CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
OCTOBER 8, 2024
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OCTOBER 8, 2024
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
MAYOR SCHMITZ called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by members MAYOR SCHMITZ.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Zerunyan City Council Members Absent: Stegura
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
Assistant City Attorney Steve McEwen
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Public Works Director David Wahba
Community Development Director Jeannie Naughton
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Slawson
Community Services Coordinator Matt Morrow
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING OCTOBER 2024 "BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH"
MAYOR SCHMITZ presented a proclamation declaring October 2024 as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Assistant City Manager Davis accepted the Proclamation on behalf of Evelyn Calip, Nurse Navigator at the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Breast Diagnostic Center at Torrance Memorial Medical Center.
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 ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5A-F AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Zerunyan
ABSENT: Stegura
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS BY TITLE ONLY
APPROVED.
B. DEMANDS AND WARRANTS OF SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2024
APPROVED WARRANTS 67842 THROUGH 67867 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$112,536.84, AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 090424 THROUGH
090524; IN THE AMOUNT OF $90,723.68; FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $203,260.50 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
C. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 2
OCTOBER 8, 2024
D. R PARK & ACTIVITIES COMMISSION MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 RECEIVED AND FILED.
E. RESOLUTION NO. 2587 CONTINUING THE PROCLAMATION OF THE LOCAL
EMERGENCY ARISING FROM SIGNIFICANT LAND MOVEMENT ALONG AND IN
THE VICINITY OF PEARTREE LANE IN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ESTATES ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2587 CONTINUING THE PROCLAMATION
OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY CAUSED BY SIGNIFICANT LAND MOVEMENT ON PEARTREE LANE.
F. SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS OF AUGUST 22, 2024
RECEIVED AND FILED.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT/PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
A. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON RELIABILITY REPORT
Constance Turner, Government Relations Manager for Southern California Edison, provided a presentation on SCE’s reliability report, including strengthening and modernizing the grid, reducing wildfire risk, 2023 year-end progress update and public safety power shutoffs.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
8. NEW BUSINESS
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO ADJOURN TO THE PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION BOARD MEETING. **ADJOURN TO PEPPER TREE FOUNDATION BOARD MEETING**
A. 2024 HILLS ARE ALIVE RACE DEBRIEF AND 2025 DATE CHANGE Recommendation: That the Pepper Tree Foundation Executive Board receive and file the debrief report and consider changing the date of the Hills Are Alive Race from the first Saturday of August to Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Community Services Coordinator Morrow provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
MEMBER HUFF agreed that the weather will be cooler in May than it is in August and confirmed with staff that the Hermosa Beach race does not conflict with this date change.
MEMBER ZERUNYAN and CHAIR SCHMITZ discussed student participation, which would hopefully increase with the new date earlier in the year.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chamber, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
MEMBER HUFF moved, seconded by MEMBER ZERUNYAN, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS:
RECEIVE AND FILE THE DEBRIEF REPORT AND DIRECT STAFF TO
CHANGE THE DATE OF THE HILLS ARE ALIVE RACE FROM THE FIRST SATURDAY OF AUGUST TO SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025.
CHAIR SCHMITZ so ordered.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3
OCTOBER 8, 2024
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO RECONVENE TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
**RECONVENE TO CITY COUNCIL MEETING**
B. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AND PROPOSAL FOR PROFESSIONAL
GIS SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1) Authorize the City Manager to enter into the Professional Services Agreement with Infinity Technologies to provide GIS services to the Community Development Department, in a not-to-exceed amount of $21,500 for Year 1, to the satisfaction of the City Attorney; and 2) Approve a budget adjustment in Account No. 4220-439 adding $7,500, for a new total account budget of $72,500.
Community Development Director Naughton provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chamber, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
1) AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE PROFESSIONAL
SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH INFINITY TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE
GIS SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, IN A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $21,500 FOR YEAR 1, TO THE
SATISFACTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY; AND 2) APPROVE A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT IN ACCOUNT NO. 4220-439 ADDING $7,500, FOR A NEW TOTAL ACCOUNT BUDGET OF $72,500.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Zerunyan
ABSENT: Stegura
C. COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE LOCAL APPOINTMENT LIST AND
APPOINTMENT PROCESS FOR EXPIRING TERMS
Recommendation: That the City Council review the Commission/Committee appointment process for expiring terms and receive and file this report.
City Clerk Pettit provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
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 COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS:
RECEIVE AND FILE.
MAYOR SCHMITZ so ordered.
D. THIRD AMENDMENT TO CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Recommendation: That the City Council approve the Third Amendment to City Manager Employment Agreement and authorize its execution by the Mayor.
Assistant City Attorney McEwen provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN thanked the City Manager and staff for their loyalty, especially when there have been years when no salary increases could be provided.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4
OCTOBER 8, 2024
MAYOR SCHMITZ echoed COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN’s comments, and thanked City Manager Grammer for his dedication, leadership and for the culture he has created within the City.
City Manager Grammer thanked the City Council for their support.
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 COUNCIL MEMBER
SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVE THE THIRD AMENDMENT TO CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZE ITS EXECUTION BY THE MAYOR.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Zerunyan
ABSENT: Stegura
9. OLD BUSINESS
None.
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
None.
11. CITY COUNCIL/REGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF announced the Cal Cities Annual Conference will be held in Long Beach next week, as well as the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon next Friday, October 18.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN announced the CJPIA Annual Risk Management Educational Forum being held this week, with Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis nominated for a second year in a row for the Capstone Award.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN also announced the California Contract Cities Association’s (CCCA) City Managers Summit at USC on October 24.
MAYOR SCHMITZ and COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN attended the Rollingwood HOA’s annual meeting earlier this evening and discussed the state of the City.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
None.
13. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS Government Code Section 54957.6 Agency Designated Representatives: City Manager and Assistant City Manager Employee Organization: City of Rolling Hills Estates Employees' Association NO REPORTABLE ACTION.
14. ADJOURNMENT
At 7:52 p.m. MAYOR SCHMITZ adjourned to Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of a Regular meeting.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit, City Clerk Velveth Schmitz, Mayor