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CL_AGN_250609_CC_AgendaPacket_F1.CALL TO ORDER 2.ROLL CALL 3.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4.ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS 5.APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA This is the appropriate time for the Mayor or Councilmembers to approve the agenda as is or reorder. 6.BLUE FOLDER ITEMS (SUPPLEMENTAL) Blue folder (supplemental) items are additional back up materials to administrative reports, changes to the posted agenda packet, and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file. 7.PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS This is the appropriate time for members of the public to make comments regarding items not listed on this agenda. Pursuant to the Brown Act, no action will take place on any items not on the agenda. 8.CONSENT CALENDAR Business items, except those formally noticed for public hearing, or those pulled for discussion are assigned to the Consent Calendar. The Mayor or any Councilmember may request that any Consent Calendar item(s) be removed, discussed, and acted upon separately. Items removed from the Consent Calendar will be taken up under the "Excluded Consent Calendar" section below. Those items remaining on the Consent Calendar will be approved in one motion. The Mayor will call on anyone wishing to address the City Council on any Consent Calendar item on the agenda, which has not been pulled by Councilmembers for discussion. 8.A.APPROVE AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2025 2 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD ROLLING HILLS, CA 90274 (310) 377-1521 AGENDA Regular City Council Meeting CITY COUNCIL Monday, June 09, 2025 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS 7:00 PM The meeting agenda is available on the City’s website. The City Council meeting will be live-streamed on the City’s website. Both the agenda and the live-streamed video can be found here: https://www.rolling-hills.org/government/agenda/index.php Members of the public may submit written comments in real-time by emailing the City Clerk’s office at cityclerk@cityofrh.net. Your comments will become part of the official meeting record. You must provide your full name, but please do not provide any other personal information that you do not want to be published. Recordings to City Council meetings can be found here: https://www.rolling-hills.org/government/agenda/index.php Next Resolution No. 1394 Next Ordinance No. 388 1 RECOMMENDATION: Approve. 8.B.APPROVE MOTION TO READ BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE FURTHER READING OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA RECOMMENDATION: Approve. 8.C.APPROVE THE FOLLOWING MINUTES OF MAY 28, 2025: CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 8.D.PAYMENT OF BILLS RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 8.E.APPROVE EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MCGOWAN CONSULTING LLC. FOR SERVICES RELATING TO STORMWATER MANDATE COMPLIANCE RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 8.F.APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH JTL CONSULTANTS FOR A THREE-YEAR PERIOD AT A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $5,000 PER FISCAL YEAR PROVIDING ON-CALL ARBORIST SERVICES TO SUPPORT STAFF IN FIRE FUEL ABATEMENT CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 8.G.APPROVE A FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LSL, LLC TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AUDIT SERVICES FOR THE THREE FISCAL YEARS STARTING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 FOR AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $114,900. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. CL_AGN_250609_CC_AffidavitofPosting.pdf CL_MIN_250528_CC_F.pdf CL_AGN_250609_CC_PaymentOfBills.pdf Attachment A - CA_AGR_250609_McGowan_Amend08_F.pdf Attachment B - Original McGowan agreement.pdf Attachment C - McGowan 1stAmendment 2018-2020 SIGNED.pdf Attachment D - McGowan 2ndAmendment 4-17-19.pdf Attachment E - 3rd Agreement McGowan Consulting LLC Agreement 2020_07_29.pdf Attachment F - CA_AGR_210629_4thAmendment_E.pdf Attachment G - CA_AGR_220613_McGowan_Amend05_E.pdf Attachment H - CA_AGR_230612_McGowan_Amend06_E.pdf Attachment I - CA_AGR_240624_McGowan_Amend07_F_E.pdf CA_AGR_250609_JTL-Consultants_Arborist_3yr_F.pdf CA_AGR_250609_LSL_Amendment_05_F.pdf CA_AGR_160627_LSL_2016-19_E.pdf CA_AGR_211130_LSL_Amendment_01_PE.pdf CA_AGR_220912_LSL_ Amendment_02_E.pdf CA_AGR_230612_LSL_Amendment_03_E.pdf CA_AGR_240722_LSL_Amendment_04_E.pdf 2 8.H.ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1392 APPROVING THE UPDATED FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 PAY SCHEDULE TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS) STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPENSATION EARNABLE AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PAY SCHEDULES RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 8.I.FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION: ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 386 AMENDING CHAPTER 17.16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE HEIGHT LIMITS OF SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES, STABLES AND BARNS; AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER SECTION 21080.17 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 8.J.FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION: ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 387 DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA BASED ON MAPS PROVIDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AND AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE NOT SUBJECT TO CEQA RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented 9.EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 10.COMMISSION ITEMS 11.PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.A.PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING POTENTIAL INCREASE TO REFUSE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 R EC O M M EN D AT I O N: 1. Conduct a public hearing to accept written and verbal protests against the increased refuse waste fees, track the number of protests and, if the number of written protests received is not sufficient to constitute a majority, make a finding that there is not a majority protest by property owners. 2. Approve Resolution No. 1394 “A Resolution of the City Council of the City Attachment 01 - ResolutionNo1392_FY25-26_SalarySchedule_F.pdf Attachment 02 - Circular Letter 200-003-2_ Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Publicly Available Pay Schedules.pdf Attachment 01 - 386_HeightLimit_Ordinance_D.pdf Attachment 02 - May 28, 2025 City Council Staff Report Agenda Item 11.A Ordinance 386.pdf Attachment A - 387_ FireHazardSeverityZoneMap_Ordinance.pdf Attachment B - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LRA_RollingHills.pdf Attachment C - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LRA__LosAngelesCoSW.pdf Attachment D - CL_AGN_250528_CC_Item13A_Ord387_FHSZ.pdf 3 of Rolling Hills, California, Increasing the Maximum Refuse Services Rate in the City” (Attachment 2) 11.B.CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 1390 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS BUDGET INCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND; REFUSE COLLECTION FUND; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE R; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE M; TRANSIT FUND - PROPOSITION A; TRANSIT FUND - PROPOSITION C; COPS FUND; MEASURE W FUND; AND RESOLUTION NO. 1391 ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 APPROPRIATIONS GANN LIMIT FOR THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 12.OLD BUSINESS 13.NEW BUSINESS 13.A.ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1393 MEMORIALIZING THE 2024 UTILITIES DE- ENERGIZATION DUE TO HISTORICAL LAND MOVEMENT WITHIN ROLLING HILLS AND SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS AND UTILITY PARTNERS RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. 14.MATTERS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL 14.A.CONSIDERATION OF SENDING A LETTER IN OPPOSITION REGARDING SB 79 (WIENER) TO CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER MURATSUCHI (MIRSCH) RECOMMENDATION: Provide direction to staff. 15.MATTERS FROM STAFF 15.A.RECEIVE AND FILE A VERBAL UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AUDIO/VISUAL SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. 16.RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION Attachment 01 - CL_PBN_250416_Prop218_Refuse_Resident_F.pdf Attachment 02 - ResolutionNo1394_Prop218_MaximumRateForRefuseServices_2025_D.pdf Attachment A - CL_AGN_250609_CC_GF_BudgetSummary.pdf Attachment B - CL_AGN_250609_CC_GF_EstimatedRevenues.pdf Attachment C - CL_AGN_250609_CC_GF_Expenditures.pdf Attachment D - CL_AGN_250609_CC_RestrictedFunds.pdf ResolutionNo1390_FY25-26_AdoptedBudget_F.pdf ResolutionNo1391_FY25-26_AppropLimit_F.pdf ResolutionNo1393_Memorializing2024DeEnergization_LandMvmt_Response_F.pdf Attachment 01 - CL_AGN_250609_CC_SB79_OppositionLetter.pdf Attachment 02 - CL_AGN_250609_CC_SB79_BillText.pdf Attachment 03 - CL_AGN_250609_CC_SB79_Lemons-Sanchez_SGVT_OpEd.pdf 4 16.A.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - 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. (3 CASES) A. NAME OF CASE: CONNIE ANDERSEN, ET AL. V. CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANY, ET AL. (SEAVIEW CASE) CASE NO.: 24STCV20953 B. NAME OF CASE: CITY OF ROLLING HILLS V. SCE CPUC DOCKET NO. C.24-10-008 C. NAME OF CASE: CITY OF ROLLING HILLS V. SOCALGAS CPUC DOCKET NO. C.24-10-009 RECOMMENDATION: None. 16.B.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(C) AND (D)(4) REGARDING THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO INITIATE LITIGATION (1 CASE)RECOMMENDATION: NONE RECOMMENDATION: None. 16.C.CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(C) AND (D)(4) REGARDING THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO INITIATE LITIGATION (1 CASE)RECOMMENDATION: NONE RECOMMENDATION: None. 17.RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION 18.ADJOURNMENT In memory of longtime resident Dr. Arvel B. Witte. Next regular meeting: Monday, June 23, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Rolling Hills City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California, 90274. Notice: Public Comment is welcome on any item prior to City Council action on the item. Documents pertaining to an agenda item received after the posting of the agenda are available for review in the City Clerk's office or at the meeting at which the item will be considered. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting due to your disability, please contact the City Clerk at (310) 377-1521 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility and accommodation for your review of this agenda and attendance at this meeting. 5 Agenda Item No.: 8.A Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:APPROVE AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2025 DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Approve. ATTACHMENTS: CL_AGN_250609_CC_AffidavitofPosting.pdf 6 Administrative Report 8.A., File # 2814 Meeting Date: 6/9/202 5 To: MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL From: Christian Horvath, City Clerk TITLE APPROVE AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 9, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ) AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING In compliance with the Brown Act, the following materials have been posted at the locations below. Legislative Body City Council Posting Type Regular Meeting Agenda Posting Location 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, CA 90274 City Hall Window City Website: https://www.rolling-hills.org/government/agenda/index.php https://www.rolling-hills.org/government/city_council/city_council_archive_agendas/index.php Meeting Date & Time JUNE 9, 2025 7:00pm Open Session As City Clerk of the City of Rolling Hills, I declare under penalty of perjury, the document noted above was posted at the date displayed below. Christian Horvath, City Clerk Date: June 6 , 2025 7 Agenda Item No.: 8.B Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:APPROVE MOTION TO READ BY TITLE ONLY AND WAIVE FURTHER READING OF ALL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS LISTED ON THE AGENDA DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Approve. ATTACHMENTS: 8 Agenda Item No.: 8.C Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:APPROVE THE FOLLOWING MINUTES OF MAY 28 , 2025: CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: CL_MIN_250528_CC_F.pdf 9 MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Page 1 Minutes Rolling Hills City Council Monday, May 28, 2025 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 7:04 p.m. Mayor Pieper presiding. 2. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Present: Mirsch, Black, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper Councilmembers Absent: Wilson Staff Present: Karina Bañales, City Manager Christian Horvath, City Clerk / Executive Assistant to the City Manager Samantha Crew, Management Analyst Nicolas Papajohn, City Attorney 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer 4. PRESENTATIONS / PROCLAMATIONS / ANNOUNCEMENTS – NONE 5. APPROVE ORDER OF THE AGENDA Mayor Pieper moved to revise the order of the agenda with Item 13A preceding Item 11A. Without objection, so ordered. 6. BLUE FOLDER ITEMS (SUPPLEMENTAL) Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to receive and file Blue Folder Item 7A. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote: AYES: Mirsch, Black, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper NOES: None ABSENT: Wilson 7. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS Public Comment: Alfred Visco 8. CONSENT CALENDAR 8.A. APPROVE AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 28, 2025 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 MINUTES OF MAY 12 , 2025: CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING 8.D. PAYMENT OF BILLS 10 MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Page 2 8.E. PULLED BY COUNCILMEMBER MIRSCH Councilmember Mirsch pointed out some discrepancies in the data presented and red tag definitions. City Manager Bañales noted she would work with Republic Services to correct or update. Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to approve the Consent Calendar except for Item 8E. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote: AYES: Mirsch, Black, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper NOES: None ABSENT: Wilson 9. EXCLUDED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS – NONE 8.E. REPUBLIC SERVICES RECYCLING TONNAGE AND COMPLAINT REPORTS FOR MARCH 2025 Motion by Councilmember Mirsch, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer to receive and file. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote: AYES: Mirsch, Black, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper NOES: None ABSENT: Wilson 10. COMMISSION ITEMS – NONE Mayor Pieper moved to Item 13A 13. NEW BUSINESS 13.A. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 387 DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA BASED ON MAPS PROVIDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AND AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE NOT SUBJECT TO CEQA Presentation by Management Analyst Crew LA County Assistant Fire Chief Brian Kane Public Comment: Alfred Visco, Melissa McNabb Motion by Councilmember Black , seconded by Mayor Pieper to approve as presented. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote: AYES: Mirsch, Black, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper NOES: None ABSENT: Wilson Mayor Pieper moved to Item 11 A 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.A. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 386 AMENDING CHAPTER 17.16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE HEIGHT LIMITS OF SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES, 11 MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Page 3 STABLES AND BARNS; AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER SECTION 21080.17 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE Presentation by City Manager Bañales Public Comment: Alfred Visco, Judith Haenel, Kristen Raig Motion by Mayor Pieper, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to approve as presented. Motion carried with the following vote: AYES: Mirsch, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper NOES: Black ABSENT: Wilson 12. OLD BUSINESS – NONE 13. NEW BUSINESS 13.B. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED EMPLOYEE SALARY SCHEDULE AND JOB CLASSIFICATION MODIFICATIONS Presentation by City Manager Bañales Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to adopt the updated salary schedule and classifications but maintain the existing salary range for the Management Analyst and Administrative Assistant positions; approve replacement of the Planning Director classification with Planning Manager, eliminate the Administrative Clerk/Bookkeeper position, and bring Code Enforcement in-house under the new consolidated classification of Code Compliance Office/Planning Technician and; direct staff to begin recruitment for the revised and consolidated positions. Motion carried with the following vote: AYES: Mirsch, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper NOES: Black ABSENT: Wilson 14. MATTERS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL – NONE 15. MATTERS FROM STAFF 15.A. RECEIVE AND FILE A PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS UPDATE Presentation by Management Analyst Crew Public Comment: Alfred Visco, Judith Haenel Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Dieringer, seconded by Councilmember Mirsch to receive and file. Motion carried unanimously with the following vote: AYES: Mirsch, Black, Dieringer, Mayor Pieper NOES: None ABSENT: Wilson 16. RECESS TO CLOSED SESSION – 9:06 P.M. 12 MINUTES – CITY COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Page 4 16.A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - 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. (3 CASES) A. NAME OF CASE: CONNIE ANDERSEN, ET AL. V. CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANY, ET AL. (SEAVIEW CASE) CASE NO.: 24STCV20953 B. NAME OF CASE: CITY OF ROLLING HILLS V. SCE CPUC DOCKET NO. C.24-10 -008 C. NAME OF CASE: CITY OF ROLLING HILLS V. SOCALGAS CPUC DOCKET NO. C.24-10 - 009 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. (1 CASE) RECOMMENDATION: NONE 16.C. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(C) AND (D)(4) REGARDING THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO INITIATE LITIGATION (1 CASE) RECOMMENDATION: NONE 17. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION – 9:29 P.M. 18. ADJOURNMENT : 9:29 P.M. The meeting was adjourned at 9:29 p.m. on May 28, 2025 in memory of Dr. Paul Straub, a longtime resident on Packsaddle East. The next regular meeting of the City Council is scheduled to be held on Monday, June 9, 2025 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, ____________________________________ Jeff Pieper, Mayor 13 Agenda Item No.: 8.D Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:PAYMENT OF BILLS DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: CL_AGN_250609_CC_PaymentOfBills.pdf 14 15 16 Agenda Item No.: 8.E Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:SAMANTHA CREW, MANAGEMENT ANALYST THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:APPROVE EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MCGOWAN CONSULTING LLC. FOR SERVICES RELATING TO STORMWATER MANDATE COMPLIANCE DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: Kathleen McGowan, founder and principal of McGowan Consulting LLC (McGowan), is a highly regarded expert in stormwater quality and watershed protection. She has served as a long-standing consultant to the City of Rolling Hills since 2003, bringing more than two decades of experience and in-depth knowledge of the City's unique environmental, hydrologic, and regulatory conditions. Over the years, Ms. McGowan has played an integral role in helping the City meet the evolving requirements of the Regional Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. Her expertise has been instrumental in ensuring compliance with complex stormwater regulations while supporting the City’s broader environmental protection goals. In addition to permit compliance, Ms. McGowan has actively supported the City’s participation in regional watershed initiatives. She worked closely with City staff and regional partners on the cooperative development and implementation of both the Peninsula Watershed Management Program (WMP) and the Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Program (CIMP). A notable achievement includes securing final approval of the Peninsula WMP, which incorporated the City of Rolling Hills as an 85th percentile, 24-hour stormwater runoff retention area eligible for deemed compliance with effluent limitations and receiving water limitations, an advanced and seldom-achieved requirement among Los Angeles County municipalities. This accomplishment reflects a high level of technical rigor and strategic planning. Ms. McGowan also played a pivotal role in negotiating modifications to MS4 permit provisions, enabling the City to join a shared CIMP with neighboring Peninsula agencies. This collaborative approach significantly reduced monitoring costs while still meeting regulatory obligations. 17 Through strategic advocacy and technical expertise, McGowan recently played a pivotal role in protecting the City of Rolling Hills from substantial financial penalties issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA Water Board). In response to settlement offers and proposed mandatory minimum penalties related to monitoring data for Machado Lake from September 2021 to December 2022, McGowan prepared and submitted a detailed contest letter on the City’s behalf. The letter successfully demonstrated that the City meets the deemed compliance provisions of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit by retaining runoff from the 85th percentile, 24-hour storm event and conducting continuous flow monitoring as required under the Peninsula Watershed Management Program. As a result, the LA Water Board issued a favorable determination on May 15, 2025, confirming that the City is not subject to the proposed penalties. McGowan’s efforts not only preserved the City’s compliance standing but also saved the City approximately $34,725 in avoided fines. For a small City like Rolling Hills, this level of cost savings has a significant fiscal impact, allowing limited resources to remain focused on essential public services. The proposed agreement is a three-year contract with McGowan Consulting (Attachment A), which makes sense for both operational and fiscal reasons. A multi-year term provides continuity in managing the City’s stormwater compliance efforts, reduces administrative overhead associated with annual renewals, and supports more effective long-term planning. The McGowan contract originally began with a three-year term, but following the third amendment, the term fluctuated between one-year and three-year extensions in subsequent years (Attachments B through I). Ms. McGowan’s in-depth understanding of the City’s regulatory history and resource limitations allows her to deliver highly tailored, cost-conscious solutions. Extending her services over a three-year period ensures stability, preserves institutional knowledge, and positions the City to remain proactive and compliant amid evolving regulatory requirements. DISCUSSION: McGowan Consulting LLC has submitted a proposed three-year Professional Services Agreement (PSA) and accompanying scope of services to provide continued stormwater regulatory consulting support to the City. This new agreement will replace and update the existing 2024 one-year PSA and outlines consulting services for Fiscal Years 2025–26, 2026– 27, and 2027–28. Under this renewed agreement, McGowan will continue to assist the City in maintaining compliance with the requirements of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, ensuring the City remains in good standing with evolving state and regional water quality mandates. The City’s Regional Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit includes numerous regulatory obligations, many of which must be documented and reported annually to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB). McGowan’s proposal outlines the specific tasks she will undertake to manage the City’s MS4 permit compliance, including implementation and reporting duties associated with the City’s watershed group participation. Effectively tracking and responding to the evolving landscape of stormwater regulations requires a deep understanding of federal, state, and regional mandates. McGowan ensures the City remains informed and compliant with current statewide water quality standards, permitting policies, LARWQCB, and State Water Board orders, as well as updates to Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). Her extensive familiarity with these mandates provides the City with valuable regulatory insight and tailored assistance. 18 In alignment with MS4 Permit requirements, the City is also responsible for developing and maintaining a Public Information and Participation Program (PIPP). McGowan will assist staff in creating public outreach materials, supporting local environmental events, and tracking these efforts for inclusion in annual MS4 reporting. She will also support training activities related to planning, land development, and construction, helping staff meet educational and procedural standards outlined in the permit. In addition, McGowan and her team will continue to provide guidance on Low-Impact Development (LID) and Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) best practices, ensuring staff are equipped with up-to-date resources and training to meet compliance standards. Beyond MS4 compliance, McGowan also supports the City’s administration of Measure W (Safe Clean Water Program) funds. She assists in the preparation of the City’s Annual Plan and Expenditure Report, ensuring alignment with the City’s Transfer Agreement with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD). Her strategic oversight helps the City manage these funds effectively and in compliance with program requirements. McGowan actively participates in co-permittee coordination through virtual meetings, technical working group sessions, and regional conference calls. Her over 20 years of continuous service to the City of Rolling Hills and neighboring Peninsula cities provides her with a unique level of institutional knowledge and continuity that is difficult to replicate. Scope of Work Summary (FY2025–2028) 1. Program Management & Reporting - Coordinate stormwater program activities, prepare required annual reports, and track regulatory developments. 2. Public Outreach Support - Assist with public information efforts and prepare Safe, Clean Water (Measure W) reports and plans. 3. Land Development & Construction - Provide staff training and tracking related to low impact development (LID) and construction site compliance. 4. Public Agency Activities - Support BMP implementation at City facilities and deliver required staff training. 5. Illicit Discharge Detection - Conduct annual training and support updates to procedures for identifying and resolving illicit discharges. 6. Watershed Coordination - Participate in watershed group planning, support monitoring program reviews, and assist with interagency MOUs. 7. WMP Joint Implementation - Support regional watershed progress reporting, adaptive management review, and shared public outreach content. City staff have consistently found Ms. McGowan to be an exceptionally reliable and effective consultant. She demonstrates a high level of responsiveness and attention to detail in all aspects of her work, ensuring that the City’s stormwater program remains both compliant and well-coordinated. Her deep subject matter expertise is complemented by a practical and nuanced understanding of the City’s unique context, including its small size, limited staffing, and constrained budget. What sets Ms. McGowan apart is her ability to tailor regulatory strategies that are not only technically sound but also fiscally responsible. She regularly recommends cost-conscious approaches that help the City meet its complex permit obligations without unnecessary expenditures. Her proactive guidance, clarity in communication, and commitment to public agency service have made her a trusted and 19 valued advisor to City staff. In light of the City’s ongoing regulatory obligations and the proven value of McGowan’s services, approval of the proposed three-year agreement represents a sound and strategic investment. It ensures continuity with a consultant who has demonstrated exceptional reliability, technical expertise, and fiscal prudence. Her continued support will help the City navigate complex permit requirements with confidence, maintain compliance, and make efficient use of limited resources. FISCAL IMPACT: The total estimated cost for the three-year contract is $223,600. With an additional 10% contingency of $22,360, the total not-to-exceed amount is $245,960. Measure W will cover $75,100 of contract fees over the three-year period (excluding contingency). Annual projected costs are as follows: • FY 2025–2026: $71,500 • FY 2026–2027: $74,600 • FY 2027–2028: $77,500 Contingency @ 10%: $22,360 Total Not to Exceed Amount (with contingency): $245,960 Measure W will cover (excluding contingency): $75,100 *Please note that Other Direct Costs are covered under Measure W RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - CA_AGR_250609_McGowan_Amend08_F.pdf Attachment B - Original McGowan agreement.pdf Attachment C - McGowan 1stAmendment 2018-2020 SIGNED.pdf Attachment D - McGowan 2ndAmendment 4-17-19.pdf Attachment E - 3rd Agreement McGowan Consulting LLC Agreement 2020_07_29.pdf Attachment F - CA_AGR_210629_4thAmendment_E.pdf Attachment G - CA_AGR_220613_McGowan_Amend05_E.pdf Attachment H - CA_AGR_230612_McGowan_Amend06_E.pdf Attachment I - CA_AGR_240624_McGowan_Amend07_F_E.pdf 20 EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT This Eighth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement (“Eighth Amendment”) is entered into by and between the City of Rolling Hills, a municipal corporation (“City”) and McGowan Consulting LLC (“Consultant”) upon full, written execution by both parties. RECITALS A. City and Consultant are parties to that Professional Services Agreement dated July 15, 2015 (the “Agreement”) by which City engaged Consultant for environmental consulting services pertaining to the implementation of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4) and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation under the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act. B. The Agreement has been amended by a First Amendment to the Agreement dated July 26, 2018 (the “First Amendment”), a Second Amendment to the Agreement dated April 17, 2019 (the “Second Amendment”), a Third Amendment to the Agreement dated July 29, 2020 (the “Third Amendment”), a Fourth Amendment to the Agreement dated June 29, 2021 (the “Fourth Amendment”), a Fifth Amendment to the Agreement dated June 28, 2022 (the “Fifth Amendment”), a Sixth Amendment to the Agreement dated June 13, 2023 (the “Sixth Amendment”), and a Seventh Amendment to the Agreement dated June 24, 2024 (the “Seventh Amendment”) by which City continued Consultant's engagement to perform MS4 permit consulting services and amended the scope of services, compensation and term. C. City and Consultant now desire to further amend the Agreement for an eighth time in order to engage Consultant to perform MS4 permit consulting services for the 2025-2026 through 20272028 fiscal years and to establish a revised scope of work and compensation for such services and extend the term of the Agreement by this Eighth Amendment. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the Agreement is amended as follows: A. Section 2 “SCOPE OF WORK” of the Agreement is amended to read as follows: CONSULTANT shall perform all work necessary to complete in a manner satisfactory to CITY the services set forth in the scope of work attached as Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by this reference during the extension term as provided in this Eighth Amendment. B. Section 3 “COST” of the Agreement is amended to read as follows: The CITY agrees to pay CONSULTANT for all the work or any part of the work performed under this Agreement at the rates and in the manner established in the attached Exhibit A. Total expenditures made under this Agreement shall not exceed the sum of $35,850 for FY 2015-16; $39,976 for FY 2016-17; $39,468 for FY 2017-18; $46,996 for FY 2018-19; $46,992 for FY 2019-20; $70,605 for FY 2020-21; $99,095 for FY 2021-22; $71,500 (inclusive of 10% contingency fee) for FY 2022-23; $75,020 (inclusive of 10% contingency fee) for FY 2023-2024, $75,900 for FY 2024-2025, and $78,700 for FY 2025-26, $82,100 for FY2026-27, $85,300 for FY 2027-28 services in the attached Exhibit A (each FY 2025- 26, FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 inclusive of a 10% contingency fee). All such fees include automobile mileage, parking fees, routine printing and copying, photography, travel, attendance at meetings and routine miscellaneous costs incurred during the term. No 21 increase in fees will be allowed during the life of this Agreement, as extended by this Eighth Amendment. Any increase in contract amount or scope shall be by express written amendment approved by the CITY and CONSULTANT. C. Section 9 “TERM” of the Agreement is amended to read as follows: The term of the Agreement is extended for an additional (3) three years until June 30, 202 8 . D. Except as above modified, in all other respects the Agreement as previously amended is hereby affirmed and in full force and effect. Capitalized terms herein which are not otherwise defined in this Eighth Amendment shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement, as previously amended. From and after the effective date of this Eighth Amendment, whenever the term “Agreement” appears in the Agreement, it shall mean the Agreement as amended by this Eighth Amendment. ATTEST CITY OF ROLLING HILLS __________________________________ ___________________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH Date KARINA BAÑALES Date CITY CLERK CITY MANAGER MCGOWAN CONSULTING, LLC ___________________________________ KATHLEEN MCGOWAN Date CONSULTANT 22 EXHIBIT A (See following page) 23 MCGOWAN CONSULTING, LLC 412 Olive Avenue, #189, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 310-213-4979 Kathleen@McGowan.Consulting May 28, 2025 Karina Bañales, City Manager Samantha Crew, Management Analyst City of Rolling Hills 2 Portuguese Bend Road Rolling Hills, CA 90274 RE: SCOPE OF SERVICES FOR MS4 PERMIT CONSULTING Dear Ms. Bañales and Ms. Crew: McGowan Consulting is pleased to provide the enclosed scope of services and cost estimate to assist the City of Rolling Hills in implementing the requirements of the Regional Municipal Stormwater Permit from fiscal year 2025-2026 through 2027-2028. McGowan Consulting specializes in providing customized stormwater quality and watershed protection support services to municipal clients and has an in-depth understanding of the City’s unique character, opportunities and constraints. We are gratified to have assisted the City in successfully contesting alleged water quality violations and associated fines based on demonstration of the City's deemed compliance with water quality limitations retroactive to its inclusion in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Watershed Management Program. This scope of services is designed to assist the City in implementing its individual requirements under the Regional Municipal Stormwater Permit and in supporting the City in cooperative implementation of the Peninsula Watershed Management Program and Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Program. Given the uncertain and unpredictable nature of these regulatory-driven programs, a ten percent contingency is recommended to be used only when authorized by the City. Please contact me if you have any questions or require additional information. Thank you for the opportunity to continue to work with you and your colleagues in serving the City of Rolling Hills. Sincerely, Kathleen C. McGowan, P.E., Principal McGowan Consulting, LLC Attachment: Scope of Services and Cost Estimate 24 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 1 of 13 Scope of Services – Stormwater Permit Consulting City of Rolling Hills FY2025-2026 through FY2027-2028 This scope of services is designed to assist the City of Rolling Hills (City) with implementation of stormwater programs required by the Regional Municipal NPDES Permit – Order No. R4-2021-0105 – NPDES Permit No. CAS004004 Waste Discharge Requirements and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Discharges within the Coastal Watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (Regional Permit). The Regional Permit will expire on September 11, 2026; however, the California Code of Regulations specifies that the terms and conditions of an expired permit are automatically continued pending the issuance of a new permit. Consequently, Permittees must continue to implement the requirements of the Regional Permit until a new permit is adopted. While the process of negotiating new permit terms may begin sometime within the next three years, based on previous experience with LA Water Board permit cycles it is unlikely a new Municipal NPDES Permit will become effective within the term of this scope of services. As such, the level of effort included in this scope of services assumes a continuation of current Regional Permit programs and projects with no significant new effort to implement a new permit. This scope of services is organized into eight (8) tasks: Task 1 - Program Management, Reporting & Regulatory Support Task 2 - Public Information & Participation Program Assistance Task 3 - Commercial Facilities Control Program Assistance [not applicable to the city] Task 4 - Planning & Land Development and Construction Programs Support Task 5 - Public Agency Activities Program Support Task 6 - Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Program Support Task 7 - Watershed Group Planning & Coordination Task 8 - Watershed Management Program Joint Implementation Activities Task 1 Program Management, Reporting, and Regulatory Support Implementation of Regional Permit requirements necessitates effective coordination across a wide range of municipal activities. Task 1 is focused on assisting City staff in stormwater program planning, budgeting, reporting, coordination and regulatory support. Subtask 1.1 Coordination, Communication and Project Management This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to perform project management activities necessary to deliver the scope of services in a timely and cost-efficient manner. These include task management, internal coordination and planning, meetings and regular communication with City staff on action items and pending decisions needed, as well as overall project and budget management. Time is also included 25 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 2 of 13 for attendance at occasional City Council meetings and assistance in drafting staff reports on items of importance to the City’s stormwater program. Subtask 1.2 Regional Permit Individual Annual Report The Regional Permit requires the City to submit an Individual Annual Report to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA Water Board) by December 15 covering activities implemented during the preceding fiscal year (July 1-June 30). This report must include but is not limited to detailed reporting of Regional Permit implementation costs, implementation activities, non-stormwater prohibition effectiveness, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation and compliance. Additionally, the State Water Resources Control Board in January 2025 adopted a new Statewide Water Quality Control Policy for Standardized Cost Reporting in Municipal Stormwater Permits requiring tracking and submittal of the City’s fiscal year costs for implementing the Regional Permit via a newly developed statewide MS4 Cost Data Portal. This subtask covers McGowan Consulting’s preparation of the City’s Individual Annual Report and attachments following the required format and content prescribed in the Regional Permit . Beginning in 2026 this will include assistance to the City in tracking its Regional Permit implementation costs in accordance with the new statewide cost reporting policy and for reporting these costs utilizing the new statewide MS4 Cost Data Portal. The following schedule allows sufficient time for McGowan Consulting to prepare the draft report and attachments, for City staff to review and comment, and for final report preparation and submittal by regulatory deadlines. By August 15 following the close of the fiscal year, McGowan Consulting will provide City staff a detailed list of information needed to complete the Individual Annual Report. Assuming receipt of the requested information in electronic format from City staff by September 15, a draft Individual Annual Report will be prepared and provided for City staff review by November 1. Following receipt of comments from City staff, McGowan Consulting will revise and finalize the annual report for City management staff approval and signature prior to the December 15 submittal deadline . A two-week turnaround for consolidated City staff comments on the draft report and a single revision of the annual report are assumed in this schedule. Following submittal of each Individual Annual Report to the LA Water Board, McGowan Consulting will provide City staff a PDF copy of the final Individual Annual Report, including all attachments, along with a link to a digital folder containing supporting files for City staff to download and file internally. Given the City’s approved ‘deemed compliance’ alternative demonstration of compliance with final water quality-based effluent limitations and receiving water limitations, it is assumed that no Receiving Water Limitations Compliance Report will be necessary for the City during any of the reporting year s covered by this scope of services. If as a result of a change in the City’s deemed compliance status, such a report becomes necessary in a particular reporting year, McGowan Consulting’s effort for preparatio n of that report would be drawn from the annual contingency. 26 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 3 of 13 Subtask 1.2 Annual Deliverables: • Draft and Final Regional Permit Individual Annual Reports, including link to digital folder containing supporting files for City's records Subtask 1.3 Permit-wide Coordination and Regulatory Support This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to track and review regulatory actions affecting the City’s stormwater program such as new or revisions to statewide policies, NPDES permit actions impacting Regional Permit implementation, and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) reconsiderations or issuance of new TMDLs. This subtask also includes time for McGowan Consulting to attend and participate in virtual meetings with other municipal permittee representatives and various stakeholders to share information, resources and address challenges cooperatively. Examples of such meetings include Los Angeles Permit Group meetings, California Stormwater Quality Association meetings, and periodic LA Water Board meetings. This subtask also includes participation in LA Water Board workshops and permit negotiation meetings and/or review and comment on tentative permit documents but assumes that a new permit will not be adopted within the term of this scope of services. Consulting time for attending meetings and performing services in common for multiple clients has been reduced in this task to account for distribution of time (cost-sharing) between clients. Task 2 Public Information and Participation Program Assistance Each Permittee is responsible for developing and implementing a Public Information and Participation Program (PIPP) that addresses specific Regional Permit and Peninsula Watershed Management Program (WMP) requirements. Each of the required elements of the PIPP may be met by the City either through a collaborative or individual program approach, including through partnerships with State or National stormwater member agencies as well as by leveraging County-wide outreach and engagement efforts including those implemented through the Safe Clean Water Program. The Palos Verdes Peninsula Watershed Management Group (Peninsula W MG) has committed to joint development of certain elements of the PIPP which are described in Subtask 8.2. McGowan Consulting understands that the City’s solid waste franchisee disseminates information to residents on proper handling of wastes such as vehicle waste fluids, household waste materials, construction waste materials, organic waste and animal waste. City staff also disseminate opportunities for participation in pollution prevention activities and events to residents via the City's Blue Newsletter and Environmental Programs website. Subtask 2.1 PIPP Support The Regional Permit requires documentation and tracking of information on the City’s PIPP activities, including the (1) date of activity; (2) method of dissemination, (3) targeted behavior; (4) targeted pollutant; (5) targeted audience; (6) culturally effe ctive methods; (7) metric(s) for measuring effectiveness of activity, and related information necessary for measuring effectiveness. This subtask provides for tracking the City’s PIPP activities via metrics identified in collaboration with City staff. McGowan Consulting will work with City staff to gather and compile the appropriate metrics in a 27 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 4 of 13 spreadsheet database to demonstrate the reach and effectiveness of the City's PIPP activities. This data will be incorporated into the appropriate section of the City’s Individual Annual Report. This task also provides an allocation of effort for McGowan Consulting to support the City as needed in its efforts to disseminate public outreach materials and encourage community engagement on stormwater and related environmental programs. This support may include reviewing and recommending changes to the Environmental Programs website material and/or recommendations for information to be disseminated to the public via the City’s Blue Newsletter. Subtask 2.1 Annual Deliverables: • Update of City’s individual PIPP activities database and metrics for tracking effectiveness Subtask 2.2 Safe Clean Water Municipal Program Support The Safe Clean Water (SCW) Program, also known as Measure W, provides dedicated funding for stormwater activities that improve water quality and assist permittees in compliance with the Regional Permit while also delivering other co-benefits to Los Angeles County communities. The City receives approximately $105,000 annually in Municipal SCW Program funds to use on local projects and programs that achieve SCW Program goals. The City’s Municipal SCW Annual Plan and Municipal SCW Annual Expenditure Report must be prepared and submitted via the SCW online reporting tool in accordance with the structure and content required by LACFCD. The tool is mounted on the Los Angeles County SCW Program website (SafeCleanWaterLA.org) where the plans and reports are also posted for public transparency and accountability. The Annual Plan must describe the projects, programs, and other activities the City intends to fund with Municipal SCW Program funds in the upcoming fiscal year. The Annual Expenditure Report must describe how the City expended its Municipal SCW funds during the preceding fiscal year and whether these expenditures aligned with the Annual Plan prepared for that year. This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to prepare drafts of the required Municipal SCW Annual Plans and Annual Expenditure Reports, which are due on April 1 and December 31, respectively. To allow time to prepare and submit the appropriate deliverables on time, the following schedules are proposed: • Municipal SCW Annual Report: After the close of each fiscal year, McGowan Consulting will work with City staff to obtain the information necessary to complete the Annual Expenditure Report. 28 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 5 of 13 Assuming McGowan Consulting is in receipt of all needed information by October 15, a draft Annual Expenditure Report will be prepared for City staff review by November 1. • Municipal SCW Annual Plan: McGowan Consulting will meet with City staff annually in January to consult on anticipated Municipal SCW Program expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year. A draft Municipal SCW Annual Plan will then be prepared for City staff review by March 1. • Comment/Review: A two-week turnaround for consolidated City staff comments and a single revision of the Annual Plan and Annual Expenditure Report are assumed. In FY2024-25, the Safe, Clean Water Program requested additional metrics data from municipalities with Safe, Clean Water funded projects to better measure and track project performance with respect to the goals of the Safe, Clean Water Program. It is anticipated that similar additional metrics will be requested for programs as well as projects in upcoming fiscal years. This sub-task includes an allocation of effort starting in FY2025-26 for McGowan Consulting to assist with anticipated increased measures and metrics reporting for the Municipal Safe, Clean Water Program. This subtask also includes as-needed support to City staff in assembling requested information for the 3-year independent audit of Municipal SCW funds due in March 2027. McGowan Consulting will also assist City staff in preparing a staff report, City Council resolution and submitting necessary documentation required for execution of a new Transfer Agreement with the District prior to expiration of the current Transfer Agreement in June 2028. It is assumed that the City will be responsible for procuring and directing the independent 3-year financial audit of its SCW program payments as required by the SCW Transfer Agreement . It is also understood that City staff will be responsible for adherence to the SCW Program financial documentation and audit requirements as well as for operating in accordance with best practices and strict accountability for funds, receipts and disbursements as delineated in the SCW Program Municipal Program Transfer Agreement. Subtask 2.2 Annual Deliverables: • Draft and Final Municipal SCW Annual Plans • Draft and Final Municipal SCW Annual Expenditure Reports Task 4 Planning & Land Development and Development Construction Programs Support The Planning & Land Development and Construction Programs are applicable to public and private development projects and there are separate and cross-cutting requirements in these programs. Subtask 4.1 Planning & Land Development Program Training & Tracking The Planning and Land Development provisions of the Regional Permit require the City to ensure that Priority Development Projects provide for permanent measures to reduce storm water pollutant loads from the developed site by conditioning approval of these projects with Low Impact Development (LID) requirements. Qualifying capital improvement projects are also subject to LID requirements. 29 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 6 of 13 This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to prepare and deliver training for Community Development staff on the Planning & Land Development Program (Low Impact Development or LID) requirements of the Regional Permit. The method of delivery of the training may vary from year-to-year depending on City staff’s needs and may include: virtually accessible videos, short online assessments, printed training materials, or synchronous virtual training sessions. This subtask also provides an allocation of time for McGowan Consulting to submit information on Priority Development Projects into the WRAMPS online tool for tracking and annual reporting purposes. It is assumed that contract Building & Safety staff will provide McGowan Consulting with the LID project attributes and other required project information in the WRAMPS bulk upload spreadsheet format. Subtask 4.1 Deliverables • Annual training for Community Development staff on the Planning & Land Development requirements Subtask 4.2 Construction Program Training The City is required to implement a construction program in compliance with the Regional MS4 Permit that tracks and verifies that effective BMPs are being implemented on construction sites within its jurisdiction. The City must also verify that construction projects disturbing one acre or more: 1) obtain coverage under the Statewide Construction General Permit (CGP) and 2) submit and receive approval of the project LID Plans from Building & Safety prior to being issued a grading permit. The City must inspec t construction sites in accordance with required frequencies to verify that effective construction BMPs are being implemented by the construction contractor. This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to prepare and deliver training for Community Development staff on the Construction Program requirements of the Regional Permit. The method of delivery of the training may vary from year -to-year depending on City staff’s needs and may include virtually accessible videos, short online assessments, printed training materials, or synchronous virtual training sessions. An allocation of time is also included in this task for McGowan Consulting to track construction sites enrolled in the CGP through the State Board’s online SMARTS system on a quarterly basis to identify new sites in the system, track the status of sites, and advise City staff of issues of concern identified by this online review. The training provided by McGowan Consulting is primarily focused on the Regional MS4 Permit Construction Program requirements and is not equivalent to the two- or three-day training required for practitioners of the CGP. Therefore, it is assumed that the City will utilize contracted State Qualified QSD/QSP practitioners that are trained and knowledgeable in CGP requirements for construction of municipal capital improvement projects disturbing one acre or more. Subtask 4.2 Annual Deliverables 30 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 7 of 13 • Annual training for Community Development staff on the Construction Program requirements of the Regional Permit Task 5 Public Agency Activities Program Support and Training The Public Agency Activities program of the Regional Permit requires implementation of BMPs to minimize water quality impacts from the maintenance of municipal facilities including parks, streets, parking lots, storm drain infrastructure, recreational and other municipally owned or operated facilities. The Regional Permit requires that contractors hired by the City to conduct construction, operation and maintenance activities must be contractually required to implement and maintain BMPs to control the discharge of pollutants to the MS4 to the maximum extent practicable when conducting such work; McGowan Consulting has previously provided recommended contract language which can be incorporated into contracts to address this requirement. The City must annually train all employees in targeted positions whose interactions, jobs, and activities affect stormwater quality. This annual training requirement also applies to contractors performing privatized/contracted municipal services such as catch basin cleaning, landscape maintenance or trash collection. The Regional Permit also requires the City to maintain an electronic inventory of municipal facilities and activities that are potential sources of pollutants and the BMPs being implemented to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges from these facilities to the maximum extent practicable. The accuracy of the inventory must be verified once during the permit term; since the City’s facility inventory in workbook/spreadsheet format was last comprehensively revised and verified in FY202 2-23, it will not need to be reverified under this scope of services. Incorporation of the municipal facility inventory into GIS is recommended but not required by the Regional Permit. It is assumed that contract or in-house City GIS staff will be responsible for performing conversion of the facility inventory to GIS if City staff determines this is desirable. This subtask includes time for McGowan Consulting to assist City staff in maintaining the facility inventory by conducting one (1) facility visit per year to assess significantly revised conditions at a municipal facility identified by City staff and to update the facility inventory based on the facility assessment(s). McGowan Consulting will also provide required annual training for targeted City staff in which contract service providers may also participate. The method for delivery of the training may vary from year-to-year depending on City staff’s preferences and may include virtually accessible recorded training presentations accompanied by short online assessments, in-person training, or synchronous virtual training sessions. As-needed, McGowan Consulting will assist City staff in coordinating with contracted service providers to obtain self-certification from them that their staff are annually trained and, if needed will facilitate such training by providing access to virtually accessible recorded trainings. Upon request, McGowan Consulting will also provide review of new or renewing municipal contracts to provide contract-specific recommendations on the appropriate incorporation of Regional Permit requirements as well as the training requirement. 31 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 8 of 13 Task 5 Annual Deliverables: • Annual training for targeted public works staff on the Public Agency Activities Program requirements of the Regional Permit Task 6 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program Support The Regional Permit requires the City to continue to implement its Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program to detect and identify the source of suspected illicit discharges and to implement procedures for eliminating confirmed illicit discharges. The City’s IDDE procedures manual must be updated once during the Regional Permit term, and this was completed in FY2023-24. This task provides for preparation and delivery of an interactive or virtually accessible annual training for field staff on the identification and reporting of illicit discharges. This task also provides for minor revisions to the IDDE manual as needed to reflect updates to the City’s staffing structure and assignment of responsibilities. Additionally, McGowan Consulting will provide as-needed assistance to City staff in addressing illicit discharges or conditionally exempt non-stormwater discharges consistent with permit requirements. Task 6 Annual Deliverables: • Training materials prepared for targeted City staff and contractors on the IDDE Program requirements Task 7 Watershed Group Planning and Coordination The Coordinated Integrated Watershed Management Program (CIMP) and Watershed Management Program (WMP) are being implemented cooperatively by the Peninsula WMG in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Permit. The CIMP is being implemented by the CIMP Consultant through a separate contracting mechanism under an MOU administered by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes with oversight and input from the Peninsula WMG member agencies; the current CIMP MOU Amendment 2 expires at the end of FY2025-26, therefore a 3rd amendment or new MOU will need to be negotiated and adopted by June 30, 2026 to ensure that required monitoring continues without interruption . The City is also participating in the Harbor Regional Monitoring Coalition MOU to meet its monitoring obligations under the Greater Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics TMDL. Task 7.1 Watershed Group Planning and Coordination This subtask includes time for meeting preparation and attendance at six (6) annual Peninsula WMG meetings and additional coordination meetings among the Peninsula WMG and/or consulting team members as needed. During FY2025-26 this subtask will include effort for McGowan Consulting to assist the City in negotiating the terms of an amendment to or new Peninsula CIMP MOU for continued joint monitoring efforts. McGowan Consulting time for Peninsula WMG planning and coordination has been reduced based on cost-sharing among three municipal clients. Time for participation in quarterly Harbor 32 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 9 of 13 Regional Monitoring Coalition meetings is also included in this task with that effort reduced based on cost-sharing of time between two municipal clients. Task 7.2 Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Program Review & Support This subtask allocates time for McGowan Consulting to provide review and comment on the draft and final annual Integrated Monitoring Compliance Reports to be prepared by the CIMP Consultant and the draft and final Harbor Toxics TMDL Coordinated Compliance Monitoring Report . Additionally, this subtask provides time for McGowan Consulting to attend monthly 30-minute coordination calls with the CIMP consulting team to make as-needed implementation and adaptive management decisions. During FY2025-26 this task will also include review and comment on the 5-year water quality monitoring data assessment to be prepared by the CIMP Implementation Consultant in support of the required adaptive management process. McGowan Consulting time for this subtask has been reduced based on the assumption that it will be distributed among three municipal Peninsula clients. Task 8 Watershed Management Program Joint Implementation The Peninsula WMG members have undertaken certain WMP implementation tasks in a cooperative manner with effort for carrying out these tasks distributed equitably between the consultant for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and McGowan Consulting as consultant for Rolling Hills Estates, Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills. County of Los Angeles staff also contribute in-kind efforts. This task provides for McGowan Consulting to perform the City’s share of these cooperative WMP implementation tasks. Subtask 8.1 Watershed Progress Report and Adaptive Management/ROWD Assistance & Review The Regional Permit requires the submittal of semi-annual Watershed Progress Reports to the LA Water Board which are due on December 15 and June 15. Although the consultant for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes will lead this submittal, it is necessarily a cooperative effort and therefore McGowan Consulting will assist in providing narrative sections for these reports covering our work described in Subtasks 8.2 and 8.3. McGowan Consulting will also update the City’s watershed control measure information in WRAMPS for submittal to the Peninsula Watershed Coordinator and provide short narratives in support of the Peninsula Watershed Progress Reports. Additionally, McGowan Consulting will provide technical/regulatory review and comment on the draft and final semi-annual progress reports on the City’s behalf prior to submittal to the LA Water Board. The Regional Permit requires that by March 11, 2026, the WMG must prepare and submit a Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD) to the LA Water Board, including the results of an adaptive management process and evaluation of the effectiveness of implemented control measures in improving water quality since the last revision of the Peninsula WMP. The consultant for City of Rancho Palos Verdes will prepare this required submittal. This task provides an allocation of effort for McGowan Consulting to perform technical/regulatory review and comment on draft narrative work products and final draft ROWD and Adaptive Management Report submittals on the City’s behalf. In subsequent reporting years, this task 33 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 10 of 13 may also require review and comment on modifications to the Peninsula WMP arising from the Adaptive Management process. Subtask 8.2 Joint Public Outreach Content Development & Tracking The Peninsula WMG in collaboration with the Beach Cities WMG develops and disseminates stormwater outreach to the local community via the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) website. This outreach program has been developed, managed and facilitated by McGowan Consulting, supported by website hosting services subcontracted with the SBCCOG. This outreach program also includes the development of periodic supplemental outreach pieces for dissemination through the participating jurisdictions’ websites, e-news and social media channels to extend the reach of the messaging and draw traffic to the website content. The ongoing scope of this subtask is anticipated to include annual revision and refreshing of webpage content on the SBCCOG website platform. The Regional Permit requires Permittees to track metrics on the effectiveness of their public outreach and participation efforts which will be implemented in part through collection of website metrics from the SBCCOG hosting service . Additionally, the effort in this subtask may include development of one or more targeted public outreach pieces to address topics relevant to the stormwater management program. McGowan Consulting’s level of effort and supporting contract services for this subtask are assumed to be similar to previous years and will be distributed among three Peninsula WMG municipal clients and further offset through combined work for the Beach Cities WMG, including shared subcontracting costs for website hosting and as-needed graphic design. Subtask 8.3 Adaptive Management This subtask includes an allocation of time for review and comment on Sepulveda canyon annual flow data deliverables that are critical to maintaining the City’s deemed compliance status. In FY2025-26 this will also include review and comment on the Rolling Hills Sepulveda Canyon monitoring technical memorandum three-year review to be prepared by NV5. In future years this task allocates time to assist with any necessary revisions into the Peninsula WMP arising from the WMP adaptive management process, or to assist the City in modifications to the flow monitoring contract with NV5 or an alternate contracting mechanism for that monitoring. Cost Estimate McGowan Consulting will carry out the scope of services for an estimated cost of $71,500 in FY2025- 2026, $74,600 in FY2026-27, and $77,500 in FY2027-28 based on actual time and materials as broken down by task in the Budget Table. Given the recent increased regulatory uncertainty and enforcement actions taken by the LA Water Board, a ten percent contingency is also recommended for as -needed additional assistance in each year to be used only when authorized by the City Manager which would result in a total contract amount for the three years of $ 245,960. As is our practice and as noted in the 34 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 11 of 13 Scope of Services, certain consulting efforts for attending meetings and performing services in common for multiple clients have been reduced in the budget to account for distribution of the effort among several clients. To provide flexibility during this period of regulatory uncertainty and to best meet the needs of the City in addressing the requirements of the Regional MS4 Permit, it is understood and assumed that reallocation of level-of-effort by McGowan Consulting between tasks and subtasks may occur so long as the total contract amount is not exceeded. Labor rates which include automobile mileage, parking fees, and routine printing & copying are shown for FY2025-2026 in the Rate Schedule. Other direct costs chargeable to the project may include subcontracted graphic design, illustration, and translation services; courier services; and other direct project costs not specifically included in labor rates. Invoices will be submitted based on actual time and expenses expended by McGowan Consulting and will be annotated to show which costs can be recovered via the Municipal Safe Clean Water Program (Measure W) which costs are also denoted by asterisk (*) in the Budget Table. 35 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 12 of 13 Budget Table by Fiscal Year Stormwater Permit Consulting Services Task Description Est. Annual Hours FY25-26 Est. Cost FY26-27 Est. Cost FY27-28 Est. Cost 1.1 Coordination, Communication & Project Management 60 $ 10,700 $ 11,200 $ 11,600 1.2 Regional Permit Individual Annual Report 60 $ 10,700 $ 11,200 $ 11,600 1.3 Permit-wide Coordination and Regulatory Support 30 $ 5,400 $ 5,600 $ 5,800 2.1 Public Information & Participation Program Support * 12 $ 2,100 $ 2,200 $ 2,300 2.2 SCW Municipal Program Support * 64 $ 10,900 $ 11,400 $ 11,800 4.1 Planning & Land Development Program Training and Tracking 15 $ 2,700 $ 2,800 $ 2,900 4.2 Construction Program Training 12 $ 2,100 $ 2,200 $ 2,300 5 Public Agency Activities Program Support and Training 36 $ 6,400 $ 6,700 $ 7,000 6 IDDE Program Support 18 $ 3,200 $ 3,300 $ 3,500 7.1 Watershed Group Planning & Coordination 20 $ 3,600 $ 3,700 $ 3,900 7.2 CIMP Review and Support 15 $ 2,700 $ 2,800 $ 2,900 8.1 Watershed Progress Report and Adaptive Management/ROWD Assistance and Review * 20 $ 3,700 $ 3,900 $ 4,000 8.2 Joint Public Outreach Content Development & Tracking * 14 $ 2,500 $ 2,600 $ 2,700 8.3 Adaptive Management * 12 $ 2,200 $ 2,300 $ 2,400 Other Direct Costs $ 2,600 $ 2,700 $ 2,800 TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $ 71,500 $ 74,600 $ 77,500 Contingency @ 10% $ 22,360 Total Not to Exceed Amount (with contingency) $ 245,960 * Indicates costs planned to be covered by the SCW Municipal Program Fund 36 McGowan Consulting, LLC STORMWATER PERMIT CONSULTING Page 13 of 13 McGowan Consulting, LLC Labor Rates - Contract Year 2025-261 Professional Staff Rates Principal $194 per hour Sr. Scientist $164 per hour Staff Scientist $80 per hour Expenses Labor rates include automobile mileage within greater Los Angeles and Orange County area, parking, routine printing and copying. Other direct costs chargeable to the project include graphic layout and illustration, webpage design and hosting, translation services, report reproduction and binding, courier services, blueprint services, graphics services, project -specific publications, and any other direct project costs not included in the labor rates. 1 Labor rates to be adjusted annually based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles area as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 Scope of Services – Stormwater Permit Consulting City of Rolling Hills FY2022-23 This scope of services is designed to assist the City of Rolling Hills with implementation of required programs in the Regional Phase I MS4 NPDES Permit – Order No. R4-2021-0105 – NPDES Permit No. CAS004004 Waste Discharge Requirements and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Discharges within the Coastal Watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (Regional Permit). The City has notified the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA Water Board) of its intent to to participate in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Watershed Management Program and has submitted a required addendum to the Watershed Management Program and responded to LA Water Board comments. This proposal has been prepared with the assumption that the City’s participation as an 85th%, 24-hour stormwater runoff retention area will be approved and become effective for reporting year 2022-2023 (FY2022-23). This scope of services is organized into tasks based on the Regional Permit program areas. Task 1 - Program Management, Individual Reporting and Regulatory Support Task 2 - Public Information and Participation Program Task 3 - Commercial Facilities Control Program [not applicable to the City] Task 4 - Planning & Land Development and Construction Programs Task 5 - Public Agency Activities Program Task 6 - Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program Task 7 - Watershed Planning and CIMP and TMDL Implementation Task 1 Program Management, Individual Reporting and Regulatory Support The Regional Permit affects a wide range of municipal activities and requires management and coordination of pollution prevention and implementation activities across municipal functions and among co-permittees. Task 1 is focused on stormwater program planning, coordination and reporting. Subtask 1.1 Coordination, Communication and Project Management This subtask provides an allocation of time for McGowan Consulting to conduct stormwater program planning, coordination, and regular communication with City staff on action items and pending decisions needed, regulatory and watershed developments, and for internal coordination and project management. Time is also included in this subtask for periodic meetings or calls with City staff on the status of work progress. This effort will include working with City staff to create and maintain a required list of applicable staff positions and contractors who should receive stormwater annual training specific to their responsibilities and in tracking that new staff in these targeted positions are trained within 180 days of starting employment. This task also allocates time for assisting City staff in preparing staff reports to City Council to update them on progress of key stormwater program implementation topics , and attending City Council meetings when needed. Subtask 1.2 Regional Permit Individual Annual Report The Regional Permit requires the City to submit an Individual Annual Report to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA Water Board) by December 15th summarizing its stormwater management program activities during the preceding fiscal year (July 1st-June 30th). The Regional Permit EXHIBIT A 106 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 2 of 11 introduced a new reporting format with more detailed categorization and reporting of costs and tracking of measurable achievements; FY2022-23 will be the first time using the new format which is being deployed via the Los Angeles County-wide Watershed Reporting Adaptive Management & Planning System (WRAMPS) online reporting tool (https://wramps2.org/app/). Additionally, as part of the City’s contribution to the new Palos Verdes Peninsula Watershed Management Group (Peninsula WMG) progress reporting requirements, the City will need to update its progress on meeting Watershed Management Program (WMP) measures in WRAMPS on a semi-annual basis. This subtask covers McGowan Consulting’s preparation of the City’s Individual Annual Report following the required format and content prescribed in the Regional Permit covering activities implemented and costs incurred by stormwater program and type during the reporting year. The City’s Individual Annual Report also supports the preparation of the Semi-Annual Watershed Report which is also due on December 15. BMcGowan Consulting will provide City staff a detailed list of information needed to complete the Individual Annual Report. Given receipt of the requested Individual Annual Report information in electronic format from City staff by September 15, a draft Individual Annual Report will be prepared using the updated WRAMPS online reporting tool for City staff review by November 1. A two-week turnaround for City staff review with a consolidated set of comments, and a single revision of the annual report are assumed to meet the December 15th submittal deadline. Following submittal of the report, an electronic copy of the Individual Annual Report and its supporting files will be provided for the City’s records. Time is also allocated in this subtask to upload the City’s semi -annual progress reporting information into WRAMPS for submittal to the watershed lead. It is assumed that the City will continue to contract separately for monitoring of trash consistent with its approved Trash Monitoring and Reporting Program and that information will be provided to McGowan Consulting in spreadsheet format required by the Regional Permit for inclusion in its Individual Annual Report. Subtask 1.2 Deliverables: • Draft and final Regional Permit Individual Annual Report Subtask 1.3 Permit-wide Coordination and Regulatory Suppport This subtask includes time to participate in virtual Co-Permittee meetings and conference calls to share information, resources and address challenges cooperatively amongst the Co-Permittees of the Regional Permit and for coordination with other Permittees on implementation strategies for new Regional Permit provisions, such as participation in LA Permit Group meetings, the County of Los Angeles’s WRAMPS workshops and Technical Working Group meetings. This subtask also allocates time for McGowan Consulting to track and review regulatory actions affecting the City’s stormwater program such as new or revisions to statewide water quality standards applicable to MS4 permits, statewide permitting policies, precedential State and Regional Water Board orders, and issuance or reconsideration of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). McGowan Consulting’s effort for this subtask has been reduced based on the assumption that actual time will be be distributed among several municipal clients. 107 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 3 of 11 Task 2 Public Information and Participation Program Each Permittee is responsible for developing and implementing a Public Information and Participation Program (PIPP) that addresses specific Regional Permit and Peninsula WMP requirements. Each of the required elements of the PIPP may be met by the City either through a County-wide, watershed group, individual program approach, and/or through partnerships with State or National stormwater member agencies, or a combination of approaches. The Palos Verdes Peninsula Watershed Management Group (Peninsula WMG) has committed to joint development of certain elements of the PIPP which are addressed in Subtask 8.2. The City’s solid waste franchisee disseminates information to residents and businesses on proper handling of wastes such as: vehicle waste fluids, household waste materials, construction waste materials, organic waste and animal waste. City staff disseminate opportunities for participation in pollution prevention activities and events to residents and businesses via e-news and Blue Newsletter. Accordingly, the City’s PIPP obligations will be met through a combination of individual City activities, outreach material developed in collaboration with the other members of the Peninsula WMG, promotion of local environmental events and workshops hosted by other organizations, as well as County-wide outreach and engagement efforts including those implemented through the Safe Clean Water Program. The Regional Permit requires documentation and tracking of information on the City’s PIPP activities, including the (1) date of activity; (2) method of dissemination, (3) targeted behavior; (4) targeted pollutant; (5) targeted audience; (6) culturally effective methods; (7) metric(s) for measuring effectiveness of activity, and related information necessary for measuring effectiveness. Subtask 2.1 PIPP Implementation This subtask includes an allocation of time to track the City’s PIPP activities via metrics identified in collaboration with City staff in a spreadsheet database to be updated annually. This scope of work includes a meeting with City staff at the beginning of the fiscal year to discuss the anticipated PIPP activities and associated metrics to be tracked during the year and to gather information o n the metrics tracked during the preceding year. McGowan Consulting will update the spreadsheet database following this meeting and will work with City staff to track the metrics throughout the year for compilation in the City’s next Individual Annual Report. This task also provides an allocation of effort for McGowan Consulting to support the City as needed in its efforts to disseminate public outreach materials and encourage community engagement on stormwater and related environmental programs. This support may include reviewing and recommending changes to the Environmental Programs website material and/or recommendations for information to be disseminated to the public via the City’s Blue Newsletter. It is assumed that City staff will be responsible for making as-needed recommended updates to its website content. Subtask 2.1 Deliverables: • Annual update of City’s individual PIPP activities database and metrics for tracking effectiveness Subtask 2.2 Safe Clean Water Municipal Program The Safe Clean Water (SCW) Program, also known as Measure W, provides dedicated funding to increase local water supply, improve water quality and protect public health with a key goal of supporting 108 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 4 of 11 municipalities in implementing new efforts to meet Regional Permit water quality objectives. The City receives approximately $100,000 annually in Municipal Program Funds and accordingly has annual planning and reporting responsibilities for the expenditure of these funds as outlined in the City’s Municipal Transfer Agreement with Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD). The Municipal SCW Annual Plan and the Municipal SCW Annual Progress/Expenditure Report must be prepared and submitted via the SCW online reporting tool following the structure and detail ed content required by the tool. The tool is mounted on the Los Angeles County Safe Clean Water Program website (SafeCleanWaterLA.org) where the plans and reports are also posted for public transparency and accountability. This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to assist the City by preparing the Municipal SCW Annual Progress/Expenditure Report for FY2021-22 and the Municipal SCW Annual Plan for FY2023-24 using the SCW online reporting tool based on a similar level of effort experienced preparing these plans and reports for the City during FY2021-22. Authorized City staff must approve and submit the final Municipal SCW Annual Progress/Expenditure Report and Annual Plan to the LACFCD via the SCW reporting tool. Municipal SCW Annual Progress/Expenditure Report (due in December): McGowan Consulting will prepare a list of information necessary to prepare the draft Municipal SCW Annual Progress/Expenditure Report covering the preceding fiscal year (FY2021 -22). Within six weeks of receiving the requested information, McGowan Consulting will prepare the draft Municipal SCW Annual Progress/Expenditure Report for City staff review. A consolidated set of comments from City staff, and a single revision of the report to incorporate City staff comments are assumed. Municipal SCW Annual Plan (due by April 1): McGowan Consulting will meet with City staff in January to identify anticipated Municipal SCW Program expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year (FY2023-24) and then will provide a list of additional information items necessary to prepare the Municipal SCW Annual Plan. Given receipt of the requested information from City Staff by February 1st, McGowan Consulting will prepare a draft Municipal SCW Annual Plan for City staff review by March 1st. A two-week turnaround for City staff review, with a consolidated set of City staff comments, and a single revision of the annual plan are assumed. It is assumed that City staff will be responsible for adherence to the SCW Program financial documentation and audit requirements, compliance with revenue transfer agreement requirements, operation in accordance with best practices and strict accountability for funds, receipts and disbursements as delineated in the SCW Progra m Municipal Program Transfer Agreement. Subtask 2.2 Deliverables: • Draft and Final Municipal SCW Annual Plan • Draft and Final Municipal SCW Annual Progress/Expenditure Report Task 4 Planning & Land Development and Development Construction Programs The Planning & Land Development and Construction Programs are both applicable to public and private development projects and there are separate and cross-cutting requirements in these programs. 109 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 5 of 11 Subtask 4.1 Planning & Land Development Program Training & Tracking The Planning and Land Development provisions of the Regional Permit require the City to ensure that Priority Development Projects provide for permanent measures to reduce storm water pollutant loads from the development site by conditioning approval of these projects with Low Impact Development (LID) requirements. Qualifying capital improvement projects are also subject to LID requirements. This subtask provides for preparation and delivery of a virtually accessible training on the Planning & Land Development Program requirements of the Regional Permit consistent with the City’s implementation policies and procedures. This subtask also provides an allocation of time for entering Priority Development Projects subjected to LID into the WRAMPS online tool for tracking and annual reporting. Subtask 4.1 Deliverables: • Virtual training session for Community Development, Management and contract staff on the Planning & Land Development requirements Subtask 4.2 Construction Program Training The City is required to implement a Construction Program to track and ensure appropriate BMPs are being implemented on construction sites within its jurisdiction. The City must also ensure that developers of construction sites larger than one acre are obtaining coverage under the Statewide Construction General Permit (CGP), have an approved LID Plan in place prior to the City’s issuance of a grading or building permit, and that these sites are inspected for effective stormwater BMPs at frequencies consistent with the Regional Permit requirements. This subtask provides for preparation and delivery of a virtually accessible training on the Construction Program requirements of the Regional Permit. This training will be distinct from the Planning & Land Development training module to provide flexibility for targeted City and contract staff to access the training at their convenience as appropriate to their job responsibilities. This task also includes time to track and review reporting via the State Board’s online SMARTS system by construction sites disturbing one acre or more within the City. It is assumed that the City will utilize contracted or in-house practitioners that are trained and knowledgeable in CGP requirements for any municipal capital improvement projects one acre and larger consistent with the State Water Board Qualified QSD/QSP program since the training provided by McGowan Consulting is primarily focused on the Regional Permit Construction Program requirements and is not equivalent to the two- or three-day training required for practitioners of the CGP. Subtask 4.2 Deliverables • Virtual training session for Community Development, Management and contract staff on the Regional Permit Construction Program requirements Subtask 4.3 Expanded LID Support McGowan Consulting understands the City intends to establish a program of expanded low impact development for new and redevelopment projects through effective site design requirement s. Broader 110 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 6 of 11 application of effective site design practices to development projects will distribute stormwater detention and retention across more properties in the City thereby increasing overall stormwater capture in the City and supporting the City’s 85%, 24-hour stormwater retention compliance approach. Effective site design preserves and/or creates natural landscape features that promote percolation of stormwater on-site, minimizes impermeable surfaces that create runoff, and uses permeable paving for exterior paved surfaces where feasible. Effective site design practices are no more complex than what is normally undertaken by architects and landscape designers for a typical new or redevelopment project and therefore can be applied to most new and redevel opment projects during planning and design, regardless of whether they trigger the numeric performance requirements of Priority Development Projects as defined in the Regional Permit. This subtask provides an allocation of time for McGowan Consulting to assist City staff in developing guidelines and outreach materials for implementation of the program. Task 5 Public Agency Activities Program The Public Agency Activities program focuses on public works maintenance and capital improvement activities. The Regional Permit requires implementation of BMPs to minimize water quality impacts from the maintenance of public facilities, including parks, streets, storm drain infrastructure, recreational and other municipally owned or operated facilities. The City is required to maintain an updated electronic inventory or database of all public facilities that are potential sources of pollutants in stormwater runoff; incorporation of facility information into GIS is recommended but not required by the Regional Permit. The inventory must also identify potential for stormwater pollutant generation activities at each facility and the BMPs that are implemented to address them. The City’s facility inventory was previously developed in spreadsheet format in 2016, and the Regional Permit newly requires the addition of Permittee-maintained roads and catch basins to the inventory. McGowan Consulting will meet with management staff to verify the accuracy of the City’s public facility inventory and to identify significant modificat ions or other changes that have occurred since 2016 that require reassessment of specific facilities and/or revision of the inventory. This subtask includes time for McGowan Consulting to conduct site visits/assessments at up to three (3) municipal facilities selected by City staff to assess significantly revised conditions for purposes of updating the facility inventory. It is assumed that City staff will contract separately for conversion of some or all of the facility inventory to GIS if City staff determines it is appropriate. The City must annually train all employees in targeted positions whose interactions, jobs, 6ctiveities affect stormwater quality. This training requirement also applies to contractors performing privatized/contracted municipal services such as solid waste collection or landscape maintenance. This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to prepare and provide virtually accessible training for targeted City staff and contracted service providers. The training will provide an overview of the permit requirements for context and then focus most of the training on municipal operation and maintenance activities with the potential to impact stormwater quality. The Regional Permit further specifies that contractors hired by the City to conduct public works activities that may affect stormwater quality be contractually required to implement and maintain BMPs for t he 111 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 7 of 11 work they are conducting. This subtask includes an allocation of time for McGowan Consulting to prepare template language for insertion in public works contracts. Task 5 Deliverables: • Up to three (3) public facility site visits/assessments with recommendationed revisions to the facility inventory • Virtual training session for targeted public works staff and contractors • Template language for insertion in public works contracts Task 6 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program Training The Regional Permit requires the City to continue to implement its Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program to detect and identify the source of suspected illicit discharges and to implement procedures for eliminating confirmed illicit discharges. This task provides for preparation and delivery of an interactive or virtually accessible required annual training for field staff on the identification and reporting of illicit discharges. Although the City’s IDDE procedures manual must be updated once during the five-year Regional Permit term, it is assumed that such an effort will be deferred to a later year within the permit term in favor of updating the Public Facility Inventory in FY2022-23 as described in Task 5 a to allow balancing of the City’s annual stormwater costs. Task 6 Deliverable: • Virtual training session on the IDDE program with anonymous online quiz to assess effectiveness of the training Task 7 Watershed Group Planning and Coordination The Coordinated Integrated Watershed Management Program (CIMP) and Watershed Management Program (WMP) are being implemented cooperatively by the Peninsula WMG in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Permit. The City has been participating in CIMP implementation through a separate contracting mechanism under an MOU administered by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in coordination with the Peninsula WMG member agencies. The WMP was revised in 2021 to newly include the City of Rolling Hills as an 85th %, 24-hr stormwater runoff retention area and to update the WMP based on monitoring data collected and stormwater capture projects implemented over the past five years. The Peninsula WMG is currently responding to comments from the LA Water Board on the revised WMP and making further revisions as necessary. The City is also participating in the Harbor Regional Monitoring Coalition MOU to meet its monitoring obligations under the Greater Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics TMDL. The Harbor Regional Monitoring Coalition (Harbor RMC) meets quarterly to coordinate TMDL compliance monitoring and reporting in the harbors. Task 7.1 Watershed Group Planning & Coordination The Peninsula WMG meets monthly to plan and coordinate compliance monitoring and implementation activities for both the CIMP and WMP and TMDL regulatory issues. This subtask includes McGowan Consulting time for meeting preparation and attendance at twelve (12) Peninsula WMG meetings, with time for this effort distributed among three Peninsula municipal clients. Additional time is included for 112 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 8 of 11 periodic coordination meetings among the Peninsula WMG consulting team members. Time for participation in quarterly Harbor RMC meetings is also included with that effort distributed between two Peninusula municipal clients. Task 7.2 CIMP Review & Support During FY2022-23 the Peninsula CIMP must be revised to align with the Regional Permit monitoring and reporting requirements and to make adaptive management changes planned for the benefit of the Peninsula WMG agencies. This subtask allocates time for McGowan Consulting to provide review and comment on the draft and final revisions of the CIMP prior to submittal to the LA Water Board for review. This subtask also allocates time for McGowan Consulting to provide review and comment on the draft and final annual Integrated Monitoring Compliance Report to be prepared by the CIMP Consultant. Lastly, this task provides time for McGowan Consulting to review results of sampling events and attend monthly 30-minute coordination calls with the Peninusula WMG and CIMP consulting teams to make as- needed implementation and adaptive management decisions. McGowan Consulting time for this subtask has been reduced based on the assumption that it will be be distributed among three municipal clients. Task 8 WMP Joint Implementation Activities The Peninsula WMG members have been undertaking certain WMP implementation tasks in a cooperative manner with effort for carrying out these tasks distributed equitably between the consultant for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and McGowan Consulting as consultant for the City of Rolling Hills Estates, Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills. This task provides for McGowan Consulting to perform the City’s share of the following cooperative WMP implementation subtasks. Subtask 8.1 Semi-Annual Watershed Progress Report Assistance & Review The Regional Permit newly requires the submittal of semi -annual Watershed Progress Reports to the LA Water Board which are due on December 15 and June 15. Although the consultant for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes will lead this submittal, this is necessarily a cooperative effort and as such, McGowan Consulting will provide assistance in compiling key elements of these reports and will also provide review and comment on the draft and final semi-annual progress reports. Subtask 8.2 Joint Public Outreach Content Development & Metrics The Peninsula WMG in collaboration with the Beach Cities WMG has been developing and disseminating stormwater outreach website content to the local community via the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) website. This outreach program has been managed and facilitated by McGowan Consulting, supported by website hosting services subcontracted with the SBCCOG. This outreach program also includes the development of periodic supplemental outreach pieces for dissemination through the participating jurisdictions’ e-news and social media channels to extend the reach of the messaging and draw traffic to the website content. The ongoing scope of this subtask is anticipated to include annual revision and refreshing of webpage content on the SBCCOG website platform. The Regional Permit newly requires Permittees to track metrics on the effectiveness of their public outreach and participation efforts which will be implemented in part through collection of website metrics from the SBCCOG hosting service . Additionally, the effort in this subtask may include development of one or more targeted public outreach pieces to address topics relevant to the stormwater management program with support by subcontracted graphic design 113 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 9 of 11 services as needed. McGowan Consulting’s level of effort and supporting contract services for this subtask are assumed to be similar to those in previous years and will continue to be offset through combined work for the Beach Cities WMG including shared subcontracting costs for website hosting and as-needed graphic design. Cost Estimate McGowan Consulting will deliver the services described in the foregoing Scope of Services for an estimated cost of $65,000 based on time and materials as detailed in the following Budget Table and FY2022-23 Rate Schedule. To provide flexibility to best meet the needs of the City in addressing the requirements of the Regional Permit, it is understood that reallocation of level-of-effort between tasks and subtasks may occur so long as the total contract amount is not exceeded. Given the nature of regulatory-driven programs which are subject to changing requirements and unpredictable developments, an additional ten percent contingency in the amount of $6,500 is also recommended to be used only when authorized by the City to support additional assistance that is unplanned. Labor rates for FY2022-23 are shown in the Rate Schedule and include automobile mileage, parking fees, and routine printing and copying. Invoices will be submitted based on actual time expended by each McGowan Consulting staff member in accordance with the rate schedule. Other direct costs chargeable to the project may include subcontracted website hosting, graphic design, illustration, and translation services; and other direct project costs not specifically included in labor rates. 114 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 10 of 11 Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Table Stormwater Consulting Services Task Description Labor Hours Estimated Cost 1.1 Coordination, Communication and Program Management 50 $ 8,500 1.2 Regional Permit Individual Annual Report 50 $ 8,400 1.3 Permit-wide Coordination and Regulatory Support 18 $ 2,900 2.1 Public Information & Participation Program Implementation 24 $ 3,600 2.2 Safe Clean Water Municipal Program + 50 $ 8,400 4.1 Planning & Land Development Program Training & Tracking 22 $ 3,600 4.2 Construction Program Training 20 $ 3,300 4.3 Expanded LID Support + 32 $ 5,300 5 Public Agency Activities Program 40 $ 6,600 6 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Training 12 $ 1,800 7.1 Watershed Group Planning & Coordination 24 $ 4,000 7.2 CIMP Review and Support 15 $ 2,500 8.1 Semi-annual Watershed Progress Report Assistance & Review 12 $ 2,000 8.2 Joint Public Outreach Content Development & Metrics 14 $2,100 Other Direct Costs - Includes subcontracted website hosting by SBCCOG and graphic design services for outreach materials $ 2,000 Total Estimated Costs $ 65,000 Contingency @ 10% $ 6,500 + indicates costs planned to be covered by the SCW Municipal Program Funds 115 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2022-23 Page 11 of 11 McGowan Consulting, LLC Labor Rates - Contract Year 2022-231 Professional Staff Rates Principal $175 per hour Sr. Scientist $145 per hour Staff Scientist $63 per hour Expenses Labor rates include automobile mileage within greater Los Angeles and Orange County area, parking, routine printing and copying Other direct costs chargeable to the project include: graphic layout and illustration, webpage design and hosting, translation services, re port reproduction and binding, courier services, blueprint services, graphics services, project -specific publications, and any other direct project costs not included in the labor rates. 1 Labor rates to be adjusted annually based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles area as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 116 SIXTH AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT This Fifth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement is entered into by and between the City of Rolling Hills, a municipal corporation (“City”) and McGowan Consulting LLC (“Consultant”) upon full, written execution by both parties. RECITALS A. City and Consultant are parties to that Professional Services Agreement dated July 15, 2015 (the “Agreement”) by which City engaged Consultant for environmental consulting services pertaining to the implementation of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4) and Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) implementation under the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act. B. The Agreement has been amended by a First Amendment to the Agreement dated July 26, 2018 (the “First Amendment”), a Second Amendment to the Agreement dated April 17, 2019 (the “Second Amendment”), a Third Amendment to the Agreement dated July 29, 2020 (the “Third Amendment”), a Fourth Amendment to the Agreement dated June 29, 2021 (the “Fourth Amendment”), and a Fifth Amendment to the Agreement dated June 28, 2022 (the “Fifth Amendment”) by which City continued Consultant's engagement to perform MS4 permit consulting services. C. City and Consultant now desire to further amend the Agreement for a sixth time in order to engage Consultant to perform MS4 permit consulting services for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and to establish compensation for such services (the “Sixth Amendment”). NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the Agreement is amended as follows: A. Section 2 “SCOPE OF WORK” of the Agreement is amended to read as follows: CONSULTANT shall perform all work necessary to complete in a manner satisfactory to CITY the services set forth in the scope of work attached as Exhibit A, and incorporated herein by this reference. B. Section 3 “COST” of the Agreement is amended to read as follows: The CITY agrees to pay CONSULTANT for all the work or any part of the work performed under this Agreement at the rates and in the manner established in the attached Exhibit A. Total expenditures made under this Agreement shall not exceed the sum of $35,850 for FY 2015- 16; $39,976 for FY 2016-17; $39,468 for FY 2017-18; $46,996 for FY 2018-19; $46,992 for FY 2019-20; $70,605 for FY 2020-21; $99,095 for FY 2021-22; $71,500 (inclusive of 10% contingency fee) for FY 2022-23; and $75,020 (inclusive of 10% contingency fee) for FY 2023-2024 services in the attached Exhibit A. All such fees include automobile mileage, parking fees, routine printing and copying, photography, travel, attendance at meetings and routine miscellaneous costs incurred during the term. No increase in fees will be allowed during the life of this Fifth Amendment. Any increase in contract amount or scope shall be by express written amendment approved by the City and CONSULTANT. C. Section 9 “TERM” of the Agreement is amended to read as follows: The term of the Agreement is extended until June 30, 2024. 117 118 EXHIBIT A (See following page) 119 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 1 of 10 Scope of Services – Stormwater Permit Consulting City of Rolling Hills FY2023-24 This scope of services is designed to assist the City of Rolling Hills (City) with implementation of required programs in the Regional Phase I MS4 NPDES Permit – Order No. R4-2021-0105 – NPDES Permit No. CAS004004 Waste Discharge Requirements and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Discharges within the Coastal Watersheds of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (Regional Permit). The City is participating in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Watershed Management Group (Peninsula WMG) and this scope of services also includes the City’s in-kind contribution of effort for implementation and reporting by the Peninsula WMG as required by the Regional Permit. This scope of services is organized into tasks based on the Regional Permit program areas. Task 1 - Program Management, Individual Reporting and Regulatory Support Task 2 - Public Information and Participation Program Task 3 - Commercial Facilities Control Program [not applicable to the City] Task 4 - Planning & Land Development and Construction Programs Task 5 - Public Agency Activities Progr am Task 6 - Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program Task 7 - Watershed Group Planning and Coordination Task 8 - Watershed Management Program Joint Implementation Activities Task 1 Program Management, Individual Reporting and Regulatory Support The Regional Permit affects a wide range of municipal activities and requires management and coordination of pollution prevention and implementation activities across municipal functions and among co-permittees. Task 1 is focused on stormwater program planning, coordination and reporting. Subtask 1.1 Coordination, Communication and Program Management This subtask provides an allocation of time for McGowan Consulting to conduct stormwater program planning, coordination, and regular communication with City staff on action items and pending decisions needed, regulatory and watershed developments, and for internal coordination and project management. Time is also included in this subtask for periodic meetings or calls with City staff on the status of work progress. This effort will include working with City staff to maintain a required list of applicable staff positions and contractors who should receive stormwater annual training specific to their responsibilities and in tracking that staff in these targeted positions are trained annually or within 180 days of starting employment. This task may also include time for assisting City staff in preparing staff reports to City Council to update them on progress of key stormwater program implementation topics. Subtask 1.2 Regional Permit Individual Annual Report The Regional Permit requires the City to submit an Individual Annual Report to the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA Water Board) by December 15th summarizing its stormwater management program activities during the preceding fiscal year (July 1 st-June 30th), including a detailed categorization and reporting of costs and tracking of measurable achievements. EXHIBIT A 120 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 2 of 10 This subtask covers McGowan Consulting’s preparation of the City’s Individual Annual Report following the required format and content prescribed in the Regional Permit, including activities implemented and costs incurred by stormwater program and type during the reporting year. McGowan Consulting will provide City staff a detailed list of information needed to complete the Individual Annual Report. Given receipt of the requested Individual Annual Report information in electronic format from City staff by September 15, a draft Individual Annual Report will be prepared using the updated WRAMPS online reporting tool for City staff review by November 1. A two-week turnaround for City staff review with a consolidated set of comments, and a single revision of the annual report are assumed to meet the December 15th submittal deadline. Following submittal of the report, an electronic copy of the Individual Annual Report and its supporting files will be provided for the City’s records. It is assumed that the City will continue to contract separately for monitoring of trash consistent with its approved Trash Monitoring and Reporting Program and that information will be provided to McGowan Consulting in the spreadsheet format required by the Regional Permit for inclusion in its Individual Annual Report. Subtask 1.2 Deliverables: • Draft and final Regional Permit Individual Annual Report Subtask 1.3 Permit-wide Coordination and Regulatory Suppport This subtask includes time to participate in virtual Co-Permittee meetings and conference calls to share information, resources and address challenges cooperatively amongst the Co-Permittees of the Regional Permit and for coordination with other Permittees on implementation strategies for new Regional Permit provisions, such as participation in LA Permit Group meetings, the County of Los Angeles’s WRAMPS workshops and Technical Working Group meetings. This subtask also allocates tim e for McGowan Consulting to participate in committees and attend workshops to track and review regulatory activities affecting the City’s stormwater program such as new or revisions to statewide water quality standards applicable to MS4 permits, statewide permitting policies, precedential State and Regional Water Board orders, and issuance or reconsideration of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL s). McGowan Consulting time for this subtask assumes cost-sharing among three municipal clients. Task 2 Public Information and Participation Program Each Permittee is responsible for developing and implementing a Public Information and Participation Program (PIPP) that addresses specific Regional Permit and Peninsula WMP requirements. Each of the required elements of the PIPP may be met by the City either through a County-wide, watershed group, individual program approach, and/or through partnerships with State or National stormwater member agencies, or a combination of approaches. The Peninsula WMG has committed to joint development of certain elements of the PIPP which are addressed in Subtask 8.2. The City’s solid waste franchisee disseminates information to residents and businesses on proper handling of wastes such as: vehicle waste fluids, household waste materials, construction waste materials, organic waste and animal waste. City staff disseminate opportunities for participation in pollution prevention activities and events to residents and businesses via the City's Blue Newsletter. Accordingly, the City’s PIPP obligations will be met through a combination of individual City activities, outreach material developed in collaboration with the other members of the Peninsula WMG, promotion of local environmental events and 121 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 3 of 10 workshops hosted by other organizations, as well as statewide and regional outreach and engagement efforts including those developed by the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) and those implemented through the Safe Clean Water Program. The Regional Permit r equires documentation and tracking of information on the City’s PIPP activities, including the (1) date of activity; (2) method of dissemination, (3) targeted behavior; (4) targeted pollutant; (5) targeted audience; (6) culturally effective methods; (7) metric(s) for measuring effectiveness of activity, and related information necessary for measuring effectiveness. Subtask 2.1 PIPP Implementation This subtask includes an allocation of time to track the City’s PIPP activities via metrics identified in collaboration with City staff in a spreadsheet database. McGowan Consulting will work with City staff to track the metrics throughout the year for compilation in the City’s next Individual Annual Report. This task also provides an allocation of effort for McGowan Consulting to support the City as needed in its efforts to disseminate public outreach materials and encourage community engagement on stormwater and related environmental programs. This support may include reviewing and recommending changes to the City’s Environmental Programs website material and/or recommendations for information to be disseminated to the public via the City’s Blue Newsletter. It is assumed that City staff will be responsible for making as -needed recommended updates to its website content and disseminating information via its Blue Newsletter. Subtask 2.1 Deliverables: • Annual update of City’s individual PIPP activities database and metrics for tracking effectiveness Subtask 2.2 Safe Clean Water Municipal Program The Safe Clean Water (SCW) Program, also known as Measure W, provides dedicated funding to increase local water supply, improve water quality and protect public health with a key goal of supporting municipalities in meeting water quality objectives required by the Regional Permit. The City receives approximately $100,000 annually in Municipal Program Funds and has annual planning and reporting responsibilities for the expenditure of these funds as outlined in the City’s Municipal Transfer Agreement with Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD). The City’s Municipal SCW Annual Plan and Municipal SCW Annual Report on expenditures must be prepared and submitted via the SCW online reporting tool in accordance with the structure and content required by the tool. The tool is mounted on the Los Angeles County SCW Program website (SafeCleanWaterLA.org) where the plans and reports are also posted for public transparency and accountability. The City’s first 3-year independent audit of its expenditures will be due on March 31, 2024 and will also be posted to that website. This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to assist the City by preparing the Municipal SCW Annual Report of its expenditures for FY2022-23 and the Municipal SCW Annual Plan for FY2024-25 based on a similar level of effort experienced preparing these plans and reports for the City during previous years. Authorized City staff must approve and submit the final Municipal SCW Annual Report and Annual Plan to the LACFCD via the SCW reporting tool. 122 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 4 of 10 Municipal SCW Annual Report (due in December): McGowan Consulting will prepare a draft expenditure spreadsheet and list of information necessary to prepare the draft Municipal SCW Annual Report covering expenditures during the preceding fiscal year (FY2022-23). Within six weeks of receiving the requested information, McGowan Consulting will prepare the draft Municipal SCW Annual Report via the SCW online tool for City staff review. A consolidated set of comments from City staff, and a single revision of the report to incorporate City staff comments are assumed. Municipal SCW Annual Plan (due by April 1): McGowan Consulting will prepare a draft annual plan spreadsheet for discussion with City staff in January 2024 to identify anticipated Municipal SCW Program expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year (FY2024-25) and will then provide a list of additional information items necessary to prepare the Municipal SCW Annual Plan. Given receipt of the requested information from City Staff by February 1, McGowan Consulting will prepare a revised spreadsheet and draft Municipal SCW Annual Plan narrative via the SCW online tool for City staff review by March 1. A two-week turnaround for City staff review, with a consolidated set of City staff comments, and a single revision of the annual plan are assumed. It is assumed that City staff will be responsible for adherence to the SCW Program financial documentation and will contract separately for the independent 3-year audit as specified in the SCW Municipal Program Transfer Agreement. Subtask 2.2 Deliverables: • Draft and Final Municipal SCW Annual Plan • Draft and Final Municipal SCW Annual Report Task 4 Planning & Land Development and Development Construction Programs The Planning & Land Development and Construction Programs are both applicable to public and private development projects and there are separate and cross-cutting requirements in these programs. In addition, targeted staff positions whose duties include carrying out the Planning and Land Development and Construction programs, must be annually trained on the permit requirements and their roles and responsibilities. Subtask 4.1 Planning & Land Development Program Training & Tracking The Planning and Land Development provisions of the Regional Permit require the City to ensure that Priority Development Projects provide for permanent measures to reduce storm water pollutant loads from the development site by conditioning approval of these projects with Low Impact Development (LID) requirements. Qualifying capital improvement projects are also subject to LID requirements. This subtask provides for preparation and delivery of a training for Community Development staff on the Planning & Land Development Program requirements of the Regional Permit. This subtask also provides an allocation of time for entering Priority Development Projects subject to LID into the WRAMPS online tool for tracking and annual reporting. It is assumed that contracted Building & Safety service providers will be responsible for training their staff and will self-certify that training. 123 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 5 of 10 Subtask 4.1 Deliverables: • Training session for Community Development staff on the Planning & Land Development requirements Subtask 4.2 Construction Program Support The City is required to implement a Construction Program to track and ensure appropriate BMPs are being implemented on construction sites within its jurisdiction. The City must also ensure that developers of construction sites larger than one acre are obtaining coverage under the Statewide Construction General Permit (CGP), have an approved LID Plan in place prior to the City’s issuance of a grading or building permit, and that these sites are inspected for effective stormwater BMPs at frequencies consistent with the Regional Permit requirements. This task includes time to track and review via the State Board’s online SMARTS system the status, documentation and reporting by construction sites disturbing one acre or more within the City. This subtask also provides for preparation and delivery of a virtually accessible training for Community Development and Public Works staff on the Construction Program requirements of the Regional Permit. This training will be distinct from the P lanning & Land Development training to provide flexibility for targeted staff to access the training at their convenience as appropriate to their job responsibilities. McGowan Consulting time for this effort assumes cost-sharing among three municipal clients. It is assumed that the City will utilize contracted or in-house practitioners that are trained and knowledgeable in CGP requirements for any municipal capital improvement projects one acre and larger consistent with the State Water Board Qualified QSD/QSP program since the training provided by McGowan Consulting is primarily focused on the Regional Permit Construction Program requirements and is not equivalent to the two- or three-day training required for practitioners of the CGP . It is also assumed that contracted Building & Safety service providers will be responsible for training their staff and will self-certify that training. Subtask 4.2 Deliverables • Virtual training for Community Development and Public Works staff on the Regional Permit Construction Program requirements Subtask 4.3 Expanded LID Support Effective site design preserves and/or creates natural landscape features that promote percolation of stormwater on-site, minimizes impermeable surfaces that create runoff, and use s permeable paving for exterior paved surfaces where feasible. Broader application of effective site design practices will distribute stormwater detention and retention capacity across more properties in the City, thereby increasing overall stormwater capture and supporting the City’s 85%, 24-hour stormwater retention compliance approach. This subtask includes an allocation of time for McGowan Consulting to assist staff in carrying out the City's expanded LID program for effective site design on new and redevelopment projects. 124 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 6 of 10 Task 5 Public Agency Activities Program The Public Agency Activities program focuses on public works maintenance and capital improvement activities. The Regional Permit requires implementation of BMPs to minimize water quality impacts from the maintenance of public facilities, including parks, streets, storm drain infrastructure, recreational and other municipally owned or operated facilities. The City must annually train all employees in targeted positions whose interactions, jobs and activities affect stormwater quality. This training requirement also applies to contractors performing privatized/contracted municipal services such as solid waste collection or landscape maintenance. This subtask provides for McGowan Consulting to provide virtually accessible training for targeted City staff and contracted service providers. The training will include an overview of the stormwater program for context and then focus most of the training on municipal operation and maintenance activities with the potential to impact stormwater quality. McGowan Consulting time for preparation of this training module assumes cost-sharing among three municipal clients. McGowan Consulting will also assist City staff in obtaining the requisite self-certification from contractors by preparing template letters with links to the virtually accessible training for City staff to finalize and send to contractors. Task 5 Deliverables: • Virtual training for targeted public works staff and contractors • Template letters for obtaining self -certification from contractors Task 6 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program Training The Regional Permit requires the City to continue to implement its Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program to detect and identify the source of suspected illicit discharges and to implement procedures for eliminating confirmed illicit discharges. In addition, the City’s IDDE Procedures Manual must be updated once during the five-year Regional Permit term. This task provides for preparation and delivery of an interactive or virtually accessible annual training for field staff on identification and reporting of illicit discharges. McGowan Consulting time for preparation of this training module assumes cost-sharing among three municipal clients. This subtask also includes an allocation of effort for McGowan Consulting to work with City staff to review and update the IDDE Procedures Manual. McGowan Consulting will meet with City staff to discuss the City's IDDE response procedures and progressive enforcement policy, and will use the information gathered during this meeting to update the IDDE Procedures Manual and provide a draft for City staff review. It is assumed City staff will provide one set of consolidated comments and a single revision of the draft manual will be made. Once finalized, the final IDDE Procedures Manual, including all appendices, will be delivered to the City in PDF format. Task 6 Deliverable: • Virtual training on the IDDE program • Update of IDDE Procedures Manual 125 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 7 of 10 Task 7 Watershed Group Planning and Coordination The Coordinated Integrated Watershed Management Program (CIMP) and Watershed Management Program (WMP) are being implemented cooperatively by the Peninsula WMG in accordance with the requirements of the Regional Permit. The City has been participating in CIMP implementation through a separate contracting mechanism under an MOU administered by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in coordination with the Peninsula WMG member agencies. The WMP was revised in 2021 to newly include the City of Rolling Hills as an 85th %, 24-hr stormwater runoff retention area. The City is also participating in the Harbor Regional Monitoring Coalition MOU to meet its monitoring obligations under the Greater Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Toxics TMDL. The Harbor Regional Monitoring Coalition (Harbor RMC) meets quarterly to coordinate TMDL compliance monitoring and reporting in the harbors. Task 7.1 Watershed Group Planning & Coordination The Peninsula WMG meets monthly to plan and coordinate compliance monitoring and implementation activities for both the CIMP and WMP and TMDL regulatory issues. This subtask includes McGowan Consulting time for meeting preparation and attendance at twelve (12) monthly Peninsula WMG meetings, with time for this effort distributed among three Peninsula WMG municipal clients. Additional time is included for periodic coordination meetings among the Peninsula WMG consulting team members. Time for participation in quarterly Harbor RMC meetings is also included with that effort distributed between two Peninusula WMG municipal clients. Task 7.2 CIMP Implementation and Reporting Support This subtask allocates time for McGowan Consulting to provide review and comment on the draft and final Annual Monitoring Report which is prepared by the CIMP Consultant and submitted as part of the Peninsula WMG's Semi-annual Progress Report due December 15. This sub-task also provides time for McGowan Consulting to review results of sampling events and attend monthly 30-minute coordination calls with the Peninusula WMG and CIMP consulting teams to make as-needed implementation and adaptive management decisions. McGowan Consulting time for this subtask assumes cost-sharing among three municipal clients. Task 8 WMP Joint Implementation Activities The Peninsula WMG members have been undertaking certain WMP implementation tasks in a cooperative manner with effort for carrying out these tasks distributed equitably between the consultant for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and McGowan Consulting as consultant for the Cities of Rolling Hills Estates, Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills. This task provides for McGowan Consulting to perform the City’s share of the following cooperative WMP implementation subtasks. Subtask 8.1 Semi-Annual Watershed Progress Report Assistance & Review The Regional Permit newly requires the submittal of Semi-annual Watershed Progress Reports to the LA Water Board which are due on December 15 and June 15. Although the consultant for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes will lead this submittal, this is necessarily a cooperative effort and as such, McGowan Consulting will provide assistance in compiling key elements of these reports and will also provide review and comment on the draft and final Semi-annual Progress Reports. Additionally, as part of the City’s contribution to the Peninsula WMG progress reporting requirements, McGowan Consulting will provide assistance to the City in updating its progress on meeting Watershed Management Program (WMP) measures in WRAMPS on a semi-annual basis. 126 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 8 of 10 Subtask 8.2 Joint Public Outreach Content Development & Metrics The Peninsula WMG in collaboration with the Beach Cities WMG has been developing and disseminating stormwater outreach through website content disseminated via the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) website. This outreach program has been managed and facilitated by McGowan Consulting, supported by website hosting services subcontracted with the SBCCOG. This outreach program also includes the development of periodi c supplemental outreach pieces for dissemination through the participating jurisdictions’ e-news and social media channels to extend the reach of the messaging and draw traffic to the website content. The Regional Permit newly requires Permittees to track metrics on the effectiveness of their public outreach and participation efforts which will be implemented in part through collection of website metrics from the SBCCOG hosting service . The ongoing scope of this subtask includes annual revision and refreshing of webpage content on the SBCCOG website platform and collection of effectiveness metrics through tracking of website visits , e- news and social media outreach. Additionally, the effort in this subtask may include development or updating of one or more targeted public outreach pieces to address topics relevant to the stormwater management program with support by subcontracted graphic design services as needed and/or customization of statewide or regional outreach efforts such as the CASQA Rain Rea dy CA outreach campaign for the Peninsula WMG. McGowan Consulting’s level of effort and supporting contract services for this subtask are assumed to be similar to those in previous years and will continue to be offset through combined work for the Beach C ities WMG including shared subcontracting costs for website hosting and as-needed graphic design. Cost Estimate McGowan Consulting will deliver the services described in the foregoing Scope of Services for an estimated cost of $68,200 based on time and materials as detailed in the following Budget Table and FY2023-24 Rate Schedule. To provide flexibility to best meet the needs of the City in addressing the requirements of the Regional Permit, it is understood that reallocation of level -of-effort between tasks and subtasks may occur so long as the total contract amount is not exceeded. Given the nature of regulatory-driven programs which are subject to changing requirements and unpredictable developments, an additional ten percent contingency in the amount of $6,820 is also provided to be used only when authorized by the City to support additional assistance that is unplanned. Labor rates for FY2023-24 are shown in the Rate Schedule and include automobile mileage, parking fees, and routine printing and copying. Invoices will be submitted based on actual time expended by each McGowan Consulting staff member in accordance with the rate schedule. Other direct costs chargeable to the project may include subcontracted website hosting, graphic design, illustrati on, and translation services; and other direct project costs not specifically included in labor rates. 127 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 9 of 10 Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget Table Stormwater Consulting Services Task Description Labor Hours Estimated Cost 1.1 Coordination, Communication and Program Management 55 $ 9,500 1.2 Regional Permit Individual Annual Report 55 $ 9,500 1.3 Permit-wide Coordination and Regulatory Support 16 $ 2,700 2.1 Public Information & Participation Program Implementation + 24 $ 3,900 2.2 Safe Clean Water Municipal Program + 50 $ 8,600 4.1 Planning & Land Development Program Training & Tracking 16 $ 2,800 4.2 Construction Program Support 15 $ 2,600 4.3 Expanded LID Support + 28 $ 5,000 5 Public Agency Activities Program 16 $ 2,700 6 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Program Support 44 $ 7,500 7.1 Watershed Group Planning & Coordination 28 $ 4,800 7.2 CIMP Implementation and Reporting Support 14 $ 2,400 8.1 Semi-annual Watershed Progress Report Assist. & Review + 16 $ 2,700 8.2 Joint Public Outreach Content Development & Metrics + 12 $2,000 Other Direct Costs - Includes subcontracted website hosting by SBCCOG and graphic design services for outreach materials + $ 1,500 Total Estimated Costs $ 68,200 Contingency @ 10% $ 6,820 + indicates costs planned to be covered by the SCW Municipal Program Fund 128 McGowan Consulting, LLC ROLLING HILLS STORMWATER CONSULTING FY2023-24 Page 10 of 10 McGowan Consulting, LLC Labor Rates - Contract Year 2023-241 Professional Staff Rates Principal $183 per hour Sr. Scientist $152 per hour Staff Scientist $66 per hour Expenses Labor rates include automobile mileage within greater Los Angeles and Orange County area, parking, routine printing and copying Other direct costs chargeable to the project include: graphic layout and illustration, webpage design and hosting, translation services, report reproduction and binding, courier services, blueprint services, graphics services, project-specific publications, and any other direct project costs not included in the labor rates. 1 Labor rates to be adjusted annually based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles area as calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 Agenda Item No.: 8.F Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:APPROVE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH JTL CONSULTANTS FOR A THREE-YEAR PERIOD AT A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $5,000 PER FISCAL YEAR PROVIDING ON-CALL ARBORIST SERVICES TO SUPPORT STAFF IN FIRE FUEL ABATEMENT CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: In 2018, the City Council implemented a city-wide proactive dead vegetation enforcement program. In February 2019, the City Council amended its Fire Fuel Abatement Ordinance (Chapter 8.30 of the RHMC) to include dead trees and shrubs, dead or alive tumbleweeds, dead palm fronds, and other plants as a public nuisance. The City hired a part-time code enforcement officer to implement the proactive enforcement program. There are times when residents dispute the staff’s determination that a plant is dead, claiming it is dormant or seasonal. The staff's expertise is not in the condition of plants, and thus, an arborist is needed to determine the health of the vegetation in question. On June 5, 2019, staff released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for arborist services. The scope of work included assisting city staff on an as-needed basis to identify whether vegetation observed in the field during routine inspection is dead, regardless of the season. The arborist would also provide recommendations on how to most effectively remove the vegetation without posing an environmental risk (including, but not limited to, erosion) and on suitable replacement vegetation. On June 20, 2019, two proposals were received from Warriner Associates (WA) and JTL Consultants (JTL). Proposals were to be selected based on qualifications, licensing, experience, references, and cost. On July 22, 2019, the City Council reviewed proposals from the two available arborists on an 144 as-needed basis. The responsibility included helping staff identify dead vegetation and consulting on other landscaping matters. The arborists were expected to be on call no more than ten times a year, for an amount not to exceed $6,000. The City Council approved both contracts. Both agreements executed in 2019 expired. A third arborist, Gregory MacDonald, was consulted in 2021 for a trees and views case involving properties at 59 and 61 Eastfield Drive. Mr. MacDonald was paid $480 for his services. In 2024, staff reached out to Mr. MacDonald to see if he was still interested in providing services, but did not receive a response. In 2024, staff reached out to WA and JTL to gauge their interest in continuing to provide services. WA indicated they were no longer in the area and unable to serve. JTL was interested, and a one-year agreement was executed in June 2024. DISCUSSION: JTL remains on the City's Preferred Vendors list in case an arborist is needed and will be responsible for assisting in determining whether certain vegetation and trees are dead, recommending effective removal, and recommending replacement. The rate is $200 per hour, representing the total cost for all labor, equipment, supplies, expenses, materials, and travel incurred by the consultant subject to a do not exceed the amount of $5,000 per fiscal year. The contract is valid for three years from execution unless extended in writing by both parties. Either party may terminate the agreement at any time, with or without cause, upon 30 days written notice to the other party. It's worth noting that the City has rarely utilized arborist services since 2019, and there has been no use since spring 2022. Code enforcement has considered their involvement on several occasions, but the issues were typically resolved before services were required. In many cases, residents would accept the determination of a tree's condition and remove it themselves. The table below provides a breakdown of the City's previous arborist costs. ARBORIST COST SINCE 2019 ARBORIST AMOUNT COMMENTS JTL Consultants $0 No payments since 2019 Warriner Associates $4,000 20 hrs.; 2 invoices in 2019; 2 in 2020; 3 in 2021; 1 in 2022 Gregory MacDonald $480 Trees & Views case in 2021 SIX-YEAR TOTAL $4,800 FISCAL IMPACT: For FY 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28, the proposed budget is and will be $5,000. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: CA_AGR_250609_JTL-Consultants_Arborist_3yr_F.pdf 145 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS AGREEMENT FOR ARBORIST SERVICES THIS AGREEMENT FOR ARBORIST SERVICES (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 1, 2025, by and between the CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, a municipal corporation ("City") and JTL CONSULTANTS, LLC. ("Consultant"). R E C I T A L S A. City desires to retain Consultant to provide on-call consulting services to inspect trees, shrubs, palm fronds, or other plants (herein after referred to as “vegetation”) identified by City staff and located in the City of Rolling Hills, evaluate whether such vegetation is dead regardless of the season, prepare a report with Consultant’s determination and recommendation, and attend City Council meetings to discuss the report and findings; and B. Consultant is well qualified by reason of education, certified by the American Society of Consulting Arborists and International Society of Arboriculture, and experience to perform such services; and C. Consultant is willing to render such services on the terms and conditions as hereinafter defined. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and agreements set forth below, City and Consultant agree as follows: 1. Services. Consultant shall perform all work necessary to complete in a manner reasonably satisfactory to City the services set forth in the scope of work attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference (hereinafter referred to as “Services”). 2. Payment. City shall pay Consultant on an hourly basis at the rate of $200.00 per hour, representing total cost for all labor, equipment, supplies, expenses, materials, and travel incurred by Consultant subject to a “do not exceed amount” of $5,000.00 per fiscal year during the Term of Agreement. Any services and compensation not provided for in this Agreement may be authorized by City in writing and in advance. Consultant shall submit invoices at the conclusion of each inspection project and City will make payment of all uncontested amounts for all work performed to City’s reasonable satisfaction within thirty (30) days of receipt of an invoice. 3. Term and Termination. This contract shall be valid for three (3) years from execution of this Agreement (the “Term”), unless extended in writing by both parties. Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time, with or without cause, upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other party in compliance with Section 13 of this Agreement. In such event, City shall compensate Consultant for all work City reasonably determines to be satisfactorily completed up to the date of termination. 146 4. Insurance. Without limiting Consultant’s obligations arising under Section 5 - Indemnity, Consultant shall not begin work under this Agreement until it obtains policies of insurance required under this Section. The insurance shall cover Consultant, its agents, representatives, and employees in connection with the performance of work under this Agreement, and shall be maintained throughout the Term of this Agreement. Insurance coverage shall be as follows: A. General Liability Insurance insuring City of Rolling Hills, its elected and appointed officers, agents, and employees from claims for damages for personal injury, including death, as well as from claims for property damage which may arise from Consultant’s actions under this Agreement, whether or not done by Consultant or anyone directly or indirectly employed by Consultant. Such insurance shall have a combined single limit of not less than $1,000,000. B. Automobile Liability Insurance covering bodily injury and property damage for all activities of the Consultant arising out of or in connection with the work to be performed under this Agreement in an amount of not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit for each occurrence. If Consultant or Consultant’s employees will use personal automobiles in any way on this project, Consultant shall obtain evidence of personal automobile liability coverage for each such person. C. Worker’s Compensation Insurance for all Consultant’s employees to the extent required by the State of California. If the Consultant has no employees for the purposes of this Agreement, the Consultant shall sign the “Certificate of Exemption from Workers’ Compensation Insurance.” D. Professional Liability Coverage for professional errors and omissions liability insurance for protection against claims alleging negligent acts, errors, or omissions which may arise from the Consultant’s operations under this Agreement, whether such operations are by the Consultant or by its employees, subcontractors, or subconsultants. The amount of this insurance shall not be less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) on a claims-made annual aggregate basis, or a combined single-limit-per- occurrence basis. When coverage is provided on a “claims made basis,” Consultant will continue to renew the insurance for a period of three (3) years after this Agreement expires or is terminated. Such insurance will have the same coverage and limits as the policy that was in effect during the term of this Agreement, and will cover Consultant for all claims made by City arising out of any errors or omissions of Consultant, or its officers, employees, or agents during the time this Agreement was in effect. E. Deductibility Limits for policies referred to in subparagraphs A and B shall not exceed $5,000 per occurrence. F. Additional Insured. City of Rolling Hills, its elected and appointed officers, agents, and employees shall be named as additional insureds on policies referred to in subparagraphs A and B. G. Primary Insurance. The insurance required in paragraphs A and B shall be primary and not excess coverage. 147 H. Evidence of Insurance. Consultant shall furnish City, prior to the execution of this Agreement satisfactory evidence of the insurance required issued by an insurer authorized to do business in California, and an endorsement to each such policy of insurance evidencing that each carrier is required to give City at least 30 days prior written notice of the cancellation of any policy during the effective period of the Agreement. All required insurance policies are subject to approval of the City Attorney. Failure on the part of Consultant to procure or maintain said insurance in full force and effect shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement or procure or renew such insurance, and pay any premiums therefore at Consultant’s expense. 5. Indemnity. Consultant shall indemnify, defend with counsel approved by City, and hold harmless City, its officers, officials, employees and volunteers from and against all liability, loss, damage, expense, cost (including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees, expert fees and all other costs and fees of litigation) of every nature arising out of or in connection with Consultant’s performance of work hereunder or its failure to comply with any of its obligations contained in this Agreement, regardless of City’s passive negligence, but excepting such loss or damage which is caused by the sole active negligence or willful misconduct of the City. Should City in its sole discretion find Consultant’s legal counsel unacceptable, then Consultant shall reimburse the City its costs of defense, including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees, expert fees and all other costs and fees of litigation. The Consultant shall promptly pay any final judgment rendered against the City (and its officers, officials, employees and volunteers) covered by this indemnity obligation. It is expressly understood and agreed that the foregoing provisions are intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the law of the State of California and will survive termination of this Agreement. 6. Quality of Work Performed. All work shall be performed to the highest professional standards. 7. Personnel. Consultant shall not subcontract the Services set forth in this Agreement, unless first obtaining written authorization from the City. 8. Compliance with All Laws. Consultant shall comply with all City, State, and Federal laws in the performance of its Services. 9. Assignment. This Agreement is not assignable nor the performance of either party's duties delegable without the prior written consent of the other party. Any attempted or purported assignment or delegation of any of the rights or obligations of either party without the prior written consent of the other shall be void and of no force and effect. 10. Attorney's Fees. In any action brought to declare the rights granted herein or to enforce any of the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of reasonable attorney's fees in an amount determined by the court. 11. Non-discrimination. Consultant shall not discriminate in the hiring of employees or subconsultants on any basis prohibited by law. 12. Independent Contractor. Consultant is and shall at all times remain as to City, a wholly independent contractor. Neither City nor any of its agents shall have control of the conduct of Consultant or any of the Consultant's employees, except as herein set 148 forth. Consultant shall not at any time or in any manner represent that it or any of its agents or employees are in any manner agents or employees of the City. Consultant shall be solely responsible for all contributions, payments, or withholdings normally made on behalf of an employee including but not limited to, state and federal income taxes, federal social security contributions, California State disability insurance taxes, and unemployment insurance contributions. City shall issue Consultant a Form 1099 in connection with the compensation paid hereunder, and Consultant shall pay all required taxes on amounts paid hereunder. 13. Notices. All notices and communications shall be sent to the parties at the following addresses: CITY: City Manager City of Rolling Hills 2 Portuguese Bend Road Rolling Hills, California 90274 CONSULTANT: JTL Consultants, LLC 952 Buena Vista Street Duarte, CA 91010. 14. Conflict of Interest. Consultant affirms and warrants that Consultant has no financial, contractual, or other interest or obligation that conflicts with or is harmful to the performance of Consultant’s obligations under this Agreement. Consultant shall not during the term of this Agreement knowingly obtain such an interest or incur such an obligation. 15. Authorized Signature. Consultant affirms that the signatures, titles, and seals set forth hereinafter in execution of this Agreement represents all individuals, firm members, partners, joint ventures, and/or corporate officers having a principal interest herein. 16. Entire Agreement; Modification. This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements, either oral or written, between the parties and contains all of the covenants and agreements between the parties. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises, or agreements, orally or otherwise, have been made by any party, or anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied herein, and that any other agreement, statements, or promise not contained in this Agreement shall not be valid or binding. Any modification of this Agreement will be effective only if made in advance, in writing, and signed by both parties. The parties acknowledge and agree that their respective obligations under the Agreement have been fully discharged. 149 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this AGREEMENT on the date and year first above written. CITY OF ROLLING HILLS CONSULTANT CITY MANAGER DATE:___________ DATE:_____________ ATTEST: CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: NICOLAS PAPAJOHN, CITY ATTORNEY 150 EXHIBIT A SCOPE OF WORK 151 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS CONTRACT ARBORIST SERVICES EXHIBIT A SCOPE OF WORK The majority of the City of Rolling Hills is located in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, as re-designated by Cal Fire in 2025. In order to minimize wildfires in the City, the City Council adopted a Fire Fuel Abatement Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 8.30), requiring that "every person who owns or is in possession of any property, place, or area within the boundaries of the City shall, at his or her own expense, maintain the property, place or area free from any dead or alive tumbleweed or dead tree, shrub, palm frond or other plant." At this time, this ordinance is not applicable to slopes greater than 2:1 in gradient. The City's ordinance requires that the trees, shrubs, palm fronds, or other plants ("vegetation") must be entirely dead and not in a condition of dying in order to make the determination. Consultant shall be available to City staff, on an on-call, as needed basis, to assist City staff in identifying if vegetation observed in the field during routine inspections is dead, regardless of the season. Consultant shall evaluate the vegetation and, if dead, recommend how to most effectively remove the vegetation, without causing an environmental risk (including but not limited to erosion) and appropriate replacement vegetation, and prepare a report to the City with Consultant's determination and recommendation. Consultant shall also attend City Council meetings on an as-needed basis as an expert resource upon two weeks' notice of the City Council meeting. 152 Agenda Item No.: 8.G Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:ROBERT SAMARIO, FINANCE DIRECTOR THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:APPROVE A FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LSL, LLC TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AUDIT SERVICES FOR THE THREE FISCAL YEARS STARTING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 FOR AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $114,900. DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: The City recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for audit services, given that the City has had the same audit firm, LSL CPAs, for nine years. As a result of the RFP process, the City received two proposals from qualified firms. However, the proposed fees were markedly higher than what the City has been paying. Consequently, the City reached out to LSL CPAs to solicit a proposal for an additional three years. Their proposed fees were essentially the same as in previous years and well below the fees proposed by the two other firms. Based on the fact that the City's finances are tight, the Council directed staff to extend the contract with LSL for an additional three years. DISCUSSION: The proposed fees by LSL CPAs for the three fiscal years ending June 30, 2027 total $114,900. However, this includes $5,750 per year for a "Single Audit" in any year the City receives more than $750,000 in federal funds. Although this is highly unlikely, the contract includes it just in case. Excluding the fees for the Single Audit, the fees for the three years total $97,650. FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget has sufficient funds to cover the cost of the audit. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: 153 CA_AGR_250609_LSL_Amendment_05_F.pdf CA_AGR_160627_LSL_2016-19_E.pdf CA_AGR_211130_LSL_Amendment_01_PE.pdf CA_AGR_220912_LSL_ Amendment_02_E.pdf CA_AGR_230612_LSL_Amendment_03_E.pdf CA_AGR_240722_LSL_Amendment_04_E.pdf 154 FIFTH AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT (“Fifth Amendment”) is made and entered into this 9th day of June, 2025, by and between the CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, a California municipal corporation (hereinafter the “CITY”), and LANCE, SOLL & LUNGHARD, LLP CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS (hereinafter the “CONTRACTOR”). CITY and CONTRACTOR are sometimes referred to in this Fifth Amendment individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” RECITALS A. CITY and CONTRACTOR have entered into that certain Professional Services Agreement for Professional Independent Audit services dated on June 27, 2016 (the “Agreement”). B. The Parties first amended the Agreement for CONTRACTOR to provide Professional Independent Audit services for an additional year to cover the 2021 fiscal year (“First Amendment”). C. The Parties executed a second amendment to the Agreement for Contractor to provide Professional Independent Audit services for an additional year to cover the 2022 fiscal year (“Second Amendment”). D. The Parties executed a third amendment to the Agreement for Contractor to provide Professional Independent Audit services for an additional year to cover the 2023 fiscal year (“Third Amendment”). E. The Parties executed a fourth amendment to the Agreement for Contractor to provide Professional Independent Audit services for an additional year to cover the 2024 fiscal year (“Fourth Amendment”). F. The Parties now desire to amend the Agreement again in order to extend the term so that CONTRACTOR can provide Professional Independent Audit services to the City to cover the fiscal years 2024-25 through 2026-27 (“Fifth Amendment”). Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions herein contained, CITY and CONTRACTOR agree the following terms, as set forth in this Fourth Amendment. 1. CONTRACTOR shall provide the Professional Independent Audit services for fiscal years 2024-25-through 2026-27 as outlined and for the price stated in Exhibit A to this Fifth Amendment. 155 2. Except as amended by the First Amendment, Second Amendment, Third Amendment, Fourth Amendment or this Fifth Amendment, all provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment on the date and year first written above. CITY OF ROLLING HILLS LANCE, SOLL & LUNGHARD, LLP. __________________________ __________________________ Karina Banales, City Manager Brandon Young CPA, Partner ATTEST: __________________________ CITY CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM: __________________________ Nicolas Papajohn CITY ATTORNEY 156 Exhibit A 157 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $700 $700 $700 $1,850 $1,850 $1,850 $5,750 $5,750 $5,750 $38,300 $38,300 $38,300 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 Partner $390 $390 $390 Director $320 $330 $330 Senior Manager $290 $290 $290 Manager $250 $250 $250 Supervisor $210 $210 $210 Senior Accountant $190 $190 $190 Experienced Staff $160 $160 $160 Staff Accountant $140 $140 $140 Clerical $120 $120 $120 City's Financial Audit GANN Limit AUP State Controller's Report Single Audit (If Needed)** All-Inclusive Maximum Price by Report Report Total for Fiscal Year (Not-to-Exceed) MANNER OF PAYMENT Progress payments will be made on the basis of hours of work completed during the course of the engagement and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in accordance with the firm's proposal. Interim billings shall cover a period of not less than a calendar month. The final ten percent (10%) of the total all-inclusive maximum price will be paid upon delivery of the firm's final reports. *Price includes 1 major program. Each additional program is $4,500. Auditor's Standard Billing Rates Auditor's Standard Billing Rates 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 Agenda Item No.: 8.H Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1392 APPROVING THE UPDATED FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 PAY SCHEDULE TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS) STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPENSATION EARNABLE AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PAY SCHEDULES DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) requires that the City Council regularly adopt a master salary schedule listing pay rates/ranges for all city-established positions, including the City Manager position. CalPERS Circular Letter 200-00320 (Attachment 2) mandates that public agencies maintain and publish comprehensive salary schedules for all positions. This requirement is essential for maintaining the integrity of the pension system, ensuring fair and equitable compensation, and fostering public trust in the management of public funds. This evening, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment 1), which establishes the City's Fiscal Year 2025-2026 (FY25-26) Salary and Hourly Compensation Schedule for the City's classifications. DISCUSSION: The City of Rolling Hills has not previously adopted a master salary schedule by resolution to formally reflect current pay ranges. To address this, the attached resolution establishes the City’s Salary and Hourly Compensation Schedule for all employees in City service. Exhibit A of Resolution No. 1392 includes a salary schedule table that outlines full-time classifications, authorized positions, and the corresponding minimum and maximum monthly salary ranges. It is important to note that the salary schedule presented this evening was previously reviewed and approved by the City Council at its regular meeting on May 28, 2025. 228 Conclusion: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution to formalize the employee salary schedule and ensure compliance with CalPERS Circular Letter 200-003-20. The resolution also requires the regular updating and public posting of the salary schedule. FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact is included in the FY25-26 Budget. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 01 - ResolutionNo1392_FY25-26_SalarySchedule_F.pdf Attachment 02 - Circular Letter 200-003-2_ Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Publicly Available Pay Schedules.pdf 229 -1- Resolution No. 1392 RESOLUTION NO. 1392 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE UPDATED FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 PAY SCHEDULE TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS) STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPENSATION EARNABLE AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PAY SCHEDULES THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, all employers must comply with the compensation earnable and publicly available pay schedules provisions contained within California Government Code (GC) section 20636(d) and California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 2, Section 570.5; and WHEREAS, it is necessary for the City Council to review and duly approve and adopt in accordance with requirements of applicable public meetings laws a publicly available pay schedule; and WHEREAS, attached to this resolution and incorporated by reference is the City’s comprehensive pay schedule which will be made publicly available on the City’s external website and provided upon request; and WHEREAS, the City reviews and may revise employee compensation and salary schedule ranges; and WHEREAS, the City benefits from a highly qualified, municipal workforce; and WHEREAS, to assist in retaining such a workforce, it is critical that the City’s compensation levels are competitive in the marketplace; and WHEREAS, the City should adjust salaries to reflect changes in the region’s cost of living; and WHEREAS, the salaries are scheduled to take effect the beginning of the pay period that includes July 1, 2025; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills hereby: 230 -2- Resolution No. 1392 1. Adopts the fiscal year 2025/26 pay schedule in Exhibit A, reflecting these pay adjustments effective the first pay period following the adoption of this resolution PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 9th day of June 2025. ________________________________ Jeff Pieper Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Christian Horvath City Clerk 231 -3- Resolution No. 1392 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ) The foregoing Resolution No. 1392 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE UPDATED FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 PAY SCHEDULE TO COMPLY WITH CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM (CALPERS) STATUTORY AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPENSATION EARNABLE AND PUBLICLY AVAILABLE PAY SCHEDULES was approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 9th day of June, 2025, by the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ___________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH CITY CLERK 232 -4- Resolution No. 1392 Exhibit “A” 233 City of Rolling Hills Salary Schedule Effective 7/1/2025 through 6/30/2026 Adopted by ResolutionNo. 1392 Full-Time Classification Authorized Positions Monthly Minimum Monthly Maximum City Manager 1 Planning Manager 1 7,457$ 11,147$ Assistant to the City Manager / City Clerk 1 7,624$ 9,497$ Management Analyst 1 6,449$ 8,341$ Assistant Planner 1 5,028$ 6,417$ Code Compliance Officer / Planning Technician 1 4,551$ 6,085$ Administrative Assistant 1 4,373$ 5,795$ $16,656 234 California Public Employees’ Retirement System P.O. Box 942715 | Sacramento, CA 94229-2715 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) | TTY: (877) 249-7442 www.calpers.ca.gov Payroll Circular Letter January 8, 2020 Circular Letter: 200-003-20 Distribution: IV, VI, X, XII, XVI To: All CalPERS Contracted Agencies (Public Agency, Schools, and State) Subject: Statutory and Regulatory Requirements for Publicly Available Pay Schedules Purpose The purpose of this Circular Letter is to inform all CalPERS Contracted Agencies of the requirements for providing CalPERS with a Publicly Available Pay Schedule in compliance with the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL), Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), and Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR). Purpose of Publicly Available Pay Schedules Under the PERL and PEPRA, compensation earnable and pensionable compensation are determined in accordance with amounts identified on publicly available pay schedules. Compensation Earnable Under Government (Gov.) Code sections 20636 and 20636.1, compensation earnable means the pay rate and special compensation of the member, as further defined by those statutes. Pay rate for contracting agency and school members is deemed the normal monthly rate of pay or base pay of the member paid in cash to similarly situated members of the same group or class of employment for services rendered on a full-time basis during normal working hours, pursuant to publicly available pay schedules. Pay rate for contracting agency and school members who are not in a group or class is deemed the monthly rate of pay or base pay of the member, paid in cash and pursuant to publicly available pay schedules, for services rendered on a full-time basis during normal working hours, subject to specified limitations. 235 Circular Letter: 200-003-20 January 8, 2020 Page 2 of 4 Pay rate for state members is deemed the average monthly remuneration paid in cash out of funds paid by the employer to similarly situated members of the same group or class of employment, in payment for the member’s services or for time during which the member is excused from work, as further specified by subdivision (g) of Gov. Code 20636, pursuant to publicly available pay schedules. Pensionable Compensation Pursuant to Gov. Code section 7522.34, pensionable compensation of a new member of any public retirement system means the normal monthly rate of pay or base pay of the member paid in cash to similarly situated members of the same group or class of employment for services rendered on a full-time basis during normal working hours, pursuant to publicly available pay schedules, subject to specified limitations. Requirements of Publicly Available Pay Schedules Subdivision (a) of CCR section 570.5 defines the requirements for a publicly available pay schedule used to determine pay rates. Pay rates shall be limited to the amount listed on a pay schedule that must meet all the following eight (8) requirements: 1.Be duly approved and adopted by the employer's governing body in accordance with requirements of applicable public meetings laws 2.Identify the position title for every employee position 3.Show the pay rate as a single amount or multiple amounts within a range for each identified position 4.Indicate the time base, including, but not limited to, whether the time base is hourly, daily, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, or annually 5.Be posted at the office of the employer or immediately accessible and available for public review from the employer during normal business hours or posted on the employer's website 6.Indicate an effective date and date of any revisions 7.Is retained by the employer and available for public inspection for not less than five years 8.Does not reference another document in lieu of disclosing the pay rate Here is an example of a compliant pay schedule, to the extent it has been duly approved and adopted by the employer’s governing body in accordance with requirements of applicable public meeting laws, it is posted on the employer’s website, and it is retained by the employer and available for public inspection for not less than five years: 236 Circular Letter: 200-003-20 January 8, 2020 Page 3 of 4 Classification Rate Type Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 City Manager Monthly $10,500 $11,000 $11,500 $12,000 $12,500 City Counsel Monthly $10,000 $10,500 $11,000 $11,500 $12,000 City Clerk Monthly $5,500 $6,000 $6,500 $7,000 $7,500 Call Center Representative Monthly $5,000 $5,500 $6,000 $6,500 $7,000 Analyst Monthly $5,000 $5,500 $6,000 $6,500 $7,000 Assistant Monthly $4,500 $5,000 $5,500 $6,000 $6,500 Revised as of 09/01/2017 and adopted by the Board as of 09/15/2017 City of CalPERS Salary Schedule for Fiscal Year 17-18 Effective as of 07/01/2017 Special Compensation Pursuant to CCR section 571 for classic members, and CCR section 571.1 for new members under PEPRA, special compensation items are defined under an exclusive list. Each special compensation item shall be reported separately from pay rate, in accordance with the criteria described in those regulations. Therefore, a publicly available pay schedule in which the special compensation items are reflected in the pay rates does not comply with CCR section 570.5. Absence of Publicly Available Pay Schedule If an employer fails to meet the requirements of subdivision (a) of CCR section 570.5, under subdivision (b), the board may determine in its sole discretion an amount that will be considered as pay rate, taking into consideration all information it deems relevant including, but not limited to, the following: •Documents approved by the employer’s governing body in accordance with requirements of public meeting laws and maintained by the employer •Last pay rate listed on a pay schedule that conforms to the requirements of subdivision (a) with the same employer for the position at issue •Last pay rate for the member that is listed on a pay schedule that conforms with the requirements of subdivision (a) with the same employer for a different position •Last pay rate for the member in a position that was held by the member and that is listed on a pay schedule that conforms to the requirements of subdivision (a) of a former CalPERS employer. Importance of Publicly Available Pay Schedule Publicly available pay schedules are required by CalPERS and are a critical component to verify all members’ pay rates when calculating members’ retirement benefits. Maintaining a compliant publicly available pay schedule will support transparency and expedite CalPERS’ review process. 237 Circular Letter: 200-003-20 January 8, 2020 Page 4 of 4 Failure to provide CalPERS with a compliant publicly available pay schedule may result in a retirement benefit being delayed. Questions It is the employer’s responsibility to comply with all terms and conditions set forth in the employer’s contract with CalPERS and to ensure all reportable information is compliant with the PERL, PEPRA, and the CCR. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the CalPERS Customer Contact Center at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377), or email MOU_Review@calpers.ca.gov. Renee Ostrander, Chief Employer Account Management Division 238 Agenda Item No.: 8.I Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION: ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 386 AMENDING CHAPTER 17.16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE HEIGHT LIMITS OF SINGLE- FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES, STABLES AND BARNS; AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER SECTION 21080.17 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: Over the past several months, the Planning Commission has conducted a thorough review of the City's building height regulations for residential structures, barns, and stables to ensure alignment with Rolling Hills’ rural character and development goals. Following a series of public meetings and valuable community input, the Commission recommended establishing maximum ridge heights of 18 feet for single-family residences and 20 feet for barns and stables. Based on these recommendations, the Commission proposed that the City Council consider Ordinance No. 386 to formally establish these height limits. DISCUSSION: On May 28, the City Council received a presentation from staff outlining the Planning Commission’s recommendations on height limits for homes, stables, and barns (Attachment 2). Following the presentation, Ordinance No. 386 was introduced (Attachment 1). This Ordinance amends Chapter 17.16, Sections 17.16.060 and 17.16.080 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code to establish height limits for single-family residences, stables, and barns. Specifically, it states: Section 17.16.060 (Lot area and dimensions) of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: 239 Development Standard Zone District RA-S-1 & RA-S-2 4. Height Limited One story, no greater than 18’ (mezzanines and lofts are not permitted) except for stables and barns which shall be no greater than 20’ Section 17.16.080 (Height limitation) of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: 17.16.080 - Height limitation. A. General Limitation. A building or structure shall have no more than one story, meaning that there shall be no story on top of another, except as specified in subsection (B) b e l o w. The maximum height permitted from finished floor to the peak of the structure shall be no greater than eighteen (18) feet except that the maximum height permitted for stables and barns shall be no greater than twenty (20) feet measured from the finished floor to the highest peak of the structure, exclusive of accessory architectural features as determined by the City. The maximum height permitted from finished floor of any structure to finished grade is five feet. The difference between the finished grade and the finished floor level across any elevation shall average no more than two and one-half feet, with maximum difference of five feet. B. Exceptions: 1. A one-story primary residence is permitted over a basement. For the purpose of this section primary residence includes a garage attached to the main residence by a solid wall. 2. Stables may have a loft, subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.18 of this title. 3. A storage area, as defined in Section 17.12.190 "S" may be located above or below a story. This evening, Ordinance No. 386 (Attachment 1) is presented for second reading and adoption. If adopted, the Ordinance will take effect on July 9, 2025. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 01 - 386_HeightLimit_Ordinance_D.pdf Attachment 02 - May 28, 2025 City Council Staff Report Agenda Item 11.A Ordinance 386.pdf 240 ORDINANCE NO. 386 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS AMENDING CHAPTER 17.16 OF TITLE 17 OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE TO AMEND THE RESIDENTIAL HEIGHT LIMIT, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE TO BE CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM CEQA. WHEREAS, the City of Rolling Hills, California (“City”) is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the California Constitution and laws of the State of California; and WHEREAS, the City is a semi-rural hillside community, characterized by predominantly single- story California ranch-style homes, large parcels with open space, and an abundance of equestrian facilities; and WHEREAS, one of the unique features of the City is the uniformity of homes throughout the years, which are typically limited to one story in height; and WHEREAS, in recent years, many homes have been constructed to maximize the building area on the lot, including increased height and a greater amount of grading to prepare many of the steeper properties for a structure; and WHEREAS, these trends have significantly altered the community’s character and affect surrounding properties, creating a high level of concern among residents related to development and design compatibility issues; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to preserve and enhance the community’s character, particularly as it relates to residential building height; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the City by Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, the City has the police power to regulate the use of land and property within the City in a manner designed to promote public convenience and general prosperity, as well as public health, safety, and welfare; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the Rolling Hills Municipal Code to impose height limits on residential developments in the City; and WHEREAS, on April 15, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Ordinance, wherein it considered the staff report, supporting documents, public testimony, and all appropriate information submitted with the Ordinance; and WHEREAS, on May 28, 2025, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Ordinance, wherein it considered the staff report and supporting documents, Planning Commission’s recommendation, public testimony, and all appropriate information submitted with the Ordinance; and WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of the Ordinance have occurred. 241 2 THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DOES HEREBY FIND, RESOLVE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The recitals above are incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council. Section 2. CEQA. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is determined to be categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which applies to projects where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed Ordinance does not involve physical changes to the environment but rather regulates the height of residential developments. Since it does not result in any direct or indirect physical changes to the environment, there is no possibility that it could have a significant environmental impact. Section 3. General Plan. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is consistent with the goals and policies of the Rolling Hills General Plan. The proposed Ordinance is consistent with Housing Element Goal 2 “Maintain and enhance the quality of residential neighborhoods in Rolling Hills,” in support of the following policies: Policy 2.1: Encourage and assist in the maintenance and improvement of existing homes to maintain optimum standards of housing quality and design. Policy 2.3: Require compatible design to minimize the impact of residential redevelopment on existing residences. By imposing a height limit on residential development in the City, this Ordinance will ensure future development is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and environment. Section 4. The Development Standard table in Section 17.16.060 of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: Development Standard Zone District RA-S-1 RA-S-2 4. Height Limitation One story, no greater than 18’ (mezzanines and lofts are not permitted) except for stables and barns which shall be no greater than 20’ Section 5. Section 17.16.080 of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: 17.16.080 - Height limitation. A. General Limitation. A building or structure shall have no more than one story, meaning that there shall be no story on top of another, except as specified in subsection (B) below. 242 3 The maximum height permitted from finished floor to the highest peak of the structure shall be no greater than eighteen (18) feet except that the maximum height permitted for stables and barns shall be no greater than twenty (20) feet measured from the finished floor to the highest peak of the structure, exclusive of accessory architectural features as determined by the City. The maximum height permitted from finished floor of any structure to finished grade is five feet. The difference between the finished grade and the finished floor level across any elevation shall average no more than two and one-half feet, with maximum difference of five feet. B. Exceptions: 1. A one-story primary residence is permitted over a basement. For the purpose of this section primary residence includes a garage attached to the main residence by a solid wall. 2. Stables may have a loft, subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.18 of this title. 3. A storage area, as defined in Section 17.12.190 "S" may be located above or below a story. Section 6. The City Council’s actions are made upon review of the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the Staff Report, all oral and written comments, and the documentary evidence presented on the Ordinance.. Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect 30 days following its adoption. Section 8. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, such invalidity has no effect on the other provisions or application of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this extent, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any portion thereof. Section 10. Custodian of Records: The documents and materials associated with this Resolution that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at Rolling Hills City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California 90274. The Director of Planning and Community Services is the custodian of records for the record of proceedings. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS __th DAY OF ________ 2025. JEFF PIEPER, MAYOR 243 4 ATTEST: ____________________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK Any action challenging the final decision of the City made as a result of the public hearing on this application must be filed within the time limits set forth in Section 17.54.070 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code and Civil Procedure Section 1094.6. 244 Agenda Item No.: 11.A Mtg. Date: 05/28/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 386 AMENDING CHAPTER 17.16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE HEIGHT LIMITS OF SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOMES, STABLES AND BARNS; AND FINDING THE ACTION TO BE STATUTORILY EXEMPT FROM CEQA UNDER SECTION 21080.17 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE DATE:May 28, 2025 BACKGROUND: Over the past several months, the Planning Commission has been reviewing the City’s regulations related to building height limitations for residential structures, barns, and stables. The intent of this review was to clarify standards and ensure consistency with the City’s rural character and development goals. On October 15, 2024, the Planning Commission directed staff to prepare a report on the City's regulations related to building height limitations. At that time, the Rolling Hills Municipal Code (RHMC) did not specify numeric height limits for these structures. However, the RHMC did state that “a building or structure shall have no more than one story, meaning that there shall be no story on top of another” (Attachment 3). The staff report from this meeting is included as Attachment 9. At its March 18, 2025 meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed staff’s report on existing development patterns and relevant RHMC provisions. Following discussion, the Commission directed staff to prepare a code amendment establishing maximum ridge heights of 18 feet for single-family residences and 20 feet for barns and stables. The staff report from this meeting is included as Attachment 10. On April 15, 2025, the Planning Commission reviewed and approved the draft ordinance (Attachment 1) and voted 4-0 (with Commissioner Kirkpatrick absent) to adopt Resolution No. 2025-04 (Attachment 2), recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 17.16 of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code to codify these height limits. The staff report from this meeting is included as Attachment 11. 245 This evening, staff is requesting City Council consideration of Ordinance No. 386 (Attachment 1), which proposes clear regulations regarding maximum allowable structure heights. This ordinance is intended to preserve the scenic beauty, natural landscape, and residential character of the community. As the City continues to grow, the proposed height limits would help ensure that new development remains consistent with the community’s established aesthetic values and overall harmony. DISCUSSION: In recent years, there has been a trend toward increased structure heights and overall massing. At both the October 15, 2024 and March 18, 2025 Planning Commission meetings, staff presented relevant sections of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code (RHMC) addressing height regulations. This allowed the Commissioners to consider these provisions and develop a recommendation for City Council review. To further support the Commission’s efforts, staff conducted research on building heights within the City. The data, compiled from approved plans between 2017 and 2024, includes both residences and stables. Heights ranged from 11 to 25 feet, with some newer structures exceeding 25 feet (Attachment 4). Notably, in 2023 and 2024, there has been a trend toward taller stables, many of which fall within the 20 to 25-foot range. The following sections from the RHMC were reviewed and considered as part of this effort: Basements - RHMC Chapter 17.12 – Definitions Basements are located below ground and are often not visible. Homes may include multiple basement levels. Basement walls—except those within light wells—may not exceed 5 feet in height and must maintain an average height of no more than 2.5 feet at any point immediately adjacent to the exterior of the basement (Attachment 5). Stables & Lofts Stables are considered a valuable asset to each property and contribute significantly to the City’s rural, equestrian character. Based on staff research, the RHMC does not establish a specific height limit for stables. Over the past five years, stables have been trending taller. While the average height of buildings in Rolling Hills is approximately 17 feet, the tallest stable recorded was 25 feet. Many stables also include lofts, as defined in RHMC Section 17.18.060. These lofts, which may resemble second stories, must have a plate height that does not exceed 7 feet. They are intended for hay and equipment storage or use as a tack room and may not contain sleeping quarters (Attachment 6). Aviaries (Bird Homes) Aviaries larger than 200 square feet may not have a roof peak height that exceeds 16 feet (Attachment 7). Storage Areas RHMC Section 17.12.190 defines a storage area as "a space within a building or structure, including attics, used for storing items." Storage areas may be located above or below a story but are not intended to be livable spaces. As such, they cannot include exterior doors, window openings, heating, or air conditioning. The height of a storage area may not exceed 6 feet at any point. Attics may have ceilings that follow the angle of the roofline, which can exceed 6 feet at the peak; however, staff reviews plans to ensure that staircases are not shown leading 246 to attic storage areas (Attachment 5). Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – RHMC Chapter 17.28.050 For detached ADUs on lots with an existing or proposed single-family or multifamily dwelling, the maximum height is limited to 16 feet. This height is measured from the existing legal grade or the level of the lowest floor—whichever is lower—to the structure’s peak. If the ADU is attached to the primary dwelling, it may not exceed 25 feet in height or the height limitation imposed by the underlying zone, whichever is lower (Attachment 8). Based on the information presented, the Planning Commission discussed building heights for residential structures, barns, and stables. At the conclusion of these discussions, the Commissioners agreed that a maximum residential building height of 18 feet was reasonable. For barns and stables, the Commissioners shared the heights of stables on their own properties and used a practical approach to estimate the necessary height to accommodate stall areas and tack room or loft space. This resulted in a consensus that a 20-foot height was appropriate for barns and stables. Below is language that the City Council is considering this evening: Municipal Ordinance No. 386 The amendment to the Rolling Hills Municipal Zoning Code Chapter 17.16, Sections 17.16.060 & 17.16.080 are as follows: Section 17.16.060 (Lot area and dimensions) of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: Development Standard Zone District RA-S-1 & RA-S-2 4. Height Limited One story, no greater than 18’ (mezzanines and lofts are not permitted) except for stables and barns which shall be no greater than 20’ Section 17.16.080 (Height limitation) of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: 17.16.080 - Height limitation. A. General Limitation. A building or structure shall have no more than one story, meaning that there shall be no story on top of another, except as specified in subsection (B) below. The maximum height permitted from finished floor to the peak of the structure shall be no greater than eighteen (18) feet except that the maximum height permitted for stables and barns shall be no greater than twenty (20) feet measured from the finished floor to the highest peak of the structure, exclusive of accessory architectural features as determined by the City. The maximum height permitted from finished floor of any structure to finished grade is five feet. The difference between the finished grade and the finished floor level across any elevation shall average no more than two and one-half feet, with maximum difference of five feet. B. Exceptions: 1. A one-story primary residence is permitted over a basement. For the purpose of this section primary residence includes a garage attached to the main residence by 247 a solid wall. 2. Stables may have a loft, subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.18 of this title. 3. A storage area, as defined in Section 17.12.190 "S" may be located above or below a story. Notice of Public Hearing This item was publicly noticed in the Daily Breeze on May 1, 2025 (Attachment 11). Public Comment As of the date of this report, no public comments have been received. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Open the public hearing, receive public testimony, close the public hearing, and by motion: Find that the adoption of the proposed ordinance is statutorily exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) under Public Resources Code section 21080.17; and introduce for first reading by title only Ordinance No. 386 regarding the height limits of single-family residential homes, stables and barns. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 01 - 386_HeightLimit_Ordinance_D.pdf Attachment 02 - 2025-04_PC_Resolution_ResidentialHeightLimit_F_E.pdf Attachment 03 - PL_SUB_BH_BuildingHeightsReport_Chart.pdf Attachment 04 - PL_SUB_BH_STAFF REPORT OF HEIGHTS.pdf Attachment 05 - PL_SUB_BH_RHMC_Chapter_17.12_Code_Definitions_Basements.pdf Attachment 06 - PL_SUB_BH_RHMC_Section_17.18.060_Stable.pdf Attachment 07 - PL_SUB_BH_RHMC_Section_17.18.070_Aviaries.pdf Attachment 08 - PL_SUB_BH_RHMC_Chapter17.28_Section17.28.050_GeneralADUandJADURequirements.pdf Attachment 09 - CL_AGN_241015_PC_Item12A_SR.pdf Attachment 10 - CL_AGN_250318_PC_Item12A_SR.pdf Attachment 11 - CL_AGN_250415_PC_Item10C_SR.pdf Attachment 12 - CL_PBN_250528_CC_HeightLimitOrdinance_Affidavit.pdf 248 Agenda Item No.: 8.J Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:SAMANTHA CREW, MANAGEMENT ANALYST THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:FOR SECOND READING AND ADOPTION: ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY ORDINANCE NO. 387 DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA BASED ON MAPS PROVIDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AND AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE NOT SUBJECT TO CEQA DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: Ordinance No. 387 (Attachment A) is being presented for its second reading and adoption by the City Council. This ordinance would formally adopt the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map released by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for the City of Rolling Hills. The adoption of this ordinance is a required step in implementing state wildfire resilience measures at the local level and aligns the City’s planning efforts with the most current data and legislative mandates. In accordance with California state law, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is responsible for identifying and mapping areas throughout the state that are at risk of wildfires, known as FHSZ. On March 24, 2025, the Director of CAL FIRE released an updated FHSZ map for the City of Rolling Hills (Attachment B and County map Attachment C). The revised map reflects the most current climate data, fire history, topography, and wildfire behavior modeling, and classify areas into Moderate, High, or Very High fire hazard zones. Legislation: Assembly Bills (AB) and Senate Bills (SB) Over the past four decades, major wildfire events and evolving legislation have significantly shaped California’s fire hazard planning framework. Following the 1980 Panorama Fire in San Bernardino, which burned 28,800 acres, destroyed 325 structures, and resulted in four fatalities. Public Resources Code Section 4201 was enacted in 1982, directing CAL FIRE to develop FHSZ. This led to the release of the first FHSZ maps in 1985. 249 The 1991 Tunnel Fire in the Oakland Hills, which burned 1,600 acres, destroyed 2,900 structures, and claimed 25 lives, prompted further legislative action. In response, the "Bates Bill" (AB 337, Government Code Section 51175) was passed, requiring CAL FIRE to identify Very High FHSZs within Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) and recommend appropriate actions to local jurisdictions. CAL FIRE later finalized its statewide FHSZ model in 2007 to include Very High zones within LRAs. More recent catastrophic wildfires, such as the Tubbs Fire in 2017 and the Camp Fire in 2018, highlighted the increasing urgency for comprehensive hazard identification. As a result, AB 642 and SB 63 were enacted, expanding CAL FIRE’s responsibilities to include the mapping of Moderate and High FHSZs in LRAs. Building on these efforts, AB 211 (2022) now requires local jurisdictions to adopt FHSZ designations by ordinance, ensuring a consistent and enforceable approach to wildfire resilience planning across the state. On May 28, 2025, the City Council voted to approve the FHSZ map developed by CAL FIRE, as presented and released on March 24, 2025. In accordance with state requirements, the City made the proposed map available for public review and comment within the mandated 30- day period, allowing residents the opportunity to provide input and ask questions regarding the updated designations. This item is now being brought back to the City Council for a second reading, which is required as part of the standard legislative process for adopting ordinances. The second reading serves to formally finalize the adoption of the updated FHSZ map, ensuring consistency with statutory procedures and supporting the City’s continued efforts to align with state-mandated wildfire planning measures. Adopting the updated map fulfills a legal requirement and reinforces the City’s broader commitment to protecting lives, property, and natural resources from the increasing threat of wildfire. DISCUSSION: California’s FHSZ maps, developed by CAL FIRE, are science-based tools that identify areas with varying wildfire hazard levels, Moderate, High, or Very High. Unlike risk maps, which factor in structure vulnerability and mitigation efforts, FHSZ maps focus solely on hazard: the likelihood and expected behavior of wildfire over a 30-50 year period based on terrain, vegetation, weather, and fire history. These maps do not account for recent fires, defensible space, or fire-resistant construction, which are key elements of risk models used by insurers. Instead, FHSZ maps serve long-term planning purposes, such as informing land use, building codes, and emergency preparedness. While FHSZ maps do not predict structure loss, they highlight areas more likely to experience severe fire behavior, including ember spread, one of the leading causes of home ignition. These maps are vital for helping communities understand wildfire exposure and strengthen resilience through informed, proactive planning. Reducing State-Designated Fire FHSZs Under California Government Code Sections 51177–51179, cities cannot reduce FHSZ designations provided by CAL FIRE. Local agencies must adopt the maps as issued and may only increase hazard levels with defensible evidence. Expanding State-Designated FHSZs Expanding the designated zones beyond the state-defined boundaries poses significant 250 challenges for a small city like Rolling Hills. Doing so would require extensive, defensible evidence, including technical wildfire risk assessments and scientific modeling, which demands specialized expertise, time, and financial investment. Hiring consultants to complete such work can be cost-prohibitive and may still face legal challenges from property owners concerned about potential impacts on property values or land use. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION It is important to note that Section 15.04.040, Subsection 4 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code (RHMC) currently defines a “fire zone” as follows: "Fire zone" means the fire zone adopted by an ordinance creating and establishing fire zones or where no such fire zones have been adopted by the City of Rolling Hills, shall mean very high fire hazard severity zone (VHFHSZ). The current language in the Municipal Code presumes that, without an officially adopted fire zone map or ordinance, the entire City is designated as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) by default. However, this is not consistent with CAL FIRE’s 2025 FHSZ maps, which show that portions of the City fall outside the Very High classification. As the City Council previously approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 387, this evening’s meeting includes the second reading and adoption, which will update the definition in Section 15.04.040, Subsection 4 of the RHMC to reflect the officially adopted FHSZ designations. At the May 28, 2025 City Council meeting, it is important to note that Assistant Fire Chief Kane affirmed his commitment to continuing brush clearance inspections for properties located outside the officially designated High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. He emphasized that this approach reflects the Fire Department’s broader commitment to community-wide fire safety and risk reduction. By maintaining inspections citywide, regardless of zone classification, the department reinforces its proactive stance on vegetation management and its dedication to protecting all residents and properties within the City. CONCLUSION The updated FHSZ maps are a critical resource in advancing local wildfire preparedness. The maps support informed decision-making around land use, development regulations, and emergency planning. Adoption of the maps reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to public safety, community resilience, and the responsible management of its unique rural environment. Accordingly, staff requests that the City Council: Open the public hearing; Take public testimony; Deliberate on matters concerning the adoption of the updated FHSZ maps; and Introduce, for second reading, Ordinance No. 387. FISCAL IMPACT: No direct fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: 251 Attachment A - 387_ FireHazardSeverityZoneMap_Ordinance.pdf Attachment B - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LRA_RollingHills.pdf Attachment C - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LRA__LosAngelesCoSW.pdf Attachment D - CL_AGN_250528_CC_Item13A_Ord387_FHSZ.pdf 252 ORDINANCE NO. 387 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA BASED ON MAPS PROVIDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AND AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE NOT SUBJECT TO CEQA WHEREAS, Government Code Section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones (“FHSZs”) based on consistent statewide criteria and severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2025, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection published a new Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for the City of Rolling Hills (“City”); and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to designate by ordinance the FHSZs in its jurisdiction recommended by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and WHEREAS, based on the entire record before the City Council and all written and oral evidence presented, the City Council finds the proposed Ordinance complies with the California Environmental Quality Act for the reasons set forth in this Ordinance; and WHEREAS, any and all other legal prerequisites relating to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The City Council hereby finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein as substantive findings of this Ordinance. SECTION 2. CEQA. The City Council finds that the proposed actions are not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15060(c)(3).) Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines provides that organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not qualify as a project subject to CEQA. Here, the proposed actions constitute an organization or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment because it involves the designation of FHSZs in the Local Responsibility Areas as recommended by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and amendments to the City’s Municipal Code regarding the same. 253 Accordingly, the proposed actions are not a project subject to CEQA. Even if the proposed actions do qualify as a project subject to CEQA, they would be exempt from CEQA because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed actions in question may have a significant effect on the environment for the same reasons referenced above. (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15061(b)(3).) SECTION 3. Designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The City Council hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178. The map, approved by the City, is attached hereto as Attachment “A” entitled “City of Rolling Hills Fire Hazard Severity Zones” dated March 24, 2025, and hereby incorporated by reference. The official map is also located electronically on the following website: https://calfire.app.box.com/file/1810971784473. SECTION 4. Amendment. The definition of “fire zone” set forth in Section 15.04.040 (Definitions.) of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 4, all other remaining provisions of Section 15.04.040 shall remain unchanged and continue in full force and effect: 15.04.040 - Definitions. "Fire zone" means the applicable fire hazard severity zone as designated by the City of Rolling Hills by ordinance. SECTION 5. Amendment. Section 15.20.025 (Very high fire hazard severity zone (VHFHSZ).) of Title 15 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows: 15.20.025 - Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones map for the City of Rolling Hills dated March 24, 2025, as identified by the State Fire Marshal, is hereby adopted by the City of Rolling Hills and incorporated herein for all purposes. This map is available for inspection in the City Clerk's office at the Rolling Hills City Hall. SECTION 6. Submittal to State and Posting. The City Clerk shall submit a copy of this Ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within thirty (30) days of adoption and take any necessary and proper actions to post all notices required under Government Code Section 51179. SECTION 7. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance for any reason is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, 254 subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 8. Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at City Hall for the City of Rolling Hills, located at Rolling Hills City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California 90274. The City Clerk is the custodian of the record of proceedings. SECTION 9. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect thirty (30) days following its adoption. SECTION 10. City Clerk’s Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and cause the same to be posted at the duly designated posting places within the City and published once within fifteen (15) days after passage and adoption as required by law; or, in the alternative, the City Clerk may cause to be published a summary of this Ordinance and post a certified copy of the text of this Ordinance in the Office of the City Clerk five (5) days prior to the date of adoption of this Ordinance, and, within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk shall cause to be published the aforementioned summary and shall post a certified copy of this Ordinance, together with the vote for and against the same, in the Office of the City Clerk. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS __th DAY OF ________ 2025. JEFF PIEPER, MAYOR ATTEST: ____________________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK 255 City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1) CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources: Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of CaliforniaThe State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Unzoned LRA Incorporated City Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers Scale: 1:20,000 at 11" x 17" 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6Km 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1MiFire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal Rolling Hills PortugueseBendRdSaddl ebackRdEast f i el dD r SouthfieldDrBuggyWhipDrCrest RdWJohnsCanyonRd GeorgeffRdLowerBlackwaterCanyonRdCrest R d E ChuckwagonRdCabal l erosRdPineTreeLnUNINCORPORATED LOS ANGELES CO. RANCHO PALOS VERDES RANCHO PALOS VERDES RANCHO PALOS VERDES ROLLING HILLS ESTATES ROLLING HILLS ESTATES TORRANCE March 24, 2025 As Identified by the State Fire MarshalLocal Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones CITY OF ROLLING HILLS – LOS ANGELES COUNTY Very High High Moderate 256 City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1) CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources: Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of CaliforniaThe State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. Waterbody Federal Responsibility Area (FRA)Unzoned LRA Incorporated City Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers Scale: 1:277,000 at 11" x 17" 0 5 10 15 20Km 0 5 10Mi Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024 Very High High Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Los Angeles County 105 5 10 405 110 210 101 101 23 110 2 47 187 1 90 27 118 91 134 213 1 42 1 170 107 AGOURA HILLS BEVERLY HILLS BURBANK CALABASAS CARSONCULVER CITYEL SEGUNDO GARDENAGLENDALE HAWTHORNE INGLEWOOD LOMITALOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES MALIBU RANCHO PALOS VERDESREDONDO BEACHROLL INGHIL LS SANTA MONICA TORRANCE WESTLAKEVILLAGEV E N T U R A C O . March 24, 2025 As Identified by the State Fire MarshalLocal Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones SOUTHWESTERN LOS ANGELES COUNTY – UNINCORPORATED LRA Avalon Santa Catalina Island San Clemente Island No Unincorporated LRA on Santa Catalina or San Clemente islands Very High High Moderate 257 Agenda Item No.: 13.A Mtg. Date: 05/28/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:SAMANTHA CREW, MANAGEMENT ANALYST THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 387 DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA BASED ON MAPS PROVIDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AND AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE NOT SUBJECT TO CEQA DATE:May 28, 2025 BACKGROUND: Pursuant to California state law, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is required to identify and map areas across the state that are at risk of wildfires, designated as “Fire Hazard Severity Zones” (FHSZ). On March 24, 2025, the Director of CAL FIRE released an updated FHSZ map for the City of Rolling Hills (Attachment A and County Map Attachment B). The revised maps incorporate the latest climate data, fire history, topography, and wildfire behavior modeling to classify areas as Moderate, High, or Very High fire hazard zones. Legislation: Assembly Bills (AB) and Senate Bills (SB) Wildfire events and evolving legislation have shaped California’s approach to fire hazard planning over the past four decades. In 1980, the Panorama Fire in San Bernardino burned 28,800 acres, destroyed 325 structures, and caused four fatalities. Two years later, Public Resources Code Section 4201 mandated that CAL FIRE develop FHSZ, leading to the creation of the first FHSZ maps in 1985. In 1991, the devastating Tunnel Fire in Oakland Hills burned 1,600 acres, destroyed 2,900 structures, and claimed 25 lives. This tragedy prompted the passage of the “Bates Bill” (AB 337, Government Code Section 51175), which directed CAL FIRE to identify Very High FHSZs within Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) and make recommendations to local jurisdictions, which are then required to take appropriate action (Attachment C - LRA Legislation & FAQ). In 2007, CAL FIRE finalized its statewide FHSZ model to include Very High zones in LRAs. The Tubbs Fire in 2017 and the Camp Fire in 1258 2018, two of the most destructive wildfires in state history, further underscored the need for proactive planning. In response, AB 642 and SB 63 were enacted to require CAL FIRE to identify not just Very High, but also Moderate and High FHSZs in LRAs. Building on this, AB 211 (2022) requires local agencies to formally adopt these designations by ordinance, ensuring consistent implementation of wildfire resilience measures statewide. 1991 - AB 337 Known as the "Bates Bill," was enacted in response to the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire. It requires CAL FIRE to identify Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) within LRAs. Once identified, CAL FIRE must provide recommendations to local jurisdictions, which is then required to take appropriate action. The bill is codified in Government Code Section 51175 and aims to strengthen local planning and mitigation efforts in high-risk wildfire areas. 2021 - AB 642 Enhances wildfire resilience by requiring CAL FIRE to map Moderate and High FHSZ in LRAs, expand use of prescribed and cultural burns, and establish a Cultural Burning Liaison. It also calls for updated fire-safe building standards and tribal burn boss training programs. 2021 - SB 63 Strengthens wildfire prevention by expanding hazard mapping to include Moderate and High zones, requiring defensible space beyond property lines, and authorizing local partners to conduct home hardening assessments. It also prioritizes funding for roadside vegetation management and public education. 2022 - AB 211 Requires local agencies to adopt CAL FIRE’s Moderate and High FHSZ designations within 120 days and extends CEQA exemptions for wildfire resilience projects. Also allocates funding for drought and ecosystem recovery efforts. The release of the updated FHSZ map for the City of Rolling Hills marks a critical step in aligning with California’s evolving wildfire mitigation framework. Grounded in decades of legislation, scientific advancement, and lessons from past wildfire events (Attachment D), this map serves as a key planning tool to support fire resilience at the local level. As the City considers adoption of the updated map, it reflects not only a legal obligation but a broader commitment to protecting lives, property, and natural resources from the growing threat of wildfire. Los Angeles County Fire Presentation and Action Items This evening, the City Council will receive a presentation from Assistant Fire Chief Brian Kane of the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) on the updated 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. Following the presentation, staff will request that the City Council: Open the public hearing; Take public testimony; Deliberate on matters concerning the adoption of the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone 2259 maps; and Introduce, for first reading, Ordinance No. 387. DISCUSSION: California’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are essential planning tools used to identify areas with varying levels of wildfire hazard. Developed by CAL FIRE, these maps provide a long-term, science-based assessment of how likely an area is to experience wildfire and how intense that fire could be under extreme conditions. While often confused with risk maps, FHSZ maps serve a different purpose: they evaluate hazard, the likelihood, and expected behavior of wildfire, rather than risk, which considers the vulnerability of specific structures and the presence of mitigation measures. Understanding this distinction is critical for land-use planning, building code development, and public safety efforts. The following explains the methodology, purpose, and limitations of FHSZ mapping, as well as recent updates aimed at improving accuracy across both State and Local Responsibility Areas. Methodology, Purpose, and Limitations FHSZ maps are created using a science-based and field-tested model that evaluates the hazard of an area burning, not the risk of fire damage. “Hazard” refers to the physical conditions that influence wildfire likelihood and behavior over a 30- to 50-year period, such as terrain, natural vegetation, fire history, typical weather patterns, flame length, and ember generation. The model incorporates two key components: (1) the probability of an area burning and (2) the expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather conditions. These maps function similarly to flood zone maps, identifying areas based on the probability of wildfire occurrence rather than predicting specific outcomes or property loss. Importantly, hazard maps do not account for recent wildfire activity, defensible space, ignition- resistant construction, or fuel reduction efforts. These are instead considered under the concept of risk. “Risk” reflects the potential damage a fire could cause under current conditions, incorporating mitigation measures such as fuel reduction, defensible space, and fire-resistant building features. Insurance companies rely on risk models, not hazard models, because they factor in short-term, site-specific variables that affect a structure’s susceptibility to damage. Unlike hazard models, risk models can change frequently based on evolving conditions. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara recently stated, "The CAL FIRE hazard maps are not used for insurance rates or underwriting decisions, but they will empower communities with more accurate information about the very real hazards we face." (Attachment E). Outside of wildland areas, hazard models also evaluate potential threats to buildings by considering urban vegetation, terrain, weather, proximity to wildlands, and nearby fire behavior. However, they do not directly predict structure loss, as detailed ignition vulnerability data (e.g., roof type or vent openings) is not included. One critical component of the model is ember spread, since embers are a major cause of wildfire ignition. Embers can travel long distances in high winds and ignite structures by entering attics, vents, or landing on decks and roofs. 3260 State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) FHSZ maps are currently being updated to incorporate the latest fire science, localized climate data, and improved wildfire behavior modeling. These updates aim to provide a more accurate reflection of current wildfire hazard conditions throughout California, both in State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs). SRAs are lands where the state holds financial responsibility for wildland fire protection. In contrast, LRAs include incorporated cities, urban regions, agricultural lands, and other areas where fire protection is managed by local agencies. CAL FIRE applies an adapted version of the SRA hazard model to LRAs, taking into account both ember exposure from adjacent wildlands and flammable vegetation within the urban environment. Under California Government Code Sections 51177-51179, local agencies receiving FHSZ maps for LRAs from the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) are required to follow a three-step process: (1) within 30 days, make the maps available for public review and comment (Attachment F - Public Notice); (2) within 120 days, adopt the maps by local ordinance (Attachment G - Ordinance); and (3) within 30 days of adoption, submit the ordinance and related documents to the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection. Local agencies may only increase, not decrease, the hazard designations provided by OSFM. As wildfire threats continue to evolve with changing climate conditions and expanding development in fire-prone areas, the importance of accurate, science-based hazard mapping cannot be overstated. California’s updated FHSZ maps provide a critical foundation for informed decision-making in land use, building regulations, and emergency preparedness. By distinguishing between long-term hazard and short-term risk, these maps support more targeted mitigation strategies and better coordination among state and local agencies. Ultimately, the updated FHSZ maps serve as a proactive tool to help communities understand their wildfire exposure, strengthen their resilience, and reduce the potential impacts of future wildfires. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION It is important to note that currently, Section 15.04.040, Subsection 4 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code (RHMC) defines a 'fire zone' as follows: "Fire zone" means the fire zone adopted by an ordinance creating and establishing fire zones or where no such fire zones have been adopted by the City of Rolling Hills, shall mean very high fire hazard severity zone (VHFHSZ). The current language in the Municipal Code assumes that, in the absence of a formally adopted fire zone map or ordinance, the entire City is classified as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) by default. However, this assumption may not be accurate, as Cal Fire’s 2025 FHSZ maps indicate that not all areas of the City fall within a Very High FHSZ. Therefore, should the City Council desire to proceed with this process, staff will place Ordinance No. 387 on the June 9 City Council meeting for its first reading, thus updating the definition found in Section 15.04.040, Subsection 4 of the RHMC. 4261 CONCLUSION For the City of Rolling Hills, where wildfire risk is a persistent concern due to the community’s rural character and natural landscape, the updated FHSZ maps are a vital tool in advancing local wildfire preparedness. These maps not only reflect the most current science and modeling but also help the City make informed decisions about land use, development standards, and resource allocation. The adoption and use of these updated maps reaffirm the City’s commitment to public safety, community resilience, and responsible stewardship of its unique environment. FISCAL IMPACT: No direct fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council: Open the public hearing; Take public testimony; Deliberate on matters concerning the adoption of the updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps; and Introduce for first reading, Ordinance No. 387 ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LRA_RollingHills.pdf Attachment B - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LRA__LosAngelesCoSW.pdf Attachment C - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LRA_LegislationFactsheet.pdf Attachment D - PS_FHS_250528_MA_Events&LegislativeTimeline.pdf Attachment E - PS_FHS_250528_MA_FHSZ-InsuranceConsumerAlert.pdf Attachment F - PS_FHS_250528_MA_PublicNotice_FireHazardSeverityZones.pdf Attachment G - 387_ FireHazardSeverityZoneMap_Ordinance.pdf Attachment H - PS_FHS_250528_MA_LACoFD_LRA.pdf 5262 City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1) CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources: Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of CaliforniaThe State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Unzoned LRA Incorporated City Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers Scale: 1:20,000 at 11" x 17" 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6Km 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1MiFire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal Rolling Hills PortugueseBendRdSaddl ebackRdEast f i el dD r SouthfieldDrBuggyWhipDrCr e s t Rd WJohnsCanyonRd GeorgeffRdLowerBlackwaterCanyonRdCrest R d E ChuckwagonRdCabal l erosRdPineTreeLnUNINCORPORATED LOS ANGELES CO. RANCHO PALOS VERDES RANCHO PALOS VERDES RANCHO PALOS VERDES ROLLING HILLS ESTATES ROLLING HILLS ESTATES TORRANCE March 24, 2025 As Identified by the State Fire MarshalLocal Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones CITY OF ROLLING HILLS – LOS ANGELES COUNTY Very High High Moderate 6263 City and County boundaries as of 10/22/24 (CA Board of Equalization) CAL FIRE State Responsibility Areas (SRA25_1) CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZSRA23_3, FHSZLRA_25_1) Data Sources: Daniel Berlant, State Fire Marshal, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Joe Tyler, Director/Fire Chief, CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources, CA Natural Resources Agency Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of CaliforniaThe State of California and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy of data or maps. Neither the State nor the Department shall be liable under any circumstances for any direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages with respect to any claim by any user or third party on account of, or arising from, the use of data or maps. Waterbody Federal Responsibility Area (FRA)Unzoned LRA Incorporated City Projection: NAD 83 California Teale Albers Scale: 1:277,000 at 11" x 17" 0 5 10 15 20Km 0 5 10Mi Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Area (SRA), Effective April 1, 2024 Very High High Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) in Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as Identified by the State Fire Marshal and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, Government Code section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent Los Angeles County 105 5 10 405 110 210 101 101 23 110 2 47 187 1 90 27 118 91 134 213 1 42 1 170 107 AGOURA HILLS BEVERLY HILLS BURBANK CALABASAS CARSONCULVER CITYEL SEGUNDO GARDENAGLENDALE HAWTHORNE INGLEWOOD LOMITALOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES MALIBU RANCHO PALOS VERDESREDONDO BEACHROLL INGHIL LS SANTA MONICA TORRANCE WESTLAKEVILLAGEV E N T U R A C O . March 24, 2025 As Identified by the State Fire MarshalLocal Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones SOUTHWESTERN LOS ANGELES COUNTY – UNINCORPORATED LRA Avalon Santa Catalina Island San Clemente Island No Unincorporated LRA on Santa Catalina or San Clemente islands Very High High Moderate 7264 8265 9266 10267 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions What do Fire Hazard Severity Zones measure? The Fire Hazard Severity Zone map reflects “hazard,” not “risk”. The map is like flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a par琀椀cular area being inundated by floodwaters, and not specifically prescrip琀椀ve of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical condi琀椀ons that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mi琀椀ga琀椀on measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduc琀椀on efforts. “Risk” is the poten琀椀al damage a fire can do to the area under exis琀椀ng condi琀椀ons, accoun琀椀ng for any modifica琀椀ons such as fuel reduc琀椀on projects, defensible space, and igni琀椀on resistant building construc琀椀on. What is a Fire Hazard Severity Zone or FHSZ? Public Resource Code 4202; The State Fire Marshal shall classify lands within State Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Each zone shall embrace rela琀椀vely homogeneous lands and shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors present, including areas where winds have been iden琀椀fied by the department as a major cause of wildfire spread. Government Code 51178; The State Fire Marshal shall iden琀椀fy areas in the state as Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been iden琀椀fied by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. Will the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones affect my ability to get or maintain insurance? Insurance companies use risk models, which differ from hazard models, because they consider the suscep琀椀bility of a structure to damage from fire and other short-term factors that are not included in hazard modeling. It is unlikely that insurance risk models would u琀椀lize CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones as a factor, but much of the same data that is used in the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model are likely included in the insurance companies’ risk models. However, insurance risk models incorporate many addi琀椀onal factors and that change more frequently than those that CAL FIRE includes in its hazard mapping, which is built to remain steady for the next 10+ years. General 11268 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions When were the maps last updated? In 2007, CAL FIRE updated the FHSZs for the en琀椀re State Responsibility Area (SRA). Between 2008- 2011 the department worked with local governments to make recommenda琀椀ons of the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones within Local Responsibility Area (LRA). Why are fire hazard severity maps being updated? The hazard maps are being updated to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are suscep琀椀ble to wildfire. The hazard mapping process will incorporate new science in local climate data and improved fire assessment modeling in determining hazard ra琀椀ngs. Where do Fire Hazard Severity Zones apply? Fire Hazard Severity Zones are found in areas where the state has financial responsibility for wildfire protec琀椀on and preven琀椀on, called the State Responsibility Area. More than 31 million acres are in this area. Under Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021) Government Code 51178 was amended to also iden琀椀fy the Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zones with the Very High in Local Responsibility Area (LRA). What are the uses of Fire Hazard Severity Zones? The zones are used for several purposes including to designate areas where California’s defensible space standards and wildland urban interface building codes are required. They can be a factor in real estate disclosure, and local governments may consider them in their general plan. What are the key elements of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model? The fire hazard severity model for wildland fire has two key elements: probability of an area burning and expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather condi琀椀ons. The zones reflect areas that have similar burn probabili琀椀es and fire behavior characteris琀椀cs. The factors considered in determining fire hazard within wildland areas are fire history, flame length, terrain, local weather, and poten琀椀al fuel over a 50-year period. Outside of wildlands, the model considers factors that might lead to buildings being threatened, including terrain, weather, urban vegeta琀椀on cover, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, fire history, and fire hazard in nearby wildlands. FHSZs are not a structure loss model, as key informa琀椀on regarding structure igni琀椀on (such as roof type, etc.) is not included. General 12269 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions How do the Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps differ from California Public U琀椀li琀椀es Commission (CPUC) High Fire Threat District Maps? The California Public U琀椀li琀椀es Commission (CPUC) sponsored map, known as "CPUC High Fire Threat District Map” (HFTD), includes similar factors as those in the FHSZ maps, however the CPUC HFTD Map is designed specifically for iden琀椀fying areas where there is an increased risk for u琀椀lity associated wildfires. As such, the CPUC map includes fire hazards associated with historical powerline-caused wildfires, current fuel condi琀椀ons, and scores areas based on where fires start, as opposed to where poten琀椀al fires may cause impacts. Why is my property in a different zone than the adjacent area, which looks similar? In wildland areas, zone edges are a result of the way zones are delineated. Specifically, zones represent areas of similar slope and fuel poten琀椀al. Zone boundaries divide zones based on geographic and vegeta琀椀on features that align with fire hazard poten琀椀al; although, at a local scale, it may appear that the immediate area is similar on both sides of the edge. The class value within a zone is based on the average hazard score across the whole zone, so areas that are in the same zone but not immediately adjacent to a local area can have an influence on the final zone classifica琀椀on. Classifica琀椀on outside of wildland areas is based on the fire hazard of the adjacent wildland and the probability of flames and embers threatening buildings. How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined? CAL FIRE used the best available science and data to develop, and field test a model that served as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluated the probability of the area burning and poten琀椀al fire behavior in the area. Many factors were included such as fire history, vegeta琀椀on, flame length, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, terrain, and weather. What new data will be included in the new model, and how does this differ from the previous model? A 2 km grid of climate data covering the years 2003-2018 is being used in the update. The previous model used stock weather inputs across the state to calculate wildland fire intensity scores. The updated model will adjust fire intensity scores based on the most extreme fire weather at a given loca琀椀on, considering temperature, humidity, and wind speed. In addi琀椀on, ember transport is being modeled based on local distribu琀椀ons of observed wind speed and direc琀椀on values instead of using a generic buffer distance for urban areas adjacent to wildlands. General 13270 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions How can I search the Fire Hazard Severity Zone of a property? You can search by address to find your current designa琀椀on on the web at: osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ Why does the model place an emphasis on the spread of embers? Embers spread wildfire because they can travel long distances in the wind and ignite vegeta琀椀on, roofs, a琀�cs (by ge琀�ng into vents), and decks. Why do waterbodies have a Fire Hazard Severity Zone Classifica琀椀on? All areas in State Responsibility Area, including water bodies, require a Fire Hazard Severity Zone designa琀椀on. The 2007 FHSZ maps zoned all water as Moderate by default. In the 2023 FHSZ model we added a buffer of FHSZ from the surrounding wildland into water bodies to account for poten琀椀al threat of embers to buildings on docks and house boats, as well as varia琀椀on in reservoir height that occurs with drought. How does CAL FIRE assist Local Governments in Fire Hazard Severity Zones? CAL FIRE’s Land Use Planning Program is a specialized unit that provides support to local governments by providing fire safety exper琀椀se on the State’s wildland urban interface building codes, wildfire safety codes, as well as helping in the development of the safety elements in general plans. General 14271 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions What is State Responsibility Area or SRA? SRA is a legal term defining the area where the state has financial responsibility for wildland fire protec琀椀on and preven琀椀on. Incorporated ci琀椀es and federal ownership are not included. Within the SRA, CAL FIRE is responsible for fire preven琀椀on and suppression. There are more than 31 million acres in SRA, with an es琀椀mated 1.7 million people and 800,000 exis琀椀ng homes. How is State Responsibility Area determined? The Board of Forestry and Fire Protec琀椀on (Board) classifies land as State Responsibility Area. The legal defini琀椀on of SRA is found in the Public Resources Code Sec琀椀on 4125. The Board has developed detailed procedures to classify lands as State Responsibility Area. Lands are removed from SRA when they become incorporated by a city, change in ownership to the federal government, become more densely populated, or are converted to intensive agriculture that minimizes the risk of wildfire. While some lands are removed from SRA automa琀椀cally, the Board typically reviews changes every five years. What Fire Hazard Severity Zones are in State Responsibility Area? All of the State Responsibility Area is in a Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Lands are either ranked as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. What are the wildland urban interface (WUI) building codes in State Responsibility Area? The WUI building codes (California Building Code (CBC) Chapter 7A) reduce the risk of embers fanned by wind-blown wildfires from igni琀椀ng buildings. The codes for roofing, siding, decking, windows, and vents apply throughout all State Responsibility Area regardless of the fire hazard severity ranking. Ember-resistant building materials can be found at: h琀琀ps://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/fire-engineering-and-inves琀椀ga琀椀ons/building-materials-lis琀椀ng/ State Responsibility Area 15272 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between the various Fire Hazard Severity Zones? Classifica琀椀on of a wildland zone as Moderate, High or Very High Fire Hazard is based on the average hazard across the area included in the zone, which have a minimum size of 200 acres. In wildlands, hazard is a func琀椀on of modeled flame length under the worst condi琀椀ons and annual burn probability. Both these factors generally increase with increasing hazard level, but there may be instances where one value is Very High and the other is low, pushing the overall hazard into a more intermediate ranking. On average, both modeled flame length and burn probability increase by roughly 40-60% between hazard classes. Is the GIS data for Fire Hazard Severity Zones available for download? The data inputs used to develop the Fire Hazard Severity Zones are iden琀椀fied in the Ini琀椀al Statement of Reasons (ISOR) Title 19 Development (ca.gov). CAL FIRE has developed an addi琀椀onal data package which consists of sequen琀椀al modeling steps, including any data inputs that were not already publicly available and referenced in the ISOR. The data package encompasses 34 spa琀椀al datasets and 8 tables, provided in raster, polygon, and table format. These datasets are forma琀琀ed for Esri ArcGIS so昀琀ware, except for four tables provided in Excel. Ten of the datasets are updated versions used to produce an edited SRA FHSZ map following the public comment period that ended April 4, 2023. Upon formal adop琀椀on of the FHSZ map, the final SRA FHSZ geospa琀椀al data file will become available. The data package is available on the FHSZ website Fire Hazard Severity Zones (ca.gov) under the science and methods banner. State Responsibility Area 16273 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions What is Local Responsibility Area or LRA? Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are incorporated ci琀椀es, urban regions, agriculture lands, and por琀椀ons of the desert where the local government is responsible for wildfire protec琀椀on. This is typically provided by city fire departments, fire protec琀椀on districts, coun琀椀es, and by CAL FIRE under contract. When did Fire Hazard Severity Zones begin in Local Responsibility Area? Assembly Bill 337 (Bates, 1992) prompted by the devasta琀椀ng Oakland Hills Fire of 1991, calls for CAL FIRE to evaluate fire hazard severity in Local Responsibility Area and to make a recommenda琀椀on to the local jurisdic琀椀on where Very High FHSZ exist. Government Code 51175 then provides direc琀椀on for the local jurisdic琀椀on to take appropriate ac琀椀on. How are Fire Hazard Severity Zones determined in Local Responsibility Areas? CAL FIRE uses an extension of the State Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone model as the basis for evalua琀椀ng fire hazard in Local Responsibility Area. The Local Responsibility Area hazard ra琀椀ng reflects flame and ember intrusion from adjacent wildlands and from flammable vegeta琀椀on in the urban area. What are the requirements for landowners in Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas? California’s WUI building codes (CBC Chapter 7A) apply to the design and construc琀椀on of new buildings located in High and Very High FHSZs in Local Responsibility Areas. Local ordinances may require igni琀椀on resistant construc琀椀on for remodel projects. Check with your local building department to determine which igni琀椀on resistant building codes apply to your project. In addi琀椀on, Government Code Sec琀椀on 51182 calls for defensible space clearance and other wildland fire safety prac琀椀ces for buildings. Owners are also required to make a natural hazard disclosure as part of a real estate transfer. For informa琀椀on regarding home hardening and defensible space clearance, visit www.readyforwildfire.org. Does the designa琀椀on of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area trigger the 100-foot clearance requirement? Yes, per Government Code 51182 unless a local government has passed a more stringent requirement, the 100-foot defensible space clearance applies. For informa琀椀on regarding home hardening and defensible space clearance, visit www.readyforwildfire.org. Local Responsibility Area 17274 FHSZ Frequently Asked Questions Why is my property in a different zone than the adjacent area, which looks similar? In non-wildland areas, zone edges occur based on distance to the wildland edge. Because hazard in these areas is largely determined by incoming embers from adjacent wildland, urban areas that are similar in vegeta琀椀on type and housing density may have a change in FHSZ class as the distance to the wildland edge increases. Areas immediately adjacent to wildland receive the same FHSZ score as that wildland where fire originates, and the model then produces lower scores as the distance to wildland edge increases. What is the process for developing Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Area? CAL FIRE uses the same modeling data that is used to map the State Responsibility Area. The map, along with a model ordinance, are then sent to the governing body for adop琀椀on. How are the new Fire Hazard Severity Zones impac琀椀ng development? Many of the changes expanding Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Responsibility Areas have been supported by the building industry. CAL FIRE works closely with the building industry when se琀�ng various building codes and defensible space requirements, so we are working together to not affect development itself but to make sure development matches the hazards of that area. When will the Local Responsibility Area Map be released? The Local Responsibility Area map process will happen a昀琀er the State Responsibility Area process has been completed, which is es琀椀mated to occur in winter of 2025. Why haven’t Moderate and High Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes been classified before in the Local Responsibility Area? New legisla琀椀on, Senate Bill 63 (Stern, 2021), now requires the adop琀椀on of all three Fire Hazard Severity Zone classes in the Local Responsibility Area. Previously only Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones were required for adop琀椀on in Local Responsibility Areas. Local Responsibility Area 18275 LRA Legislation Factsheet Assembly Bill No.337 An act to add Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) to Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, and to amend Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to fire protection. [Enrolled, January 28, 1991] AB 337, Bates. Very high fire hazard severity zones. (1) Under existing law, the State Board of Forestry is required to classify all lands within the state, in accordance with prescribed criteria, for the purpose of determining areas in which the financial responsibility of preventing and suppressing fires is primarily the responsibility of the state. This bill would declare that the prevention of fires is not a municipal affair but is instead, a matter of statewide concern, and would make a finding and declaration of the Legislature that its provisions apply to all local agencies, including, but not limited to, charter cities, charter counties, and charter cities and counties. The bill would prohibit that finding from limiting the authority of a local agency, as defined, from imposing more restrictive fire and panic safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law. The bill would state that it is not the intent of the Legislature to limit or restrict the authority of a local agency to impose more restrictive fire and panic safety requirements, as otherwise authorized by law. This bill would require the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify areas in the state as very high fire hazard severity zones within all counties pursuant to a prescribed schedule. The bill would require local agencies, as defined, to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severity zones in their jurisdiction after receiving recommendations from the director, except as prescribed. The bill would authorize local agencies to include or exclude areas following certain findings and would require changes made by local agencies to be final and not rebuttable by the director. By requiring local agencies to designate very high fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdictions, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of any high fire hazard security zones. 19276 LRA Legislation Factsheet Assembly Bill No.337 (Continued) (2) Under existing law, any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains any building or structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area or forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands, or grass-covered lands, or any land that is covered with flammable material, is required to undertake specified fire protection measures, including the maintenance of specified firebreaks. The bill would enact requirements of this nature for any person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains, any occupied dwelling or occupied structure in, upon, or adjoining any mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush-covered land, grass-covered land, or land covered with flammable material, which area or land is within a very high fire hazard severity zone, as described in (1). The bill would authorize local agencies to exempt certain structures and would exempt certain land or water areas. The bill would make violation of these requirements an infraction or misdemeanor, as specified, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime, and would specify related matters. This bill would require local agencies to notify owners of property of violation and would authorize local agencies to correct the conditions and make a lien upon the property, as prescribed. By creating these requirements, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would permit a violation of these requirements to be considered a public nuisance, as specified. (3) Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to adopt, amend, and repeal regulations for roof coverings and openings into the attic areas of buildings in those fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility lands as designated by the director. Existing law requires the director to classify lands within state responsibility areas into fire hazard severity zones. This bill would instead require the State Fire Marshal to propose, and would require the State Building Standards Commission to adopt, amend, and repeal those regulations. The bill would also require the State Fire Marshal to propose, and would require the State Building Standards Commission to adopt, amend, and repeal, those regulations for buildings in very high fire hazard severity zones in state responsibility lands, designated by the director, and in very high fire hazard severity zones as described in (1). The bill would require roofs on all new buildings and certain existing buildings in both of those zones to be at least a class B roof that complies with Standard 32-7 of the Uniform Building Code, as adopted in the California Building Standards Code. The bill would impose requirements on installers and roofing materials and make other related changes. The bill would exempt historic buildings, as defined, from these provisions. 20277 LRA Legislation Factsheet Senate Bill No.63 CHAPTER 382 An act to amend Sections 51177, 51178, 51178.5, 51182, and 51189 of the Government Code, to amend Section 13108.5 of the Health and Safety Code, and to amend Sections 4124.5 and 4291 of, and to add and repeal Sections 4123.8, 4291.5, and 4291.6 of, the Public Resources Code, relating to fire prevention. [Approved by Governor September 28, 2021. Filed with Secretary of State September 28, 2021.] SB 63, Stern. Fire prevention: vegetation management: public education: grants: defensible space: fire hazard severity zones. (1) Existing law requires the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection to identify areas of the state as very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency, within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the director that identifies very high fire hazard severity zones, to make the information available for public review, as provided. This bill, among other things, would also require the director to identify areas of the state as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones. The bill would modify the factors the director is required to use to identify areas into fire hazard severity zones, as provided. The bill would require a local agency to make this information available for public review and comment, as provided. By expanding the responsibility of a local agency, the bill would impose a state- mandated local program. This bill would also make conforming changes. (2) Existing law requires a person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains an occupied dwelling or structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered land, brush- covered land, grass-covered land, or land that is covered with flammable material that is within a very high fire hazard severity zone, as designated by a local agency, or a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining those areas or lands within a state responsibility area, to maintain a defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, as specified. Existing law authorizes a greater distance than specified above on the specified land in a very high fire hazard severity zone. Existing law specifies that clearance beyond the property line may only be required if state law, local ordinance, rule, or regulation includes certain findings and specifies that clearance on adjacent property shall only be conducted following written consent by the adjacent landowner. 21278 LRA Legislation Factsheet Amended by Senate Bill No.63 Government Code 51178 The State Fire Marshal shall identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on consistent statewide criteria and based on the severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas. Moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones shall be based on fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and other relevant factors including areas where winds have been identified by the Office of the State Fire Marshal as a major cause of wildfire spread. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 382, Sec. 2.5. (SB 63) Effective January 1, 2022.) Government Code 51178.5 Within 30 days after receiving a transmittal from the State Fire Marshal that identifies fire hazard severity zones pursuant to Section 51178, a local agency shall make the information available for public review and comment. The information shall be presented in a format that is understandable and accessible to the general public, including, but not limited to, maps. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 382, Sec. 3.5. (SB 63) Effective January 1, 2022.) 22279 LRA Legislation Factsheet Assembly Bill No. 211 CHAPTER 574 An act to amend Sections 11891, 11893, 12581, 12996, 12998, 12999.4, and 12999.5 of, and to add Sections 12999.6 and 13001 to, the Food and Agricultural Code, to amend Section 51179 of the Government Code, to amend Sections 44274.10, 44274.11, 44274.12, 44274.13, and 44274.14 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend Sections 3113, 4799.05, 14503.5.1, 14538, 14549.2, 14581, 42052, and 42060 of, to add Sections 14537.5, 14548, 14555, and 21166.3 to, to add Part 5 (commencing with Section 75250) to Division 44 of, and to repeal Section 75250.1 of, the Public Resources Code, to amend Section 43152.6 of, and to amend and repeal Section 43152.10 of, the Revenue and Taxation Code, to amend Section 13198 of the Water Code, to amend the Budget Act of 2021 (Chapters 21, 69, and 240 of the Statutes of 2021) by amending Item 8570-002-0001 of Section 2.00 of that act, and to amend the Budget Act of 2021 (Chapter 44 of the Statutes of 2022) by amending Items 3540-101-0001 of Section 2.00 of that act, relating to public resources, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget. [Approved by Governor September 27, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 27, 2022.] AB 211, Committee on Budget. Public resources trailer bill. (2) Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas of the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones based on specified criteria. Existing law requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. Existing law authorizes a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence, as provided. This bill would additionally require a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate and high fire hazard severity zones within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal. By expanding the responsibility of a local agency, the bill would impose a state- mandated local program. The bill would additionally authorize a local agency, at its discretion, to include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. The bill would prohibit the local agency from decreasing the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency, as provided. 23280 LRA Legislation Factsheet Amended by Assembly Bill No. 211 Government Code 51179 (a) A local agency shall designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones in its jurisdiction within 120 days of receiving recommendations from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. (b) (1) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection within the area. (2) A local agency may, at its discretion, include areas within the jurisdiction of the local agency, not identified as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones by the State Fire Marshal, as moderate and high fire hazard severity zones, respectively. (3) A local agency shall not decrease the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency, and, in exercising its discretion pursuant to paragraph (2), may only increase the level of fire hazard severity zone as identified by the State Fire Marshal for any area within the jurisdiction of the local agency. (c) The local agency shall transmit a copy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within 30 days of adoption. (d) Changes made by a local agency to the recommendations made by the State Fire Marshal shall be final and shall not be rebuttable by the State Fire Marshal. (e) The State Fire Marshal shall prepare and adopt a model ordinance that provides for the establishment of very high fire hazard severity zones. (f) Any ordinance adopted by a local agency pursuant to this section that substantially conforms to the model ordinance of the State Fire Marshal shall be presumed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section. (g) A local agency shall post a notice at the office of the county recorder, county assessor, and county planning agency identifying the location of the map provided by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. If the agency amends the map, pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of this section, the notice shall instead identify the location of the amended map. (Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 574, Sec. 10. (AB 211) Effective September 27, 2022.) 24281 LRA Legislation Factsheet Increasing Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) Area and Designation Government Code section 51179 requires a local agency to designate, by ordinance, moderate, high, and very high FHSZ within 120 days of receiving the identified FHSZ’s from the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178. The law does not allow for a local jurisdiction to request changes or provide comments to the State Fire Marshal on the FHSZ designations. However, a local agency may choose to increase the designation of a FHSZ from the FHSZ identified by the State Fire Marshal, or designate areas as having a FHSZ that were not designated in a FHSZ by the State Fire Marshal. This may occur because FHSZ zone edges in the maps and data from the State Fire Marshal are not aligned with parcel boundaries or roads that some may consider for lines of convenance when adopting ordinances. A local agency is not allowed to reduce the designation of a FHSZ classification from the State Fire Marshal (i.e. a local agency cannot make an area designated as High by the State Fire Marshal, Moderate in its adopted ordinance). However, a local jurisdiction can increase the designation from the one identified by the State Fire Marshal. If a local agency decides to increase the designation of a FHSZ, it may do so if it does the following: 1. If increasing the designation to Very High, a local agency must make a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection. 2. If increasing the designation to Moderate or High, a local agency may do this at its discretion. If a local agency decides to include areas in its FHSZ adopted ordinance not identified as being in a FHSZ by the State Fire Marshal, it may include those areas if it does the following: 1. If including areas not identified as being in a FHSZ and designating it as Very High, a local agency must make a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements of Government Code section 51182 are necessary for effective fire protection. 2. If including areas not identified as being in a FHSZ and designating it as Moderate or High, a local agency may do this at its discretion. 25282 LRA Legislation Factsheet 26283 27284 1980 - Panorama Fire Burned 28,800 acres, 325 structures lost, 4 fatalities (San Bernardino). 1982 - PRC 4201 Required CAL FIRE to create Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). 1985 - FHSZ Maps First statewide FHSZ maps created for fire planning. 1991 - Tunnel Fire Burned 1,600 acres, 2,900 structures lost, 25 fatalities (Oakland Hills). 1992 - AB 337 (Bates Bill) CAL FIRE to identify Very High FHSZ in Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) and recommend actions. 2007 - FHSZ Model Finalized Updated hazard model applied to LRAs statewide. 2017 - Tubbs Fire Burned 36,810 acres, 5,643 structures lost, 22 fatalities (Santa Rosa). 2018 - Camp Fire Burned 153,336 acres, 18,804 structures lost, 85 fatalities (Paradise). 2021 - AB 642 Expanded mapping to include Moderate and High FHSZ, added cultural burns, liaison, and training. 2021 - SB 63 Extended hazard mapping, defensible space, and community assessment programs. 2022 - AB 211 Mandates local adoption of Moderate and High FHSZ; supports CEQA exemptions and funding. California Wildfire Events & Legislative TimelineCalifornia Wildfire Events & Legislative Timeline 28285 LQVXUDQFHFDJRY ɕ-927-4357 CAL FIRE hazard maps do not affect insurance rates or availability Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a fact sheet explaining that CAL FIRE hazard maps do not affect insurance rates or availability. A Spanish- language fact sheet is also available. For many years, insurance companies have been using wildfire risk models for determining where they will write and renew policies, and how much premium to charge a policyholder -- not the Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. CAL FIRE’s maps are required by law and their purpose is to drive local planning decisions, not insurance decisions. Commissioner’s POV: “Let me be clear: The CAL FIRE hazard maps are not used for insurance rates or underwriting decisions. But they will empower communities with more accurate information about the very real hazards we face. The reality is we all need to do more to protect our homes and communities from wildfires. When communities know and understand their risks, they can plan and prepare.” Background: The Department of Insurance is implementing a Sustainable Insurance Strategy aimed at supporting safer communities. Based on feedback gathered from thousands of town halls and meetings with homeowners, businesses, and individual consumers, Commissioner Lara implemented an aggressive approach to modernize insurance regulations to address insurance accessibility challenges for consumers. Commissioner Lara’s new Safer from Wildfires regulation clarifies what actions you should take to reduce wildfire risks and receive an insurance discount. Insurance companies use computerized wildfire catastrophe models to determine which homes to write based on the risk of loss. Building on the Safer from Wildfires initiative — the nation’s first wildfire safety discount program — the strategy requires catastrophe models to account for mitigation efforts by homeowners, businesses, and communities, something not possible even a few months ago under outdated regulations. Learn More: The Department of Insurance fact sheet is posted at CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone web page where you can learn more about enhancing your property’s fire safety and view current versions of maps. 29286 LQVXUDQFHFDJRY ɕ-927-4357 Exciting News! ฺุู The California Department of Insurance (CDI) is proud to introduce the Community Outreach and Education Partnership Initiative. This dynamic program is designed to raise consumer awareness about CDI's vital services and expand understanding of key insurance topics and fraud prevention. Become a valued partner and unlock exclusive access to: • Comprehensive consumer education materials • Specialized training sessions • Powerful social media tools Become a Partner Today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VHGZQHT 30287 65277.00001\43666489.1 Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) California state law requires the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to identify and map fire hazard areas statewide, referred to as “Fire Hazard Severity Zones.” On March 24, 2025, CAL FIRE released an updated version of the map from the director of CAL FIRE for an updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) map in the City of Rolling Hills. These maps use the latest climate data, fire history, topography, and wildfire modeling to classify areas as Very High, High, or Moderate Fi re Hazard Zones. The City of Rolling Hills, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), is currently reviewing the updated maps. While local governments, including the City of Rolling Hills, do not determine the contents of the FHSZ maps, they are required by state law to make the updated maps available for public review and comment, and to adopt these designations within 120 days. Although cities may not reduce a fire hazard severity designation, discretion is provided to cities to increase a designation where appropriate based on community input and local risk assessments. • Public Review & Comment: The City has 30 days from the release date to share the draft map for public review and comment. • Ordinance Adoption: The City must adopt a finalized map and ordinance within 120 days of receiving the map. • Submission to Cal Fire: After adoption, the City has 30 days to submit the ordinance to CAL FIRE. Please Submit Public Comment To: cityclerk@cityofrh.net What are Fire Hazard Severity Zones? The Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps are developed using a science-based and field-tested model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered, such as fire history, exist ing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire weather for the area. There are three levels of hazard in the Local Responsibility Areas: Moderate, High, and Very High. The map below shows the updated fire hazard severity zones in Rolling Hills. Residents can utilize the interactive map by entering their address and view their designated fire hazard severity zone. CLICK TO COMPARE OLD & NEW FHSZ IN LRA CLICK TO FIND YOUR FHSZ & LOCAL CONTACTS How do the updated maps impact my property? 31288 65277.00001\43666489.1 Properties located within the Fire Hazard Severity Zones are required to comply with the following items to reduce the chance of building loss or damage from a wildfire: • Providing defensible space clearance around buildings. See Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Guide to Defensible Space. • New buildings are to be constructed using fire-resistive features, such as those identified in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code. • Property owners must disclose that the property is located within a FHSZ to prospective buyers. • The City of Rolling Hills, in partnership with the LACoFD, is further reviewing how the updated maps affect building codes and development standards. Frequently Asked Questions Several frequently asked questions are answered below, and a comprehensive FAQ sheet from CAL FIRE can be accessed here. How are fire hazard severity zones determined? CAL FIRE uses the best available science and data to develop and field-test a model that serves as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluated the probability of the area burning and potential fire behavior in the area. Many factors were included, such as fire history, vegetation, flame length, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, terrain, and weather. What do fire hazard severity zones measure? The Fire Hazard Severity Zone map evaluates “hazard,” not “risk.” The map is like flood zone maps, where lands are described in terms of the probability level of a particular area being inundated by floodwaters and not specifically prescriptive of impacts. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potentia l damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition-resistant building construction. What are the key elements of the fire hazard severity zone model? The fire hazard severity model for wildland fire has two key elements: the probability of an area burning and expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather conditions. The zones reflect areas that have similar burn probabilities and fire behavior characteristics. The factors considered in determining fire hazard within wildland areas are fire history, flame length, terrain, local weather, and potential fuel over a 50 -year period. Outside of wildlands, the model considers factors that might lead to buildings 32289 65277.00001\43666489.1 being threatened, including terrain, weather, urban vegetation cover, blowing embers, proximity to wildlands, fire history, and fire hazards in nearby wildlands. FHSZs are not a structure loss model, as key information regarding structure ignition (such as roof type, etc.) is not included. Why are the fire hazard severity maps being updated? The hazard maps are being updated to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are susceptible to wildfire. The hazard mapping process will incorporate new science in local climate data and improved fire assessment modeling in determining hazard ratings. Can the City change the fire hazard severity zone map? No. The City can only increase the level of fire hazard severity as identified by CAL FIRE for any area within the jurisdiction. Fire hazard severity cannot be decreased by the City. How will the updated Cal Fire Maps affect insurance availability and affordability? According to the California Department of Insurance, CAL FIRE maps are intended to drive local planning decisions, not insurance decisions. Under the California Department of Insurance's new regulation finalized in October 2022, insurance companies must provide discounts for wildfire safety actions such as community mitigation and home - hardening, which CAL FIRE’s maps do not assess. In addition, insurance companies are already using risk analysis tools and models that go beyond CAL FIRE’s proposed maps in determining what properties they will underwrite. Additional information from the California Department of Insurance can be accessed here. Other Resources • CAL FIRE • Los Angeles County Fire Department • California Department of Insurance • Rolling Hills Printable Fire Map 33290 ORDINANCE NO. 387 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DESIGNATING FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES WITHIN THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA BASED ON MAPS PROVIDED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AND AMENDING TITLE 15 (BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION) OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE NOT SUBJECT TO CEQA WHEREAS, Government Code Section 51178 requires the State Fire Marshal to identify areas in the state as moderate, high, and very high fire hazard severity zones (“FHSZs”) based on consistent statewide criteria and severity of fire hazard that is expected to prevail in those areas; and WHEREAS, on March 24, 2025, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection published a new Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for the City of Rolling Hills (“City”); and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to designate by ordinance the FHSZs in its jurisdiction recommended by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Government Code Section 51178; and WHEREAS, based on the entire record before the City Council and all written and oral evidence presented, the City Council finds the proposed Ordinance complies with the California Environmental Quality Act for the reasons set forth in this Ordinance; and WHEREAS, any and all other legal prerequisites relating to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The City Council hereby finds that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein as substantive findings of this Ordinance. SECTION 2. CEQA. The City Council finds that the proposed actions are not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15060(c)(3).) Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines provides that organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not qualify as a project subject to CEQA. Here, the proposed actions constitute an organization or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment because it involves the designation of FHSZs in the Local Responsibility Areas as recommended by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and amendments to the City’s Municipal Code regarding the same. 34291 Accordingly, the proposed actions are not a project subject to CEQA. Even if the proposed actions do qualify as a project subject to CEQA, they would be exempt from CEQA because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed actions in question may have a significant effect on the environment for the same reasons referenced above. (State CEQA Guidelines, § 15061(b)(3).) SECTION 3. Designation of Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The City Council hereby designates the Fire Hazard Severity Zones as recommended by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Government Code Section 51178. The map, approved by the City, is attached hereto as Attachment “A” entitled “City of Rolling Hills Fire Hazard Severity Zones” dated March 24, 2025, and hereby incorporated by reference. The official map is also located electronically on the following website: https://calfire.app.box.com/file/1810971784473. SECTION 4. Amendment. The definition of “fire zone” set forth in Section 15.04.040 (Definitions.) of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 4, all other remaining provisions of Section 15.04.040 shall remain unchanged and continue in full force and effect: 15.04.040 - Definitions. "Fire zone" means the applicable fire hazard severity zone as designated by the City of Rolling Hills by ordinance. SECTION 5. Amendment. Section 15.20.025 (Very high fire hazard severity zone (VHFHSZ).) of Title 15 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows: 15.20.025 - Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones map for the City of Rolling Hills dated March 24, 2025, as identified by the State Fire Marshal, is hereby adopted by the City of Rolling Hills and incorporated herein for all purposes. This map is available for inspection in the City Clerk's office at the Rolling Hills City Hall. SECTION 6. Submittal to State and Posting. The City Clerk shall submit a copy of this Ordinance to the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection within thirty (30) days of adoption and take any necessary and proper actions to post all notices required under Government Code Section 51179. SECTION 7. Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance for any reason is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, 35292 subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 8. Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at City Hall for the City of Rolling Hills, located at Rolling Hills City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California 90274. The City Clerk is the custodian of the record of proceedings. SECTION 9. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect thirty (30) days following its adoption. SECTION 10. City Clerk’s Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and cause the same to be posted at the duly designated posting places within the City and published once within fifteen (15) days after passage and adoption as required by law; or, in the alternative, the City Clerk may cause to be published a summary of this Ordinance and post a certified copy of the text of this Ordinance in the Office of the City Clerk five (5) days prior to the date of adoption of this Ordinance, and, within fifteen (15) days after adoption, the City Clerk shall cause to be published the aforementioned summary and shall post a certified copy of this Ordinance, together with the vote for and against the same, in the Office of the City Clerk. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS __th DAY OF ________ 2025. JEFF PIEPER, MAYOR ATTEST: ____________________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK 36293 1 37294 2 LRA FHSZ MAPS 2025 What's Happening: Cal Fire has updated the Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) Map The State Fire Marshal will be releasing the Updated Recommended LRA FHSZ maps starting February 10, 2025, in four phases. 38295 3 2007-2011 FHSZ MAP 39296 4 2025 PROPOSED FHSZ MAP 40297 5 FHSZ ROLLOUT PLAN Maps have been shifted to be released in phases, starting on 2/10/25 Roll out of FHSZ Map for Los Angeles County: 3/24/25 41298 6 BACKGROUND The recommended LRA FHSZ maps will be expanded to include the High and Moderate FHSZs that were not previously mapped in 2010 The State Responsibility Area (SRA) FHSZ was completed in 2024 42299 7 •A 2 km grid of climate data covering the years 2003-2018 is being used in the update •Updated model will adjust fire intensity scores based on the most extreme fire weather at a given location •Ember transport is being modeled based on local distribution of observed wind speed and direction values instead of using a generic buffer distance for urban areas adjacent to wildlands BACKGROUND 43300 8 BACKGROUND •Local Cities can add to or increase the FHSZ. •Any additions to the Very High FHSZ requires substantial evidence of record to make the change. •The local agency cannot remove or decrease the FHSZs as recommended by the SFM per State Law. 44301 WHY ARE THE FHS MAPS BEING UPDATE The hazard maps are being updated to more accurately reflect the zones in California that are susceptible to wildfire. The hazard mapping process will incorporate new science in local climate data and improved fire assessment modeling in determining hazard ratings. 45302 10 WHAT DO THE FHS MAPS MEASURE Fire Hazard Severity Zone map evaluates “hazard,” not “risk”. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition resistant building construction. 46303 11 HOW ARE FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES DETERMINED? CAL FIRE uses the best available science and data to develop, and field test a model that served as the basis of zone assignments. The model evaluated the probability of the area burning and potential fire behavior in the area. Many factors were included such as fire history, vegetation, flame length, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, terrain, and weather. 47304 12 WHAT NEW DATA WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW MODEL, AND HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM THE PREVIOUSMODEL? 48305 13 A 2 km grid of climate data covering the years 2003-2018 is being used in the update. The previous model used stock weather inputs across the state to calculate wildland fire intensity scores. The updated model will adjust fire intensity scores based on the most extreme fire weather at a given location, considering temperature, humidity, and wind speed. In addition, ember transport is being modeled based on local distributions of observed wind speed and direction values instead of using a generic buffer distance for urban areas adjacent to wildlands. 49306 14 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VARIOUS FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES? 50307 15 Classification of a wildland zone as Moderate, High or Very High fire hazard is based on the average hazard across the area included in the zone, which have a minimum size of 200 acres. In wildlands, hazard is a function of modeled flame length under the worst conditions and annual burn probability. Both these factors generally increase with increasing hazard level, but there may be instances where one value is Very High and the other is low, pushing the overall hazard into a more intermediate ranking. On average, both modeled flame length and burn probability increase by roughly 40-60% between hazard classes. Classification outside of wildland areas is based on the fire hazard of the adjacent wildland and the probability of flames and embers threatening buildings. 51308 16 WHY DOES THE MODEL PLACE AN EMPHASIS ON THE SPREAD OF EMBERS? Embers spread wildfire because they can travel long distances in the wind and ignite vegetation, roofs, attics (by getting into vents), and decks. 52309 17 IS MY PROPERTY IN VHFS ZONE You can search by address to find your current designation on the web at: osfm.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ 53310 18 What are the key elements of the Fire Hazard Severity Zone model? 54311 19 Two key elements: probability of an area burning and expected fire behavior under extreme fuel and weather conditions. The zones reflect areas that have similar burn probabilities and fire behavior characteristics. The factors considered in determining fire hazard within wildland areas are fire history, flame length, terrain, local weather, and potential fuel over a 50-year period. Outside of wildlands, the model considers factors that might lead to buildings being threatened, including terrain, weather, urban vegetation cover, blowing embers, proximity to wildland, fire history, and fire hazard in nearby wildlands. 55312 20 WHY IS MY PROPERTY IN A DIFFERENT ZONE THAN THE ADJACENT AREA, WHICH LOOKS SIMILAR? 56313 21 In non-wildland areas, zone edges occur based on distance to the wildland edge. Because hazard in these areas is largely determined by incoming embers from adjacent wildland, urban areas that are similar in vegetation type and housing density may have a change in FHSZ class as the distance to the wildland edge increases. Areas immediately adjacent to wildland receive the same FHSZ score as that wildland where fire originates, and the model then produces lower scores as the distance to wildland edge increases. 57314 22 In wildland areas, zone edges are a result of the way zones are delineated. Specifically, zones represent areas of similar slope and fuel potential. Zone boundaries divide zones based on geographic and vegetation features that align with fire hazard potential; Although, at a local scale, it may appear that the immediate area is similar on both sides of the edge. The class value within a zone is based on the average hazard score across the whole zone. Areas that are in the same zone but not immediately adjacent to a local area can have an influence on the final zone classification. 58315 23 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS •The State Legislature has passed a law for Cities and Counties to implement •City must ratify (though we can too) •AB 211-Requires local agency to “designate by ordinance” the Zones 59316 24 LEGISLATIVE PROCESS •Cal Fire strongly recommends cities to ratify as 51 State Statues tied to FHSZ (building, insurance, real estate, CEQA, etc.) •Can affect City’s General and Safety plan 60317 25 TIMELINE The recommended LRA FHSZ maps must be made available for public review and comment within 30 days of receipt from the State Fire Marshal. The recommended LRA FHSZ maps must be adopted by Ordinance within 120 days of receipt from the SFM. Two concurrent events: 61318 26 TIMELINE •March 24, 2025: SFM releases recommended LRA FHSZ Maps. •March/April 2025: Cities review with guidance from Fire Department for any recommended changes (Additions or increase FHSZ) Not allowed to remove or decrease FHSZ.April 2025: Maps with any recommended changes posted by cities for public review and comment. It must be within 30 days of release of Maps by SFM. •May 2025: Prepare final maps with any recommended changes. •June 2025: Adoption of maps by cities. It must be within 120 days of the release of maps by SFM. •July 22, 2025: Send approved maps and ordinance to BOF within 30 days of adoption and before this date. •Effective Date of new maps: 30 days after adoption unless specified by SFM.62319 27 MORE INFORMATION From Cal Fire Compare New and Old LRA FHSZ 63320 28 THANK YOU From County of Los Angeles Fire Department ASSISTANT CHIEF BRIAN KANE 64321 Agenda Item No.: 11.A Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:ROBERT SAMARIO, FINANCE DIRECTOR THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING POTENTIAL INCREASE TO REFUSE RATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: The City of Rolling Hills provides refuse collection and disposal services to its residents through a contracted hauling company, Republic Services, through a long-term Franchise Agreement. The Franchise Agreement provides for inflationary increases in Solid Waste Service rates every July 1 due to the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Water and Sewer and Trash Collection Services, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“CPI”). Under the Franchise Agreement, the annual CPI increase shall be at least 3% and no more than 5%. For the 12-month period January through December 2024, the CPI increased by 5.3%, so the rate adjustment was capped at 5% for the rates effective July 1, 2025 as shown in Exhibit A. If the rates for Solid Waste Service are approved by the City Council, Republic Services will implement the Solid Waste Service rate increases effective July 1, 2025. The purpose of the public hearing is to allow City residents the opportunity to comment on the potential rate increase to refuse rates. However, residents wishing to officially protest the potential rate increase must do so in writing prior to the hearing date and time. State law requires both an advanced notice to affected residents and a public hearing be held to allow for City residents to comment and for Council to consider any all protests received by 4:30 p.m. on June 9. The public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall. 322 DISCUSSION: In FY 2025-26, the 5% CPI increase will increase the total amount the City pays to Republic Services for providing Solid Waste Services, and for a portion of the City’s costs to provide administrative and Solid Waste Services to all City residents, from $1,005,336 to $1,055,603. That total amount is divided by the number of residential parcels in the City receiving Solid Waste Services. Solid Waste Service charges for each residential parcel will increase from $1,432.11 to $1,503.72 for FY 2025-26. Charges for services other than the twice-weekly residential collection were also increased by 5% CPI. Pursuant to state law, in late April 2025, notices (Attachment 01) were sent to all affected residents regarding the potential for increased refuse rates and a public hearing scheduled for June 9, 2025, at City Hall. As of the date of posting the agenda for the June 9th meeting, the City had received five (5) written protests. FISCAL IMPACT: The rate increases ensure the Refuse Fund has sufficient revenues to pay for the contracted refuse services. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Conduct a public hearing to accept written and verbal protests against the increased refuse waste fees, track the number of protests and, if the number of written protests received is not sufficient to constitute a majority, make a finding that there is not a majority protest by property owners. 2. Approve Resolution No. 1394 “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills, California, Increasing the Maximum Refuse Services Rate in the City” (Attachment 2) ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 01 - CL_PBN_250416_Prop218_Refuse_Resident_F.pdf Attachment 02 - ResolutionNo1394_Prop218_MaximumRateForRefuseServices_2025_D.pdf 323 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED INCREASES TO SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Rolling Hills City Council will hold a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on June 9, 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter, at Rolling Hills City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, CA 90274 to consider adopting increases to the rates for collection and handling of solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic waste within the City (collectively, “Solid Waste Services”). Said public hearing will be held to consider all oral testimony and written protests to, and the adoption of the proposed rate increases. This notice is being provided to you 45 days in advance of the public hearing as a property owner of record subject to the proposed rates to be charged. What do solid waste rates fund? Consolidated Disposal Service, L.L.C. dba Republic Services of Southern California (“Republic Services”) provides Solid Waste Services to residential parcels within the City pursuant to an exclusive franchise agreement. These services include collection of all solid waste, recyclable materials and organic waste placed in customer-provided containers, twice a week, for all City residents. In addition, Republic Services holds two events each year to collect an unlimited amount of bulky items from residences, holds two brush collection events with pickup from residences, and offers one free bulky item collection and one free on-call brush collection from residences at a customer’s request. Property owners pay for these Solid Waste Services annually on the property tax roll for the July 1 – June 30 Fiscal Year (FY) period. Additional on-call bulky item or brush collection, and sharps disposal, are subject to additional charges and directly billed to customers. What is the Public Hearing Process? All Rolling Hills property owners are invited to attend this public hearing. The Rolling Hills Council will hear and consider all materials and testimony as well as all written protests against the proposed rate increases. At the close of the public hearing, the City Council may adopt new rates if written protests against the proposed increases are not presented by a majority of identified parcels upon which the proposed rates are to be charged. If adopted, the rates shall take effect July 1, 2025. As noted in more detail below, the rates may also be adjusted for Annual Automatic Adjustments (as defined below) for a three-year period. Why are solid waste rate increases necessary? The request for the proposed rate increases shown in Exhibit A is based upon the City’s existing solid waste franchise agreement (“Franchise Agreement”) with Republic Services. The Franchise Agreement provides for inflationary increases in Solid Waste Service rates every July 1 due to the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Water and Sewer and Trash Collection Services, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“CPI”). Under the Franchise Agreement, the annual CPI increase shall be at least 3% and no more than 5%. For the 12-month period January through December 2024, the CPI increased by 5.3%, so the rate adjustment was capped at 5% for the rates effective July 1, 2025 as shown in Exhibit A. If the rates for Solid Waste Service are approved by the City Council, Republic Services will implement the Solid Waste Service rate increases in Exhibit A effective July 1, 2025. 324 How are the proposed solid waste rates calculated? In FY 2025-26, the 5% CPI increase will increase the total amount the City pays to Republic Services for providing Solid Waste Services, and for a portion of the City’s costs to provide administrative and Solid Waste Services to all City residents, from $1,005,336 to $1,055,603. That total amount is divided by the number of residential parcels in the City receiving Solid Waste Services. Solid Waste Service charges for each residential parcel will increase from $1,432.11 to $1,503.72 for FY 2025- 26. Charges for services other than the twice weekly residential collection were also increased by 5% CPI. Future Automatic Increases The City is also proposing to annually pass through to all Solid Waste Service customers any automatic CPI adjustments for inflation (“Annual Automatic Adjustments”) for the remainder of the term of the Franchise Agreement. These adjustments will impact the Solid Waste Service rates. If approved, beginning July 1, 2026, and each July 1 thereafter, through and including adjustments effective on or after July 1, 2028, the rates for Solid Waste Services in Exhibit A may be adjusted annually, without a further public hearing, by an amount not to exceed the annual percentage increase, if any, in the CPI, subject to a minimum increase of 3% annually and a maximum increase of 5% annually. In no event may an automatic increase exceed the City’s cost of providing Solid Waste Services. You Can Be Heard Any property owner may file with the City Clerk a written protest against the proposed Solid Waste rate increases. The protest must identify the property by address or APN, identify the name of the property owner, include a statement protesting the rate increase, and be signed by the property owner. A written protest form is provided for your use. Please identify on the front of the envelope with the enclosed form that it is for the “2025 Solid Waste Rate Increase Public Hearing.” The written protest may be mailed or hand delivered to the Rolling Hills City Clerk, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, CA 90274. To be counted, the City Clerk must receive a mailed written protest no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 9, 2025. Prot ests may be hand-delivered up until the close of the Public Hearing. Protests by telephone, fax, or e-mail will not be accepted. A majority protest exists if, at the end of the Public Hearing, there are valid written protests submitted by owners of a majority of the properties subject to the proposed rate increases. If there is a majority protest, the City Council cannot adopt the new rates. If there is no majority protest, the City Council may adopt new rates. Only one written protest will be counted per identified parcel. The City is conducting this Proposition 218 majority protest proceeding out of an abundance of caution and without conceding the applicability of Proposition 218 to Solid Waste Service. For further information about the proposed rate increase, please contact the City Clerk at (310) 377-1521. 325 EXHIBIT A Bill on Property Tax Bill Current Rates Proposed Adjusted Rates % Increase Annual Base Service Fee (Per Year) 1,432.11$ 1,503.72$ 5.0% Billed Directly to Customer On-Call Bulky Item Collection in Excess of One-Item Per Year 35.79$ 37.58$ 5.0% On-Call Brush Collection in Excess of One Load Per Year 536.77$ 563.61$ 5.0% Sharps Safe-Disposal Container (Per Container Cost)42.02$ 44.12$ 5.0% Emergency Services Hourly Rate: One Crew, One-Truck 103.24$ 108.40$ 5.0% Disposal Tipping Fee at Sunshine Canyon Landfill (Per Ton)*40.68$ 42.71$ 5.0% Rolloff Box Service Fee (including cost of disposal up to 5 tons) (per load). Any disposal over 5 tons will be billed at the per ton rate above.516.09$ 541.89$ 5.0% * Per ton rate is for disposal at the Sunshine Canyon Landfill and does not include transfer station rates. Service Fees 326 Written Protest Form To protest the proposed Solid Waste Rate Increase, you may complete this Written Protest Form, and mail it to the Rolling Hills City Clerk, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, CA 90274 or hand deliver to the City Clerk's office at the same address. To be counted, the City Clerk must receive a mailed written protest no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 9, 2025. Protests may be hand- delivered up until the close of the Public Hearing. Only one protest is counted per property. Parcel APN: Parcel Address: I protest the proposed Solid Waste Rate increase to fund costs related to providing Solid Waste Services to properties within the City of Rolling Hills. I hereby declare under penalty of perjury that I am the owner of the above listed property. Please sign here: Please print the property owner name here: 327 RESOLUTION NO. 1394 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING INCREASING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RATE FOR REFUSE SERVICES IN THE CITY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals. A. The City currently contracts with Republic Services to provide waste hauling and disposal services in the City. Republic Services bills the City directly and the City contracts with the County to bill City residents through the property tax bill for these services. B. The City’s current agreement with Republic Services provides for an annual increase to their contract based on the increase to the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) - All Urban Consumers for the twelve-month period from January to December. C. Increasing the maximum refuse rate charged in the City must be adopted in accordance with Proposition 218 (i.e., California Constitution, Art. XIII D). D. In accordance with Section 6(a) of Article XIII D of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), the City caused notices to be mailed to all customers and rate payer affected by the rate increase in April of 2025. E. On Monday, June 9, 2025, the City Council held a duly noticed public protest hearing with respect to the maximum refuse rate in the City. G. The City received written protests for ____ properties prior to the protest hearing and an additional ____ written protests were received at the public hearing. H. A total of ____ written protests were received before the close of the public hearing. I. The number of written protests received was not sufficient to constitute a majority protest. The City Clerk has certified the tabulation of written protests. 328 Section 2. The City Council of the City of Rolling Hills hereby accepts the City Clerk’s certification of the results of the protest hearing and approves the maximum allowable increase for refuse services in the City to an amount not to exceed $1,503.72 per parcel. Section 3. This action is statutorily exempt from the environmental review requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Section 15378 and Section 15273 of the CEQA Guidelines and Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(8) because (i) the increase in charges are for the purpose of meeting operational and maintenance expenses of the aforementioned services and (ii) the charges constitute the creation of a funding mechanism/other governmental fiscal activity, which does not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in potential significant physical impact on the environment. Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 9th day of June, 2025. ______________________________ JEFF PIEPER MAYOR ATTEST: ______________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH CITY CLERK 329 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) §§ CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ) I certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 1394 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING INCREASING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE RATE FOR REFUSE SERVICES IN THE CITY was approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 9th day of June, 2025 by the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: and in compliance with the laws of California was posted at the following: Administrative Offices. _______________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH CITY CLERK 330 Agenda Item No.: 11.B Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:ROBERT SAMARIO, FINANCE DIRECTOR THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 1390 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS BUDGET INCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND; REFUSE COLLECTION FUND; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE R; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE M; TRANSIT FUND - PROPOSITION A; TRANSIT FUND -PROPOSITION C; COPS FUND; MEASURE W FUND; AND RESOLUTION NO. 1391 ESTABLISHING THE ANNUAL FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 APPROPRIATIONS GANN LIMIT FOR THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: Over the last several months, City staff and Council have worked on developing the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26. This process ended on May 12, 2025, with the finalization of the revenue estimates and budgeted expenditures. The budget is now set for adoption through a budget resolution that establishes the spending authority for each department and fund. In addition to the budget resolution, the Council will also adopt a resolution that establishes the City's appropriation limit as required by Article XIII, Section B, of the Constitution of the State of California. The appropriations limit establishes a limit on the amount the City can collect and spend from the proceeds of local taxes. The limit for fiscal year 2025/26 is $2,350,992, and the City is well below the limit at $1,870,959. The City is holding a public hearing to allow the public to weigh in on the proposed budget prior to adoption. DISCUSSION: The City's budget consists of many different funds that account for a variety of services, programs, and projects. The General Fund is the City's main operating fund where most of the City's services provided to the City's residents are accounted for. As with most city General 331 Funds, the primary revenues are derived from local and state taxes. The City also has several special revenue funds to account for revenues that are restricted as to their use; a capital projects fund to account for large capital improvement projects that often take more than one year to complete; and Refuse enterprise fund that accounts for waste collection and disposal services provided by contract to City residents and paid for from annual assessments to each property. Each of these funds are described in more detail below. GENERAL FUND The General Fund budget includes a total of $2,620,019 in ongoing operating expenditures, funded from ongoing revenues of $2,679,259, leaving an operating surplus of $59,240. The General Fund accounts for the ongoing and traditional services associated with local government, including public safety, planning, building, finance, and administration. RESTRICTED FUNDS Transit/Transportation Funds The City receives revenues, primarily from the County, that are restricted for specific purposes. These include the allocation of special sales tax measures approved by Los Angeles County voters over the last several decades that are restricted to transit and transportation programs and projects. The measures include Proposition A, Proposition C, Measure R, and Measure M. In total, the City anticipates receiving $158,500 next fiscal year. Since the City of Rolling Hills does not own and operate a transit system and, in fact, has no transit service provided within the City limits, nor does the City own and maintain any public roads, the funds received pursuant to the four tax measures are either gifted to other agencies or exchanged for unrestricted monies with other agencies that can utilize the funds in accordance with their intended uses. Revenue estimates for fiscal year 20225-26 assume no growth based on the slight decline in current year projections from the original budgeted estimates. COPS Fund The City maintains a Citizens' Option for Public Safety (COPS) Fund, which receives revenue from the County’s Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund. This fund was established in 2009 through a statewide increase in vehicle license fees. Revenues from the COPS Fund may only be used for supplemental law enforcement services and cannot be used to replace existing General Fund allocations for law enforcement. The revenues estimated for the next fiscal year of $172,000 is in line with current year revenues. Measure W Fund The City receives an allocation of the countywide special parcel tax pursuant to the Measure W (Safe, Clean Water Act) for parcels located within the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. These revenues are intended for stormwater recycling and water quality improvement projects and programs. The City receives a single payment each year for the full annual allocation. The estimated allocation for fiscal year 2025/26 is $106,000. ENTERPRISE FUND Refuse Fund 332 The Refuse Fund is the City’s only enterprise fund. Enterprise funds are typically used to account for utilities owned and operated by governments, such as water, wastewater, electricity, and refuse, as well as other operations similar to those provided by the private sector, including airports and golf courses. The Refuse Fund accounts for the contracted waste collection and disposal for all City of Rolling Hills residents. The fees charged to City residents are processed as a “Direct Assessment” through the County Assessor ’s Office, which means the annual assessment is added to the property tax bill sent to property owners by the County and is payable in two installments. Thus, the payments the City receives from the County for refuse services coincide with the payments received for regular property taxes. The City's refuse rates are sufficient to fully cover the cost of refuse services provided by contract to City residents. For fiscal year 20225/26, the annual assessment will increase by 5%, from $1,432.11 to $1,503.72 per parcel. This will generate $1,055,603 to cover the cost of refuse services. FISCAL IMPACT: The adopted budget sets forth the spending plan for the City. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council hold a public hearing and, following the close of the hearing, adopt the budget and appropriations limit resolutions. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A - CL_AGN_250609_CC_GF_BudgetSummary.pdf Attachment B - CL_AGN_250609_CC_GF_EstimatedRevenues.pdf Attachment C - CL_AGN_250609_CC_GF_Expenditures.pdf Attachment D - CL_AGN_250609_CC_RestrictedFunds.pdf ResolutionNo1390_FY25-26_AdoptedBudget_F.pdf ResolutionNo1391_FY25-26_AppropLimit_F.pdf 333 ATTACHMENT A FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget Operating Revenues 2,679,259$ Operating Expenditures 2,620,019 Operating Surplus (Deficit)59,240 Capital Transfers - Surplus (Deficit) - Total 59,240$ CITY OF ROLLINGS HILLS Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Summary General Fund 334 ATTACHMENT B 401 Property Taxes 1,501,494$ 405 Sales Taxes 15,000 410 Property Transfer Tax 62,400 415 Other Taxes - 420 Motor Vehicle In Lieu 290,265 440 Building & Other Permits 450,000 441 C&D Permits 10,000 450 Variance, Planning & Zoning 30,000 455 Animal Control Fees 300 460 Franchise Fees 13,000 480 Fines & Traffic Violations 4,000 482 Cost Recoivery - Publications 3,000 600 RHCA Lease Revenue 69,000 650 Public Safety Aug Fund 1,800 655 Burglar Alarm Response 670 Interest on Investments 160,000 671 PARS Earnings 44,000 675 Miscellaneous Revenue 1,000 699 Transfer In - ARPA Fund 699 Transfers In - Refuse Fund 24,000 TOTALS 2,679,259$ CITY OF ROLLING HILLS FY 2025-26 Estimated Revenues General Fund 335 ATTACHMENT C Proposed Budget 01 - CITY ADMINISTRATOR 702 Salaries -Full Time 453,862$ 705 Temporary Salaries 7,000 710 Retirement CalPERS-Employer 37,204 715 Workers Compensation Insurance 9,100 716 Group Insurance 92,036 717 Retiree Medical 40,000 718 Employer Payroll Taxes 35,309 719 Deferred Compensation 4,141 720 Auto Allowance 3,600 721 Phone Allowance 2,400 740 Office Supplies 8,000 745 Equipment Leasing Costs 10,000 750 Dues & Subscriptions 14,822 755 Conference Expense 1,500 757 Meetings Expense 2,100 759 Training & Education 4,000 761 Auto Mileage 700 765 Postage 18,500 775 City Council Expense 7,500 776 Miscellaneous Expenses 1,500 780 Comm./Newsletters & Outreach 3,500 785 Codification 3,000 790 Advertising 2,000 795 Other Gen Admin Expense 3,300 Department/Object Account CITY OF ROLLING HILLS FY 2025-26 Proposed Expenditure Budget GENERAL FUND 1 Page: 1336 ATTACHMENT C Proposed BudgetDepartment/Object Account 801 City Attorney 90,000 802 Legal Expense - Other 3,000 820 Website 3,900 890 Consulting Fees 10,000 891 Records Management 3,900 Total City Administrator 875,874 05 - Finance 750 Dues & Subscriptions 4,500 810 Annual Audit 35,000 890 Consulting Fees 120,500 Total Finance 160,000 15- PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT 702 Salaries 232,520 703 Salaries - Part-Time 26,889 710 Retirement CalPERS-Employer 19,234 715 Workers Comp. Insurance 3,900 716 Group Insurance 42,977 718 Employer Payroll Taxes 20,000 719 Deferred Comp 4,681 720 Auto Allowance 1,200 721 Phone Allowance 600 761 Auto Mileage 300 750 Dues & Subscription 15,000 755 Conference Expense 3,000 759 Training & Education 1,000 2 Page: 2337 ATTACHMENT C Proposed BudgetDepartment/Object Account 776 Miscellaneous Expenses 2,000 790 Publication/Advertising/Noticing 10,000 802 Legal Expenses-Other 10,000 872 Property Development-Legal Exp 37,000 875 Willdan Building 45,000 878 Build Inspect. LA County 250,000 881 Storm Water Management 88,000 884 Special Project Study & Consult.5,000 886 Code Enforcement 62,880 890 Consulting Fees (Onward)7,500 928 Traffic Engineering 6,000 Total Planning & Development 894,681 25 - Public Safety 830 Law Enforcement 320,424 833 Other Law Enforcement Exp 2,400 837 Wild Life Mgmt & Pest Control 10,000 838 Animal Control Expense 6,500 Total Public Safety 339,324 65 - NON-DEPARTMENTAL 895 Insurance & Bond Expense 55,000 901 South Bay Comm. Organization 17,600 915 Community Recognition 8,000 917 Emergency Preparedness 69,000 Total Non-Departmental 149,600 3 Page: 3338 ATTACHMENT C Proposed BudgetDepartment/Object Account 75 - CITY PROPERTIES 892 IT Services 72,000 893 Granicus Services 6,600 894 Computer Hardware Fund 5,000 925 Utilities 65,000 930 Repairs & Maintenance 21,200 932 Area Landscaping 13,740 946 Buildings & Equipment 15,000 947 Non-Building Improvements 2,000 Total City Properties 200,540 TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES 2,620,019$ 4 Page: 4339 ATTACHMENT D FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget 10 - COPS FUND Revenues 570 COPS Allocation 172,000$ Expenditures 840 COPS Program Expenditures 172,000 Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures -$ 25 - PROPOSITION A FUND Revenues 500 Grant Revenues 52,750$ 670 Interest Earned 300 Total Revenues 53,050 Expenditures 620 Prop A Exchange - Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures 53,050$ 26 - PROPOSITION C Revenues 501 Grant Revenue-Prop C 43,750$ 670 Interest Earned 250 Total Revenues 44,000 Expenditures 906 Prop C Gifted - Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures 44,000$ CITY OF ROLLING HILLS Restricted Funds and Refuse Fund Proposed Revenues and Expenditures ror Fiscal Year 2025-26 1 340 ATTACHMENT D FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget 27- MEASURE R TRANSIT Revenues 502 Measure R Grant Revenues 29,000$ 670 Interest Earned 250 Total Revenues 29,250 Expenditures 907 Measure R Gifted - Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures 29,250$ 29 - MEASURE M Revenues 507 Measure M Local Return 33,000$ 670 Interest Earned 250 Total Revenues 33,250 Expenditures XXX Measure M Gifted - Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures 33,250$ 30 - MEASURE W Revenues 508 Grant Revenues 106,000$ 670 Interest Earned 500 Total Revenues 106,500 Expenditures 913 Storm Water Management - 30%31,950 914 Storm Water Management - 70%74,550 106,500 Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures -$ 2 341 ATTACHMENT D FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget 50 - REFUSE FUND Revenues 665 Service Charges 1,055,603 Total Revenues 1,055,603 Expenditures 815 Refuse Service Contract 1,031,603 999 Transfers Out 24,000 Total Expenditures 1,055,603 Revenues Over (Under) Expenditures -$ 3 342 Resolution No.1390 -1- RESOLUTION NO. 1390 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS BUDGET INCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND; REFUSE COLLECTION FUND; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE R; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE M; TRANSIT FUND - PROPOSITION A; TRANSIT FUND - PROPOSITION C; COPS FUND; AND MEASURE W FUND RECITALS A. Members of the Rolling Hills City Council and Finance, Budget and Audit Committee held several public meetings to consider the Fiscal Year 2025-26 City of Rolling Hills Proposed Budget; and B. Following these public meetings on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 City of Rolling Hills Proposed Budget, members of the Rolling Hills City Council desire to adopt said document. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY MEMBERS OF THE ROLLING HILLS CITY COUNCIL AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Members of the City Council hereby adopt the Fiscal Year 2025-26 City of Rolling Hills Budget, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference. Section 2. Appropriations in the amount not to exceed $2,620,019 are authorized in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 General Fund Budget for the purpose of carrying on the business of the City for general government, public safety, public service, and other items. Section 3. Appropriations in the amount not to exceed $1,334,103 are authorized in the various funds for carrying on the business of the City: COPs Fund, Proposition A Fund, Proposition C Fund, Measure R Fund, Measure M Fund, Measure W Fund, and Refuse Fund. Section 4. The City Manager may transfer appropriations between and among all departments, as defined in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget in order to ensure revenue and expenditures correspond to the intent of the City Council. The legal level of appropriated budgetary control, that is the level at which expenditures may not exceed appropriations, is at the department level for the General Fund and at the fund level for all other funds. Supplemental appropriations during the year must be approved by the City Council. All unexpended budgetary appropriations lapse at the end of the fiscal year. Section 5. The Mayor is hereby directed to sign this Resolution, and the City Clerk is directed to attest thereto. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of June, 2025. 343 Resolution No.1390 -2- ____________________________________ Jeff Pieper Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Christian Horvath City Clerk 344 Resolution No.1390 -3- STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ) The foregoing Resolution No. 1390 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 CITY OF ROLLING HILLS BUDGET INCLUDING THE GENERAL FUND; REFUSE COLLECTION FUND; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE R; TRANSIT FUND - MEASURE M; TRANSIT FUND - PROPOSITION A; TRANSIT FUND - PROPOSITION C; COPS FUND; AND MEASURE W FUND was approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 9th day of June, 2025, by the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ___________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH CITY CLERK 345 Resolution No.1390 -4- EXHIBIT A General Fund City Administrator 875,874$ Finance 160,000 Planning & Develoopment 894,681 Public Safety 339,324 Non-Departmental 149,600 City Properties 200,540 Total General Fund 2,620,019$ Other Funds COPs Fund 172,000$ Proposition A Fund - Proposition C Fund - Measure R Fund - Measure M Fund - Measure W Fund 106,500 Refuse Fund 1,055,603 Total Other Funds 1,334,103$ CITY OF ROLLING HILLS FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 ADOPTED BUDGET 346 Resolution No. 1391 -1- RESOLUTION NO. 1391 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ESTABLISHING THE 2025-26 FISCAL YEAR GANN APPROPRIATION LIMIT FOR THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS. WHEREAS, the City of Rolling Hills has heretofore established its Base Year Appropriations Limit as $256,941; and WHEREAS, to the best of this City's knowledge and belief, the State Department of Finance figures reflect the following statistics relevant to the calculation of the 2025-26 Fiscal Year Appropriations Limit: California per capita personal income, 6.64% (six point six four percent). Population Adjustments for County of Los Angeles for FY 2025-26, 0.30% (zero point three zero percent). NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Based on the foregoing figures and the provision of Article XIII B of the Constitution of the State of California, the following figure accurately represents the 2025-26 Fiscal Year Appropriation Limit of the City of Rolling Hills: $2,350,992. Section 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of Resolution No. 1391. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of June, 2025. ____________________________________ Jeff Pieper Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Christian Horvath City Clerk 347 Resolution No. 1391 -2- STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ) The foregoing Resolution No. 1391 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ESTABLISHING THE 2025-26 FISCAL YEAR GANN APPROPRIATION LIMIT FOR THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS. was approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 9th day of June, 2025, by the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ___________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH CITY CLERK 348 Agenda Item No.: 13.A Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 1393 MEMORIALIZING THE 2024 UTILITIES DE-ENERGIZATION DUE TO HISTORICAL LAND MOVEMENT WITHIN ROLLING HILLS AND SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS AND UTILITY PARTNERS DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: In September 2024, the City of Rolling Hills faced a significant crisis due to ongoing land movement in the Palos Verdes Peninsula area, specifically in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV). This geological instability prompted major utility providers, including Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), Southern California Edison (SCE), and Cox Communications (Cox), to shut-off services in specific areas of both RPV and Rolling Hills. As the City of Rolling Hills became aware of the utility shut-offs occurring in RPV due to accelerating land movement, City staff immediately took proactive steps to prepare for any potential impacts within the Rolling Hills community. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, staff scheduled a meeting with Rolling Hills Community Association (RHCA), Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff, SCE, SoCal Gas (SCG), California Water Services (Cal Water), COX Communications (COX), Frontier Communications (Frontier), Crowne Castle, AT&T, T-Mobile and the Area G Disaster Management Coordinator to discuss the risks and possible consequences for Rolling Hills. This meeting was held during the morning hours of September 11 to ensure open communication and coordinated planning among all stakeholders. However, by that very afternoon, staff were notified that similar shut-offs would soon take place in Rolling Hills. By September 12, SoCal Gas notified 35 homes that their gas service would be shut off because of the risks posed by land movement. Shortly after, SCE informed 51 households that their electricity could also be disconnected for the same reason. Over the subsequent days, these service interruptions were carried out: SoCal Gas ultimately disconnected service to 37 homes, and SCE shut off power to 51 homes. On September 21, Cox disconnected 349 internet and cable service to 44 customers in the affected area. During this challenging period, the City Council and staff worked with utility companies, urging them to pursue engineering solutions that could maintain essential services while ensuring the safety of residents. Despite these efforts, the utilities determined that safety concerns necessitated the service interruptions. The city kept residents informed through direct communication and public updates, while also expediting permits for alternative power solutions such as generators and solar installations. The Council also requested additional law enforcement support from Los Angeles County and sought relief from permitting fees for alternative power installations. The City Attorney was directed to file formal complaints with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) against SoCal Gas and SCE, a necessary step before any potential legal action. At this evening’s meeting, staff will provide an updated status report on the total number of properties that have obtained permits for alternative power solutions and identify how many properties remain without permits. In addition, Staff will seek the City Council's review and approval of Resolution No. 1393 (Attachment 1), memorializing the events and actions taken to date. Staff further recommends the City Council direct staff to continue urging residents who have not yet submitted permit applications to do so as soon as possible in the form of a letter. DISCUSSION: The City of Rolling Hills and Los Angeles County have taken several steps to support residents affected by land movement and utility shut-offs. The following actions have been implemented to address permits and associated fees: Permit Fee Waivers On September 23, 2024, the City Council authorized staff to expedite City permitting and waive permit fees for generators, propane tanks, and solar panels. Staff was also directed to work with Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office to secure additional fee waivers from the Fire Department. These measures aimed to help residents quickly install the infrastructure needed to restore power and gas, eliminating the usual step-by-step process and associated permitting costs. Subsequently, on October 9, 2024, in response to a request from the City of Rolling Hills, Supervisor Janice Hahn and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors moved to waive fire permit fees for residents affected by utility shut-offs. This action recognized the financial burden on those needing to install alternative energy sources and extended the waivers through December 31, 2025. In alignment with the County’s decision, the City of Rolling Hills also extended its permit fee waivers for solar panels, generators, and propane tanks in the affected areas, making these waivers available through December 31, 2025. Permit Requirements and Safety Permits and inspections are required for all permanent installations of generators, solar panels, and propane tanks to ensure safety and compliance with city and fire codes. SCE has made it clear that power will not be restored to any property unless all alternative energy systems have been properly permitted and inspected by the City. For residents in the affected 350 areas who have installed or plan to install generators, propane tanks, or solar systems, securing the necessary permits is essential. This process protects the safety of residents and their neighbors, ensures compliance with all regulations, guarantees eligibility for power restoration by SCE, and helps prevent future complications. Although permit fees are currently waived, this waiver will expire on December 31, 2025. Staff has worked closely with residents to encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity to certify and inspect their installations at no cost, providing peace of mind and ensuring readiness for the restoration of essential services. Current and Pending Permits Staff have communicated with all properties in the affected areas and maintained ongoing coordination with SCE, RHCA, solar companies, LA County Public Works, Willdan, and LA County Fire. When SCE notified the City about restoring power to impacted residents, staff personally contacted each resident to confirm their preferences regarding power restoration. Staff documented those who chose to remain off the grid. For these residents, staff assured permits are on file, allowing residents to restore power directly with SCE in the future if they choose. As a result of these efforts, staff have compiled a report detailing the number and types of permits issued for generators, solar panels, and propane tanks since the utility shut-offs began. This data collection enables the City to monitor progress, address residents’ needs, and ensure proper documentation for future utility restoration. Below is a summary of the permits issued, the types of permits, and those properties that still require permits: Homes with Permits: Total number of homes with at least one permit: 39 Breakdown by Permit Type : Homes with a Solar Permit: 36 Homes with a Propane Permit: 20 Homes with a Generator Permit : 19 Homes Without Any Permits: 16 Homes That Have Not Received Permits: Total number of homes with status "Pending": 4 For the 16 homes that have not received any permits, it is due to the fact that they have not installed any alternative infrastructure, the home is for sale or is an empty lot. For the remaining four properties, staff will continue to assist to ensure compliance. Staff will also send a follow-up letter outlining the need to complete the permitting process and informing residents of the December 31, 2025, deadline to qualify for waived permit fees. The City of Rolling Hills, in partnership with Los Angeles County agencies and Willdan Engineering Services, has expedited the process and removed permitting fees to ensure that residents can safely and efficiently install generators, solar panels, and propane tanks. 351 This evening, Staff seeks City Council approval of Resolution No. 1393 and direction to send a letter to residents whose permit applications remain in pending status, urging them to complete the permitting process before the December 31, 2025, deadline. This will ensure they continue to benefit from the waiver of Los Angeles County Fire and Public Works permitting fees and remain eligible for the restoration of power. FISCAL IMPACT: Staff does not yet have the total fiscal impact related to waiving permit fees for LA County Fire and Public Works. Once this information is available, staff will report back to City Council during one of the monthly Public Safety Status Updates. Willdan Engineering Services has reported that they have waived a total of $1,882.51 in permit fees to date. Since the start of the waiving of fees, Willdan has offered to waive permit fees up to a maximum of $5,000. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. ATTACHMENTS: ResolutionNo1393_Memorializing2024DeEnergization_LandMvmt_Response_F.pdf 352 65277.00001\43851678.2 Resolution No. 1393 -1- RESOLUTION NO. 1393 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS MEMORIALIZING THE 2024 UTILITIES DE-ENERGIZATION DUE TO HISTORICAL LAND MOVEMENT WITHIN ROLLING HILLS AND SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS AND UTILITY PARTNERS WHEREAS, on August 29, 2024, accelerated land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) damaged a utility line, causing a brush fire on the Southern California Edison (SCE) Shoreline Circuit resulting in SCE’s determination that portions of the circuit could not be safely operated; and WHEREAS, on September 1, 2024, SCE, citing public safety concerns, indefinitely shut off power to part of the Shoreline Circuit, impacting 140 residences and 53 businesses in the RPV Portuguese Bend community; and WHEREAS, on September 2, 2024, SCE extended power shutoffs to 105 residences in the RPV Seaview Community, with 20 homes losing power indefinitely; and WHEREAS, in order to mitigate the potential impacts from the RPV events, the City of Rolling Hills (City) immediately mobilized its disaster response team; and WHEREAS on September 11, 2024, the City of Rolling Hills staff proactively scheduled and hosted a meeting with the Rolling Hills Community Association, Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff, SCE, Southern California Gas Company (SCG), California Water Services (CalWater), COX Communications (COX), Frontier Communications (Frontier), Crowne Castle, AT&T, T-Mobile and the Area G Disaster Management Coordinator to provide an overview of current status of RPV’s land movement on infrastructure, current or anticipated future impacts and planning next steps within the City of Rolling Hills; and WHEREAS, on September 11, 2024, SCE notified 51 City residents of a potential power shutoff due to ongoing land movement; and WHEREAS, on September 12, 2024: SCG notified 35 customers within the City door-to-door that their gas service would be capped indefinitely starting Monday, September 16, 2024 at 3:00 PM; and WHEREAS, on September 12, 2024, City staff began proactive outreach and support for affected residents, including expedited permitting for emergency power sources, revising evacuation zones, establishing a relief fund, coordinating with the American Red Cross, and maintaining daily communication with utilities; and 353 65277.00001\43851678.2 Resolution No. 1393 -2- WHEREAS, on September 12, 2024, the City activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Level 3, in response to ongoing land movement and utility disruptions, and continues to operate at this level to coordinate response and recovery efforts; WHEREAS, on September 13, 2024, SCE informed the same 51 residents initially notified of a potential power shut off that their power would be shut off indefinitely; and WHEREAS, on September 18, 2024, COX Communications notified 44 customers within the City of service disconnection due to SCE’s power shutoff; and WHEREAS, on September 19, 2024, the City of Rolling Hills held a Town Hall at Rancho Del Mar High School for affected residents with all utility, public safety, and public works entities present; and WHEREAS, on September 23, 2024, the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills authorized expedited permitting and waived fees for generators, propane tanks, and solar panels, and directed staff to seek additional fee waivers from the Fire Department; and WHEREAS, on September 23, 2024, the City Council, directed the City Attorney to file CPUC complaints against SCE and SCG. At the direction of Council, the City is now actively engaged in litigation with SCE and SCG; and WHEREAS, on October 8, 2024, Supervisor Janice Hahn secured the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approval for Fire Departments to waive inspection and permitting fees for emergency energy systems through December 31, 2025; and WHEREAS, on October 8, 2024, staff implemented Council direction by securing the expedited permitting and waiver of Los Angeles County Public Works fees for generators, propane tanks, and solar panels; and WHEREAS, on October 21, 2024, SCE notified City staff that power would be restored to 12 properties; and WHEREAS, on January 15, 2025, SCE informed City staff of ongoing efforts to restore power to the remaining affected properties in a safe and efficient manner, in coordination with the City and its partners; and WHEREAS, since September 2024 and through the present, the City has continued coordination with utilities, public safety, public works, and residents to ensure the safe restoration of power and gas services; and WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to memorialize these challenging events, express gratitude for the resilience and cooperation of affected residents, and encourage all impacted households to finalize any pending permits by December 31, 2025, after which standard permitting fees will apply. 354 65277.00001\43851678.2 Resolution No. 1393 -3- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Rolling Hills reaffirms its commitment to supporting affected residents, coordinating with all relevant agencies, and pursuing all necessary actions to restore essential utility services and protect public safety. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of June, 2025. ______________________________ JEFF PIEPER MAYOR ATTEST: ___________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH CITY CLERK 355 65277.00001\43851678.2 Resolution No. 1393 -4- STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) §§ CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ) I certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 1393 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS MEMORIALIZING THE 2024 UTILITIES DE-ENERGIZATION DUE TO HISTORICAL LAND MOVEMENT WITHIN ROLLING HILLS AND SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS AND UTILITY PARTNERS was approved and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on June 9th, 2025 by the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: __________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH CITY CLERK 356 Agenda Item No.: 14.A Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:CONSIDERATION OF SENDING A LETTER IN OPPOSITION REGARDING SB 79 (WIENER) TO CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLYMEMBER MURATSUCHI (MIRSCH) DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: Senate Bill 79 (Wiener) regarding Transit Oriented Development has passed out of the Senate on June 3, 2025, with a vote of 21-13-6 and will now move over to the Assembly. Locally, only Senator Laura Richardson voted for the measure, with Senators Allen & Smallwood-Cuevas not casting a vote. The bills text can be found in Attachment 02. The League of California Cities (CalCities) has been actively engaged in opposition to the bill and is requesting member cities to write letters of opposition. A draft letter (Attachment 01) has been provided for consideration. CalCities has also helped Paramount Mayor Lemons and Bellflower Councilmember Sanchez publish an OpEd in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. (Attachment 03) Councilmember Mirsch has requested this item come before the City Council. DISCUSSION: What the bill does: Requires cities located in urban transit counties near specific transit stops to ministerially approve higher-density residential projects — up to 7 stories — while other cities would have to approve by-right residential projects up to 5 stories, regardless of zoning codes. SB 79 limits the use of local development standards and allows transit agencies full land-use authority over residential and commercial development on property they own or have a permanent easement, without any requirement that developers build housing, let alone affordable housing. Why this is important to Cal Cities members : SB 79 overrides the state’s own mandated local housing elements by forcing cities to approve transit-oriented development projects near 357 specified transit stops — up to seven stories high and a density of 80 to 120 homes per acre — without regard to the community's needs, environmental review, or public input. SB 79 provides transit agencies: Land use authority on property they own or have a permanent easement, thus allowing them to determine all aspects of residential and commercial development including height, density, and design, without any regard to local zoning or planning. Ability to develop 100% commercial projects, even at transit stops, and not provide a single new home. Ability to designate additional major transit stops that allow up to five story developments and 80 units per acre. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Mayor to sign the letter in opposition to Senate Bill 79 (Wiener). ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 01 - CL_AGN_250609_CC_SB79_OppositionLetter.pdf Attachment 02 - CL_AGN_250609_CC_SB79_BillText.pdf Attachment 03 - CL_AGN_250609_CC_SB79_Lemons-Sanchez_SGVT_OpEd.pdf 358 ***CITY LETTERHEAD*** June 9, 2025 The Honorable Scott Wiener Senator, California State Senate 1021 O St, Suite 8620 Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: SB 79 (Wiener) Transit-oriented Development Notice of Opposition Dear Senator Wiener, The City of Rolling Hills writes to express our strong opposition to your SB 79 (Wiener), which would disregard state-certified housing elements and bestow land use authority to transit agencies without any requirement that developers build housing, let alone affordable housing. SB 79 doubles down on the recent trend of the state overriding its own mandated local housing elements. This latest overreaching effort forces cities in urban transit counties defined as “a county with more than 15 rail stations” to approve transit-oriented development projects near specified transit stops — up to seven stories high and a density of 120 homes per acre — without regard to the community's needs, environmental review, or public input. Similarly, cities in non-urban transit counties near specific transit stops would need to approve development projects by right, up to five stories high, with a density of 80 homes per acre. Most alarmingly, SB 79 defies cities’ general plans and provides transit agencies unlimited land use authority on property they own or have a permanent easement, regardless of the distance from a transit stop. Transit agencies would have the power to determine all aspects of the development including height, density, and design, without any regard to local zoning or planning. This broad new authority applies to both residential and commercial development. Transit agencies could develop 100% commercial projects — even at transit stops — and not provide a single new home, while simultaneously making the argument that more housing must be constructed around transit stops. City of Rolling Hills appreciates and respects your desire to pursue a housing production proposal. However, as currently drafted, SB 79 will not spur much-needed housing construction in a manner that supports local flexibility, decision-making, and community input. State-driven ministerial or by-right housing approval processes fail to recognize the extensive public engagement associated with developing and adopting zoning ordinances and housing elements. California will never produce the number of homes needed with an increasingly state- driven, by-right housing approval process. What we really need is a sustainable state 359 investment that matches the scale of this decades-in-the-making crisis. For these reasons, the City Rolling Hills strongly opposes SB 79. Sincerely, Jeff Pieper Mayor City of Rolling Hills cc. Senator Ben Allen Assembly Member Al Muratuschi Jeff Kiernan, League Regional Public Affairs Manager (via email) League of California Cities, cityletters@cacities.org 360 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 29, 2025 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 28, 2025 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 13, 2025 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 23, 2025 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 9, 2025 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 5, 2025 SENATE BILL No. 79 Introduced by Senator Wiener January 15, 2025 An act to add Chapter 4.1.5 (commencing with Section 65912.155) to Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, and to add Section 21080.26.5 to the Public Resources Code, relating to land use. legislative counsel’s digest SB 79, as amended, Wiener. Housing development: transit-oriented development: California Environmental Quality Act: public transit agency land. (1)  Existing law, the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city, and specified land outside its boundaries, that contains certain mandatory elements, including a land use element and a housing element. Existing law requires that the land use element designate the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land, as specified. Existing law requires that the housing element consist of an identification and analysis of existing and projected housing needs and a statement of goals, 93 361 policies, quantified objectives, financial resources, and scheduled programs for the preservation, improvement, and development of housing, as specified. Existing law requires that the housing element include, among other things, an assessment of housing needs and an inventory of resources and constraints that are relevant to the meeting of these needs, including an inventory of land suitable for residential development, as provided. Existing law, for the 4th and subsequent revisions of the housing element, requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to determine the existing and projected need for housing for each region, as specified, and requires the appropriate council of local governments, or the department for cities and counties without a council of governments, to adopt a final regional housing need plan that allocates a share of the regional housing need to each locality in the region. Existing law, the Housing Accountability Act, among other things, requires a local agency that proposes to disapprove a housing development project, as defined, or to impose a condition that the project be developed at a lower density to base its decision on written findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence that specified conditions exist if that project complies with applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria in effect at the time that the application was deemed complete. The act authorizes the applicant, a person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the housing development project or emergency shelter, or a housing organization to bring an action to enforce the act’s provisions, as provided, and provides for penalties if the court finds that the local agency is in violation of specified provisions of the act. This bill would require that a housing development project, as defined, proposed within a specified distance of a transit-oriented development (TOD) stop, as defined, be an allowed use on any site zoned for residential, mixed, or commercial development, if the development complies with applicable requirements, as specified. The bill would establish requirements concerning height limits, density, and floor area ratio in accordance with a development’s proximity to specified tiers of TOD stops, as provided. The bill would provide that, for the purposes of the Housing Accountability Act, a proposed development consistent with the applicable standards of these provisions shall be deemed consistent, compliant, and in conformity with prescribed requirements, as specified. The bill would provide that a local government that denies a project meeting the requirements of these provisions located in a 93 — 2 — SB 79 362 high-resource area, as defined, would be presumed in violation of the Housing Accountability Act, as specified, and immediately liable for penalties, as provided. The bill would specify that a development proposed pursuant to these provisions is eligible for streamlined, ministerial approval pursuant to specified law, except that the bill would exempt a project under these provisions from specified requirements, and would specify that the project is required to comply with certain affordability requirements, under that law. This bill would require a proposed development to comply with specified requirements under existing law relating to the demolition of existing residential units and to include housing for lower income households, as specified. The bill would also authorize a transit agency to adopt objective standards for both residential and commercial development proposed pursuant to these provisions if the development would be constructed on land owned by the transit agency or on which the transit agency has a permanent operating easement, if the land is within 1⁄2 mile of a TOD stop and the objective standards allow for the same or greater development intensity as allowed by local standards or applicable state law. This bill would authorize a local government to enact a local TOD alternative plan as an amendment to the housing element and land use element, and would exempt a local government that has enacted a local TOD alternative plan from the above-specified provisions. The bill would require the plan to maintain at least the same total increase in feasible zoned capacity, in terms of both total units and residential floor area, as provided by these provisions across all TOD zones, as defined. The bill would require a local government, except as provided, to submit the draft plan to the department and would require the department to assess the plan and recommend changes to remove unnecessary constraints on housing. This bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to oversee compliance with the bill’s provisions, including, but not limited to, promulgating specified standards relating to the inventory of land included within a county’s or city’s housing element. The bill would authorize the regional council of governments or metropolitan planning organization to create a map of designated TOD stops and zones, which would have a rebuttable presumption of validity. The bill would authorize a local government to enact an ordinance to make its zoning code consistent with these provisions, as provided. The bill would require the local government to submit a copy of this 93 SB 79 — 3 — 363 ordinance to the department within 60 days of enactment and would require the department to review the ordinance for compliance, as specified. If the department finds an ordinance is out of compliance, and the local government does not take specified steps to address compliance, the bill would require the department to notify the local government in writing and authorize the department to notify the Attorney General, as provided. This bill would define various terms for its purposes and make related findings and declarations. This bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. (2)  Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA, until January 1, 2030, exempts from its requirements certain transportation-related projects if specified requirements are met, as provided. CEQA includes within these exempt transportation-related projects a public project for the institution or increase of bus rapid transit, bus, or light rail service, or other passenger rail service, that will be exclusively used by low-emission or zero-emission vehicles, on existing public rights-of-way or existing highway rights-of-way. This bill would exempt from CEQA a public or private residential, commercial, or mixed-used project that, at the time the project application is filed, is located entirely or principally on land owned by a public transit agency, or fully or partially encumbered by an existing operating easement in favor of a public transit agency, and meets specified requirements. The bill would provide that, for a project that requires the construction of new passenger rail storage and maintenance facilities at a publicly or privately owned offsite location distinct from the principal project site, that project would be considered a wholly 93 — 4 — SB 79 364 separate project from the project described in these provisions and shall not be exempt from CEQA. (3)  This bill would provide that the provisions of this bill are severable. (4)  By increasing the duties of local officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.​ State-mandated local program: yes.​ The people of the State of California do enact as follows: line 1 SECTION 1. Chapter 4.1.5 (commencing with Section line 2 65912.155) is added to Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government line 3 Code, to read: line 4 line 5 Chapter 4.1.5. Transit-Oriented Development line 6 line 7 65912.155. The Legislature finds and declares all of the line 8 following: line 9 (a)  California faces a housing shortage both acute and chronic, line 10 particularly in areas with access to robust public transit line 11 infrastructure. line 12 (b)  Building more homes near transit access reduces housing line 13 and transportation costs for California families, and promotes line 14 environmental sustainability, economic growth, and reduced traffic line 15 congestion. line 16 (c)  Public transit systems require sustainable funding to provide line 17 reliable service, especially in areas experiencing increased density line 18 and ridership. The state does not invest in public transit service to line 19 the same degree as it does in roads, and the state funds a smaller line 20 proportion of the state’s major transit agencies’ operations costs line 21 than other states with comparable systems. Transit systems in other line 22 countries derive significant revenue from transit-oriented line 23 development at and near their stations. 93 SB 79 — 5 — 365 line 1 65912.156. For purposes of this chapter, the following line 2 definitions apply: line 3 (a)  “Adjacent” means sharing a property line with a transit stop, line 4 including any parcels that serve a parking or circulation purpose line 5 related to the stop. line 6 (b)  “Commuter rail” means a rail transit service not meeting line 7 the standards for heavy rail or light rail, excluding California line 8 High-Speed Rail and Amtrak Long Distance Service. line 9 (c)  “Department” means the Department of Housing and line 10 Community Development. line 11 (d)  “Frequent commuter rail” means a commuter rail service line 12 with a total of at least 24 daily trains per weekday across both line 13 directions and not meeting the standard for very high or line 14 high-frequency commuter rail at any point in the past three years. line 15 (e)  “Heavy rail transit” means an electric railway with the line 16 capacity for a heavy volume of traffic using high-speed and rapid line 17 acceleration passenger rail cars operating singly or in multicar line 18 trains on fixed rails, separate rights-of-way from which all other line 19 vehicular and foot traffic are excluded, and high platform loading. line 20 (f)  “High-frequency commuter rail” means a commuter rail line 21 service operating a total of at least 48 trains per day across both line 22 directions at any point in the past three years. line 23 (g)  “High-resource area” means a highest resource or line 24 high-resource neighborhood opportunity area, as used in the line 25 opportunity area maps published annually by the California Tax line 26 Credit Allocation Committee and the department. line 27 (h)  “Housing development project” has the same meaning as line 28 defined in Section 65589.5. line 29 (i)  “Light rail transit” includes streetcar, trolley, and tramway line 30 service. line 31 (j)  “Net habitable square footage” means the finished and heated line 32 floor area fully enclosed by the inside surface of walls, windows, line 33 doors, and partitions, and having a headroom of at least six and line 34 one-half feet, including working, living, eating, cooking, sleeping, line 35 stair, hall, service, and storage areas, but excluding garages, line 36 carports, parking spaces, cellars, half-stories, and unfinished attics line 37 and basements. line 38 (k)  “Rail transit” has the same meaning as defined in Section line 39 99602 of the Public Utilities Code. 93 — 6 — SB 79 366 line 1 (l)  “Residential floor area ratio” means the ratio of net habitable line 2 square footage dedicated to residential use to the area of the lot. line 3 (m)  “Tier 1 transit-oriented development stop” means a line 4 transit-oriented development stop within an urban transit county line 5 served by heavy rail transit or very high frequency commuter rail. line 6 (n)  “Tier 2 transit-oriented development stop” means a line 7 transit-oriented development stop within an urban transit county, line 8 excluding a Tier 1 transit-oriented development stop, served by line 9 light rail transit, by high-frequency commuter rail, or by bus service line 10 meeting the standards of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section line 11 21060.2 of the Public Resources Code. line 12 (o)  “Tier 3 transit-oriented development stop” means a line 13 transit-oriented development stop within an urban transit county, line 14 excluding a Tier 1 or Tier 2 transit-oriented development stop, line 15 served by frequent commuter rail service or by ferry service; or line 16 any transit-oriented development stop not within an urban transit line 17 county; or any major transit stop otherwise so designated by the line 18 applicable authority. line 19 (p)  “Transit-oriented development stop” means a major transit line 20 stop, as defined by Section 21155 of the Public Resources Code, line 21 served by heavy rail transit, very high frequency commuter rail, line 22 high frequency commuter rail, light rail transit, bus service meeting line 23 the standards of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 21060.2 line 24 of the Public Resources Code, frequent commuter rail service, or line 25 ferry service, or otherwise so designated by the applicable line 26 authority. line 27 (q)  “Urban transit county” means a county with more than 15 line 28 rail stations. line 29 (r)  “Very high frequency commuter rail” means a commuter line 30 rail service with a total of at least 72 trains per day across both line 31 directions at any point in the past three years. line 32 65912.157. (a)  A housing development project within one-half line 33 or one-quarter mile of a transit-oriented development stop shall line 34 be an allowed use on any site zoned for residential, mixed, or line 35 commercial development, if the development complies with the line 36 applicable of all of the following requirements: line 37 (1)  For a residential development within one-quarter mile of a line 38 Tier 1 transit-oriented development stop, all of the following apply: line 39 (A)  A development may be built up to 75 feet high, or up to the line 40 local height limit, whichever is greater. 93 SB 79 — 7 — 367 line 1 (B)  A local government shall not impose any maximum density line 2 of less than 120 dwelling units per acre. The development line 3 proponent may seek a further increased density in accordance with line 4 applicable density bonus law. line 5 (C)  A local government shall not enforce any other local line 6 development standard or combination of standards that would line 7 prevent achieving a residential floor area ratio of up to 3.5. line 8 (D)  A development that otherwise meets the eligibility line 9 requirements of Section 65915, including, but not limited to, line 10 affordability requirements, shall be eligible for three additional line 11 concessions pursuant to Section 65915. line 12 (2)  For a residential development further than one-quarter mile line 13 but within one-half mile of a Tier 1 transit-oriented development line 14 stop, all of the following apply: line 15 (A)  A development may be built up to 65 feet high, or up to the line 16 local height limit, whichever is greater. line 17 (B)  A local government shall not impose any maximum density line 18 standard of less than 100 dwelling units per acre. The development line 19 proponent may seek a further increased density in accordance with line 20 applicable density bonus law. line 21 (C)  A local government shall not enforce any other local line 22 development standard or combination of standards that would line 23 prevent achieving a residential floor area ratio of up to 3. line 24 (D)  A development that otherwise meets the eligibility line 25 requirements of Section 65915, including, but not limited to, line 26 affordability requirements, shall be eligible for two additional line 27 concessions pursuant to Section 65915. line 28 (3)  For a residential development within one-quarter mile of a line 29 Tier 2 transit-oriented development stop, all of the following apply: line 30 (A)  A development may be built up to 65 feet high, or up to the line 31 local height limit, whichever is greater. line 32 (B)  A local government shall not impose any maximum density line 33 standard of less than 100 dwelling units per acre. The development line 34 proponent may seek a further increased density in accordance with line 35 applicable density bonus law. line 36 (C)  A local government shall not enforce any other local line 37 development standard or combination of standards that would line 38 prevent achieving a residential floor area ratio of up to 3. line 39 (D)  A development that otherwise meets the eligibility line 40 requirements of Section 65915, including, but not limited to, 93 — 8 — SB 79 368 line 1 affordability requirements, shall be eligible for two additional line 2 concessions pursuant to Section 65915. line 3 (4)  For a residential development further than one-quarter mile line 4 but within one-half mile of a Tier 2 transit-oriented development line 5 stop, all of the following apply: line 6 (A)  A development may be built up to 55 feet high, or up to the line 7 local height limit, whichever is greater. line 8 (B)  A local government shall not impose any maximum density line 9 standard of less than 80 dwelling units per acre. The development line 10 proponent may seek a further increased density in accordance with line 11 applicable density bonus law. line 12 (C)  A local government shall not enforce any other local line 13 development standard or combination of standards that would line 14 prevent achieving a residential floor area ratio of up to 2.5. line 15 (D)  A development that otherwise meets the eligibility line 16 requirements of Section 65915, including, but not limited to, line 17 affordability requirements, shall be eligible for one additional line 18 concession pursuant to Section 65915. line 19 (5)  For a residential development within one-quarter mile of a line 20 Tier 3 transit-oriented development stop, all of the following apply: line 21 (A)  A development may be built up to 55 feet high, or up to the line 22 local height limit, whichever is greater. line 23 (B)  A local government shall not impose any maximum density line 24 standard of less than 80 dwelling units per acre. The development line 25 proponent may seek a further increased density in accordance with line 26 applicable density bonus law. line 27 (C)  A local government shall not enforce any other local line 28 development standard or combination of standards that would line 29 prevent achieving a residential floor area ratio of up to 2.5. line 30 (D)  A development that otherwise meets the eligibility line 31 requirements of Section 65915, including, but not limited to, line 32 affordability requirements, shall be eligible for one additional line 33 concession pursuant to Section 65915. line 34 (6)  For a residential development further than one-quarter mile line 35 but within one-half mile of a Tier 3 transit-oriented development line 36 stop within an urban transit county, stop, all of the following apply: line 37 (A)  A development within an urban transit county may be built line 38 up to 45 feet high, or up to the local height limit, whichever is line 39 greater. A development not within an urban transit county may be line 40 built up to the local height limit. 93 SB 79 — 9 — 369 line 1 (B)  A local government shall not impose any maximum density line 2 standard of less than 60 dwelling units per acre. The development line 3 proponent may seek a further increased density in accordance with line 4 applicable density bonus law. line 5 (C)  A local government shall not enforce any other local line 6 development standard or combination of standards that would line 7 prevent achieving a residential floor area ratio of up to 2. line 8 (b)  A local government may still enact and enforce standards, line 9 including an inclusionary zoning requirement that applies generally line 10 within the jurisdiction, that do not, alone or in concert, prevent line 11 achieving the applicable development standards of subdivision line 12 (a). line 13 (c)  If a development proposes a height under this section in line 14 excess of the local height limit, then a local government shall not line 15 be required to grant a waiver, incentive, or concession pursuant to line 16 Section 65915 for additional height beyond that specified in this line 17 section, except as provided in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) line 18 of subdivision (d) of Section 65915. line 19 (d)  Notwithstanding any other law, a housing development line 20 project that meets any of the eligibility criteria under subdivision line 21 (a) and is immediately adjacent to a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 line 22 transit-oriented development stop shall be eligible for an adjacency line 23 intensifier to increase the height limit by an additional 20 feet, the line 24 maximum density standard by an additional 40 dwelling units per line 25 acre, and the residential floor area ratio by 1. line 26 (e)  A development proposed pursuant to this section shall line 27 comply with the antidisplacement requirements of Section 66300.6. line 28 This subdivision shall apply to any city or county. line 29 (f)  A development proposed pursuant to this section shall include line 30 housing for lower income households in one of the following ways: line 31 (1)  If there is a local inclusionary zoning ordinance or affordable line 32 housing fee, it shall comply with the requirements of that ordinance line 33 or fee. line 34 (2)  (A)  If there is no local inclusionary ordinance or affordable line 35 housing fee, a development of more than 10 units shall meet the line 36 requirements to qualify for a density bonus pursuant to subdivision line 37 (b) of Section 65915 or a local ordinance. line 38 (B)  This paragraph shall not apply to any development of 10 line 39 units or less. 93 — 10 — SB 79 370 line 1 (g)  For purposes of subdivision (j) of Section 65589.5, a line 2 proposed housing development project that is consistent with the line 3 applicable standards from this chapter shall be deemed consistent, line 4 compliant, and in conformity with an applicable plan, program, line 5 policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision. line 6 This subdivision shall not require a ministerial approval process line 7 or modify the requirements of Division 13 (commencing with line 8 Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code. line 9 (h)  A local government that denies a housing development line 10 project meeting the requirements of this section that is located in line 11 a high-resource area shall be presumed to be in violation of the line 12 Housing Accountability Act (Section 65589.5) and immediately line 13 liable for penalties pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) line 14 of subdivision (k) of Section 65589.5, unless the local government line 15 demonstrates, pursuant to the standards in subdivisions (j) and (o) line 16 of Section 65589.5, that it has a health, life, or safety reason for line 17 denying the project. line 18 65912.158. (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this line 19 chapter, a transit agency may adopt objective standards for both line 20 residential and commercial developments proposed to be line 21 constructed on land owned by the transit agency or on which the line 22 transit agency has a permanent operating easement, if the land is line 23 within one-half mile of a transit-oriented development stop and line 24 the objective standards allow for the same or greater development line 25 intensity as that allowed by local standards or applicable state law. line 26 (b)  The board of a transit agency may vote to designate a major line 27 transit stop served by the agency as a Tier 3 transit-oriented line 28 development stop for the purposes of this section. line 29 65912.159. (a)  A housing development project proposed line 30 pursuant to Section 65912.157 shall be eligible for streamlined line 31 ministerial approval pursuant to Section 65913.4 in accordance line 32 with all of the following: line 33 (1)  The proposed project shall be exempt from subparagraph line 34 (A) of paragraph (4) of, paragraph (5) of, and clause (iv) of line 35 subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of, subdivision (a) of Section line 36 65913.4. line 37 (2)  The proposed project shall comply with the affordability line 38 requirements in subclauses (I) to (III), inclusive, of clause (i) of line 39 subparagraph (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section line 40 65913.4. 93 SB 79 — 11 — 371 line 1 (3)  The proposed project shall comply with all other line 2 requirements of Section 65913.4, including, but not limited to, the line 3 prohibition against a site that is within a very high fire hazard line 4 severity zone, pursuant to subparagraph (D) of paragraph (6) of line 5 subdivision (a) of Section 65913.4. line 6 (b)  Any housing development proposed pursuant to Section line 7 65912.157 not seeking streamlined approval under Section 65913.4 line 8 shall be reviewed according to the jurisdiction’s development line 9 review process and Section 65589.5, except that any local zoning line 10 standard conflicting with the requirements of this chapter shall not line 11 apply. line 12 65912.160. (a)  The department shall oversee compliance with line 13 this chapter, including, but not limited to, promulgating standards line 14 on how to account for capacity pursuant to this chapter in a city line 15 or county’s inventory of land suitable for residential development, line 16 pursuant to Section 65583.2. line 17 (b)  The regional council of governments or metropolitan line 18 planning organization may create a map of transit-oriented line 19 development stops and zones designated under this chapter. This line 20 map shall have a rebuttable presumption of validity for use by line 21 project applicants and local governments. line 22 (c)  (1)  A local government may enact an ordinance to make its line 23 zoning code consistent with the provisions of this chapter, subject line 24 to review by the department pursuant to paragraph (3). line 25 (2)  The ordinance described in paragraph (1) shall not be line 26 considered a project under Division 13 (commencing with Section line 27 21000) of the Public Resources Code. line 28 (3)  (A)  A local government shall submit a copy of any line 29 ordinance enacted pursuant to this section to the department within line 30 60 days of enactment. line 31 (B)  Upon receipt of an ordinance pursuant to this paragraph, line 32 the department shall review that ordinance and determine whether line 33 it complies with this section. If the department determines that the line 34 ordinance does not comply with this section, the department shall line 35 notify the local government in writing and provide the local line 36 government a reasonable time, not to exceed 30 days, to respond line 37 before taking further action as authorized by this section. line 38 (C)  The local government shall consider any findings made by line 39 the department pursuant to subparagraph (B) and shall do one of line 40 the following: 93 — 12 — SB 79 372 line 1 (i)  Amend the ordinance to comply with this section. line 2 (ii)  Enact the ordinance without changes. The local government line 3 shall include findings in its resolution adopting the ordinance that line 4 explain the reasons the local government believes that the line 5 ordinance complies with this section despite the findings of the line 6 department. line 7 (D)  If the local government does not amend its ordinance in line 8 response to the department’s findings or does not adopt a resolution line 9 with findings explaining the reason the ordinance complies with line 10 this section and addressing the department’s findings, the line 11 department shall notify the local government and may notify the line 12 Attorney General that the local government is in violation of this line 13 section. line 14 65912.161. (a)  A local government may enact a local line 15 transit-oriented development alternative plan as an amendment to line 16 the housing element and land use element of its general plan, line 17 subject to review by the department. line 18 (1)  (A)  A local transit-oriented development alternative plan line 19 shall maintain at least the same total increase in feasible zoned line 20 capacity, in terms of both total units and residential floor area, as line 21 provided for in this chapter across all transit-oriented development line 22 zones within the jurisdiction. line 23 (i)  The plan shall not reduce the capacity in any station area, in line 24 total units or residential floor area, by more than 50 percent. line 25 (ii)  The plan shall not reduce the allowed density for any line 26 individual site allowing residential use by more than 50 percent line 27 below that permitted under this chapter. line 28 (iii)  A site’s maximum feasible capacity counted toward the line 29 plan shall be not more than 200 percent of the maximum density line 30 established under this chapter. line 31 (B)  For the purposes of this paragraph, both of the following line 32 definitions apply: line 33 (i)  “Feasible” means capable of being accomplished in a line 34 successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into line 35 account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors. line 36 (ii)  “Transit-oriented development zone” means the eligible line 37 area around a qualifying transit-oriented development stop. line 38 (2)  A local transit-oriented development alternative plan may line 39 designate any other major transit stop or stop along a high-quality line 40 transit corridor that is not already identified as a transit-oriented 93 SB 79 — 13 — 373 line 1 development stop as a Tier 3 transit-oriented development stop. line 2 A local transit-oriented development plan consisting solely of line 3 adding additional major transit stops as transit-oriented line 4 development stops shall be exempt from the requirements of line 5 paragraph (4). line 6 (3)  A local transit-oriented development alternative plan may line 7 consist of an existing local transit-oriented zoning ordinance, line 8 overlay zone, specific plan, or zoning incentive ordinance, provided line 9 that it applies to all residential properties within the transit-oriented line 10 development area and provides at least the same total feasible line 11 capacity for units and floor area as Section 65912.157. line 12 (4)  Prior to enacting a local transit-oriented development line 13 alternative plan, the local government shall submit the draft plan line 14 to the department for review. The submission shall include any line 15 amendments to the local zoning ordinances, any applicable line 16 objective design standards that would apply to transit-oriented line 17 developments, and assessments of the plan’s impact on line 18 development feasibility and fair housing. The department shall line 19 assess whether the plan maintains at least an equal feasible line 20 developable housing capacity as the baseline established under line 21 this section as well as the plan’s effects on fair housing relative to line 22 the baseline established under this section, and shall recommend line 23 changes to remove unnecessary constraints on housing from the line 24 plan. line 25 (b)  Section 65912.157 shall not apply within a jurisdiction that line 26 has a local transit-oriented alternative plan that has been approved line 27 by the department as satisfying the requirements of this section in line 28 effect. The department’s approval pursuant to this subdivision line 29 shall be valid through the jurisdiction’s next amendment to the line 30 housing element of its general plan. line 31 65912.162. The Legislature finds and declares that the state line 32 faces a housing crisis of availability and affordability, in large part line 33 due to a severe shortage of housing, and solving the housing crisis line 34 therefore requires a multifaceted, statewide approach, including, line 35 but not limited to, encouraging an increase in the overall supply line 36 of housing, encouraging the development of housing that is line 37 affordable to households at all income levels, removing barriers line 38 to housing production, expanding homeownership opportunities, line 39 and expanding the availability of rental housing, and is a matter line 40 of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is 93 — 14 — SB 79 374 line 1 used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. line 2 Therefore, this chapter applies to all cities, including charter cities. line 3 SEC. 2. Section 21080.26.5 is added to the Public Resources line 4 Code, to read: line 5 21080.26.5. (a)  For the purposes of this section, “public line 6 project” means a project constructed by either a public agency or line 7 private entity, that, upon the completion of the construction, will line 8 be operated by a public agency. line 9 (b)  This division shall not apply to a public or private residential, line 10 commercial, or mixed-use project that, at the time the project line 11 application is filed, is located entirely or principally on land owned line 12 by a public transit agency, or fully or partially encumbered by an line 13 existing operating easement in favor of a public transit agency, line 14 and that includes at least one of the following: line 15 (1)  A project component identified in paragraphs (1) to (5), line 16 inclusive, or paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of Section 21080.25. line 17 (2)  A public project for passenger rail service facilities, other line 18 than light rail service eligible under paragraph (5) of subdivision line 19 (b) of Section 21080.25, including the construction, line 20 reconfiguration, or rehabilitation of stations, terminals, rails, line 21 platforms, or existing operations facilities, which will be line 22 exclusively used by zero-emission or electric trains. The project line 23 shall be located on land owned by a public transit agency, or land line 24 fully or partially encumbered by an existing operating easement line 25 in favor of a public transit agency, at the time the project line 26 application is filed. line 27 (3)  An agreement between the project applicant and public line 28 transit agency that owns the land or has the permanent operating line 29 easement to finance transit capital infrastructure, transit line 30 maintenance, or transit operations, including through a proposed line 31 public financing district, community financing district, or tax line 32 increment generated by the project. line 33 (c)  If the project described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) line 34 is located on land fully or partially encumbered by an existing line 35 operating easement in favor of a public transit agency at the time line 36 the project application is filed, the transit agency, the grantor of line 37 the easement, and all fee owners of the property encumbered by line 38 the easement must sponsor or consent to the application. Nothing line 39 in this section shall be interpreted to authorize a transit agency to line 40 construct a project described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) 93 SB 79 — 15 — 375 line 1 unless permitted by its operating easement or unless the easement line 2 is terminated, in each case prior to the commencement of line 3 construction. line 4 (d)  If a project described in subdivision (b) requires the line 5 construction of new passenger rail storage and maintenance line 6 facilities at a publicly or privately owned offsite location distinct line 7 from the principal project site, then that project shall be considered line 8 a wholly separate project from the project described in subdivision line 9 (b) and shall not be exempt from this division. Any required line 10 environmental review shall not affect or render invalid the line 11 exemption provided in subdivision (b), regardless of whether the line 12 project described in subdivision (b) cannot proceed unless the line 13 offsite facilities are constructed. line 14 SEC. 3. The provisions of this act are severable. If any line 15 provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity line 16 shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given line 17 effect without the invalid provision or application. line 18 SEC. 4. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to line 19 Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because line 20 a local government or school district has the authority to levy line 21 service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the line 22 program or level of service mandated by this act, within the line 23 meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code. O 93 — 16 — SB 79 376 In the city of Bellflower, local officials are doing everything they can to meet their community’s housing needs. But a recent fight with the county transit agency over land use serves as a cautionary tale of the rising unchecked power of transit agencies and the diminishing authority of both local governments and the will of the people. Bellflower officials are currently implementing their state-approved housing plans and zoning nearly 4,000 new homes over the next five years. This plan has taken years to develop and is grounded in public input, environmental review, and community needs. The city has also identified an additional 22 acres of land that can be developed into housing. However, the LA County Metro Transportation Authority (METRO) has initiated an eminent domain proceeding to take over the property and use it as a maintenance yard for the new Southeast Gateway Line Project. To METRO, this is a plot of land to store their vehicles and equipment. To Bellflower, this could be more than 1,600 new homes in the community, including much-needed affordable housing. And if a Senate bill aimed at increasing construction around major public transportation hubs passes, this scenario could play out in other cities throughout the state. Senate Bill 79, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, would completely disregard state-approved housing plans and give land use authority to transit agencies with limited requirements to build housing, let alone affordable housing. The bill upends the years of thoughtful planning and community input that city officials carry out when developing their housing plans, while giving unilateral power to transit agencies. To add insult to injury, SB 79 was recently amended in a political trade-off to carve out certain communities in the wealthy areas of Marin and Sonoma counties from its most onerous requirements. Once again, our lower-income communities are asked to bear a disproportionate burden by increasing the density in our already dense neighborhoods to meet the state’s housing goals. With the goal of generating funding for transit agencies, SB 79 could result in generating the wrong kind of construction near transit stops, like luxury condos or big box stores. Residents and local officials will be powerless to stop these developments or guarantee they include homes our residents can afford. City officials understand the intent of SB 79 and support increased density around transit. The Gateway Cities region is 3.5 times denser than LA County, and many of our cities have population density on par with New York City. Planning for more Senate Bill 79 is simply the wrong way to go about solving our housing crisis 377 density is a serious undertaking that, if mishandled, could exacerbate inequalities in our community. Our communities already struggle with access to unaffordable housing, crippling congestion, unhealthy air, overcrowded schools, and a lack of public services like parks and libraries. That’s why Paramount has spent three years adopting the North Paramount Gateway Specific Plan, which increases density around transit. This plan was developed through extensive community engagement and ensures the city can provide the infrastructure and services to support the project and meet the needs of the residents. SB 79 undercuts the very approach that has allowed cities like Paramount to be proactive and community-focused in their planning. Cities agree with the fundamental problem — there aren’t enough homes being built in California. And we also understand our role in addressing the housing crisis: working with residents to plan for the types of housing we need. But solutions must come through collaboration, not by sidelining local voices or dismissing the community plans already underway. SB 79 is simply the wrong way to go about solving our housing crisis. We urge the Legislature to reject this measure and work with cities on real solutions that respect community-driven planning, support housing plans already underway, and identify a sustainable state investment that matches the scale of this decades-in-the-making crisis. Peggy Lemons is mayor of Paramount. Victor Sanchez serves on the Bellflower City Council. 378 Agenda Item No.: 15.A Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:RECEIVE AND FILE A VERBAL UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER AUDIO/VISUAL SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: To be determined RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. ATTACHMENTS: 379 Agenda Item No.: 16.A Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - 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. (3 CASES) A. NAME OF CASE: CONNIE ANDERSEN, ET AL. V. CALIFORNIA WATER COMPANY, ET AL. (SEAVIEW CASE) CASE NO.: 24STCV20953 B. NAME OF CASE: CITY OF ROLLING HILLS V. SCE CPUC DOCKET NO. C.24-10-008 C. NAME OF CASE: CITY OF ROLLING HILLS V. SOCALGAS CPUC DOCKET NO. C.24-10-009 DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: None. ATTACHMENTS: 380 Agenda Item No.: 16.B Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(C) AND (D)(4) REGARDING THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO INITIATE LITIGATION (1 CASE) RECOMMENDATION: NONE DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: None. ATTACHMENTS: 381 Agenda Item No.: 16.C Mtg. Date: 06/09/2025 TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK / EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER THRU:KARINA BAÑALES, CITY MANAGER SUBJECT:CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - INITIATION OF LITIGATION A CLOSED SESSION WILL BE HELD, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(C) AND (D)(4) REGARDING THE DECISION OF WHETHER TO INITIATE LITIGATION (1 CASE) RECOMMENDATION: NONE DATE:June 09, 2025 BACKGROUND: None. DISCUSSION: None. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: None. ATTACHMENTS: 382