8/12/1991C
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MINUTES OF A
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS, CALIFORNIA
August 12, 1991
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling
Hills was called to order by Mayor Pernell at 7:30 p.m. on Monday,
August 12, 1991 in the City Council Chambers at the City Hall/
Administration Building, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills,
California.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
ALSO PRESENT:
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmembers Heinsheimer, Leeuwenburgh,
Murdock, Mayor Pro Tem Swanson, Mayor Pernell
None
Craig Nealis
L. D. Courtright
Michael Jenkins
Lola Ungar
Lucile Rogers,
City Manager
City Treasurer
City Attorney
Principal Planner
Minutes Secretary
Mayor Pernell suggested a notation be placed on future agendas
to indicate which items need approval and which are meant to
receive and file.
City Manager Nealis pointed out that the financial statements
(item c) are the final year-end statements but are not yet audited.
Councilwoman Murdock moved approval of the Consent Calendar,
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh seconded and the motion passed without
objection.
a. Minutes - Meeting of July 22, 1991.
b. Payment of Bills - Demands Number 5648 through 5696 dated
August 12, 1991 in the amount of $154,424.25 were approved for
payment from the General fund.
C. Financial Statement for the month of June.
d. Correspondence from MAX Policy Steering Committee Chairman
Carl Jacobson regarding two Bills in Congress (SB 26 and H.R. 1145)
pertaining to promoting utilization of mass transit.
e. Correspondence from GTE regarding addition of a new Area Code.
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Rolling Hills City Council Meeting - 8/12/91
f. Correspondence from County of Los Angeles Assistant Fire Chief
regarding Fire Suppression Benefit Assessment.
g. Staff memorandum regarding adoption of the Rolling Hills
Employee Illness and Injury Prevention Program.
h. Resolution of the City of El Monte supporting legislative
efforts to combat drive-by shootings and supporting H.R. 100
(Torres).
PLANNING COMMISSION ITEMS
None.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. ORDINANCE NO. 232: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
REQUIRING A BALANCED CUT AND FILL SOILS RATIO FOR DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS AND READOPTING AND ADDING OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO
THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES BUILDING CODE RELATING TO GRADING
STANDARDS, AND AMENDING THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE.
Principal Planner Ungar reviewed the concerns raised by
Councilmembers at the first reading of proposed Ordinance No. 232
at the July 22, 1991 City Council meeting. Staff conducted a
survey of the other Peninsula cities to determine their policies
and the results of the survey were presented by Ms. Ungar, as well
as the pros and cons of a balanced cut and fill ordinance.
The requirement for City Manager approval of the import or
export of soil not to exceed 500 cubic yards was discussed at
length. City Manager Nealis stated that contractors will be
notified of the existence and terms of the new ordinance when new
projects begin and indicated that any contractor who does not
notify him of unforeseen circumstances requiring additional grading
would be in violation of the Municipal Code and would be subject
to a fine as well as loss of building permit approval. Mayor
Pernell directed Staff to investigate and come up with an
inspection process.
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh said she was interested in the
requirement of Palos Verdes Estates for Planning Commission
approval of grading over 250 cubic yards and suggested that the
City of Rolling Hills consider adopting this measurement rather
than 500 cubic yards. Asked how many field changes occur on
projects in the City, the City Manager estimated two or three per
year.
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Rolling Hills City Council Meeting - 8/12/91
Mayor Pro Tem Swanson noted her concern regarding the 30 foot
maximum vertical slope height specified in the ordinance. She also
said it is difficult after grading has been done to remember what
the property originally looked like, and asked how the City can
determine if the work has been done according to the approved
.plans. Principal Planner Ungar suggested the City might photograph
the site before and after grading. She also advised that the
County Building Inspector insures that the work has been done
according to the plans.
Mr. Roy Campbell, 3 Running Brand, explained that in most
cities after grading is accomplished the natural topography map
which was submitted with the grading plan is compared by a surveyor
with the as -graded topography map. Before the final building
inspection, the surveyor must certify that the as -graded topography
is substantially as shown on the plan.
Tom Boyd, Rolling Hills Community Association Board member,
said he felt slope requirements should be discussed further, as
well as the possibility of bringing in soil with better
compactibility when unstable soil is removed. He said that many
cities require that a soils engineer be present to take test
borings to determine the quality of the soil, and asked whether
Staff had addressed the R -rating of soil, as a measure of its
compactibility. Drainage onto adjoining properties was another
potential problem when cut and fill operations are conducted.
Councilman Heinsheimer said he felt the intention was not to
allow any import or export of soil in the City without review, and
suggested that the wording of Section 7015(d) be modified so the
first sentence of Paragraph 1 stands alone and the second sentence
becomes Paragraph 2, with the following paragraph renumbered as
Paragraph 3. Other minor wording changes were suggested.
City Attorney Jenkins clarified that this ordinance states
that if an application is received that requires import or export
of soil, it would have to go to the Planning Commission for a
variance; i.e., no plan can be approved unless it shows a balanced
cut and fill.
Roy Campbell advised that in construction operations there is
always material going out and coming in, of necessity (e.g., when
large boulders are removed and fill comes in, and other materials
such as concrete, sand, gravel, topsoil which are necessary to
complete the project). He commented that the City of Palos Verdes
Estates is now allowing large amounts of export, which permits
construction of a house into the cut of a project. He recommended
that the City of Rolling Hills attempt to keep their projects
somewhere between all cut and balanced cut and fill.
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Rolling Hills City Council Meeting - 8/12/91
City Manager Nealis agreed that with larger projects export
of soil could allow the construction to blend into the topography
but noted that the City's direction has been retention of the
natural topography through minimized project size, with L
encouragement of balanced cut and fill.
Mayor Pernell enumerated three issues to be addressed: (1)
the necessity for certification of as -graded plans by a surveyor;
(2) potential instability of the fill; and (3) whether a post -
grading survey needs to be included in the ordinance. Councilman
Heinsheimer contended that the purpose of the ordinance was not to
change the current practices but to codify them. He suggested the
ordinance should be adopted and the other matters could be handled
by administrative action or by Planning Commission review and
subsequent modifications if desired.
Councilwoman Murdock moved approval of Ordinance No. 232,
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh seconded and the motion passed 5-0.
OPEN AGENDA
Lt. Ray Peevey of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,
Lomita Station announced and invited attendance at the 17th annual
California Contract Cities Barbeque on August 21, 1991 at the Peter
J. Pitchess Honor Ranch in Saugus.
Dr. Chris Manning, 14 Crest Road West, expressed his concerns
about the proposed development by Palos Verdes Land Holdings
Company (Barry Hon) of 24 to 60 homes in Peacock Flats and a 50,000
square foot golf clubhouse with parking for over 200 cars at the
bottom of Portuguese Canyon. Dr. Manning said the current approach
of PVLHC is that the geology is so unstable that this development
is needed to provide a footing at the bottom of the hill. The June
17, 1991 geology report prepared by the PVLHC geologist is
considered by Don Kowaleski to be inadequate. The first draft of
the EIR will be out soon and public hearings will begin a couple
of months later. Dr. Manning suggested that Los Angeles County be
involved in review of the geology report prepared by the Hon
geologist. He also recommended that an attorney who specializes
in CEQA (for instance, Carlyle Hull of Hull & Phillips) work with
the Rolling Hills City Attorney to review the EIR and geology
report.
Dr. Manning introduced Al Edgerton, a geophysicist who has
reviewed the Hon geology report with a soils engineer.
Mrs. Cathy Manning, 14 Crest Road West, expressed her concern
with earthquake issues. She said a statement was made by the Hon
EIR geologist that because there was only a 12 degree slide plane
Rolling Hills City Council Meeting - 8/12/91
there was no need for a special earthquake review, but her neighbor
who is a specialist in earthquakes said there is a much greater
than 12 degree slide plane and an earthquake review is definitely
needed.
OLD BUSINESS
B. CONSIDERATION OF STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR SPECIFIC ACTIONS
RELATIVE TO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATION FACILITY
AND SURROUNDING AREAS COMMONLY KNOWN AS "HARDSCAPE/LANDSCAPE
RENOVATION."
RESOLUTION NO. 650: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ROLLING HILLS REQUESTING PROPOSALS FOR DESIGN SERVICES
TO DEVELOP PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED ROLLING
HILLS HARDSCAPE/LANDSCAPE RENOVATION.
City Manager Nealis referred to the hardscape plan on the
bulletin board, which was prepared by the Community Association in
December 1990. Staff would like to advertise for bids to complete
the design and plans, to be due September 16, 1991. After the bids
are received, a subcommittee consisting of the City Manager,
Principal Planner, and a subcommittee of the City Council would
interview the most prominent firms wishing to complete the work.
A copy of the RFP was supplied to Councilmembers.
Mr. Nealis further recommended that the City Council
subcommittee meet with a subcommittee of the Community Association
to discuss a cost-sharing plan and proposed rent levels. He also
recommended that the Councilmembers serving as liaison to the
Caballeros, Women's Club and Tennis Club inform those groups of the
hardscape renovation project. A survey needs to be prepared to
determine the impact of the renovations on the PV Drive North
right-of-way and the City Hall property survey needs to be modified
and updated, with costs to be shared between the City and Community
Association. When project costs have been determined,, the Finance
Subcommittee should meet to identify funding sources.
Tom Boyd expressed his belief that bids should not be
solicited until an additional parcel of land on the east has been
incorporated into the project. A survey was prepared by the
Community Association of the half -acre parcel which is expected to
be given to the City in the next six to eight weeks, and Mr. Boyd
suggested the two surveys be incorporated into one plan to be sent
to prospective bidders.
In the discussion that followed, Mayor Pernell asked the City
Attorney to meet with the Community Association attorney and the
prospective property donor's attorney to make sure all parties are
Rolling Hills City Council Meeting - 8/12/91
kept fully informed of the status, and
Jenkins work with City Manager Nealis
Heinsheimer suggested that Staff co
project events or activities. M
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh felt that
Association and the City Council need
requested that City Attorney
on the details. Councilman
ae up with a time line of
iyor Pro Tem Swanson and
communication between the
to be improved.
Mayor
Pro Tem Swanson motioned for Staff to work with the
engineer to survey the Rolling Hills Estates right-of-way and other
adjoining properties and incorporate the topographic survey of the
additional properties into the existing conceptual rendering of the
hardscape/landscape plan, and return it to the City Council with
a new bid package. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Murdock
and passed without objection.
A. ORDINANCE NO. 233: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION
FEES TO FUND PROGRAMS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION FROM VEHICULAR
SOURCES, ESTABLISHING AN AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND,
RESTRICTING THE USE OF MONIES DEPOSITED INTO THE AIR QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND, AND AMENDING THE ROLLING HILLS
MUNICIPAL CODE.
City Manager Nealis reviewed the background of Ordinance
No. 233. It was noted that the fund would generate approximately
$1900.
Councilman Heinsheimer suggested elimination of Section 1, the
reference in Section 4 to June 30, 1991, and lines 2, 3 and 4 of
the title. He also suggested eliminating "at least" from Paragraph
3.20.030, so that audits would be conducted no more than once every
two years.
It was decided to continue consideration of Introduction of
Ordinance No. 233 until the City Manager obtains information
concerning audit costs as provided in Health and Safety Code
Section 44244.1. The City Manager was also directed to look into
pooling of funds with the other Peninsula cities.
NEW BUSINESS
A. JUVENILE DIVERSION - MAYOR PRO TEM SWANSON
This item was postponed to the August 26 meeting.
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Rolling Hills City Council Meeting - 8/12/91
B. CORRESPONDENCE FROM LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR HARRY W. STONE REGARDING ULTRA LOW -FLUSH
FI%TURES AND GREY WATER ORDINANCES
Staff was directed to hold this item on the Agenda and return
with a report following action on the proposed ordinance by the
County of Los Angeles.
C. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR FURTHER
STUDY OF TRAFFIC IMPACTS CREATED BY THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE
PENINSULA HIGH SCHOOLS
City Manager Nealis reported that the Palos Verdes Peninsula
Unified School District and the cities of Rolling Hills Estates and
Rancho Palos Verdes have agreed to participate in funding a study
to analyze the impacts of the high school consolidation on traffic
circulation in the immediate vicinity of the school. The City of
Palos Verdes Estates is not making a financial contribution.
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh recommended that the City of Rolling
Hills fund a small amount toward the study, which is expected to
cost approximately $15,000. It was the consensus of the Council
that the amount of the contribution was to be determined after
discussions with the other Mayors.
MATTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilman Heinsheimer stated he will be unable to attend the
April 26 meeting as he will be out of the country.
Mayor Pro Tem Swanson promised to report at the next meeting
on the work of RTD with PVPUSD regarding the availability of public
transportation on the Peninsula.
Councilwoman Leeuwenburgh reported that the Disaster
Preparedness Committee is in need of a television set and a VCR to
view available tapes on disaster preparedness. She suggested the
City purchase a 19" combination TV and VCR available for
approximately $412. Mayor Pro Tem Swanson suggested that a larger
model which could be mounted on the wall might be more appropriate
for use during meetings. It was decided to investigate further
before a purchase is made.
Mayor Pernell said he would like
consultant (Mac Solutions) attend the
discuss and demonstrate some new
suggested that Councilmembers convene
the work session and demonstration.
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to have the City's computer
next City Council meeting to
software applications, and
at 7:00 p.m. on August 26 for
Mayor Pernell encouraged Mr.
Rolling Hills City Council Meeting - 8/12/91
Boyd and any other interested members of the Community Association
to attend.
MATTERS FROM STAFF
City Manager Nealis encouraged attendance at the California
Contract Cities Barbeque on August 21 at the Pitchess Honor Ranch.
The City of Lomita has offered transportation, and interested
individuals are to meet at 4:00 p.m. at the Lomita City Hall.
City Manager Nealis reported that the California Contract
Cities Fall Seminar will be held September 27-29 at Dana Point, and
asked that anyone interested in attending contact him so that
appropriate arrangements may be made.
City Manager Nealis stated he would like to attend the League
of California Cities Annual Business Meeting October 13-16 in San
Francisco. Mayor Pernell encouraged the City Manager's attendance.
Councilmember Heinsheimer, following comments by City
Treasurer Courtright, suggested that a copy of the budget be placed
in City Council Agenda Books for easy reference at meetings by line
item number.
MATTERS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY
None
CLOSED SESSION
There was no need for a closed session.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. to Monday, August 26,
1991 at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVED:
Minutes 1/�etary
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