1978
MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
December 9, 2024
Regular Business at 6:30 p.m.
1. Call Meeting to Order - At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Engelhardt 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 Carol Engelhardt, Mayor Pro Tempore John Pespisa, and Council Members Brian Bergman, Dennis Laherty and Norm Zezula.
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Liffin, Assistant City Manager Tom Robinson, Fire Chief Mitch Brookhyser, Los Angeles County Sheriff Hector Beltran, Finance Manager Angie Martinez, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar.
Also Present via Zoom: None.
Flag Salute
4. Presentations, Commendations, and Proclamations
A. Certificate of Recognition to Fire Marshal Albert Alcalde Public Comments
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 09, 2024
November 5, 2024 General Municipal Election Results
Resolution No. 2024-30: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, reciting the fact of the General Municipal Election held on November 5, 2024, declaring the results and such other matters as provided by Action: Moved (Laherty), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to accept the official Certificate of Election results prepared by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/ County Clerk and adopt Resolution No. 2024-30 declaring the results of the General Municipal Election held November 5, 2024.
Honor Outgoing Council Member Dennis Laherty
A. Comments by Council colleagues and public;
B. Comments by outgoing Mayor.
C. Outgoing Council Member stepped down from Council dias.
Oaths of Office and seating of newly elected council members A. Administration of Oath of Office to Council Member-elect Carol Engelhardt;
B. Administration of Oath of Office to Council Member-elect Greg Steffire; Comments by the newly-elected Council Members.
Select Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Zezula), and voted 5-0 to appoint Council Member Pespisa to serve as Mayor.
Action: Moved (Zezula), to appoint Council Member Steffre to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore. Motion has failed for lack of a second.
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Pespisa), and voted unanimously to appoint Council Member Engelhardt to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore.
10. City Council Member Committee Assignments
Investment Advisory Committee
Delegates: Brian Bergman and Dennis Laherty
New Delegates: Brian Bergman and Greg Steffre
Dule committee (Budget and Finand Committe
New Delegates: Carol Engelhardt and Greg Steffire
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES DECEMBER 09, 2024
Representative to Joint Governmental Committees
California Contract Cities Association (CCCA)
Delegate: Brian Bergman Alternate: Dennis Laherty
New Delegate: Brian Bergman New Alternate: John Pespisa California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
Carol Engelhardt Alternate: City Manager
New Delegate: John Pespisa New Alternate: City Manager
Hillside Open Space Education Coalition (HOSEC)
John Pespisa Alternate: Carol Engelhardt
New Delegate: Carol Engelhardt New Alternate: John Pespisa L.A. County Sanitation District
Delegate: Carol Engelhardt Alternate: John Pespisa
New Delegate: John Pespisa New Alternate: Carol Engelhardt League of California Cities (LCC) (General Membership Meetings) Delegate: Brian Bergman Alternate: Dennis Laherty
New Delegate: Brian Bergman New Alternate: Greg Steffire Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
Delegate: Norm Zezula Alternate: John Pespisa
New Delegate: Norm Zezula New Alternate: Carol Engelhardt Wildlife Corridor Conservation Authority (WCCA)
Delegate: John Pespisa Alternate: Norm Zezula
New Delegate: Norm Zezula New Alternate: John Pespisa
Los Angeles County City Selections Committee
Delegate: Carol Engelhardt Alternate: John Pespisa
New Delegate: John Pespisa New Alternate: Carol Engelhardt Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to appoint Council Members to the various committees and organizations.
11. City Council Comments
12. 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
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 09, 2024 Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt) and (Stefflre) abstained from items #16 & #17 voted (5-0) to approve consent items 13 through 18.
13. Waive Reading in full of all Ordinances, Resolutions and meeting minutes on the agenda
14. Warrant Report November 2024
15. Treasurer's Report for October 2024
16. Minutes: November 12, 2024 - Special City Council Meeting
17. Minutes: December 4, 2024 - Special City Council Meeting
18. 2025 City Meeting Schedule
- End of Consent Calendar ---
Public Hearing
19. Protest Hearing - Unpaid Brush Clearance Costs
Resolution No. 2024-31: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, confirming a report of costs incurred in connection with the city's brush clearance program; confirming the assessments and liens set forth in such report; and directing that such assessments be collected on the property tax roll.
At 7:24 p.m. Mayor Pespisa opened the public hearing.
At 7:27 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed the public hearing
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) overrule protest and adopt Resolution No. 2024-31 confirming the report of costs incurred by the city and authorizing the assessments as liens to be placed on the tax rolls effective November 12, 2024.
- End of Public Hearing........
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 4 DECEMBER 09, 2024 Administrative Items
20. Agreement with EMS QI partners for EMS Coordinator/QI services Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt) and voted (5-0) to enter an agreement with EMS QI partners for EMS Coordinator Services for the Fire Department with the condition of striking the last sentence of section 3.0 of agreement. Also, verify that the insurance amount of the agreement is equal to or less than the amount from the previous agreement with UCLA.
21. Authorization to enter into an agreement with a consultant for professional services associated with the Housing Element Certification Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt) and voted (5-0) to authorize the Finance Manager to amend the budget for $40,000 in account 101-410PLN-6650 and authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement, approved by the City Attorney, with PlaceWorks for Housing Element preparation services.
22. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights approving the application for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and open space District Measure A Annual Allocation Grant Resolution No. 2024-32: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, approving the blanket authority to file applications for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District for Measure A funding for projects and programs.
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Bergman) and voted (5-0) to approve the filing of an application with the District for funds allocated under Section 24 (b) of the 1996 Proposition for the above-named project and certify that said applicant understands the assurances and certifications in the application form. Certify that the applicant understands its obligations to operate and maintain the property(s) in perpetuity and certify that said applicant will be sign and returned with in 30 days. Also to approve Approve Resolution No. 2024-32 officially approving the blanket authority to file applications for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and open space district for Measure A funding for projects and programs and authorize the City Manager, or designee, as an agent of the City of La Habra Heights to conduct all negotiations, and to execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to, applications, agreements amendments, payment requests, and so forth, which may be necessary for the completion of the Project as described in the application.
23. Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority Ballot Measure PH Action: Reviewed and discussed.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 5 DECEMBER 09, 2024
24. Reappointment of Catherine Houwen to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) Board of Trustees for a four year term Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to approve the reappointment of Catherine Houwen as a Member to the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District Board of Trustees for a four-year term.
25. Consideration of Holiday Closure Schedule
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) Council approve the requested holiday closure schedule as indicated in the staff report.
26. Project updates and deadlines
Action: Reviewed and discussed.
- End of Administrative Items -..
27. Individual Council Member information items and/or required meeting attendance reports
Action: No action taken.
Public Comments on items not on the agenda (one minute) Adjourn Meeting: At 8:37 p.m., Mayor Pespisa adjourned the meeting to closed session. - End of Regular Session-..
Closed Session Opening Ceremonies
Call Meeting to Order - At 8:37 p.m., Mayor Pespisa called the Closed Session meeting to order.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor John Pespisa, Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Engelhardt, and Council Members Brian Bergman, Greg Stefflre and Norm Zezula.
Absent: None.
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar.
Public Comment on Closed Session
Adjourned to Closed Session
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 6 DECEMBER 09, 2024 At 8:37 p.m., the City Council, 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 9:27 p.m., Closed Session ended.
Reconvene and Statement from Closed Session
-- End of Closed Session ---
Submitted for Council Approval:
Christma
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 7 DECEMBER 09, 2024