CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
(IN-PERSON AND VIDEO CONFERENCE)
6165 Spring Valley Road
Monday, January 23, 2023 at 5:30 p.m.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hidden Hills was duly held via teleconference and in person on Monday, January 23, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 p.m. Mayor Steve Freedland called the meeting to order and presided thereover.
ROLL CALL
Council: Mayor Steve Freedland
Mayor Pro Tem Eniko Gold
Council Member Joe Loggia
Council Member Laura McCorkindale
Council Member Larry G. Weber
Staff: City Manager Kerry Kallman
City Attorney Roxanne Diaz
City Engineer Dirk Lovett
City Clerk Deana L. Gonzalez
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
AUDIENCE
Marisol Espinoza the Public Affairs Manager from Southern California Gas gave a brief statement about historically high gas costs, where the gas comes from and how the Gas Company does not make a profit. She also stated that there is assistance for income qualified customers.
City Manager Kallman read the following email received in the office on January 23, 2023:
"Good evening! This is Malik Tariq Mahmood Murabbi Silsilah (Imam). I feel privileged to address the audience through this platform. First of all I want to thank the Mayor and all the administration for providing this opportunity. In the capacity of Murabbi I want to convey an important message of the Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad wich he gave on the occasion of the 10th Annual Peace Symposium at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London (UK). His holiness says: "To strive for peace is a noble ambition and is something that the world has always stood in great need of. If we look at the situation of the world today, we realize that now, more than ever, it is a pressing and urgent need of the time for us to seek and pursue peace and harmony in the world." Appealing for change to save society Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: "If we want true peace and if we want to save the world from destruction then we must act with justice, integrity and be ever faithful to the truth." Furthermore, he said: "It is the duty of all powers to fulfill the requirements of justice and to unite together. All parties need to increase dialogue and open the lines of communication so that they can peacefully discuss the best means to solve the problems of the world." "I will, God Willing, always continue to carry out my task and my responsibilities of promoting peace, tolerance, justice and compassion to the corners of the world. I will continue to tell all people that in order to be relieved of the pain and suffering that we face today, we must adopt true justice and equality. " May God bless us with peace! Amen."
CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor Freedland wished the Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments (COG) Director Terry Dipple a Happy Birthday on 1/26.
Council Member McCorkindale congratulated Mayor Pro Tem Gold for becoming the new President of the COG, and commended her on the amazing job she has done representing the City of Hidden Hills.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
Council Member Loggia commented about the upcoming Library contract and that he has heard from residents asking if the Council and staff are looking at all options on the best way utilize the funds for the benefit of the residents of Hidden Hills. A discussion of this very important item will be agendized for the February 13, 2022 City Council meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Gold also stated that she is also very interested in this matter and is looking forward to the discussion at the upcoming meeting.
STAFF COMMENTS
City Manager Kallman thanked Council Member Loggia and Mayor Pro Tem Gold for their comments on the Library contract and reassured them and the rest of the Council that staff has been diligently working on this item to be presented at the next meeting.
PUBLIC HEARING
Consideration of Resolution No. 1007 to Approve an Application for a Minor Accommodation for an Alteration and Remodel to an Existing Nonconforming Building at 6007 Clear Valley Road and Find that the Minor Accommodation is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15305(a) of the State
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS SITTING
AS THE PLANNING AGENCY, APPROVING A REQUEST FOR A MINOR
ACCOMMODATION TO ALTER AN EXISTING NONCONFORMING RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 6007 CLEAR VALLEY ROAD AND FINDING THAT THE PROJECT IS
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO 15305(A) OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES
City Engineer Lovett presented the following report:
the Applicant is requesting, a Minor Accommodation to convert the front entry porch to habitable area and add on an additional 50 square feet' to the front entry porch within the front setback; they also propose to remodel the garage to provide a mud room and space for 3 cars; the existing single-family residence encroaches 26'3" into the required 50' front setback (approximately 23'9" from the road right away to the west). All other proposed improvements are out of the setbacks; all proposed improvements have been approved by City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
the Hidden Hills Community Association; staff has determined that the finding can be met and there will be no material adverse impact on the public welfare or adjacent property.
At this point, since there are no technical questions from the City Council and no comment from the applicant, Mayor Freedland opened the public hearing. The Applicant was in attendance in the Council Chambers in case the City Council had any questions.
As there were no more comments or objections, Mayor Freedland then closed the hearing.
As there was no further discussion, upon MOTION of Council Member Weber, seconded by Council Member McCorkindale, and unanimously carried on roll call vote, it was resolved to approve Resolution No. 1007 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS SITTING AS THE PLANNING AGENCY, APPROVING A
REQUEST FOR A MINOR ACCOMMODATION TO ALTER AN EXISTING
NONCONFORMING RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 6007 CLEAR VALLEY ROAD AND
FINDING THAT THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO 15305(A) OF THE STATE CEQA GUIDELINES.
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MONTHLY DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
A. Los Angeles County Fire Department Reports- October, November, December Assistant Fire Chief Drew Smith presented the following report:
the month of October had 5 medical calls, 1 service call, and 6 good intent calls for a total of 12 responses; the month of November had 7 medical calls, 5 service calls, and 3 good intent calls for a total of 15 responses; the month of December had 1 structure fire (smoking outlet in building under construction on Round Meadow - small fire caused by electrical malfunction found in subfloor area and extinguished, 6 medical calls, 1 service call, and 7 good intent calls. Fire Chief Smith mentioned that the Fire Department has been dealing with a lot of mud and debris flow issues but there were not any monumental problems.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Reports - October, November, December Sergeant Marcos Escalante presented the following report:
during the month of October there were zero Part I crimes and five trespassing calls; during the month of November there was one Part I crime, which was a residential burglary in the 6000 block of John Muir and zero trespassing calls; during the month of December there was one Part I crime, which was a stolen vehicle in the 5800 block of Clear Valley, and there was one trespassing call.
C. City Engineer Report
City Engineer Lovett presented the following report:
1) Long Valley Entrance Improvement Project - Measure R - The final design components for Phase 1 (parking lot) of the Long Valley Project has been completed. Staff if working on the specifications/bid package, and anticipates advertising for bids in February. 2) Overhead Power Lines - All plans for the Little Hollow project were completed by SCE, Charter and AT&T. SCE plans are being revised at the request of adjacent residents and the HHCA. Charter and AT&T will then need to revise their plans accordingly. SCE's design work for Jed Smith Road between Fitzpatrick and Kit Carson Road is ongoing and expected to be complete in February. 3) Citywide Fiber - Staff has been working with the City's fiber consultants on the preliminary engineering design. The HHCA has scheduled Ashley Ridge, Jim Bridger, Walker, and Butterfield Roads for pavement resurfacing in April. As such, staff is working to coordinate the potential installation of conduit in this area as phase 1, prior to that time, to avoid cuts in fresh pavement and to reduce costs. 4) LVMWD Pump Station Generator - The pepper tree has been removed and the generator is scheduled to be installed and operational in April. 5) Accessory Dwelling Units - subsequent to approval, the State of California has revised ADU laws. Staff and the City's consultant are working on a new draft. 6) Commercial and Affordable Housing Development Standards - City staff is working with the City's planning consultant on development standards for affordable housing, and updating the Commercial development standards.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. City Council Minutes - January 9, 2023 Regular Meeting B.
C. Disbursement List - December
D. Financial/Treasurer's Report - December
E. Investment Statement - December
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
F. Annual Financial Report for Proposition A Local Return, Proposition C Local Return, Measure R Local Return, Measure M & Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Funds
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) Upon MOTION of Council Member Weber, seconded by Council Member Loggia, and carried unanimously on roll call vote, it was resolved to approve items A, B, C, D, E, F, and G of the consent calendar as submitted
NEW BUSINESS
A. Consideration of Authorization to the City's Appointed Governing Board Member of the Las Virgenes/Malibu Council of Governments to Formally Take Positions on Certain Matters Related to Local Control
City Manager Kallman presented the following report:
the City of Hidden Hills is a member of the Las Virgenes/Malibu Council of Governments (COG); which is made up of the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, and Westlake Village; throughout the year, the COG considers positions on certain items that have a more regional effect or impact; individual COG Board Members take those positions back to their respective City Council's for their position prior to the COG taking a formal position, along with each City being in agreement on the position for the COG to formally take the same position; this process can take up to 90 days with the scheduling of five City Council meeting agendas; with the increased attacks on local control, the COG procedure has proven to not be efficient to provide for a timely action on pending matters; at their most recent meeting, the COG Board discussed allowing COG Board Members to vote on certain positions without first seeking the approval of their respective City Councils; each COG Board Member agreed to take this item back to their City Councils for consideration.
Executive COG Director Terry Dipple reiterated many statements from the report from City Manager Kallman.
After some discussion between Council Members, they all were in agreement.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
Upon MOTION of Council Member McCorkindale, seconded by Council Member Weber and unanimously carried on roll call vote it was resolved to allow the City's COG representative to take positions on State or regional issues that have some relationship to the city and/or local control.
B. City Council Discussion on Format for the 2023 City Council Goals Session City Manager Kallman presented the following report:
for the last five years, the City. Council has held an annual Goals Setting workshop; where Council Members would bring their proposed goals for the upcoming year; each goal would be discussed, and the full City Council would vote whether to adopt each proposed goal; in anticipation of the 2023 City Council Goal session in February; staff is seeking direction from the City Council on the format for the Goals Session.
Council Member Weber stated that he would rather see the Goals Session meeting as a regular meeting rather than a special meeting. The Council is already used to coming to two meetings a month, that maybe one of those meetings could be dedicated to the Goals Session. He also believes that when a goal becomes a project, it should be taken off the goals list.
Council Member Loggia believes the City Council should approach the meeting with what are the priorities of the City now, here's what needs to be accomplished and here's how we accomplish it.
Mayor Freedland stated staff needs to have a clear understanding of what each Council Member's goals are and the priority of when they will be addressed. There has to be some guidelines, and in the past, in his opinion, staff has not been given those guidelines. It doesn't matter to him if it's a regular, special or two meetings but that it depends on how effective the Council is in that meeting.
But part of the Council's job is to have the vision of where want to be and then hand that vision off to be executed by staff.
Council Member McCorkindale commented that she would prefer the Council follows the parliamentary procedure that the Council voted in, for each Council Member to be called on and City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
comment and not for it to be a back and for the between the Mayor and Council Member, because she doesn't think that's the property structure for the meeting.
Council Member Loggia clarified that he believes the Council should have a goal meeting. They should prioritize everything, but that they shouldn't approach it from the perspective of limitations rather than these are priorities. This is what we want to get done, and then figure out how to get it done, and if they can't figure it out, those are the things that are dropping off the list.
Mayor Pro Tem Gold stated that she believes the City Council goals session should be one meeting and that is should be a special meeting. She also stated it might be beneficial to have a progress percentage for the goals on expected completion to assist the Council to know how far along staff is with the project already in motion.
After continued discussion amongst the Council Members, staff thanked them all for their input and feels they have a direction to proceed.
C. Report from the 1/17/23 Hidden Hills Community Association Board of Directors Meeting
Mayor Pro Tem Gold and Council Member McCorkindale gave a brief update on the meeting. It was reported that the new Board Members seem to be very productive and had good rapport. There is a possibility that they may do away with the City liaison position, but staff can follow up on that.
D. Report from the 1/17/23 Las Virgenes Malibu Council of Governments Meeting Mayor Pro Tem and COG President Gold reported that she was elected as President of the COG.
Three goals were agreed upon which were: permitting the governing board to take position on legislation without having the City's vote first; the second goal and consensus was to continue have the COG meetings over Zoom for now, and sharing the cost of a grant writer, for grant benefitting the region.
City Council Minutes
January 23, 2023
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned. !