CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
VIA TELECONFERENCE IN COMPLIANCE WITH
GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953(E)
Monday, April 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m.
Consistent with Government Code Section 54953(e) (Assembly Bill 361), all members of the Hidden Hills City Council or staff may participate in this meeting via a teleconference and 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 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 25, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 p.m. Mayor 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
Administrative Analyst Chantelle Limón
City Clerk Deana L. Gonzalez
City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
П Page 2
ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no announcements.
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 residents who have a Calabasas library card can now get free entry to most California state parks and beaches.
The comment submitted by resident Nathalie Blossom was read by City Manager Kallman.
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor McCorkindale stated that she and Council Member Gold had the privilege to attend the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing ceremony on Friday, April 22, in Agoura Hills.
STAFF COMMENTS
City Manager Kallman mentioned that the City's draft budget is almost done and ready for discussion with an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of two Council Members. Mr. Kallman asked the Council for two volunteers.
Mayor McCorkindale suggested Mayor Pro Tem Freedland and Council Member Gold. As there were no objections, they will volunteer their time for the Ad Hoc Committee.
City Attorney Roxanne Diaz addressed the Council reiterating protocols for Council meetings and getting them to run more smoothly. Members of the public in terms of public comment have a right to speak on any item on the agenda, including consent calendar and comments are limited to City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
three minutes. City Attorney Diaz will be keeping time and will state when there is one minute left as discreetly as possible as to not interrupt the speaker.
Mayor Pro Tem Freedland doesn't think it is necessary to have a three-minute rule and that it is exclusionary and especially at a time when the Council is not meeting in person, that the Council should do whatever they can to include public comment and public sentiment. Council Member Siegel agreed.
Mayor McCorkindale commented that she felt with a meeting as long as the last one was, it was more than appropriate to have a three-minute rule.
MONTHLY DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
A. Los Angeles County Fire Department Report- March
Assistant Fire Chief Drew Smith presented the following report:
the month of March had 4 medical calls, 1 service call, and 6 good intent calls for a total of 11 responses. Fire Chief Smith mentioned that the Fire Department will start doing brush inspections and also getting ready for spring drills which transitions the Department into summer and then into fall. Community Services Liaison Megan Currier announced that the CERT classes will be scheduled hopefully beginning in June in Calabasas. Another product the Fire Department has been working on for a while is the Los Angeles County OEM Firewall with the National Weather Service to use NOAA weather radios to alert people about wildfires. She will be in contact with City staff to arrange for a way to get them these radios, which were obtained through a grant. These types of radios are used mostly in the Midwest for notifications of tornadoes and hurricanes. And finally, the Fire Department has been working with Zonehaven for the Topanga, Malibu and Santa Monica Mountains areas, which helps first responders plan, train and execute live evacuations.
B. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Reports - March Deputy Mason DeMatteo presented the following report:
during the month of March there were zero Part I crimes, zero domestic violence misdemeanors and three trespassing calls. The one noteworthy incident for the month was:
City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
П Page 4
a resident of Arleta was arrested for several traffic violations in the area of Round Meadow Road and Jed Smith Road.
Captain Fender addressed the Council with the following:
today was their monthly crime management meeting, which is s a meeting with our division chief and the five patrol stations that make up this division, and discussed was crime trends and statistics throughout the division; the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff Station was the only tation within the division, where crime was down by about 13% in the COG; there was offee with the deputy last week in Calabasas, which was a great success; the next one wil be in Hidden Hills; there is no exact date yet but they will coordinate with staff so that it is in conjunction with the Farmers Market.
C. City Engineer Report
City Engineer Lovett presented the following report:
Overhead Power Lines - the survey has commenced for the utility undergrounding of Little Hollow Road. 2) High Pressure Gas Line on Spring Valley Road - the Gas Company has completed the repair work and all gas lines are operational. 3) Spring Valley Arena Ground Water - construction has been completed and the ground water problem has been mitigated. A subdrain that conducted groundwater from the Eldorado Tract to the storm drain system was clogged caused the spring. The drain was repaired and a secondary back-up pipe was also installed. 4) Housing Element - Comments on the Housing element were received from HCD and considered by the Council at its meeting of 2/14/22. The City's Housing Element consultant was directed to address the comments and resubmit the draft Housing Element to the City Council for approval at a future meeting, prior to resubmittal to HCD. The final draft will be submitted to the City Council for its consideration at a public hearing prior to certification.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. City Council Minutes - April 11, 2022 Regular Meeting B. Demand List
C. Disbursement List - March
Financial/Treasurer's Report - March
E. Investment Statement - March
F. Consideration of Approval of Appointment of Council Member Gold as the City of Hidden Hills Governing Board Member to the Las Virgenes - Malibu Council of Governments and Council Member Siegel as the Alternate Board Member City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
G. Consideration of Approval of a Proposed Agreement with Fire Grazers Inc. to Perform Expanded Brush Clearance at the City's Perimeter H. Confirmation of the Funding Commitment to Meet the Local Match Fund Requirements for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Upon MOTION of Council Member Siegel, seconded by Council Member Weber, and unanimously carried on roll call vote, it was resolved to approve items A, B, CD, E, F, G and H of the consent calendar as submitted, with Mayor Pro Tem Freedland and Council Member Gold recusing themselves from Item H due to conflicts of interest.
NEW BUSINESS
Consideration of an Agreement with NV5 to: (1) Create an Undergrounding Overhead Utility Assessment District Program; (2) Create a Cost Estimate for City- wide Undergrounding; and (3) Provide On-call Services to Assist with Assessment District Formation in an Amount Not to Exceed $35,000
City Manager Kallman presented the following report:
at the City Council on March 14 staff provided an overview on the status of undergoing projects from a historical look back, a snapshot of where we are and presented several concepts for considerations, including some of the grants we've been looking at and a new concept consideration of creating an Assessment District Program; Jett Cooper from NVS, who is an expert regarding this topic was also on hand to answer questions and talk a little bit about assessment districts and how it provides the ability to residents to form their own district or area that they want to underground poles in the City; up until this point, the City has taken this very serious and desired; there are nearly 407 polls in the city, and at a $100,000 a poll, it's actually more that's $40 million to get rid of all the polls; an assessment would allow residents who are really interested in this, to create their own area; what is before the City Council tonight is three things: 1) the first is the development of a step by step guide on how create an assessment district and what is required by the resident to do so; 2) the second input desired from the City Council, is staff has recently acquired maps of all of the polls within the city, and Mr. Cooper has proposed a cost of $20,000 to potential areas to create these assessment districts and provide cost estimates; and 3) at a cost of not to exceed $5,000, Mr. Cooper will be available for residents who are interested and walk them through the process; at the end of the March 14 meeting, the City Council directed staff to seek a proposal from Mr. Cooper, which is provided; if the City Council approves the proposal, there will be some policy questions that will need to be decided, at a future Council meeting and finally, if the City Council decides to approve this for $35,000, staff is seeking direction on one or two ways to handle this; 1) the City Council can make a budget adjustment and it can be brought into this year's budget and the project City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
can get started right away, or 2) the City Council can direct staff to include these costs in next year's budget, and the project can officially start on July 1.
Mayor Pro Tem Freedland asked Mr. Cooper about the presentation he gave at a previous Council meeting that this strategy of Assessment Districts would be an additive to our current policy which, admittedly, is slower and probably less efficient, but that the City should continue along with the current policy, in parallel with this Assessment District policy? Mr. Cooper confirmed that this new additional program is not in conflict with what the City is already doing, but that would be a decision for the City Council, if you wanted to continue doing.
What this program is allows, is property owners to come forward who don't want to wait, gives them a process to follow.
Mayor Pro Tem Freedland made the recommendation that the Council continue to utilize the current undergrounding Ad Hoc Committee as a point of contact and any decisions that need to be made, will be brought back to the City Council for discussion.
Council Member Siegel said he'd like to go ahead with NV5 and he'd like to continue with the existing program as long as there's money for it.
Council Member Gold commented that she would like the Council to do a budget adjustment to the current budget so that NV5 can start as soon as possible, which would benefit the entire City.
Mayor McCorkindale asked if anyone was concerned about the current Ad Hoc undergrounding committee continuing forward on this portion of the project? There were no objections.
Upon MOTION of Council Member Weber, seconded by Council Member Gold and unanimously carried on roll call vote, it was resolved to approve Agreement with NV5 to: (1) Create an Undergrounding Overhead Utility Assessment District Program; (2) Create a Cost Estimate for City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
City-wide Undergrounding; and (3) Provide On-call Services to Assist with Assessment District Formation in an Amount Not to Exceed $35,000 and to also approve a budget adjustment in the amount of $35,000.
B. City Council Goal Update - Monthly Report
City Manager Kallman presented the following report:
City Manager Kallman presented the following report, which highlight a few goals there has been movement on:
2022 Goal - Undertake a review of the City website and prioritize timely updates of content - staff has been doing a lot of work on the City website, adding new pages, new features, trying to stay current. Staff invites the Council to take a look and make any suggestions.
2020 Goal - Reinitiate the 2017 Goal to improve cell coverage in the City by actively engaging both cell providers and potential consultants to assist the City - recent developments that are related to this goal is that there is an application with the City to put a tree tower at the Community Center. It will go to the Hidden Hills Community Association Board in the new future for their determination of the application. 2018 Goal - Continue the internal and external upgrade of City Hall. Areas of focus may include City Council Chambers, upstairs conference room, and Building and Safety. External upgrades to consider include new roof and solar project - the City Council authorized staff to remodel the building and safety office and staff is still working through supply chain issues but are anxious to get the project done. As a reminder, staff received a grant for this remodel. The City also received a grant of $180,000 that will be used for a redo to the outer space of City Hall that goes beyond just plants, and also staff has been soliciting bids on the exterior painting of City Hall, which will come to the City Council for approval once received.
Mayor McCorkindale had numerous comments including: congratulated staff of obtaining the permission to employ the goats again this year to help with weed abatement on Ahmanson Ranch and around the City's perimeter, and she also mentioned that the newsletter is much improved.
Regarding the 2020 goal about cell coverage, the HHCA should be addressing the tree tower application at the Community Center, at their next meeting. Depending on the outcome, the City Council may want to review this goal.
City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
C. Report from the 4/12/22 and 4/19/22 Hidden Hills Community Association Board of Directors Meetings
HHCA Board Member Liz Moses presented the following report:
the Board of Directors was supposed to receive a presentation from the cell phone company for the application of putting a cell tree tower at the Community Center on April 12 but the contine to discus tie implemi evin of tier cate areas and the miles and regulations; approved traffic rules and regulations and bylaws; approved the traffic camera proposal for six cameras to start, which should take at least six to eight weeks at least.
Mayor McCorkindale thanked Ms. Moses for her report.
D. Report from the 4/19/22 Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments Meeting Council Member Gold and LVMCOG Board Member presented the following report:
the COG approved the nomination of former Calabasas Council Member and Governing Board Member Dennis Washburn to serve on the Metro San Fernando Valley Service Council, which works on improving bus service and promote service coordination with municipal and local transit providers; there was an update on the Campus Kilpatrick, which is the Los Angeles County juvenile rehabilitation service facility in an unincorporated area of the Santa Monica Mountains and there was no action taken by the Board; approved the letter to the Board of Supervisors in support of the recommendations from the Los Angeles County Blue Ribbon Commission on Homelessness; and the COG discussed returning to in person hybrid meetings but took no action in light of the increasing number of infections and tabled the item.
E. Discussion and Direction on a Return to In-Person City Council Meetings City Manager Kallman presented the following report:
the City Council's last in person meeting was over two years ago (March 16 2020); AB 361 provided the ability for the City to conduct public meetings under temporary amended Brown Act requirements, which the City has made those findings, as required, every 30 days; in terms of using the Council Chambers to hold meetings and or hybrid meetings, this is something that was requested by Council Member Siegel a couple of months ago to agendize this discussion, but it seems that every time this is discussed, it's the worst timing available; the number of infections are rising again, and the latest numbers from Los Angeles County reflect that; other cities are meeting in a variety of ways; staff is prepared City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
to do whatever the Council would like; City Hall's audio/visual equipment has been pdated to support a hybrid meeting situation, so if some choose not to come in, will be able to see the full Council Chambers; it's not a perfect system we have tested it, we would like the opportunity to test it again before putting it into action; staff is looking for direction Mayor McCorkindale, given the particular bad luck the City has with timing and given what has been going on this week in our City and zip code, would the majority of Council like to table this until next month?
Council Member Gold replied that she feels it would be prudent to table this discussion for another month.
Council Member Siegel does not want to postpone it and would like the Council to go back to in person meetings, with the hybrid option. Mayor Pro Tem Freedland agreed.
Council Member Weber stated that the City Council needs to discuss this now and maybe set a date to resume to in person meetings with the hybrid option. He also stated that when the City Council goes back to in person meetings, the hybrid system is pristine.
Council Member Gold commented that during the last health call, it was mentioned that the Health Department Council will advise local governments on best practices when it comes to ventilation and guidance of meeting spaces. Council Member Gold asked City Manager Kallman for an update of the City Hall ventilation system and whether or not it has been inspected.
City Manager Kallman replied that a technician is scheduled to come out next week to give me give us an evaluation of our HVAC system and our HVAC system is the original and it's maintained regularly, with a service coming up. He has reached out to another company to come out and take a look at it and give us an evaluation and he will share the findings when he receives them.
City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
Council Member Siegel reiterated that he is ready to go back to in person meetings and if a Council Member is uncomfortable being at City Hall, then they can participate by ZOOM and he would like to get back as soon as possible.
Mayor Pro Tem Steve Freedland agreed with Council Member Siegel and he'd like to get back in person, and if other people want to stay home and ZOOM then that's their right to do that, but he feels that the city's businesses are best done in person, and I think that the ZOOM participation by residents is great but they'll also have the choice to come down and participate in person, Council Member Weber also agreed that the City Council should get back to in person meetings with the hybrid option and we should set a date to go back to in person.
Council Member Gold, while she appreciates all the comments tonight, she still feels it's important to keep our constituents safe and each other safe and she realizes that everybody misses that element when we see each other, but she thinks the Council is very effective on ZOOM and spring break just ended so the numbers will go back up, unfortunately, and also there's a new sub variant out, which is even more infectious than the first variant of Omicron. She doesn't see the upside of taking that risk, especially with so many unknowns.
Mayor McCorkindale commented that she has nothing against the hybrid option: So my only comment on this is, I have nothing against the hybrid, but she is concerned about opening the doors to the Council Chambers for the public and our consultants, especially given the size of the meeting room and given how prevalent the virus was, at least this week in our zip code. She feels it would be highly irresponsible for us to welcome people in say for the next meeting, unless something really resolves itself within the next two weeks.
Mayor McCorkindale suggested that staff should definitely have the HVAC technician come out to evaluate the City's system, get the Hybrid ZOOM system tested and set the date for the first meeting in June to go back to the in person/hybrid option. If for some reason, things are really bad Council can reconsider at second meeting in May.
City Council Minutes
April 25, 2022
Mayor Pro Tem Freedland agreed with Mayor McCorkindale and made the MOTION, seconded by Council Member Siegel and unanimously approved by roll call vote that the City Council will resume in person/hybrid meetings the first meeting in June and that anybody would like to attend in person can attend in person, or attend by ZOOM instead, and that if something significant happens between now and that first meeting that City Council can revisit it.
City Attorney Diaz announced that the City Council was going to go into Closed Session item for Anticipated Litigation with significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), one case.
CLOSED SESSION
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL:
Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2): Number of Potential Cases: 1
The City Council finds, based on advice from legal counsel, there are facts and circumstances that might result in litigation but which are not yet known to a potential plaintiff and said facts and circumstances need not be disclosed.
The City Council returned from closed session and the City Attorney announced that there was no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Imecorkendal
aura McCorkindale, Mayor