CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
MAY 26, 2026
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 26, 2026
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Led by MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura City Council Members Absent: Zerunyan
City Staff Present: Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Assistant City Attorney Steve McEwen
Comm. Dev/PW Director Jeannie Naughton
Public Works Manager Kirsten Graham
Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Slawson
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING MAY 31, 2026 "WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY" MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER proclaimed May 31, 2026 as “World No Tobacco Day.”
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 STEGURA, TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 5A-E AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura
ABSENT: Zerunyan
A. READING OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
APPROVED.
B. DEMANDS AND WARRANTS OF MAY 2026
APPROVED WARRANTS 69618 THROUGH 69707 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$209,523.20; AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 050126 THROUGH
050626; IN THE AMOUNT OF $247,038.82 FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $456,562.02 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
C. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS REPORT OF APRIL 2026
RECEIVED AND FILED.
D. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE REPORT OF APRIL 2026
RECEIVED AND FILED.
E. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MAY 12, 2026
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 2
MAY 26, 2026
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
A. WASTE MANAGEMENT "RECYCLING HERO" QUARTERLY DRAWING FOR ONE
YEAR OF FREE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REFUSE SERVICE
Waste Management Public Sector Services Manager Erick Quintero announced the following quarterly drawing winners:
COMMERCIAL: Hilltop House Country Preschool
RESIDENTIAL: 64 Misty Acres Road
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. WASTE MANAGEMENT REQUEST FOR RATE ADJUSTMENTS
Recommendation: That the City Council approve Waste Management’s request for a rate adjustment on all levels of service as included in the attached FY 2026-27 Collection Service Rate Schedule, effective July 1, 2026.
Assistant City Manager Davis provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Assistant City Manager Davis reported that the current horse manure disposal contract is set to expire in 2029 but that a request for negotiation has been received, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA. She further indicated that staff expects to return on June 23, 2026, to establish an ad hoc committee to review negotiation strategies and consider whether to pursue a Request for Proposals (RFP).
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ noted that the subcommittee did not meet regarding the proposed rate increase because the franchise agreement already authorizes annual rate adjustments using an established methodology, and the proposed increase is consistent with those provisions.
In response to COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, Assistant City Manager Davis clarified that annual CPI-based rate adjustments apply to all waste collection services, including manure collection, while the proposed extraordinary rate increase does not. She further confirmed that residential customers do not subsidize manure collection services.
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:
APPROVE WASTE MANAGEMENT’S REQUEST FOR A RATE
ADJUSTMENT ON ALL LEVELS OF SERVICE AS INCLUDED IN THE
ATTACHED FY 2026-27 COLLECTION SERVICE RATE SCHEDULE,
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura
ABSENT: Zerunyan
B. SECOND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH WEST COAST ARBORISTS (WCA)
FOR TREE MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the Second Amendment to the Agreement for Tree Maintenance Services with West Coast Arborists, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney, and authorize the City Manager to execute CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3
MAY 26, 2026
the amendment in an amount not to exceed $212,283 for street maintenance and grid pruning program.
Assistant City Manager Davis 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 STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT FOR TREE
MAINTENANCE SERVICES WITH WEST COAST ARBORISTS, SUBJECT TO
APPROVAL AS TO FORM BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND AUTHORIZE THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AMENDMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $212,283 FOR STREET MAINTENANCE AND GRID PRUNING PROGRAM.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura
ABSENT: Zerunyan
C. REQUEST TO ENTER INTO AN AMENDED “MEASURE M FUNDING AGREEMENT MULTI-YEAR SUB REGIONAL PROGRAM” WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) FOR THE ROLLING
HILLS ROAD MULTI-MODAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Recommendation: That the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the Measure M Funding Agreement (Amendment No. 1) Multi-Year Sub Regional Program, with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), in the grand total amount of $4,698,650.
Public Works Manager Graham provided a staff report (as per the agenda material).
Community Development & Public Works Director Naughton explained that the project schedule was adjusted in coordination with Metro to avoid overlapping three major capital improvement projects, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA. She further explained that the project is now planned for Fiscal Year 2027–28, when the George F Canyon Nature Center project is expected to be complete and work at the Dapplegray School intersection is anticipated to have minimal traffic impacts.
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 STEGURA, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MEASURE M FUNDING AGREEMENT (AMENDMENT NO. 1) MULTI-YEAR
SUB REGIONAL PROGRAM, WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA), IN THE
GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $4,698,650.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura
ABSENT: Zerunyan
9. OLD BUSINESS
None.
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
None.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4
MAY 26, 2026
11. CITY COUNCIL / REGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA attended and reported out on the South Bay Regional Housing Trust’s first meetings in April and May, which focused on establishing organizational policies and advancing affordable housing efforts. The Board approved bylaws, appointed interim management and legal counsel, and selected Rolling Hills Estates Council Member Stegura as Chair and Torrance Council Member John Kaji as Vice Chair. COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA stated that Senator Ben Allen discussed SB 799 and its potential impact on housing trust funding. At its most recent meeting, the Trust approved its first project loan—a $6 million soft loan for the 93-unit Cordray Apartments affordable housing project in Hawthorne, with most units reserved for households earning below 30% of area median income. The Board also selected Malaga Bank for operating funds and continued developing accounting and procurement procedures, marking significant early progress for the newly formed Trust.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF attended the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Peninsula last Thursday with City Manager Grammer, in which MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER was a panelist.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER was also on a panel on Tuesday for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Association of Realtors’ Annual Mayor’s Breakfast.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA will be attending Thursday South Bay Cities Council of Governments Board meeting.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER noted that MAYOR ZERUNYAN attended the Los Angeles County Sanitation District Board meeting last week.
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
14. ADJOURNMENT
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m. to Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of a Budget Study Session.
Submitted by, Approved by,
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Lauren Pettit, City Clerk Pam Brown Schachter, Mayor Pro Tem