CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 22, 2024
MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 22, 2024
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES
CALL TO ORDER AT 6:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Murdock, Mayor Pro Tem Lozzi, Council Member Kemps, Council Member McGowan
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Kallman, City Attorney Rusin, City Clerk Cook, Community Development Director Brady, City Engineer Loriso, Chief Hellinga, and City Treasurer Greenberg
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Murdock and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to move the ceremonial presentations ahead of the Mayor’s report and approve the agenda.
AYES: Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
CEREMONIAL PRESENTATIONS
LIFE SAVING AWARD – Chief Hellinga presented life savings awards to Acting Sergeant Sean Crisfield, Officer Neil Sisson, Firefighter Paramedics Derrick Ho, Frank Guitierrez, and Alan Matsumoto, and PVPUSD Registered Nurse Ralista “Railli” Berkovski-Varbanov PROCLAMATION: Honoring Eleazar “Alic” Abrego Upon His Retirement – Mayor Murdock read a proclamation thanking Alic for his 43 years of service. City Manager Kallman and Anthony Mendoza provided comments regarding Alic’s works and thanked him for his service and awarded him with a custom shirt and street sign.
MAYOR’S REPORT - MATTERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Mayor Murdock announced Council Member Roos’ resignation due to a move to Austin Texas and stated council will not be filling the seat as a new council will be in place in December.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 22, 2024
She thanked him for his service and sense of humor. The Mayor shared she attended the Friday night homecoming game at PVHS and thanked residents for their patience and understanding while putting up with the accompanying inconveniences that come with the annual homecoming activities. She reminded the public of the upcoming joint meeting with the Planning Commission on October 30, 2024 to discuss the draft comprehensive objective design standards, that the Lunada Bay Harvest Festival is October 27 from 2-6 P.M., and to vote on November 5.
In her “Did You Know” segment, Mayor Murdock noted seeing houses placing trash cans at the curb. She reminded residents that PVE Municipal Codes 8.16.020 and 8.16.090 state trash cans need to be concealed and on private property and doing otherwise is a code violation.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
City Manager Kallman reminded residents of Sunday’s Prepared Peninsula Expo at Peninsula High School from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. He thanked Anthony Mendoza and John Strum for their after-hours service to address fallen trees.
City Clerk Cook provided information related to the upcoming election and the various locations and hours of operation to vote in person and submit mail-in ballots.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Council was addressed by Christine Fine, Phyllis Scribe, Valerie Gorsuch, John Weick, Parvin Jensen, Darcel Rameriz-Hanson, and Terry Pearson.
CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 1-10)
Items #1, 5, 8, and 10 were pulled.
There was no public comment.
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lozzi and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to approve the consent agenda items 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 9.
AYES: Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
2. RECEIVE AND FILE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTMEBER 30, 2024
Received and Filed the financial statements for the month ending September 30, 2024.
3. CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTIONS
Approved the minutes for the following special meetings: September 5, 2024 and October 8, 2024.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 22, 2024
4. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ACTIONS
Received and Filed minutes for the Planning Commission meeting of October 15, 2024.
6. CONSIDER A NEW MUNICIPAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LOS ANGELES
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL FOR FISCAL YEARS 2024-2029
Approved the contract and authorized the City Manager and City Attorney to execute the agreement between the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC).
7. CONSIDERATION OF A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA
CITIES REGARDING A GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION
Authorized the Mayor to sign this letter of support on behalf of the City Council of the city of Palos Verdes Estates.
9. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE PUBLIC AVAILABLE PAY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025
Approved the Public Available Pay Schedule for fiscal year 2024-2025.
Items Pulled from Consent
1. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
City Treasurer announced a check for So Cal Gas needed to be added to the warrants.
There was no public comment.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member McGowan and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to approve the warrants as amended.
AYES: Murdock, Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: None
5. CONSIDER AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE AGREEMENT WITH BENNETT
LANDSCAPING TO MODIFY THE ANNUAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $1,506,746 TO $1,386,406 FOR YEAR 1; APPROVE A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION FOR CITYWIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,386,406 FOR YEAR 2; AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER THE OPTION TO EXTEND THE
CONTRACT FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO, ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS SUBJECT TO CPI ADJUSTMENTS STARTING YEAR 4; AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO.2.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 22, 2024
Mayor Murdock expressed concerns that the six issues she brought up at the October 8 discussion on this item were not addressed. Council asked additional clarifying questions. Staff and Sean Bennett of Bennett Landscaping responded.
Council expressed the need to provide more information to the public regarding the use of herbicides to both educate and inform. Information needs to be on the city website and bi-weekly updates and include information on when and where herbicides will be used and a set of FAQs to address residents’ concerns including the safety of products. Council also directed Staff to provide an annual presentation on how the contract is doing relative to our goals.
Council was addressed by Darcel Ramirez-Hanson.
ACTION: Moved by Council Member McGowan and Seconded by Council Member Kemps to approve the contract as staff has proposed, that staff, on an annual basis, review the progress against our milestones and goals of the contract including the use of pesticides, and that the City Manager find ways to communicate these pertinent facts to our residents.
AYES: Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: Murdock
8. CONSIDER AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH MNS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AN ASSSITANT PLANNER
LEVEL PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT PLANNING SERVICES ASSISTANT PLANNER Council asked clarifying questions. regarding timing and likely success of hiring a planner.
There was no public comment.
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Lozzi and Seconded by Council Member McGowan to approve Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement with MNS for $30,000 to fund professional contract planning services at the Assistant Planner level through February 2025 and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2.
AYES: Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: Murdock
10. ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION R24-52 REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF AN
INTERIM PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
City Attorney Rusin announced that changes were made to the resolution and draft agreement to be CalPERS compliant. Council asked clarifying questions.
There was no public comment.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 22, 2024
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Kemps and Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lozzi to approve Resolution R24-52 as amended appointing Phillip Lanzafame as Interim Public Works Director.
AYES: Lozzi, Kemps, McGowan
NOES: Murdock
OLD BUSINESS
11. MALAGA LANE WATER INTRUSION AND SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION.
City Engineer Loriso provided a staff report. He reported that the sink hole and voids in Malaga Lane have been filled with slurry at a cost within the amount approved by Council. Council asked clarifying questions. City Manager Kallman provided an update regarding the Steering Committee meetings and options Staff is investigating. Council expressed a desire to ensure all affected property owners are aware of the City’s efforts.
It was suggested a post card be sent to all owners informing them Council is discussing the water issues at every council meeting. Staff reported the next Geosyntec study should be available in a month. Council expressed a desire for staff to see if the report can be expedited since council is dark in December and they would prefer not to wait until January.
Council was addressed by Scott Rosenberg.
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS & TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA Council discussed the tentative agenda items. Council Member McGowan shared the PVE Foundation would like to provide a presentation on the ALPR cameras. City Manager Kallman, shared Staff is planning to update the ADU ordinance by January 1.
ADJOURNMENT TO TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024, AT 6:30 P.M.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:43 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
________________________________
Tameka Cook, City Clerk
APPROVED:
_______________________________
Dawn Murdock, Mayor