1978
MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
September 8, 2025
Closed Session Opening Ceremonies
Call Meeting to Order - At 5:30 p.m., Mayor John Pespisa called the Closed City Council Meeting to order.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor John Pespisa, Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Engelhardt, Council Members Brian Bergman and Greg Steffire
Absent: Council Member Norm Zezula
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge and City Attorney Todd Litfin
3. Public Comment on Closed Session
4. Adjourned to Closed Session
At 5:32 p.m. the City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, adjourned to Closed Session to discuss the following:
At 5:33 p.m. Council Member Zezula entered the Closed Session.
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: Two
C. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54957
Title: City Manager
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON OCTOBER 13, 2025 SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
RECONVENE AND STATEMENT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Action: Adjourned meeting at 6:28 p.m.
-m End of Closed Session --
Regular Business at 6:30 P.M.
Call Meeting to Order - At 6:40 p.m., Mayor John Pespisa called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
Action: No Reportable Action from closed session reported by City Attorney.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor John Pespisa, Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Engelhardt, Council Members Brian Bergman, Greg Steffre and Norm Zezula
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, Fire Chief Edward Martin, Deputy Fire Chief Greg Terrill, Assistant City Manager Angie Martinez, Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Hector Beltran
Also Present via Zoom: None
Flag Salute
Presentations, Commendations and Prociamations
Public Comments
Committee Comments
City Council Comments
Administrative Reports
A. City Manager's Report
B. City Attorney's Report
C. Community Development Report
Fire Chief's Report
Sheriff's Department Report
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON OCTOBER 13, 2025 SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Steffire), and voted (5-0) to approve consent items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16.
9. Waive Reading in Full of all Ordinances, Resolutions, and Meeting Minutes on the Agenda
10. Approval of Warrant Report for September 2025
11. Treasurer's Report for the Month of May 2025
12. Treasurer's Report for the Month of June 2025
13. Minutes: August 11, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting
14. Resolution Adopting FY 2025-26 Project List Funded by SB 1 (Gas Tax) revenues
16. Project Updates and Deadlines
Council Member Bergman pulled item #15.
15. Adoption of the 2025 California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Steffire), and voted (5-0) to approve consent calendar item 15.
-- End of Consent Calendar --
Administrative Items
17. Reclassification of Fire Department positions
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Zezula), and voted (5-0) to approve the reclassification of the Fire Chief position from part-time to full-time and the Deputy Fire Chief position from the full-time to part-time. It is further recommended that Edward Martin be appointed as Fire Chief and Greg Terrill as Deputy Fire Chief.
18. Agreement with Locality media, Inc., dba first due for fire prevention software
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement, with Locality Media, Inc. dba First Due for software in support of the fire prevention program.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON OCTOBER 13, 2025 SEPTEMBER 8, 2025
19. Puente Hills Habitat preservation authority citizens technical advisory committee (CTAC) reappointment of Catherine Houwen
Action: Moved (Stefflre), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to re-appoint Catherine Houwen to a four-year term on the Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority - Citizens Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC).
20. Strategic Planning Workshops-Street Improvements
Action: Reviewed and discussed.
21. Hacienda Road Safety Improvement Project construction management and inspection agreement amendment (continued from July 28, 2025) Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Bergman), and voted (4-1) (opposed Engelhardt) to increase the Professional Services Agreement with NV5 for construction management and inspection services for the Hacienda Road and Avocado Crest Road traffic signal project by $68,888 and negotiating with NV5 to reduce the final amount.
22. Proposition A Fund exchange with the City of Hawaiian Gardens Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to approve Proposition A Assignment Agreement with the City of Hawaiian Gardens and authorize the City Manager to enter in to agreement for the exchange of Proposition A funds.
23. Approval and Adoption of a publicly available pay schedule and resolution Action: Moved (Carol), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to approval and adoption of the attached Publicly Available Pay Schedule in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 2, §§ and 571 subsection (b) and adopt Resolution No. 2025-27 approving a publicly available pay schedule.
- End of Administrative Items --
24. Individual Council Member information items and/or required Meeting Attendance Reports
Action: No action taken.
25. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda (One Minute) Adjourn Meeting - At 7:46 p.m. Mayor Pespisa adjourned the meeting.
Submitted for City Council Approval:
Chist
Christina Aguilar, Administrative Assistant
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON OCTOBER 13, 2025 SEPTEMBER 8, 2025