PAOS, VERDES
INCORPORATED 1A3E
CALIFORNIA
MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 28, 2025
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CALIFORNIA
CALL TO ORDER AT 6:31 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
PRESENT: Mayor Lozzi, Mayor Pro Tem Kemps, Council Member McGowan, Council Member Quinn and Council Member Lazzaro.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Kallman, City Attorney Rusin, Chief Hellinga, City Clerk Cook, City Treasurer Petersen, Deputy City Manager Gabriel, Community Development Director Brady, and Senior Accountant Hayes.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ACTION: Moved by Council Member Lazzaro and seconded by Council Member Quinn to approve the agenda.
AYE: McGowan, Lazzaro, Quinn, Kemps and Lozzi
NOES : None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MAYOR'S REPORT - MATTERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Mayor Lozzi announced that Cal Water Service will be releasing a comprehensive Fire preparedness report on January 29th to address frequently asked questions. In addition, Mayor Lozzi stated that the report will be provided to City Managers and published on the City's website. The Mayor stated that she along with Mayor Pro Tem Kemps and Councilmember McGowan attended the retirement celebration for Retired Police Captain Steve Barber and expressed her gratitude for his many years of service to the City of Palos Verdes Estates. Following the announcement, Mayor Lozzi reported that the LPGA cancelled their event to be held in March at the PV Golf Club.
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She stated that for the past three years it has been a wonderful community event for the Peninsula and South Bay region at large and looked forward to welcoming their future return. She highlighted the Teressa Hessian Regional Challenge, which is a top rated Women's Intercollegiate Golf Tournament to be held at The PV Golf Club on the upcoming Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as a free event. Lastly, Mayor Lozzi announced the recent passing of former Mayor Dwight Abbott who served on the Palos Verdes Estates Council from 2003-2007 and was the City's Mayor from 2005 to 2006.
She stated that he served on many committees and commissions as well as the Board of the Lunada Bay Homeowner's Association and was an active community member who would be greatly missed. Mayor Lozzi closed her report in dedicating the January 28, 2025 Council meeting in the memory of former Palos Verdes Estates Mayor Dwight Abbott.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Kallman reported on the recent City Council Retreat held on Saturday, January 25, 20265 at the PV Tennis Club which focused on Council strategies for effective governance. He further reported that it was a successfully facilitated meeting that served as part 1 of an two part event as the next meeting to be held on March 6 would focus on establishing goals and priorities for a well-developed staff workplan.
City Manager provided an update on the ongoing status of Malaga Cove which identified the removal of existing sandbags at Malaga Lance due to collaboration efforts with the city's water board to install a underground water hose. He referred to the report from Geosyntec published last September which studied water issues and stated that next portion of the report would include data on seep sampling for presentation to Council and publication withing the next four to six weeks.
Following his report, City Manager Kallman introduced the city's new Deputy City Manager, George Gabriel, and expanded on his municipal expertise. In closing, City Manager Kallman announced the departure of Jana Frazier, who provided consulting and communication services in the city's human resources department for nearly a year.
City Manager Kallman presented Ms. Frazier with a photograph of the city's Neptune fountain. In accepting the presentation, Ms. Frazier thanked the City Council, staff and residents.
Chief Hellinga reported on internal promotions and rotations from the PVE Police Department that included Russel Venegas, Detective Bureau Sergeant and Detective Neil Sisson. Chief Hellinga commented that there are openings for police officers that have active recruiting. Additionally, he stated that there were successful interviews with four people who are currently undergoing background checks. Chief Hellinga presented a report on year-end statistics for crime and response times with the goal to present it recurringly to Council on a monthly basis. Chief Hellinga stated that the PVPD goal for response times in under 3 minutes which has been met. He further detailed the incident reports, dispatch services, detective investigations and traffic collisions as presented. In closing his report, Chief Hellinga announced that this report would be published and
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found online on the city's website under services, police department, reports and statistics. Council asked clarifying questions regarding the report which was addressed by Chief Hellinga.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Council was addressed by the following public speakers: Sean Bennett, Nathan Lee, John Weick, and Stephanie.
CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 1-9)
Mayor Lozzi announced the items listed under the consent agenda for approval and reported that Councilmember Quinn would recuse himself from agenda item 12.
Councilmember Quinn further noted that he would be recused from the approval of the Parklands Committee action on PC 589-25 - 2116 Paseo Del Mar listed on consent agenda item 4 due to the proximity from his residence. City Attorney Rusin reported a typographical error in the RCIS agreement of agenda item 6 and stated that section 9.4 of the agreement should be deleted and approved with deletion. Councilmember McGowan pulled consent agenda item 2 for further discussion.
There was no public comment.
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kemps and seconded by Councilmember Lazzaro to approve consent agenda items 1, 3, 4 (noting recusal of Councilmember Quinn on PC 589-25 - 2116 Paseo Del Mar listed on consent agenda item #4) 5, 6, (noting the correction on item 6) 7, 8, 9 as noted by the Mayor.
Councilmember McGowan pulled item for further discussion.
1. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
Reviewed and Approved Warrant Register of January 28, 2025
2. CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTIONS
Councilmember McGowan expressed concerns regarding the transcribed action reflected in the meeting minutes of January 15, 2025 relating to consent agenda Councilmember Mo Goan Outher Suggested that the standing ang Cage in th meeting minutes, defining the Audit Committee, should be replaced. City Attorney responded to the expressed concerns. Council deliberated on the item with a consensus to continue the item to the subsequent meeting.
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Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kemps to continue this item for discussion and agendize an additional item to discuss the description of the Audit ommittee and its Committee Members for approval to the subsequen bouncil meeting of February 11, 2025 and seconded by Councilmembe McGowan.
AYE: McGowan, Lazzaro, Quinn, Kemps and Lozzi
NOES: None
ABSENT : None
ABSTAIN: None
3. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING ACTIONS
Received and filed the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting of January 21, 2025.
4. PARKLANDS COMMITTEE MEETING ACTIONS
Approved the Parklands Committee Action Minutes for the meeting of January 9, 2025 ( Councilmember Quinn recused himself from the approval of PC 589- 25 - 2116 Paseo Del Mar listed on consent agenda item #4)
5. APPROVAL OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL PARKLANDS COMMITTEE ACTION MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL NOVEMBER 21, 2024 MEETING AND ADOPT
RECOMMENDATIONS
Approved the Supplemental Parklands Committee Action Minutes of the Special November 21, 2024 Meeting and adopted all recommendations of the Committee.
6. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH LA-RICS
Authorized the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with the Los Angeles Regional Interoperability Communications System (LA- RICS) for a period of ten years, which includes a not-to-exceed amount of $150,000.00 over the course of those ten years (Noting the correction on section 9.4)
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7. ADOPTION AND SECOND READING OF ZTA-004-34: ZONING TEXT AMENDING PALOS VERDES ESTATES MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 18.45 (ACCESSORY
DWELLING UNITS) TO COMPLY WITH RECENT CHANGES IN STATE LAW REGARDING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (ADUs) AND JUNIOR
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (JADUs); AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE
STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA
Adopted Ordinance Number 765 and found that the adoption of the proposed ordinances are statuorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") under Public Resources Code section 21080.17.
8. AUTHORIZATION OF A LETTER EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR JOHN
CRUIKSHANK TO FILL THE WEST BASIN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT
VACANCY
Authorized the Mayor to sign and submit the attached letter expressing support for John Cruikshank to fill the vacant West Basin Municipal Water District seat.
9. SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION FOR LUNADA BAY AND PALOS VERDES
LITTLE LEAGUES ANNUAL OPENING DAY PARADES SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2025
Approved the Special Event Applications for the Lunada Bay Little League and Palos Verdes Little Leagues Annual Opening Day Parades to be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., and waived reimbursement of staff overtime costs for hours worked outside their regular schedule consistent with past practice.
PUBLIC HEARING
10. PC-577-24; DE NOVO HEARING FOR AN APPLICATION TO REMOVE SIX
PERUVIAN PEPPER TREES LOCATED IN THE PARKWAYS ON EPPING ROAD ADJACENT TO 2100 PASEO DEL MAR AND 2101 CHELSEA ROAD
Mayor Lozzi opened the public hearing at 7:19 p.m.
City Manager Kallman presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Council that detailed the history and condition of trees outlined in the staff report.
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City Manager Kallman further remarked on the findings of the Parklands Committee and recommendation for removal of the applicants' trees.
Council asked clarifying questions, which were addressed by City Manager Kallman and Urban Forester Moritz.
Council was addressed by the following public speakers: Alan Rigg, Stuart Fletcher, John Weick, Monique Thorington, Craig Stevens, Lorie Hilton, Sally Larson and Kirby Larson
Mayor Lozzi closed the public hearing at 7:42 p.m.
Action: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kemps to uphold the recommendations of the Parklands Committee to approve the removal of the four Peruvian Pepper Trees located on the Parkways on Epping Road adjacent to 2100 Paseo Del Mar and approve the conditions of approval contained in the original staff report and seconded by Councilmember McGowan.
Councilmember Quinn recused himself from the approval of this item.
AYE: McGowan, Lazzaro, Kemps and Lozzi
NOES : None
ABSENT : None
ABSTAIN : Quinn
NEW BUSINESS
11. FIRE SAFETY - WEED ABATEMENT
City Manager Kallman provided a staff report on weed abatement that detailed the background of the annual program, staff assessment of priority areas, strategies for addressing vulnerable conditions, and community participation. City Manager Kallman also proposed alternatives for Council and inquired on staff direction.
Council asked clarifying questions, which was responded by City Manager Kallman.
Council was addressed by the following public speaker: John Weick.
Council deliberated on the priority areas, discussion of no fee permits, existing weed abatement contracts and suggestions for community clean up.
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Action: Councilmember Lazzaro provided a recommendation that to staff to further study the Municipal Code Section 12.24.070 to create a program and present recommendations to the Council at a future date which was agreed upon by Councilmember Quinn.
12. DISCUSS E-BIKES, MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLES AND RELATED LAWS Chief Hellinga presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Council on E- Bikes and Community Safety which detailed the three types of E-Bikes (Class 1, 2 and 3).
Chief Hellinga further reported on bike related traffic collisions, educational classes on e-bike safety provided by the Palos Verdes Police Department, rules of the road and city trails. In closing, Chief Hellinga stated that continued education and enforcement efforts would be reported to Council within the next six months.
Council asked clarifying questions, which was addressed by Chief Hellinga.
Action: Council directed staff to provide additional research and bring the findings back to the Council at a later date.
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS & TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Councilmember Lazzaro reported on the discussions held on the Ad Hoc Committee served in conjunction with Councilmember McGowan with a Communications Consultant pertaining to timelines and community engagement. Councilmember Lazzaro further reported that he and Councilmember McGowan would conduct weekly meetings with the consultant within the next week.
Councilmember Quinn reported on his attendance to South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) in his capacity as a liaison and highlighted a report provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department as well as an initiative to rebuild the Harbor UCLA Medical Center. Additionally, Councilmember Quinn suggested that meeting information should be posted on city's website. In closing his report, Councilmember Quinn expressed his gratitude in collaborating in the recently held Council Workshop and apologized for any discomfort felt during deliberations in recent meetings and conveyed the importance of finding solutions as a Council. Council deliberated on the posting of meeting minutes from SBCCOG on the city's website.
Councilmember Quinn announced that residents can be informed of SBCCOG minutes at southbaycities.org.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps reported on traffic safety committee recommendations which are subject to the availability funding and requested an update on Measure M funds.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps also announced that he wrote a recommendation letter to request the exclusion of Housing Density Bills to Governor Newson. Councilmember McGowan inquired on the confirmation of an closed session meeting. Mayor Lozzi reported on her attendance on the following meetings: to the LA County Sanitation
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District Meeting, LA City Selection Committee Meeting, PV Peninsula Transit Authority and congratulated Mayor Pro Tem Kemps for his appointment as the Chairman of the PV Peninsula Transit Authority. Mayor Lozzi also reported on her attendance to the January meeting of the Parklands Committee, and the Planning Commission to thank the volunteers. The Mayor also stated the she met with the Finance Committee Chair.
In closing Mayor Lozzi adjourned the meeting in the memory of former Palos Verdes Estates Mayor Dwight Abbott
ADJOURNMENT TO FEBRUARY 11, 2025 AT 6:30 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned in the memory of former Palos Verdes Estates Mayor, Dwight Abbott at 9:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
, City Clerk
APPROVED:
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