MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 14, 2024
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
MAYOR SCHMITZ called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by Judy Bayer and Laura Diepenbrock from Palos Verdes Peninsula Village, and Tom Hyatt from Peninsula Seniors.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Brown Schachter, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan Huff City Council Members Absent:
City Manager Greg Grammer
City Attorney Don Davis
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Public Works Director David Wahba
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Management Analyst Jessica Slawson
Administrative Aide Gabrielle Swain
City Staff Present:
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY 2024 "OLDER AMERICANS MONTH" MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation declaring May 2024 as “Older Americans Month.” The proclamation was accepted by Judy Bayer and Laura Diepenbrock on behalf of Palos Verdes Peninsula Village, and Tom Hyatt on behalf of Peninsula Seniors.
PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY 2024 "MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH"
A.
B.
MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation declaring May 2024 as “Mental Health Awareness Month.”
PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY 2024 "MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH"
MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation declaring May 2024 as “Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.”
PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY 18, 2024 "NATIONAL KIDS TO PARKS DAY" MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation declaring May 18, 2024 as “National Kids to Parks Day.”
C.
D.
E. PROCLAMATION DECLARING MAY 2024 "WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS MONTH MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation declaring May 2024 as “Wildfire Preparedness Month.” The proclamation was accepted by Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Kane, who reminded the public about the upcoming brush inspections that will begin June 1.
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 ofthese items unless good cause is shown by a member prior to the roll call vote. (Items removed will be considered under New Business.) CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
MAY 14. 2024
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5A-E AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
Brown Schachter, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan
Huff
AYES:
ABSENT:
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY
APPROVED.
B. DEMANDS AND WARRANTS OF APRIL AND MAY 2024
APPROVED WARRANTS 67301 THROUGH 67340 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$374,163.13, AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 040424 THROUGH
040524; 050124 THROUGH 050324; 67274 VOID; 67339 VOID; IN THE AMOUNT OF $196,835.82 FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $570,998.95 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
C. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF APRIL 23, 2024
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
D. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF APRIL 1,2024
RECEIVED AND FILED.
E. PARK & ACTIVITIES COMMISSION MINUTES OF APRIL 22, 2024 RECEIVED AND FILED.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT/PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
8. NEW BUSINESS
REQUEST TO: 1) APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT (PSA) FOR RNT ARCHITECTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES; 2) ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH KiZH NATION INDIAN TRIBE FOR NATIVE AMERICAN MONITORING SERVICES; AND, 3) APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (PSA) FOR
ULTRASYSTEMS ENVIRONMENTAL FOR BIOLOGICAL, CULTURAL AND PALEONTOLOGICAL MONITORING SERVICES.
PROJECT; GEORGE F CANYON NATURE CENTER REPLACEMENT
LOCATION: SOUTHWEST CORNER OF PALOS VERDES DRIVE NORTH & PALOS VERDES DRIVE EAST (27305 PALOS VERDES DRIVE EAST)
A.
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1) Authorize an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Roesling, Nakamura, and Terada (RNT) Architects, in the amount of $64,040, for additional architectural services during Project bidding and construction; 2) Award a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) to UltraSystems Environmental in the amount of $50,201 to conduct studies/monitoring for the Project’s Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP): and 3) Direct the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Kizh Nation Indian Tribe for Native American Monitoring Services during site grading and initial construction in the amount of $31,318.40.
Public Works Director Wahba provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 2
MAY 14, 2024
Director Wahba explained that the existing building was built in the early 40s, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER. He also explained that testing was done for lead-based paint and asbestos and that asbestos was found and will be part of the demolition plan that the contractor will need to comply with.
Director Wahba explained that it took some time to develop the final plans for this project, and that staff did not anticipate the costs to be as high as they are, and that the longer we wait the higher the costs will be, in response to MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER
SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
1) AUTHORIZE AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT (PSA) WITH ROESLiNG, NAKAMURA, AND TERADA (RNT) ARCHITECTS, IN THE AMOUNT OF $64,040, FOR ADDITIONAL
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DURING PROJECT BIDDING AND
CONSTRUCTION: 2) APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT (PSA) TO ULTRASYSTEMS ENVIRONMENTAL IN THE
AMOUNT OF $50,201 TO CONDUCT STUDIES/MONITORING FOR THE PROJECT’S MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM
(MMRP); AND 3) DIRECTE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A
CONTRACT WITH THE KIZH NATION INDIAN TRIBE FOR NATIVE
AMERICAN MONITORING SERVICES DURING SITE GRADING AND INITIAL CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,318.40.
Brown Schachter, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan
Huff
AYES:
ABSENT:
B. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the Cal Cities Legislative Update and authorize the Mayor or City Manager to communicate the City’s support for or opposition to these bills, as requested, when it is in the City’s interest to do so.
City Manager Grammer provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA confirmed this applies to only the bills listed in the staff report.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER moved, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS:
RECEIVE AND FILE THE CAL CITIES LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER TO COMMUNICATE THE
CITY’S SUPPORT FOR OR OPPOSITION TO THESE BILLS, AS
REQUESTED, WHEN IT IS IN THE CITY’S INTEREST TO DO SO.
MAYOR SCHMITZ so ordered.
C. RETAIL THEFT LEGISLATION - LETTERS OF SUPPORT
Recommendation: That the City Council discuss the issues and authorize the Mayor to sign the letters of support for the proposed legislation addressing retail theft and shoplifting (Attachments A - F).
Management Analyst Slawson provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
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MAY 14, 2024
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN expressed concern about the wording in paragraph one of Attachment A, pointing out that the number of convictions will not be a large number, in comparison to events of theft. Discussion ensued about removing that paragraph from the letter altogether.
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 SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS:
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THE
PROPOSED LEGISLATION ADDRESSING RETAIL THEFT AND
SHOPLIFTING (ATTACHMENTS A - F), WITH ATTACHMENT A AMENDED AS DIRECTED.
MAYOR SCHMITZ so ordered.
RESOLUTION NO. 2569 - EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE HOMELESSNESS,
DRUG ADDICTION, AND THEFT REDUCTION ACT
D.
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2569 expressing support for the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act.
Discussion ensued about the measure not yet qualifying for the ballot, and whether the City should take a position now, or after it has qualified.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN suggested that it would be better to wait to take a position until the measure has been placed on the ballot.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chambers, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS:
CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2569 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE
HOMELESSNESS, DRUG ADDICTION, AND THEFT REDUCTION ACT,
IF/WHEN THE MEASURE QUALIFIES FOR THE BALLOT.
MAYOR SCHMITZ so ordered.
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
City Attorney Davis commended City staff on the use of a new bidding platform called PlanetBids for all public works projects.
11. CITY COUNCIUREGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA attended the South Bay Cities Council of Governments Transportation Committee meeting on Monday.
MAYOR SCHMITZ and City Manager Grammer will be in Indian Wells Thursday through Saturday attending the California Contract Cities Association’s Annual Municipal Seminar.
MAYOR SCHMITZ reminded the community about the importance of removing standing water, especially after this winter’s heavy rains, to prevent mosquitos.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER will be attending Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority meeting Thursday.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
MAY 14, 2024
4 COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER also attended an in-person tour and presentation of the Grace F. Napolitano Pure Water Southern California Innovation Center. There will be a tour for the public on May 18, to learn more about the demonstration plant, its innovative purification process and the importance of purified water projects to Southern California's future water supply.
MAYOR SCHMITZ reported on the Mayor’s Breakfast Ride on Saturday.
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:52 p.m. MAYOR SCHMITZ adjourned the meeting Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. for a Budget Study Session.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 5
MAY 14, 2024
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