1978
MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
October 13, 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, Greg Stefflre and Norm Zezula
Absent: N/A
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge and City Attorney Todd Litfin Public Comment on Closed Session
4. Adjourned to Closed Session
At 5:31 p.m. the City Council, 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: Two
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025 OCTOBER 13, 2025 C. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Gov. Code § 54956.8-Terms and Conditions
Agency Negotiators: Todd Litfin, City Attorney
Negotiating Parties: Los Angeles County
Property: 8267-017-907
8267-018-904,906,907,908,910
8267-019-900 ,901,902
D. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54957
Title: City Manager
E. EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54957
Title: City Attorney
Title: City Manager
5. RECONVENE AND STATEMENT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Action: Adjourned meeting at 6:29 p.m.
Regular Business at 6:30 P.M.
Call Meeting to Order - At 6:34 p.m.. Mayor John Pespisa called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
Action: No Reportable Action from closed session reported by City Attorney.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor John Pespisa, Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Engelhardt, Council Members Brian Bergman, Greg Steffire, and Norm Zezula
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, Fire Chief Edward Martin, Assistant City Manager Angie Martinez, Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy
Also Present via Zoom: None
3. Flag Salute
4. Presentations, Commendations and Proclamations
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025 . OCTOBER 13, 2025 A. Recognize Firewatch members Mark Hughes and Dennis Swaney for donating a radio set to the City Hall
B. Puente Hill Habitat Preservation • Authority Citizens Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) & Vector Control by Catherine Houwen
Public Comments
Committee Comments
City Council Comments
Administrative Reports
City Manager's Report
City Attorney's Report
C. Community Development Report
D. Fire Chief's Report
E. Sheriff's Department Report
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Steffre), and voted (5-0) to approve consent items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16.
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 July 2025
12. Treasurer's Report for the Month of August 2025
13. Minutes: September 6, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting
14. Minutes: September 8, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting
15. Minutes: October 4, 2025 - Regular City Council Meeting
16. Project Updates and Deadlines
- End of Consent Calendar....
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025 OCTOBER 13, 2025 Public Hearing
At 7:10 p.m. Council member Steffire recused himself.
17. Protest hearing - Unpaid Brush Clearance Costs
Resolution No. 2025-28: 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 7:11 p.m. Mayor Pespisa opened public hearing.
At 7:12 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed public hearing.
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (4-0) (abstain Steffire) to adopt Resolution No. 2025-28 confirming the report of costs incurred by the city and authorizing the assessments as liens to be placed on the tax rolls effective October 13, 2025.
At 7:13 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed public hearing.
At 7:14 p.m. Council Member Steffire returned to dias.
18. Adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Codes At 7:20 p.m. Mayor Pespisa opened public hearing.
At 7:21 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed public hearing.
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to introduce Ordinance No. 2025-04, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California, adopting the 2025 editions of the California Building Standards Codes and making necessary amendments thereto and set the date as November 10, 2025 for the public hearing.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025 OCTOBER 13, 2025
19. Adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code
At 7:23 p.m. Mayor Pespisa opened public hearing.
At 7:24 p.m. Mayor Pespisa closed public hearing.
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to introduce No. 2025- 05, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of La Habra Heights, California adopting the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code and making necessary amendments thereto and set as November 10, 2025, for the public hearing.
End of Public Hearing
Administrative Items
20. Fiscal Year 2023-25 Zone 5 and Zone 3 Street Improvement Project Award of Contract
Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Steffire), and voted (5-0) to award the Fiscal Year 2023-24 (Zone 5) and Fiscal Year 2024-25 (Zone 3) Street Improvement Project construction contract to Hardy & Harper, Inc. in the amount of $1,575,000 and authorize a budget amendment increase in the amount of $343,000 and authorize a contingency for this project in the amount of the 15% or $236,250. Authorize a budget amendment increase in amount of $51,509 to account 101-450PWD-6830 of contingency and authorize the City Manager to execute the contracts in a form approved by the City Attorney.
21. Pavement Management Plan - Award of contract to Bucknam Infrastructure Group, Inc.
Action: Moved (Steffre), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to award the Professional Services Agreement to Bucknam Infrastructure Group, Inc. in the amount of $24,938 and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract in a form approved by the City Attorney and authorize a budget amendment in the $24,938 to account 101-450PWD- 6650.
22. Professional service agreement with EMS Physician Solutions Action: Moved (Bergman), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to authorize the City Solutiger to enter into an agreement, approved by the City Attormey, with EMS Physician
23. Fire Department Strategic Planning Workshops Recap
Action: Received and filed.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025 OCTOBER 13, 2025
24. Disposition of Type I Fire Engine
Action: Moved (Stefflre), seconded (Bergman), and voted (5-0) to authorize the consignment of Engine 774 to General Auction Company for a sale auction.
25. Request to waive encroachment permit fees for annual neighborhood block party on Canonita Drive
At 8:09 p.m. Council Member Norm Zezula recused from the dias.
Action: Moved (SteffIre), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (4-0) (abstain Zezula) to waive the encroachment permit and issuance fees and authorize staff to issue a no-fee encroachment permit to close Canonita Drive on Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. for a neighborhood block party.
At 8:11 p.m. Council Member returned to dias.
26. Donation from Council Member Steffire for fire department badges Action: Moved (Pespisa), seconded (Engelhardt), and voted (5-0) to accept the donation of $5,000 from Council Member Steffire to the Fire Department and authorize a budget amendment in the amount of 5,000 to account 260-710FIR-6911 for the purchase of firefighter badges.
-- End of Administrative Items---
27. Individual Council Member information items and/or required Meeting Attendance Reports
Action: No action taken.
28. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda (One Minute) Adjourn Meeting - At 8:19 p.m. Mayor Pespisa adjourned the meeting.
Submitted for City Council Approval:
Chias
амха
Christina Aguilar, Administrative Assistant
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
APPROVED AS SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2025 OCTOBER 13, 2025