CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
MAY 12, 2026
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 12, 2026
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by Lomita Sheriff Station Captain Guerrero.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz City Council Members Absent: Stegura, Zerunyan
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
City Attorney Donald M. Davis
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Public Works Manager Kirsten Graham
Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Slawson
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 2026 "MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH"
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER proclaimed May 2026 as “Mental Health Awareness Month,” and presented the Proclamation to Beach Cities Health District Board President Jane Diehl.
B. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 2026 "MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH"
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER proclaimed May 2026 as “Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month.” COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ spoke personally about the importance of Maternal Mental Health and resources available.
C. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 16, 2026 "NATIONAL KIDS TO PARKS DAY" MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER proclaimed May 16, 2026 as “National Kids to Parks Day.” D. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 11-16, 2026 "NATIONAL POLICE WEEK" MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER proclaimed May 11-16, 2026 as “National Police Week,” and presented the proclamation to LASD Captain Guerrero. She also noted that COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA is currently in Washington, D.C. for National Police Week, where her niece, Oklahoma City Sergeant Meagan Burke, is being honored with the addition of her name to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall.
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 COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5A-G AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz
ABSENT: Stegura, Zerunyan
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 2
MAY 12, 2026
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
APPROVED.
B. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF MAY 4, 2026
RECEIVED AND FILED.
C. CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED JOINT MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 28, 2026 REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
D. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF APRIL 28, 2026
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
E. PARK & ACTIVITIES COMMISSION ADJOURNED MINUTES OF APRIL 21, 2026 RECEIVED AND FILED.
F. SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS' APRIL BOARD MEETING
HIGHLIGHTS
RECEIVED AND FILED.
G. RESOLUTION NO. 2622 - AUTHORIZING RECEIPT OF PROPOSITION C LOCAL
RETURN FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS FOR TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2622, AUTHORIZING RECEIPT OF
PROPOSITION C LOCAL RETURN FUNDS FROM THE CITY OF ROLLING
HILLS FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE PROPOSITION C FUNDS ASSIGNMENT
AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS.
City Clerk Pettit read Resolution No. 2622 by title.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
Public comment was received by resident William Garrett, who asked the City Council to consider updating the municipal regarding beekeeping.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. AWARD OF PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACT TO SEQUEL CONTRACTORS, INC., FOR
INTERSECTION CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS AT PALOS VERDES DRIVE NORTH
AND DAPPLEGRAY SCHOOL ENTRANCE
Recommendation: That the City Council: 1) Accept the bid from Sequel Contractors Inc. in the amount of $6,341,282.50, plus a 10% contingency ($634,128.25) for a grand total of $6,975,410.75; and 2) Direct the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney to execute a Public Works Contract between the City of Rolling Hills Estates and Sequel Contractors Inc., all to the satisfaction of the City Attorney.
Public Works Manager Graham provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ inquired about the inactive City of South Gate reference phone number; Public Work Manager Graham noted that another number was used and a new CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3
MAY 12, 2026
reference was provided, but no response has been received yet due to the shortened bid analysis timeline.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ also inquired about prior asphalt compaction test issues.
Public Works Manager Graham said the issue was reviewed with Willdan, the failed patch was corrected to meet standards, the contractor communicated well, and expectations have since been reinforced.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ asked whether there was concern that the lowest bidder may have underbid compared to the engineer’s estimate and American Asphalt’s higher proposal.
Public Works Manager Graham said the bidder was found responsive and responsible, with no indication of underbidding. She explained that the project’s complexity, particularly the retaining wall component, led to many contractor questions during bidding and likely contributed to price differences.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF inquired about project funding and whether resident concerns have been addressed. Staff said the project secured over $4 million in Measure M funds plus other transportation and mitigation funds, fully funding the project without using the General Fund.
Staff also said public concerns about aesthetics and traffic were addressed through public meetings, design updates, and traffic flow discussions before bidding proceeded.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chamber, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
1) ACCEPTED THE BID FROM SEQUEL CONTRACTORS INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,341,282.50, PLUS A 10% CONTINGENCY ($634,128.25) FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $6,975,410.75; AND 2) DIRECTED THE CITY
MANAGER, CITY CLERK AND CITY ATTORNEY TO EXECUTE A PUBLIC
WORKS CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ESTATES AND SEQUEL CONTRACTORS INC., ALL TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz
ABSENT: Stegura, Zerunyan
B. OPEN MEETING - BROWN ACT POLICY
Recommendation: That the City Council review the proposed Policy, suggest any revisions, and approve the Policy (as it may be revised).
City Attorney Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Staff explained how remote participation would work, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF.
Public comment was invited in-person in the Council Chamber, via email and via eComment.
No public testimony was received.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVED THE POLICY AS PRESENTED.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz
ABSENT: Stegura, Zerunyan
9. OLD BUSINESS
None.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4
MAY 12, 2026
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
None.
11. CITY COUNCIL / REGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF attended the City’s annual Mayor’s Breakfast Ride along with MAYOR ZERUNYAN, and MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER, and thanked staff, dignitaries and neighbors for attending.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF reported that MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER will participate as a panelist on May 21 at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Peninsula Breakfast. MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER added that she will also participate as a panelist at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Association of Realtors’ Annual Mayor’s Breakfast panel on May 19.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER will also attend the Los Angeles County Sanitation District Board meeting on May 20.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
None.
13. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-EXISTING LITIGATION
Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)
Name of case: Zee, et al. v. City of Rolling Hills Estates, et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No.: 24STCV22092 (Lead Action)
NO REPORTABLE ACTION.
14. ADJOURNMENT
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m. to Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of a regular City Council meeting.
Submitted by, Approved by,
_____
Lauren Pettit, City Clerk Pam Brown Schachter, Mayor Pro Tem