Minutes — Westlake Village City Council, January 10, 2024

NED E DAVIS KELLY HONIG SUSAN McSWEENEY BRAD HALPERN RAY PEARL Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember

MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the City Council
January 10, 2024
CALL TO ORDER:

This regular meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Davis on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6:30 p.m., at 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mayor Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT: Councilmembers Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem Honig, and Mayor Davis
ABSENT: Councilmember McSweeney
Also Present: City Manager de Geus, City Attorney Boga, Assistant City Manager Wilson, City Clerk Mann, City Engineer Hughes, City Traffic Engineer Wessel, Senior Planner Sinkula, and Senior Administrative Analyst Mott.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

Councilmember Halpern moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Councilmember Pearl seconded the motion.

Mayor Pro Tem Honig moved to approve the Minutes of December 6, 2023 Special Meeting and December 13, 2023 Regular Meeting as presented. Councilmember Pearl seconded the motion.

Mayor Davis expressed condolences to the Croner Family on the passing of Westlake Village resident Pat Croner. Pat Croner was a resident since 1973 and will be missed by all of us. Pat served on the City's 1982-83 General Plan Citizen Advisory Committee and on our Cultural Recreation Advisory Board from 2017 through 2022.

City Councilmembers also expressed condolences to the Croner Family.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

John McKinney discussed his background and qualification to serve as Los Angeles County District Attorney.

COUNCIL RESPONSE: None
STAFF COMMENTS:

City Manager de Geus reported that new sidewalk construction work began on Residents can expect partial lane closures on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. during construction with completion in the Spring. Additionally, the City is refurbishing Park signage with new brass lettering at the Canyon Oaks, Russell Ranch, Three Springs and Berniece Bennett Park and will be replacing the adjacent seals later this month.

Mr. de Geus reported the City's Community Service Grant Program application period continues through January 26, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Community Service Grants are intended to provide monetary awards to eligible community non-profit organizations that benefit City of Westlake Village residents. Non-profits interested in applying can visit www.wlv.org/grants to learn more about the program requirements.

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City of Westlake Village January 10, 2024 3
STAFF COMMENTS (continued):

City Manager de Geus reported the City's Neighborhood Beautification Program application period is open through January 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. and explained that the program allows the City to collaborate with homeowner associations. Visit www.wlv.org for more information.

Mr. de Geus reported the Westlake Village Community Foundation 2024 High School Senior Scholarship application is posted online wlv.org/scholarship. Applications are due on March 31, 2024 by 5 pm. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors that live in the City of Westlake Village.

Mr. de Geus provided an update on the White Oak Elementary School Fence stating the fence will be six feet in height with multiple access gates to allow residents to use the field during non-school hours as part of a Joint Use Agreement which is in the development stages. The earliest the fence construction will begin is during Spring Break 2024, which is the first week of April. Currently, the White Oak Fence working group has not yet scheduled a meeting in 2024.

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

Councilmember Pearl expressed concerns over the sidewalk construction site and requested that staff work with the contractor to ensure a smooth transition and a reminder that the construction site is also adjacent to residents' homes.

Councilmember Halpern announced that BBQ Hut will be holding a Grand Opening on Saturday, January 13, 2024 from 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. and encouraged residents to attend and sample the food.

Mayor Davis expressed concerns over the White Oak Elementary School Fence and requested that the Las Virgenes School District conduct another working group meeting to present the finalized plans.

CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORT:

1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE REPORT - ARTERIAL MEDIAN LANDSCAPE

DESIGN AND CONCEPTS
Lacey Withers, Withers and Sandgren Landscape Architecture, provided an update to the Environmental Committee's (McSweeney/Halpern) November 9, 2023 discussion on the City's existing landscaping, current landscape ordinances and guidelines, and a planning approach for median landscaping in the future.

Ms. Withers reported that the project to relandscape arterial medians is a planning effort to inventory and assess the existing landscaped medians with particular attention being paid to the survivability of the mature trees with less available City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village January 10, 2024 4
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORT (continued):
water. This project also includes a planned approach to future tree planting and the options available to the City for protecting the higher water using trees as we make the transition to more climate appropriate plantings. Irrigation methods will be proposed that use water efficient low flow equipment and drip irrigation techniques that meet the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MVELO).

The project will also assess the future availability of recycled water for ornamental landscapes and include removing turf grass in all medians to meet California's ban on nonfunctional turf in City street medians. A comprehensive phased approach to median tree protection, expansion and replacement over time will protect the Westlake Village urban tree forest and ensure a resilient and consistent streetscape throughout the City.

Committee feedback included an interest in maintaining the health of mature trees, support of the initial drought tolerant, native and pollinator tree and understory recommended species, and support of the removal of natural turf with new trees and understory landscaping provided there was considerable investment in new landscaping that is full, colorful, and drought tolerant while maintaining a high-level of landscaping aesthetics.

City Council expressed a desire to add more Raywood Ash and Crape Myrtle trees to the medians, plant the trees in groups like they normally grow and remove the turf to make the medians more sustainable.

There was no action taken by City Council; report was received and filed.

PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
CONSENT CALENDAR:

Councilmember Pearl moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Halpern seconded the motion.

APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: Warrants effective December 15, 2023 in the amount of $ 428,160.74 and January 1, 2024 in the amount of $ 797,605.98 GENERAL BUSINESS:

DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES ANNUAL REVIEW - City Council
received and filed this report; no action was required.

2. ADOPTION OF THE ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM POLICY; RESOLUTION 2331-24 - City Council adopted Resolution No. 2331-24.

RESOLUTION 2331-24: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF

WESTLAKE VILLAGE ADOPTING AN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM POLICY (TRUSTED ENTERPRISE CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:

1. TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ARDURRA GROUP INC.

City Manager de Geus provided an overview of a request for approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc. for professional traffic engineering services and terminate the existing agreement with Interwest Consulting Group (Interwest).

Mr. de Geus stated that the City currently contracts with Interwest for professional traffic engineering services. These services are primarily provided by Mr. Mark Wessel, who serves as the City Traffic Engineer. Mr. Wessel is now transitioning to Ardurra Group and noted that it would be very beneficial to the City to continue to have Mark Wessel serve as City Traffic Engineer. Ardurra is willing to execute a services agreement with identical terms to those of the current Interwest agreement, including honoring Mr. Wessel's current fee rate, which has not increased since 2007. The term of the agreement is until July 1, 2025, with an option to extend for three years thereafter.

City Manager de Geus stated Mr. Wessel has served as the City's traffic engineer since 1989, demonstrating integrity, professionalism, and technical competence.

Staff recommended that the professional services agreement with Ardurra be approved to enable Mr. Wessel to continue serving the City of Westlake Village as City Traffic Engineer.

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NEW BUSINESS (continued):

Councilmember Halpern moved that the City Council approve a Professional Services Agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc. tor protessional traffic engineering services and authorize the Mayor to sign and execute the agreement on behalf of the city and terminate the existing agreement with Interwest. Mayor Pro Tem Honig seconded the motion.

YES: Councilmembers Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem Honig, and Mayor Davis
NO: None
ABSENT: Councilmember McSweeney
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Davis declared the motion passed 4-Yes; 0-No and 1-Absent (Councilmember McSweeney)
2024 CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
City Manager de Geus presented the 2024 City Council Committee assignments, noting that a resident has been selected for the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy appointment, Julie Newsome, due to the resignation of our long-term appointee Don Robinson.

SUPPLEMENTAL PACKET - Updated 2024 Committee Assignments (Posted online)
Mayor Pro Tem Honig moved that the City Council approve the 2024 City Council Committee Assignments as submitted by Mayor Davis with the amendment to add Julie Newsome as the resident appointee to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Councilmember Pearl seconded the motion.

YES: Councilmembers Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem Honig, and Mayor Davis
NO: None
ABSENT: Councilmember McSweeney
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Davis declared the motion passed 4-Yes; O-No and 1-Absent (Councilmember McSweeney)
City Council Minutes
City of Westlake Village January 10, 2024
ADJOURNMENT:

Mayor Davis announced the next City Council meeting will be held on January 24, 2024 with a Study Session at 4:30 pm and the regular Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Ned E Davis, Mayor
Attest:

WESTLAKE
Antoinette Mann, City Clerk VILLAG
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Westlake Village City CouncilJanuary 10, 2024

Westlake Village City Council
January 10, 2024