MOS, VERDES
INCORPORATED 1030
OALIFORNIA
MINUTES OF THE APRIL 8, 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
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Lozzi, Mayor Pro Tem Kemps, Councilmember McGowan, Councilmember Lazzaro, and Councilmember Quinn.
ALSO PRESENT: City Manager Kallman, Deputy City Manager Gabriel, City Attorney Rusin, City Treasurer, Petersen, City Clerk Cook, Police Captain Development Director Brady, and Senior
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ACTION: Moved by Councilmember Quinn and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Kemps to approve the agenda.
AYES: McGowan, Lazzaro, Quinn, Kemps, and Lozzi
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MAYOR'S REPORT - MATTERS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Mayor Lozzi announced to residents that on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., the ity Council will host a community Town Hall entitled " Let's Talk About Measure Expiring, Budget Challenges and Community Priorities. The Mayor further announce that this would be an opportunity for residents to attend, ask questions, and be a part of the conversation with the Council, as the discussion will entail the city's future priorities,
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challenges, financial outlook, and the impact of the expiration of Measure E. Mayor Lozzi stated the Town Hall event is scheduled to take place at the Palos Verdes Golf Club and hopes that all can attend. The Mayor also announced that on April 19' in the City Hall Parking Lot, Athens will host their "Annual Compost Event" and stated that the additional details were published on the city's website. She also informed residents that "Big Trash Pick Up Day " is scheduled on Saturday, May 18"h, and details will be forthcoming.
Following her announcements, Mayor Lozzi highlighted the city's Community Development Team and displayed a staff photo which included the Community Development Director Sheryl Brady, Contract Planners: Jeffery Graham and Alexandra Miramonte from MNS Engineering, Carlos Yardo, Contract Building Official (Absent from photo), Beth Jay, Senior Plans Reviewer and Eric Muse, Building Inspector from HR Green Consulting, Permit Technicians: Kimberly Bernal, she mentioned that the department's focus areas are Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement. Mayor Lozzi outlined the department's responsibilities as follows: daily planning operations, long- range initiatives, application reviews, inspections, permitting, plan checks, field inspections, certificates of occupancy, safety, and compliance of building projects, permits, and real estate reports, safeguarding the character of the city with county and state regulations, property maintenance, and upholding health and safety standards. In closing, Mayor Lozzi thanked the staff for their services and expressed appreciation for their dedication on behalf of the residents.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Kallman announced the rollout of a new City newsletter that will soon be mailed to residents, which will include messages from the Fire and Police Chiefs. He also announced that a Town Hall Meeting hosted by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 9 am to 12 noon at Fred Hesse Jr.
Community Park. Following his announcements, City Manager Kallman stated that City Engineer Mike Myers and Police Captain Gomez would provide reports to the public.
City Engineer, Mike Myers (HR Green Consulting), informed the Council that within the city sewer master plan, approximately 50 locations have not been accessed for a long period of time. He further stated that a program has been developed to visit these identified areas, as many of the locations are inside yards and backyard easements. Mr.
Myers also mentioned that notices would be sent out for community outreach weeks prior to visits commencing on April 28th. Council asked clarifying questions regarding the identified locations, which were responded to by Mr. Myers.
Following the City Engineer's report, City Manager Kallman introduced Police Captain Gomez, who attended the City Council Meeting on behalf of Chief Hellinga. Police Captain Gomez provided an update on the city's Police Department's response to an incident that took place on March 27, 2025. She stated that three significant incidents transpired in a 12-hour period, requiring the department's rapid coordination and adaptability.
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Within her report of police responses to those incidents, Captain Gomez highlighted the need for expanding resources. She further mentioned that these resources would facilitate demand. Captain Gomez stated that Police Chief Hellinga assisted with service calls to ensure department coverage. She also noted that the service calls were responded to in a timely manner and expressed gratitude for the dedication and commitment of the men and women who assisted during this period. Captain Gomez remarked that additional staff will ensure the stability of operations and announced that police officer testing will occur on May 3ra . She also invited members of the public who were interested in applying for the position to join the testing event and mentioned that the details of the open recruitment are published on the city's website. In closing, Captain Gomez thanked the City Council for their support.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - The Council was addressed by the following individuals: Greg Diete and John Credell.
CONSENT AGENDA (ITEMS 1-7)
ACTION: Moved by Councilmember Quinn and seconded by Councilmember McGowan to approve consent agenda items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Consent agenda item 5 was pulled for discussion.
AYES: McGowan, Lazzaro, Quinn, Kemps, and Lozzi
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
1. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
Approved the April 8, 2025, Warrant Register.
2. RECEIVE AND FILE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2025.
Received and filed the financial statements for the month ending February 28, 2025.
3. CITY COUNCIL MEETING ACTIONS
Approved the minutes for the following meetings: March 25, 2025, and April 2, 2025.
4. PARKLAND COMMITTEE MEETING ACTIONS
Approved the Parklands Committee Action Minutes of the March 13, 2025, Meeting.
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5. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AWARDING AN AGREEMENT TO PUBLIC
SECTOR PERSONNEL CONSULTANTS TO CONDUCT A COMPENSATION
STUDY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000
This item was pulled for discussion.
Deputy City Manager Gabriel provided a staff report to the Council that identified the City Council's priority for recruitment and retention of city staff. In his overview, he stated that the proposed agreement serves as a method to meet the Council's priorities and would establish benchmarks and provide compensation analysis with comparable cities. The Council asked clarifying questions that included prior studies, which were responded to by Deputy City Manager Gabriel, City Manager Kallman, City Attorney Rusin, and Matthew Weatherly, President of Public Sector Personnel Consultants.
There was no public comment on this item.
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kemps and seconded by
Councilmember Lazzaro to 1. Award an agreement to Public Sector Personnel Consultants for a compensation study in the amount not to exceed the amended amount of $20,000 to
compare salaries and benefits across all employee classifications, excluding Police and Police related classifications with 13 other comparable cities; 2. Authorize the City Manager and City Attorney to make necessary edits and execute all documents required to effectuate the agreement; and 3. Adopt Resolution R25-06 to appropriate up to the modified amount of $20,000
unencumbered General Funds (Fund 01) to fund the agreement with Public Sector Personnel Consultants.
AYES: Lazzaro, Kemps, and Lozzi
NOES: Quinn
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: McGowan
6. DONATION POLICY UPDATE
Adopted Resolution R25-07, updating the City's Donation Policy.
7. SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION FOR PALOS VERDES HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2025 Approved the Special Event Application for the Palos Verdes High School State Championship Parade, to be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from
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4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and waived reimbursement of staff overtime costs associated with the proposed special event amounting to $1,277.03.
NEW BUSINESS
8. FY 24-25 ANNUAL RESURFACING PROJECT
City Engineer Mike Myers (HR Green Consulting) provided a staff report to the Council that entailed details of the bid process, the proposed agreement, and project details that included pavement resurfacing for Via Valmonte, Via Nivil, Via Estudillo, and Via Romero. The City Council asked clarifying questions that included project supervision, quality of work, and environmental standards, bid review, cost comparisons, budget, and project approvals, which were responded to by City Engineer Myers.
ACTION: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Kemps and seconded by
Councilmember McGowan to 1. Approve the plans and
specifications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Annual Resurfacing Project (City Project No PW-712-24); 2. Award a construction contract to Hardy & Harper, Inc. in the amount of $639,000.00; 3. Approve additional construction expenditures not to exceed $63,900.00, which is approximately 10% of the construction contract amount; 4. Authorize the City Manager to execute all contract documents; and 5. Authorize the City Clerk to Record the Notice of Completion upon Acceptance of the Work by the Public Works Director.
AYES: McGowan, Lazzaro, Quinn, Kemps, and Lozzi
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
9. STATUS REPORT REGARDING GROUNDWATER SAMPLING AND
GEOPHYSICAL REPORT RELATED TO GROUNDWATER INTRUSION IN THE
CITY HALL / PUBLIC WORKS GARAGE
City Engineer Mike Myers (HR Green Consulting) provided an informational report to the Council along with a presentation by Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. (i.e., Geosyntec) regarding the current status and next near-term activities related to the groundwater sampling and geophysical report of Malaga Cove, City Hall, and the Public Works Garage. The Council asked clarifying questions, including costs, project timeline, engineering design, and geological analysis, which were responded to by City Engineer Myers and Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
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The Council was addressed by Carl Graver.
ACTION: Received and filed
10. CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN UPDATED PARKLANDS &
ENCROACHMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY AND APPROVING A NO-FEE WEED
ABATEMENT PERMIT PILOT PROGRAM, ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO
PERFORM ADDITIONAL WEED ABATEMENT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
Deputy City Manager Gabriel provided a staff report and overview of the permit pilot program. In his report, Deputy City Manager also discussed the existing municipal code authority in 12.24.070 and the city's tree management policy. The Council asked clarifying questions, including approved vendors, contractors' licensing, weed abatement, and code enforcement, which were responded to by Deputy City Manager Gabriel, City Manager Kallman, and City Attorney Rusin.
There was no public comment.
ACTION: Moved by Councilmember Quinn and seconded by Councilmember McGowan to adopt an updated Parklands and Encroachment
Management Policy and approve a no-fee weed abatement permit pilot program allowing residents to perform weed abatement on public property.
AYES: McGowan, Lazzaro, Quinn, Kemps, and Lozzi
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND TENTATIVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Councilmember Lazzaro stated that he looked forward to the upcoming Town Hall Meeting on April 15, 2025, to hear from residents and discuss the issues surrounding the expiration of Measure E. He further stated that the measure's expiration will create a ten-million-dollar deficit, and the meeting will provide an opportunity to hear and discuss concerns from the residents.
Councilmember Quinn also stated that he looks forward to the April 15th Town Hall Meeting and thanked Councilmembers Lazzaro and McGowan for their involvement.
He further mentioned that he met with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and announced that there will be a State of the Peninsula Breakfast held on May 14, 2025, at the Palos Verdes Golf Club at 8:00 a.m.
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Mayor Lozzi announced that she would attend the South Bay Council of Government's Legislative Update on behalf of Councilmember Quinn on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
The Mayor also announced that she, along with three other Peninsula Mayors, will be providing a presentation to the Peninsula Board of Realtors on April 22nd Councilmember McGowan commented on the collaborative efforts along with Councilmember Lazzaro and Consultants and encouraged all residents to attend the upcoming Town Hall Meeting for important information.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps discussed community issues surrounding the need for Code Enforcement and Building inspection on the weekends, and suggested a future review of the matter, which includes comparing fine enforcement schedules from other cities, and ways to discourage code violations without imposing penalty fines.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:59 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY submitted:
APPROVED:
Vutour 07023
Victoria A. Lozzi, Mayor
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