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CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
(IN-PERSON AND VIDEO CONFERENCE)
6165 Spring Valley Road
Monday, January 12, 2026
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 12, 2026, at the hour of 5:30 p.m. Mayor Joseph Loggia called the meeting to order and presided thereover.
2. ROLL CALL
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Council: Mayor Joseph Loggia
Mayor Pro Tem Stuart Siegel
Council Member Eniko Gold
Council Member Laura McCorkindale
Council Member Larry G. Weber
Staff: City Manager Gloria Molleda
City Attorney Lauren Langer
City Engineer Dirk Lovett
Administrative Analyst Aaron Williams
Administrative Assistant Sara Porter
Public Safety & Emergency Services Manager Mike Grant
3. PRESENTATIONS
3.A. Los Angeles County Fire Department Report - November/December For the last month, the fire department responded to a total of 27 incidents in the city. Of these, 8 were Emergency Medical Service responses and 3 were hazardous condition calls, such as power lines down or arcing electrical equipment. None of those hazardous incidents resulted in a fire, but they did require us to come out, assess the situation, and ensure everything was safe. The remaining 16 calls were service and good- -
intent calls, which are typically false alarms-residential fire or medical alarms that, fortunately, turned out not to be actual emergencies. Overall, the conditions are significantly better in January 2026 than they were in -
City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
January 12, 2026
January 2025. Thanks to all the rain we've had, live fuel moisture is extremely high, and the fire season appears to have come to an end.
Council Member McCorkindale said the city has sought a clear Fire Department position on draft hydrants for about eight months. She noted that one builder disputes the requirement, while Chief Smith has indicatec support but is still awaiting confirmation from higher-level leadership. City Engineer Lovett added that plar check guidance has been inconsistent, with some applications approved with draft hydrants and others returned with comments that the department no longer requires them. Battalion Chief Binder acknowledged the issue and said he would provide a clear answer by the end of the month.
Mayor Pro Tem Siegel reiterated that this January is significantly better than January 2025 in terms of fire conditions. He emphasized empathy for the residents of Altadena and the Palisades, noting that our hearts go out to them, adding that, based on his own knowledge, many people in the Palisades are still struggling with the aftermath of the fires.
Council Member Weber observed that "a whole herd of goats" is now regularly present on Ahmanson, noting this as a significant shift in approach from the rangers of the past and tying it to fuel reduction efforts. Battalion - Chief Binder added that everyone is looking for opportunities to support fuel mitigation and create effective fire breaks, emphasizing that the Forestry Division and Chief Smith, who is highly focused on fire behavior, are leading efforts in the Santa Monica Mountains to make the area as fire-safe as possible. 3B. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Report - November/December Deputy Baldi reported that in November and December there were zero Part I crimes each month, resulting in a total of six Part I crimes in 2025, down from 10 in 2024—a 40% overall decrease. He noted one domestic violence misdemeanor report in December and provided an update on the October burglary on Bridle Trail, stating that the suspect remains in custody awaiting the next step in the court process.
Council Member McCorkindale asked Deputy Baldi if there were any updates on the burglaries that occurred on Eldorado Meadow, John Muir and Long Valley from last year. Deputy Baldi stated that there has been no movement on any of those burglaries. Ms. McCorkindale asked Deputy Baldi to bring the Council some additional information about what's been looked at with the three of the burglaries. Deputy Baldi agreed that he would follow up with the detective and see if there is any further updates and what steps have been taken thus far.
3.C Public Safety and Emergency Services Report
Public Safety and Emergency Services Manager Mike Grant provided a year-end overview of 2025 public safety activity. Motor officers finished the year at 112% of their deployment target, with patrol and the special deputy each at or near 100%, meaning all enforcement resources met or exceeded planned presence in the community. There were 693 moving citations issued, most commonly for stop sign violations (VC 22450), five non-DUl collisions primarily caused by unsafe speed, four reported burglaries, and 11 trespassing incidents, with an estimated 70-75 attempted trespasses. Mr. Grant also reported that the final CERT meeting focused -
City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
January 12, 2026
on drone operations and how drones can extend situational awareness during emergencies and noted that the city now has 16 fully certified CERT members, with a goal of roughly doubling that number over 2026.
Council Member McCorkindale asked Mr. Grant to briefly explain the new drone ordinance that took effect two days earlier, noting that it prohibits recreational drone use in the city and requires anyone flying a drone in Hidden Hills-including realtors and others—to be properly licensed through city staff, and then asked him to confirm that understanding.
Mr. Grant confirmed that under the new ordinance, anyone flying a drone in Hidden Hills must be properly licensed, and unlicensed operation is an infraction. He explained that the rule is aimed at preventing criminal misuse of drones, avoiding interference with the city's nightly counter-burglary drone, and addressing safety and privacy concerns, with enforcement focused on egregious violations.
Council Member McCorkindale thanked staff for their work on the new drone ordinance, commending them for putting the policy together in approximately 12 weeks after learning that burglary crews were using drones, and expressed appreciation for everyone's hard work in getting it adopted so quickly. - 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
5.A. Receive and File the Financial/Treasurer's Report for November 2025
5.B. Receive and File the Monthly Disbursements Report for November 2025
5.C. Receive and File the Investments Report for November 2025
5.D. Approval of the Register of Demands for January 12, 2026
5.E. City Engineering and Community Development Monthly Report
5.F. Approval of Amendment No. 4 to Measure R and Measure M Funding Agreement Between the City of Hidden Hills and the Lose Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Adoption of Resolution No. 1052 and Approval of California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) Form 130 Designating City Personnel to Act as Agent for the City for the Purpose of Obtaining Certain State and/or Federal Financial Assistance After a Disaster A RESOLUTION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING
THOSE OFFICIALS AUTHORIZED TO FILE APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO OBTAIN CERTAIN FEDERAL AND STATE
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
5.H. Authorization to Issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Professional Auditing Services
5.l. Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance No. 407 Amending Chapter 2 Article P of the Hidden Hills Municipal Code
ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 407 ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY - OF HIDDEN HILLS AMENDING CHAPTER 2 ARTICLE P OF THE HIDDEN HILLS MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATING TO ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS TO COMPLY WITH RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW, AND FINDING - City Council Minutes
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January 12, 202
THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODES 21080.17
5.л. Adoption of Ordinance No. 408 Amending the Supervisory Role of the City Council in Relation to the City Clerk and City Treasurer to Make Such Officers Directly Reportable to the City
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS AMENDING SECTION 1-8-2 OF THE CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDING THE
SUPERVISORY ROLE OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN RELATION TO THE CITY'S CLERK AND
TREASURER, AND FINDING THE ACTION EXEMPT FROM CEQA
Upon MOTION by Council Member Gold, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Siegel, and unanimously carried on a roll call vote, the Council resolved to approve items A - J as submitted in the Consent Calendar.
6. NEW BUSINESS
6.A. Award of Contract for Building & Safety and City Engineering Services - Recommendation of TransTech Engineering, Inc.
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City Manager Molleda presented the following report:
City Manager Molleda presented a proposed five-year agreement with TransTech Engineers for building and safety and city engineering services. She said the city has used Charles Abbott Associates (CAA) for about 30 years, but staffing challenges and limited on-site coverage now prevent CAA from meeting the city's needs. After a competitive RFP process, four proposals, interviews, and follow-up review, staff identified TransTech as the preferred firm. The agreement runs from January 12, 2026, through January 31, 2031, and includes building official, inspection, plan check, city engineering, development review, as-needed code enforcement, and front counter/next-day inspection services under the City Manager's direction. For continuity, TransTech will provide a transition team at no startup cost, City Engineer Dirk Lovett will remain on call after February 6, 2026, and CAA will keep a senior inspector on site through January 16, 2026. Ms. Molleda said the services are primarily fee-funded, rates are comparable to current costs and other proposals, no General Fund subsidy is expected, and all work product will remain city property. She recommended approval before inviting Melissa DeMercy of TransTech to introduce the team.
Melissa DeMercy of TransTech introduced the Hidden Hills team, including the designated building official, city engineer, backup engineering support, and day-to-day building inspector, and expressed enthusiasm for serving the city. Mayor Pro Tem Siegel and Council Member Weber commented that the selection process was competitive, praised the quality of all applicants, and stated they were confident TransTech was the right choice while also thanking long-time City Engineer Dirk Lovett and CAA staff (including former inspector Steve O'Hara and CEO Rusty Reed) for many years of service. Council Member McCorkindale also welcomed TransTech and thanked Mr. Lovett.
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City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
January 12, 2026
In response to a call for questions, Mayor Pro Tem Siegel offered comments rather than questions. He noted that he and Mayor Loggia served on the interview committee, emphasized that the city had an exceptionally strong and regionally experienced pool of applicants, and said the choice was not easy but that he is very comfortable with the decision, believing TransTech is clearly the best fit. He also took the opportunity to thank City Engineer Dirk Lovett for roughly 26 years of working together.
Upon MOTION by Mayor Pro Tem Siegel, seconded by Council Member Weber, and unanimously carried on a roll call vote, the Council resolved to approve the professional services agreement with TransTech Engineering Inc., and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
There were no public comments.
8. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mayor Pro Tem Siegel suggested taking a fresh look at the city's overall communications infrastructure- including Spectrum, AT&T, overhead wiring, manholes, and copper theft-and proposed forming a committee, noting similar efforts had been made in the past to secure more stable internet. Council Member Neber agreed and pointed out that any new effort would overlap with existing cellular and fiber work, while Council Member McCorkindale recommended first inviting Edison, AT&T, and Spectrum to a future meeting so they can explain current challenges and answer questions before the council decides whether to create a new committee or use existing ones. Staff was directed to invite these utilities to the next meeting and return in February with a recommendation on how best to structure this work.
Council Member Weber reported that the city and Mountain View are jointly pursuing a Verizon tower at the water district's tank site, with Verizon indicating other carriers could co-locate, though progress is currently delayed while easement boundaries are confirmed. Staff also noted that the regional fiber network project is advancing toward contract award, with construction expected to begin around March 2026 to connect key public facilities first and enable later residential and commercial expansion. Mayor Loggia addressed concerns about outages, explaining that fully undergrounding utilities would be extremely costly (estimated at about $81 million, or roughly $150,000-$175,000 per household) and would not prevent all externally caused outages.
He instead encouraged residents to consider backup generators as a more practical solution and asked staff to work with the HHCA to streamline generator permitting and consider fee reductions.
Mayor Loggia asked staff to invite Edison, AT&T, and Spectrum to the next council meeting and to evaluate whether a new communications infrastructure committee is needed or if the work should be handled by existing committees, directing staff to return in February with a full report alongside the utilities' presentations so the council can decide how best to proceed; he emphasized that resolving these infrastructure issues is a top public-safety priority and noted the significant time council members have already devoted to it.
City Council Minutes
Regular Meeting
January 12, 2026
Council Member Gold provided an update on the Regional Council of Governments fiber project, explaining that it will create a regional fiber network connecting emergency command centers, city halls, police and fire stations, and possibly schools, with funding already secured. Three construction bids were received, all within budget, and the governing board is expected to award a contract at its next meeting; if approved, construction would begin around March 2026 and take approximately 10-12 months. During that time, the Council of Governments will select a private Internet service provider to operate and maintain the system and later work on extending fiber from public facilities (such as City Hall) into residential and commercial areas, though the schedule for that expansion is not yet determined.
Council Member McCorkindale commended City Manager Gloria Molleda for working nearly around the clock over the holidays to resolve multiple utility failures, including three copper theft incidents, and for aggressively advocating with AT&T and other providers to restore landline, internet, and power service to affected residents far sooner than initially projected. She stated that the city has never had a staff member fight so persistently for individual households during such a difficult period and expressed her deep appreciation on behalf of the community.
9S STAFF COMMENTS
City Manager Molleda reported that AT&T landlines have been down since December 23, complicated by three separate copper theft incidents that repeatedly knocked service out just after restoration. She has remained in direct contact with AT&T-despite their request that residents deal only with customer service- and, as of just before the meeting, AT&T reported that 88 customers were restored with another 48 expected online by night's end, though timelines remain uncertain and future copper thefts could take at least five weeks to fix. She will invite AT&T, Spectrum, and Edison to the February meeting and noted that micro-surfacing work will begin on the 19th (with coordinated gate-closure notices sent in partnership with the HHCA) and that City Hall will be closed on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Council Member McCorkindale added that the legislative committee is considering drafting state legislation to make copper theft a more serious crime in California, noting it affects not only landlines but also lighting and has become a statewide problem. She reported she has a scheduled call with the President of AT&T California to discuss Hidden Hills' issues and potential legislative language, and invited residents to provide feedback to staff on whether the committee should prioritize this effort.
10. ADJOURNMENT
here being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned Joseph Loggia, Mayor