1978
MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
December 11, 2023
Closed Session Opening Ceremonies
Call Meeting to Order - At 5:31 p.m., Mayor Zezula called the Regular City Council meeting to order.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Norm Zezula, Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Engelhardt, and Council Members Brian Bergman, Dennis Laherty and John Pespisa.
Absent: None.
Also Present: Interim City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar.
Public Comment on Closed Session
4. Adjourned to Closed Session
At 5:31 p.m., the City Council, Interim City Manager and City Attorney adjourned to Closed Session to discuss the following:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2) Potential Cases: One
At 5:35 p.m., Council Member Laherty recused himself and left closed session.
At 6:17 p.m., Closed Session ended.
5. Reconvene and Statement from Closed Session
- End of Closed Session --.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 1 DECEMBER 11, 2023 APPROVED AS SUBMITTED JANUARY 8, 2024
Regular Business at 6:30 p.m.
1. Call Meeting to Order - At 6:31 p.m., Mayor Zezula called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
Action: City Attorney Litfin reported there was no reportable action from Closed Session.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Norm Zezula, Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Engelhardt, and Council Members Brian Bergman, Dennis Laherty and John Pespisa.
Absent: None
Also Present: Interim City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, Interim Fire Chief Edward Martin, Los Angeles County Sheriff Captain Glenn Emery, Los Angeles County Sheriff Joseph Valencia, Los Angeles County Sheriff Hector Beltran, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Operations Lieutenant Ann Devine, Finance Manager Angie Martinez, Public Works Specialist Grace Andres, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar.
Also Present via Zoom: None.
Flag Salute
Presentations, Commendations, and Proclamations
A. Recognition of LASD Deputy Joseph Valencia
Public Comments
Honor Outgoing Mayor Norm Zezula
A. Comments by Council colleagues and public;
B. Comments by outgoing Mayor.
7. Select Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore
Action: Moved (Zezula), seconded (none), to appoint Council Member Laherty to serve as Mayor. Motion has failed for lack of a second.
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Pespisa), and voted 4-1 (oppose Laherty) to appoint Mayor Pro Tempore Engelhardt to serve as Mayor.
Action: Moved (Zezula), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted unanimously to appoint Council Member Pespisa to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 2 DECEMBER 11, 2023 APPROVED AS SUBMITTED JANUARY 8, 2024
8. City Council Member Committee Assignments
Investment Advisory Committee
Delegates: Brian Bergman and Dennis Laherty
New Delegates: Brian Bergman and Dennis Laherty
Audit Committee (Budget and Finance Committee)
Delegates: Dennis Laherty and Carol Engelhardt
New Delegates: Dennis Laherty and Carol Engelhardt
Representative to Joint Governmental Committees
California Contract Cities Association (CCCA)
Delegate: Carol Engelhardt Alternate: Dennis Laherty
New Delegate: Brian Bergman New Alternate: Dennis Laherty California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
Delegate: Norm Zezula Alternate: City Manager
New Delegate: Carol Engelhardt New Alternate: City Manager Hillside Open Space Education Coalition (HOSEC)
Delegate: John Pespisa Alternate: Dennis Laherty
New Delegate: John Pespisa New Alternate: Carol Engelhardt L.A. County Sanitation District
Delegate: Norm Zezula Alternate: Carol Engelhardt
New Delegate: Carol Engelhardt New Alternate: John Pespisa League of California Cities (LCC) (General Membership Meetings) Delegate: Brian Bergmar Alternate: Dennis Laherty
New Delegate: Brian Bergmar New Alternate: Dennis Laherty Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
Delegate: Norm Zezula Alternate: Brian Bergman
New Delegate: Norm Zezula New Alternate: John Pespisa
Wildlife Coffidor Conservation Authority (WCCA)
Delegate: Norm Zezula Alternate: vacant
New Delegate: John Pespisa New Alternate: Norm Zezula
Los Angeles County City Selections Committee
Delegate: Norm Zezula Alternate: Carol Engelhardt
New Delegate: Carol EngelhardtR New Alternate: John Pespisa REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 11, 2023 APPROVED AS SUBMITTED JANUARY 8, 2024
9. Committee Comments
10. City Council Comments
11. Administrative Reports
A. City Manager's Report
B. City Attorney's Report
C. Community Development Report
D. Fire Chief's Report.
E. Sheriff's Department Report
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Pespisa) and voted unanimously to approve consent items 12 through 17.
12. Waive Reading in full of all Ordinances, Resolutions and meeting minutes on the agenda
13. Warrant Report November 2023
14. Treasurer's Report for October 2023
15. Minutes: October 18, 2023 - Special City Council Meeting
16. Minutes: November 13, 2023 - Regular City Council Meeting
17. 2024 City Meeting Schedule
- End of Consent Calendr-..........
Administrative Items
18. Consideration of Hiring a Temporary Project Manager Consultant and Employment Agreement
Action: Moved (Laherty), seconded (Zezula) and voted unanimously to authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement with Retired Annuitant Thomas Robinson for Temporary Extra Help Employment.
19. Project Updates and Deadlines
Action: By Council consensus, continue this item to the next meeting.
20. Consideration of Holiday Closure Schedule
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 4 DECEMBER 11, 2023 APPROVED AS SUBMITTED JANUARY 8, 2024
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Laherty) and voted unanimously to approve the requested holiday closure schedule.
--- End of Administrative Items -
21. Individual Council Member information items and/or required meeting attendance reports
Action: No action taken.
22. Public Comments on items not on the agenda (one minute) Adjourn Meeting - At 7:35 p.m., Mayor Engelhardt adjourned the meeting.
Submitted for Council Approval:
Chistia Coula
Christina Aguilar, Administrative Assistant
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 5 DECEMBER 11, 2023 APPROVED AS SUBMITTED JANUARY 8, 2024