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MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Westlake Village, California January 12, 2022
CALL TO ORDER This regular meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Halpern on Wednesday,
January 12, 2022, at 6:32 p.m., at 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village, and via teleconference due to the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to
Government Code Section 54953(e).
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Halpern led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL: Present: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl, Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig,
Councilmember Mcsweeney
Absent: None
Also Present: City Manager de Geus, City Attorney Boga, Deputy City Clerk Kramer, Deputy City Manager
Eskandar, Associate Planner Sinkula, City Traffic
Engineer Wessel
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: City Manager de Geus noted a change to the agenda with the removal of Public Hearing No. 4 to be rescheduled to a date uncertain. Councilmember Honig moved to approve
the revised Agenda as presented. Councilmember
Mcsweeney seconded the motion which carried
unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Councilmember Mcsweeney moved to approve the Minutes of the December 1, 2021 Reorganization Meeting.
Councilmember Honig seconded the motion
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Honig, and Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Councilmember Davis
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed 4-yes and 1-
Abstain (Councilmember Davis).
Councilmember Honig moved to approve the Minutes of
the December 8, 2021 Study Session Meeting, December
8, 2021 Regular Session Meeting, and December 17,
2021 Special Session Meeting as presented.
Councilmember Davis seconded the motion.
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig, and
Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed unanimously.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/ None.
CEREMONIAL MATTERS:
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
COUNCIL RESPONSE:
STAFF COMMENTS:
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Christy Vines, President, ldeos Institute, reported on their January 5, 2022 National Day of Dialogue event attended by Mayor Halpern.
None.
City Manager de Geus reported that City Hall remains
closed to in-person visitors to keep the public and staff safe due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. The closure will be extended through January 21, 2022, at which time the conditions will be reassessed. Mr. de Geus stated that
City services are still in place and managed remotely. City Manager de Geus commended and extended a farewell to
Community Services Coordinator Pineda who is
transitioning to the City of Ventura noting her last day is January 14, 2022. Mr. de Geus provided an update on the drought following the heavy rain received in the area. He stated that the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District did not end the drought emergency and reminded residents to continue to conserve water. City Manager de Geus
responded to Mayor Halpern regarding the reservoir's
percentage of capacity.
Mayor Halpern reported that he attended Congresswoman
Julia Brownley's January 6, 2022, virtual roundtable on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to discuss the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and noted that it is the largest federal investment in our nation's infrastructure in
decades. Mayor Halpern stated there will be opportunity for the City in areas such as broadband, transportation, and safety improvements.
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE None.
REPORTS:
January 12, 2022 2
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
NO. 21-008; RESOLUTION
NO. 2225-22
January 12, 2022
City Manager de Geus introduced the item for
consideration of a request to authorize the operation of a boutique baseball and softball training facility for children within three units (Nos. 602, 603, and 604) located at
31131 Via Colinas. Associate Planner Sinkula reported
that Josh and Molly Breckley, on behalf of Breckley's
Bullpen, requested approval to operate a training facility that proposes to offer three individual pitching and batting lanes for live hitting and pitching practice for private, oneon-one, and small group training classes of up to twelve children at a time. Mrs. Sinkula reported the proposed use is intended to be a private training facility for children who would like to improve their baseball and softball skills and is not intended to be a team training space. The Land Use Committee (Halpern/Pearl) reviewed the request on
December 1, 2021 and recommended that it move forward
to the City Council for public hearing.
Associate Planner Sinkula responded to City Council
questions regarding clarification on the number of people on site at any one time.
Josh Breckley, applicant, commented on the proposed
training facility and reasons for starting the business.
Public Comment: Austin Harrell, Westlake Village,
commercial real estate agent representing the Breckleys, commented on the service that will be provided to the
community through the proposed business.
Mayor Pro Tern Pearl moved that Resolution No. 2225-22, 'A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Westlake Village approving Conditional Use Permit No. 21-008,
relative to the operation of a boutique baseball and softball training facility located at 31131 Via Colinas, Suites Nos. 602, 603, and 604' be adopted. Councilmember
Mcsweeney seconded the motion.
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig, and
Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed unanimously.
3 OAK TREE PERMIT NO. 21- City Manager de Geus introduced the item for 008; RESOLUTION NO. consideration of a request to prune one coast live oak tree 2226-22 located at 31552 Foxfield Drive.
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
PERMIT NO. 21-006;
RESOLUTION NO. 2227-22
January 12, 2022
Associate Planner Sinkula provided background of the
request where certified arborist, Christy Cuba, identified one protected coast live oak tree located in the rear yard of a residential property within the Westlake Trails
neighborhood. The oak tree report provided a
determination that the tree is exhibiting signs of limited root rot disease progression into the trunk and decay
within an old topping cut. The oak tree report
recommended reducing the weight of the canopy to safely maintain the tree. The Land Use Committee
(Halpern/Pearl) reviewed the request on December 1,
2021 and recommended the request move forward to the
City Council for public hearing.
Mrs. Sinkula responded to City Council questions and
clarified that there were four oak trees on the property and that only tree number three was being discussed.
Councilmember Honig moved that Resolution No. 2226-22,
'A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Westlake Village approving Oak Tree Permit No. 21-008 to authorize the pruning of one protected coast live oak tree located at 31552 Foxfield Drive' be adopted. Councilmember
Mcsweeney seconded the motion.
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig, and
Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed unanimously.
Planning Director Forbes presented a request to authorize the construction of an outdoor amenity and activity space for use by students at Oaks Christian School, 31255
Cedarvalley Drive, located in the North Business Park
Specific Plan (NBPSP) area. Mr. Forbes provided
background of the proposed project stating the proposed outdoor space, formerly a parking lot, would be screened by a 10-foot landscaped wall located along the front and side property lines. The proposed space would include
amenities such as shaded outdoor study areas, water
4 January 12, 2022
features, an outdoor kitchen with a barbeque and eating areas, and a sports court.
Mr. Forbes noted the applicant requested exceptions to
two development standards related to setbacks and height of the wall:
1. Front and side yard setbacks - Required:
minimum 10-feet. Requested: No setbacks for wall.
Purpose: Zero setback requested to maximize use
of outdoor space; landscaping will provide
appearance of setback.
2. Maximum wall height- Required: maximum 42
inches within front setback; maximum six-feet
elsewhere. Requested: 10 feet.
Purpose: 10-foot wall requested to provide student
privacy and security.
Planning Director Forbes explained that the NBPSP
allows exceptions to be granted through the Planned
Development Permit (PDP) process rather than a
variance.
Planning Director Forbes provided an overview of the wall and the extensive landscaping proposed for the screening of the wall. Mr. Forbes explained that there is no sidewalk, the entire area is landscaped, and the wall would be fully covered with vegetation.
On December 1, 2021, the application was reviewed by
the Land Use Committee (Halpern/Pearl) and
recommended it move forward to the City Council.
Mike Parkinson, applicant, and Planning Director Forbes responded to City Council questions regarding: 1. Gate
material, and 2. Dormitory building occupancy.
Councilmembers commented on Oaks Christian's
responsiveness, willingness to compromise, provisions of landscaping, and gate design.
Councilmember Davis moved for adoption of Resolution
No. 2227-22, titled 'A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Westlake Village Approving Planned Development
Permit No. 21-006 Authorizing Construction of an Outdoor Amenity and Activity Space at 31255 Cedarvalley Drive.
Councilmember Honig seconded the motion.
5 CONSENT CALENDAR:
January 12, 2022
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig, and
Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Mcsweeney moved to approve the
Consent Calendar. Councilmember Honig seconded the
motion.
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig, and
Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: Warrants effective
December 15, 2021 in the amount of $531,418.22, and
January 1, 2022 in the amount of $204,887.59.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. Second Reading of Ordinance Approving Zoning
and Subdivision Standards in Single-Family
Residential Zones Related to Senate Bill 9;
Ordinance No. 289-21 - Recommendation was to
adopt Ordinance No. 289-21 titled 'An Ordinance of
the City of Westlake Village Amending Articles 9
and 10 of the Westlake Village Municipal Code
Pertaining to Single-Family Residential Zoning and
Subdivision Standards.'
2. Amendment to Professional Services Agreement
with R3 Consulting Group, Inc. for Assistance with
Solid Waste Hauler Agreement and Ordinance -
Recommendation was to approve an amendment
to the Professional Services Agreement with R3
Consulting Group, Inc. dated August 3, 2021, to
increase the contract amount to $40,000 and
extend the expiration date to June 30, 2023, and
6 OLD BUSINESS:
APPROVAL OF THE
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
STUDY FINAL REPORT
January 12, 2022
that the City Manager be authorized to execute the
amendment.
3. Approval of Resolution No. 2229-22 Authorizing
Progress Payments to Las Virgenes Municipal
Water District - Recommendation was to adopt the
attached resolution authorizing progress payments
to Las Virgenes Municipal Water District that
exceed the City's current warrant payment limit.
4. Supplemental Findings for 2021-2029 General Plan
Housing Element: Resolution No. 2230-22 -
Recommendation was to adopt Resolution No.
2230-22 titled 'A Resolution of the City Council of
the City of Westlake.Village Making Supplemental
Findings for the 2021-2029 Housing Element'.
5. Award of Contract to RRM Design Group for
Design of Westlake Village Community Park
Pickleball Courts - Recommendation was to
approve a Professional Services Agreement with
RRM Design Group for the design of pickleball
courts at Westlake Village Community Park.
City Manager de Geus introduced the item and provided a historical perspective of the citywide pedestrian safety study report and the recommendations. He thanked the
Public Safety Advisory Board for their time commitment, perspectives, and efforts throughout the process. He also thanked City Traffic Engineer Mark Wessel for his project management work. Mr. de Geus noted that the Pedestrian
Safety Study will serve as a reference document to the
City Council and staff as annual goals, budgets, and
capital improvement plans are developed.
City Traffic Engineer Wessel presented a short summary
of the Citywide Pedestrian Safety Study Final Report. Mr.
Wessel reviewed the Recommendations Summary
identifying the priority under each major toolbox category:
1. Education - Pedestrian Education,
2. Engineering - Building Sidewalks, and
3. Enforcement - Speed, Yielding, Distraction, and
DUI.
7 7 ASSEMBLY BILL (AB) 361
FINDINGS FOR SPECIAL
BROWN ACT
REQUIREMENTS FOR
TELECONFERENCE
MEETINGS
January 12, 2022
Mr. Wessel concluded that final decisions will be made
during the upcoming goals meeting and budget process.
Councilmember Honig moved to approve the Pedestrian
Safety Study Final Report as presented. Mayor Pro Tern
Pearl seconded the motion.
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig, and
Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed unanimously.
City Manager de Geus introduced the item and provided
an overview of Assembly Bill (AB) 361 addressing findings that must be made for the City to continue teleconference meetings pursuant to special Brown Act requirements.
Staff's recommendation was that the City Council make
the AB 361 findings so that the City will continue to have greater flexibility to conduct teleconference meetings
during the COVID-19 state of emergency.
Mr. de Geus stated that on December 8, 2021, the City
Council discussed returning to in-person meetings at
which time it was the consensus of the City Council to
continue with teleconference meetings for the January 12, 2022 meeting and evaluate conditions further. With the
high rate of COVID-19 infections in Los Angeles County, staff recommended that the City Council continue to use the teleconference option for City Council meetings
through February 9, 2022, and at that time, discuss a
timeline for returning to in-person meetings.
Mayor Pro Tern Pearl moved that the City Council make
the following findings so that teleconference meetings of the City Council and the City's committees can continue to be conducted pursuant to the AB 361 special Brown Act
requirements: (1) the City Council has reconsidered the circumstances of the COVID-19 state of emergency; and
(2) state and local officials continue to recommend
measures to promote social distancing. Councilmember
Mcsweeney seconded the motion.
8 NEW BUSINESS:
ADJOURNMENT:
Attest:
January 12, 2022
YES: Mayor Halpern, Mayor Pro Tern Pearl,
Councilmember Davis, Councilmember Honig, and
Councilmember Mcsweeney.
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed unanimously.
None.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.
On behalf of the City Council and staff, Mayor Halpern
thanked Community Services Coordinator Taylor Pineda
for her service and wished her all the best and good luck in her future role.
Brad Halpern, Mayor
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