CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
JANUARY 27, 2026
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 27, 2026
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
MAYOR STEGURA called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by Palos Verdes Peninsula Village Board President, Monique Sugimoto and Communications Chair Judy Bayer.
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
City Attorney Don Davis
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Administrative Services Director Mike Whitehead
Community Dev/Public Works Director Jeannie Naughton
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Slawson
Public Works Manager Kirsten Graham
Senior Accountant Fernando Estrada
Administrative Aide Gabrielle Swain
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING JANUARY 27, 2026, AS INTERNATIONAL
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
MAYOR STEGURA declared January 27, 2026 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
B. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING FEBRUARY 2026 AS AMERICAN HEART MONTH MAYOR STEGURA declared February 2026 as American Heart Month.
C. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING FEBRUARY 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH MAYOR STEGURA declared February 2026 as Black History 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.) COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ moved, seconded by MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5A-F AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan ABSENT: None
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
APPROVED.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 2
JANUARY 27, 2026
B. DEMANDS AND WARRANTS OF DECEMBER 2025 & JANUARY 2026 APPROVED WARRANTS 69163 THROUGH 69285 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,902,201.22 AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 120425 THROUGH
120625; 010126 THROUGH 011226; IN THE AMOUNT OF $483,709.99 FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,385,911.21 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
C. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS REPORT OF DECEMBER 2025
RECEIVED AND FILE.
D. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE REPORT OF DECEMBER 2025
RECEIVED AND FILE.
E. BUDGET AMENDMENTS FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026
RECEIVED AND FILED.
F. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF JANUARY 13, 2026
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
6. CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION
A. PRESENTATION TO OUTGOING MAYOR DEBBY STEGURA & NOMINATION OF
NEW MAYOR
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN thanked and recognized MAYOR STEGURA by highlighting her many accomplishments as Mayor over the last year.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN presented MAYOR STEGURA with gifts including a commemorative photo book from her year as Mayor, and a mayoral gavel plaque.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN introduced those in attendance to make presentations to MAYOR STEGURA:
• Rohan Abraham, representative from Congressman Ted Lieu’s office • Edward Feves, representative from Senator Ben Allen’s office • Cody Bridge, representative from Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s office • Jennifer LaMarque, representative from Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office
• Ian May, representative from the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office • Mayor Seo, Mayor Pro Tem Perestam, and Council Member Bradley, Rancho Palos Verdes
• Mayor Dieringer, Rolling Hills
• Council Member Lozzi, Palos Verdes Estates (not present but remarks read aloud) • Palos Verdes Library District Board President, Jonathan Beutler and Trustees Rosa Kwon Easton and Beth Whittenbury
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District Board President Sara Deen • Los Angeles County Sheriff Captain Kimberly Guerrero
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Karin Conklin COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN indicated that recognition for MAYOR STEGURA was also received from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
MAYOR STEGURA thanked all the dignitaries, her fellow Council Members and City staff, and commented on her year as Mayor.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3
JANUARY 27, 2026
MAYOR STEGURA nominated COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN to serve as the City’s next Mayor.
FRANK ZERUNYAN APPOINTED MAYOR BY ACCLAMATION.
MAYOR ZERUNYAN provided a brief presentation on the history of the City of Rolling Hills Estates, including becoming the third in the City’s history to serve five terms as Mayor. *** :
At 8:44 p.m. MAYOR ZERUNYAN adjourned the meeting to a brief reception.
MAYOR ZERUNYAN called the meeting back to order at 9:00 p.m. ***
7. PUBLIC COMMENT/PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025
Recommendation: That the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills Estates receive and file Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025.
Senior Accountant Estrada provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), and introduced Senior Accountant Devin Feldhut from Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott, LLP who presented the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chamber, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
RECEIVED AND FILED ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025..
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan ABSENT: None
9. OLD BUSINESS
None.
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
None.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
A. 2026 POLICY DEVELOPMENT SESSION - SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4
JANUARY 27, 2026
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
RECEIVED AND FILED SUGGESTED DISCUSSION ITEMS, ADDING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION: MAYORAL ROTATION, AI UPDATE, CITY COUNCIL CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE, AND SB 707 COMPLIANCE.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan ABSENT: None
B. COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RE-APPOINTMENTS
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
REAPPOINTED THE CURRENT COMMISSION AND COMMITTEE
MEMBERS.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan ABSENT: None
C. CALIFORNIA CITIES 2026 CITY LEADERS SUMMIT - APRIL 22-24, SACRAMENTO CONSENSUS FOR ANY/ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ATTEND.
D. CJPIA ELECTED OFFICIALS SUMMIT APRIL 29-MAY 1, CHULA VISTA CONSENSUS FOR ANY/ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ATTEND.
E. CALIFORNIA CONTRACT CITIES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MUNICIPAL SEMINAR MAY 15-17, INDIAN WELLS
CONSENSUS FOR ANY/ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ATTEND.
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
MAYOR ZERUNYAN adjourned the meeting in memory of Jade C. Brownlee, Lomita Sheriff Station Clerk who passed away. The meeting was adjourned to Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of a regular meeting.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit, City Clerk Frank Zerunyan, Mayor