1/25/1999 MINUTES OF A �
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CTTY;COUNCIL
OF THE
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS,CALIFORNIA
JANUARY 25, 1999
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills was called to order by
Mayor Hill at 7:33 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend
Road, Rolling Hills, California.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Lay, Murdock, Pernell, Mayor Pro Tem Heinsheimer and
Mayor Hill.
Councilmembers Absent: None.
Others Present: Craig R. Nealis, City Manager.
Mike Jenkins, City Attorney
Larry Courtright, City Treasurer.
Lola Ungar, Planning Director.
Marilyn L. Kern, Deputy City Clerk.
� Captain Ed Hitchcock, Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department, Lomita Station.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Matters which may be acted upon by the City Council in a single motion. Any
Councilmember may request removal of any item from the Consent Calendar
causing it to be considered under Council Actions. _
a. Minutes - Regular Meeting of January 11, 1999.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented.
b. Payment of Bills.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented.
c. Financial Statement for the month of December, 1998.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented.
d. Correspondence from the Governor's Office of Emergency Services regarding
the acceptance of the City of Rolling Hills' Emergency Operations Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
e. BFI Recycling Tonnage Report for December, 1998
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Mayor Pro Tem Heinsheimer moved that the City Council approve the recommendations
in the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Lay seconded the motion which carried
unanimously.
PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS
- None.
TRAFFIC COMMISSION ITEMS
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
ZONING CASE NO. 586, APPEAL OF A PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL
OF A VARIANCE TO ENCROACH INTO THE FRONT YARD SETBACK FOR A
PREVIOUSLY ILLEGALLY CONSTRUCTED GARDEN PLATFORM/VIEW AREA.
Mr. and Mrs. Brent Harris, 1 Crest Road East (Lot 1-FT)
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City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background regarding Zoning
Case No. 586. He reported that several letters of support for this project and a letter from
the applicant, received after the agenda materials were prepared, have been placed before
the City Council. Mayor Hill opened the public hearing and called for testimony.
Ms. Christine Mulligan, applicants' representative, apologized for the absence of the
applicants. She stated that #hey were out of town and unable to attend this evening's _
meeting. She described the project and indicated that the applicants proceeded with the
project because they considered it a walkway and assumed that they did not need any other
approval since the project received approval from the Rolling Hills Community
Association. In response to Councilmember Pernell, Ms. Mulligan provided a brief
overview of her qualifications as a landscape consultant and general contractor.
Councilmember Pernell questioned Ms. Mulligan's efforts on the project which did not
include complete research of the Municipal Code requirements.
Mr. Lon Clearwaters, 4 Cinchring Road, stated that he supports the project. He stated that
he feels that the project has no impact on neighbors and that it has a positive impact o n
the area.
Councilmembers discussed the project and expressed concern that it was constructed in the
front yard setback without a Variance. Mayor Pro Tem Heinsheimer commented on the
support that the project has received from the community. Councilmember Murdock
indicated that she feels that it would be difficult to make findings to grant a Variance i n
this case. Councilmembers discussed whether granting a Variance in this case would set a
precedent. Councilmembers concurred that they would view this structure in the field.
The Council discussed possible dates for a field trip and Ms. Mulligan indicated that the
applicants will be out of town for another week.
Hearing no further discussion, Mayor Hill continued the public hearing to the next regular
meeting of the City Council to be held on Monday, February 8, 1999 for the purpose of
selecting a date for a field review of the project. Staff was directed to coordinate a date for
the field trip.
CONSIDERATION OF ESTABLISHING AND CHARGING ADMINISTRATIVE
FEES FOR ILLEGAL OR "AS BUILT" STRUCTURES OR GRADING THAT
REQUIRES DISCRETIONARY REVIEW BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
,
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 854: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ESTABLISHING AN ADDITIONAL
PROCESSING FEE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING APPLICATIONS INVOLVING
ILLEGAL OR "AS BUILT" PROJECTS, AND AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 691
REGARDING FEES.
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background regarding the
Planning Commission recommendations regarding "as built" projects. He explained the
penalty fees that the County assesses on projects that are constructed without benefit of
building permits. Mayor Hill opened the public hearing and called for testimony.
Mr. Ken Johnson, 29 Middleridge Lane South, commented on the proposed fee. In
response to Mr. Johnson, City Manager Nealis explained that illegally constructed projects
could still be required to be removed if approvals are not granted or if applications are not
submitted.
City Manager Nealis explained the steps that are taken by City and County staff when
illegal construction is reported.
Dr. Gordon Schaye, 58 Portuguese Bend Road, commented on structures on his property
that the Rolling Hills Community Association considered to be illegal.
Mr. Paul Grubbs, 1 Hackamore Road, commented on the condition of the property at 58
Eastfield Drive. In response, City Manager Nealis provided a brief summary of staff's
efforts on that case.
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Hearing no further discussion, Mayor Hill closed the public hearing., Councilmembers
discussed the proposed fee and whether,.�,,i,tU�was��enough to recuperate staff's time in
investigating "as built" projects. City IVlaria'ger Nealis presented an explanation of how
staff arrived at the proposed fee. Councilmembers also discussed whether or not the fee
was enough to discourage illegal construction in the City. City Treasurer Larry Courtright
explained how the City's accounting system allocates all fees.
Hearing no further discussion, Mayor Hill called for a motion. Councilmember Lay
moved that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 8��i�9�. Councilmember Pernell seconded
the motion which carried unanimously. Staff was directed to r.eview the Fee Resolution
and provide a status report on this new fee to the City Council in six months.
OLD BUSINESS
CONSIDERATION OF INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY COUNCIL
CHAMBERS.
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report. Discussion ensued regarding possible
interior improvements to the City Council Chambers. Councilmembers reviewed the
suggested improvements by community groups. Possible paint, wall treatment, lighting,
projection and sound enhancement improvements were discussed. Councilmembers
discussed the use of the Council Chambers as a command post during an emergency.
Councilmember Heinsheimer suggested that future needs be taken into consideration
when establishing plans to improve the Council Chambers.
City Manager Nealis explained that the �FY 98/99 Budget contains $40,000 for this project.
Discussion ensued regarding design fees. Councilmembers concurred that 10% of the
construction cost would be appropriate.
Hearing no further discussion, Councilmembers authorized and directed staff to hire a
meeting room consultant at an amount not to exceed $4,000 and to work with the
community groups to provide options and plans for the City Council to consider.
NEW BUSINESS
CONSIDERATION OF DISPOSITION OF PROPOSITION A AND PROPOSITION C
TRANSPORTATION FUNDS.
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report outlining the requests from the Cities of
Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates for Proposition C eligible projects. Hearing
no discussion, Mayor Hill called for a motion.
Councilmember Murdock moved that the City Council allocate 60% of its Proposition C
Transportation funds to the City of Rolling Hills Estates and 40% of its Proposition C
Transportation funds to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for eligible projects in those cites
as described in their funding requests. Mayor Pro Tem Heinsheimer seconded the motion
which carried unanimously. Staff was directed to return with Resolutions memorializing
this action for consideration by the City Council at the next meeting.
OPEN AGENDA -APPROXIMATELY 8:00 P.M. - PUBLIC COMMENT WELCOME
None.
MATTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Pernell commented on an upcoming photovoltaic roof seminar and
suggested that it be passed along to members of the Planning Commission and Rolling
Hills Community Association.
Councilmember Lay requested to be excused from the City Council meeting scheduled for
Monday, February 8, 1999 as he will be out of down on that date.
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MATTERS FROM STAFF
City Manager Nealis announced that the West Vector Control District will provide an
update on the Africanized Honey Bee in the South Bay at the City Council meeting on
Monday, February 8, 1999. He reported that a notice regarding this presentation will be
sent to community groups and that articles announcing this special presentation have
been placed in the Citywide Ne�vsletter.
MATTERS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY
None.
ADTOURNMENT
Hearing no further business before the City Council, Mayor Hill adjourned the meeting at
8:35 p.m., to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held on
Monday, February 8, 1999, in the City Council Chambers, at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend
Road, Rolling Hills, California.
Respectfully submitted,
� �-�t/l^7
Mari yn L. rn
Deputy City Clerk
Approved,
�
.
Frank E. Hill
Mayor
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