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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. Minutes City Council/ Planning Commission Joint Meeting 04/05/00 -2- 1 1 7� 1 1 1 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 -3-