VERDES
INCORPORATED 1939
CALIFORNIA
MINUTES FOR THE NOVEMBER 14, 2023
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA
CALL TO ORDER AT 6:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Roos led the Pledge.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Roos, Mayor Pro Tem Murdock and Council Members Kemps, Lozzi, and McGowan
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Jeng, City Attorney Rusin, Public Works Director Seims, Acting Chief Hellinga, Community Development Director Brady, Treasurer Greenberg
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ACTION: Moved by Council Member McGowan and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to approve the Agenda with the modification that Item #19 be moved to Consent.
AYES: Roos, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
MAYOR'S REPORT - MATTERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Mayor Roos shared he attended Lunada Bay's first Diwali festival held at PVIS and invited people to come to the City's Tree Lighting event.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT :
City Manager Jeng thanked staff for preparation of the very long agenda. She asked Council if they are open to inviting other council members on the peninsula to the Tree Lighting event.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Acting Chief Hellinga reported that Santa will be undercover at the Tree Lighting event and that the PVE Santa parade will be on December 23. The route will be shared shortly. He shared that the number of burglaries continues to be higher than normal with seven since the last council meeting three weeks ago. PD has increased staffing in evenings and reminded residents to lock doors, set alarms, and leave lights on
CEREMONIAL/PRESENTATIONS
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Council was addressed by Karen Logan and Alice Davis.
CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 1-13)
Items #2, #9 and #13 were pulled.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Kemps and Seconded by Council Member McGowan to approve Items #1, 3-8, 10-12 and #19.
AYES: Roos, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
CITY COUNCIL ACTION MINUTES
a) Regular Meeting of March 14, 2023
Reviewed and Approved.
3. SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF THE CITY OF PALOS VERDES
ESTATES GENERAL PLAN SAFETY ELEMENT AND FINDING THE SAME
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
(CEQA)
Adopted Ordinance No. 023-761 entitled: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA
ADOPTING THE PALOS VERDES ESTATES GENERAL PLAN SAFETY
ELEMENT AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENT QUALITY ACT (CEQA).
4. ADOPT RESOLUTION R23-38 REVISING RESOLUTION R22-40 CHANGING THE SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 ADJUSTING THE
SALARY OF THE CITY CLERK
Adopted Resolution R23-38 revising Resolution R22-40 changing the salary schedule for fiscal year 2023-2024 to adjust the salary range of the city clerk.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
APPROVAL OF CONTRACT WITH CPS COMPLETE PAPERLESS
SOLUTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE OF LASERFICHE CLOUD
MUNICIPALITY SITE LICENSE
Approved the professional services agreement with CPS Complete Paperless Solutions for the purchase of Laserfiche Cloud Municipality Site License Agreement and Questys Conversion.
RECEIVE AND FILE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING JUNE 30, 2023 THROUGH JULY 31, 2023
Received and Filed financial statements for the month ending June 30, 2023, and the month ending July 31, 2023.
PARKLANDS COMMITTEE ACTION MINUTES OF THE JULY 13, 2023
MEETING
Approved the Parklands Committee Action Minutes of the July 13, 2023, Meeting.
8. CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA, AWARDING A ONE-
YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE OPTION OF TWO ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS TO MERRIMAC PETROLEUM, INC. DBA MERRIMAC ENERGY GROUP
FOR CITY FUEL SUPPLY AND DELIVERY SERVICES; AND AUTHORIZE
THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
Adopted the Resolution to: (1) Award a one-year contract with the option of two, one-year extensions to Merrimac Petroleum, Inc. dba Merrimac Energy Group (Contractor) for City Fuel Supply and Delivery Services; and (2) Authorized the City Manager to execute all Contract Documents.
10. DONATION FROM RESIDENTS PATRICK THEODORA, KEVIN THEODORA,
DON EVANS AND CAMI EVANS FOR PURHCASE OF FIREARMS FOR THE
PALOS VERDES ESTATES POLICE DEPARTMENT
Accepted a donation of $6,703.08 from residents Patrick Theodora, Kevin Theodora, Don Evans, and Cami Evans for the purchase of six new handguns with red dot optics and accessories.
11. SCHEDULE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR DECEMBER 5, 2023 Approved scheduling a special City Council meeting for Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
12. 2024 PALOS VERDES TENNIS CLUB BUDGET
Approved the proposed 2024 budget for the Palos Verdes Tennis Club.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
19. CONSIDER AMENDING THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
WITH MV CHENG & ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE STAFFING FOR THE
FINANCE DEPARTMENT
Approved amending the professional services agreement with MV Cheng & Associates to increase the compensation amount for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 from $70,000 to $97,000.
ITEMS PULLED FROM CONSENT
WARRANTS
Council members questioned some of the charges from HR Green for weed abatement, the tree inventory, and landscape maintenance and bills that were over a year late. Council directed staff to review HR Green invoices and determine which charges are valid and why and which are not, to provide clarification on what types of activities HR Green is providing relative to parklands work, to review if the contract has limitations regarding timing of billing, and to have HR Green come to Council to discuss the late billing, There was no public comment.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Lozzi and Seconded by Mayor Roos to approve the warrants with the exception of all checks to HR Green Pacific.
AYES: Roos, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA, AWARDING A THREE-
YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE OPTION OF TWO ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS TO APS ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. FOR CITYWIDE CATCH BASIN
MAINTENANCE SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $221,977 FOR FY 2023/24; APPROPRIATE MEASURE W FUND (FUND 21) IN THE AMOUNT OF
$66,177; APPROVE ADDITIONAL CONTRACT EXPENDITURES NOT TO EXCEED 10% OF THE CONTRACT AMOUNT (APPROXIMATELY $22,200);
AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL CONTRACT
DOCUMENTS
Council asked clarifying questions regarding bids received, the small number of firms responding, and whether there is a problem with our RFP process.
Council was addressed by Ron from Ron's Maintenance.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Council discussed options available to the city. Council provided direction to continue the item to the next meeting and for Staff to identify options to find a way to maintain the relationship with the existing, long-term vendor.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member McGowan and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to continue the item to the November 28 meeting.
AYES: Roos, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
13. ADOPT A RESOLUTION (1) RATIFYING EMERGENCY CONTRACT TO PEARCE CONSTRUCTION AND MASONRY, INC. FOR STORM DRAIN
REPAIR SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,720; AND (2) APPROPRIATE UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND (FUND 01) IN THE AMOUNT OF $63,720 Mayor Pro Tem questioned the funding source for this project and Council's standing direction to use Special Funds before using Unassigned General Funds. Director Seims provided additional information regarding whether this was a capital or maintenance item and deemed it was a capital expenditure.
There was no public comment.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Kemps and Seconded by Council Member Victoria Lozzi to adopt a resolution ratifying an emergency contract with Pearce Construction and Masonry for storm drain repair services in the amount of $63,720 and appropriate Unassigned General Funds (Fund 01) in the amount of $63,720.
AYES: Roos, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
OLD BUSINESS
14. APPROVE THE SUGGESTION FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO DEMONSTRATE
PROGRESS TOWARDS COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S SIXTH CYCLE
HOUSING ELEMENT BY SUBMITTING SECTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT
THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO SITE SELECTION
Community Development Director Brady introduced the item and Gena Guisar from CSG provided a presentation on HCD's preliminary comments on previously submitted Housing Element drafts. Staff recommended submitting sections of the Housing Element that are not related to site selection. Council asked clarifying questions regarding what will be removed.
There was no public comment.
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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Council expressed concerns about abuse of the ADU 200 square foot bonus to get around city building size restrictions by stating they will rent out the unit at lower income prices.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Kemps and Seconded by Council Member McGowan to approve the suggestion from HCD to demonstrate progress towards compliance with the City's 6th Cycle Housing Element by submitting sections of the document not related to site selection and other items as identified by staff.
AYES: Roos, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
15. ON-GOING LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE
Director Seims provided a staff report and presentation regarding a landscape maintenance RFP. Council asked clarifying questions, including why only one vendor responded and what types of feedback Staff received from vendors regarding how we might have improved the RFP to obtain more proposals.
Sean Bennett answered some of Council's questions.
There was no public comment.
Council expressed concerns about the design of the work including redundancy between the fire abatement and landscape maintenance crews, addition of work that staff previously performed, high cost for contract maintenance services, and inconsistencies in the term of the contract between the staff report and resolution.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member McGowan and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to accept Staff's recommendation to adopt Resolution R23-42 with the following changes: that the total amount be $1,501,746, the allocation for the current year be $850,000, and the City Manager return with a proposal for contract management.
AYES: Roos, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: Murdock
Council took a break from 9:19 P.M. to 9:25 P.M.
16. CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL FROM BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN, LLP. FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATING TO THE HOUSING ELEMENT
AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
City Manager Jeng introduced the topic and suggested the Housing Element Ad Hoc of Mayor Roos and Council Member Kemps present the item. Council
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
asked clarifying questions.
There was no public comment.
Council agreed the City keep with its current relationship with BBK for land use related legal services.
NEW BUSINESS
17. LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
City Attorney Rusin provided a staff report. Council asked clarifying questions.
There was no public comment.
Council expressed a desire for legal counsel to be more proactive at updating Council on upcoming legislation and requested a summary accounting of open matters showing monthly charges and total spent to date. Council expressed concerns regarding responsiveness of Counsel and whether Counsel has sufficient time to serve PVE in relation to the other two cities being served.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Lozzi and Seconded by Council Member McGowan to approve the updated legal services agreement with Best, Best and Krieger.
AYES: Roos, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
RECEIVE A REPORT ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS;
CONSIDER CYBERSECURITY MEASURES IDENTIFIED BY THE VIRTUAL CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER; AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
TO STAFF ON SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES City Manager Jeng provided an initial presentation and then introduced Biren Shulka from Forum Info, Tech (FIT) to provide a presentation on the City's IT infrastructure. Council asked clarifying questions.
There was no public comment.
Council directed FIT to return with a proposal of options for the City to further improve security.
20. RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT ON THE APPROACH FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND
PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PRESENTED APPROACH
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
City Manager Jeng introduced the topic and Director Seims described the process Staff would be following to prioritize Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). Council asked clarifying questions.
There was no public comment.
21. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 023-762 AMENDING CHAPTER
18.50 WATER CONSERVATION LANDSCAPING OF TITLE 18 ZONING
REGULATIONS OF THE PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE IN ITS
ENTIRETY AND FINDING THE SAME EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
Director Brady introduced Ordinance O23-762 and the requirement to update he ordinance every three years. The City's Municipal Code is being amende ana updated to incorporate the State Code by reference so the City does no need to update the Municipal Code in the future. Council asked clarifying questions.
Mayor Roos opened the public hearing.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Roos closed the public hearing.
City Manager Rusin noted a typo that Section 1 should reference Chapter
18.50 ACTION: Moved by Pro Tem Murdock and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to introduce the Ordinance on first reading, Ordinance O-23-762 an Ordinance of the City Council of the city of Palos Verdes Estates, California adopting Zone Text Amendment application to amend Chapter 18.50 Water Conservation Landscaping of Title 18 Zoning Regulations of the Palos Verdes Estates municipal code in its entirety and finding the same exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; and setting the public hearing for the following regular council meeting.
NOES: None, Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS
Council Member Lozzi reported she will be attending the SBCCOG meeting and that she met with Jennifer LaMarque of Supervisor Hahn's office.
Council Member McGowan discussed meeting with the new school superintendent and that he will be attending the Chamber of Commerce dinner.
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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Mayor Pro Tem reported she attended the 40-year celebration of the Senior Center and encouraged senior residents explore the many programs they offer. She attended the quarterly Peninsula Public Safety Committee meeting where they reported three of the four wildfire cameras are up and running and a minor fire was sighted and extinguished before it could spread. LACoFD reported they have completed their annual defensible space fire inspections, conducting 20,596 inspections starting in May with only 200 receiving notification of violations and only 19 of those ultimately receiving citations.
Mayor Roos reported he attended the PVPUSD Capitol comes to Town meeting and that he will be attending the Sanitation District meeting. He shared he was able to sneak in several quotes from this weekend's SNL and will award 1 point for each quote, encouraging many to re-watch the meeting.
Tentative Future Agenda Items
Council Member Kemps requested an item to discuss advertising boards for Valmonte and Montemalaga, and one to seek modification of the City's Municipal Code requiring that when hiring a Chief of Police, the City Manager be required to seek support from City Council.
ADJOURNMENT TO TUESDAY, November 28, 2023, AT 6:30 P.M.
Mayor Roos adjourned the meeting at 11:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
James Call
Jim Rods. Mayor
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