CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
JUNE 9, 2026
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 9, 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: City Manager Greg Grammer
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Assistant City Attorney Steve McEwen
Comm. Dev/PW Director Jeannie Naughton
Public Works Manager Kirsten Graham
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Community Services Supervisor Rosa Pinuelas
Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Slawson
Community Services Coordinator Matt Morrow
4. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
A. PROCLAMATION: DECLARING JUNE 2026 "LGBTQIA+ PRIDE MONTH" MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER proclaimed June 2026 as “LGBTQIA+ 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 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 69708 THROUGH 69768 IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,399,098.36; AND SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTS 060126 THROUGH 060326; IN THE AMOUNT OF $145,413.46 FOR A GRAND TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,544,511.82 WITH PROPER AUDIT.
C. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF MAY 26, 2026
REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
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JUNE 9, 2026
D. PARK & ACTIVITIES COMMISSION ADJOURNED MINUTES OF MAY 20, 2026 RECEIVED AND FILED.
E. EQUESTRIAN COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MAY 11, 2026
RECEIVED AND FILED.
F. PALOS VERDES PENINSULA PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL
CONTRACT LAW COMMITTEE MINUTES
RECEIVED AND FILED.
G. SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS' MAY BOARD MEETING
HIGHLIGHTS
RECEIVED AND FILED.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
None.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. RESOLUTION NO. 2623 - SUMMARY VACATION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC SERVICE EASEMENTS LOCATED AT 4741 SUGARHILL DRIVE
Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2623, ordering the summary vacation of certain public service easements located at 4741 Sugarhill Drive.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA recused herself, as she lives within 500 feet of the subject property.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ, TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
Community Development & Public Works 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 SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2623, ORDERING THE SUMMARY VACATION OF CERTAIN PUBLIC SERVICE EASEMENTS LOCATED AT 4741 SUGARHILL DRIVE.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz
ABSENT: Zerunyan
RECUSE: Stegura
City Clerk Pettit read Resolution No. 2623 by title.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. COMMUNITY SERVICES FEE STUDY UPDATE AND PROPOSED FEES CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3
JUNE 9, 2026
Recommendation: That the City Council review the Community Services Cost of Service (User Fee) Study and approve the proposed Community Services User Fees to be included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Fees and Charges Schedule.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas provided a staff report (as per the agenda material), and introduced Matrix Consulting Group Vice President Khushboo Ingle to provide a presentation, presenting the results of the City’s Parks and Recreation Fee Study, which evaluated the true cost of providing recreation, special event, tennis, and equestrian services.
The study found that the City currently recovers about 26% of service costs through fees, resulting in an annual subsidy of approximately $630,000, which is consistent with industry standards for community services. The consultant explained that fee-setting should balance individual and community benefits, with programs that provide broader public benefits generally receiving greater subsidies. The study provides baseline cost information to support future policy decisions and recommends periodic fee adjustments and reevaluation every five to seven years to maintain fiscal sustainability.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas explained that the purpose of the discussion was to obtain City Council policy direction on cost recovery levels and proposed fees for Community Services programs, while noting that no action was being requested on equestrian fees because those are still under review by the Equestrian Committee and its subcommittee. Staff emphasized that the discussion was not simply about increasing fees, but about ensuring fee structures align with the City’s goals of accessibility, affordability, equity, sustainability, and responsible use of public resources. Consistent with the City’s existing cost recovery policy, staff and the Park & Activities Commission recommended a partial cost recovery approach, recognizing that many recreation programs provide broader community benefits and therefore warrant continued City subsidy. The proposed fee adjustments aim to maintain community access and affordability while improving consistency, equity, and the long-term sustainability of Community Services operations.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas presented recommendations to maintain current individual tennis membership fees, increase family membership fees to better align with cost recovery goals, create a new couples membership category, retain the existing 10% resident/non-resident fee differential, and conduct fee reviews every three years instead of every five years.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF asked whether the proposed fees were recommendations from the Park & Activities Commission. Staff confirmed that the Commission reviewed the item twice and recommended the proposed fees at its most recent meeting.
Staff responded that the 10% differential between resident/non-resident fees has been in place for at least the past ten years, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER questioned the difference in dollar amounts between resident and non-resident family memberships and the newly proposed couples memberships.
Staff clarified that the couples categories were new and that the non-resident fees reflected the same 10% differential.
Following discussion, Council expressed general consensus to move forward with the proposed tennis membership fee structure and proceeded to the next service area.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas presented recommendations for tennis and pickleball court and program fees, noting that the current fees are already achieving between 83% and 108% cost recovery. As a result, staff recommended maintaining the existing fee structure, including the resident/non-resident differential, while implementing fee reviews every three years rather than every five years. Staff also recommended modest increases to league court rental fees, increasing Marine League rates from $8 to $10 per hour and USTA League rates from $9 to $11 per hour, while keeping school league use fees at $12 per hour. The goal of the recommendations was to preserve affordability, maintain resident priority, and support long-term financial sustainability.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ asked whether the different fee increases for Marine League and USTA League were based on when they use the courts. Staff explained that Marine League primarily uses courts on weekdays and USTA on weekends, and the proposed rates CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 4
JUNE 9, 2026
were being aligned with the corresponding member court rental rates. Staff also noted that school leagues do not purchase memberships, so their rates are aligned with non-member fees.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas explained that the analysis was based on the City's existing court rental rates rather than league-specific comparisons and that comparable league rate data from other jurisdictions was not available, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ noted that the comparative fee data in the report showed the City's proposed rates would be higher than Hermosa Beach, lower than Manhattan Beach, and not directly comparable to several other cities. She also noted that Marine League players pay significantly more to play in Manhattan Beach.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER asked whether the school league use category referred to Chadwick School and whether the City currently charges those users. Staff confirmed that Chadwick falls within that category and that the City has been charging the $12-per-hour fee for many years.
Following discussion, Council expressed general consensus to move forward with the recommendations for tennis and pickleball court and program fees.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas presented proposed increases to sports field rental fees, noting that sports fields are among the City's most heavily subsidized services, with current fees of $17–$34 per hour compared to an estimated service cost of $161 per hour. Staff recommended increasing resident fees from $17 to $25 per hour and nonresident fees from $34 to $42 per hour, while maintaining the existing non-resident differential and replacing the annual 2% fee increase with CPI-based adjustments. Staff also noted that youth sports league fees would continue to be addressed separately through agreements.
Staff explained that the fees apply to groups such as contract instructors and other approved users, including organizations like the Realtors Association, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ asked whether an individual could rent a field for personal use, and staff clarified that rentals are allowed if they comply with the City's sports field policy and are not for prohibited uses such as club team practices or commercial activities.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER commented that the current cost recovery level appeared very low and that the proposed increase was reasonable.
Council expressed consensus to move forward with the sports field and rental fees recommendation.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas presented proposed changes to park permit fees, recommending a new hourly, area-based fee structure to better reflect park usage, event size, duration, and impacts on park facilities. The proposal would replace the current flat-fee system, establish resident and non-resident rates, add a vendor fee for activities such as bubble soccer, Nerf parties, and face painting, and implement annual CPI-based adjustments. Staff explained that the changes would provide a more equitable approach by charging based on the amount of park space and time reserved.
Mayor Pro Tem SCHACHTER asked how staff would monitor and enforce designated park use areas under the new system. Staff explained that recreation staff and tennis center staff would oversee reservations, use signage to designate reserved areas, and coordinate on-site management.
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA questioned the proposed vendor fee, noting that vendors already must obtain business licenses and insurance and that park permit fees already account for wear and tear. She remained opposed to the vendor fee throughout the discussion.
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JUNE 9, 2026
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF asked for clarification on the differences between the proposed rates for the picnic area and Grass Bowl area, and staff explained that the rates were based on the size and use of the reserved areas.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ asked why the six-hour reservation limit was established and whether the proposed area pricing was based on space size. Staff explained that the six-hour limit was adopted to prevent large groups from monopolizing the park all day and to allow broader public access, and confirmed that the proposed fees were based on the size and impacts of the reserved areas.
Discussion ensued regarding the vendor fee, discussing additional staff time, park impacts, and exclusive use of public space. Consultant Ingle explained that vendor fees are commonly used where vendors are permitted in parks because they help recover additional administrative and staff costs associated with reviewing permits, insurance, and compliance requirements.
Ultimately, Council reached majority consensus to move forward with the proposed fee structure, including the vendor fee, with COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA dissenting.
Community Services Supervisor Pinuelas presented recommended increases to special event permit fees, noting that current fees recover only a small portion of actual costs. The proposal would maintain discounted rates for residents and Peninsula nonprofits, continue resident/non-resident distinctions, increase trail rental fees, establish a new Grass Bowl special event fee, prohibit for-profit events at Ernie Howlett Park, and implement annual CPI-based fee adjustments. Staff emphasized that full cost recovery was not recommended because special events provide significant community benefits.
Staff explained that nonprofit fundraising events would still be allowed, while commercial events intended primarily to generate private profit would not, in response to COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ. Staff further clarified that a for-profit business could still hold a company picnic or private gathering through the special event process.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF expressed concern about the size of the proposed fee increases for nonprofit events, noting that the increases seemed significant for community organizations.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER asked for examples of large events and about the rationale for the separate trail rental fee. Staff cited events such as 5K runs, the Food and Wine Festival, and the former Remember the Music Festival, explaining that large events can occupy park facilities for extended periods and create substantial impacts. Staff noted that the trail fee helps account for exclusive use of public trails during events.
There was a general consensus that the proposed fees remained reasonable given the low current cost recovery levels and the significant impacts large events can have on park facilities.
Council reached consensus to support the recommendations.
Staff reviewed fee categories that were not included in the fee study recommendations. Staff recommended removing inactive equipment rental fees from the City's fee schedule, except for temporary chain-link fence panel installation fees, because the equipment is no longer rented or is rarely requested. No changes were recommended to offsite recreation class fees, non-resident surcharges, or council chamber rental fees, as those fees were recently established or reviewed. Staff noted that Council Chamber fees would be revisited in the future alongside potential Nature Center meeting room rental fees to ensure consistency across City facilities.
Council expressed consensus to remove the inactive equipment rental fees and leave the remaining fees unchanged.
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 MAYOR PRO TEM
SCHACHTER, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
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JUNE 9, 2026
APPROVE THE PROPOSED COMMUNITY SERVICES USER FEES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 FEES AND CHARGES
SCHEDULE
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura
ABSENT: Zerunyan
B. RESOLUTION NO. 2624 - ADOPTING A PROJECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/27 TO BE FUNDED BY SB 1: THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 Recommendation: That the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2624, adopting a project for Fiscal Year 2026-27 to be partially funded by SB 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Community Development & Public Works 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 STEGURA moved, seconded by COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ, TO APPROVE AS FOLLOWS BY THE FOLLOWING ROLL CALL VOTE:
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2624, ADOPTING A PROJECT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 TO BE PARTIALLY FUNDED BY SB 1, THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017.
AYES: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura
ABSENT: Zerunyan
9. OLD BUSINESS
None.
10. CITY ATTORNEY ITEMS
None.
11. CITY COUNCIL / REGIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
COUNCIL MEMBER STEGURA attended the Clean Power Alliance Board meeting last week.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHMITZ attended the California Contract Cities Association’s Legislative Committee meeting last month.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF chaired the Cal Cities Los Angeles Division general membership meeting last Thursday.
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER reminded everyone that the Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s PV Street Fair & Music Festival will take place this weekend.
12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL ITEMS
A. AUTHORIZATION TO ATTEND THE CAL CITIES' ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXPO IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23 - 25, 2026
COUNCIL MEMBERS HUFF AND SCHMITZ PLAN TO ATTEND.
13. CLOSED SESSION
None.
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14. ADJOURNMENT
MAYOR PRO TEM SCHACHTER adjourned the meeting at 7:48 p.m. to Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of a regular City Council meeting.
Submitted by, Approved by,
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Lauren Pettit, City Clerk Pam Brown Schachter, Mayor Pro Tem