19T8
MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
February 10, 2025
Regular Business at 6:30 P.M.
Call Meeting to Order - At 6:31 p.m., Mayor John Pespisa called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Pro Tempore Engelhardt, Council Members Brian Bergman, Greg Stefflre and Norm Zezula
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, Assistant City Manager Tom Robinson, Finance Manager Angie Martinez, Fire Chief Mitch Brookhyser, Fire Marshal Ryan Jorgensen, Los Angeles County Sheriff Hector Beltran, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar
Also Present via Zoom: None
Flag Salute
Presentations, Commendations and Proclamations
A. La Habra Heights Improvement Association & Los Compadres check presentation to the La Habra Heights Fire Department for the purchasing of an automated CPR Lucas Machine
B. Recognize Diego Arballo - Eagle Scout project of sandbag filling rack Public Comments
Committee Comments
City Council Comments
Administrative Reports
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025
A. City Manager's Report
City Attorney's Report
Action: No Reportable Action from closed session reported by City Attorney.
Community Development Report
Fire Chief's Report
E. Sheriff's Department Report
Action: Mayor Pespisa pulled a Public Speaker Card.
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to approve consent items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.
Waive Reading in Full of all Ordinances, Resolutions, and Meeting Minutes on the Agenda
10. Approval of Warrant Report for January 2024
11. Treasurer's Report for the Month of November 2024
12. Minutes: January 13, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting
13. Minutes: January 20, 2024 - Adjourned City Council Meeting
14. Minutes: January 24, 2024 - Special City Council Meeting
15. Minutes: January 24, 2024 - Adjourned Regular City Council Meeting - End of Consent Calend........
Public Hearing
16. Accessibility improvement at the Park
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-05: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, authorizing the allocation of the 51st year community development block grant (CDBG) funds for fiscal year 2025-26 At 7:04 p.m. Mayor Pespisa opened Public Hearing.
At 7:05 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed Public Hearing.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to adopt resolution no. 2025-05 and direct staff to pursue the Accessibility Ramp and parking improvement project at the park and direct staff to issue a request for proposals and design building engineering and construction services for this project.
17. Protest Hearing - Unpaid Brush Clearance Costs
Resolution No. 2025-06: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, Calitornia, 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 7:06 p.m. Mayor Pespisa opened Public Hearing.
At 7:06 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed Public Hearing.
Action: Moved (Stefflre), seconded (Zezula), and voted (5-0) adopt Resolution No. 2025- 06 confirming the report of costs incurred by the city and authorizing the assessments as liens to be placed on the tax rolls effective February 10, 2025.
18. Vacation of La Habra road within Powder Canyon
Resolution No. 2025-07: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, declaring La Habra Road unnecessary for present or prospective public use and vacating the same pursuant to the California streets and highway code
At 7:17 p.m. Mayor Pespisa opened Public Hearing.
At 7:20 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed Public Hearing.
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to adopt Resolution No. 2025-07 authorizing the vacation of La Habra Road and establishing the twenty-foot- wide emergency access easement. With the condition to pass the Resolution declaring La Habra Road unnecessary for present or perspective public use and vacating the same pursuant to the California streets and highways code not to be recorded until the items discussed in section 4 page 2 of Resolution including the cooperative and implementation agreement the final easement granted to the City and all the conditions are worked out with the City and Fire entities.
-- End of Public Hearing --
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025
Administrative Items
19. Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for FY 2024-25
Action: Received and file.
20. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Mid-Year Budget Adjustments
Action: Moved (Engelhardt) seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to approve the Fiscal Year 2024-25 mid-year budget amendment.
Municipal Code Enforcement Program - City Prosecutor Proposals Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to select the firm of Dapeer Rosenbilt Litvak to perform the City Prosecutor Services and direct the City Attorney to prepare the necessary contract for City Prosecutor Services and authorize City Manager to execute the contract.
22. Reclassification of Fire Department positions (continued from January 13, 2025)
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to approve request to reactivate the Deputy Fire Chief position and reclassify the Fire Marshal position from part-time to fuil-time, retroactively to January 13, 2025.
23. 2025 Brush Clearance Program
Resolution No. 2025-08: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, declaring that weeds, rubbish, refuse, or other combustible materials growing upon or in front of properties constitute a public nuisance. In addition, dirt/debris runoff from private property upon public roadways also constitutes a public nuisance. Further declaring its intention to provide for the abatement of such nuisance, and setting a date for a public hearing Action: Moved (Stefflre), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to adopt Resolution No. 2025-08 declaring that in addition to weeds, rubbish, refuse, or other combustible materials, dirt/debris runoff from private property upon public roadways in front of properties are a public nuisance. Declare its intention to provide for the abatement of such nuisance and set the date as April 14, 2025, for the public hearing.
24. La Habra Heights wildfire defensible space discussion Action: Reviewed and discussed.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025
25. Harmonizing Fuel Modification Requirements with Landscape Screening Ordinance
Action: Reviewed and discussed and directed the City Manager to take this item to the next Planning Commission meeting.
26. Planning , Commission request to initiate a Code Amendment related to Landscaping and Fencing Development Standards
Action: Reviewed and discussed. Council directed staff to send the item back to Planning Commission for future consideration and schedule a workshop with members of the Planning Commission, Emergency Preparedness Committee and City Council.
27. Regional Safe, Clean Water Demonstration Project at the park in La Habra Heights
Resolution No. 2025-09: A Resolution of the city council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, approving participation in the safe, clean water regional program by authorizing the city manager to execute a transfer agreement between the Los Angeles County flood control district and the city of La Habra Heights
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to deny Resolution No. 2025-09 approving the City's participation in the Los Angeles County Safe, Clean Water Regional Program and to not authorize the City Manager to execute the Safe, Clean Water Regional Program Transfer Agreement on behalf of the City.
28. Winter Storm 2024: dirt and debris removal from vacant lot at Hacienda and West Road
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to authorize the Finance Manager to amend the FY 2024-25 budget and increase account 101-450-PWD- 6850 by $79,245 for the removal of dirt and debris from the Hacienda and West vacant lot. Authorize a contingency in the amount of $11,886.75, or 15% and authorize the Finance Manager to amend the FY 2024-25 budget and increase account 101-450-PWD- 6850 by $11,886.75 for the 15% contingency. Authorize the City Manager to approve the Purchase Order per the City's purchasing policy and authorize staff to schedule California Arborist Complete Tree Care, Inc. to complete the work.
29. February 2024 winter storms update
Action: Reviewed and discussed.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025
30. The Park Equestrian access trail at the intersection of East Road and Hacienda Road
Action: Reviewed and discussed.
31. Project updates and deadlines
Action: Reviewed and discussed.
End of Administrative Items --
32. Individual Council Member information items and/or required Meeting Attendance Reports
Action: No action taken.
33. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda (One Minute) Adjourn Meeting - At 9:14 p.m., Mayor Pespisa adjourned the meeting to closed session.
Closed Session Opening Ceremonies
Call Meeting to Order - At 9:22 p.m., Mayor John Pespisa called the Closed City Council Meeting to order.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor John Pespisa, Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Engelhardt, Council Members Brian Bergman, Greg Stefflre and Norm Zezula
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin and Interim Assistant City Manager
3. Public Comment on Closed Session
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025
4. Adjourned to Closed Session
At 9:24 p.m., the City Council, City Manager, Interim Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, adjourned to Closed Session to discuss the following:
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION
Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(1)
Case: State of California et al. v. City of La Habra Heights et al. LASC Case No. 24STCP03557
B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2) Potential Cases: One
C. PERSONNEL - EMPLOYMENT
Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54957
Title: Interim Assistant City Manager
RECONVENE AND STATEMENT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Action: Adjourned meeting at 10:05 p.m.
- End of Closed Session --
Chaton
Christina Aguilar, Administrative Assistant
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025