CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
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 HUFF at 7:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by Laura Diepenbrock and Judy Bayer from Palos Verdes Peninsula Village.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan City Council Members Absent: None
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
City Attorney Don Davis
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Administrative Services Director Mike Whitehead
Public Works Director David Wahba
Community Services Supervisory Pinuelas
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING FEBRUARY 2023 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH MAYOR HUFF declared February 2023 as Black History Month.
B. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING FEBRUARY 2023 AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH MAYOR HUFF declared February 2023 as American Heart Month.
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 will be considered under New Business.) COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 4A-G AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY
APPROVED.
B. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 2023
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
C. DEMANDS AND WARRANTS OF JANUARY 2023 & FEBRUARY 2023 APPROVED WARRANTS 65879 THROUGH 65976 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$602,651.29 AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 020123 THROUGH
020323; IN THE AMOUNT OF $119,329.25 FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $721,980.54 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
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FEBRUARY 14, 2023
D. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 6, 2023
RECEIVED AND FILED.
E. PARK AND ACTIVITIES COMMISSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 17, 2023 RECEIVED AND FILED.
F. 2022-23 BIANNUAL CODE COMPLIANCE REPORT, JULY 1, 2022 TO JANUARY 31, 2023
RECEIVED AND FILED.
G. SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS OF JANUARY 2023
RECEIVED AND FILED.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT/PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. PUBLIC HEARING - RESOLUTION NO. 2540 APPROVING THE PROPOSED USE OF FY 2023-24 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS Recommendation: That the City Council 1) open the Public Hearing; 2) receive any public testimony; 3) close the Public Hearing; 4) waive further reading and approve Resolution No. 2540 authorizing execution of a contract with the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission for participation in the program for funding of the ADA Access Ramp and Sidewalk Improvement Program as identified in the Program and Conditions Assessment Report dated April 2, 2014 in the amount of approximately $20,151.
Public Works Director Wahba provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN, TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Public Works Director Wahba explained that he and the County of Los Angeles Public Works Department inspect the areas to identify what needs repair based on the 2014 Program and Condition Assessment Report, and then the County calculates what the cost will be, in response to MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ.
Public Works Director Wahba explained that there was no plan to change the City’s use of CDBG funds for future years, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA.
Discussion ensued about possible uses for the CDBG funds.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2540 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A
CONTRACT WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM
FOR FUNDING OF THE ADA ACCESS RAMP AND SIDEWALK
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FEBRUARY 14, 2023
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AS IDENTIFIED IN THE PROGRAM AND
CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT REPORT DATED APRIL 2, 2014 IN THE AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $20,151.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
Assistant City Manager Davis read the Resolution by title.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. PRESENTATION OF STORMWATER DRY WELL SITING STUDY BY GEOSYNTEC CONSULTING INC.; AND, AMENDED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (PSA) TO FURTHER RETAIN GEOSYNTEC TO ASSIST WITH PROJECT
ENGNIEERING, PREPARATION AND AWARD OF BID, AND CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT
Recommendation: Presentation of stormwater dry well siting study by Geosyntec Consulting Inc.; and, amended Professional Services Agreement (PSA) to further retain Geosyntec to assist with project engineering, preparation and award of bid, and construction management
Public Works Director Wahba provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Consultant Curtis Fang with Geosyntec provided a PowerPoint presentation outlining the study.
Consultant Fang explained the “expenses” column in the report, and the typical 10% markup that Geosyntec adds to expenses, in response to MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ.
Public Works Director Wahba explained that the project would be funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN SCHACHTER.
Consultant Fang explained that they would work with the City on establishing the construction hours for the project, as well as traffic control during the week, and do not plan for any weekend work, in response to MAYOR HUFF.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
RECEIVE AND FILE REPORT FROM GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS, INC. ON THEIR DRY WELL SITING STUDY.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVE AN AMENDED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (PSA) WITH GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS, INC. TO CARRY OUT THE PROJECT’S
FINAL ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS AND PLANS, PREPARATION OF
BID DOCUMENTS, AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FOR THE
INSTALLATION OF TWO NEW DRY WELLS, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT
OF$178,900 (USING MEASURE W FUNDS), ALL TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
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FEBRUARY 14, 2023
B. A LOS ANGELES COUNTY GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (GSA) 5-YEAR
RENEWAL FOR SERVICES
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the attached General Services Agreement (GSA) between the City of Rolling Hills Estates and the County of Los Angeles, which would go into effect on July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028.
Public Works Director Wahba provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVE THE GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (GSA) BETWEEN THE
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ESTATES AND THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, WHICH WOULD GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2028.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
9. OLD BUSINESS
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER
ZERUNYAN, TO ADJOURN TO THE PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION BOARD MEETING.
**ADJOURN TO PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION BOARD MEETING**
A. PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION FINANCIALS OVERVIEW 2019-2022 Recommendation: That the Rolling Hills Estates Pepper Tree Foundation Executive Board of Directors receive and file this report.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN SCHACHTER thanked staff for the complete report.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
RECEIVE AND FILE.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
B. PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION WEBSITE OUTREACH
Recommendation: That the Rolling Hills Estates Pepper Tree Foundation Executive Board of Directors approve the development of a Pepper Tree Foundation website and authorize the Executive Director/City Manager to enter into an Agreement with Tripepi Smith for the development and hosting of the new website in the amount of $9,980 and $580 annually thereafter.
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
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FEBRUARY 14, 2023
COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN SCHACHTER expressed concerned about the visibility of the Pepper Tree Foundation page within the City’s website, and wants to be sure to retain the purpose of the Foundation.
MAYOR HUFF felt that a new website separate from the City’s website was premature.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA agreed with much of what COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN SCHACHTER stated, and is concerned that about losing sight of the goal of the Foundation to raise money. She stated that she would rather see some money spent to help the new Pepper Tree Foundation Fundraising Committee raise funds for the Foundation, and possibly a separate Link on the City’s website for the public art project.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ expressed concern about separating URLs, and stated she would rather put money into a multi-layer outreach campaign for fundraising rather than a new separate website for the Foundation.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN supports keeping the Pepper Tree Foundation within the City’s website, while making it more visible than it is today. He stated that websites do raise money, but that requires continuous campaigns.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN
SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
TABLE FOR DISCUSSION AT A FUTURE MEETING.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
Assistant City Manager confirmed that in the meantime, staff will make the current Pepper Tree Foundation webpage within the City’s website more visible.
C. REQUEST FOR A 19TH AMENDMENT COMMEMORATION PLAQUE
Recommendation: That the Pepper Tree Foundation Executive Board of Directors consider the proposal for recognition commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted women the right to vote, and provide direction to staff.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
CONSENSUS OF COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REQUESTED RECOGNITION PLAQUE.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
D. PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT Recommendation: That the Rolling Hills Estates Pepper Tree Foundation Executive Board of Directors appoint Mr. Steve Zuckerman to the Fundraising Committee.
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
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FEBRUARY 14, 2023
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS:
APPOINT MR. STEVEN ZUCKERMAN TO THE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE.
The motion was approved by acclamation.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN, TO RECONVENE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING:
**RECONVENE TO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MEETING**
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
None.
11. CITY COUNCIL/REGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ will be attending the California Contract Cities Associations monthly Board meeting on Thursday in Monterey Park.
MAYOR HUFF attended the West Basin Municipal Water District’s Director Installation Ceremony in Carson.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
A. COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Recommendation: That the City Council make appointments to fill the one (1) vacancy on the Environmental Advisory Committee and two (2) vacancies on the Traffic & Safety Committee from the recently interviewed candidates.
City Manager Grammer provided a staff report (as per agenda material).
Discussion ensued about the applicants, current vacancies, and the vacancy that exists on the Park & Activities Commission.
COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN SCHACHTER noted that Susan Robinson had elected to remain on the Equestrian Committee.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPOINT SIMONE SCHMIDT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE; APPOINT RENA NASH AND GARY MANCUSO TO THE
TRAFFIC & SAFETY COMMITTEE.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:49 PM MAYOR HUFF adjourned the City Council meeting in memory of Jackie Crowley.
The meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 7:00 PM for the purpose of a Regular Meeting.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 7
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit Britt Huff
City Clerk Mayor