1978
MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
March 9, 2026
Closed Session Opening Ceremonies
1. Call Meeting to Order - At 5:30 p.m., Mayor Bergman called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Brian Bergman, Mayor Pro Tempore Greg Steffire, and Council Members Carol Engelhardt, and Norm Zezula
Absent: Council Member John Pespisa
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, 'City Attorney Todd Litfin, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar
3. Public Comment on Closed Session
4. Adjourned to Closed Session
At 5:31 p.m., the City Council, City Manager, 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: Three
B. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Gov. Code § 54956.8-Terms and Conditions
Agency Negotiators: Todd Litin, City Attorney
Negotiating Parties: Los Angeles County
Property: 8267-017-907
8267-018-904,906,907,908,910
8267-019-900,901,902
Council /member Pespisa arrived at 5:58 p.m.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 9, 2026
At 6:32 p.m. Closed Session ended.
Regular Business at 6:30 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order - At 6:41 p.m., Mayor Brian Bergman called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
2. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Brian Bergman, Mayor Pro Tempore Greg Steffire, Council Members Carol Engelhardt, John Pespisa and Norm Zezula
Absent: N/A
Also Present: City Manager Rafferty Wooldridge, City Attorney Todd Litfin, Assistant City Manager Angie Martinez, Fire Chief Edward Martin, Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Giovanni Sera, and Administrative Assistant Christina Aguilar Also Present via Zoom: None
3. Flag Salute
4. Presentations, Commendations and Proclamations
A. Puente Hills Habitat Preservation Authority Citizens Technical Advisory Committee (CTAC) & Vector Control by Catherine Houwen
5. Public Comments
6. Committee Comments
7. City Council Comments
Administrative Reports
A. City Manager's Report
B. City Attorney's Report
Action: No Reportable Action from closed session reported by City Attorney.
C. Community Development Report
D. Fire Chief's Report
E. Sheriff's Department Report
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 9, 2026
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (SteffIre), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to approve consent items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14
9. Waive Reading in Full of all Ordinances, Resolutions, and Meeting Minutes on the Agenda
10. Approval of Treasurer's Report for January 2026
11. Approval of Warrant Report for February 2026
12. Minutes: February 9, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting
13. Minutes: February 21, 2026 - Special City Council Meeting
14. Project update and deadlines
- End of Consent Calendar -----
Administrative Items
15. Volunteer Services Program
Action: Reviewed and discussed.
16. La Habra Heights Community Foundation
Action: Reviewed and discussed.
17. Overview of the Final Strategic Planning Workshop
Action: Reviewed, discussed and agendized to next month to discuss tax options for the City. Along with how we can use the West and Hacienda lot.
18. Herbicidal Spray at City Owned Vacant Parcels
Action: Moved (Pespisa), seconded (Stefflre), and voted (5-0) to authorize a budget amendment to increase account 101-450PWD-6960 by $1,000 for the herbicidal spray to the city-owned vacant parcels and authorize staff to schedule Coleman's Landscape to complete the work. Council Member Pespisa added the condition of adding additional $1,500 and explore pre-emergent and environmentally friendly option.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 9, 2026
19. 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Council Member Zezula left the dias at 8:20 p.m.
Council Member Zezula returned to the dias at 8:23 p.m.
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Steffire), and voted (5-0) to accept the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report and direct staff to file the report with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) with the additional information from Council Member Engelhardt.
•-- End of Administrative Items ----
20. Individual Council Member information items and/or required Meeting Attendance Reports
Action: No action taken.
21. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda (One Minute) Adjourn Meeting - At 8:33 p.m., Mayor Bergman adjourned the meeting.
Submitted for Council Approval:
Chats Coula
Christina Aguilar, Administrative Assistant
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MARCH 9, 2026