ADJOURNED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
MARCH 14, 2023 (PDS)
MINUTES
ADJOURNED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
POLICY DEVELOPMENT SESSION
MARCH 14, 2023
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
An adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills Estates was called to order at 12:09 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 4045 Palos Verdes Drive North, by MAYOR HUFF.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by MAYOR HUFF.
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 Development Director Jeannie Naughton
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Community Services Supervisor Rosa Pinuelas
Senior Accountant Fernando Estrada
Management Analyst Jessica Slawson
Administrative Aide Gabrielle Swain
4. NEW BUSINESS
A. “FIRST LOOK” FOR THE RESIDENCES AT PENINSULA SHOPPING CENTER
PROJECT
Community Development Director Jeannie Naughton introduced the Residences at Peninsula Shopping Center Project, and welcomed Jeff Axtell, Executive Vice President and Ryan Ash, Vice President of Development of Vestar, who provided a high-level presentation of Vestar Communities, the residential component of the Peninsula Center project.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ thanked Vestar for their thoughtful development for both the retailers and the community.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN encouraged Vestar to use the words “workforce housing’ and “affordable housing” interchangeably and hopes the amount of workforce housing will be more than the proposed 5%.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA echoed COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN’S comments, stating she also hopes to see more than 5% of workforce housing. Consultant Ash confirmed that the housing will all be “for-rent”, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA.
Architect Paul Kearney of MVE + Partners, Senior Designer of the project provided a presentation of renderings of the design aspect of the proposed project.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHMITZ made positive comments about the presented design plan and stated that she hopes to see more trees throughout the development.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN stated he was excited to see the project come to fruition and hopes to see more opportunity for workforce housing.
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COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA confirmed that no businesses will be displaced for the construction of this property, which was confirmed by Consultant Ash. COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA also echoed COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN’S sentiments regarding more workforce housing. She confirmed that the City’s sustainability goals will be included in the design and construction of the building.
It was the general consensus of the City Council to support additional parking for Palos Verdes Performing Arts/Norris Theatre, to provide connectivity with the adjacent Promenade, and to see more workforce housing included in the plans.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC PRESENTATION
MAYOR HUFF introduced Library Board of Trustee Jonathan Beutler, who mentioned upcoming events for the Library District, including the opening of the Teen Annex at the Peninsula Center Library on April 6, and Doors Open Peninsula on June 17.
A. HdL COMPANIES PRESENTATION ON PROPERTY TAX TRENDS, SALES TAX
OUTLOOK AND BUSINESS LICENSE ADMINISTRATION
Administrative Services Director Whitehead introduced Bobby Young, Nichole Cone and Eric Meyers of HdL Companies, who provided an update on the current state of the City’s Sales Tax, Property Taxes and Business Licenses:
- RHE Sales Tax Rate Breakdown
- Statewide Sales Tax Trends and Major Industry Groups
- Inflation and Sales Tax and Current conditions
- Interest Rates and California Unemployment
- HdL Statewide Trend Quarterly Outlook and Annual Outlook for Sales Tax - Allocation of Countywide Use Tax Pool
- Online sales allocations
- Proposition 13
- RHE Property Tax Dollar Breakdown
- Historical Assessed Value Growth and Single-Family Residential Sales History - Business Tax Operation – Compliance, Collections and Discovery B. PENSION FUNDING POLICY PRESENTATION BY MARK YOUNG, KNN
CONSULTING, AND DAN MATUSIEWICZ, GOVINVEST
Senior Accountant Estrada introduced Mark Young of KNN Consulting and Dan Matusiewicz of GovInvest, who presented a pension funding update for the City, and the proposed Pension Funding Policy for the Council’s consideration.
Discussion ensued regarding the proposed Pension Funding Policy.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM
SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVED THE PROPOSED PENSION FUNDING POLICY
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
6. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
A. POLICY DEVELOPMENT SESSION ITEMS
Recommendation: That the City Council consider the items presented and prioritize them on the work plan for the coming fiscal year.
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW
Administrative Services Director Whitehead provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing a review of the City’s budget for fiscal year 2022-23 at mid-year.
This item is informational for the Council.
FISCAL HEALTH REPORT, FY 2012-13 THROUGH FY 2021-22
Administrative Services Director Whitehead provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the Fiscal Health Report which covers a ten-year period and includes the audited financial results reported in the annually prepared Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by MAYOR HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
RECEIVE AND FILE THE FISCAL HEALTH REPORT.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura and Zerunyan ABSENT: None
FINANCE UPDATE
Administrative Services Director Whitehead provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the City’s Sales Tax, Property Taxes and Business Licenses.
This item is informational for the Council.
AMENDMENTS TO BUSINESS LICENSE TAX CHAPTER
City Attorney Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), related to a Resolution conditioned on the approval of Measure A in 2018, regarding pro-ration of taxes for fixed location business that only operated in the City for a portion of the year.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to bring back an ordinance that would repeal Section 5.04.180 of the Municipal Code and thereby eliminate all pro-rations as that was the intent when the City moved to a flat tax schedule.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Administrative Services Director Whitehead provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), providing an update on the City’s information technology (IT), Wi-Fi, voice and data services, cellular, hardware, security, monitoring, and advanced technical support.
This item is informational for the Council.
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
COYOTE MANAGEMENT
Management Analyst Slawson provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the City’s administration of protocols in coordination with the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weighs department for coyote education and responses in the City, while also noting that Staff will be further exploring contracting for emergency coyote management services in the new fiscal year should the County have any staff changes that affect service to the City.
This item is informational for the Council.
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***ITEM TAKEN OUT OF ORDER**
MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM ROTATION POLICY
City Manager Grammer provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the informal yet longstanding policy for rotating through the Council positions of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, which was last reviewed by the City Council in 2016.
Following discussion, no changes were made to the current informal policy.
ANIMAL LICENSING FEES AND EXPENSES
Management Analyst Slawson provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), gauging the City Council’s interest in exploring cost recovery options to help with future cost recovery, such as direct resident billing for extraordinary circumstances, no or low-cost micro-chipping, vaccination and licensing clinics, increasing dog licensing fees and consideration of requiring cat licensing (which is currently voluntary).
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to proceed with direct resident billing for extraordinary circumstances, direction to consider no or low-cost micro-chipping, vaccination and licensing clinics, and direction to maintain current fees.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), discussing Waste Management’s request to the City to consider modifying its service schedule from one day per week to multiple days per week.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to convene the Waste Subcommittee to assess the Waste Management request and, if needed negotiate terms, for a final review by the City Council.
PURCHASE OF TRAIL VEHICLES FOR SHERRIFF’S PATROL
Management Analyst Slawson provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), discussing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Lomita Station’s (LASD-Lomita) request for the purchase of off-road vehicles (ATVs), noting that the current off-road vehicle, Polaris, is currently at its useful life expectancy and that its large size is not suitable for some city trails.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to look into the idea of a volunteer group to monitor the trails on horseback and provide education, while also having staff look into possible grants for the purchase of off-road vehicles, trailer and safety equipment.
PROPOSED SBCCOG DUES INCREASE
City Manager Grammer provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the proposed due increase and the COG’s new formulations of those dues.
This item is informational for the Council.
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SPORTS FIELD POLICY
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the results of the sports field use study the City conducted, and the need for a Sports Field Policy.
This item is informational for the Council.
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TENNIS COURT CLEANING
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing that currently the courts are cleaned only on an emergency basis, and that in order to maintain and extend the life of the new resurfacing, staff is recommending the courts be professionally cleaned on a regular basis.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to budget for bi-annual tennis court cleaning in the amount of $7,700 and an additional amount of $3,000 for emergency court cleaning.
IRRIGATION STUDY
Maintenance Supervisor Goldsmith provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the irrigation audit of the City parks performed by WaterWise Consulting.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to include this irrigation upgrade project in in the City’s proposed upcoming two-year budget.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the projects identified by staff and the Park & Activities Commission to be considered over the next two fiscal years.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to consider items listed in the staff report for inclusion in the City’s proposed upcoming two-year budget.
“BUTCHER PROJECT” PROJECT STATUS
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the discussion and recommendation of the Park & Activities Commission for the naming of “Butcher Park.”
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to approve the name “Founders Park.”
NATURE CENTER
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing the status of the project, noting that the project balance not currently funded or allocated is estimated at $1.3 million and that staff is actively seeking other grants and partnerships to support this project.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to allocate Park Facility Fees to fund the balance of the project cost in coordination with additional grant funds and donations.
PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION OUTREACH AND FUNDRAISING
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing that at the most recent Pepper Tree Fundraising Committee meeting, the Committee prioritized fundraising for the new Nature Center and specifically, made recommendations for goals and the design of a successful campaign to be considered by the City Council.
Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to consider limited naming opportunities and a donor wall in order to meet to the fundraising goal, and return to the City Council with a proposed fundraising program for the Nature Center.
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), summarizing staff’s efforts to improve the Pepper Tree Foundation page within the City current website making it more visible and enhanced within the website’s capabilities ADJOURNED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6
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Following discussion, it was the consensus of the City Council to enhance the existing Pepper Tree Foundation webpage content on the City’s current website to include drop down menus highlighting various projects funded by the Foundation, utilizing Tripepi Smith’s offer to donate time to create a project page template for the Armenian Genocide public art project, which can be used by City staff to create other project pages
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Community Development Director Naughton provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), providing updates on the 927 Deep Valley Drive condominium project, the Peninsula Pointe assisted living project, the Rolling Hills Country Club, and a proposed project at the Brickwalk site.
This item is informational for the Council.
LONG-RANGE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
Community Development Director Naughton provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), providing an update on the status of CA Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) regarding obtaining certification for the City’s Housing Element, as well as staff’s initiation of the comprehensive update of the Zoning code, to implement the 2040 General Plan in March 2023.
This item is informational for the Council.
CODE COMPLIANCE
Community Development Director Naughton provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), providing an update on complaints frequently received by the City regarding trash cans being left on the street for extended periods of time, and steps taken by staff to address these complaints.
This item is informational for the Council.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
CAL WATER RESPONSE TO WATER MAIN BREAKS
Public Works Director Wahba provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
This item is informational for the Council.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON (SCE) TREE TRIMMING COORDINATION WITH
CITY TREE TRIMMING
Public Works Director Wahba provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
This item is informational for the Council.
B. MID-YEAR REPORTS
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file these reports.
It was the consensus of the City Council to receive and file the mid-year reports.
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5. ADJOURNMENT
At 5:20 p.m. MAYOR HUFF adjourned the City Council meeting to the Regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Rolling Hills Estates City Hall, 4045 Palos Verdes Drive North, Rolling Hills Estates, California.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit Britt Huff
City Clerk Mayor