WESTLAKE DF VITS 6 9 KELLY HONIG SUSAN MCSWEENEY BRADI HALPERN RAY PEARL NED! E DAVIS Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember MINUTES Study Session Meeting of the City Council March 26, 2025 CALL TO ORDER: This Study Session meeting of the Westlake Village City Council was called to order by Mayor Honig on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 4:35 p.m., at 31200 Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. 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, Assistant to the City Manager Mott, Associate Planner Orr, Public Safety Officer Woodard, and Deputy City Clerk Kramer. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None STUDY SESSION: 1. ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATIONS City Manager de Geus introduced the item and stated City Council established a 2024 goal for the evaluation and update of the code enforcement program, to allow for citations and financial penalties. Currently, the code enforcement program is administered by the Planning Department, including one part-time Community Preservation Officer, and is grievance-based with staff seeking voluntary compliance to rectify all violations. When voluntary compliance cannot be achieved, violations of the Municipal Code are elevated to the City Prosecutor who has the authority to pursue civil litigation andlor criminal prosecution. City Council Study Session Minutes City of Westlake Village March 26, 2025 2 STUDY SESSION (continued): A Code enforcement framework was presented to the Administrative Committee (Davis/Honig) on May 21, 2024, and to the full Council at the September 11, 2024, Study Session. Based on the Study Session feedback, staff presented a revised version of the proposed program to the Administrative Committee on December 9, 2024. Mr. de Geus explained adding administrative citations as an enforcement tool will follow legal requirements and best practices, while still ensuring due process. The program will continue to reflect Westlake Village's approach of encouraging voluntary compliance and maintaining strong partnerships with residents and businesses. He noted that administrative citations would be rare, and a tool seldom used. Planning Director Asp stated that an administrative citations ordinance must outline clear guidelines for how fines are issued, enforced, reviewed, and collected. It must ensure due process by providing proper notice and an opportunity for the recipient to obtain a fair hearing if desired. The hearing must be conducted by an impartial officer, and staff recommended that a private contractor be retained for this role. Any fines must be reasonable and cannot be excessive in relation to the offense. The City's code enforcement program will continue to prioritize discretion and voluntary compliance, and the Community Preservation Officer will have the flexibility to work with property owners to resolve issues cooperatively before issuing administrative citations. Maintaining this approach reflects the City's ongoing commitment to a community-focused enforcement style. Ms. Asp presented a flow chart illustrating where administrative citations would be introduced, filling the gap between the current voluntary practice and referral to the City Prosecutor. She provided scenarios involving various code enforcement infringements and complaints including gas leaf blower, oak tree, and fence violations and possible policy options for resolution. She noted that violations involving oak trees are considered unique and would be overseen with a separate fine schedule. Planning Director Asp reviewed potential policy and procedural options for gas powered leaf blower violations including the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Rebate Program, Leaf Blower - Fix-It Tickets, and discussed policy options regarding Administrative Citation procedures. Mike Woodard, Public Safety Officer and former Community Preservation Officer answered City Councimember questions. City Council Study Session Minutes City of Westlake Village March 26, 2025 3 STUDY SESSION (continued): Planning Director Asp reviewed an Oak Tree Code Enforcement violations timeline and fee structure outlining corrective remedies depending on the diameter of the tree. She noted that $10,000 was the highest allowable fine for an Administrative Citation. City Council discussion included the current compliance or prosecution options, AQMD Rebate Program, leaf blower citations, leaf blower ordinance repeal, City rebates/ncentivizing ideas, homeowner associations' support, City Manager citation discretion, administrative citation fee limit, and rebate budgeting. The City Council provided direction to proceed with finalizing a draft policy and procedure for a stronger code enforcement program, exploring a leaf blower rebate program in conjunction with the AQMD rebate program, and presenting a final draft to the Administrative Committee before returning this item to the full City Council for consideration. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Honig adjourned the meeting at 5:44 p.m. to the regular session scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Kelly Honig, Mayor Attest: Ondoiti Imman Antoinette Mann, City Clerk a ) 24 - -