CITY OF HIDDEN HILLS
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
(VIDEO CONFERENCE)
6165 Spring Valley Road
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Hidden Hills was held by video conference on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Mayor Joseph Loggia called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and presided.
2. ROLL CALL
Council: Mayor Joseph Loggia
- Mayor Pro Tem Stuart E. Siegel
Council Member Eniko Gold
Council Member Laura McCorkindale
Council Member Larry G. Weber
Staff: Acting City Manager Amber Servin
City Attorney Lauren Langer
Administrative Assistant Sara Porter
Substitute City Clerk Jessica Blair
Mayor Loggia announced that public comments would be invited for each listed agenda item as it was considered, with three minutes allowed per speaker. He stated that there would be no public comment on matters not listed on the agenda.
3. NEW BUSINESS
3.A Resolution No. 1064 Appointing Candidates for City Council Seats and Canceling the General Municipal Election for City Council Scheduled for November 3, 2026 Acting City Manager Servin presented a report regarding Resolution No. 1064 and the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election. She stated that the number of qualified candidates equaled the number of available City Council seats, with Larry Weber qualifying for the partial two-year term and Esther Hahn, Jeff Grogin and David ZeBrack qualifying for the three four-year terms. She explained that, under California Elections Code Section 10229, the Council could appoint the qualified candidates in lieu of election and cancel the City Council election, resulting in an estimated savings of $15,000. Staff recommended adopting Resolution No. 1064, appointing the four candidates, canceling the election and directing the City Clerk to present Certificates of Appointment in Lieu of Election to the appointees. Alternatively, the Council could City Council Minutes
Special Meeting
August 19, 2026
direct that the election be held; write-in candidates would be accepted from September 7 through October 20, 2026.
City Attorney Langer advised that a Council member whose name appeared in the resolution was not required to recuse or abstain but could choose to abstain.
Mayor Pro Tem Siegel commented that, based on information he had received but had not independently verified, all COG cities, with the possible exception of Malibu, had uncontested elections that year.
Resident Mathy Wasserman expressed concerns regarding the City's communication about the extended nomination period. She stated that residents had not been adequately notified and that the information had not been prominently posted or communicated through the City's usual channels. She suggested a policy requiring future nomination extensions to be prominently posted and communicated through email, text notifications, the City calendar and meeting announcements. Ms. Wasserman also asked how Municipal Code provisions concerning dismissal or release of a City Manager within 90 days of an election would apply if the election were canceled.
Council Member McCorkindale asked staff to respond to Ms. Wasserman's comments, stating that she believed the nomination extension had been posted on the City's website and discussed at Council meetings.
City Attorney Langer explained that the Elections Code establishes specific requirements and timelines for nomination extensions and notice. She stated that the City had complied with the applicable requirements and that the tight election timelines also required the special meeting.
Acting City Manager Servin stated that election information, including the nomination extension, had been posted in the Featured News carousel on the City website's main page.
Resident Casey Corbin supported proceeding with the November 3, 2026 City Council election. He questioned the timing and visibility of election notices and stated that, despite being a longtime resident, he had not known the election and nomination timelines. Mr. Corbin stated that residents should have the opportunity to vote for write-in candidates and expressed concern that canceling the election would limit their participation. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the last-minute cancellation of the August 10 Council meeting.
Council Member McCorkindale clarified that the special-meeting notice requirement was 24 hours, rather than five days, and stated that election notices had been posted beginning in June. She asked City Attorney Langer to clarify the applicable timelines.
City Attorney Langer stated that the City Clerk maintained an elections page on the City website and that the Council had previously adopted a resolution calling the election. She explained that the special meeting was subject to the Brown Act's 24 hour notice requirement and that its timing followed the Elections Code's notice and waiting periods. She reiterated that the City had complied with the applicable requirements.
Council Member Gold suggested a civics course for residents about Council operations, elections, voting and voter registration. She suggested that it could be offered through the library, online or in person, to help residents understand City processes and participate in civic affairs.
Resident Bret Katz expressed concerns regarding transparency about the City Manager's status and related City expenditures. He requested greater communication from the Council and also questioned the number of special meetings and the limits on addressing matters outside their agendas.
City Council Minutes
Special Meeting
August 19, 2026
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Siegel moved and Council Member McCorkindale seconded a motion to adopt Resolution No. 1064 appointing Larry Weber to the partial two-year Council term and Esther Hahn, Jeff Grogin and David ZeBrack to the three full four-year terms, and canceling the General Municipal Election for City Council scheduled for November 3, 2026. The question was called and the motion carried 4-0 on a roll call vote, with Council Member Weber abstaining and Council Members McCorkindale and Gold, Mayor Pro Tem Siegel and Mayor Loggia voting yes.
3.B Consideration and Approval of a Letter to Southern California Edison Requesting a Reliability Assessment and Capital Improvement Commitment for the Valdez Substation Acting City Manager Servin presented a report regarding recurring Southern California Edison power outages affecting Hidden Hills and Calabasas, which share the Valdez substation. She stated that three recent unplanned outages had been attributed to equipment issues. Staff prepared a letter to SCE executive leadership requesting infrastructure improvements, enhanced monitoring and maintenance, information on outage causes and planned corrective actions, and a direct 24-hour communication protocol with City staff during future outages. Staff recommended approval of the letter, authorization for the Mayor to endorse it on the Council's behalf, and direction to transmit it to SCE.
Resident Mathy Wasserman supported the City's efforts to address recurring SCE outages, particularly their summer impacts and effects on residents working from home. She also repeated her request for clarification of the 90-day City Manager provision.
MOTION
Council Member Weber moved and Mayor Pro Tem Siegel seconded a motion to authorize Acting City Manager Servin to transmit the proposed letter to Southern California Edison requesting a reliability assessment and capital improvement commitment for the Valdez substation. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
4. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION
Mayor Pro Tem Siegel moved and Council Member Gold seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The question was called and the motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote. The meeting was adjourned at Joseph Loggia, Mayor
ATTEST
Land annaly
leana L. Gonzalez, CMC/City Serk