“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth”
This page summarizes the key takeaways from Palos Verdes Estates City Council Meetings. If you’d like to be notified when new minutes are posted, please sign up to our mailing list, click here
For an Archive of other City Council Meetings, click here.
May 12, 2020 PVE City Council Meeting - by Zoom Teleconference
For the Agenda with links to documents - click here
For the video of the session, click here
For the official Minutes of the meeting, click here
All Council Members Present
MAYOR’S REPORT
Residents for the most part have respected the restrictions imposed by LA County in response to the coronavirus pandemic. PVE has been working with neighboring cities and the LA County Board of Supervisors on easing restrictions, but no easing is anticipated before May 15.
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approve Council Meeting Minutes: Various Special and Regular Meetings (4/24, 4/28, 5/1, 5/5)
2. Approve Warrant Payments: Miscellaneous
3. Approve Planning Commission Actions: April 21, 2020
4. Investment Policy Adoption: CM Lozzi endorsed the work of the Investment Committee during a difficult period. CM Kao questioned revising the investment policy to align more with the CA. Gov. Code of Investments. Treasurer Ying responded that all investments would continue to also follow the existing policy that prioritizes safety, security, and yield.
5. Approval to Sign: A letter of request to LA County from Mayor McGowan and 86 other Mayors for a share of the $1.8 billion of COVID-19 in financial aid to CA from the federal government. Item added last minute to agenda by Mayor as City needed to respond by May 13th.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENT: CM Kemps requested that Agenda item # 7 be moved to follow the Consent Agenda.
VOTE: Approved (5-0)
NEW BUSINESS
7. CONSIDERATION OF CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Mayor McGowan thanked the three interim City Managers, Mark Velez, Carolynn Petru and Ken Rukavina, for their service over the past year and complimented them for their contributions to the City. After a year-long search, Mayor McGowan enthusiastically introduced the finalist candidate for City Manager, Laura Guglielmo. He then summarized her background and proposed compensation package (click here for the Staff Report).
Mayor McGowan asked for public comment.
Jim Kelly: Believes that the city can no longer afford a local Police Force, believes if the two Ad Hoc committees can justify the cost of a local police force they need to present their findings.
George Kay: Commended the CC for its selection of Laura Guglielmo as the new CM and encouraged the CC to support her as she rebuilds a “broken organization.”
John Harbison: Also commended the CC on its choice of CM and emphasized the need for a balanced budget.
Rose Ramsey: Observed that community needs strong leadership and drastic change, urged us to put aside our differences and work together.
Dawn Murdock: Welcomed the fresh insights and energy a new CM could bring and encouraged independent thinking versus just following state mandates.
Desiree Myers: Commented that there had been many past instances of City mismanagement and noted the need for strong leadership.
Pam Murrow: By letter, supportive of the candidate.
Marilyn White: By letter, not supportive of the candidate.
James Sellers: By letter, not supportive of the candidate.
All Council members welcomed Ms. Guglielmo. CM Kao noted that he was supportive of the outcome but unhappy with the process.
Motion passed to hire Laura Guglielmo as the new City Manager, beginning June 15, 2020.
VOTE: Approved (4:1) with CM Davidson dissenting with the following comment :
CM Davidson’s statement: “I have shown extraordinary constraint here. For the best of the City I have not touched upon reality here, I am leaving it at fantasy. So, I will not make it unanimous because what I have heard has been so astonishingly unrealistic that I am not going to make any further comments.”
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
One individual spoke on behalf of behalf of Neighborhood Watch and encouraged residents to either join or renew their memberships.
Another individual expressed a desire to see fair and equitable application of the rules serving as the foundation of this country’s democracy.
OLD BUSINESS
5. UPDATE/DISCUSSION OF PENSION AND POLICE AD HOC COMMITTEES:
Police Ad Hoc Committee Report: The Police Ad Hoc Committee met on May 1, 2020 and discussed various topics such as the upcoming South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority Phase Two Feasibility Study and contracting alternatives for specific and limited services. They will be utilizing a police operations financial expert. The RCC quote for dispatch services has been pushed out by RCC to January of 2021. CM Lozzi recommended requesting a refund of the $25K application fee paid for the dispatch quote. Council agreed and Mayor McGowan said he would follow up.
Pension Ad Hoc Committee: The Pension Ad Hoc has received employee feedback to its report will be incorporating those comments into the document as appropriate. CalPERs expects a 1% return; 7% was needed to stay even. CalPERs will delay the payments for 2 years.The committee is wrapping up their findings. Results and recommendations are expected in the next month and will be presented to Council. CM Kemps provided projections of the new debt using the two realistic scenarios: the result is an unfunded liability of between $22 million and $40 million by 2022.
6. EXTENSION OF URGENCY ORDINANCE No. O20-744U Repealing Section 17.08.170 (Dwelling Unit, Second) of Chapter 17.08 (Definitions) of Title 17 (Zoning Procedures), Amending Chapter 18.04 (R-1 Zone) and 18.08 (R-M Zone) of the Title 18 (Zoning Regulations), and Adding Chapter 18.45 (Accessory Dwelling Units) in the Palos Verdes Estates Municipal Code
The urgent temporary ADU ordinance was to be extended placing any new ADU submissions under legally allowed restrictions by the City. The City is not legally allowed to prohibit ADUs.
Meanwhile, the final ordinance will be developed that further restricts ADUs on streets with limited fire truck access, given that PVE is in a high fire zone.
To date, one ADU passed and three requests for new ADUs have been submitted to the City.
VOTE: Approved (5-0)
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Several speakers spoke in support of the police. Another speaker noted the need to get costs under control to balance the budget and fund pensions and to have the police report quality service metrics. In addition it was requested that Council get bids for alternative service providers offering residents a choice.
NEW BUSINESS
8. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF PALOS VERDES STABLE FY 2020/21 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND RATES INCREASE
Megan Pedilla, Concessionaire of the PV Stable, spoke in support of the requested operating rate increase and capital budget increase. CM Lozzi asked how the proposed new rates compared to rates elsewhere. She expressed some concern over whether the new rates would put the stables out of reach for some PVE residents and affect the ability to fill the stalls as a result. Council agreed to raise the rates at the PVE stables based on its upgraded facilities and improved service quality as measured by how often the stalls are cleaned, hay changed and chips replenished. Five letters were submitted to Council -- all were very supportive. It was moved to accept the 2020-21 Stable Budget, accept the proposed rate increase and approve a 50% match of capital spend up to and not exceeding $9,000. CM Lozzi asked for a review in six months to see how things are going (e.g., stall vacancy and actual vs. budget results).
Vote: Approved (5-0)
9. REVIEW OF FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 YEAR-END PROJECTIONS AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION R20-14 FOR YEAR-END BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
A report on FY 2019-2020 year-end projections provided projected revenues and expenditures in relation to the adjusted budget. The original budget approved by CC included an unallocated reduction of $400K, reflected as a negative line item in the General Fund budget. This $400K reduction was subsequently reclassified (re-allocated) to various other budget line items as savings were identified. Staff vacancies and other personnel reductions were the largest contributors to savings. Savings were partially offset by budget increases of $254K approved by Council prior to mid-year.
The Capital Fund was depleted by: $2.4 million, although infrastructure is $2.1 million under budget.
The next fiscal year begins July 1. Council was advised that next year’s budget has been delayed until June 9 due to short staffing. The newly appointed CM acknowledged that this puts pressure on completion and expressed openness to assisting if her help was welcomed and appropriate.
A motion was made to accept proposed adjustments to reclassify previously approved salary adjustments. The net result of the adjustments was zero.
Vote: Approved (5-0)
10: RATIFICATION OF OPENING OF PV GOLF COURSE AND DISCUSSION OF FUTURE OPENING OF BEACHES, TRAILS, BLUFFS AND OTHER CITY CONCESSIONS
City Council approved the following by unanimous vote: Subject to Los Angeles County Public Health orders and protocols, City beaches, trails and bluffs will be opened this week.
Also opening:
Golf and Tennis Clubs – play allowed with restrictions.
City Hall - visitors allowed by reservation and with limitations.
Stable - individual activities will continue to be allowed; group activities continue to be prohibited.
Remaining Closed:
The Beach Club
Parking along Paseo Del Mar
Businesses such as restaurants and retail
The City Council ratified opening of the Palos Verdes Golf Course in accordance with Los Angeles County Public Health orders and protocols.
ACTING CITY MANAGER REPORT
A new City Clerk and a Payroll Specialist were hired. The new City Clerk (a notary) attended the meeting.
A recruiting firm is being used for the Finance Director search. Their hiring efforts have so far been unsuccessful. They expect to have a slate of candidates in one month for the new CM to review.
COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS:
Interim Chief Dreiling provided a police report including a PVECares COVID update; two seniors were tested.
CM Davidson requested the addition of two items for future agendas: getting a grant writer for the City and evaluating/analyzing the cost vs benefit of outsourcing the role of City Forester.
CM Kemps requested a joint Planning Commission/City Council meeting with a Transparency agenda item.
Adjourned to May 26, 2020, at 6:30 pm, presumably via Zoom.