MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, February 9, 2026
Minutes
Rolling Hills City Council
Monday, February 9, 2026
Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m.
1. Call To Order
The City Council of the City of Rolling Hills met in person on the above date at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dieringer presiding.
2. Roll Call
Councilmembers Present: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Mayor Dieringer Councilmembers Absent: Black
Staff Present: Karina Bañales, City Manager
Christian Horvath, Assistant to the City Manager / City Clerk Sam Crew, Management Analyst
Robert Samario, Finance Director
Reina Schaetzl, Willdan Contract Senior Planner
Nicolas Papajohn, City Attorney
3. Pledge Of Allegiance – Councilmember Mirsch
Mayor Black arrived at 7:01 p.m.
4. Presentations / Proclamations / Announcements – None
5. Approve Order of the Agenda
Mayor Dieringer requested that Item 12A be moved after the Consent Calendar. Without objection, so ordered.
6. Blue Folder Items (Supplemental)
Motion by Councilmember Pieper, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to receive and file Blue Folder Items 12B, 13A and 14A. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
7. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items
Public Comment: Lisa Tun, Sandy Cobb
No formal motion was made to receive and file the submitted images from Mrs. Tun.
8. Consent Calendar
8.A. Approve Affidavit of Posting for the City Council Regular Meeting of February 9, 2026 MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, February 9, 2026
8.B. Approve Motion to Read by Title Only and Waive Further Reading of All Ordinances and Resolutions Listed on the Agenda
8.C. Approve the following Minutes of January 26, 2026: City Council Regular Meeting
8.D. Payment of Bills
Motion by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Councilmember Pieper to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
9. Excluded Consent Calendar Items – None
10. Commission Items – None
Mayor Dieringer moved to Item 12A.
12. Discussion Items
12.A. Receive and file the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mid-Year Report Presentation by Finance Director Samario.
Motion by Councilmember Pieper, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to receive and file. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Mayor Deringer moved back to Item 11
11. Public Hearings
11.A. Site plan review for new construction, non-exempt grading and related improvements; variances for a detached garage within front and side yard area, detached pool house within rear yard area, deck exceeding 12”, import of soil, and to exceed 40 percent disturbance; Conditional Use Permit to exceed 200 square feet for accessory structures, and finding the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act for location at 10 Saddleback Road (Birkett) (Lot 17-2-RH)
Presentation by Willdan Contact Senior Planner Schaetzl.
Public Comment: Terry Reiter, Russell Barto, Stephen Birkett Motion by Councilmember Mirsch, seconded by Councilmember Pieper to adopt Resolution No. 1403 with the addition of conditions for screening of pool house.
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, February 9, 2026
ABSENT: None
12. Discussion Items
12.B. Discussion of Contract Performance and Potential Expansion of the City's Outdoor Emergency Warning System
Presentation by Management Analyst Crew.
Public Comment: Martha Bernadette, Mark Ellers, Arlene Honbo Motion by Councilmember Pieper, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Black to pay HQE the balance due. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Motion by Councilmember Pieper, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Black to install a fourth pole at the Upper Blackwater Canyon / Portuguese Bend Road triangle and return with an amended contract.
Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Councilmember Pieper requested staff work with HQE to prepare a map denoting gateway placement locations that ensure the most optimal safe network coverage after the fourth pole installation.
Mayor Pro Tem Black requested that the City Council hold field trips to view any proposed additional pole location sites with mock-ups prior to formal consideration.
13. Matters From the City Council
13.A. Consideration of taking a position on Supervisor Mitchell's proposed temporary five-year 1/2 cent sales tax measure to replace the state and federal funds lost due to the passage of H.R. 1 Presentation by Assistant to the City Manager / City Clerk Horvath Public Comment: Martha Bernadette
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Black, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to authorize Mayor Dieringer to speak on behalf of the City Council in opposition of the proposed tax and/or work with staff to draft a formal letter.
Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
13.B. Reconsideration of directing staff to draft a Legislative and Policy Platform MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, February 9, 2026
Presentation by City Manager Bañales.
Councilmember Mirsch recommended the City Council evaluate potential Legislative and Policy issues on a case-by-case basis, except for matters concerning local control over land use which would be an automatic opposition.
Mayor Dieringer moved Item 14.B. ahead of 14.A. due to members of the public waiting to comment. Without objection, so ordered.
14. Matters From Staff
14.B. Receive and file a verbal update on the Tennis Court ADA project Presentation by Assistant to the City Manager / City Clerk Horvath Public Comment: Carrie Lieb, Tom Lieb
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Black, seconded by Councilmember Pieper to receive and file. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
14.A. Receive a report on the current Coyote Management Program Presentation by City Manager Bañales
Motion by Councilmember Pieper, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Black to receive and file. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Pieper, Black, Mayor Dieringer
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
15. Recess To Closed Session – 9:51 P.M.
15.A. Conference with legal counsel - existing litigation Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) the City finds, based on advice from legal counsel, that discussion in open session will prejudice the position of the city in the litigation. (1 case) Name of case: Connie Andersen, et al. V. California Water Company, et al. (Seaview case) Case No.: 24STCV20953
16. Reconvene To Open Session – 10:57 P.M.
17. Adjournment: 10:57 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:57 p.m. on February 9, 2026. The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled to be held on Monday, February 23, 2026 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California. It will also be available via City’s website link at: https://www.rolling-hills.org/government/agenda/index.php All written comments submitted are included in the record and available for public review on the City website.
MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, February 9, 2026
Respectfully submitted,
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Christian Horvath, City Clerk
Approved,
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Bea Dieringer, Mayor