5/29/2001MINUTES OF
AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA
MAY 29, 2001
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills was called to order by Mayor
Murdock at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road,
Rolling Hills, California.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers Present: Heinsheimer, Hill, Pernell, Mayor Pro Tem Lay and Mayor
Murdock.
Councilmembers Absent: None.
Others Present: Craig Nealis, City Manager.
Nan Huang, Finance Director.
Marilyn Kern, Deputy City Clerk.
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 -Meeting of April 23, 2001.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented.
b. Payment of Bills.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented.
C. Financial Statement for the month of April, 2001.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented.
d. Correspondence from California Water Service Company regarding Application
No. 01-05-002 filed with the California Public Utilities Commission for an increase
in rates for the Palos Verdes District.
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
e. BFI Recycling Tonnage Report for April, 2001.
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
f. Correspondence from the California Water Service Company, all Districts,
regarding Advice Letter No. 1493 filed with the California Public Utilities
Commission.
RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file.
Councilmember Heinsheimer moved that the City Council approve the recommendations in
the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Hill seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
UPDATE FROM PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGARDING ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND HIGH SCHOOL.
PVPUSD Board of Education President Gabriella Holt and Superintendent Dr. Ira Toibin
presented an overview of the District's plan for a second high school on the Peninsula opening
in September, 2002. Discussion ensued regarding the impact of this plan on surrounding
communities and the challenges facing the District in implementing the plan. In response to
queries from members of the City Council, Mr. Toibin explained that a traffic engineering
study will be conducted to gage the traffic impact on the areas that are affected. Ms. Holt
explained that in lieu of setting boundaries for attendance at the two high schools, the district
feels that the student population is such that an optional program for attendance at either high
school may accomplish an even distribution of student population.
Following discussion, Councilmembers thanked President Holt and Dr. Toibin for their
comments and indicated that they look forward to hearing more about the District's plans in
the future.
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PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS
None.
TRAFFIC COMMISSION ITEMS
CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION
RELATIVE TO THE FY 2001-02 BID SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
FOR CITYWIDE STREET STRIPING AND PAVEMENT MARKING PROJECT.
Mayor Murdock introduced the item. Councilmember Heinsheimer moved that the City
Council approve the recommendation of the Traffic Commission regarding the FY 2001-02
Citywide Street Striping and Pavement Marking of Roadways Project and direct staff to
advertise this project. Councilmember Hill seconded the motion which carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
OLD BUSINESS
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.
Mayor Murdock stated that she has prepared the City Council Committee Assignments for FY
2001-2002 and that they will be presented to Councilmembers in their weekly packets.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
10. OPEN AGENDA - APPROXIMATELY 8:00 P.M. - PUBLIC COMMENT WELCOME
Mr. Jay Derman, 88 Saddleback Road, commented on the petition process for determining
interest in forming an underground utility assessment district in the City. He reported that he
has heard from 61 residents who have expressed that they are not in favor of an assessment
district for undergrounding utilities. He asked for a status report regarding the petition
process to date. City Manager Nealis explained that the City has received 56 petitions from
residents interested in undergrounding utilities and that petitions will be accepted through
January, 2002. City Manager Nealis explained that the Improvement Act of 1911 sets forth the
process of establishing an underground assessment district and that the Act requires
submission of petitions signed by 50% or more of the residents of the area to be assessed for
the undergrounding project. He said that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee has recommended, and
the City Council approved, that 60% of the residents in the area to be assessed submit
petitions in order to consider moving forward.
Mr. Derman stated that he feels that there is no interest in the undergrounding of utilities in
the City and expressed concern regarding the articles on the subject in the Citywide
Newsletter. In response to Mr. Derman, City Manager Nealis explained that the frequently
asked questions that have been published in the Citywide Newsletter were questions asked
from residents at various meetings on the subject. Councilmember Pennell explained that the
petitions being signed by residents are not a yes or no vote but rather an indication that they
would like more information on the subject.
Mr. Derman was referred to the Community Association regarding his concerns that the re-
paving of Eastfield Drive was postponed in anticipation of an underground project sometime
in the future. He indicated that flyers were sent to all residents in the City asking if they
wished to vote no on underground utilities and that he has only heard from a few.
Councilmember Heinsheimer commented that the City is in the same position and that most
people are not willing to express their opinion one way or the other. He said that for this
reason, the City has elected to accept petitions through January, 2002.
Mayor Pro Tem Lay indicated that he received one of the flyers mentioned by Mr. Derman
and expressed concern that the flyer intimated that the City Council had already made up its
mind and was in favor of undergrounding. He stated that this could not be further from the
truth and explained that the City Council has only entertained the gathering of information
about undergrounding on behalf of the citizens of Rolling Hills. In response to Mr. Derman,
Mayor Pro Tem Lay stated that the City Council appropriated additional funds to the
consultant in order to answer further questions that are being raised by residents during the
petition phase.
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Councilmember Heinsheimer explained the requirements that must be followed under the
Improvement Act of 1913 that sets forth the process that is currently being used by residents
who are circulating and signing petitions indicating their interest in gathering further
information on the subject of underground utilities. He indicated that if the City has not
gathered petitions from 60% of the City's residents by January, 2002, that this study may be
useful for individual homeowners or groups of homeowners who wish to underground their
utilities.
Councilmember Pernell explained the sewer study that was completed by the City. He
indicated that even though the citywide sewer study was not implemented, the information
that was gathered was useful in the establishment of sewers in a section of the City. He said
that citywide undergrounding of utilities may not be implemented as well however, the
information may be useful to individual homeowners or groups of homeowners who wish to
underground the utilities on their properties.
Councilmembers thanked Mr. Derman for his comments.
Brian Breitenstein, 5 Acacia Road, stated that he is attending the meeting as a requirement for
a Boy Scout merit badge and commented on peafowl in the City. In response to Mr.
Breitenstein, Mayor Murdock explained that peafowl matters are left to individual property
owners in the City.
MATTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Pernell commented on a recent letter that Councilmembers received from the
California Attorney General Bill Lockyear and requested that it be forwarded to the City
Attorney for comment.
MATTERS FROM STAFF
None.
MATTERS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY
None.
ADIOURNMENT
Hearing no further business before the City Council, Mayor Murdock adjourned the meeting
at 8:05 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held on Monday,
June 11, 2001 in the City Council Chambers, at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling
Hills, California.
Respectfully submitted,
Marilyn L. Kern
Deputy City Clerk
Approved,
4,
Jod MurUock
Mayor
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