CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING - STUDY SESSION 1
JUNE 25, 2024
MINUTES
ADJOURNED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 25, 2024
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
An adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills Estates was called to order by MAYOR SCHMITZ at 5:04 p.m. in the Council Chamber of City Hall.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan City Council Members Absent: None
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
City Attorney Don Davis
Public Works Director David Wahba
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
4. PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. STUDY SESSION MEETING FOR THE PALOS VERDES DRIVE NORTH (PVDN)
AND DAPPLEGRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (LONDON LANE)
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1) Conduct a study session to further discuss the proposed Palos Verdes Drive North (PVDN) and Dapplegray Elementary School Intersection Improvement Project; and, 2) Direct staff to bring back a Resolution approving the Project and the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at the City Council meeting of August 13, 2024.
Public Works Director Wahba provided a staff report (per the agenda materials), summarizing the Palos Verdes Drive North (PVDN) and Dapplegray Elementary School Intersection Project, a Transportation Enhancement and Americans with Disability Act (ADA) Improvement Project (Project), which would be primarily funded by Measure M of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA).
Willdan / Traffic Engineer Reggie Greene provided a recap and general overview of the project, including the history, project introduction, project details, and next steps.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN expressed concern about the school drop-off/pick-up line backing up in the new auxiliary lane. He emphasized that the School District and City need to collaborate to help address the congestion during school drop-off and pick-up times.
Palos Verdes Peninsula School District Superintendent Devin Serrano spoke, noting the District is in support of this project, is working closely with City staff and has done a few site visits. The community has expressed that student safety must be the number one priority, both during construction of the project and after work has been completed. She also noted the School Board is proposing a bond measure with a detailed project list that includes Dapplegray Elementary School access road enhancements to help alleviate some of the congestion on Palos Verdes Drive North.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING - STUDY SESSION 2
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COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN also discussed that since the bike lane minimum width is three feet including the apron, the seam between the apron and the road must be level and smooth for biker’s safety.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER inquired about the impact of the trails during construction. Public Works Director Wahba explained that they will try to keep the trails open as much as possible, while providing signage and advance notice of any closures as necessary. She requested that staff communicate with Palos Verdes Horsemens Association (PVHA) for any closures.
City Manager Grammer explained that the circular drive/access road at Dapplegray Elementary is school property, therefore Measure M funding could not be applied toward those improvements, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA echoed COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN’S concerns about the bike lane no longer being protected, and about the massing of cars during school hours.
Discussion ensued about the median being removed, and the fact that the current median is too small to be considered a pedestrian refuge.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Derek Clotworthy stated that the new plan looks like it will be more difficult for people to park illegally near this intersection, and that the plan looks like emergency vehicles’ ability to maneuver the intersection will be enhanced.
Los Angeles County Assistant Fire Chief Brian Kane agreed with Deputy Clotworthy, stating that will be more room and space for cars to move out of the way for emergency vehicles.
City Manager Grammer noted that there would still be some level of congestion on Palos Verdes Drive North even with these improvements, which will make it difficult for any cars to speed through the auxiliary lanes at high speeds to get through the intersection.
Public comments were received from Lynn Yen, Anthony Xepoliv, Grant Mogford and Shelly Vert, expressing their concerns about the project.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN suggested extending the median on the east side of the intersection to discourage u-turns. He also confirmed with Director Wahba that the crosswalks will meet all ADA requirements. He also suggested collaborating with the School District about pedestrian safety during school hours.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER
SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
DIRECTION GIVEN TO STAFF TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 13, 2024 TO CONSIDER
APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT AND THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION (MND) AND MITIGATION MONITORING AND
REPORTING PROGRAM (MMRP) UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA); AND TO BRING BACK A
REPORT AT THE AUGUST 13 MEETING TO ADDRESS THE
CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS PROVIDED AT THE STUDY
SESSION.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan ABSENT: None
6. ADJOURNMENT
At 6:30 pm MAYOR SCHMITZ adjourned the City Council meeting to the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING - STUDY SESSION 3
JUNE 25, 2024
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit Velveth Schmitz
City Clerk Mayor