CITY OF LA VERNE
Adjourned Meeting
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Tim Hepburn, Mayor
Rick Crosby, Mayor Pro Tem
Wendy Lau, Council Member
Steven F. Johnson, Council Member
Meshal “Kash” Kashifalghita, Council Member
www.cityoflaverne.org
(909) 596-8726 - Phone
(909) 596-8740 - Fax
City Hall Council Chamber
3660 D Street
La Verne, CA 91750
Monday, August 01, 2022, 5:30 p.m.
La Verne City Hall - Council Chambers,
3660 D Street, La Verne, CA 91750
In compliance with the American Disabilities Act, any person with a disability who requires a modification or accommodation in order to participate in a meeting should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (909) 596-8726 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Regular Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month.
The Council Chambers will be opened to the public at 6:00 p.m. To facilitate public participation for those who do not wish to attend in person, the meeting will still be made available virtually to residents. Below are the following opportunities on how to participate:
1) View the meeting through the City’s website at www.cityoflaverne.org and click on the green “Council Meeting Live Stream” button.
2) Individuals can email their comments to the Assistant City Clerk at [email protected] up to noon on the day of the meeting. Those comments will be shared with City Council in advance of the City Council meeting and included as part of the permanent record. Please be advised that public comments submitted by emails or any other format to the City are public records that will be made available for public viewing.
3) Individuals who wish to share their comments directly during the meeting may do so by emailing the Assistant City Clerk at [email protected] with their phone number and the item(s) they wish to speak on. Requests will be accepted before and throughout the meeting and staff will call you back at the appropriate time. Once items are considered by the City Council, no further public comment on that matter will be accepted. A time limit of 3-minutes is set for all public comments.
4) If you wish to participate via Zoom, you will need to register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_HsvW7kMfQUKnAk3Y2BRB_A before 12:00 p.m. on Monday, August 01, 2022, and please be aware that space is limited. You will have the ability to watch the meeting in real time and raise your hand to request to comment as appropriate on the current agenda item(s). Once it is your turn to speak, you will be brought into the meeting and have the ability to turn your video on when called upon.
Agenda, Adjourned City Council Meeting, Monday, August 01, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL: Council Member Meshal “Kash” Kashifalghita, Council Member Steven Johnson, Council M ember Wendy Lau, Mayor Pro Tem Rick Crosby, and Mayor Tim Hepburn.
3. Wilderness Area Management Plan Study Session - Staff will provide City C ouncil with a presentation summarizing completed steps, current status, and timeline to finalize the Wilderness Area Management Plan.
4. Adjournment
THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING of the La Verne City Council is scheduled for Monday, August 1, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.
ADVISORY STAFF
Robert Russi, City Manager
JR Ranells, Assistant City Manager
Robert Kress, City Attorney
Lupe Gaeta Estrella, Assistant City Clerk
Shawn Igoe, Public Works Director
Eric Scherer, Community Development Director
Mike Yelton, Interim Finance Director
Colleen Flores, Police Chief
____Christopher Nigg, Fire Chief
Yvonne Duran, Community Services Manager
Cody Howing, City Engineer
Posting Statement: On July 27, 2022, a true and correct copy of this Agenda was posted on the bulletin board at La Verne City Hall, 3660 D Street, La Verne, and on the City’s website at www.cityoflaverne.org.
La Verne Wilderness Area
Management Plan
City Council Study Session
August 1, 2022
Introduction
The development of the Wilderness Area Management Plan began in 2007 and had been delayed in 2008, to 2015, due to the lack of funding to complete an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
In 2015, the City began the process for the EIR and
development of the plan. The Planning Commission reviewed the plan and EIR in April of 2019. Due to other community issues that came about at this time, large development
projects initiated by outside applicants, and then the COVID- 19 pandemic, the project was again stalled and never made it to the City Council meeting for the final adoption.
There are also new City Council members that may not be aware of the proposed plan and the work that has been
completed over the years, therefore staff felt that it was necessary to conduct a study session to present the project in its entirety before going straight to a public hearing to adopt.
Overview
2006: the City acquired 208 acres in north La Verne through State grant funds obtained in cooperation with the County of Los Angeles, the Trust for Public Land, and the La Verne Land Conservancy.
This land was combined with 150 acres already owned by the City to create an open space preserve of 358 acres,
collectively referred to as the Wilderness Area.
The Wilderness Area Management Plan includes selective habitat enhancement actions, the resolution of public safety hazards, and opportunities for limited controlled public access as part of the City’s stewardship responsibilities for the Wilderness Area.
Time Line
2007/2008: The City began the planning
process for a Plan for the Wilderness Area.
October 2008: A Draft Management Plan
outlined recommendations for habitat
resource enhancement, public safety actions,
and controlled public access along with
selected management alternatives.
Due to a lack of funds to complete an EIR, the
City elected to postpone any action.
Time Line Cont.
2015: At a City Council Workshop, staff
presented an overview of the management
plan findings, the cost of improvements, and
recommended next steps.
The City Council asked staff to prepare a
Request for Proposal for the Project outlining
an update of the Management Plan and the
EIR.
Time Line Cont.
2016: The City re-initiated review of the
management options to prepare an EIR.
October 2018-2019: The Planning Commission
conducted several meetings and additional
information was requested. Feedback was
received from residents and other state
agencies.
January 9, 2019: Returned to the Planning
Commission meeting, where staff provided an
update related to the meaning of “public
access” and the revised resolution proposing a
two phased plan.
Planning Commission Recommendation
The Planning Commission recommended 2 phases.
Phase 1 consists of maintenance, security, fuel modification, planting, and protecting the wilderness area.
Phase 2 includes the development of the loop trail and the increase of public access to the area. Conditions were also added that if there is ever a desire for Phase 2 to move forward, an update to the EIR (as necessary), a public workshop, and City Council approval would be required prior to implementation, to ensure that Phase 2 will only move forward with proper
notification to the residents and ultimately a vote of the City Council.
April 10, 2019: The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval to the City Council.
Next Steps
Public notice will be mailed out
to the adjacent community in
mid August
Schedule for City Council
consideration possibly
September 16
th?