“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth”
This page summarizes the key takeaways from Palos Verdes Estates City Council Meetings. If you’d like to be notified when new minutes are posted, please sign up to our mailing list, click here
For an Archive of other City Council Meetings, click here.
May 26, 2020 PVE City Council Meeting - by Zoom Teleconference
For the Agenda with links to documents - click here
For the video of the session, click here
For the official Minutes of the meeting, click here
All Council Members Present
MAYOR’S REPORT:
click here for Video @1:41
Mayor McGowan provided updates regarding the City of PVE
Bluffs and parking along Paseo del Mar are open but parking near the Beach Club remains closed.
Compliance with social distancing and wearing masks is still encouraged.
The four Peninsula cities and the Chamber of Commerce co-authored a proposed plan for reopening our communities sooner than current guidelines permit to support struggling local businesses.
Mayor McGowan also provided updates regarding PVPUSD
The District has opened school grounds for outdoor recreation. Buildings remain closed.
Committees have been formed to develop reopening plans. An effective strategy will be required for tracing contacts and for quarantining those who have COVID-19 or have come into contact with someone who tests positive.
CONSENT AGENDA: [Approved 5-0]
click here for Video @9:06
1. Approve Council Meeting Minutes: Special and Regular Meetings (5/12)
Correction needed for May 12 meeting minutes regarding the moving and seconding of the City Manager. Should read CM Kemps moved and CM Lozzi seconded.
2. Approve Warrant Payments: Miscellaneous
3. Approve Appropriation of Funds for Fence at PV Stables: $9,000
4. Monthly Investment Transaction Report: May 2020
5. Accept Work for Miscellaneous Street Repairs
6. Filing Period for Commission and Committee Vacancies
7. Acceptances of Donations Recommendation
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
click here for Video @11:33
The following residents addressed the City Council:
Stephanie Lundstrom: Acknowledged PVEPD for canvassing and apprehending intruder.
George Kay: Acknowledged continued deterioration of City financial position with 6.1% cost increase and increased unfunded pension liability.
Marsha Davis (read): Congratulated and welcomed new City Manager Laura Guglielmo. Acknowledged Councilmembers’ different opinions and encouraged working together to move beyond status quo.
Isabella Brannen: Announced she is partnering with Neighborhood Watch for her Eagle Scout project collecting American flags needing to be retired. She will build two collection boxes.
Karen Logan: As a member of Neighborhood Watch thanked Isabella and Lunada Bay Hardware for their help with the flag retirement project.
8. PUBLIC HEARING - APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION DENIAL OF M-1370-20; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATION FOR AN 11’ 6” ACCESSORY SPORTS STRUCTURE IN THE REAR YARD OF THE EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AT 1608 CHELSEA RD (LOT 12, BLOCK 1272, TRACT 7140) click here for Video @21:40
Public Comment:
· None besides the applicant (Lynn and Eric Kim) and neighbor (Priscilla Adler)
Staff Report: Update – Planning Commission had denied application due to impact on Adlers. Both residents now propose a modified agreement – reducing the batting cage height, limiting the hours of use and not using the pitching machine. The cage is to be removed permanently in or before 8 years (May 26, 2028).
Council Questions & Discussion:
CM Lozzi expressed concerns regarding:
Why the four-year check-in from the residents’ agreement was removed from the documentation submitted to Council for review and recommended the four-year check-in be reinstated.
·The applicant’s breaking City rules by building the structure without City approval and not heeding height requirements (five feet above allowance).
Violating the City noise ordinance by allowing batting until 8 pm. (Counsel stated the City’s noise ordinance must be followed despite the 8 pm stoppage time listed in the agreement submitted by the applicant and neighbor.)
CM Davidson asked if the proper steps (e.g., permits, applications) have been completed retroactively. Staff replied no and explained that after the Kims were cited for a code enforcement violation they filed an application to the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission turned down the after-the-fact application and gave the Kims six months to remove the non-compliant batting cage.
CM Kao stated the Council needs to review this case as if it were a new application (as if the cage had not been built) and determine if it should be approved in that context. He moved to overrule the Planning Commission and accept the application as proposed at the council meeting.
VOTE (4:1) CM Lozzi dissented
9. PUBLIC HEARING - APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL OF NC-1665-19, G-1634-19, & M-1358-19; NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY, GRADING, AND MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS FOR A NEW SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE AT 2220 VIA LA BREA (LOT 10, BLOCK 1651, TRACT 7330) click here for Video @1:05:46
Staff Report: Planning Commission approved the application.
Neighbor across the street filed an appeal citing privacy issues from front windows, height of the house, and proximity of structure to the permitted setback (should be further set back on lot).
Council Questions:
CM Kao asked whether privacy should be expected for the front yard.
CM Davidson asked if the appellant has backyard privacy and if his house overlooks a house behind it.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps asked the architect:
Why wasn’t the height dropped by the full four feet?
Why the floor to ceiling windows?
What is the rationale for a subterranean garage?
CMs McGowan and Lozzi had no additional questions.
Public Comment:
Appellant: Primary concerns are privacy from multiple floor to ceiling windows and three balconies which will increase visibility into his home, and the looming street presence of the proposed home.
Applicant Architect: Have pushed house back further than others on the street. Newer homes are two levels with large windows and balconies in the front. A 4 to 5 foot hedge at appellant’s property would protect privacy from sightlines.
Stella Chang: Opposes the new structure. Wants to prevent the recurrence of problems caused by the remodel of another house on the street that has reduced privacy for her home, flooded her house with light (keeping her family awake), and created a feeling of being watched.
Julia Tam: Height of the building next door will block out her view of the sky. The building will not adhere to the natural ridge line. She is upset the applicant is not following advice – reduced height by only two feet when recommended to reduce by four feet.
William Lyons: Height and roof lines are very important and required parameters need to be closely monitored. Concerned about possible precedent for future applications. Floor to ceiling windows do not match other houses in the area.
Garrett Stearns: This has been a seven-month-long process with three iterations and a huge expense to the owners. Requirement is to mitigate concerns to greatest degree possible rather than get full neighborhood approval. There have been good mitigation efforts by the applicant.
Richard Park: Concerned about the height. Additional four feet is a lot. It is not unreasonable to ask owner to dig deeper to not exceed the height requirement. Others have dug to maintain the ridgeline.
Mary Kelliny: Agreed with points made by neighbors. Believes not following the recommended four foot reduction is an issue for neighbors.
Council Discussion
CM Davidson stated issue is generational – long-term residents have a way of looking at their neighborhood while new people moving in are younger and have a different perspective. Can’t expect things will not change. Applicants have made many accommodations and many houses on that side of the street are large with many windows. Community needs to compromise.
CM Kao thanked Staff and the Planning Commission and acknowledged the difficulty of neighborhood compatibility applications. Felt application is viable with a few modifications. Recommended a reduction of the 8’-11” plate height down to 8’-0” to further reduce the ridge line.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps thanked all for working so hard on this. He expressed concern about residents using the City Council to take another bite at the apple after the Planning Commission has made a decision.
CM Lozzi appreciated all the modifications made to date and supported reducing the first floor by 11 inches but wondered if that would create a material impact.
Mayor McGowan asked the architect if the reduction is doable. The architect stated 8’-0” ceilings are no longer seen in new construction and the 11 inches would not affect massing. The current norm is 9’-0” minimum.
CM Kao moved to approve with the condition the ridgeline be reduced by one foot. Motion not seconded and thus defeated.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps moved they reaffirm the Planning Commission’s approval and deny the appeal. CM Davidson seconded the motion.
VOTE: Approved (4-1) CM Kao dissented
OLD BUSINESS
No old business
NEW BUSINESS
No new business
ACTING CITY MANAGER REPORT
Acting City Manager Ken Rukavina discussed some of the relaxations to closures made by the County Health Department including retail (malls can operate at 25%) and faith-based activities (100 people max or 25% of capacity). Requirements for social distancing and wearing face masks are still in place.
INTERIM POLICE CHIEF REPORT
Interim Police Chief Dreiling provided an update on the Police Ad Hoc Committee. First, he wanted to defend the committee for the lack of transparency and said he was at fault because he has urged discretion out of concern for morale. He reminded the council of the reasons for his return to the Chief position:
Since his departure, 1/3 of department employees have quit, retired or transferred.
Employees were working long hours to cover resulting shortfalls.
The department was on a bit of a roller coaster and morale was low.
His first step was to tell his staff he cannot predict the future but promised there would be a resolution regarding the future of the Police Department. He feels the study is sensitive and can affect morale.
He believes public debate will stall progress if he gives interim reports. He had hoped to provide reports behind closed doors, but realizes that is not possible, so he is reporting out now.
The group is looking at four models presently with two possibilities in the future:
Outsourcing the jail – three quotes to date – Lomita Sheriff (price per booking), Redondo PD (price per booking – was the lowest, very close to Lomita), Torrance PD (flat rate).
Next step is modeling the building of a bare bones police department and the associated costs based on the Redondo model.
Outsourcing the jail and dispatch – two quotes in the works – RCC and Redondo PD.
RCC now promising to deliver a bid in July or August vs. earlier January 2021 date extension quoted at the last council meeting.
Redondo will be doing a test for a week when PVE residents call and Redondo will answer to see if this is feasible.
Expanding dispatch to outsource or provide dispatch services to other agencies looking for a dispatcher. In preliminary discussions right now.
Using contract employees for jail or dispatch (e.g., HR Green,) to avoid pension costs. This is done in Downey, Costa Mesa and Beverly Hills currently and he is investigating getting a bid.
M Davidson asked where the main jail costs are. Chief Dreiling said primary costs are staffing (including pensions). Davidson asked if savings are outweighed by the deterrent of having a local jail. He also said outsourcing the jail alone did not make sense but outsourcing the jail and dispatch could make sense because it could theoretically save the city money. Options three and four could also make sense.
Chief stated there will be no perfect solution and his job is to mitigate the problems or downsides.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps applauded the Chief for realizing the current situation is not sustainable and for tackling this effort.
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS:
click here for Video @2:59:42
CM Kao discussed two meetings he attended:
The Regional Emergency Preparedness session with the Mayor and representatives from other Peninsula cities.
A meeting with Congressman Lieu re: the Hero Act which would provide major funding to cities that have been left out of previous Corona-relief packages.
He proposed a Clean Power Alliance that provides utility choices to residents. He recalled it had been brought up with council several years ago but the topic was tabled. He also reminded residents that applications for City advisory committees have a June 10 deadline.
CM Davidson wanted to acknowledge Memorial Day and those who gave their lives for our country. Additionally, he thanked John Harbison for providing statistics on COVID-19. Looking forward, he would like to discuss term limits and would like the City to talk about getting a grant writer, with hopes the new City Manager can help with this.
Mayor Pro Tem Kemps agreed with Davidson and suggested an RFP for getting a grant writer, especially given the amount of money that neighboring RPV has secured. He has a link to their RFP.
He acknowledged receiving many phone calls from residents frustrated about today’s Meeting Agenda and the optics of lack of progress on the Ad Hoc committees. The Pension Ad Hoc received a long list of comments from the staff and is incorporating them into their report. Final recommendations will address both debt management and budget management. CMs Kemps and Lozzi will review the report with Council after reviewing with the new City Manager.
He expressed concerns regarding the budget for next fiscal year and that the June 8 workshop, only three weeks prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year, will be the first time Council has had anything to review. He further noted that:
The pension liability numbers reported in the FY19 CAFR were based on two-year old CalPERS information and therefore significantly understate the actual liability.
The current FY budget shows an operating surplus but does not reflect the City’s true financial position since it does not factor in repayment of pension debt.
The COVID-19 shutdown and the significantly lower return projected by CalPERS will put heavy pressure on next year’s budget. CalPERS’ underperformance will result in a $3M addition to the debt balance as well as large increases in the interest on this debt. There will need to be some major operating changes to deal with this.
Budget comparisons need to include a year-over-year analysis, by department, at a detailed (line-item) level.
Council is being left with no choice but to approve a short-term budget followed by incremental adjustments. The City budget process needs to be taken off auto pilot or the City will not be able to deliver the things residents want.
He sent an enthusiastic shout out to Ingo at Cox and formally recognized him for his efforts on behalf of our residents and escalating issues. He would like to have a technology discussion and analysis to find a way to include both remote and in-person meetings post COVID-19.
CM Lozzi expressed similar concerns about the budget and not having seen anything yet. She doesn’t want to be forced to approve something at the last minute without full consideration.
She reported that she and MPT Kemps are delegates to the PVP Transit Authority and will be the Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the coming year. She has also been attending more frequent Investment Policy Advisory Committee meetings, where she is advising on revisions to investment policy to cope with an environment of near-zero (and declining) interest rates.
She would also like to re-examine what is being done with George Allen field. Currently, the field is overgrown and is being used by a financially strapped Little League group that previously requested financial relief. If the City intends to take it back, we need to maintain it.
Mayor McGowan discussed having been on calls with fellow mayors regarding reopening the business community, while practicing safe distancing.
He discussed having received an email from the Golf Club asking for a letter of support for the lateral recycling water project. This pipeline will bring reclaimed water from Torrance to the golf course to be stored in reservoirs for use at night. He would like to review and sign a letter in support of the project.
Adjourned to June 9, 2020, at 9:51 pm, potentially in the Council Chambers and possibly with a Zoom element.