CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
MAY 10, 2022
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 10, 2022
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills Estates was called to order by MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall and remotely via teleconference, in accordance with Assembly Bill 361 (AB 361) and City Council Resolution Nos. 2487, 2490, 2491, 2493, 2498, 2499, 2503 and 2505, due to the continuing state of emergency, including masking and social distancing directives as a result of the threat of the COVID-19 virus.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by Boy Scout Troop 191.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zuckerman City Council Members Absent: Zerunyan
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
City Attorney Don Davis
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Administrative Services Director Mike Whitehead
Community Development & PW Director David Wahba
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
4. CEREMONIAL
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 2022 “MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH”
MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF presented a Proclamation declaring May 2022 as Mental Health Awareness Month.
B. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 2022 “MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH”
MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF presented a Proclamation declaring May 2022 as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.
C. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 21, 2022 “NATIONAL KIDS TO PARKS DAY” MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF presented a Proclamation declaring May 21, 2022 as National Kids to Parks Day.
D. CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – TOM JUDGE
MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF presented a Certificate of Recognition to resident Tom Judge.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR
The following routine matters will be acted upon by one vote to approve with the majority consent of the City Council. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless good cause is shown by a member prior to the roll call vote. (Items removed for individual consideration will be voted on separately.)
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5A-H AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
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MAY 10, 2022
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zuckerman
ABSENT: Zerunyan
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY
APPROVED.
B. DEMANDS AND WARRANTS OF APRIL & MAY 2022
APPROVED WARRANTS 65036 THROUGH 65068 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$48,268.44; AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 040422 THROUGH 040622 IN THE AMOUNT OF $82,042.51; FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $130,310.95 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
C. ADJOURNED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MARCH 12, 2022
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
D. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF APRIL 26, 2022
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
E. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF APRIL 26, 2022
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
F. PARK & ACTIVITIES COMMISSION MINUTES OF APRIL 18, 2022 RECEIVED AND FILED.
G. EQUESTRIAN MINUTES OF MARCH 28, 2022
RECEIVED AND FILED.
H. SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS MEETING SUMMARY OF APRIL 28, 2022
RECEIVED AND FILED.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Public comment received from Pastor Dan Burgoyne of Rolling Hills Covenant Church (RHCC), as well as Donna Artino and Bill Reichert, who spoke against the April 26, 2022 City Council decision granting an extension of the Special Use Permit for RHCC for the requested time of three months, while prohibiting the amplification of music, and with no further extensions for the existing permit. Comments also received from resident Bridget Carman, in support of the City Council’s decision for the RHCC Permit.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. NON-PROFIT GRANT PROGRAM
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the non-profit grant program guidelines to be implemented this fiscal year in the budgeted amount of $20,000 and each subsequent year that the City budgets for the program.
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
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MAY 10, 2022
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA inquired how many non-profits within Rolling Hills Estates would qualify under the outlined criteria, noting that if a small number of applications are received, the grant amount could potentially be increased. Assistant City Manager Davis confirmed the grant amount could be increased, and also noted that the grant will return for a second round next year.
Assistant City Manager Davis explained that funds will be awarded upon the deadline, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN inquired if churches could apply if they had less than 50 employees. Assistant City Manager Davis and City Attorney Davis stated that it would depend, and that staff would look into this.
Public comment was invited via email, via eComment on the City’s website, and during the live Zoom Webinar as noticed on the Agenda and on the City’s website and social media platforms.
No additional public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER
ZUCKERMAN, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVE THE NON-PROFIT GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES TO BE
IMPLEMENTED THIS FISCAL YEAR IN THE BUDGETED AMOUNT OF
$20,000 AND EACH SUBSEQUENT YEAR THAT THE CITY BUDGETS FOR THE PROGRAM.
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zuckerman
ABSENT: Zerunyan
B. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Recommendation: That the City Council endorse the various positions listed and authorize the Mayor or City Manager to communicate the City’s position when and where appropriate.
City Manager Grammer provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ expressed concern about approving all listed bills as a whole without a deeper understanding of each bill as it relates to the City.
Discussion ensued about the proposed recommendation as compared to the current process the City follows.
Public comment was invited via email, via eComment on the City’s website, and during the live Zoom Webinar as noticed on the Agenda and on the City’s website and social media platforms.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN, AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
RECEIVE AND FILE THE REPORT AND DIRECT STAFF TO CONTINUE
WITH ITS CURRENT PROCESS OF HAVING THE CITY MANAGER OR
MAYOR COMMUNICATE THE CITY’S POSITION ON LEGISLATIVE BILLS WHEN AND WHERE APPROPRIATE.
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zuckerman
ABSENT: Zerunyan
C. SOUTH BAY REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST LEGISLATION
Recommendation: That the City Council support the concept for state legislation requested by the South Bay Cities Council of Governments’ (SBCCOG) Board of CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4
MAY 10, 2022
Directors that would create a South Bay Regional Housing Trust, including a state budget request for seed funding.
City Manager Grammer provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Public comment was invited via email, via eComment on the City’s website, and during the live Zoom Webinar as noticed on the Agenda and on the City’s website and social media platforms.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ thanked the SBCCOG for coming up with this creative solution.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN, AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
CONSENSUS OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE CONCEPT FOR
STATE LEGISLATION REQUESTED BY THE SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS’ (SBCCOG) BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT WOULD
CREATE A SOUTH BAY REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST, INCLUDING A
STATE BUDGET REQUEST FOR SEED FUNDING.
AYES: Huff, Stegura, Schmitz and Zuckerman
ABSENT: Zerunyan
9. OLD BUSINESS
A. UPDATE ON LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAFER AT HOME ORDER AND STATUS OF
CITY EVENTS (VERBAL REPORT)
City Manager Grammer reported that there have been no changes to the Los Angeles County Health Officer Order since the last City Council meeting, and restated that masks are currently required for all public transit. The number of COVID cases has increased over the last several weeks due to the new subvariants, but hospitalizations and deaths continue to decrease.
Lastly, the second booster shot is available to those 50 years and older or for those who are immunocompromised.
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
City Attorney Davis reported that he presented a draft sign code update to the Planning Commission on May 9, which will next be presented to the City Council as a public hearing for introduction and first reading on May 24.
City Attorney Davis requested agendizing as a subsequent need item, a closed session this evening pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2); significant exposure to litigation, in response to a letter threatening litigation received earlier that evening from Advocates for Faith and Freedom signed by Robert Tyler on behalf of Rolling Hills Covenant Church.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
ADD AS A “SUBSEQUENT NEED” ITEM, A CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (D)(2) OF CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9 FOR CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION, (1) AS THE ITEM AROSE AFTER THE
POSTING OF THE AGENDA, NECESSITATING THE CITY COUNCIL'S IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION AND/OR ACTION.
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zuckerman
ABSENT: Zerunyan
11. CITY COUNCIL/REGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF attended the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) General Assembly last weekend as the City’s delegate.
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MAY 10, 2022
MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF will attend the Board of Directors meeting this Friday and Saturday in Sacramento for the League of California Cities (Cal Cities).
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA attended the League of California Cities Community Services meeting on April 28.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
NONE.
13. CLOSED SESSION
**CLOSED SESSION ITEM ADDED AFTER POSTING OF AGENDA**
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Title: Significant exposure to litigation
14. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:45 p.m. MAYOR PRO TEM HUFF adjourned the City Council meeting to the next regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 7:00 pm for the purpose of a Regular meeting.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit Britt Huff
City Clerk Mayor Pro Tem