1978
MINUTES
City of La Habra Heights
Regular Meeting of the La Habra Heights City Council
April 13, 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. Roil Call
Present: Mayor Brian Bergman, Mayor Pro Tempore Greg Steffire, and Council Members Carol Engelhardt, and John Pespisa
Absent: Council Member Norm Zezula
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:
Council member Zezula arrived at 5:32 p.m.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(2) Potential Cases: Two
B. 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
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026
At 6:15 p.m. Closed Session ended.
Regular Business at 6:30 P.M.
Call Meeting to Order - At 6:36 p.m., Mayor Brian Bergman called the Regular City Council Meeting to order.
Roll Call
Present: Mayor Brian Bergman, Mayor Pro Tempore Greg Steffire, Council Members Carol Engelhardt, John Pespisa and Norm Zezula
Absent: N/A
Aiso 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
Presentations, Commendations and Proclamations
A. Donate Life Proclamation
B. Recognize Susan Morgan - Retirement from Southern California Edison Public Comments
Committee Comments
City Council Comments
Administrative Reports
City Manager's Report
B. City Attorney's Report
Action: No Reportable Action from closed session reported by City Attorney.
C. Community Development Report
Fire Chief's Report
E. Sheriff's Department Report
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026
Consent Calendar
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to approve consent items 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
Waive Reading in Full of all Ordinances, Resolutions, and Meeting Minutes on the Agenda
10. Approval of Treasurer's Report for February 2026
11. Approval of Warrant Report for March 2026
12. Minutes: March 9, 2026 - Regular City Council Meeting
13. Accept Donation of Ten Office Chairs for City Hall Staff
14. Accept Monetary Donation for Fire Department
15. Project update and deadlines
16. Subscription Services Agreement with Firescore.Al for Community Risk Reduction (Continued from February 9, 2026)
- End of Consent Calendar --- MAAM SENNIA MAN SN
Public Hearing
17. 2026 Annual Brush Clearance Program
At 7:11 p.m. Mayor Bergman opened Public Hearing.
At 7:18 p.m. Mayor Bergman closed Public Hearing.
Action: Moved (Steffire), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (5-0) to authorize the Fire Department to initiate inspections and proceed with brush clearance as necessary.
18. Tree Replacement Plan for the removal of protected trees without prior approval as part of the construction of a new residence located at 1730 Kanola Road
At 7:25 p.m. Mayor Bergman opened Public Hearing.
At 8:02 p.m. Mayor Bergman closed Public Hearing.
Action: Moved (Engelhardt), seconded (Pespisa), and voted (4-1) (dissent Zezula) to adopt Resolution No. 2026-05 approving the tree replacement plan for the residence REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026
under construction located at 1730 Kanola Road with the following condition:
1. The landscaping plan shall have X/Y coordinates for the location of all proposed trees.
2. Tree locations shall be verified by a licensed civil engineer or surveyor and staked for installation.
3. Tree species and sizes shall be verified by an independent landscape architect or arborists prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
4. The trees shall be selected at the nursey by Garcia & Associates.
5. The pittosporum trees identified to remain in the southeast corner of the property shall be preserved. If they are not present or do not survive construction, they shall be replaced with a 36" box trees.
6. The proposed silk floss tree in the northeast corner of the property shall be replaced with a species with a maximum height of 12 to 15 feet.
7. The conditions of approval for the landscaping plan shall be recorded on the property, if legally permissible.
-- End of Public Hearing Item ..
19. Planning Commission Request to initiate a Code Amendment related Fencing Development Standards
Action: Moved (Pespisa), seconded (Steffire), and voted (4-1) (dissent Zezula) to authorize the Planning Commission to initiate a code amendment of fencing gates with the recommendation that driveway gates be solid up to the maximum of 5 feet.
20. Discussion of Potential uses for the Vacant Lot of Hacienda and West Action: City Council moved to send to Planning Commission to take a look at the property and provide City Council with options of how the City can utilize the lot.
21. Follow-Up: Strategic Planning Workshop Discussion
Action: Received and filed.
Council Member Zezula left the dias at 8:45 p.m.
Council Member Zezula returned to the dias at 8:48 p.m. - End of Administrative Items.....
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026
Individual Council Member information items and/or required Meeting Attendance Reports
Action: No action taken.
23. Public Comments on Items not on the Agenda (One Minute) Adjourn Meeting - At 9:06 p.m., Mayor Bergman adjourned the meeting.
Submitted for Council Approval:
Christina Aguilar, Administrative Assistant
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026