speed humps, speed radar feedback signs and decorative wood posts; and Consideration of Resolution No. 987 and Resolution No. 988 to Implement the Recommendations regarding speed limits on designated streets and the designation of all- way stop controls
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS APPROVING THE 2022 ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC SURVEYS (SPEED SURVEY)
AND ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE SURVEYS
AND THE VEHICLE CODE ON VARIOUS STREETS WITHIN THE CITY INCLUDING City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
REDUCED SPEED ZONES AT ROUND MEADOW SCHOOL AND AUTHORIZING
THE INSTALLATION OF SIGNS INCLUDING ADVISORY SPEED LIMIT AND
OTHER ANCILLARY SIGNAGE
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
DESIGNATING ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL AT THE INTERSECTION OF JED
SMITH ROAD AND FITZPATRICK ROAD AND ROUND MEADOW ROAD AND
HOBACK GLEN ROAD
Prior to the staff report, Mayor McCorkindale introduced Assembly Member Laura Friedman from the 43 District, Chair of the Statewide Transportation Committee, former Glendale City Council Member, and author of the bipartisan law that allows cities in California, that will go into effect in a couple of years, to reduce their speed limits beyond what is being considered tonight.
Council Member Weber inquired about possibly tabling this item as the Hidden Hills Community Association was going to be addressing traffic cameras and speeding at their meeting tomorrow night. Mayor McCorkindale stated that the Ad-hoc Committee discussed this previously and decided that it was not relevant to what the City Council was addressing tonight.
Assembly Member Friedman thanked Mayor McCorkindale and proceeded to present numerous traffic and National Safety Council statistics. She also mentioned that because speed limit and accidents has become a problem all across California, a statewide task force was formed to combat this issue. Lowering speed limits statewide is something that most cities are embracing and that its not an anomaly. Mayor McCorkindale thanked Assembly Member Friedman for her time.
City Manager Kallman presented the following report:
at the 2021 City Council goal session, the City Council adopted a goal to undertake various efforts and initiatives to foster safe for driving in Hidden Hills; Council Member Gold. volunteered to be on an Ad hoc Committee and, then Mayor Pro Tem McCorkindale, at the request of the City Manager, joined the Committee. On October 21 and November 8, the City Council held discussions on this topic discussing various concepts regarding the П goal; on November 8, the City Council voted to direct staff to engage the services of a traffic engineer to prepare a performance study and make necessary findings, if possible, to reduce the speed limit in the City to 25 miles per hour; historically, the City conducts City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
engineering and traffic speed studies for six street corridors within the City, those being Long Valley, Round Meadow, Spring Valley, Jim Bridger, Jed Smith, and Eldorado Meadow; Mr. Rodriguez has a very detailed report and PowerPoint to share with the Council with his findings and recommendations for the Council to consider, including two resolutions and several other items.
At this time, City Manager Kallman introduced Mr. Jaime Rodriguez from Traffic Patterns for his presentation.
Mr. Rodriguez introduced himself and is company and gave a brief background on his qualifications, his company and his overall experience. He then presented a very detailed and extensive PowerPoint presentation and technical memo, which included the following recommendations:
Lower and post a City-wide speed limit at 25 mph; Post a 20-mph advisory speed along Jim Bridger curves; Post a 15-mph speed zone section within 1000 feet of the Community Center; Post a 15-mph advisory speed limit along the curve on Spring valley Road (currently posted at 20 mph); Post a 20-mph advisory speed limit along the curve on Eldorado Meadow Road ; Extend the 15-mph school safety zone to the bus stop location on Round Meadow and Jed Smith Roads; Install an All Way Stop at Round Meadow and Hoback Glen Roads; Install an All Way Stop at Jed Smith and Fitzpatrick Roads; Install 4 new speed humps along Long Valley Road between Round Meadow and Clear Valley Roads; Removal of speed radar feedback signs; Consider installation of a decorative wood post immediately adjacent to all speed humps to deter motorists from shifting out of travel lane and onto DG parkway; Future removal of all speed limit signs with the exception of those noted above, and installation of City-wide 25 mph speed limit signs at all three gates.
After a very lengthy technical question and answer portion on this matter, City Manager Kallman was asked to read comments and emails into the record. First, Mr. Kallman stated that the City received a series of petitions requesting the City lower speed limits from resident Lonna Weber, which were: October 25 with 64 names, April 11 earlier in the day with 83 names, and then a follow up email that included a total of 112 names received April 11 in the afternoon. The City also received a petition dropped off at City Hall this morning with 54 names. The undersigned individual families are opposed to any proposed changes in the current speed limits that are established at this time in the City.
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
Below is the wording from the petition submitted by resident Lonna Weber:
"We ask the city council to reduce the remaining few streets that are at 30mph down to 25mph like the rest of the city and to take action to implement any reasonable safety recommendations the safety/traffic company suggests. We ask that the city do everything in its power to protect and enhance our quality of life and the safety of our children, our walkers, our bicyclists and our animals, and to remember that we are an equestrian community. The inflow of traffic in Hidden Hills does not resemble what it was years ago and thus, the quantity of vehicles increases the likelihood of a safety issue. We have had over 25 accidents in the last years, many of which few know about. We ask you to be proactive, and not wait for something additional to happen in order to make these sensible changes. Hidden Hills should follow suit in what residential neighborhoods are doing around the country, this is very popular, and lowering speed limits, should be for Hidden Hills too. And please implement any and all protective and slowing measures that have even a possibility of contributing to a more peaceful environment and a safer community. You only lose 20 seconds in a mile driving 5mph slower, but you save many more potential lives. Thank you for all your work on this topic. We appreciate you!" Catherine Gourdier and Don Carmody:
"I implore you to please lower the speed limit. Our community is full of'walkers' - children, horses, dogs, seniors and elderly seniors. When we find that we 'we' must walk around the construction vehicles, trucks and cars parked on the parkway, it's scary to find an oncoming car speeding our way. 30mph may not be fast on the 101, but that speed can be dangerous on a residential street because everyone knows when the speed limit is 30, many will drive 40 mph (and not get a speeding ticket) or faster. It is my understanding that the speed limit in residential areas in all of Los Angeles has been lowered to 25mph and those neighborhoods are not in a 'horse' community. In a gated community somehow we all feel safer walking in our 'hood'...and we should. So please let's try to make it even more safe by lowering the speed limit."
Yana Galuz
"My name is Yana Galuz and I am a 12 year resident in Hidden Hills. I am writing this email in response to the proposed petition to lower the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph.
I would like to ask the board and city counsel about steps needed to oppose this change. I have spoken to over a dozen residents who also oppose this change. This will not solve the reckless driver issues we face but will create a speed trap for residents. I feel that we can jind a better way to deal with speeding issues in the community. I believe putting in place an internal speed monitoring system rather than one that will penalize residents and permanently, negatively effect driving records would serve as a more effective option.
Please advise on best route to proceed in this opposition. I can collect signatures if this is what is needed."
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
Caitlin Stamos
"Hello City Council Members, John and I are in support of lowering the speed limit and requiring barns on future property plans. Anything to keep the integrity of the community and to keep it safe."
Nathalie Blossom
"I hope the City will decide to follow Los Angeles' suit of lowering the speed limit" Stephen Phillips
"Dear City Council, I understand that you are going to vote on the speed limit of the community tomorrow. I would ask that you take a few minutes of your time to consider the following when casting your vote. I) Everyone knows and feels comfortable speeding to some extent, if they say otherwise they are lying. Whether it is one mile over or ten miles over everyone knows that the cops will not ticket you for going one or two miles over the limit, because of this, everyone feels comfortable driving "X" miles over the limit. By lowering the limit, you lower the speed that people drive through the community. (I understand that the new limit will not be the actual speed of travel, but the average travel speed will come down.)
2) I have worked as a firefighter for the better part of 24 years. I have a very good working relationship with the police. And every officer I have talked to agrees that if you lower the speed limit, people will slow down. (the caveat to that is, as stated in #1, that they will not slow down to the posted speed limit but to that speed "X", the threshold speed that they feel comfortable going over the limit. I have not talked to one police officer that stated if you lower the speed limit the speed of travel will remain the same. 3) The complaints of some residents getting tickets and being inconvenienced by a reduced speed should factor into your decision to reduce the limit, but the increase to safety, the increased enjoyment of community members walking biking riding horses, etc, and the large number of people who have spoken up requesting the limit to be reduced seem to greatly outweigh the aforementioned minority. 4) If the number of people asking for the speed limit to stay at 30 MPH or increase, is greater than or equal to the number of community members asking to reduce the speed limit please note that in the meeting tomorrow. 5) Lastly, I wanted to reemphasize number 4 above. If the community is asking you for something, please listen to your constituents, even if it might go against what your beliefs are. The WORST case scenario, that I can think of, is that no one slows down, and you get an outpouring of community members who don't like the new speed limit and want it changed back to 30 MPH. IF that happens, then by all means revote the issue and increase the speed limit, but in the time that it takes to vote up and down the decision, I see no drawbacks to the reduced limit, other than people getting tickets for breaking the law (which they should not be doing in the first place). In closing I would ask that you lower the limit to 20 MPH, for the benefit and enjoyment of all our community members."
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
Sarah Phillips
"Dear City Council Members, It has come to my attention that you plan to vote on possibly lowering the speed limit in Hidden Hills to 25 mph. As a mother of young children, and an equestrian, I hope that you will vote YES to lower the speed limit to help make our community safer for children, pedestrians, and animals. As many of you may have noticed, not many people ride on the trails/roads on weekdays. Our amazing trail system is not contiguous, and to get from the exit of one trail to the entrance of the next you often have to ride on parkways, or on the road. Being passed by a car going 30+ mph who does not slow down or move over to give you space is terrifying when you are on a 1200 Ib flight animal. For that reason, I, and many others, choose to trailer to arenas in order to safely ride or just avoid it all together during the week. Last year, one of our neighbors had to euthanize her dog after she was hit by a car. This is one of the reasons why we put in a gate across our driveway (not very Hidden Hills, I'm told), not to keep people out, but to have an extra layer of protection for our animals from speeding traffic. The culture of Hidden Hills has, for a long time, consisted of children and pedestrians walking in the road, after all, we don't have sidewalks. In part, due to the immense number of vehicles during the week, it is nearly impossible for small children to ride their bikes safely with the current speed limit - I usually have to wait until after 4:30, or only allow them to ride on the weekends. If we had the ability to enforce a lower speed limit, it would increase the safety for our children, and also give the Sheriff some head room to be ABLE to write a ticket at 32 or 35 mph instead of 40+. I appreciate all of the work that you have done already to improve our quality of life in Hidden Hills, and I sincerely hope that you will prioritize safety and consider voting yes to lower the speed limit." David and Tami Staph
"Dear City Council, as someone who has been working from home for the past 2+ years and overlooks the corner of Long Valley and Clear Valley, I can attest to the fact that too many people speed on our streets. One of the best aspects of our community has always been the ability to walk hike/bike throughout the neighborhood, but with more and more construction, it is becoming increasingly dangerous to do so. I also walk my dog at 6:4 5amevery morning and bear witness to the stream of cars that come racing down both Long Valley and Round Meadow from either direction as the vehicles are let in the gate.
Please reduce the speed limit to 25 miles an hour and adopt all of the traffic coordinators recommendations. It's the least we can do and if we continue down the path we are on, we are just a community waiting for a tragedy to occur. Thank you for your consideration." Nicole Pechersky
"To Whom It May Concern, It is our understanding that there is a proposal that will come before the City Council meeting Monday night reducing the speed limit between Round Meadow and Jed Smith Road down to 15 mph when children are present. Round Meadow's City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
Parent Faculty Association strongly supports this speed limit reduction as we believe it will enhance safety for the kids especially in light of some extremely unsafe driving we see around the school and the kids. Thank You, Nicole and Emily, Co-Parent Faculty Association for Round Meadow Elementary"
Kate Vadehra, M.D., President, Board of Education
"Honorable Members of the Hidden Hills City Council, On behalf of the Las Virgenes Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Dan Stepenosky, I am writing to support the resolution on tonight's agenda which would create a school zone around Round Meadow Elementary School. The safety of students, staff, and our families is our highest priority as a school district. Establishing a school zone with a speed limit of 15 mph will be an important layer to improve safety. The District has worked closely in the past with the City of Hidden Hills to alleviate traffic concerns around Round Meadow. Unfortunately, we are noticing an increased incidence of distracted drivers, speeding, and failure to obey traffic rules in general around many of our school sites, including Round Meadow.
Many Hidden Hills residents walk or ride bicycles to school each day, creating an additional concern. Within the past two months we have had a student struck in a crosswalk near Calabasas High School by a speeding car. We are working with the City of Calabasas to improve student safety around the high school. The Board of Education is committed to a plan of prevention with regards to traffic and safety. We are counting on our City partners to help us in this area. Only by working together can we succeed. Thank you for your time and consideration."
Paul Koretz, Councilmember, Fifth District
"Dear Mayor McCorkindale: I write in full support of your efforts to decrease speed limits in your community. All data on this subject show that as the speed of travel of a motor vehicle increases, serious injuries and deaths increase significantly. I have been a strong advocate for the reduction of speed limits and have been outspoken about this in my own City. I am thankful over the past year that our representatives in Sacramento have gained a greater understanding of this danger and have taken action to address this. I respect and appreciate your efforts in Hidden Hills and wish you success in getting support for these measures. Sincerely"
Mayor McCorkindale addressed the audience reminded everyone that this item is about the engineering and traffic study and related recommendations, and not about issuance of speeding tickets. Comments need to be just about this one agenda item. If anyone would like to speak, please raise all your hands now, and please know your comments will be limited to three minutes, and also the Council cannot engage in a back and forth. We very much appreciate everyone being here and everyone who wrote in and all the comments and just as a reminder, you do not have to give your name or your address, but you are more than welcome to.
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The following residents addressed the City Council:
Mathy Wasserman - she has an additional petition page with approximately 18 signatures; she said that while she was talking to people, they said they signed something to help with safety and they weren't really clear on what the issue was; she is concerned in general about the other petitions and she is a bit shocked by how this whole process worked; she is glad the meeting notes reflect that what they are all experiencing tonight was an attempt to as a fait accompli make a traffic survey to meet the goals of some Members; her family has been here 28 years and they raised three boys who walked to school or rode their bikes spent days playing baseball out on the street football biking skateboarding; she had strong concerns and fought for measures that would improve safety at Round Meadow while she was the PFA President there, and also, five years on the school board and stood with City Council as they tried to get safer passage in and out of Hidden Hills for pedestrians and equestrians; she is out walking almost every morning as trucks, construction vehicles, and school traffic are at their highest levels; as the traffic studies showed, this is a call to action that is not founded, in fact, but only in speculation, because everybody who signed a petition saying that they see speeders all the time, are not holding guns that actually prove that; it is more about speeds that vehicles travel and Community members visitors who do not buy into the sense of what our Community is; just going in and out of the Burbank Gate twice at every intersection that she stopped at not one other vehicle completely stopped; in fact she is constantly even waving at our own security guys and suggesting that they stop at the STOP signs was quite saddening.
Kenny Hawk - he thanked everyone for all their hard work and it's important topic; he and his family we could have moved anywhere when they left northern California and they picked Hidden Hills for three main reasons safety, family focus and the equestrian centric community, chey ve been, ecapin this tray hei vo • we he place popi el heigenc speeding and cutting in and out of traffic on the 101, even if they're traveling at moderate speeds, the sense of calm and safety we have in Hidden Hills is really special and as an outsider, I can tell you, you really notice it when you come here; what's shocking is there are still quite a few residents, non-residents, UPS trucks, Fed Ex trucks that are speeding through the Community; he and his family are 100% in favor of reducing the speed limits; he believes there's no real downside, and for the folks that feel that 20 seconds over a mile is really worth taking the risk that they might kill a kid, why not be proactive and why wait until it happens; Hidden Hills has a lot of headlines and he'd hate to have the headline be Hidden Hills refuses to lower speed limit, and in the same year, somebody gets hurt and injured; the 20 seconds is not worth it; if people are in that much of a hurry, it's probably not the right neighborhood for them; he implores the City Council to be proactive instead of reactive on this and think about the small children that are walking in around the Community and again applaud the thoroughness with which of the report was done.
City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
Elizabeth Hyer Rose - she can't fathom why anyone wouldn't want to lower speed limits, particularly in a residential and equestrian community; she doesn't want to add any more comment, except to say that she cannot count the number of times per week that she sees on Facebook or Next Door or chatting with her neighbors that somebody's dog got out on the street or kids are out running around on the street all the time, or people walking; we need to just be proactive as the gentleman before her said and lower the speed limits, it really just seems like a no brainer to her.
Rene Villeneuve - he is all for certain of these potential changes, but he thinks that as the proposals are written, it's more of an all or nothing; he'd like to see them broken down; he doesn't think we need sweeping changes; he thinks there are places that that do need changes, particularly the Community Center and the school zones; lowering the speed limit doesn't make people slow down, enforcement makes people slow down; there has to be law enforcement in order to enforce the 25 mile an hour speed limit, just like we have to have law enforcement to enforce a 30 mile an hour speed limit so whichever way the Council picks, it's just going to be a matter of having law enforcement; he commented that his last bit is just based upon what I just said about the 30 miles an hour; he thinks that there's some recommendations that are good ideas, and he thinks the proposals need to be broken down.
Jeff Korchek - he was involved in somewhat of an effort to poll his community; unfortunately, he had very limited time because of notice of this meeting to gather those other opinions in support of holding off any major change to the proposed speed limit changes; he agrees that rather than looking at this in total, he would not be in disagreement with some of the recommendations, which would be changes around the Community Center and school district zone; he believes that traffic signage in the Community is poor, especially on Eldorado Meadow; he has been here for almost 25 years now he knows of no incident that has occurred in the Community; he is well aware of the injuries or potential with speed, but he doesn't think that we have an issue of speed involved with injuries in our Community; he doesn't think changing speeds dramatically over our Community is going to change that.
David Zebrack - the Sheriff cannot be everywhere at all times, as it relates to enforcement, the City needs to be creative; residents on morning strolls yelling at drivers really doesn't cut it; it is his experience that when Council, the Board of Directors, and the Community work together, real work gets done, like with the successful implementation of the surveillance cameras; he wonders if Mr. Rodriguez has employed camera technology for enforcement of intended speed controls in the past; the City doesn't have an effective realistic enforcement mechanism; if the City Council decides not to lower the speed limits on the main roads, on behalf of the children, please lower the limits in and around the school and Community Center.
Mr. Rodriguez - he has been involved with the deployment of image sensors or cameras for red light running through intersections that is a policy that is allowed for through the City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
state policy, but there is no state policy, to his knowledge that allows that for enforcement of speed limits.
Lisa Austin - she has lived here for 12 years; her daughter is one of the few remaining young equestrian in the neighborhood and she rides her horses through our Community and in the arenas on almost a daily basis, and is concerned that her horse could get spooked and injure her or someone else; the speed limit and the rate at which people drive is unsafe not only for the equestrians but also for the children or animals; she feels it is important for the City to evaluate the speed limit and to consider lowering it; she knows everyone cares about the Community and preserving what is left; please consider lowering the speed.
Britt Aaronson - she believes that whenever there's a controversial item it needs to be spoken on, their needs to be public time; she finds it offensive when certain people get cut off and then other people get their questions answered; she also explained that the reason why she is attending the meeting is to hear the study, the comments of my community and to hear the letters, as she hasn't decided what to support; there's so many items that are related to our community that are unique, for example more signs being put up that is a danger to horseback riders; the problem, she feels is the inability to either equally enforce things or to just enforce them; Round Meadow already has traffic measures in place, so the suggestion that it doesn't is false; Hidden Hills drivers are not allowed to drive, they have to park, so if there is a problem with speed and drivers, it is non-residents and it is people who do not live within the Community; if Round Meadow School has an issue with the parents, they need to deal with the parents who are driving; if it's talking about the construction workers entering, that's another situation and again that goes to enforcement; she I would like to know if someone could tell them how many tickets are given to residents versus non-residents?
Mayor McCorkindale also responded to Ms. Aaronson that the procedure for tonight was discussed over the weekend, with the City. Attorney and it had nothing to do with anyone individually speaking tonight. We did agree that we would answer brief resident questions and that we would limit everyone to three minutes. It is not personal, and the City Council has a long night in front of them to go through all of these components.
Alison Triessl - she spent 50 years with her family, essentially in this Community, and have loved every day of it; she is disappointed at how cantankerous this meeting is and it should not be; it should be a discussion on what we can do to make Hidden Hills better, safer, but also things have to be warranted and necessary; she believes there are valid points to lowering the speed limit, or putting in speed bumps at the Community Center, or addressing issues toward Round Meadow; the thoroughness of the study indicates that there were no accidents in the last year in Hidden Hills; she feels that each issue needs to be City Council Minutes
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dealt with individually and not as a whole, as there are parts that she agrees with and others she does not; when she sees that there's no accidents, for a year, on the 85 percentile, and she believes the 85 percentile is the rule of law right now and so there is no justification for going from 30 to 25 mph; she is not saying that will always be her position but that's Mayor McCorkindale addressed Ms. Triessl's comment of there being no accidents in a year.
Actually, there have been four accidents in the last year and over 30 including pedestrians in the last seven years. Also, in regards to the 85th percentile, the City is still applying the old law, pre AB 43 and all of these changes.
Edward Wasserman - some of the most unsafe vehicle maneuvers are people running stop signs, passing construction vehicles, and it is remarkably dangerous behavior down by Round Meadow in the last block before the school unsafe; unsafe driving is unsafe at any speed regardless of what is posted; we all want safer, more caring drivers in the Community, however, this is not going to achieve that goal; traffic rules and regulations are based on the concept of voluntary compliance; these rules must be fair and reasonable for the responsible driver and this is based on multiple studies by the Federal Highway Administration, State Department of Transportation Highway, and professionals. You mentioned increased speed toward the Community Center is that all ball bank information or just visual and can you show us where the ball banks were all set up on Long Valley? Mr. Rodriguez responded to Mr. Wasserman that they didn't do any ball bank studies on Long Valley. They did ball bank studies where there were specific curves in the roadway, like Eldorado Meadow, Jim Bridger, and Spring Valley Roads. Data was collected at 24549, 24221, and 23745 Long Valley.
Jack Goldman - he is a 25 year resident and is happy to hear that this item is being discussed; he lives in front of a speed bump and people drive around the speed bump, Making eting the mai undenis one dironer neigibas passed me teady anaenty 28 miles an hour wasn't tast enough; he is concerned that lowering the speed limit and changing those signs from 30 to 25 isn't actually going to change the behavior of 10% of the people who are the speeders.
Bret Katz - Mr. Katz asked Mr. Rodriguez, how many accidents has occurred in the City where there was a pedestrian injured or killed, that you know of? Also, he thinks a couple of the recommendations were interesting; anything that can be done to slow down some of City Council Minutes
April 11, 2022
the drivers around the Community Center around the school, he thinks is a positive; he thinks the percentage of people that even care about following the speed limits or even have any interest in stopping for a stop sign, don't care; he doesn't believe a speed hump will have any impact on a huge percentage of people, including residents; he'd also like to understand how many accidents were related to speed that will change between 25 and 30, because we really don't have a lot of accidents here; his last point he'd like to make is that he's been on Council and lived in the Community for over 20 years and he found it offensive cutting off a member of the Community; he thought it was disgusting and he's very sad about that.
Mr. Rodriguez responded to Mr. Katz that when communities go through the process like what Hidden Hills is considering tonight, we're presenting the engineering portion of the discussion about lowering speed limits. If a Community goes that route, in order for the speed limits to be effective, there is a transition period that takes whole through enforcement and education. So lowering the speed limit is one part of that equation and process to institute a long term behavior change. But what they find long term, is that when there is all that education with lowering the speed limit provided you have effective enforcement, and the process of giving warnings and citations, that you do see a trend in the reduction in speed, overall.
Liz Moses - she read the speed survey and thinks it has a lot of great points in it, however her issue with the resolution is you're now voting on two resolutions, one of which is only to be 100% inclusive of the actual report, meaning nothing's broken out and it's all or nothing; she doesn't understand why it would be presented that way when there are so many different recommendations in different areas, different streets and it's not just about lowering speed limit, there's other things in here; she also mentioned that there is an open session of the Board of Directors tomorrow that is addressing internal cameras with a company presenting, along with the President of the HOA of the Oaks because they reduced their speeding issue by 80% by instilling these traffic cameras; the goal of everybody in this community is to reduce the issue of speeding, and rolling stop signs.
City Attorney Diaz responded to Ms. Moses that Resolution Number 987 has various sections, and each section takes each recommendation separately, so, for example, it breaks up and recognizes that there are three collector streets versus three local streets. And so 'there's one section on the local streets there's one section on the collector streets, there's one section on the advisory school sign, there's one section on the advisory Community Center sign, and then there also another City Council Minutes
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separate section for the other advisory signs and so it is set forth all in one resolution, however, the sections are very different and delineated amongst them.
Deborah Kulik - she is an equestrian rider and feels that 30 miles an hour, going past the horse is way too fast; Spring Valley Road curve is so dangerous; why do we have to wait until something happens? What about being proactive? What about stopping it before it happens? it's five miles less and we're supposed to be a family-oriented Community; why can't we just be safe.
Nathalie Blossom - the 30 miles versus 25 it's not necessarily behavior we're worried about changing, it would be nice it would be ideal but it's about outcome for accidents; serious injury is at a much lower percentage at 25 miles per hour than it is at 30 and if we can't agree on the miles per hours we can agree on how we need to protect our Community and lowering those percentages for serious injury and or fatality.
At this time, staff informed Mayor McCorkindale of technical difficulties with the airing of the Council meeting and requested a ten-minute recess, for which a recess was taken. After ten minutes the technical difficulties were fixed. The City Council came back into session and after a very long deliberation, it was decided to vote on each item individually.
Upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, it was resolved to have staff investigate the installation of a decorative wood post immediately adjacent to all speed humps to deter motorists from shifting out of travel lane and onto DG parkway.
The motion passed 3-2 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor McCorkindale, Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, Council Member Siegel NOES: Council Member Gold, Council Member Weber
Upon MOTION of Council Member Gold, seconded by Council Member Siegel, it was resolved for the City Council to direct staff to return to the next City Council meeting with a resolution updating the City speed hump policy and allow for the installation of four speed humps along Long Valley, as outlined in the speed survey study report.
The motion passed by 3-2 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor McCorkindale, Council Member Gold, Council Member Siegel City Council Minutes
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NOES: Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, Council Member Weber
As Mayor McCorkindale is within 500' of the upcoming discussion of the speed sign options, a determination by the City Attorney needs to be made whether or not Mayor McCorkindale will ' need to recuse herself. Staff suggested the City Council take a ten-minute recess to get that determination, for which the Council did.
After the ten-minute recess, the meeting was call back to order. As there is a motion on the table by Council Member Gold, Mayor McCorkindale asked City Attorney Diaz for her determination.
City Attorney Diaz stated that after speaking with the City Manager, it is a different type of motion and, instead, it is a motion to bring back, not necessarily the sign per se, or to remove them.
City Manager Kallman reiterated that the motion is to at a later date, investigate new dynamic speed sign options and return to the Council in several months, with input from the HOA.
City Attorney Diaz continued and on a general motion like that, she thinks Mayor McCorkindale does not have to recuse herself, but if the discussion arises that the Council is looking at placement of those new type of technology signs within 500 feet of any Council Member's home, would recommend that Council Member who's affected recuse themselves from that vote. With respect to the speed limits of the six segments in the City. Staff was able to do some review in terms of the FPPC decisions and advice letters, and after searching at least 12 years back, she wasn't able to find any decisions with respect to that and it makes sense that putting up a speed limit sign affects all drivers that are coming in and out of the City, not necessarily the impact on one's property. With respect to the stop sign, however, the imposition or the installation of a stop sign within 500 feet of a Council Member's property does impact their property, because it does change the nature of that street and the recommendation would be for that Council Member to recuse themselves.
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Upon MOTION of Council Member Gold, seconded by Council Member Weber, it was resolved to direct staff to investigate any alternative speed radar sign options and bring that back to the Council within three months.
The motion passed by 3-2 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor McCorkindale, Council Member Gold, Council Member Siegel NOES: Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, Council Member Weber
Upon MOTION of Council Member Weber, seconded by Council Member Siegel, and unanimously carried on a roll call vote, it was resolved to approve Resolution No. 988A entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
DESIGNATING ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUND MEADOW ROAD AND HOBACK GLEN ROAD.
Upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, and carried on a 4-0 roll call vote (with Council Member Weber recusing himself and going off camera because he lives within 500' of the proposed all-way stop), it was resolved to approve Resolution No. 988B entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
DESIGNATING ALL-WAY STOP CONTROL AT THE INTERSECTION OF JED SMITH ROAD AND FITZPATRICK ROAD.
Upon MOTION of Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, seconded by Council Member Siegel, and unanimously carried on a roll call vote, it was resolved to extend the 15 mile per hour school safety zone from Round Meadow to John Colter.
Upon MOTION of Council Member Gold, seconded by Mayor McCorkinale it is resolved to establish an advisory speed limit on along Long Valley Road between Round Meadow Road and Little Hollow Road.
The motion failed by 3-2 by the following vote:
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AYES: Mayor McCorkindale, Council Member Gold
NOES: Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, Council Member Siegel, Council Member Weber Upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, and unanimously carried on a roll call vote, it was resolved to establish an advisory speed limit on the along Long Valley Road between Round Meadow to Clear Valley Roads.
Upon MOTION of Council Member Weber, it was resolved to establish advisory speed limits on Eldorado Meadow Road, Jim Bridger Road and Spring Valley Road, at the speed and locations described in the 2022 engineering and traffic survey.
The motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Upon MOTION of Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, it was resolved to direct staff to move forward with an advisory speed and ball bank indicator study on Lasher Road.
The motion passed by a 5-0 vote.
Upon MOTION of Council Member Weber, seconded by Council Member Siegel, and unanimously carried on a roll call vote it was resolved to adopt Resolution No. 987 with the following revisions: delete the reference to Jed Smith Road in Section 3, to delete Sections 4,5,6,7,8 in their entirely, to leave Sections 9,10,11, to amend the title of the resolution so that it only pertains to Jim Bridger Road and Eldorado Meadow Road, and to adopt the speed survey for the other four streets.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. City Council Minutes - March 28, 2022 Regular Meeting B. Demand List
C. Renewal of General Services Agreement with Los Angeles County D. Reconsideration of the Circumstances of the COVID-19 State of Emergency and Determine that the City will Continue to Hold Meetings Via Teleconferencing Pursuant to the Finding Set Forth in Government Code Section 54953(e) (3) City Council Minutes
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Mayor Pro Tem Freedland pulled Item D of the Consent Calendar for discussion.
Resident Mathy Wasserman - regarding Item D on the consent calendar, is this regarding having meetings in person and not by zoom as other cities have returned to in person meetings? I feel like that is in the best interest of our Community and the opportunity for Community to participate in City Council meetings, both as an observer, and as a participant.
City Manager Kallman was asked to provide information on Item D of the Consent Calendar and stated that since September, based on a State law and then adopted by the Governor, the City Council has made a finding every 30 days to allow for hybrid type meetings to take place. It is not a declaration on whether or not the City Council returns to the Council Chambers. This allows for a relaxation of some of the Brown Act rules that relate to if a person is sick and can't be in person, allowing the public to participate via teleconferencing. The issue of whether or not to return to some form of in-person meetings is scheduled to be on April 25 agenda, so by making this finding tonight, it just allows the Council flexibility and safety while we're still in COVID to do have the Council meetings this way.
The City Council took action on items A, B and C of the Consent Calendar with a MOTION by Council Member Siegel, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, it was resolved to approve items A and B by a 4-0-1 vote (with Mayor Pro Tem Freedland abstaining) and C by a unanimous roll call vote.
The City Council then further discussed Item D of the Consent Calendar.
Mayor McCorkindale stated that Item D of the consent calendar is important for City Council's to continue to adopt, even if the entire Council back in person, is that should a Council Member become sick, for any reason, and want to attend a City Council meeting, but not be able to do so with 72 hours notice, it allows them to still participate in the City Council meeting without having City Council Minutes
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the Council Member's address made public and also do not have to let the public into your home.
It also allows the public if they're not feeling well to zoom in so, even if the entire Council after the next meeting we're back in person, as things shift around it allows pivoting for public safety, both from a public participant point of view and enabling City Council Members to still participate if they are not feeling well.
After a brief discussion and Upon MOTION of Mayor Pro Tem Freedland, seconded by Council Member Siegel, and unanimously approved by roll call vote, it was resolved to approve Item D of the consent calendar as submitted.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 11:13 p.m.
motorindale
aura McCorkindale, Mayor
Leana Jamala
Jeana L. Gonzalez, CMC, City Clerk