STOP NESTLAKE VICT
BRAD HALPERN RAY PEARL NED E DAVIS KELLY HONIG SUSAN McSWEENEY Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember
MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the City Council
October 26, 2022
CALL TO ORDER:
This Regular Meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Halpern on Wednesday, October 26, 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, Planning Director Forbes, Deputy City Manager Eskandar, City Clerk Mann, City Engineer Hughes, Senior Planner Sinkula and Community Services Specialist Roush.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Councilmember McSweeney moved to approve the Agenda as presented. 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.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Councilmember Honig moved to approve Minutes of the September 28, 2022 Study Session, September 28, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting, and October 3, 2022 Closed Session. 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.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/CEREMONIAL MATTERS:
Mayor Halpern announced that at the conclusion of tonight's meeting, the City Council will take a brief recess and then come back to provide a Public Safety Announcement for Halloween.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
COUNCIL RESPONSE: None
STAFF COMMENTS:
City Manager de Geus advised that the City hosted the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce Leadership Conejo class, with over 30 participants, including Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, to learn about Leadership in Government. City staff presented the history of the City of Westlake Village, departmental operations, and provided a Civic Center tour. Staff also participated in the Great Shakeout and other earthquake preparedness activities. Mr. de Geus announced a grant program available through the State for homeowners to seismic retrofit qualifying houses and noted that registration is required at www.earthquakebracebolt.com City Manager de Geus reported that the Las Virgenes-Malibu Council of Governments (COG) voted unanimously to approve the Measure M project list, which included the Regional Smart Cities Fiber Network (broadband project) that was presented at the October 12, 2022 City Council meeting.
City Manager de Geus stated that recruitment is underway, and applications are available at www.wlv.org for both the Cultural Recreation and Public Safety Advisory Boards and encouraged residents to apply. Lastly, Mr. de Geus reminded residents that the City's Community Rooms, located at the Civic Center, will be used by the Los Angeles County City Council Minutes
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STAFF COMMENTS (continued):
Election Division for an 11-day Vote Center starting on Saturday, October 29 through Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Polls are open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., October 29 - November 7; and 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. on November 8, 2022.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: None
MONTHLY DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
Sheriff's Department Report
Deputy Knott presented the Sheriff Department report for the month of September 2022 on the number of crimes and highlighted the traffic enforcement efforts, which resulted in a reckless driving arrest.
Deputy Knott announced a Safety Symposium to be held on Saturday, November 19 from 9:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m.at the Westlake Village Civic Center.
2. Fire Department Report
City Manager de Geus stated the City's Fire partners, from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, were unable to attend tonight's meeting and introduced a new evacuation planning tool, Zonehaven AWARE Platform. Zonehaven AWARE platform will be utilized in emergency situations allowing first responders and residents to stay informed, in real time during an evacuation. Mr. de Geus noted that this platform is a result of the After-Action Report from the Woolsey Fire.
Deputy City Manager Eskandar stated the Zonehaven AWARE platform is a joint effort with the Los Angeles County public safety agencies, Board of Supervisors 3rd District Office, Cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu and Westlake Village. Mr. Eskandar provided a tutorial on the Zonehaven AWARE map (www.wlv.org/knowyourzone) which will allow residents to check the status of evacuation zones (before, during, and after an evacuation) and access incident information. Mr. Eskandar encouraged residents to verify and signup for emergency notifications, Connect-CTY and ALERT LA County, to ensure the accuracy of their contact information.
3. Chamber of Commerce Report
Adam Haverstock, Director of Government Affairs and Tourism, thanked the City of Westlake Village for hosting the recent Leadership Conejo class and for providing an informative presentation. Mr. Haverstock reminded residents that the Taste of Conejo, will be held on Sunday, November 6 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Westlake; tickets can be purchased online (https://www.conejochamber.org/).
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MONTHLY DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS (continued):
4. Library Report
Julie Frieze, Manager of the Westlake Village Daniel K. Ludwig Library, presented he Library report for September 2022. Ms. Frieze offered that literature on the Zonehaven AWARE (www.wlv/knowyourzone) be provided to the library so tha Library staff can assist with informing the public.
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
PUBLIC HEARING FOR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMIT NO. 22-003; RESOLUTION NO. 2276-22
Councilmember Davis stated for the record that due to the location of the project, he has a conflict of interest and must be recused. Mr. Davis will be providing comments as a member of the public on this project. Councilmember Davis left the dais at 6:53 p.m.
Mayor Halpern opened the Public Hearing. Senior Planner Sinkula presented Planned Development Permit No. 22-003 to authorize the construction of a 1,670 square foot addition of habitable space to an existing 4,363 square foot, two-story single-family residence, a 288 square foot addition to the existing garage, a new 586 square foot front porch, an interior, and exterior remodel, exterior improvements that include the replacement of the roof and all windows and doors, the installation of a new driveway, firepit, fencing and gates, and attached 548 square foot covered patio in the rear yard of an existing two-story single-family residence located at 31868 Foxfield Drive.
On July 20, 2022, a Planned Development Permit (PDP) application was filed by Tony Bennett, on behalf of Hani Shamout. The subject lot is approximately 18,629 square feet and located within the Westlake Trails neighborhood and the Residential Planned Development (RPD-169) Zone. The proposed new design is compatible with the architectural styles of existing residences in the Westlake Trails neighborhood. Through the Westlake Trails HOA approval process, the applicant was required to conduct outreach to all neighbors of the proposed project and obtain their support. When submitted in July, the applicant submitted documentation that all neighbors of the project approved and supported the proposed project.
On September 15, 2022, the subject permit request was reviewed by the Land Use Committee (Pearl/Honig). The Committee requested that the applicant submit a colorized rendering to show the proposed changes to the residence more clearly.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued):
Mayor Pro Tem Pearl also requested confirmation that all neighbors of the proposed project are supportive of the addition. Lastly, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl requested to be informed of the date of building permit issuance for the project to monitor the current timeframe for applying for and receiving a building permit from Los Angeles County Building and Safety. The Committee then recommended that PDP 22-003 be moved forward to the full City Council for hearing pending confirmation that the project had the support of all neighbors of the subject residence and pending the submittal of a colorized rendering of the proposed exterior changes to the residence.
On October 25, 2022, a neighbor that had previously supported the project voiced concerns with Senior Planner Sinkula and requested that a wall be constructed on the eastern property line. Senior Planner Sinkula contacted the applicant with these concerns. The applicant agreed to this modification and provided updated drawings prior to the public hearing, which were shown during the Public Hearing.
Applicant representative Michael Van Parys addressed City Council.
Public Speakers:
Ben Friedman, Westlake Village; Anthony "J" Tramonto, Westlake Village; Cynthia Fuller, Westlake Village; Ned Davis, Westlake Village.
Mayor Halpern closed the Public Hearing.
Council discussion resulted in three additional Conditions of Approval for Resolution 2276-22:
• The applicant shall construct an approximately 54-foot long wall not to exceed six feet in height along the eastern property line as shown on Sheet C1.1 (dated October 25, 2022) prior to construction of the addition and interior and exterior remodel of the residence.
• The applicant shall install and maintain a six-foot tall mesh-covered fence along the front and side property lines during construction. • Any landscaping that will not be replaced shall be watered and maintained for the duration of construction.
Mayor Pro Tem Pearl moved to adopt Resolution No. 2276-22, approving Planned Development Permit No. 22-003, authorizing the construction of a 1,670 square foot addition of habitable space, a 288 square foot garage addition, a 586 square foot new front porch, and an interior and exterior remodel of a residence located City Council Minutes
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PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued):
at 31868 Foxfield Drive with additional three conditions added to Resolution 2276-
22. Councilmember McSweeney seconded the motion.
YES: Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern
NO: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSED: Councilmember Davis
Mayor Halpern declared the motion passed; 4-Yes (Councilmembers McSweeney, Honig, Mayor Pro Tem Pearl, and Mayor Halpern), O-No and 1-Recusal (Councilmember Davis).
Councilmember Davis returned to the dais at 7:41 p.m.
MONTHLY IN-HOUSE DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
Engineering Department Report
City Engineer Hughes stated 95% of the Community Park Pickle Ball Courts design was completed and presented to the Cultural Recreation Committee on October 25, 2022. On October 19, 2022 the Sidewalk Master Plan was presented to the Public Safety Committee for initial review. Full Committee reports on these items will be on the November 9, 2022 City Council meeting agenda.
Ms. Hughes noted that for the Safe Clean Water Program, monthly agendas and minutes are available at https://safecleanwaterla.org/north-santa-monica-bay- watershed-area and residents are encouraged to attend the virtual meetings.
2. Planning Department Report
Planning Director Forbes stated a new category, "Administrative Tree Permit", was added to the monthly statistics and the new process that the City Council adopted is working well. New Accessory Dwelling Regulations (ADU) were recently signed by Governor Newsom and will be presented to City Council on November 9, 2022.
Cultural Recreation Report
Community Services Specialist Roush provided an update on the City Celebration event held on October 15, 2022 and on the upcoming Holidays in the Village on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
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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 October 15,, 2022, in the amount of $472,834.94.
GENERAL BUSINESS:
APPROVAL OF CONTRACT WITH MUNICODE FOR MUNICIPAL CODE
SUPPLEMENTATION/CODIFICATION AND LEGAL REVIEW - Approved an agreement with Municode for yearly supplementation/codification services for the Municipal Code and a one-time legal review, and that the City Manager be authorized to execute the contract and statement of work on behalf of the City.
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
CONSIDERATION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE
CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POWER READY
PROGRAM
City Manager de Geus introduced the item stating the Environmental Committee (McSweeney/Davis) reviewed the Power Ready Program on October 18, 2022.
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) staff will be providing the presentation on the Power Ready Program.
Deputy City Manager Eskandar stated the Power Ready Program will create a unique opportunity that will leverage resources from CPA and not Westlake Villages General Fund to create a sustainable Civic Center campus with energy resiliency in the face of potential emergencies.
Jillian Nelson, Clean Power Alliance and Jibade Sandiford, EcoMotion, presented the Power Ready Program background to City Council. To start the program, CPA City Council Minutes
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NEW BUSINESS (continued):
issued a Request for Information (RFI) to its member agencies regarding their response to the increased risk of weather and disaster related electricity outages, including Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and grid emergency events. The RFI was to gauge interest in a program that would provide a solar-paired battery energy storage system or standalone energy storage system to an essential facility in each of CPA's 32 member jurisdictions. After receiving the results of the RFI, CPA staff designed the Power Ready Program to meet member agency needs, adding energy resiliency to critical facilities by installing solar power and storage systems to provide a back-up source of energy during outages.
CPA's Power Ready Program is designed to address the City's needs for resiliency and is offered as a community benefit with no up-front cost to the City for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of the solar and battery system. CPA will be contracting with a developer/financier to build, own, and operate the systems for 20 years by pooling potential solar and battery sites owned or operated by CPA member agencies. Pooling of sites allows CPA to solicit bids through a Request for Offer (RFO) process for all sites together, obtaining more cost-effective collective bids rather than agencies undertaking this individually. The program relieves the participating agencies from spending resources to determine the feasibility, permitting, constructing, operating, and maintaining the system on its own.
Benefits of the program:
• Back-up power and microgrid system that provides power during outages (including Public Safety Power Shutoffs, natural disasters, rolling black outs).
• No increase to annual energy bills for participating apart from increases to electricity rates that would be applicable to all CPA customers. • Reducing harmful emissions associated with back-up diesel generator. • The developer handles all operations and maintenance, such as cleaning of the solar panels, at no cost to the City.
• Enhanced grid resilience that helps to prevent grid emergencies by allowing CPA to utilize a portion of the battery to supply energy during peak hours. • The Civic Center roof will be replaced, at no cost to the City, to accommodate a project lifespan of at least 20 years.
• CPA will promote the City's participation in this innovative program.
EcoMotion is proposing to provide the City with a 100 kW/400kWh battery storage system. When fully charged, the Civic Center would have approximately 20.8 hours of back-up if the sun were not able to recharge the battery system. The City City Council Minutes
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NEW BUSINESS (continued):
will have the option to purchase additional battery capacity, at the City's own cost, for additional backup resiliency.
Following the approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the City will enter into a separate 20-year Solar+Storage site lease agreement with the CPA selected developer. The MOU states, that in concept, the site lease requires the City to act in good faith to come to reasonable terms with the developer and shall not unreasonably condition, delay or refuse to enter into the Solar+ Storage Site Lease Agreement. Reasonable terms shall include, at a minimum:
• Reasonable provisions providing for indemnification of the City by the developer.
• A requirement by the developer to carry reasonable insurance. • Reasonable requirement that the developer return the site to its condition prior to the installation of the Solar+ Storage System if, at the end of the site lease term, the City requests that the Solart Storage System be removed. • The City recognizes that it will not require the developer to pay a lease for the solar panel site. Adding a lease payment fee could potentially complicate the agreements with the developer.
• In lieu of the City requiring the developer to pay a lease, the City is benefiting from the SolartStorage System that will be installed, operated and maintained by the developer for 20 years.
After a developer is selected from the RFO process, the City will negotiate a site lease agreement directly with the developer and CPA will negotiate a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the developer. When the site lease agreement is executed, it replaces the MOU, and the developer can break ground on the project.
It is expected that the pre-planning work (design, analysis, permitting, etc.) will take approximately a year and actual construction activities would take approximately one month, not including the re-roofing process.
In order for the developer to install the solar array on the Civic Center rooftop, replacement and repair of the roof will need to take place. All costs associated with the replacement and repair of the Civic Center's roof will be covered by the developer and will not result in any costs for the City thus, resulting in a potential direct savings to the City's future Capital Improvement Program obligations.
In addition to the site lease, the developer, on behalf of the City, will be required to apply for the Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) administered by California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). SGIP funds work on a tiered rate structure, which means the SGIP incentive amount decreases as more batteries are installed in the state. The incentive is also dependent on the size of the system. If the City City Council Minutes
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NEW BUSINESS (continued):
is awarded any SGIP funds, the agreement requires the City to transfer awarded funds to the developer to support financing of the battery energy storage.
City Council discussion was a recommendation to join the Power Ready Program, which includes re-roofing of the Civic Center as part of participation in the program.
Councilmember McSweeney moved to authorize the Mayor to execute the Memorandum of Understanding with the Clean Power Alliance of Southern California to participate and enroll the Westlake Village Civic Center in the Clean Power Alliance's Power Ready Program. Councilmember Honig 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.
RECESS
City Council went into recess at 8:10 p.m.
City Council reconvened at 8:17 p.m. in Halloween attire and provided a Public Safety Announcement for Halloween, encouraging all residents to be safe, while having fun on Halloween.
ADJOURNMENT:
Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Bial Mole
Brad Halpern, Mayor
Attest:
Antoinette mamm
Antoinette Mann, City Clerk