ESTLAKE 0F VI C 98 KELLYE HONIG SUSANI MCSWEENEY BRADI HALPERN RAY PEARL NEDI El DAVIS Mayor Mayor Pro' Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember REGULAR MEETING MINUTES January 22, 2025 CALL TO ORDER: This regular meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Honig on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 6:32 p.m., at 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Honig led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmembers Davis, Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney and Mayor Honig ABSENT: None Also Present: City Manager de Geus, City Attorney Boga, Assistant City Manager Wilson, City Clerk Mann, Planning Director Asp, City Engineer Hughes, Assistant to the City Manager Mott, Community Services Coordinator Roush, and Deputy City Clerk Kramer. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Councilmember Halpern moved to approve the Agenda as presented. Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. YES: Counciimembers Davis, Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney and Mayor Honig NO: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Mayor Honig declared the motion passed 5-0. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 2 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS/CEREMONIAL MATTERS: 1. Update on Los Robles Health System Phil Buttell, Chief Executive Office and Amy Commans, Vice President Community, Employer and Government Relations at Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center presented an overview of Los Robles Health System's current updates and works in progress including improved emergency room statistics, operating room expansion, UCLA partnerships, seismic requirements compliance, personnel recruitment and retention efforts, and employee wellness and benefits improvements. City Council expressed their appreciation for Los Robles Hospital's care of the community and offered congratulations. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None COUNCIL RESPONSE: STAFF COMMENTS: City Manager de Geus provided updates on current weather conditions, status of the Palisades fire, and discussed relief and recovery efforts including volunteer and donation opportunities. City Manager de Geus announced Westlake Village Community Foundation Scholarship applications will be accepted through March 31, 2025 for graduating high school seniors and explained eligibility requirements. He also announced that the Public Safety Advisory Board is recruiting for four members through February 7, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Interested residents can visit wlv.org to learn more and apply. Mr. de Geus stated that applications for the 2025 Community Service Grant Program deadline is 5:00 pm on January 31, 2025. Apply at wiv.org/grants. City Manager de Geus reported that the City hosted the Chamber's Leadership Conejo program on December 13, 2024. Mr. de Geus reported that he along with Mayor Honig and Assistant to the City Manager Mott recently attended the Contract Cities Association's Legislative Tour in Sacramento. He noted Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and Senator Ben Allen met with them to discuss legislation and important items facing the City. COUNCIL COMMENTS: Mayor Honig reported that Simi Valley Mayor Fred Thomas recently passed away and expressed her condolences. Ms. Honig thanked firefighters and all first responders for their work fighting wildfires. City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 3 MONTHLY DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: 1. Sheriff's Department Report Supplemental Packet posted online contains the December 2024 Sheriff's report. Deputy Brian Knott presented the Sheriff Department's report for December 2024 including crime statistics. He reported that an increased number of Sheriff personnel were coming from different cities to assist and working 12-hour shifts due to the Palisades fire emergency. He noted that Los Angeles County Sheriff and Fire personnel were working side-by-side for these fires. 2. Fire Department Report No printed or verbal report due to the Palisades Fire. 3. Library Report Jessie Schweit, Children's Librarian, Westlake Village Daniel K. Ludwig Library presented the Library's report for the months of October, November, and December 2024 covering traffic, circulation, programs, and reference requests. CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS: 1. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE REPORT - APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON TO ENTER INTO THE LS-1 OPTION-E PROGRAM Assistant to the City Manager Mott presented a request for approval of an agreement with Southern California Edison to enter the LS-1 Option-E program using the 2700k Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. This initiative aims to replace outdated streetlights throughout the City with energy-efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures, helping the city reduce its carbon footprint and lower energy costs with no upfront costs to the city. Mr. Mott provided an overview of the Southern California Edison (SCE) LS-1 Option-E Program presented to the Environmental Committee (Honig/Halpern) on October 24, 2024. The City of Westlake Village has 1,139 streetlights that are owned, operated and maintained by SCE and currently lit with High Pressure Sodium Vapor (HPSV) fixtures. As of January 2024, SCE is no longer able to supply HPSV fixtures and any light that is no longer operational is replaced with an LED fixture. This results in a lack of consistency in lighting across the community. The Option-E program allows for new fixtures installed on all streetlights owned by SCE. As a way to encourage the conversion to the LED fixtures, SCE has created the Option-E City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 4 CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS (continued): Program that pays the up-front cost for the equipment and installation. SCE recovers these costs over a twenty-year period by building in a cost recovery mechanism in the LS-1 tariff. The Environmental Committee was supportive of proceeding with the Option-E program and utilizing the lighting option with the lowest possible kelvin rating to match the existing lighting as closely as possible. Councimember Halpern moved that the City Council approve the agreement with Southern California Edison to enter into the LS-1 Option-E program using the 2700k LED fixtures and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney seconded the motion. YES: Councilmembers Davis, Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney and Mayor Honig NO: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Mayor Honig declared the motion passed 5-0. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. STATUS UPDATE ON VACANCIES IN COMPLIANCE WITH ASSEMBLY BILL 2561 (2024) - LOCAL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES; VACANT POSITIONS Mayor Honig opened the Public Hearing. Assistant City Manager Wilson presented an update on position vacancies as of January 2025 in compliance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2561 - Local public employee's vacant positions. Ms. Wilson stated that on September 22, 2024, Governor Newsom signed AB 2561 into law to amend the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act and create a new obligation for public agencies to publicly address the status of their vacancies. She provided an overview of the City Council approved fulltime and parttime positions and noted that the City was in preparatory stages for two recruitments, a parttime Community Preservation Officer full-time Community Services Specialist. Assistant City Manager Wilson explained that AB 2561 also requires the agency to identify any necessary changes to policies, procedures, and recruitment activities that may lead to hiring obstacles. Staff has not identified any necessary City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 5 PUBLIC HEARING (continued): changes to policies and procedures that may present obstacles in the hiring process. Mayor Honig closed the Public Hearing. Councilmember Davis moved that the City Council receive and file this report. Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney seconded the motion. YES: Councilmembers Davis, Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney and Mayor Honig NO: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Mayor Honig declared the motion passed 5-0. MONTHLY IN-HOUSE DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS: 1. Engineering Department Report City Engineer Hughes provided the Engineering report stating wind screens will be installed on the Pickleball Courts in the near future and reminded residents of the three "P's" of picklebal!: Partnership, Patience, Playl. Bid opening is completed for the Community Park Entry Monument Sign and the Trash Enclosure Project. Thirteen bids were received and are being analyzed. Ms. Hughes stated the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Annual Report was submitted, and the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Measure W Annual Report was completed. The North Santa Monica Bay Watershed Area Steering Committee (NSMB WASC) met on November 14, 2024 and discussed updates provided by the Watershed Coordinator including upcoming events and Regional Program updates. 2. Planning Department Report Planning Director Asp provided the Planning Department Status Report highlighting applications processed in October, November, and December 2024, Code Enforcement program developing framework, and development standards for recommended Zoning Code amendments. City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 6 MONTHLY IN-HOUSE DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS (continued): 3. Cultural Recreation Report Community Services Coordinator Roush provided a recap of the City's Holiday Sing-Along event and the ongoing City-To-Schools Program at White Oak Elementary School. She announced upcoming events including the Westlake Village Discovers: Sports on February 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Civic Center, Shred Event, Earth Day, and Concerts in the Park. CONSENT CALENDAR: Councilmember Halpern moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Pearl seconded the motion. YES: Councilmembers Davis, Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney and Mayor Honig NO: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Mayor Honig declared the motion passed 5-0. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: Warrants effective January 15, 2025 in the amount of $264,344.76 OLD BUSINESS: 1. CIVIC CENTER COURTYARD IMPROVEMENTS AND VETERANS HONOR PROJECT UPDATE AND KIESEL DESIGN CONTRACT AMENDMENT NUMBER 2 City Manager de Geus introduced the item as well as staff and committee members involved in the project, including City Engineer Hughes, City Clerk Mann, ad-hoc committee members Councilmembers Pearl and Halpern, local veterans committee members Todd Zink, Samuel Simmons, Stone Halpern, and Michael Edelstein, and Kiesel Design Landscape Architecture. City Engineer Hughes provided an update on the Civic Center Courtyard and Veterans Honor Project and discussed the recruitment and member selection of the Veterans Ad-hoc Committee. The Committee met on October 25, November 22, and December 18, 2024 and is supportive of the art piece, Honor Tree, how it honors all branches of the military (past, present and future), and appreciates how each branch differs in height. City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 7 OLD BUSINESS (continued): Artist Michael Sanchez presented the Honor Tree recommendations from the Veterans Ad-Hoc Committee for City Council consideration. The Committee recommended Veterans Day, November 11, 2025 for the installation and dedication of the Honor Tree to the City's residents. Committee member and veteran, Todd Zink, addressed the City Council and expressed his appreciation as a member of the Veterans Ad-Hoc Committee and to the City's thoughtful dedication to the project. Ad-hoc committee members Councilmembers Pearl and Halpern commented on the project and expressed appreciation to all staff and committee members for the care, concern, and thoughtfulness that went into the art to honor all those who served. Councilmembers concurred and Mayor Honig commented on the uniqueness of the art piece and that the Honor Tree honors all veterans = past, present, and future. City Engineer Hughes stated the preliminary costs for the Civic Center Courtyard Project, including implementation of the Veterans Honor as recommended by the Veterans Ad-Hoc Committee, and the complete front and rear courtyards redesign is estimated to be approximately $575,000, creating a budget gap of over $375,000 from the original budget, if the City Council chooses to fund the entire project vision. A second amendment to the Kiesel design contract was requested to increase the contract amount and to add Ron Jobson as an additional artist/fabricator for the Honor Tree. When staff returns to the City Council with the courtyard plans and specifications, options for phasing in the implementation and funding will be presented for City Council consideration. Councilmember Pearl moved that the City Council receive the Veterans Ad-Hoc Committee recommendations, provide direction to staff on the Veteran's Honor art piece, approve Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement with Kiesel Landscape Architecture, Inc. and authorize the Mayor to execute the amendment. Councilmember Davis seconded the motion. YES: Councimembers Davis, Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney and Mayor Honig NO: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Mayor Honig declared the motion passed 5-0. City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 8 NEW BUSINESS: 1. APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF MALIBU FOR EMERGENCY CENTER OPERATIONS City Manager de Geus presented a request for approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the cities of Malibu and Westlake Village for Malibu to use City of Westlake Village facilities as an Emergency Operations Center as needed and available effective January 7, 2025 through January 31, 2026. Providing background, Mr. de Geus explained that the City of Malibu was impacted by the Palisades Fire which ignited on January 7, 2025, necessitating Malibu to mobilize their Emergency Operations Center (EOC). On January 7, 2025, Malibu contacted Westlake Village and requested to move their EOC from Malibu to Westlake Village due to the Palisades Fire progression. Malibu operated out of the large and small community rooms until around 3:00 pm on January 9, 2025 when they moved their EOC operations to the City of Camarillo due to the onset of the Kenneth Fire, in close proximity to Westlake Village. Malibu returned their EOC operations to Pepperdine University and requested that Westlake Village remain on stand-by in the event the fire path shifted. Mayor Honig reported that Malibu extended their appreciation and thanks to City Council and staff for their assistance throughout the emergency. Councimember Davis moved that the City Council approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Malibu and Westlake Village for Emergency Center Operations and authorize the City Manager to execute. Councimember Halpern seconded the motion. YES: Councilmembers Davis, Pearl, Halpern, Mayor Pro Tem McSweeney and Mayor Honig NO: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None Mayor Honig declared the motion passed 5-0. City Council Minutes City of Westlake Village January 22, 2025 9 ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Honig announced the next City Council meeting will be held on February 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. gluh Kelly Honjg, Mayor Attest: Obitie h Aanir Antoinette Mann, City Clerk - L FOR I