CL_MIN_240923_CC_FMINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Monday, September 23, 2024
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Minutes
Rolling Hills City Council
Monday, September 23 , 202 4
Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Rolling Hills met in person on the above date at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Mirsch
presiding.
2. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
Councilmembers Absent: Wilson, Black,
Staff Present: Karina Bañales, City Manager
Christian Horvath, City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager
John Signo, Planning & Community Services Director
Samantha Crew, Management Analyst
Pat Donegan, City Attorney
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Councilmember Dieringer
Mayor Mirsch moved to Item 5.
5. APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
Motion by Councilmember Dieringer, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Pieper to move Item 11A to a date
uncertain. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
NOES: None
ABSENT: Wilson, Black
6. BLUE FOLDER ITEMS (SUPPLEMENTAL)
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Pieper, seconded by Councilmember Dieringer to receive and file Blue Folder
Item 13A. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
NOES: None
ABSENT: Wilson, Black
Mayor Mirsch moved to Item 4.
4. PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
4.A. VERBAL UPDATE ON NATURAL GAS UTILITY, ELECTRIC UTILITY, AND
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE DISCONNECTIONS IN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
City Manager Bañales introduced the item. City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager Horvath
provided an explanation of the process by which the meeting would be conducted to ensure public
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Monday, September 23, 2024
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participation from as many individuals as possible, and the overflow capabilities created to accommodate a
larger assembly.
Presentation by Southern California Gas Company:
Gina Orozco, Vice President of Gas Engineering and Systems Integration
Maria Martinez, Director of Gas Engineering
Travis Sera, Director of Integrity Management
Presentation by Southern California Edison :
Larry Chung, Vice President, Customer Engagement Division
George Mundorf, Vice President, Distribution Ops.
Presentation by COX Communications:
Jennifer Bullard, Director, Government Affairs
Colleen Dillaway, Market Vice President, Orange County/Palos Verdes
The City Council asked questions and stated concerns separately for each presentation group.
Public Comment: Amy Zimmerman, Karl Frykman, Charlie Raine, Melissa McNabb, Aryan papoli, Milad
Goodarzi, Fred Lorig, James Bellis, Alfred Visco, Marian Visco, Hannah Carlson, Dimitri Bizoumis, James
Wald, Diane Montaldo
Public Comment as read by the Clerk into the record: Gretchen Goldsmith, John Loizeaux-Witte
Each group of presenters returned separately for follow-up questions from the City Council.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Pieper, seconded by Councilmember Dieringer to receive and file. Motion carried
unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
NOES: None
ABSENT: Wilson, Black
7. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Public Comment: Alfred Visco, Charlie Raine
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
8.A. APPROVE AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF
SEPTEMBER 23, 2024
8.B. APPROVE MOTION TO READ BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE FURTHER READING OF ALL
ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA
8.C. APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL MINUTES: SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 REGULAR
MEETING
8.D. PAYMENT OF BILLS
8.E. REPUBLIC SERVICES RECYCLING TONNAGE AND COMPLAINT REPORTS FOR AUGUST
2024
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8.F. RECEIVE AND FILE THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF A SIGN AT PORTUGUESE
BEND ROAD AND RANCHERO ROAD
Motion by Councilmember Dieringer, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Pieper to approve the Consent Calendar.
Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
NOES: None
ABSENT: Wilson, Black
9. EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS – NONE
10. COMMISSION ITEMS – NONE
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
11.A. A HEARING REGARDING A NUISANCE ABATEMENT AT 20 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD (LOT
58-A-RH), AND CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ROLLING HILLS DECLARING THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY TO BE A PUBLIC
NUISANCE AND ORDERING THE ABATEMENT THEREOF
Per the motion in Item 5, this item was continued to a date uncertain.
12. OLD BUSINESS – NONE
13. NEW BUSINESS
13.B. CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
PROCURE ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES IN RESPONSE TO UTILITY
SHUTOFFS IN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS; TO RETURN WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT
RESOLUTION; AND TO SEND A LETTER TO LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR JANICE
HAHN REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED LAW
ENFORCEMENT SERVICES AND ADDITIONAL COUNTY SERVICES
Presentation by City Manager Karina Bañales
Los Angeles Sherriff’s Department, Lomita Station Captain Kimberly Guerrero
Public Comment: Dustin McNabb, Melissa McNabb
Motion by Mayor Mirsch, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Pieper directing the City Manager to seek any and all
outside funding sources for increased potential law enforcement purposes and report back to the City
Council. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
NOES: None
ABSENT: Wilson, Black
13.C. REVIEW AND CONSIDER THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES (CAL CITIES) PROPOSED
2024 RESOLUTION PACKET AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO THE CITY'S VOTING DELEGATE
FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON OCTOBER 18, 2024 AT THE 2024 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DURING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXPO
Presentation by City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager Christian Horvath
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Councilmember Dieringer noted that certain aspects of the Cal Cities proposed Resolution had been
modified slightly from what is presented in the Agenda Packet.
Motion by Mayor Mirsch, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Pieper directing Councilmember Dieringer or
Councilmember Wilson, as the delegates to the 2024 League of California Cities General Assembly, to vote
yes on the proposed Resolution. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
NOES: None
ABSENT: Wilson, Black
13.A. (1) CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1381 A LOCAL
PROCLAMATION OF EMERGENCY RELATED TO LAND MOVEMENT AND UTILITY
SHUTOFFS; AND (2) DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO SEND LETTER TO LOS ANGELES COUNTY
SUPERVISOR JANICE HAHN REQUESTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMMEDIATE
NEEDS RELATED TO COUNTY FEES
Presentation by Management Analyst Samantha Crew
Area G Disaster Management Area Coordinator Brandy Villanueva
Councilmember Black arrived at 11:10 p.m.
Public Comment: James Wald
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Pieper, seconded by Councilmember Black to not pass a proclamation of
emergency and direct the City Manager to reach out to any pertinent party regarding waivers or reduction of
any fees, permitting or otherwise, that would impact residents in the affected areas. Motion carried
unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Black, Dieringer, Pieper, Mayor Mirsch
NOES: None
ABSENT: Wilson
14. MATTERS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Pieper requested staff return with information on the potential dangers of individually owned
propane systems in the community.
15. MATTERS FROM STAFF – NONE
16. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION – 11:29 P.M.
16.A. EXISTING LITIGATION - GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(D)(1) THE CITY FINDS,
BASED ON ADVICE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL, THAT DISCUSSION IN OPEN SESSION WILL
PREJUDICE THE POSITION OF THE CITY IN THE LITIGATION. (1 CASE) a. NAME OF CASE:
CONNIE ANDERSEN, ET AL. V. CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANY, ET AL. CASE NO.:
24STCV20953
16.B. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 54956.9(D)(1) THE CITY FINDS, BASED ON ADVICE FROM LEGAL COUNSEL, THAT
DISCUSSION IN OPEN SESSION WILL PREJUDICE THE POSITION OF THE CITY IN THE
LITIGATION. (2 CASES)
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Mayor Mirsch recused herself for this item.
17. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – 12:14 A.M. SEPTEMBER 24, 2024
City Attorney Donegan reported that by a unanimous vote on closed session Item 16B (with Councilmember
Wilson absent and Mayor Mirsch recusing due to a financial conflict of interest because her home is in the
impacted area), the City Council directed the City Attorney to file complaints with the CPUC against both
SoCalGas and SCE. These complaints with the CPUC are prerequisites to the filing of any lawsuit.
18. ADJOURNMENT : 12:15 A.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 a.m. on September 24, 2024. The next regular meeting of the City
Council is scheduled to be held on Monday, October 14, 2024 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chamber at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California. It will also be available via City’s
website link at: https://www.rolling-hills.org/government/agenda/index.php
All written comments submitted are included in the record and available for public review on the City website.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________________
Christian Horvath, City Clerk
Approved,
____________________________________
Leah Mirsch, Mayor