CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 10, 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 MAYOR SCHMITZ.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan City Council Members Absent: Brown Schachter
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
City Attorney Don Davis
Assistant City Attorney Steve McEwen
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Community Development Director Jeannie Naughton
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Slawson
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING SEPTEMBER 2024 "NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH"
MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation declaring September 2024 as “National Preparedness Month.”
B. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 15 "HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH"
MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation September 15 – October 15, 2024 as “Hispanic Heritage 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.) MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5A-E, G-L AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan
ABSENT: Brown Schachter
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY
APPROVED.
B. DEMANDS AND WARRANTS OF AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2024
APPROVED WARRANTS 67658 THROUGH 67775 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$595,165.80, AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 080424 THROUGH
080624; IN THE AMOUNT OF $190,369.47; FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $785,535.27 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 2
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
C. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS REPORT REVISED OF JUNE 2024
RECEIVED AND FILED.
D. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS REPORT OF JULY 2024
RECEIVED AND FILED.
E. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE REPORT OF JULY 2024
RECEIVED AND FILED.
G. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF AUGUST 5, 2024
RECEIVED AND FILED.
H. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF AUGUST 13, 2024
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
I. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MINUTES OF AUGUST 20, 2024
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
J. PARK & ACTIVITIES COMMISSION MINUTES OF AUGUST 20, 2024 RECEIVED AND FILED.
K. PLANNING COMMISSION ADJOURNED MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 RECEIVED AND FILED.
L. SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS OF AUGUST 22, 2024
RECEIVED AND FILED.
**ITEM TAKEN OUT OF ORDER**
F. BUDGET AMENDMENTS FISCAL YEARS 2023-2024 AND 2024-2025 MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA stated the City may need to consider an increase to the budget for tree trimming services.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5F AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVED THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2023-2024 AND 2024-2025.
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan
ABSENT: Brown Schachter
6. PUBLIC COMMENT/PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. USER FEE UPDATE - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
DEPARTMENTS
Recommendation: That the City Council receive the report on the comprehensive User Fee Study for the Community Development and Public Works Departments, discuss the issues, and direct staff to return at the next regularly scheduled meeting with a draft cost recovery policy and annual increase mechanism, for City Council consideration.
Community Development Director Naughton provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Khushboo Ingle, Vice President of Matrix Consulting Group, and Madison Dixson, Senior Consultant, provided a presentation of the User Fee Study, including the background, study objectives, methodology, and the fee study results.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF confirmed that the Los Angeles County fee schedule that was followed previously was regularly adjusted.
Consultant Ingle explained that an overarching goal of recovering 100% can be set, in response to MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chamber, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
MEETING WITH A DRAFT COST RECOVERY POLICY AND ANNUAL
INCREASE MECHANISM, FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan
ABSENT: Brown Schachter
B. APPROVAL OF THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PLEDGE THROUGH THE SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN RESPONSE TO JOHNSON V. GRANTS
PASS SUPREME COURT RULING
Recommendation: That the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the Good Neighbor Pledge.
Assistant to the City Manager Slawson provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF thanked Ronson Chu, South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) Senior Project Manager, Homeless Services, for attending.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA thanked Ronson Chu for being at this meeting, and thinks this pledge memorializes the approach that SBCCOG and other cities have already taken to be compassionate and helpful to those that are unhoused.
MAYOR SCHMITZ also thanked Mr. Chu for his attendance and work on this issue.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chamber, via email and via eComment.
Mr. Chu made a few comments about the Good Neighbor Pledge.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN stated that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department unit that works on homeless issues has not made one arrest and works with a great deal of compassion.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4
SEPTEMBER 10, 2024
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE GOOD NEIGHBOR PLEDGE.
AYES: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan
ABSENT: Brown Schachter
9. OLD BUSINESS
None.
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
None.
11. CITY COUNCIL/REGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF attended the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) Steering Committee meeting yesterday.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN attended the California Contract Cities Association’s (CCCA) Fall Educational Summit.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA attended the Clean Power Alliance (CPA) monthly board meeting.
MAYOR SCHMITZ noted there will be a September Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Board Meeting and a Regional Meeting in October.
MAYOR SCHMITZ also attended the monthly Peninsula Mayors’ meeting.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN brought up the recent burglaries in the commercial district, and City Manager Grammer stated that staff would be meeting with the Lomita Station Captain to discuss the incidents and what can be done to support the businesses.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
MAYOR SCHMITZ announced the City Celebration event this Saturday, September 14, 2024.
13. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation: one potential case
NO REPORTABLE ACTION.
14. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:55 p.m. MAYOR SCHMITZ adjourned the meeting to Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of a Regular meeting.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit, City Clerk Velveth Schmitz, Mayor