CL_MIN_241210_CC_FMINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
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Minutes
Rolling Hills City Council
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
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 Pieper
presiding.
2. ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
Councilmembers Absent: Black
Staff Present: Karina Bañales, City Manager
Christian Horvath, City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Samantha Crew, Management Analyst
Pat Donegan, City Attorney
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Councilmember Wilson
4. PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
4.A. RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE REGARDING A
NEW WILDFIRE HARDENING RELIABILITY PROJECT ALONG APPALOOSA LANE AND
UPPER BLACKWATER CANYON ROAD AND VERBAL UPDATE ON THE NEW ABOVE-
GROUND MAINS ON CINCHRING ROAD AND QUAILRIDGE ROAD SOUTH
Presentation by Cal Water Services Renzo Ayala and Brianda Nunez
Public Comment: Mitzi Nakamura, Alfred Visco
Motion by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to receive and file. Motion carried
unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
4.B. RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION OVERVIEW FROM THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES (CAL OES) REGARDING FEDERAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) AND CAL OES HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM
Presentation by Robyn Fennig, CFM, CalOES Assistant Director for Hazard Mitigation
Motion by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to receive and file. Motion carried
unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
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5. APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer, seconded by Councilmember Wilson to approve the order of the
agenda. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
6. BLUE FOLDER ITEMS (SUPPLEMENTAL)
Motion by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer to receive and file. Motion carried
unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
7. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Public Comment: Alfred Visco, Ken Bringas, James Wald
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
8.A. APPROVE AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF
DECEMBER 10, 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: NOVEMBER 25, 2024 REGULAR
MEETING
8.D. PAYMENT OF BILLS
8.E. APPROVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING & TRAFFIC COMMISSIONS FOR THE TERM
BEGINNING JANUARY 2, 2025 AND EXPIRING JANUARY 1, 2029
Motion by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer to approve the Consent Calendar
with amendments as made to the minutes. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
9. EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS – NONE
10. COMMISSION ITEMS – NONE
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
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11.A. A PUBLIC 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
City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager Horvath and City Attorney Donegan advised the City
Council that the nuisance had been abated and that no formal action would be required. Seeing no public
comment, Mayor Pieper moved to Old Business without objection.
12. OLD BUSINESS
12.A. DISCUSS POTENTIAL APPROVAL OF A 25% LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENT AMOUNT
(APPROXIMATELY $405,250) FOR THE 2023 SUBMITTED APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM TO
ADDRESS ADDITIONAL FIRE FUEL ABATEMENT IN ROLLING HILLS' KLONDIKE CANYON
Presentation by City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager Horvath
Public Comment: Alfred Visco, James Wald, Robyn Fennig
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to table the item and continue
exploring potential impacts of delaying approval with CalOES; bring back an update on the status of the sub-
application on or before the last meeting in February. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
13. NEW BUSINESS
13.A. APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH AMPIRICAL SERVICES INC. TO
PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE 20B PORTION OF THE EASTFIELD DRIVE FIRE
PREVENTION POWER LINE UNDERGROUNDING PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$117,899 FUNDED BY FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) HAZARD
MITIGATION PROGRAM #DR4382-177-7R-CA, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT, AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
Presentation by City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager Horvath
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to approve as presented. Motion
carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
14. MATTERS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL
Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer requested moving her approved $75 expense for the Cal Cities holiday party to
cover their January event instead. She also requested having an item added to the January 13, 2025 agenda
regarding approvals of additional event expenses.
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Tuesday, December 10, 2024
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Councilmember Wilson inquired about his previous request to agendize a discussion on generators being
used in the City.
Councilmember Mirsch asked staff if there was anything pressing that would require an additional December
City Council meeting .
15. MATTERS FROM STAFF
15.A. RECEIVE AND FILE A VERBAL UPDATE ON THE OUTDOOR EMERGENCY SIREN PROJECT
AND CITYWIDE TESTING
Presentation by Management Analyst Crew
City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager Horvath
Motion by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch authorizing staff to receive and file.
Motion carried unanimously with the following vote:
AYES: Mirsch, Wilson, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper
NOES: None
ABSENT: Black
16. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION – 9:12 P.M.
16.A. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 54957 (B)(1) TITLE: CITY MANAGER
16.B. 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. (SEAVIEW CASE)
CASE NO.: 24STCV20953
16.C. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 54956.9 (2 CASES) CPUC COMPLAINTS AGAINST SOTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON
AND SOCAL GAS
17. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – 10:10 P.M.
18. ADJOURNMENT : 10:10 P.M.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m. on December 10, 2024. The next regular meeting of the City
Council is scheduled to be held on Monday, January 13, 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
MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
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Approved,
____________________________________
Jeff Pieper, Mayor