10/24/1988 216
MINUTES OF A ;
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL �
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA i
October 24, 1988 '
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling
Hills, was called to order in the Council Chamber at the City Hall/
Administration Building, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills,
California, by Mayor Murdock at 7:36 p.m. , on Monday, October 24,
1988 .
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh, Councilwoman Swanson,
Councilman Heinsheimer (arrived at 7:39 p.m. ) ,
Mayor Murdock
ABSENT: Councilman Pernell (excused)
ALSO PRESENT: Terrence L. Belanger City Manager
Michael Jenkins City Attorney
Betty Volkert Deputy City Clerk
Ann Johnson Los Angeles Times
Anne La Jeunesse Palos Verdes News
Mr. Etessam Architect
Kunio Inoue Architect ,
Doug McHattie South Bay Engineering �
David Reynolds Attorney
Amar Andranigian Resident
Frank Hill Resident
Hooshang Pak Resident
Chieko Yamamoto Resident
Hitoshi Yamamoto Resident
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh moved that the items on the Consent
Calendar be approved and accepted as presented. Councilwoman Swanson
seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of an adjourned meeting of the City Council held on
I'uesday, October 11, 1988, were approved and accepted as written.
PAYMENT OF BILLS '
Demands Nos. 3225 through 3245, in the amount of $15,329.78, were
approved for payment from the General Fund.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The Financial Statement for the month of September, 1988, was
accepted as presented.
�LD BUSINESS
WAIVER OF CONDITION OF FINAL MAP FOR NOS. 4 AND 6 EUCALYPTUS LANE
Staff recommended that this matter be held on the agenda to the
�ity Council meeting on November 14, 1988. The cost information from
the utility companies has not been completed.
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NEW BUSINESS
MOTION TO ZNSTRUCT VOTING DELEGA E FOR CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE
POSITIONS
The City Manager explained that the Los Angeles County City
Selection Committee is a committee made up of representatives from
each of the cities in the County of Los Angeles, for the purpose of
selecting certain representatives to various County and State
organizations.
On November 3, 1988, the City Selection Committee will be meeting
to elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman for the City Selection
' Committee. On December 1, 1988, the Committee will be meeting to
elect 2 members and 2 alternates to the Los Angeles County
Transportation Commission. The Committee will meet on January 5,
1989, to elect 1 member from the Western Region and 1 member from the
Eastern Region to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. �
This matter is before the City Council this evening for the
� purpose of selecting a member or members of the Council to act as the
� City' s representative on the City Selection Committee. Generally,
� the Mayor is designated as the voting delegate.
� Mayor Murdock indicated that she would not be able to attend the
m December lst meeting. Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh noted that she is
Q the alternate to the City Selection Committee, and that she would be
� able to attend the December lst meeting. Councilman Heinsheimer
suggested that, as a backup measure, an additional alternate be
chosen. It was the consensus of the Council that Councilman Pernell
should be the backup alternate.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
ZONING CASE N0. 364
Zoning Case No. 364 is a request by Dr. Hooshang Pak for
Conditional Use Permits for a tennis court and recreation room at 9
Crest Road West, Lot 55-A-MS. This lot is approximately 237,400
square feet in net area, and the lot coverage for the proposed
improvements would be approximately 8.4$. The City Council took
jurisdiction of this matter at their . last meeting, and a public
hearing was set. The City Manager reported that the existing
residence (previously the Ellery residence) is proposed to be razed,
and a new residence is proposed to be built. The site plan also
shows a new proposed driveway, which has not been approved. It was
proposed by the Planning Commission that the existing driveway
access, which is provided by an easement on the adjacent property,
not be changed.
Mayor Murdock commented � that Councilman Pernell had expressed
concerns about the sequence of the approval, and explained that,
generally, an accessory use is not approved until after the location
� of the primary residence is determined. Mayor Murdock asked the
other Councilmembers if they felt a field trip was necessary.
It was determined that a field trip would not be of much benefit,
given the fact that the existing structure is intended to be torn
down. Councilman Heinsheimer asked if the proposed site plan, with
the exception of the proposed new driveway which was noted by the
City Manager, but, including the proposed location of the new
residence, could be made a part of the conditions for approval. The
City Manager explained that the conditions in the Planning
Commission's Findings and Report, clearly indicate that the
Conditional Use Permit is subject to the condition that construction
will be performed per the site plan, referred to as Exhibit "A" . To
emphasize the fact that approval of the Conditional Use Permit for
the tennis court and recreation room would be conditioned upon the
fact that the house would be built in substantially the location
indicated on the site plan, and that the corral and stable would be
built in substantially the location indicated on the site plan, the
Council could incorporate such conditions as part of the approval.
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Councilman Heinsheimer asked if the applicant was agreeable to this
condition, and the applicant indicated that he would be agreeable to ;
such a condition. Mayor Murdock asked if the plans had been approved
by the Architectural Committee, and was informed that they have been
approved. �
Councilwoman Swanson requested that the applicant's
representative state, for the record, that the site plan, as
submitted, is the one that will be followed for the construction of
the proposed improvements, i.e. , the proposed residence and accessory
buildings. Mr. Doug McHattie, South Bay Engineering, confirmed that
the buildings would be built per the site plan that has been
submitted, since this is the plan that is in plan check. Mayor
Murdock asked Mr. McHattie if the plan that has been submitted for
plan check includes the proposed new driveway. Mr. McHattie stated
that the plan does include the driveway, and stated further that the
applicant hopes to have the proposed new driveway submitted to and
approved by the Traffic Commission. However, Mr. McHattie felt that
the issue of the driveway was a separate matter. Mayor Murdock
explained that it is a concern, due to the fact that it is included
on the site plan which would be referred to in the conditions of
approval, if the Council decided to approve the request for
Conditional Use Permits. The Council discussed, at length, the
inclusion of the proposed new driveway on the site plan. The City
Attorney suggested that, if the Council wished to approve this
request per the site plan, the following be written directly on the
site plan: the proposed new driveway is not part of the approval" .
Councilman Heinsheimer wanted it clarified that the Council's
approval of this request, per this site plan, would not include any
additional implied variances, e.g. , the proposed new driveway, or
other aspects of the plan that were not considered.
There being no further comments, Mayor Murdock closed the public
hearing.
Councilwoman Swanson moved that the request for Conditional Use
Permits for a tennis court and recreation room, as specified in
Zoning Case No. 364, be approved subject to the site plan as
submitted and referred to as Exhibit "A" with the exception of the
proposed new driveway, which is not part of the approval, and subject
to the applicant obtaining any other necessary approvals required by
the site plan, and, subject to the same conditions cited by the
Planning Commission in their Findings and Report. Councilman
Heinsheimer seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.
APPEAL OF ZONING CASE NO. 361 - CONTINUED
Zoning Case No. 361 is a request by Mr. and Mrs. Hitoshi Yamamoto
for a Variance to encroach into the established front yard to allow
for construction of residential additions at 14 Southfield Drive.
The City Manager reported that, subsequent to the Planning
Commission' s report of denial to the City Council, the applicants
appealed the Planning Commission's decision and the City Council set
this matter for a public hearing and conducted a field trip to the
site. As a result of that field trip, the City Council suggested
some possible modifications to the proposed building plan. The
purpose of the proposed modifications was to attempt to create a site
plan that would be more acceptable to the City Council. The
suggested modifications were as follows:
1. To move the proposed stable from the rear, which was found
to be inadequate with respect to a corral, to the front yard
area, which, for this particular property, is the historical
location for equestrian purposes.
2 . To lessen the severity of the proposed driveway arch which
enters the new parking area and garage. To accomplish this,
two trees would have to be removed.
3 . To move the proposed encroachment back to the edge of the
foundation of the previous stable.
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The applicants have responded positively to the suggestions made
by the City Council. They have moved the location of the proposed
� stable to a more acceptable location near the front, redesigned the
proposed driveway relocation and lessened the arched approach into
the garage, and moved the proposed addition in closer to the existing
house, resulting in a reduction of 560 square feet of the area that
was originally requested. The City Manager noted that the applicants
have been extremely cooperative in modifying their plans in an
attempt to satisfy some of the concernsothat were expressed by the
City Council.
Councilwoman Swanson expressed concern about the drainage issues
and hydrology of the property. She asked if the applicants had given
consideration to gutters or some other means of handling the runoff.
Mr. David Reynolds, attorney for the applicants, explained that
he had discussed this concern with the architect, Mr. Inoue, who
assured him .that, as a part of the proposed expansion,. the final plan
would include a drainage plan indicating �an energy dissipater system.
� Councilwoman Swanson wanted it clearly understood that the
� existing drain on the side of �the property was not installed by the
� City, and ifi is not the City's responsibility to maintain this drain
� or to determine its adequacy. Mr. David Reynolds commented that this
m expansion may provide the opportunity to have this drain looked at
and to solve any problems, with respect to drainage, with the
Q adjoining property.
Councilwoman Swanson commented that she is concerned about the
hydrology in this area, and asked the City Attorney for his opinion
on how the City could protect itself from some future problem that
may arise if this proposal were to be approved. The City Attorney
explained that it would be appropriate, and typical, to require that
the drainage be to the satisfaction of the City Engineer, whose
services the City contracts for with the County of Los Angeles.
Mayor Murdock expressed concern about the tiered walls on the
bank in the front that seem to have been constructed for slope
retention. The Mayor asked if a permit was required for the
construction of these walls and, if so, had the necessary permits
been obtained prior to their construction. The City Manager
explained that the necessity for a permit would have depended upon
the function of the walls. It would appear that the bottom wall
would have required a permit since it is definitely a retaining
structure. The other walls, the battened walls, really are not
designed to retain a slope as much as they are designed to keep the
dirt from washing down the slope, and may be more architectural
rather than structural walls. The function of these walls is to
allow for landscaping to be placed there, in much the same way as a
planter. Therefore, these types of walls may not have required a
permit.
Councilwoman Swanson moved that the request for a Variance, as
° specified in Zoning Case No. 361, be approved per the revised site
plan, revised October 24, 1988, referred to as Exhibit "A" .
Councilman Heinsheimer seconded the motion, and thanked all the
parties who participated in this process. The motion carried
unanimously.
Mayor Murdock asked that staff return with the appropriate
resolution, at the next City Council meeting.
OPEN AGENDA �
Mayor Murdock invited comments from the audience on any sub�ect
not •already on the agenda. There were no comments from the audience.
MATTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
° CLARIFICATION BETWEEN "CITY" AND "R.H.C.A. "
Councilwoman Swanson commented that the Association's recent
newsletter was not appropriately marked distinguishing it from the
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City's newsletter, and requested that, in an attempt to cl�arify any ,
confusion that the residents may have, the City's newsletter clearly �
state that it is simply the City's newsletter and that all the
requirements and regulations of the City are distinct and different
from the Rolling Hills Community Association.
POTLUCK BRUNCH - NOVEMBER 13, 1988
Councilwoman Swanson announced that on Sunday, November 13 , 1988,
at 11: 00 a.m. there will be a potluck brunch sponsored by the four
cities on the Peninsula, the Palos Verdes Library District, and the
Palos Verdes Peninsula School District. Robin Hinchliffe and Jacki
Bacharach will be hosting the brunch for the Library District and for
the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, and the Rolling Hills City Council
has been invited to attend.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS FOR ROOFING AND SPRINKLERS
Mayor Murdock commented that there is an increasing number of
requests for remodeling and expansion, thereby, increasing the roof
area, and expressed concern about the adequacy of regulations
governing sprinklers for fire control. The City Manager reported
that he had spoken with Fire Chief Brunstrom regarding this matter.
The Fire Chief will report back to the City Manager regarding the
current requirements for sprinklers.
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh also requested that information be
provided by the Fire Chief regarding the regulations on Class A ;
roof ing.
The City Manager indicated that, following review of the Fire
Department's regulations, the City Council could make a determination
as to whether additional City regulations are necessary.
COUNCIL RETREAT .
Mayor Murdock proposed that a Council retreat be scheduled, for
the purposes of long-range planning and setting goals for the
upcoming year. The Mayor suggested that the retreat be held at Lake
Arrowhead, and volunteered to house the Members of the Council and
their spouses at her cabin. The Council 's meeting and planning
session would be held at a conference room at the Arrowhead Hilton
Hotel. She will be polling the Councilmembers to determine a
mutually agreeable date.
�A�_M_D
Councilman Heinsheimer reported that there has been an enormous
and obscure policy chanqe. The old plan was based on lowering the
ozone levels. The new plan is based on lowering particulates. No
one seems to be able or willing to give a reason for the change.
MATTERS FROM STAFF
WILDLIFE SURVEY
The City Manager reported that there has been a very good
response to the Wildlife Survey that was recently mailed to all
residents. To date, approximately 150 questionnaires have been
returned, which is slightly more than 20� of the homeowners in the
community. The majority of responses have been very positive.
Councilwoman Swanson commented that she, personally, had received
many positive comments regarding the survey and the formation of the
Wildlife Committee itself.
CATV SURVEY
Mayor Murdock remarked that she had been informed that there had
been a 40� response to the Cable Television Survey, and that 90� of
the responses were favorable. Councilwoman Swanson asked that staff
report on the status of the CATV Survey at the next Council meeting.
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SCRTD MEETING
The City Manager announced that the Southern California Rapid
Transit District would be conducting a public transportation forum
on Wednesday, October 26, 1988, from 11: 00 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m. , hosted
by RTD Board President and Rolling Hills Councilwoman Gordana
Swanson. �
SANITARY SEWER ADVISORY APPLICANTS
The City Manager reported that, to date, seven applications have
been received for the Sanitary Sewer Advisory Committee.
Councilwoman Swanson requested that a list of the applicants be
submitted by staff at the next Council meeting.
VIEW PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
The Mayor reported that a Council sub-committee � conducted
interviews of the View Preservation Committee applicants, and there
� will be a final follow-up meeting on Tuesday, November 1, 1988 .
� CLOSED SESSION
�
7 The City Attorney indicated that an executive session was not
m necessary.
Q ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Murdock adjourned the meeting at 8: 39 p.m. , to Monday,
November 14 , 1988, at 7: 30 p.m.
City Clerk
APPROVED:
Mayor
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