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1/14/2002 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA JANUARY 14, 2002 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. Yolanta Schwartz, Principal Planner. Marilyn Kern, Deputy City Clerk. Marsha Mayeda, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control. Raymond B. Smith, Supervising Agricultural Inspector, Pest Management Division Department of Agricultural Commissioners/Weights & Measures, County of Los Angeles. Mark S. Adams, Agricultural/Weights &Measures Inspector III, Pest Management Division, Department of Agricultural Commissioners/Weights &Measures, County of Los Angeles. Lt. Gregg Ahn, 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 November 26, 2001. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. b. Payment of Bills - December 10, 2001, December 24, 2001 and January 14, 2002: RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. c. Financial Statement for the month of November, 2001. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. d. Budget Calendar for Fiscal Year 2002-2003. � RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. e. Notice of Completion for the FY 2001-02 Citywide Street Striping and Pavement Marking Project. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. f. Southern California Gas Company Amended Notice of Proposed Changes to Gas Rates, Biennial Cost Allocation Proceeding, Application No. 01-09-024. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. g. Correspondence from California Water Service Company regarding Advice Letter No. 1507, Palos Verdes District which has been filed with the California Public Utilities Company. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. h. BFI Recycling Tonnage Report for November, 2001. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. i. Consideration of attendance at the League of California Cities City Managers Department Meeting February 13-15, 2002. j. Proposed schedule for Rule 20A Non-assessment Underground Utility District to remove six utility poles along Crest Road. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. k. Draft correspondence to be sent to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District regarding initial study for the proposed high school reopening and relocation of existing district programs. RECOMMENDATION: Approve as presented. Minutes City Council Meeting 01/14/02 -1- 1. Correspondence from California Water Service Company regarding Advice Letter No. 1509, All Districts, Department of Health Services Office of Drinking Water Fees Surcharge, which has been filed with the California Public Utilities Commission. RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. Councilmember Hill moved that the City Council approve the recommendations in the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Heinsheimer seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS ZONING CASE NO. 625 MOD. RESOLUTION NO. 2001-25: A RESOLUTTON OF THE PLANNIlVG CONIlVIISSION OF T�-� CITY OF ROLLING HILLS GRANTIlVG A MODIFICATTON TO PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTTON NO. 2001-02 AND APPROVIl�TG MODIFICATIONS OF CERTAIN CONDTTIONS FOR A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED VARIANCE TO CONSTRUCT AN OUTDOOR FIREPLACE AT AN EXISTTNG SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AT 37 CHUCKWAGON ROAD IN ZONING CASE NO. 625- MODIFICATION. � Mr. Mark Elliott, 37 Chuckwagon Road, (Lot 19-CF). City Manager Nealis presented the staff report outlining the applicant's request and providing background regarding the property and the Planning Commission's action relative to Zoning Case No. 625 Mod. Hearing no discussion or objection, Mayor Murdock ordered that Resolution No. 2001-25 be received and filed. ZONING CASE NO. 643. RESOLUTION NO. 2001-26: A RESOLUTION OF TI� PLANNIlVG COMMISSION OF TI� CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DENYING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONVERT AN EXISTING STABLE TO A GUESTHOUSE, AND DENYING A REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO PERMIT THE GUESTHOUSE TO REMAIN IN TI� FRONT YARD AREA AND TO CONTINUE TO ENCROACH INTO THE NORTHEAST SIDE YARD SETBACK AT AN EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AT 3 JOHNS CANYON ROAD IN ZONING CASE NO 643. Mrs. Harlyne Norris, 3 Johns Canyon Road, (Lot 173-B-MS). Councilmember Heinsheimer stated that he would abstain from consideration of Planning Commission Resolution No. 2001-26 due the proximity of his residence to the subject property. Principal Planner Schwartz presented the staff report outlining the applicant's request and providing background regarding the property and the Planning Commission's action relative to Zoning Case No. 643. Hearing no discussion or objection, Mayor Murdock ordered that Resolution No. 2001-26 be received and filed. ZONING CASE NO. 644. RESOLUTTON NO. 2002-01: A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING CONIMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS GRAN'TIl�TG A STTE PLAN REVIEW REQUEST TO PERMIT SUBSTANTTAL GRADING FOR SLOPE FAILURE REPAIR AT AN EXISTIl�IG SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE AT 10 POPPY TRAIL IN ZONING CASE NO. 644. Mr.James Wang, 10 Poppy Trail, (Lot 3-PT). Principal Planner Schwartz presented the staff report outlining the applicant's request and providing background regarding the property and the Planning Commission's action relative to Zoning Case No. 644. In response to Councilmember Pernell, Principal Planner Schwartz stated that the slope failure does not have an effect on the neighboring city to the north east of the subject property. Hearing no further discussion or objection, Mayor Murdock ordered that Resolution No. 2002- 01 be received and filed. RECONSIDERATTON OF DATE FOR A CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNIlVG COMNIISSION JOINT MEETING. City Manager Nealis presented the staff report outlining the Planning Commission's request that the City Council consider rescheduling the joint meeting between the City Council and the Planning Commission. Minutes City Council Meeting Ol/14/02 -2- Councilmembers discussed several dates on which the meeting could be held. Mayor Pro Tem Lay indicated that he would be unable to attend the meeting on February 11, 2002 and City Manager Nealis indicated that the City Attorney has reported that he would be available at either March meeting, or on February 11, 2002. Councilmembers rescheduled the City Council/Planning Commission Joint Meeting for March 11,2002,beginning at 7:30 p.m. TRAFFIC COMMISSION ITEMS None. PUBLIC HEARINGS None. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS � CONSIDERATION OF RE-APPOINTMENTS TO TI�PLANIVING COMMISSION. City Manager Nealis presented the staff report indicating the desire of Planning Commissioners Allan Roberts and Arvel Witte to continue to serve on the Commission. Hearing no objection, Mayor Murdock called for a motion. Councilmember Heinsheimer moved that the City Council reappoint Allan Roberts and Arvel Witte to three year terms on the Planning Commission which will expire on January 1, 2005. Mayor Pro Tem Lay seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. CONSIDERATION OF RE-APPOINTMENTS TO THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION. City Manager Nealis presented the staff report indicating the desire of Traffic Commissioners V'Etta Virtue and Val Margeta to continue to serve on the Commission. He also stated that the RHCA indicated that they will be considering a representative for the Traffic Commission at their meeting on February 7, 2002. Hearing no further discussion, Mayor Murdock called for a motion. Councilmember Hill moved that the City Council reappoint V'etta Virtue and Val Margeta for two year terms on the Traffic Commission which will expire on January 1, 2004, and permit Commissioner Howroyd to continue to serve until the action of the RHCA Board is determined next month. Mayor Pro Tem lay seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. _ CONSIDERATION OF RECONIlVIENDATTON FROM TI� WILDLIFE PRESERVATTON COMMITTEE REGARDING COYOTES. City Manager Nealis presented the staff report providing background regarding the Wildlife Preservation Committee's recommendation that the City Council consider rreducing the number of coyotes in the community and that the City Council consider an educational program to advise residents of the potential danger of coyotes and methods to discourage coyote activity on their property. He reported that at the January 7, 2002 Wildlife Preservation Committee meeting, residents in attendance, reported multiple coyote sightings, predatory activity by groups of coyotes against pets and their fear of potential coyote interaction with small children due to the number of coyotes in the community. City Manager Nealis also reported that the Committee recommendations were based upon the increased number of contacts that residents have made to City Hall concerning coyotes, the increase of coyote sightings at various times of the day, the severity of predatory activity that has been reported and the testimony offered at the Committee meeting. He also indicated that the Committee was concerned about the notable change in the number of coyotes in groups being spotted at one time and their proximity to residential dwellings. City Manager Nealis also reported on his inquiries regarding the subject of coyotes with the State Department of Fish and Game and the County Agricultural Department. Mr. Nealis indicated that additional correspondence from Debra Fournier, 30 Crest Road East, regarding this subject had been placed before the City Council this evening. Minutes City Council Meeting 01/14/02 -3- Mr. Ray Smith,Supervising Agricultural Inspector, Pest Management Division, Department of Agricultural Commissioners/Weights & Measures, County of Los Angeles, provided an overview of the responsibilities of the Department. He explained that coyotes have been in the area for years as well as throughout the County. He explained that the Department has been contracted to reduce the coyote population in other cities and explained that a collarum trap in used to do this and that these traps do not completely eradicate a local coyote population,but,assist in establishing a natural balance and cause the coyotes to fear humans. He stressed the importance of educating people to not feed the coyotes. In response to Councilmember Pernell,Mr. Smith explained that staff from the Department has a number of years experience reducing coyote populations with the collarum trap as well as other methods. He explained that sometimes non-target animals are captured in the collarum trap and that these animals are not harmed but rather turned over to animal control. He indicated that since Rolling Hills does not have a leash law that domestic animals captured inadvertently would be released. In response to Councilmember Pernell regarding the success rate of reducing coyote population by trapping, Mr. Smith indicated that the results range from extremely successful to dismal and that there is no guarantee, but should re-install the fear of ' man into coyotes. Councilmember Heinsheimer suggested that since Rolling Hills does not have a leash law that residents should be advised of the trapping activity. Councilmember Heinshimer also suggested that residents with unaltered dogs should be warned about the possibility of coys becoming introduced into the community as they did a number of years ago. Councilmember Heinshimer stated that he feels that any program for the reduction of coyotes in the City should include educational efforts as well as trapping. He suggested that staff work with the County Agricultural Department to initiate such an integrated program, which, will maintain a balance in the ecology of the City. In response to Councilmember Heinsheimer, Mr. Smith stated that the County Agricultural staff has worked with other cities to initiate such programs and that they could work with staff on newsletter articles and other educational materials. Councilmember Lay commented on the possibility of residents being able privately deploy the collarum trap on their property or the possibility that the City could make these traps available for residents to deploy in the same manner that the Have-A-Heart devices that are currently available. Councilmember Lay concurred with the suggestion by Councilmember Heinsheimer that an integrated approach be implemented to reduce the coyote population. Mr. Roger Sommer, Chair of the Wildlife Preservation Committee, commented on the recommendation of the Committee and stated that the Committee is currently working on an educational flyer on coyotes. He stated that he feels that the suggested integrated approach is consistent with the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Ed Myers, 9 Wagon Lane, commented on his concern for the number of coyotes in the City and indicated that he is concerned about the safety of his small children. Mr. Myers commented on the number of missing cats as well as a missing small dog in his neighborhood. In response to Mr. Myers, Mr. Smith and Mr. Adams indicated that natural predators of coyotes are mountain lions and bears. Mrs. Marianne Wishner, 30 Portuguese Bend Road, expressed concern about the aggressiveness of the coyotes and explained that two coyotes took a cat from her porch as she watched. She reported that she sees and hears coyotes in the canyon near her home and that she feels that there are new pups in the canyon. Following a motion by Councilmember Heinsheimer, which was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Lay and hearing no objection by the entire City Council, Mayor Murdock so ordered that the recommendations from the Wildlife Preservation Committee be approved and that staff be directed and authorized to enter into an agreement as soon as possible with the Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture to implement an Integrated Coyote Management Program which shall include educational efforts as well as trapping to reduce and manage the number of coyotes in the community. The City Council also authorized the expenditure of funds to conduct this program. � OPEN AGENDA-APPROXIMATELY 8:00 P.M. -PUBLIC COMMENT WELCOME None. Minutes City Council Meeting 01/14/02 -4- MATTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL In response to Councilmember Pernell, Lt. Ahn, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department briefly reported on the recent homicide at PVPUSD Facility in the City. MATTERS FROM STAFF None. MATTERS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY None. ADTOURNMENT Hearing no further business before the City Council, Mayor Murdock adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council to be held on Monday, January 28, 2002 in the City Council Chambers, at City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills,California. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn L. ern Deputy City Clerk Approved, Jody M rdo Mayor Minutes City Council Meeting O1/14/02 -5-