4/5/2000MINUTES OF AN
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE
ROLLING HILLS CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5,2000,7:30 P.M.
ROLLING HILLS CITY HALL
2 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD
ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA
CALL TO ORDER
An adjourned regular meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission was called to
order by Mayor Heinsheimer at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 2
Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Hill, Lay, Murdock, Mayor Pro Tem Pernell and
Mayor Heinsheimer.
Planning Commissioners Present: Hankins, Margeta, Sommer (arrived at 7:45 p.m.),
Witte and Chairman Roberts.
Others Present: Craig R. Nealis, City Manager.
Mike Jenkins, City Attorney.
Lola Ungar, Planning Director.
Marilyn Kern, Deputy City Clerk.
Mayor Heinsheimer welcomed members of Commission. Planning Commission Chairman
Allan Roberts stated that he feels that the upcoming discussions will be beneficial to both the
City Council and the Planning Commission.
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION
GRADING RATIO (2:1), SLOPE AND CANYON ISSUES AS RELATED TO
RECREATIONAL GAME COURT CONSTRUCTION.
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background regarding the Rolling
Hills Municipal Code Sections and other information relating to recreational game courts.
The Planning Commission and the City Council discussed various issues regarding the
conditions in the Municipal Code required to grant a CUP for a recreational game court.
Following the discussion, staff was directed to provide reports for Planning Commission
review and recommendation regarding the following: 1) a general statement in the Zoning
Code reconfirming that equestrian activity, as opposed to recreational game courts, is a
priority in Rolling Hills; and 2) amendments to the Municipal Code relating to conditions that
shall be met in order to grant a CUP for recreational game courts as follows: F (separate the
2:1 ratio condition from the court location conditions relating to bottoms of canyons, sides of
canyons or natural drainage courses, K (separate the clauses relating to screening and
maintenance of the landscaping and provide a new section that requires that screening shall be
with mature plants and shall be maintained and that landscaping shall consist of drought
resistant native vegetation), and N (modify to require that the applicant describe how the
design and location of the court will minimize noise during court use. Staff was also directed
to research whether stables and corrals have been built on properties with approved
recreational game courts.
PROCEDURES/ POLICY FOR ENSURING FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
COMPLIANCE.
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background information regarding
Municipal Code requirements for CUP's and how staff currently evaluates compliance of CUP
requirements after construction.
Councilmembers and Commissioners discussed the subject and directed staff to prepare a
report for review by the Planning Commission and the City Council regarding the number of
recreational game courts in the City under the current CUP standards and those that pre -date
those CUP conditions.
Minutes
City Council/ Planning Commission
Joint Meeting
04/05/00 -1-
LONGEVITY OF PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVALS (CURRENTLY 1 YEAR).
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background regarding Municipal
Code Sections relating to this topic. Councilmembers and Commissioners discussed various
circumstances that can cause delays in projects. It was the consensus of the City Council and
the Commission that the current system for providing for extensions if a project cannot be
built within time frames in the resolution of approval and/or Municipal Code are adequate
and ensures that projects are eventually constructed in a timely manner and under the existing
regulations. After the discussion, this item was received and filed.
METHODS TO DISCOURAGE AS -BUILT PROJECTS.
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background on the educational
materials and newsletter articles prepared to discourage as -built projects. Discussion ensued
regarding the Commission's options when an as -built project comes before them. City
Attorney Jenkins reported on how the Coastal Commission reviews as -built projects. Those
in attendance concurred that the Commission should review as -built projects as if they were
not yet constructed and may require modifications and/or removal of the unauthorized
project if appropriate. City Attorney Jenkins was directed to provide the process that is used
by the Coastal Commission in reviewing as -built projects. Staff was directed to continue
providing periodic reports on the status of the implementation of an ordinance in the City of
San Marino relative to prolonged building projects.
RECESS/RECONVENE
Hearing no objection, at 9:15 p.m. Mayor Heinsheimer called for a recess. The meeting was
reconvened at 9:20 p.m.
METHODS TO IDENTIFY UNAUTHORIZED SOIL ACTIVITY
(GRADING/IMPORT/EXPORT) ON PROPERTIES.
City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background regarding unauthorized
soil activity and the educational material and policies in place to discourage this activity.
Discussion ensued regarding the importation of soil on weekends. Councilmembers and
Commissioners discussed methods to discourage this activity.
After discussion, staff was directed to work with the County and establish periodic weekend
code enforcement efforts. Staff was also directed to prepare a letter to local grading
contractors, engineers and architects describing the new weekend code enforcement practice
and advise them that unauthorized grading represents a misdemeanor under the Municipal
Code as well as the other sanctions that may be imposed for this type of activity.
OPEN AGENDA - PUBLIC COMMENT WELCOME
None.
OTHER MATTERS
Mayor Heinsheimer commented on the recent Newsletter from the Rolling Hills Community
Association regarding trails, exterior lighting and view preservation. It was suggested that a
Caballeros representative attend the Commission field trips. It was also suggested that the
Commission encourage less lighting under the Site Plan Review process and that the
Commission review Municipal Code Sections to determine whether a lighting amendment is
necessary to further assist the Association in this regard. It was further suggested that after
this review, the Commission may wish to meet with the Community Association Architectural
Review Committee to discuss lighting issues. Commission Chairman Allan Roberts indicated
that he would discuss view preservation issues with the Community Association View
Preservation Committee Chair.
Mayor Heinsheimer commented on the undergrounding of utilities within the City. City
Manager Nealis indicated that staff could return with a report to the City Council and
Commission on a possible underground utility Municipal Code amendment to specify when
and how undergrounding is required during structural modifications to properties. Following
discussion, a report on options on how to introduce a potential City-wide underground utility
project was also requested.
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City Council/ Planning Commission
Joint Meeting
04/05/00 -2-
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Mayor Pro Tem Pernell thanked the Commission for their dedication and efforts in
maintaining the rural character of the City.
MATTERS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY
LEGAL ISSUES SURROUNDING PROJECT APPROVALS AND DENIALS.
City Attorney Jenkins commented on the legal right of property owners to make certain
improvements to their property. He also commented on the City Council's and Planning
Commission's responsibilities in reviewing cases before them to ensure that they meet all of
the requirements and conditions of the General Plan and Municipal Code and rights of
property use.
MATTERS FROM STAFF
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no further business before the City Council and Planning Commission, Mayor
Heinsheimer adjourned the meeting at 10:50 p.m. The City Council was adjourned to the
next regular meeting of the City Council scheduled for Monday, April 10, 2000, beginning at
7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills,
California. The Planning Commission was adjourned to an adjourned regular meeting of the
Planning Commission scheduled for Saturday, April 15, 2000, for the purpose of conducting a
field review of the properties located at 22 Crest Road East, 9 Wagon Lane and 3 Johns
Canyon Road, Rolling Hills, California.
Allan Rober s
Chairman
Minutes
City Council/ Planning Commission
Joint Meeting
04/05/00
Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn L. Ke rn
Deputy City Clerk
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