“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.
March 24, 2020 PVE City Council Meeting - by Teleconference
Please refer to PVE CC Agenda for 3/24/20 for more specifics and links to documents
Please click here for the video of the session
Please click here for the official Minutes of the meeting
CONSENT AGENDA
ITEMS #1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 were approved. Kemps pulled #5
#5 Housing Element Report:
VOTE: After much discussion, the Housing Element (HE) Report was approved as submitted (5-0)
Staff provided the annual HE status report of forced density. Table D represents the current implementation status. Columns 1-3 are static, dating from 2015 when this report was first issued; column 4 is updated on an annual basis.
Notable information from Housing Element Report:
* Prohibited by deed restrictions/PVHA
Mayor Pro Team Kemps requested that any contentious items, such as those dealing with housing density and The Housing Element not be in the Consent Agenda in the future. Councilmember Lozzi agreed.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Five speeches were given by residents. One speech dealt with the current COVID-19 Pandemic and four speeches requested the Council take action to address the City’s financial problems. Most speeches requested the City seek bids for police services and allow residents a choice.
OLD BUSINESS
#7. Pension and Police Adhoc reports
Pension Adhoc (Mayor Pro Tem Kemps & Councilmember Lozzi):
Most of the analysis is done and proposed solutions are being drafted for final team review. It was noted that the recent stock market freefall has the potential to explode our debt service and make it significantly more difficult to meet our financial needs. It was suggested that The Council convene a workshop (open to the public) to discuss the implications in detail.
Police Adhoc (Councilmember Kao & Mayor McGowan)
Council Members have had discussions with the new acting Chief of Police (Dreiling) who will come on board at the beginning of April. No progress to report at this time.
NEW BUSINESS
#8. COVID-19 and Proclamation of a Local Emergency Regarding COVID-19:
VOTE: After much discussion, The Emergency Declaration was approved as submitted. (5-0)
Ken Rukavina (temporary City Mgr) established an Emergency Declaration on 3/17/20 which needs to be ratified by City Council. He stated that employees are working online from home and are operating at full capacity. When they need to access material that isn’t available online, they stagger their presence in City Hall to retrieve the information and return home to work.
Captain Hellinga discussed precautions the police are taking to avoid spread in the department. Three new patrol officers were hired. [PVEPD staffing model is 11 patrol officers and had 5 positions filled. The addition of 3 new hires brings the total to 8 positions filled.] Reserve officers were let go to avoid spread, however this will not cause additional overtime. PD volunteers were also asked to stay home to minimize the spread of the virus.
Captain Hellinga said the police have started using a bullhorn when crowds accumulated in locations like lower Malaga Cove. There was recognition that PVE was getting crowded by walkers and becoming an attraction as other nearby cities closed off their paths and walk areas. The Council and Ken agreed that high risk areas, like paths, would be temporarily shut down.
Police emphasis has been on education rather than enforcement at this time. It was suggested that an Agenda item be included in the next City Council Meeting to encourage public comment on this.
Marcelle Herrera (Community Relations) discussed outreach and coordination between Neighborhood Watch and PVECares to help our older and vulnerable community. At this point over 500 seniors have registered with PVECares and they had been contacted. Volunteers provide shopping and errands. Lunada Bay market is providing assistance with grocery shopping. Seniors can establish “House Accounts” that enable volunteers to pick up specified groceries; itemized receipts are available for seniors to check.
The “Area G” one voice messaging system – ALERT-SB (South Bay) – has been effective. Please sign up!
Miscellaneous from STAFF REPORTS and MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORTS:
Blood Drive – Coordinating with UCLA for a much-needed Blood Drive to replenish a severe blood shortage will be held in April, potentially in front of the Police Department. Specifics TBD
Coyote Management: Janice Hahn’s office has funded the Wildlife Specialist and State Licensed Trapper (Fernando Barrera) for another year.
PV Transit: The office is closed to the public; it is staffed by phone or email. Route 225/226 carries about 40-60 passengers/day.
Dial-A-Ride: They are operating normally; for those seniors who are not members, the service will be available to seniors on an emergency basis.
Future Agenda Item: City Council Workshop Meetings proposed every other City Council Meeting
Police embrace the following: While we stay at work for you, please stay at home for us.
NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING: APRIL 14, 6:30 PM