1/29/1990 - 38�9
o MINUTES OF AN
ADJOURNED JOINT MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA
January 29, 1990
An adjourned joint meeting of the City Council and Planning
Commission of the City of Rolling Hills was called to order at
7: 33 p.m. , by Mayor Leeuwenburgh, in the Council Chamber at City Hall,
2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California, on Monday, January
29, 1990.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: City Council:
Councilman Heinsheimer, Councilwoman Murdock,
� Councilman Pernell, Councilwbman Swanson,
� Mayor Leeuwenburgh :z:��
� PlanninQ Commission:
7 Commissioner Frost, Commissioner Hankins,
[� Commissioner Lay, Commissioner Raine,
a Chairman Roberts
ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Terrence L. Belanger City Manager
Ray Hamada Principal Planner
Michael Jenkins City Attorney
Don Cotton Cotton/Beland/Associates
Karen Warner Cotton/Beland/Associates
Anne La Jeunesse Palos Verdes Peninsula News
NEW BUSINESS
CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT OF PLANNING COMMISSIONERS
Councilman Pernell requested that this matter be deferred and
postponed to a future date.. As a member of the Personnel Committee, he
would like to see a greater liaison with the advisory bodies to the
City Council. Councilman Pernell indicated his preference to have
regular, ongoing interviews with the members of the various commissions
and committees. He proposed that the Personnel Committee meet with one
or two Commissioners or Committee Members, prior to each Council
meeting. He suggested that, initially, the Planning Commissioners be
interviewed first, followed by members of other advisory commissions
and committees.
Thus, the Mayor directed that this matter be held on the agenda
for periodic reports from the Personnel Committee.
RESOLUTION OF PLANNING COMMISSION: RATIFYING RECOMMENDATION OF
APPROVAL OF ROLLING HILLS GENERAL PLAN AND CERTIFICATION OF FINAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT THEREFOR
The City Manager explained that this is a resolution of the
Planning Commission, ratifying their recommendation to the City Council
that the Rolling Hills General Plan be adopted and the Final
Environmental Impact Report, therefor, be certified. •
Commissioner Lay moved adoption of the resolution, entitled "A
RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
GENERAL PLAN AND CERTIFY THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
THEREFORE" . The motion was seconded by Commissioner Frost, and carried
by the following roll call vote:
390 �
0
AYES: Commissioner Frost, Commissioner Hankins,
Commissioner Lay, Commissioner Raine,
Chairman Roberts
NOES: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS - CONTINUED
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE• FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR GENERAL PLAI�
UPDATE AND ZONING ORDINANCE
Mayor Leeuwenburgh opened the public hearing, and invited comments
from the audience. Councilwoman Swanson pointed out that the only
member present in the audience was from the press.
The City Manager suggested that a representative from the
consulting firm, Cotton/Beland/Associates, report on the Final
Environmental Impact Report, and on additional data gathered regarding
the issue of other communities, similar to Rolling Hills, that have not '�;
undertaken a revision of their Housing Elements. The City Manager also.=<,
advised the Council that the replacement pages OSC-14 and OSC-15, which `
were provided at their council seats, are modifications to the "Goals
and Policies" pages for the Open Space Element.
Mr. Don Cotton, Cotton/Beland/Associates, addressed the Council.
He explained that the Final Environmental Impact Report is to be
certified p'rior to adoption of the General Plan. The Final EIR is
comprised of the Draft Environmental Impact Report, and incorporates
comments from outside agencies on the Draft Environmental Impact Report
and any responses to those comments.
Ms. Karen Warner, Cotton/Beland/Associates, reported that she had
contacted other Peninsula cities, as well as other cities similar t
Rolling Hills, i.e. , with a predominately low density residentia
character. It seems that similar jurisdictions, and the surroundin
Peninsula cities have not been able to comply with the State law or
they have not begun, as of yet.
Mr. Ray Hamada, Principal Planner, reported on proposed
legislation by the League of California Cities regarding Housing
Elements, and regional housing allocations. He referenced a draft
letter from the League of California Cities, dated January 17, 1990.
Mr. Don Cotton pointed out that the draft letter from the League
of California Cities omits the issue of requests for extension of the
deadline. Generally, if an extension is granted, during the time of
that extension the City would be immune from legal action. However,
the Department of Housing and Community Development has interpreted a
provision of the law that they feel precludes the granting of such an
extension, and, thus, would place a City in the position of
noncompliance and, as such, vulnerable to legal action.
Councilman Pernell suggested that the League of California Cities
be advised of this omission, and that they be requested to include in
their letter a provision for immunity from legal action during an
extension period.
Councilwoman Swanson inquired whether or not the General Plan,
setting aside the Housing Element, has any major differences from th
General Plan that was originally drafted.
Ms. Kar•en Warner explained that the major difference deals with a
proposal for a landslide hazard overlay, outlined in the Land Use
Element. The zoning and densities have not been changed.
Councilman Pernell commented on the Environmental Impact Report.
After some discussion, the wording on page 2-4, under Alternative 2,
was changed to read �� . . .the City has been experiencing towards
X3�f�f�T+�1���X�Xl�/��?���l�Y��= inappropriate land uses and continued use. . . "
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A discussion followed regarding implementation of stated policies ��
and goals of the Conservation/Open Space Element, on pages 4-6 and 5-5 ;�
of the Environmental Impact Report. Commissioner Lay explained that fx
the Site Plan Review process deals with these issues. Commissioner
Raine expressed her desire to see. the Landscape Committee more involved
in reviewing all projects, with respect to the stated objectives of the
Conservation/Open Space Element. Subsequently, a discussion ensued on
pages LU-13 , LU-14, and OSC-14 of the General Plan. Councilman
Heinsheimer felt that the policies outlined in the Conservation/Open
Space Element did not address the issue of new development and
redevelopment. Ultimately, it was decided to delete the word "new" in
Goals 1, 2, and 3, on pages LU-13 and LU-14 of the General Plan, and
wherever else appropriate. "
Councilman Pernell pointed out that the first sentence on page 5-7
, of the Environmental Zmpact Report should be changed to reflect the
exception of the Civic Center, and it was also suggested that the word
"owned" be changed to "controlled" .
� After some discussion, Councilwoman Murdock suggested that the
� word "provision" in the first sentence of Mitictation Measures, page 5-9
� of the EIR, be changed to "encouragement" . Additionally, Councilwoman
� Swanson remarked that the paragraph entitled Mitictation Measures
m assumes that septic tanks contribute to the instability of slopes. She
suggested that the language be changed to read, �� . . .system yb�b�txgl
Q could have significant benefits. . . "
With regard to the last paragraph on page 6-5 of the Environmental
Impact Report, Councilman Pernell felt it was inappropriate to specify
a figure. It was suggested that the word "extremely" be deleted from
the first sentence, in addition to deleting the second sentence
entirely, as well as the first phrase of the third sentence. Thus, the
paragraph would read as follows: "Like remedial measures to stabilize
the landslide, the cost' of property acquisition in the Flying Triangle
will be expensive. Alternative financing mechanisms need to be
evaluated and pursued. Funding options . . . ��
Councilman Pernell remarked that he particularly liked the
comments submitted by the Department of Water Resources, dated November
6, 1989. He felt that, where feasible, serious consideration should be
given to their suggestions, in particular, to their comments relating
to flood damage prevention.
There were no further comments on the Environmental Impact Report,
and the discussion returned to the General Plan.
Councilwoman Swanson asked if this document could be amended. The
consultants advised the Council that it could be amended four time a
year.
Councilman Heinsheimer suggested that the first sentence of the
fifth paragraph on page LU-5 be changed to read "Public facilities
owned by the City of Rolling Hills �(�t�x� provide for the needs of the
communitY X}��9�/��l�/�f�X`f�,�f����xf�/�l��l�X`�. �� - �
Commissioner Hankins suggested that the last sentence of the third
paragraph on page LU-5 be changed to read "Increases in water
discharged from septic systems and increases in grading have
contributed. . . ��
There was discussion regarding the last paragraph on page LU-5.
Ultimately, the following language was suggested and agreed upon:
"Additional public/Rolling Hills Community Association facilities
include. . . ��
The first paragraph on page LU-7 was changed to reflect that the
radar installation is operated by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) , not by the United States Air Force.
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Councilman Pernell suggested that the paragraph on Education, on
page LU-7, should indicate that access to the school property is from
outside the City.
The matter of maintenance of the tennis courts was discussed. It
was suggested that the second sentence in the paragraph on Recreation
be reworded, as follows: " . . .are three Ci'ty-owned tennis courts which
are leased to and maintained by the. . . "
There was discussion on the last paragraph on page LU-9 . It was
proposed that the first sentence be revised to read " . . .open space
within the community is controlled and maintained by. . . "
Policy 3 . 4, on page LU-14, was changed to read " . . .to preserve
���C,���Cpi�} natural vegetation. . . ��
Ms. Karen Warner gave a brief introductory statement regarding the
Housing Element. She indicated that the State has indicated, verbally,
that they will write a favorable letter that the Element is in
compliance with State law, as it is written currently, which proposes
the creation of a separate �ordinance that would facilitate second
units, distinguished from guest houses, as low-income housing units.
The ordinance could establish a cap on the number of units to be
created, ` which would coincide with the number of units the Southern
California Association of Governments (SCAG) has determined as the
City's future affordable housing need (9 units) .
The Housing Element was discussed at length by the Council and
Planning Commission. Councilman Heinsheimer suggested that the
possibility of providing this type of housing for ones retired, elderly .
parents or unemployed, independent children, be investigated as a means
of ineeting the City's regional affordable housing need. Commissioner
Lay explained to the Council that the Planning Commission felt that the
decision on whether or not to comply should be left to the City
Council. The Planning Commission approved the Housing Element, with
the understanding that the proposed second unit ordinance would simply
be an enabling ordinance for their development, but would not mandate
that the City build them. :
s
Councilman Heinsheimer suggested that the numbers specified in the �
second paragraph on page H-1 be clarified, and that the specific number :
of required affordable housing units be spelled out. �
Commissioner Hankins suggested that the last sentence of the
second paragraph on page H-1 be changed to read " . . .establish a second
unit ordinance to �pi�pS�i��i�� enable the development of. . . "
Councilman Heinsheimer also pointed out that the language in the fifth
item on page H-30 should be changed accordingly. ;
Ms. Karen Warner explained that two policies dealing with air
quality had been added to the Conservation/Open Space Element, page
OSC-14 .
Commissioner Raine pointed out that the last paragraph on page '
OSC-2 should read "Hesse' s Gap Rinct�� . �
Councilman Pernell felt that item 4 on page S-15 was unnecessary,
and should be removed entirely. After some discussion, the Council
agreed.
Mayor Leeuwenburgh suggested that "such as single engine Cessnas"
be deleted from the second sentence in paragraph two, on page N-3 .
't.
Councilman Pernell indicated that he would not be prepared, at Iv
this time, to support any General Plan that commits the City to the ��
kind of units proposed in the Housing Element. ,�
�J�
COMMISSIONER LAY WAS EXCUSED AT 10: 55 P.M. �
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Mr. Don Cotton explained that they need direction from the Council
on which, way to proceed.
Councilman Heinsheimer recommended that staff and the consultants
effect the appropriate changes and corrections, as noted this evening,
and that the revised plan be brought back to the Council for their
consideration. In addition, it was suggested that the consultants
prepare a report on possible salient regulations, requirements, and
conditions that might be included in such an enabling second-unit
�-rordinance, and other potential means of implementation. It was
proposed that this matter be held on the agenda to the March 12th City
Council meeting.
Councilwoman Murdock requested that an estimate of the scope of
the financial commitment for this additional study be submitted to the
Council at their next meeting.
The public hearing was continued to the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11: 32 p.m.
City Clerk
APPROVED:
Mayor
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Planning Commission Chairman
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