OF WESTLAKE UILRO
CITy
BRAD HALPERN RAY PEARL JED E DAVI KELLY HONIG SUSAN MOSWEENEY Mayor Mayor Pro Tem ouncumembe Councilmember Councilmember
MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the City Council
April 13, 2022
CALL TO ORDER:
This Regular Meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Halpern on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 6:30 p.m., at 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Halpern led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
ABSENT: None
Also Present: City Manager de Geus, City Attorney Boga, Deputy City Manager Eskandar, Administrative Services Director Wilson, Planning Director Forbes, City Clerk Mann, City Engineer Hughes, Senior Planner Sinkula and Administrative Assistant Olkes.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilmember Davis moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Councilmember McSweeney seconded the motion.
YES: Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed 5-0.
City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village April 13, 2022 2
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Councilmember McSweeney moved to approve the Minutes of March 23, 2022 Study Session and the March 23, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting. Councilmember Davis seconded the motion.
YES: Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed 5-0.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/CEREMONIAL MATTERS:
1. Presentation - Employee 5-Year Anniversary Recognitions:
The City Council recognized the 5-year anniversary of service to the City of Westlake Village for Philippe Eskandar, Deputy City Manager (March 13, 2017 - March 13, 2022).
Mayor Halpern shared that Philippe's best moment in Westlake Village was helping the first family to move back into Oak Forest after the Woolsey fire.
Philippe began as an Administrative Analyst, and in the last three years was promoted to Assistant to the City Manager and then to Deputy City Manager. Philippe consistently steps up to manage special projects and supports the City wherever there is a need.
Mayor Halpern thanked Philippe for his service to our residents and for being a loyal employee and presented a 5-year anniversary pin and plaque to Philippe.
Philippe thanked the Mayor and City Councilmembers and stated that he has had the pleasure of working for four cities and Westlake Village is truly a special place. If you had to ask me what makes this place special, every single person that lives in this community really is amazing and I love what we do. You have heard me say we are a 12- or 13- person team, we punch above our weight class, and we really do. You are amazing to work for and I love this place and I hope that I can continue to serve this community.
Being a public servant here really is something special.
The City Council recognized the 5-year anniversary of service to the City of Westlake Village for Elyse Olkes, Administrative Assistant II (April 24, 2017 - April 24, 2022). Mayor Halpern shared that Elyse's best moment in Westlake Village is City Celebration and July 4th Celebration because everyone comes out and is happy with all of the hard work of the City, and for the friendships made during her years of service.
Elyse assists residents when they call and come into City Hall, being patient and listening while assisting in a caring and passionate manner. Elyse also assists her co-workers by providing administrative support services.
City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village April 13, 2022 3
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/CEREMONIAL MATTERS (continued):
Mayor Halpern thanked Elyse for her service to our residents and for being a loyal employee and presented a 5-year anniversary pin and plaque to Elyse.
2. Proclamation - DMV/Donate Life California Month - April 2022 Mayor Halpern welcomed Jamie Alcroft to the podium and proclaimed April 2022 as DMV/Donate Life California Month, encouraging all residents and Californians to become organ donors simply by checking "YES" when applying for or renewing their driver's license or I.D. card at the DMV.
Mayor Halpern presented the April 2022 - DMV/Donate Life California Month proclamation to Jamie Alcroft, International Ambassador for One Legacy.org. Mrs. Alcroft discussed the importance of organ donors and encouraged all residents to become organ donors.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
COUNCIL RESPONSE: None
STAFF COMMENTS:
City Manager de Geus thanked City Council for recognizing Deputy City Manager Philippe Eskandar and Administrative Assistant Elyse Olkes this evening. Mr. de Geus stated that our staff are such a hard-working group and that he is very proud to work with each of them, and he thanked the Council for taking the time to recognize Mr. Eskandar and Ms.
Olkes for their 5 years of service.
This year, we started off by focusing the first quarter on recruitment to fill three vacancies.
The entire Community Services Department, which is two staff, has been vacant and one Administrative Analyst position has been vacant. Three individuals to fill the vacancies have been selected and by May the new staff will join the City of Westlake Village. Mr. de Geus stated that he looks forward to introducing the new staff members to City Council and the community as they join the team.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Councilmember Honig congratulated Deputy City Manager Philippe Eskandar and Administrative Assistant Elyse Olkes on their 5-year anniversaries. Councilmember Honig stated that she is an organ donor and encouraged residents to become organ donors.
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE REPORT
City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village April 13, 2022 4
City Manager de Geus introduced items reviewed at the March 15, 2022 and March 30, 2022 Environmental Committee meetings. Tonight, staff is providing updates on two primary projects and the Reserve Study. The projects include the plans for the Community Park Pickleball Courts and the Westlake Village Dog Park alternatives to the natural turf. Staff is seeking direction on proceeding with the designs only for these two projects. Staff is not seeking approval for construction or a commitment to budget for construction at this time. The design costs for the Pickleball Courts are budgeted in the current Capital Improvement Program. The evaluation for alternatives at the Dog Park for the current ground covering can be absorbed into the park's maintenance budget.
On April 27, 2022, City Council will conduct a Study Session on Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) where City Council can further discuss the projects highlighted tonight, in addition to the other projects and priorities for the next fiscal year and our five-year CIP plan.
This evening, staff is requesting direction on proceeding with design, to allow staff to present to City Council to information on the construction costs, ongoing maintenance costs, aesthetics, and other factors before City Council commits to any possible further investment on these two projects.
City Engineer Hughes reported highlights from the March 15, 2022 and March 30, 2022 Environmental Committee meetings. On the Reserve Study, the asset data base, IRIS, is now populated with 7,940 assets inventoried into four categories (Building-1,039 assets; Parks and Parkway-2,063 assets; Roadway-4,460 assets, and Storm Drainage-378 assets) with 89% of our assets in good to excellent condition. Kayuga Solution Inc. developed a 25-year planning horizon based on current programmed parameters and projected the need for $3.6 million annually allocated for ongoing asset management and maintenance. Kayuga Solution Inc. will present a report on this study at the April 27, 2022 Study Session.
As the projects are discussed, staff is only seeking input on the design and evaluation phase of the two projects for this fiscal year. The construction will be discussed at the April 27, 2022 Study Session.
Community Park Pickleball Courts, the original concept location was found to be infeasible due utility boxes that cannot be relocated without significant time and expense. An adjacent location was determined for four courts, resulting in a net loss of 15 parking spaces, adding a landscaped area with tables and a shade structure. The landscape area will also provide a required water quality treatment area.
Staff requested City Council concurrence on the preferred layout concept to allow for the design concept to proceed which will include further analysis of the parking impacts and commencement of 65% preliminary design drawings, specifications, and construction cost estimates.
City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village April 13, 2022 5
Council discussion included confirmation that the courts orientations are North and South, suggested earth friendly tones for the courts, confirmation on the dollar amount budgeted costs for the design ($50,000), drinking fountain location, and water quality treatment mandates to capture water runoff.
The Dog Park natural turf is not sustainable with the current use and size. With the current drought, we may soon be unable to water turf without fines/penalties.
We need to select an alternative ground surface for the natural turf. Staff will be contracting with a landscape architect Lacey Winters to develop a list of alternative ground cover options. After the concepts are designed, public outreach conducted, and budget information developed the data will be presented to the Environmental Committee for consideration. The Environmental Committee recommendations will then come to City Council for consideration with design and construction in FY 2022-23.
Staff requested City Council concurrence to proceed with design concepts to evaluate ground cover alternatives.
City Council discussion included if the proposed consultant has dog park design experience, questions about gravel and decomposed granite on slopes, artificial turf, finding a sustainable solution and not a temporary solution, and whether ground covering in small versus large dog areas of the park could be different.
Staff confirmed that they will evaluate all possible alternates for ground covering, listing the pros and cons for each.
Councilmember Honig moved for staff to proceed with the design of the pickleball courts as presented and commence the process to evaluate ground cover alternatives for the Westlake Village Dog Park as outlined by staff. Councilmember Davis seconded the motion.
YES: Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village April 13, 2022 6
CONSENT CALENDAR:
Councilmember Davis moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Councilmember McSweeney seconded the motion.
YES: Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed 5-0.
APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: Warrants effective April 1, 2022 in the amount of $533,875.95 and April 15, 2022 in the amount of $395,820.60.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. ASSEMBLY BILL 361 FINDINGS FOR SPECIAL BROWN ACT
REQUIREMENTS FOR TELECONFERENCE MEETINGS - Made 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:
the City Council has reconsidered the circumstances of the COVID-19 state of emergency; and state and local officials continue to recommend measures to promote social distancing.
2. 2021 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT - City Council received and filed the 2021 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
3. ORDINANCE SECOND READING: ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE 291-22 - City Council waived the second reading in full and adopted Ordinance No. 291-22 titled 'An Ordinance of the City of Westlake Village Regarding Solid Waste Management Chapter 5.3 and Amending the Westlake Village Municipal Code'.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 ASSESSMENTS FOR LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT DISTRICTS: RESOLUTION NOS. 2244-22 THROUGH 2252-22 City Manager de Geus introduced the item and City Engineer Hughes stated that annually the City Council must review and levy assessments against all assessable parcels within the three districts for installation, operation and maintenance of certain street landscaping and street lighting improvements.
City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village April 13, 2022 7
NEW BUSINESS (continued):
Resolutions that initiate the proceedings for the levy and collection of funds, approve the Engineers Reports and set the public hearings for April 27, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. for the Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 1 and Landscape Maintenance Assessments Districts No. 1 and 15 were presented to City Council.
Ms. Hughes stated all levies will remain the same, no increases are being recommended. The Lighting Maintenance Assessment District No. 1 will decrease this year due to the capital outlay of $300,000 for traffic signal pole and equipment painting. Additionally, the pedestrian hybrid beacon at Triunfo Canyon Road at Saddle Mountain Road was built and ongoing maintenance utilizing the Lighting Maintenance Assessment District funds. In the Landscape Assessment Districts, expenditures continue to exceed assessment revenues. Equivalent dwelling units have remained unchanged for many years. With the ongoing increasing expenditures, it may be necessary to consider in the future raising the assessments or reducing levels of services as the utility costs to provide these services continue to increase.
City Council discussion on if any districts are paying for their services and how for years the general fund has been subsidizing services.
Councilmember Davis moved that the City Council adopt Resolution Nos. 2244-22 through 2252-22 initiating proceedings for the Levy and Collection of Assessments for the Districts for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, that the Engineer Reports for the Districts are Approved, and a Public Hearing of protests of the Districts be held at the April 27, 2022 City Council meeting; and that staff be directed to give notice of the Public Hearing. Mayor Pro Tem Pearl seconded the motion.
YES: Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
Ba deep
Brad Halpern, Mayor
Attest:
Cave Krame for
Antoinette Mann, City Clerk