San Marino, California

what they do. So, thank you to our community services recreation division staff. >> Yeah, >> thank you Eddie. Uh, do we have any I guess not questions but comments do? >> Sure. I would be honored to speak. Um, Vice Mayor, I am so thankful and grateful for our outstanding work you've done um to in the position over the last uh year and a half and and your staff is nothing but outstanding. We are so fortunate. These are so committed um to our city, to our residents with programs that are interesting and the fact that they are there very early on many occasions overnight most recently and this has been going for years that I know it means so much to all of them and we don't often take time to recognize because they've got so much going on and are in charge of so much and behind the scenes doing all that they can. So, I think we are so fortunate and I really appreciate when I saw this on the agenda that we would be recognizing you all for the countless hours that you put in above and beyond any job description. And I think we're all very fortunate and I know that um our families, our kids, our seniors, everybody is very appreciative of all the specialized care that you give them and focus. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you on behalf of the residents. Thank you. I also like to add uh thank you director Kar Rubius uh for your leadership. I know that you're new in this role and I feel that the um um that that the program has been continuing uh been continuing seamlessly uh with your leadership. So, thank you very much for that. Uh I also did have a chance to uh stop by the Lacy Park and had a chance to see some of the kids that were part of the um summer program and to see them being so happy to be outdoors running around enjoying the sunshine, enjoying the um environment was um very pleasing. Um, and so I'm thank you very much for all of the programs that you uh conduct over there uh for our residents both on the senior side as well as the youth and uh look forward to continuing uh your your leadership in that area and looking forward to participating in the 4th of July as well as the uh summer concerts. Thank you. >> I'd also like to echo my fellow council member sentiments. Uh thank you Eddie for for assuming the role of director and uh things seemed to be moving along very smoothly. Uh and of course thank you to the staff. I've worked with each one of you for many years since my daughter was growing up and she was attend attending Cam Lacy and freewheelers and everything. So thank you all for your continued support and your great service. Thank you. >> Uh may I comment? >> Yeah. Um again, uh thank thank you everybody for you know especially in this unit. I think you're a big big big part of what makes our community what it is. Um and you know for my family and behalf of the residents around us um really you create a lot of core memories for all of us. Thank you. >> Thank you uh thank you Director uh Corobius and of course our wonderful staff for your wonderful work uh to make San Marino a happier place to live in. Thank you again. And with that, I would like to proclaim um um month of July as park and recreation month. And please >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. >> Thank you. Please. Would you like >> Thank you. feel like I just spoke to you guys about >> things yesterday. I think >> uh next I would like to call up on chief uh uh in control to come to the stage. Good morning, mayor, vice mayor, councel, excuse me, and uh members of the community and uh members of our family in the San Marino Police Department. It is my honor to recognize three individuals from this police department with the department's life-saving medal. I would like to first I'll recognize them and they are joined by their families. Officer Randall Ferdick is joined by his wife Jennifer. If you guys can stand, please be recognized. His mother Stacy. Are your nephews here? Nope. Couldn't make it. Okay. Well, that's that was going to be Jack and Hudson. Ryan, who uh represents us in uniform with the state parks as a police officer and also is Anna here? No, >> she's not here. >> All right. Yeah, she got Someone's got to take care of the kids. Also, dispatch, our dispatcher Anna Ma Orosco stand. She is holding uh one of her two boys uh Theo and Levy Levi. And then uh she's joined by her uh fiance Mayor Yanor uh today. There you go. Stand up. Yeah. And uh also officer Alejandro Sandival. He is joined by his mother Anna Pon and uh stepfather Felix Pon. And did your >> He's He's running. >> He's running late. Okay. Well, anyway, his father Enrique Sandaval is running late and I wish I could recognize him here. Um, go ahead and sit because it's going to take me a couple minutes to talk. One of the things that this department is known for is its dedication and service to the community. It is also known as a strong familybased department where we care for each other. It is also a great partner with our other city departments, especially with the fire department. And um on this specific day, our uh our dispatcher uh an Enerelli received a phone call. It was on May 7th at about 6:40 in the evening. She received an urgent report of a three-year-old child choking. She promptly transferred the call to Verdugo Fire Dispatch while remaining on the line to monitor the situation. At the same time, she dispatched officers to the residents. One of the things that we do that's unique to our department compared to many other departments is on all fire calls, uh, generally on all fire calls, we respond in tandem with the fire department in case we're needed for any assistance the fire department needs or they can assist us. Officers Alejandro Sandaval and Randall Ferdig responded. While they were responding, she Annelli updated then uh them that the child was now unconscious. Sandaval and Ferdig arrived at the scene and quickly entered the residence to re render aid to the child. They found the grandfather holding the child over his leg, attempting to dislodge a blueberry with back blows. Realizing the grandfather was not administering the proper techniques, both Sandival and Ferdig immediately intervened and provided critical life-saving assistance. The officers checked the child's airway and did not immediately see any obstructions. Both officers recalled the child losing color, the child's eyes rolling back. The officers continued to perform back blows until they successfully caused the berry to dislodge or move that allowed for some relief. The child began to cough as the airway was clearing. Upon arrival, the San Marino Fire Department personnel quickly assessed the child, took over the rescue operations, and with their work were able to assist the officers and transported the the child to the hospital for further evaluation and care. I'm very happy to report that the child is uh I believe vacationing in Hawaii today. That's why they're not here. I personally want to commend the swift response and expert application of life-saving techniques by both Alejandro and Randall which directed directly contribute to saving the child's life. I also want to recognize the hard work and and dedication of uh dispatcher Ma Rosco for Annelli for her maintaining communication, making sure that uh proper information was being relayed that also contributed to this child being saved. All three of the individuals embodied the department's motto, pride and service. Following this incident, Chief Rua and San Marino Fire Department personnel all did praise everyone who was involved. They praised them for their efficiency, their calm demeanor and professionalism. All of which contributed to a positive outcome for this incident. With that, uh, they were recommended for the life-saving medal. It was approved and today we're going to award them the medal. If I could have three of you come up. This is the middle. That's while they're taking pictures. Yesterday, uh both uh Commander Keshi and Commander Blonde uh went to attended the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Law Enforcement Recognition Lunchon. And during that lunchon, Officer Alejandra Sandaval, Randall Fertig, Corporal Kevin Cordishi, and Officer Carlos Bonia were all recognized for the number of uh DUI, drunk driving arrests that they have made over the past uh uh year in 2025. So, not only are we doing the soft skills, not only we helping and saving people in the community, we're also doing the same thing through enforcement and ensuring that drunk drivers aren't harming anybody who travel our street and live in this community. So, thank you very much. Congratulations. >> Anyone like to say a few words? Um, very briefly, I just wanted to say I appreciate the excellence of the department and going to save some child's life. I can't think of anything that's of more paramount significance to our community. So, for public safety to know that we're here, we're safe, and that we have from dispatch on a way that we can communicate when there's a crisis and that we can count on you all to show up right away and perform life-saving measures is immeasurable to our residents. So, thank you on behalf of all of our community really that makes such a difference. It is about the tickets and the arrests and the detective work and everything else, but there are some things that are truly from the heart and the fact that you go be above and beyond and do that and are there in a flash is immeasurable to all of us. Thank you. >> Yes. Um, I'd also like to thank you three. Congratulations. Um that was great that you saved the life of a young child. Um and thank you to the rest of the department too for providing excellent service every day. You're phone call away and and after that seconds arrive. Um so thank you again as always for your service. >> Yes. I would also like to uh thank you for the the quick response. I also like to thank the uh fire department and the paramedics that responded uh to that effort to save the three-year-old's life. Uh it's uh very critical when when a young child is losing their uh their breathing uh and the uh damage that that can cause. Uh as a council member, uh recently we've had a very uh challenging uh task of uh balancing our budget and I want to uh let the community know that this is an example of why measure S was so important to the city so that we can maintain the um the staff that we need to at the police department and the fire department. And a little later on, we're also going to hear about a generous donation from our um community uh member from the Huntington Library uh as far as how that will help to um allow us to continue to provide these services uh to our residents. So, this is a perfect example of all of that. And uh thank you again for your your quick response, your your uh experience as far as uh dealing with that situation. I'm I'm sure it was very uh emotional at the time, but the outcome I think shows that you guys did the right right thing. So, thank you very much for all of that. >> Mayor, >> um just thank you for being our everyday like real life superheroes. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. I echo uh my colleagues at uh from the bottom of my our hearts in my heart. Thank you very much for the wonderful work you do and to make San Marino again a safe place to live. And like I always share with everyone, you know, police and fire are like insurance policies. We may never need it, but when we need it, we're we know we're in good hands that we have the best policy ever. Thank you very much again. And with that I would like maybe individually yeah I would like to invite uh each officer with their family to come up to the stage for a picture and then of course the information first uh dispatcher and me. Thank you. And the family of course can't see. Next time by officer >> and Congratulations. >> Is that good? >> So much appreciate it. While everybody's coming up, I just want to mention that our officers are byproduct of their their parents and uh through their parents and their families. That's the reason why these officers are so good, that they have such empathy for everyone and they're able to provide the service. So, I really want to thank all of the the parents and the family for letting us use your your kids and your loved ones. Sure. Can we? All right. >> Break it. >> All right. Let's all get up there. Take a big picture. All right. Thank you. >> No, I take up a lot of space, guys. Move this. >> Move this to the other side. We need a second. Sorry. Beautiful. >> All hands on board. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Oh, clear it out. Somebody probably >> Thank you. And >> yeah, that's >> now I would like to open the public hearing and can we uh please have a presentation from director for the first. >> Uh thank you mayor, vice mayor, and see council members. Uh the city's mandated to update the safety element in conjunction with the certified housing element. As you recall, the council adopted the housing element back in November of 2024 and the state certified that element on February in February of 2025. In addition, the city uh council adopted the local hazard mitigation plan back in April of 2025, which the safety element heavily relies on. Movia's planning was retained to assist the city in preparing the uh and successfully receiving certification of the housing element and so they were also retained to help us with the safety element update. At the May 19th public safety commission, the commission uh considered the safety element update update and uh voted 40 recommending to the city council adoption of the safety element. At this time, I would like to introduce Grant Hineer, who is the principal of Moius Planning and he'll be presenting and guiding the council on the safety element update. >> Thank you, Asidro. Um, good morning everyone. Thank you for having me here again. Um so the safety element um as Aidro mentioned is a required portion of the city's general plan and it covers uh what the risks are to the city from mostly natural disasters as well as man-made disasters uh to a lesser extent. So mostly it's looking at earthquakes, fires, climate change, extreme heat, you know those types of issues. And um the um the state law requires kind of what is in it. And so this safety element complies with state law. It has gone through um some review uh through both the California Office of Emergency Services and the State Geological Survey to ensure that it accurately captures all of the um the hazards from earthquakes and fault lines and liquefaction zones, landslides, all those sorts of risks that you know the geologists that know a lot more about those sorts of things that I do uh you know have the expertise in. So they've you know gone through reviewed it ensured that we have accurately captured all of the known risks to the city. There are some changes that were needed from the prior adopted safety element. You know as um Aedro mentioned the safety element gets updated periodically you know such as when the housing element is updated. So, um there are some new requirements in the uh for the safety element specifically related to uh climate change and extreme heat. Um there that section had been in here before. It has been um enhanced uh you know as our awareness of climate change has evolved over time. Um so that now reflects what is required by state law. There's also a consolidated evacuation section. So, the prior safety element talked about evacuation in a couple of different places. Now, it's all in one spot um to make it easier to reference really. Um and all of the evacuation routes almost regardless of what the hazard is are generally the same. um with you know some changes depending on like you know if there's a fire in one part of the city you know you don't go towards the fire to evacuate right you know so it really depends on you know where the the risk is um in an event there are new goals and objectives in the safety element uh related to the new sections that were required so those are you know fairly standard and typical um goals that you would see. Um and you know, finally, you were handed a couple of pages of change text. Um there were a three or four uh things that had to be um that were noticed by council members that um you know, some errors, you know, mostly just uh you know, typographical and grammatical issues. um you know a missing t in the word fault, a missing uh um parentheses in one of the sections, an extra word a um you know those sorts of things. So um they're all nonsubstantive changes, but you have a copy of them so you can see what those are. And um we'd like to ask you if you make a motion to adopt this today to include these changes in that motion. And that is my presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. >> All right. Thank you. And um I would like to open the item for public comments. Does anyone here wish to speak at this time? If so, please state your name and address for the record being none. Do we have any public comments request uh submitted by electronically? >> No, we do not. Okay, at this time I would like to close the public hearing and I'll bring the uh item back to the council for discussion. Do I have any uh comments or question from the council? >> Anyone? >> Um yeah. >> Okay. Thank you, Vice Mayor. Um thank thank you uh city manager and our consultant for updating of course is Cedro Director Figura for updating this part of our general plan. But uh especially with hazards um known in San Marino earthquake faults and um extreme heat. Um and just want to note this went before the public safety commission and I just want to um underscore the importance of our commissions. Um they they review the documents before we do. They vet them, use their expertise, and give us any recommendations. Um I don't believe they had any, which is good. They voted unanimously to approve it. But having said that, we don't just rubber stamp and say approve. We also do our due dil diligence and review it on our own. Um so it's good to have another set of eyes. And with that um with the public hearing today, I would approve this um resolution to adopt this uh section. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, council. >> Um sure. Thank you very much for your efforts. I appreciate it um as well and I appreciate the efforts of our public safety commission. We have new commissioners and I know but um it's good to have more eyes and information in our community. So it serves many purposes for us and we're grateful to their time and your time um when you meet with them and and go through this as well. Um, and I'm just thinking that we're it's very timely that we're even discussing this given the recent both earthquakes in Venezuela and Northern California and Mendescino as well as I think back about um how I had the pleasure of touring fault lines starting from Lacy Park going through our city with Dr. Lucy Jones um at Caltech, which I I just met not that long ago. Again, somewhat related to this, but and also because of the industrial and commercial uh fires that we've had south of us in our city. And we're now seeing um the air issues uh caused by those, you know, out of our area, but definitely impacting our community in terms of air quality and that type of thing. Um and so while we don't have those or no known industrial or commercial um facilities of that scale in town, we certainly are going to be impacted in the future again as as such things might happen. So I appreciate um both the work that it goes into that it's timely to get information to our community as well as the efforts made by our uh fire department, our police department, our emergency operations just in the past week to reach out to some of our residents and make sure they had adequate ventilation. That's aside from the report and the update, but I think it's critical to know that we are doing all that. Our staff um took it upon themselves right away to be on top of the air quality and try to lessen its impact for our residents. And I hope we continue to do so. And this type of guidelines and people knowing where they could go in an emergency and what might happen, I think is also another level of awareness that people appreciate. So, thank you for your time and the excellent um report and thank you Director Figueroa for for moving us forward on all of that as well as the work that I know our chiefs do um Chief Roa in particular to stay on top of these changes and make sure that we are the safest we could be because um things will happen even surrounding us that impact our city and we need to be aware of those as well as visitors I'm even thinking uh at the Huntington who might come in and might not be aware. So, it's important that we're all on the same page um for the future and I appreciate uh your work on this. Thank you. >> Yes. Uh thank you, Director Figueroa, for overseeing this process of updating our safety element and thank you u to our consultant for helping the city uh with updating the um um this plan one. And also thank you to the public safety commission uh for their work and in also reviewing uh this uh this safety element uh and making sure that it's the most comprehensive for the safety of our residents. Uh I do have a question um with one one part of this and that is with regards to the public mass notification system. Uh last year when we had the alterina of fires uh there was a lot of confusion. And there was a lot of um erroneous messages sent to our residents with regards to evacuation notices that I think were were not meant for for our residents. Uh but that did cause a lot of concern that caused a lot of panic. Um I was newly elected first week on the job as well as my fellow council member Chang and and uh so not knowing how these messages were getting out there um and what we're doing to inform our our residents. So in the um in the updated plan, there's also uh in addition to Nexo, which is what we normally use to inform our residents, but they have to subscribe to that. There's also the possibility or capability uh to issue wireless emergency alerts. Can you explain a little bit about what that is and how the residents are able to receive those alerts? >> I'm going to turn that over to city staff. Um they have the, you know, operational experience, you know, for how those systems work. So, >> thank you. Uh, thank you council for the question. I'm going to uh invite up chief to uh discuss this and I appreciate the council provided this question in advance. So, Chief is prep for this. Thank you very much. >> Uh good morning council uh mayor. Um so the wireless emergency alerts are authorized through FEMA. Uh we have had anou with FEMA for about five or six years. We were one of the first cities to capitalize on on the ability to gain that capability for our city. Fortunately, we've only used it once. Um, and that was uh a gasoline leak that uh came from Pasadena through our rivers. It allowed us to scribe an area uh specifically to alert our residents to shelter in place. U but uh we do have that capability. it uh it is limited to si certain city staff because of the uh problems associated with it but uh we do have that capability and and are prepared to use it along with uh wireless emergency alerts we have other systems and we're going actually going through a transition uh currently um we have a system called mobile reach that we got from the state and that allows us to access every uh cell phone that's registered in our city and we can send a text, a voice, and an uh uh to those phones that are registered in our city. Uh it's brand new system for us. We've had it about 6 months. We've used it once for a law enforcement incident and scribed an area again and hit 41 phones in that area. Um that's what the uh system tells us. We also have uh San Marino community alert which is an opt-in system and lastly is Nixl which is our uh legacy opt-in system which we are moving away from. So in the future NIXL will be replaced by San Marino community alerts but a robust system. Um, it's just sometimes having the staff to prepare messages and actually be in a position to to do that. Right now, our 24-hour staff that's uh prepared to do it is uh is our police dispatchers, but as you can imagine, the police dispatcher is like a one-handed paper hanger, and we're adding additional duties onto that person. So, it's it's a work in progress. Uh in fact this week I sent out the revised uh city's emergency operation plan that covers alerts and warnings and city staff is reviewing that currently and uh they'll go through training so that all our city staff is aware of the alerts the various levels of alerts that we can send out uh for this last uh uh smoke advisory that hit our city. So, um, in discussions with, uh, the acting city manager and the police chief, we sent out a we sent out a Nixl that advised people that there was a, uh, smoke advisory in our area to stay in. We also posted a an emergency popup on the website that directed people to where uh, resources were available. and and uh we uh the third component which I thought was most important was community services made a number of phone calls to uh our seniors that we have rostered. I think they made about 300 calls and resulted in delivery of masks to about I think about about a dozen people. Um but uh so I don't know any other city that uh does that sort of outreach. So really proud of the city staff that we that we pull together and uh offer these services to residents. >> Thank you, Chief. Um was going to make a couple of comments and and you addressed the first one with regards to our seniors. Uh thank you to the community services department for checking up on the well-being uh of these individuals because they may or may not be keeping a close eye on their uh cell phones uh assuming that they uh are familiar with the operation of those. Um but uh the other the other comment I wanted to make uh and then this is I don't know how to address this one but we we do have a large um of our population um that is not necessarily uh English speakaking uh so I don't know what kind of uh multilingual bilingual type messages that um can be sent out in that regard but uh thank you very much as far as updating our systems and uh trying our best uh you always possible to alert our residents when there is an emergency situation and how they can keep themselves safe. So, thank you very much for that. >> Just to answer your question and for the public, uh the wireless emergency alerts, the ones authorized by FEMA, are available for us to send out in English or Spanish. the mobile reach which is the 911 database the cell phones is English only and then the San Marino community alert is actually available in multiple languages u but it's a work in progress we've tested it we've tested it in Spanish we've tested it in Chinese and in fact tested it again this morning and it comes over in English so I'm not sure where the software glitch is but uh the the product uh states it's available ailable in other languages, but that is the opt-in system, not the automatic system. >> It's good to know. Thank you very much for that. >> You're welcome. >> information. >> Uh, mayor, any uh questions or comments? >> Nothing to add. >> Thank you. So uh again also I would like to thank uh director Fuger our staff and of course um our consultant for assisting and our uh commissioner to uh to oversee this important item. And I have a small question, you know, uh, on one of the new requirements, you know, runoff requirements, does that only apply to the new development or for any homes that's remodeling or or, you know, over certain percentage of uh, renovation? >> Uh, which requirement? >> The the runoff. I saw there's a uh, a new requirements for the water runoff like retain on the uh, PS2. So all all of those are captured during the plan check process, right? So >> any not just because it says only new developments, >> right? New development. Correct. >> So remodeling and >> right typically typically remodeling is exempt to a certain threshold but those are all captured because they're uh mandated through our building code. >> Right. And then it'll be they'll be required to add those new water to retain those water >> retain on site. >> Yeah. and then um flow into the >> the drain system >> the drain systems. Correct. >> Thank you. And then the other question I have since we identified all the critical uh facilities in our town is there any plan or timeline that we need to retrofit all the facilities under you know extreme heat uh earthquake or to do any work with this? >> No, there's no timing requirement there. You know it's this is really aformational document more than anything else. um you know so you are aware of you know kind of what the risks are and you can then you know make appropriate you know judgments on you know how to make investments and you know retrofit you know at your discretion. >> So if there's any facility that's you know beyond any safety measure then we do need to address those facilities. >> Yes. So on once you make uh an assessment and and uh recognize and identify those uh um improvements that are required then obviously those are those come into consideration through our budget process and capital improvement project process. >> Absolutely. Exactly. As the director mentioned, the one thing I'll add, so this this document it we call it a planning tool, right? It is a document that helps us identify those things and then we come to the council and say, you know, this needs that that needs this. One prime example is the building, the um public works um office building at Lacy Park. It is an unreinforced masonary structure that is at high risk for seismic events. So, as we're looking at right now, it was part of the budget uh the design process to remodel that building and then look at um the next uh phase of funding that project. So, we're going through as funds are available to bring projects to the council to make sure that number one, you're aware of what our needs are and that's what our capital fund uh budgeting process entails, right? We know that we have at least 40 to50 billion dollars in capital needs different places but we have not done we have not what we have not undertaken is an asset replacement study. So we do not have a capital asset replacement uh plan that we have looked at this building or the police department building, the fire department building, um the library which is on the newer side but the community center um at some point within the next uh year or so once our again as exactly as the director said once budget allows um we will come to the council to request funding to undertake a capital asset replacement study to understand what the costs are, what the needs are. As you can imagine, this building that we're sitting in right now is nearly a century old. It is not the safest building um by way of modern standards, right? I mean, it's rock solid in a lot of places. Um but it has other needs, right? As we're going through the fire department, we're finding um things that are don't meet code and things like that that we're buil improving right now. Um that is a major part of our long-term need as a modern proactive organization. Um, we need to plan for that. Obviously, we need ways to budget for it, but we need to know, as this document says, here are things that could go sideways in an unexpected circumstance. >> Thank you. So, um, yes, it actually could also make a couple other comments before, um, we go to a vote on this. um is part of the um safety element um and and making sure that our our residents are safe. And I guess this might be just not necessarily part of this particular plan. Uh but I would like to um ask the uh community uh development um director to also keep uh an eye on um programs that's available uh such as the uh auto gas shut off valves, the um um seismic grants uh retrofits that may be available through uh various organizations and agencies within the state. uh that can also uh be very beneficial to our residents. I know that we've had some of these in the past and I've seen some recent uh messages with regards to the auto shut off valve. Um I don't know if that's still an ongoing program through SoCal Gas, but but I think uh if it is available um like to take advantage of that for our residents and um as far as the um fire department is concerned uh I know that last year we did a um an abbreviated uh C training program but not a cert certification program. So, um when it does come to uh these emergency type events, uh it would be helpful to also uh bring residents into the fold and help out the police and fire department because I know during those kind of u during those type of situations that um the police and fire are very busy with um more critical life-saving measures and to have residents also um helping out I think would be very helpful especially checking doortodoor or maybe assisting with minor injuries and things like that. So, um something if we um have postponed that program, uh maybe reconsider it, but uh just a suggestion. Thank you. >> Thank you, council member. Yes, we have um I spoke with the chief yesterday. We're anticipating holding another similar s uh day training at the u later latter half of this year. Um so, we typically struggle with attendance. We've hosted a few different sidewalk CPR workshops and things and um for us the challenge is trying different ways to get the community to come out to these things and actually be interested. Um we have a lot of very highly qualified and trained medical professionals in this city. Um so it's important to have those folks come out and know where your neighbors are. That's number one. Number two, we will include uh currently the California state brace and bolt grant program that you're referencing provided about $3,000 per uh residential property owner. I know some of the council members and different folks in the community have taken advantage of that program. The that is funded through FEMA that the money then trickles down into the state and the state then sends out to residents. Currently is closed. uh when it does reopen, if I should say if and when it does reopen um and funding becomes available, we will make sure to include that in our weekly briefings of we have as we have in the past and make sure that um we get that information out to the Tribune as well. Very important uh for folks to take advantage of all the free money that you can um and take the steps that you can to do those seismic retrofits uh when you can. We make it very easy to pull those permits over the counter, by the way. Incredibly easy. And do you have any um updates on the um gas auto shut off valves? >> Correct. I don't believe they have that program going on right now, but you can purchase those um online or you can purchase them at most places and have a plumber install those for you. So, um, you know, if you have a plumber come out to your house and, uh, recognize that your gas line is, um, in a place that might be at risk for, uh, seismic impacts, um, not a huge expense for something that is rather, um, easy to do and high impact, right? A gas line leak is not a small problem. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. So, do I have a motion? I move to approve and adopt the updated general plan safety element and resolution number R-26-23 >> with the corrections to page 416 2042 and 43. >> Yes, with the corrections uh that we were handed this morning. >> Hey, roll call, please. >> Council member Chang, >> yes. >> Council member Chowo, >> Council member Shepard Romy. >> Vice Mayor Low. >> Yes. and Mayor Cho. >> Yes. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> Thank you. Motion passed. And now I would like to invite uh city manager as Gandar. Would you please introduce the item and begin the presentation? >> Thank you, mayor, vice mayor, and council members. Uh this morning I have the distinct pleasure of presenting an item that has been in the works for well over a year now. Uh, as the city knows and as the community knows, we have had an incredibly long-standing relationship with the Huntington. Um, the Huntington, if you don't know, encompasses just under 10% of the city's land mass at about 207 acres in town. They employ um over 640 full and far full and part-time employees in the city as well as over a thousand volunteers. They are responsible for um taking care of and entrusted caretakers of some of this nation and the world's most precious treasures right here in our very own backyard. Um they've played a huge role in the long-term uh establishment as you know Henry Huntington and everything else. We won't go into that history. Randy tells it much better than I do. Um, but what this council tasked uh myself with about right when I got here, but also we've talked about it for several years, is finding a way to strengthen our partnership with the Huntington and not by way of, you know, partnership and relationship, but by way of finances and um really formalizing the financial relationship that we have with the Huntington. Um, as we know, the Huntington has generously donated between 50 to $150,000 on an annual basis to this city. Those monies uh have been incredibly important in helping us fund different types of operations, be it capital equipment, capital construction, and different things like that. Um, but the city has never had a formal agreement with the Huntington. So, this council said to me, "Well, find a way to help us grow that number in partnership with the Huntington. Do not upset the Huntington. Go find a way to do that and uh find a way to help alleviate the burden on our residents in some way." Right. Um the council recognized that over the course of the last uh year and a half, two years, we have been facing various financial challenges. However, this item before you today is not simply because of the financial challenges that we're facing right now. This is to help really set a new high water mark in the relationship with the Huntington and Sam and the city of San Marino. Um so initially the uh city head approached the Huntington and said you know one way for us to go about this is to request that you collect some sort of fee on admission tickets to the Huntington. So any visitor that would come to the Huntington would collect some would pay some sort of fee call it 10% that the Huntington would then collect on top of ticket admission and then pass that through to the city to help fund public safety needs, infrastructure needs, you name it. um the Huntington was uh of the mindset that that would impact their attendance figures at the Huntington and said, "Well, how about we explore different ways to go about this so that it is um netneutral and positive for both the Huntington, doesn't impact the Huntington's attendance and doesn't impact um the city's overall um desire to increase revenue. Additionally, as folks may or may not know, the Huntington is uh undertaking some of the most landmark, I mean really in their history, once in a generation um renovations and improvements to that property right now. And it's no small task. So, they've had their hands full. Um they themselves are forecasting uh different models for attendance over the next couple years. And so, we want to be mindful of that as well. So, myself, Mr. Schulman, uh, President Lawrence, the board of trustees members, u, we've got together on an occasion, we've had conversations over the last year to find that sweet spot that would help the city and also not be a negative impact to the Huntington. Um, we have landed on this particular agreement that is before you. So before you, there are two separate items in this agenda report. One is for a donation today ofund $125,000 which is in line generally with what the Huntington has donated on an annual basis. The second is to approve a memorandum of understanding for an increased donation of $500,000 per year for the next three years. Um I fully expect that this as I mentioned earlier is a new high water mark for our relationship with the Huntington and we will just be building from here. So this this number half a million dollars is a sizable increase in their contribution to um the services that they receive here from the city of San Marino. The as you saw the uh worldclass police and fire, worldclass public works, worldclass community services that just really doesn't exist anywhere else. So that particular agreement now will span three years. We'll hopefully come back and revisit it in less time than that to see where we take it from there. Um it is subject to annual approval by the board of trustees um at the Huntington. But that concludes my report and I just really want to reiterate um the incredible work of this council for having had the foresight to engage the Huntington in this conversation and be interested in exploring um the question that if as goes unasked the answer is no. And I want to thank also Mr. Schulman for the work that he's done with myself over the last uh year specifically on this agreement. Um he and I have had some very very um long discussions about this. We've had some incredible um I won't call them debates because they've just been discussions about um the plight of both organizations, the history of both organizations and he's been an incredible partner. As you know, Mr. Schulman um grow grew up in San Marino, attended school with former council members. um he has a bond to this community and understands the dichotomy and the relationship between both the Huntington and the city. Um so again, thank you to Randy Schulman. Thank you to President Lawrence. Uh President Lawrence also played an incredible role um in navigating her board of trustees to get to this point. And again, gratitude to the board of trustees for recognizing that they are not only property owners in San Marino, but they're also part of the solution. Right? If we are not all playing a part in this solution, the long-term fiscal viability of this organization, everybody will be impacted, not just the residents, but the visitors that attend the Huntington, everybody. So, um, incredible gratitude to this council for the foresight for this direction. It was not an easy discussion. Um, incredible gratitude to Mr. Schulman, President Lawrence, the board of trustees, and everyone else. Um, but I'm very excited to present to you the first uh agreement in writing with the Huntington for half a million dollar contribution every year for the next three years. And uh we'll see where it goes from here. But that concludes my presentation. Council members, >> thank you manager. >> And I I do know Mr. Schulman at some point would like to make some. >> Yes, I would like to invite Mr. Shman to say a few words. >> Good morning, Mr. Vice Mayor, mayor, members of the council, city staff. Uh thank you so much for the opportunity to be here this morning and to um find a great resolution to this conversation and for us to move forward together. Uh the staff report uh was very encompassing and I appreciate uh city manager's efforts and um the conversation over the the the last few months. Um you know you you are aware as was mentioned that this is a delicate balancing act between our ability as a large organization to maintain our fiscal underpinnings and do uh what we need to do to discharge our mission and our mission is public benefit just like yours. So that public benefit through its collections and through the experiences at the Huntington is really important and has to be protected at all cost which is why we had to use such a balanced approach in trying to figure out how to join this conversation in a meaningful way but also balance our own issues fiscally. Uh and I think we came to a really good solution. Um I do want to also say though that one of the motivators was the city's present um fiscal emergency and that that was a motivating factor in this moment to you know this this was the time. Um so you know I want to make sure that you know our intent was I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I know that we're going to be watching the economy. We're going to be watching everything in the world because it affects us more than it ever has. Um but we are very committed to this conversation and the fact that um it was done respectfully with us understanding you know as what I've mentioned earlier. Um so you know I appreciate the opportunity to be here and I do have a check for this current donation with me. Um but uh I'm happy to answer any questions if if council has any. >> Uh do I do I I'll open to public comments first. Does anyone here wish to speak at this time? If so, please state your name and address for the record. Being none, do we have any public comments requests submitted electronically? >> No, we do not. >> All right. And I will open I bring the comments or questions from >> uh Thank you very much, uh, Vice Mayor. Um, I also wanted to, uh, congratulate our team, um, and our city manager as well as, uh, Mr. Shman from uh for the work that they put in it. It's been a lot of hours and a lot of time and effort and I know that um the city has an obligation both to our residents and obviously our our largest uh land owner if you will um that we have services and we provide those services across the board for everybody. And it is as you've seen and I know you well know um we have outstanding service and um public safety and other things going on in our city in emergencies. heaven forbid as well. And all that takes a lot of money um on our part as well to maintain those levels. And our residents thankfully do pass tax measures and a public safety tax and do many things that is extra money out of their pockets on an annual basis as property owners um in order to have this high level of service. And I know that the Huntington and people who visit there rightfully benefit from that as well. So, it was important time to kind of bring in our minds that concept together. And I think um we're fortunate to have you and there's a number of ways I'm thinking with now the sales tax that the city will also uh receive revenue to apply to those services that we provide to all of our residents and people visiting the Huntington as well as full-time part-time staff and probably the thousands of volunteers many of which myself included volunteer at the Huntington and it is near and dear to our hearts. Um so we are very fortunate to have such a place in town and I think um our residents are very proud to be a part of the Huntington family whether they just visit there or bring visitors there, their family there or they actually volunteer there or roles um or even work there. So it is nothing but a blessing to have it. Um and I think this was a good result in what we needed to see some assistance given our situation and the amount of um as you well know as we all do an aging infrastructure um and the funds that we don't raise from uh generous donors but we raise from our taxpayers to keep up our buildings and our services at the level that we have. So we're very fortunate that you're going to be a partner in that I think or not you the Huntington is sorry I'm looking at Mr. Schulman. Um, and I feel that it's a it's a timely uh commitment and it will help us greatly at this time to do some of those things to continue to make our city excellent, our services excellent and everybody then benefits from those things including visitors and um people at the staff and the Huntington long term really. Um, it's part of our family and it's a partnership that should go forward together. So, thank you very much for your efforts. Thank you city manager for doing that. I know it's a lot as well as all the staff that was involved in that and my council members. A lot of us spoke with various people along the way and and I think everybody understood where we'd like to go and the partnership going into the future is absolutely the best way. So, thank you for all of your role in that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Um, I'd also like to thank uh our city manager and Randy Schman, the vice president um the Huntington and President Lawrence for working together to to achieve this historic um contribution from the Huntington. Um you know, we we we value the Huntington. It's a crown jewel in the city. I go walk there every day and I just just can't believe how beautiful like an area I can take a walk every day. In fact, we just saw you the other day. >> It was very incognito. >> Yeah, very incognito. Yeah. Um, so yeah. So, thank you for, you know, recognizing, valuing our symbiotic relationship. Um, and of course, you know, considering the the construction going on with the Scholars Grove and the remodel of the library art building. So H Huntington is expanding and of course services will probably be um expanding that are needed right uh from the city police and fire etc. Um so um it it this is a very generous and uh donation um sunsets in 3 years um although uh our deficit won't be sunsetting in three years. So, um we need to continue to work together. Um one of our principal priorities is to strengthen communicate uh community partnerships. So, um really like to see how we can uh continue that in the future um and um so we can actually budget um on a yearly basis um uh in our budget. um also help to offset some um you know future um Huntington Library expenditures that may be coming up and also to help balance the budget in general. So thank you again very much. Thank you city manager and your teams that worked. U this is very very um much appreciated. Thank you. >> Uh yes, thank you uh very much Mr. Shman as well as well as President Lawrence and the um board of trustees um for working with the city um with this um contribution. Uh and thank you very much. Also bring up the fact that the city uh did have to declare a fiscal emergency and as a result of that to find ways to uh increase our revenues and um uh as part of that um for the council, you know, we've been facing uh fiscal deficits for the past uh few years and and it's forecasted that that will continue and as a result of that we've had to take some measures such as uh freezing positions especially in for a police department uh as well as our community development uh department that limits the services that we provide to the community and that's not something that that we take lightly. That's not something that that we want to continue to do. Uh this will definitely help um fill that gap that we are currently facing as well as other measures that we've taken. Um the city is in a fiscal situation that is because our expenses are and expenditures I should say are increasing at a faster rate than our revenues. And unfortunately um in the case of San Marino, we're a a um a residential community. We don't have a lot of commercial uh areas where we can um promote from an economic development standpoint where we can generate more revenue. So we need to reach out um to our residents which we have uh in the form of increases in in um public safety parcels tax. Now we have a user utility user tax that's coming up at in November. Uh in addition to that, we also uh last year u for the first time impose a sewer usage fee. Uh these are all ways that we're looking to to uh balance our budget. Uh a lot of that pressure has been put on our residents. Uh but now uh that Huntington is stepping in uh it will uh allow us to continue to provide our services not just the police and fire department but also our public works uh to continue to to maintain our infrastructure along Oxford, Orlando, etc. and um and appreciate the um the um the decision on the part of Huntington uh for this contribution and I look forward to working with you as well as a Huntington in the future as well as I'm sure our staff is also looking forward to working with you and um hope that we can support in whatever way we can with the library arts building as well as the scholars grove and and hope that those um two projects um move along uh without any um major delays from from the city. So, thank you very much. >> Start by coming to a groundbreaking next month or August. >> I'll be there. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh mayor, >> uh I'll be short. No, thank you. Thank you for your partnership, Randy, and the Huntington. I think it's um I I know it wasn't a it was a long conversation and we started um we started I guess we it took a while to understand each other but I'm glad we got here and I really uh look forward to kind of the future with uh the relationship with the city and I think the library. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you mayor and again thank you uh Randy. I would also like to express our uh sincere gratitude to the Huntington Library uh for your uh generous support to our community. Um the donation along with uh your commitment to annual contribution over the coming years uh reflects a true spirit of partnership and share responsibility. The Huntington is not only a worldrenowned uh garden and it's also an important asset of our uh our community and a value ne neighbor and whose contributions help uh strengthen our city and for current and future generations. And thank you again Randy and President Lawrence and the Huntington leadership and um board for uh your generosity uh for your generosity, collaboration and continue investment in San Marino and I'm deeply appreciated for this partnership. Thank you very much again. Thank you. So now we have a motion to approve this. I move to accept the donation of 125,000 from the Hunted Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Authorize the finance department to record the receipt of the donation in the capital projects fund. Amend the fiscal year 2025 2026 revenue budget to recognize the revenue of 125,000 in the capital projects fund account number 394-00-361-0000 and authorize the city manager to enter into a memorandum of understanding withund a $500,000 contribute donation each year for the next three years. >> Second roll call please. Council member Chang, >> yes. >> Council member Chowo, >> Council member Shepard Romy. >> Vice Mayor Low, >> yes. >> And Mayor Cho, >> Motion carries for 50. >> May I uh ask our community relations manager, Jada Snow, to present the check to you for this donation. Oh, >> nice to meet you. My next question. >> Okay, thank you. Thank you for coming this morning. >> All good. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. All right. Okay. Now, our consent uh calendar. Uh do any council members wish to pull any items from consent? As a reminder, council members may vote no on specific uh consent calendar items without pulling the items for discussion. >> Yes. I would like to uh pull agenda item 12 please for discussion. >> Um number four do this for number four. Number four. So >> um how excuse me just um reviewing the consent calendar and and to see what has already been pulled. Item number three, >> right? >> And hold on for one second. I just want to make sure I got all of them. Number 10. So three, four, and 10, right? Three, four, 10, and 12 is what we have. So if if the vice mayor of the council would like a motion to move the consent calendar exclusive of three items 3, 4, 10, and 12, we'll move the others and then pull these others in order. >> Yeah. And do I have a motion to approve? >> I I move to move consent items all consent items except 3, 4, 10, and 12. Uh oh, and I got are there any uh requests for public comments for any of the items on these consent item consent calendar items? And seeing none, do we have any uh well written communications submitted electronically? >> No, we do not. >> All right. And then so we will roll call, please. >> Council member Chang, >> yes. >> Council member Chowo, >> yes. Council member Shepard Romy, >> Vice Mayor Low, >> hi. >> And Mayor Chop, >> yes. >> Motion carries 5 Z. >> Right now we have >> Excuse me. Um, Vice Mayor, may I ask I believe there are some people who are online who um wish to comment on item number 12. So, I would appreciate it if we could take it out of order because they, you know, are waiting and I I believe they want to offer some comments or at least hear the discussion. >> Yes. >> And I don't know if if you if there are people, but I'm assuming since I don't see them necessarily present and I don't know if we also have guards, comment cards turned in. So, I'd like to take that one out of order if you would indulge us. >> Yes. >> Thank you, please. See, and um may I have the uh presentation from our director. >> So, council members, um we have no presentations on these items, but if you'd like to start with item number 12, um I will have director Shaw come up and she will entertain any questions from the council. >> Okay. I um was the one that uh spoke about uh or wanted to perhaps other council members did, but I spoke up about having it pulled because um as everybody here knows, Sam San Marino is officially recognized as a tree city and prior city councils and staff worked hard to achieve that and there's a lot of work as well as I know that our recent most recent arburist who's no longer with us but um she was working on even continuing that and raising the standard so that Lacy Park itself would be recognized. So that was all done 27 years ago and the recognition sign as we all know sits proudly in front of city hall recognizing us as a tree city USA and um San Marino's magnificent treecape are why actually my husband and I moved here 28 years ago um to raise our family in an environment that was so beautiful. It goes with the architecture and the unique qualities of our city. And it's one of the factors really that all of us moved here because it's that noteworthy. The trees that we have in our parkways, our medians, even in our front yards, backyards, in our parks, uh our park, excuse me. Our exceptional mature trees are um one of those special qualities like our excellent schools that everybody notices and everybody knows San Marino for and it sets us apart and I would say above um cities and communities that are surrounding us. And so to us as city council protecting uh San Marino's gorgeous treecape is why I literally serve on city council. I used to come in and speak about trees and tree removals back in the day when there were mistakes made and I was an advocate to have a better tree ordinance in our town to make sure that there's notice and those type of things. And unfortunately um I was able to get some of that done, but despite the dedication and work and efforts of our staff and city council, I seem to view our city as increasingly becoming a treeless city. I say that when I walk my dogs around town. I ride my bike from end to end literally every weekend and I drive around town daily. Um, and I volunteer at numerous organizations here um that are benefiting the public areas. And there are noticeably fewer trees in our medians that are surviving in the front yards of people's homes and along our parkways in our neighborhoods that give us the benefit of living here. Whether that's due to death, disease, or we had the beetle shota beetle infestation or windstorms, the loss is bound to happen in our city over time. And we've had a lot of it in the last eight and a half years that I've served on city council. But the decisions relating to city trees are our city council responsibility specifically. When the city trees are recommended for removal, it is imperative on us as city council members to look at our street tree policy and decide whether to proceed with that. And we have um consulting arborists, our arborists who make recommendations. And that's what the report is. So I submit that when city trees are proposed for removal, it's anticipation of the tree being dead. just like we hold our private residents to the standard that has to be dead or it's in the way of a project that we has to go forward those type of things and we enumerated the reasons why we would remove trees. So I'm bringing it up because I don't feel that that's been done um in this report that's before us this morning. So that was why I pulled it. Um and I just wanted to highlight that we did receive public comment. We have um a letter that was on our um Amadeus um from Mr. Chris Conl and as well uh there were uh three neighbors nearby that joined that letter. But I didn't see the other letter that came in yesterday. I printed it out um dated June 25th to San Marino City Council regarding this agenda item. I don't know why this was not part of our packet, but it should be part of the letter or of our record for this. And it's from our resident, um, Ms. uh, Angela LOL. Um, and so I just wanted to make sure that that is included. It was received before the time deadline and we got it, but I don't see it here today. So, I want to make sure that both of those are part of the record. I can give you a copy if Quine has writing on it but um if you want to just look at it and make sure that that becomes part of our record if there is further discussion that everybody um is aware. So those are just my comments to open it. That's why in part I wanted to talk about um the standards but I will uh turn it over to our um director uh um if if uh director Shaw would like to comment about the process or or if you want to go to factual questions about some of the things in the report. >> Um I I mean just to address um the council member's comments, I can say that um as was already highlighted, our urban forester arborist uh did leave the city in February, I believe it was now. Um we have done gone through a one recruitment for that position. Unfortunately, that was not successful. Um we have been utilizing the services of a consultant arborist um who's been very helpful in helping us maintain the workload both in community development for private trees and for evaluating our our public trees um within the city. Many of these trees that are on the list were brought to our attention. They're generally brought to our attention by the public um maybe on their walks or driving through town. They see something that concerns them. it's reported to us um or if our staff are out and about, you know, doing their um their work within the city if they see something of concern that they think maybe the arborist should look at. Um that's generally how a lot of these have been brought forward and doing our due diligence. We've turned them over to our consulting arborists to have them give us their assessment. Um understanding our our ordinance and what is required of our tree removal policy. um and balancing that with the fact that we are also responsible for um mitigating to the extent that we can risks and potential liabilities to the city. So looking at these conditions, we've taken the arborist reports um that they provided based on their professional experience. I'm clearly not an arborist. This is not my expertise. um and brought those forward to you today as anformational item based on what the arborist found in their assessments and considered that in his recommendations for removal and that's why this report is before you today. But any other questions I'm happy to to try and answer um within my uh expertise and knowledge of this report. I I think we um I do have questions, but I think we need to open it up for public comment first if there or how do how do we proceed? Either way, council member, whatever your preference, whatever the preference of the full council is. If the full council would like to take comments first, we can do that or we can entertain questions first. Uh whichever you'd like. >> Yeah, I would like to open the item for public comments. Are there any uh public comments in the audience? Please state your name and address for the record. >> Yeah. Good morning, mayor and members of the council. My name is Chris Conl. Um I live at 1140 Lraine Road and I'm I'm speaking about the the uh the tree list. Um, and I'm happy to hear the the comments from the from the council member um, you know, about the importance of this issue um, about the need to protect our trees. Um, and and so I', you know, the tree that's in our neighborhood um is tree number two on the list and I'd respectfully um, oppose the proposed removal um, of that tree. Um, it's a mature coast live oak. Um, this is not a small or easily replaceable tree. Um it is it is a huge tree. It's a majestic tree. Um according to the city's packet um it has a diameter of 55 in. So that's almost 5 ft, right? These trees can live up to 500 years, right? Um, you know, as as the as the council member said, um, the trees provide shade, they provide habitat, they establish the unique neighbor, uh, nature of our, um, you know, our community here in San Marino. Um, and tree number two, the other still living oaks on the on the list, um, you know, they're mature public trees we need to protect. the the city's street tree policy emphasizes preservation and treats removal as a last resort. So the comments about um you know we hear uh from the residents that there's something in the neighborhood that we need to look at. Uh I guess I'd ask um well what is the city doing um to help u preserve these trees versus taking that comment and then um proceeding with a you know with a list for removal. removal should only uh you know should be supported by clear technical justifications showing that the tree is dead, that it's structurally unsound or that it prevents a safety hazard that cannot be reasonably vindicated. Right? I don't believe in this case that that that standard's been met. Um you know, I'm focused on tree number two here, but tree number one, tree number three also still living. Um you know, I think tree number one is I went and looked at it. It's in great it's it's in decline, right? But it's it's still very much alive, right? Um the consulting arburist report for tree number two says the tree will die soon. It doesn't provide any kind of diagnostic information to support this decision. Um you know, I'm concerned that the city is currently operating um without an arborist. Given that vacancy, I believe any removals, pruning of mature coast live oak should be deferred until we have an arborist um who can, you know, evaluate reports from staff, from consultants um and have a long view, right? Versus a view of, you know, what do we need to do to support this removal um specific to these trees, there's alternative actions we can take, right? um in each case um and I also saw many trees driving here today right where there's there's turf around the tree where there's excessive irrigation that's what's harming these trees right so we need to stop that um tree number two we can monitor if there's a you know concern about risk um and if structural concerns remain there's diagnostic tests that can be done so respectfully ask that the council you know reject this list and reconsider thank you >> thank Any other comments from the audience? And do we have any uh written submitted recent request or were online? >> Do you want to summarize this one? >> Yes. This comment that was sent in was not actually so just for the record, it was sent directly to the city council and not to city staff. So, this is from um Angela Lel on Lorraine Road. Um and it says, let's see what the summary would be. She urges the city council to proceed thoughtfully and conservatively allowing reasonable every reasonable opportunity for preservation before authorizing removal. That is the summary of the comment submitted yesterday. And I don't believe we have any comments online at this point. So, we can close the public comment period. >> I'll close the public comment and I'll bring it back to the council for discussion. >> Um, yeah, thank you, Vice Mayor. Um, so I I have visited each of these trees on during my bike ride. Uh, I've looked at them and uh I I did see the first three trees. There's still leaves on the trees. So, when I was riding by, I thought, "Wow, that tree still looks like it's alive." Even um so I I I do agree the first three may may be right um not dead completely but maybe salvageable or uh um that's right where rehab uh rehabilitatable. Um but um I I would also suggest the other six trees that look very dead um continue on this list and we'll we'll revisit number one, two, and three. Um so that that's what my comments on this list. >> Thank you, Councilman Chen and Councilman Chevro. >> Thank you, uh Vice Mayor. Um, so I think I said before our our city tree uh policy was on purpose to meet very specific remarks and our um levels of review and uh the public as well as uh council members on the top of 347 we have bullet points for the reasons um and I don't believe all of the trees on this list um the ones that are in still the coastal Oaks one and three and I have to recuse myself as to commenting about number two um because it is within 500 ft of my property um specifically. So I don't want to prejudice any decisions in that regard. But I believe that the our California oaks and I have done this in the past we wanted to have and have we have excluded as a city council um the oaks so that we can monitor provide maintenance and our past arborist was amanable to that when passed and we have never had a failure that's resulted in death or injury or harm to anybody of the ones that we've removed from the list um so in the past. So I believe that we are safe doing so as we sit here today. And I will say specifically that because we haven't had a city arborist. My understanding is that in the past we have had a consulting. So I'm going to hand these out. Our arborist and I'll give you these and I'll give you a copy. We've also had a maintenance plan specifically for noted trees. And for example, these are this is a technical report concerning some of the issues raised by our consulting arborist about bark tissue on California oaks, the cankers, the things that might happen to an aging tree and some of the procedures that Bartlett, which is in tree care and maintenance for as an example, suggests doing relative to California oaks in town. They actually had a contractual relation when Ron Severn who many may know was our arborist and they focused on 10 or 20 trees a year and it's my understanding it was an ongoing thing but then that has stopped and so none of the typical things that might be supplying fortitude which strengthens roots or fungicides as these trees have issues or even you know the bark tissue type of thing that I just handed out and I'll give if you would pass funds director um Shaw. So those are the type of things that we try before we remove particularly California oaks because those are the most elevated trees in our um inventory as well as a statewide rec recognized uh tree that we should be protecting. Um and these are some of them on our list are those uh California live oaks coastal live oaks. So it's our responsibility and I think since these are not dead trees, they're not going to die within a year. That was second reason. They're not infected with incurable disease that could spread to other trees. They're not determined to have a high potential of failure. All of these have no known failure. Um they don't require extensive root pruning because of hardcape. They don't due to their growth habit create a safety hazard. These are upright trees and they are not necessary to be removed for a city council approved capital project. Therefore, they do not fall within any one of the standards. And saying something should be done is kind of like saying, you know, my life should be terminated because I have high blood pressure and I will die and it's more costly to keep me alive. Um, so we really don't need a broad generalization about what may happen at some future unknown date. Those are specifically the standards that we are trying to regulate in our city and make sure that we are removing dead trees and the system of people reporting and then we even pay somebody to go out and look what a person might report. Um, I respect staff's recommendations when they call out trees that should be um, reviewed, but I do not think necessarily that the general public should drive by a tree and for whatever reason I went to the trees right south of us on Sherwood and there is literally a dead topped liquid amber tree without leaves and covered with shot hole things. It has been dead dead and the person actually came out because I was standing in front of the house. I thought there might have been an address mistake because I was standing in front of a completely dead tree and it was the oak that was next door that was being slated for removal. So I was blown away on Shannondoa that I was even in the right universe because that was so bizarre. And the person came out and said, "When are you taking down the tree? Thank God you're here because I introduced myself as a council member." And the woman was like, "Oh my god, that's a great relief." And I said, 'Well, I'm actually not here about your tree in your front yard or the median or parkway, excuse me, I'll use the right term, the parkway in front of it. I'm here for the tree next door. And she looked at me and said, "You must be mistaken." Now, I I told her we were meeting today. She could come and make her comments, but I I didn't see her. And I I see she's not, you know, and maybe she's not able to for work or other family reasons, but I just, you know, was surprised at some of these. So I think also we need to think about our process. I respect staff and if we don't have an arborist then I do rely on director Shaw and her staff in parks and public works to make those recommendations and not the public who might have other reasons. I don't know good or bad but I can't figure out and it was a headscratcher for the two of us being noviceses and um that some of these trees so to remove our city trees that are not dead without factual findings made such as limb failures and to anticipatorily remove trees is exactly what is not permitted by our street tree policy. So, I would just ask that the city council, my fellow city council members, consider that we take some steps in maintaining our trees and helping them. Um, that we do not do it because they may pose a risk because we don't have any examples of limb failure um happening in these circumstances at all. So, there's no evidence under any category. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vice Mayor. If I might just make one um point. No, no, just a point. as a resident. >> Um, so just for the council's clarification, um, there's a concept in uh the there's a couple concepts at play here in the political reform act and the FPPC's conflict rules. One is that if the council is discussing uh something that is located within 500 feet of property owned by a council member, um there's a presumed conflict of interest. That c that council member can speak on the item. They just need to do so as a member of the public, which means they would need to leave the dis, go speak from the podium as a member of the public. And then if the council is going to discuss that particular item that c the council member who recused themselves would need to leave the chambers during that discussion. There's also a second concept called segmentation. When a decision can be broken into smaller parts then you can take the part that a council member has a uh conflict on and deal with that one separately and deal with the balance uh with the council member's continued participation. So, in this particular instance, because there are multiple trees being talked about and one of the trees is apparently within 500 ft of council member Sheper Romy's U property, I would suggest that if there's going to be any discussion on this that you deal with the tree that is located close to her property separately and the balance of the report. um she can participate in that discussion to the extent that council uh member Shepherd Romy wants to make any comments about that particular tree. Um at the time you're going to have uh engage in a discussion on that, she should leave the dis, go make her comments from the podium and then uh step out of the chambers until you're done discussing. >> Uh Joe, uh real quick, can you can you hear me? >> Yes. Uh I just want to make sure since we're talking about procedure then that the documents that were just distributed is that optically I guess how is that going to be bucketed under as distributed by public or council member or >> so again that's that's I guess for your uh interpretation. um there are trees being talked about that she doesn't have a conflict on and um you know I think I don't want to put words in her mouth but I think she's making a suggestion that there are alternatives and there's at least one consultant I guess who has some other suggested things. So if you want to I I would again not want to speak for her, but I assume that she would want that material considered by the council in both instances. In the instance where she has a potential conflict and in the instance where she doesn't have a potential conflict. >> Okay. Just want to make sure we're okay. Okay. >> Yes. So thank you. And the one comment I wanted to make for clarification, I just want to make sure there there are folks at home that are watching this meeting that may not know, but um the city does, and I know this isn't an intentional misspeak. I'm just making this for the record, but the city does in fact currently have an arborist. The arborist is a consulting arborist is a licensed arborist. So the recommendations before you as they're signed by um licensed consulting arborist Peter Harish um his certifi certified arborist number WE0773B. Um he is the one that is making the recommendations for staff to consider um before you this morning. So, these were not the recommendations that are brought before you are not brought by unlicensed staff or, you know, by staff not trained in our boricultural profession. Um, I just wanted to make that clear for folks at home that are watching. I know that the council knows this. You'll see it in your packet, but um these are not things that we just, you know, resident says, "Hey, that tree's dead." And we go, "Thanks for the recommendation. It's coming out." Um, so that that's just for the record there. However, the council would like to proceed. So maybe we'll discuss some without number two trees first. So so >> right. So, so I was um making my comments very general so far trying to say that this is what we could do for the trees and here are the ones that I have problems with generally speaking and I don't want to I'm h more than happy and have spoken with our council and will when we speak to if we can make a decision regarding the tree list without number two on it and then I can state my position separately and and from there as a resident and then I will go outside regarding number two to make it clarify. I do I do want to do that. Um but so far I think I've been trying to state a general concept particularly with regard to um our trees as our city and as we manage them that care should be the first line and we have did have a program before and the amount of $700 would allow per tree to start these treatments that are suggested by Bartlett to maintain some of our aging um trees. and if we try it with five trees this year or whatever or however many everybody here decides on but to devote some and see if we have measurable improvements in the roots and the strength of the tree etc and its longevity then I think um regardless of our current arborist consulting arborist who is a highly respected individual but the recommendations that I see and the language used in these reports are kind of a should but There are not failures as I said before and there are no other inspections such as decay tests, canopy inspection, root crown excavation. There's been no other tests. So these are very broad and general assessments and before we go to the um level of removing a tree, I think that there have to be conclusive determination that it fits under one of those enumerated categories because we specifically took that language. um our prior council to set up the street tree policy in order to follow arborous recommended um levels of care and that should be our first priority. So it would require anyway um second testing maintenance and we can do it for a few of the trees and I think our California oaks and our aging mature trees that are on our in public site are important for us to maintain. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. So that's proceed with that. does let's have a general discussion without tree number two first and yeah so any comments or >> vice vice mayor you don't mind if I start >> yeah um I I think first for everybody here just can we better understand the process so obviously we have the third party arborist now and then it was my recollection we has this gone through our liaison before coming on to the agenda >> it has the liaison are council member Shepard Romy and council member Chang. >> Okay. And then what was that process that went through the liaison like just recently or or months back or what's the >> director Shaw will? >> Yeah, if you could just walk through the process, director Shaw just from with this third party arbors and whatnot. >> Uh yes. So any of the trees um that are currently on this list today at the time of staff or residents um reporting a concern about a tree, it was taken to our consulting arborist to evaluate and put together the report. Um from that point our um our staff compiled the reports that our arborist gave to us, went out, marked the trees, we mapped them, took photographs, we assembled this packet um that's included in the agenda. It was distributed to our council liaison, council member Chang and council member Shepherd Ramy um in advance of this meeting. Um we usually try and get to them about two weeks. It was probably closer to 12 days maybe. Um it was that Monday um of last week um when it was distributed via email to them and a hard copy was also delivered to council member Shepard Ramy um to assist in their review of these trees. So it was presented to them before it was then placed onto the c informing them that it would be placed on this council agenda for their review and then we proceeded with taking the um report forward. >> But has there been any amendments since it was initially recommended? Like were there >> no there's been no changes to what was included in the packet. >> Got it. >> Yeah. The one thing I might just just for clarification, so as you'll see as part of the process, this was a council adopted process a couple years back now. Um the item is so part of this report is a result of trying to minimize uh liability insurance issues with the city's insurer as council member Shepard Rammy mentioned it's a risk calculation and so the council members are not um when they review it are reviewing it for accuracy and as the report says so that the leaison can verify accuracy of the list and confirm that the proposed removals are consistent with the requirements they are not um in their own individual authority making recommend recommendations to remove or add trees to the list. >> Got it. Okay. Um Okay. So, I mean, I think from my perspective, it's just going to be how we frame this in our minds, right? I think we can break it down by trees. We can break it down by, you know, um liability. Um the way the way I see it here is it is liability approach. That's a big part of it. And then there's the aesthetic approach. Um, I just be wary for us to go into individual trees because I think from a council level then we should just decide if we think this arburous is doing the job that they're capable of doing or not and either punt this or vote this through. Um cuz it's kind of hard to say like going to a doctor like yeah we believe you on 70% of this but 30% of it nah not really and we're sticking with you. Um, so I think that's what we need to be a little wary about uh in this. Um, I I I do see the points that people have made so far and I think I just wanted to frame that before we go deeper into discussion with each council member. >> Thank you, mayor. And comment >> Oh, I no you heard my comments. um earlier. If we can take the trees that that uh look dead and that are stated tree is dead. Um keep those on the list and then keep one, two, three, and possibly four that don't say dead, but uh severe decline, keep those on the um not on this list. So that's what what I would think um to do with this list. member Cho. >> Uh yes, thank you, Vice Mayor. >> Comment and a and a question. Um so uh do believe that u public safety is is a a main concern of mine when it comes to uh these trees since I have seen uh what has happened um during extenduating circumstances such as a windstorm with um large uh branches um breaking and damaging property uh as well as uh potentially causing harm. But but thankfully, knock on wood, that hasn't happened. Um, with regards to um I don't know, are we skipping the conver discussion on tree number two or we're just speaking in general right now? >> Yeah, if you could if you can speak more generally now. Okay. >> If you want to get specific, just avoid tree number two and then we can come back to tree number two. I guess uh speaking more generally um I know that the city has a large inventory of these um uh mature and majestic uh trees. Uh at the same time I I'm also very much aware of the budget constraints of the city when it comes to um treating these these trees that may be um showing signs of distress. Um, and it may not be fatal to the tree with the proper treatment, but again, it takes money to um address potential causes. And so, um, fortunately, the city is is not necessarily in a in a position, and I don't know what those costs might be, um, if we were to u go that route in that direction. So, um, at the same time, you know, when I look at, uh, some of these trees, especially one, two, and three, I recognize, um, that they've been there for a long time, certainly a lot longer than I've lived in San Marino. And, and I know that these are not easily replaced. Um so um unfortunately if they are uh removed and and replaced it's not going to be in this in this state uh during my lifetime. So I I definitely would um u miss the um what it contributes our our neighborhoods in terms of its uh aesthetics. And so um that's my comment. Uh uh as far as question is concerned, have have has the city looked into what it would cost to uh for for um treating you know the conditions that some of these trees might be experiencing uh in order to um prevent or delay its its um its decline in its uh of its health. >> Um yes. So, under our previous arborist, there were um in the past um a couple trees that she had had treated um prior. I think those ranged in like the,000 two $2,000 range. I don't have that with me in front of me uh to specifically speak to that, but it was I think in that ballpark. Um, I can also tell you even um not what's included in this list, but in trees we've continued to evaluate that didn't make this report, there have been trees um that our consulting arborist did point out as potentially having treatments, whether it was um with the roots and soil conditions around it um and some other inspections that we've talked to our um tree contractor Mariposa about um what they could do to um improve some of those conditions. I think some of those were um obviously not into this stage and so some of those treatments were I think they were ballparking around $500 700 for something we could do on a few of those trees that aren't on this agenda before you today. Um so we are trying to do that obviously once we um have more of a full-time support for that that will make that process simpler. Um but really looking at the reports that were before you today and the tree condition summaries um from many of them from what you know I had seen of it where it had stated you know there's no chance of recovery. This poses a safety risk holding public safety paramount because especially in extreme heat conditions that we will start to have more of. We've had warnings this week. Um that's when we have seen limb failures, tree failures, trees we didn't expect to fall. Um and so that's from my perspective, not being a professional arborist and having these recommendations, why I brought them before you. Certainly, a number of these trees are majestic. They're beautiful. They're not trees I would ever want to just take down. Um, if it wasn't the fact that the arborist had recommended it, and I'm I don't have the expertise to tell them, well, no, it shouldn't um come down if that was what the recommendation is. I'm happy to get, you know, second opinions and look explore other options. I have spoken with the council member um after she had um shared with me about this um other um consultant that maybe had worked with the city in the past and I'm happy to explore that relationship and others as well especially once we look to get more full-time support for this. Um but that was why these were presented. So >> thank you. And uh thank you for for those um estimates that I think that >> and I think those are per treatment but yeah >> right per tree >> and so I well so I'll be commenting without tree number two >> things um I'm putting tree two aside the consultant um did speak in the neighbor neighborhood of $500 for this the uh applications of the things for the fungicide and the root um per tree for a year's treatment. Um so that was a general recommendation um plan and I believe that Mariposa as well would probably do the same type of thing hopefully if we had some if that's the decision that we go with um for any of the trees here that are in decline. Um, and I just want to point out in the past we have not gone ahead with tree removal unless it falls within one of the enumerated things. And the language is very specific here. It's not that the tree is compromised or declining or should be removed for safety reasons unless there's evidence of that because that is not a legal standard. We have specific language and that's prophylactically removing trees because they might drop branches or fall. All of these trees withtood in a horrific windstorm just a year ago or a year and a half ago, excuse me, as we all know that brought down huge trees >> and a variety of trees did fall down. So there's never a should, there's never a may. That's enough to remove a city tree. That is not our standard. I am literally pointing to black and white. That is not the standard in our city. I feel very strongly we work through all of this. It has to be failures. Any tree in our city can drop a limb. Then we should just remove all trees. If that is our justification, then we should remove all trees in our city because there is no way and further there hasn't been testing done that's shown that it is anyway. So I don't need to go in this but should is not a reason should or may have safety reasons is not a reason for removal. It does not qualify under our existing policy. The language is not most likely may soon it's declining. It's dead. It's dead within a year. It's disease so extensively spreading to other trees. We have enumerated reasons if we can't park these trees and not tree too. I'm not even going to any tree that we want to remove has to be within this language. And we have been very strict about that in the past. And I don't think there's any reason to change whether it's a very well-qualified Peter Harish certified arborist is should or may is not a reason to put it on a removal list. It has to be one of these. And I feel very strongly that we work through this language just for that reason because any tree could drop a branch and we would need to remove all public trees if we're just going to say they may present a safety risk and that's not the standard for our city. So, and as to the cost of potential program, I believe it would be $500 or less per tree, but that's what I was generally told. Um, and I would hope that Mariposa would engage with us on a discussion about doing that on a on a um going forward basis for a limited group and see if it makes a difference. And maybe some of the trees on this list or past lists that are continuing to barely survive would be candidates for that. And I would look to our professional Marosa um to make a recommendation then since they know our inventory most uh best at this time without arborist uh being fully full-time employed. So sorry. Oh, the question was um there are two trees uh that are up for 2689 California and 2949 Shakespeare and this is um that seem to be on the inside of hedge or in front of in people's yards and I thought it was really strange. Is it because it's six feet from the curb? Did we did our staff go out and measure that that's our tree because it's actually inside somebody's front yard hedge on California and there are two oaks there side by side and one is dead I will accept the dead part um so would be appropriate but I was even thinking I'm have we and I think that there was another question as to whether those were our street trees or city trees excuse me or are a private property >> based on our inventory. They are within our inventory that they were identified as our trees. Okay. I can't say we went we did not go out and reme-measure, but we could certainly verify that before we sent the contractor, but they are identified within our tree inventory that we maintain that they've been maintained by us and that they are identified as city trees. >> Okay. And then um as to those Okay. Okay. And then there was also the uh um uh num tree number seven on the list that is at the corner of Lraine. It's actually physically located around the corner on Delmare, I believe. >> Um that it's kind of in a cluster and I did not see a big green dot on it. And again, because that area previously had a bunch of trees removed that caused me to run for city council because they took the ones that were perfectly healthy and left dead ones because they weren't properly marked or noticed to the residents. Anyway, um I want to make sure that we have a green dot on the one that's being removed so they don't just clear the corner because that's a different safety issue that maybe we need to take into account is like removing some of the brush and stuff at that corner. But that in particular, I didn't see a green uh a mark on the tree and I am hoping that we will do that. Um now again, I didn't climb into the brush and it's just a messy little corner. Um but I wanted to make sure that we are marking all of these so we don't have mistakes as we've made in the past as a city that have upset residents. >> Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And should I step down or No, >> not yet because this is without >> Okay. So again you know um like my colleague said trees are very important elements in our town especially mature mature trees and I I have the opportunity to speak a lot of people outside of Samaran community you know one thing about Samarino they they they comment of course the beautiful trees that's one of them and even I had opportunity to even talk to a retired oper in the west side he actually told me how we protect tree is a golden standard for a lot of >> cities and arburist and that's something we should take pride in and then you know from well tree number five to 10 if they're clear dead I have no problem removing them because they do have a safety issue they'll get dried and and maybe split and soon but the ones in decline again these are important assets in our town they've been there for hundreds of years and if the condition is in decline I do believe we should try as you know a member of community we should try our very best well they they're here they're there longer than us really so we should try our very best like you know to save them and see what we can do and give it a certain amount of time and evaluate again and then if if it's beyond the point of savable and then if does possess that immediate um liability or or or uh risk then of course we consider removing them. But if it it is just in decline and any tree will go into that stage and and sometimes even that they can live another hundreds of years in the condition you know of declining. So I do believe I yeah without tree number two I do like to see you know like me Chen mentioned to see you know we try our very best you put in some effort in saving them and re-evaluate them in certain amount of time. I don't know how that amount of time should be. Maybe a professional should, you know, will give us comments once we start treatment and we reit reevaluate uh these trees with that. >> So, Vice Mayor, um to help this discussion, um I'm hearing three council members have concerns with uh trees one, two, and three on the list. >> Um what I will parse this into a couple conversations. What we could do is if the council is willing or interested in um and Mayor Cho and Council Member Cho Chow um if you feel otherwise, please interject, but this is what I'm counting as three right now so far. Um if the council would like to move the remainder of the list to approve the removals of trees 4 through 12, we can proceed 10. Excuse me. Thank you, I didn't add two. Um, we can proceed with that. Then if the council would like staff to look at treatment of trees one, two, and three, we can go out and get a quote for the treatment work for trees 1, two, and three. We can bring that quote back to the council for approval at a later date um to see what And I I appreciate, council member Shepard, you've heard 500. I know we've heard, you know, a thousand to 2,000. So, I don't want to I don't want to um uh uh encourage the decision to be made based on not having a physical quote in front of you. So, um we can go out if the council would like, we'll go out and get a quote for trees 1, two, and three with the understanding that we already have an arborist that has recommended the removal. And so I just want to make it clear for the council that on record we have an arborist that has recommended a licensed arborist that recommended removal of these trees due to their professional expertise. And so we will then have to navigate or um I'm going to use this word and correct me if I'm wrong, Joe, but assume some level of liability by not acting on the recommendation of a li licensed arborist. Um but you will correct me. Lee, I think I think Yeah, I think I think you're right for four through whatever 10, right? I don't think we have an issue on Does anyone >> Can I try a motion? Uh, do you want to correct me for anything or >> No, I I just wanted to say perhaps in connection with getting that quote from whatever company or companies you're getting that quote from would be some kind of information that they could provide as to the efficacy of those treatments um to address the liability issue. >> Yeah. >> Need a motion. Uh before we make a motion um >> into what um city manager just suggested as far as getting some additional quotes on on treatment and whatnot. Um do we also want to entertain the option of of additional pruning to minimize that liability? Um, I know that would change the aesthetics of of these trees. Um but but my concern after reviewing some of them is that some of the lateral growing limbs, especially the larger ones that might be more suscept susceptible to breakage, u would probably pose a greater liability issue versus the overall tree that is growing upright, which may not be as much of a liability. So am I complicating the matters and then I don't know if that's an option that is worth considering because uh in looking at some of these trees I I see that some of them are growing towards residents homes which if they were to fail could cause some property damage. I I would just posit um from just some of the conversations I've had generally not about these specific trees, but in working with Mariposa um looking at other pruning needs and things in advance of Fourth of July and things around the park and things like that. Um that's something we would have to be very careful with because I understand um what you're looking at in terms of maybe some of the larger branches pose a larger risk of failure. Um, but cutting those limbs would also put substantial stress on this tree. Um, which would then probably have the opposite effect of not helping the tree potentially be able to survive. It would probably further its decline and increase the risk of failure in that regard. Especially if it's over, I believe like 6 in diameter on the oaks. um that that would and especially in this weather and all those things, but even just cutting such a large limb would be problematic for the tree from that perspective. And I'm glad you provided that explanation. Um I was talking to a friend recently and um she was talking about her fruit trees and how she prunes those so that the remaining fruit can uh we get more nutrients. Um and so but on the other hand with regards to let's say in an oak uh it may not necessarily be the case because pruning or trimming a large branch might actually be more harmful than good. So, uh, I'm no arborist, no expert in this area. So, thank you for that explanation. Um, so I don't know if that's a, uh, again something worth considering with the guidance from an arborist just to minimize any potential liability just because of the size and weight of these, you know, some of these larger branches that may be um, showing some signs of um, stress due to wood rot and things like that. >> Here's what we'll do. uh council member and council members um this won't be back before you uh for a few months um just given the schedule um of the the council meetings over the next month the August recess and the work that um the public works department has ongoing right now u this the earliest this would come back to you would be September um so in that we will ask the tree companies for treatment and potential alternatives um to treatment you know or concurrent with treatment if additional pruning might help. Um and as Mr. Mont has said, what the efficacy of that treatment might be so that the council can make a decision on whether you want to, you know, spend the money to do that or not. But we'll bring this back. Um if the council so chooses on trees 1, two, and three, we'll bring it back in the fall. Um >> let me can I can I make a comment real quick on this? So I think particularly tree one and three on the report it says safety reasons. I guess can I reopen the discussion and see if that's something that the council would reconsider? I mean instead of punting and then have a discussion on two because I think that's the main concern, right? Certified by an arborist with the words for safety reasons for one and three. >> So So mayor, you're suggesting move all of them except for item number two, tree number two. I'm I'm saying if yeah if council would want to reopen a discussion that way >> again I would not because I don't think it's not safety reasons is not a finding that's a justification >> can can I >> potential safety so I don't >> can can we agree on >> council member chef for Harami's point on 347. One of the reasons is the tree is dead. Okay. And then on this chart, the reason is the tree is dead. Can we agree on the ones that say the tree is dead that we can keep them on this list and remove them, which are five through 10? We all agree on that part of it. And then we'll keep one through four off this list >> and have further investigation. Um, I think number four is a liquid amber. >> Yeah, but it doesn't say it's dead. Okay. So, I'm just reading black and white here. Tree is dead. All these say tree is dead. >> So, five through 10. >> Yes. Council. So, in addition to the tree being dead, this the remaining one, two, three, four, five, six, seven criteria could apply. So, if the council member like to to the mayor's point, right, the mayor I'm going to suggest this is what you're saying, mayor. So, correct me if I'm wrong, but the mayor is saying um the third bullet point to the um second or last bullet point says the tree due to its growth habit growth habit location creates a safety hazard or the one before it says root pruning or excessive heartscape damage that would in its capacity would also result in a potential safety hazard. Um so there are a few other there are a few other criteria that expand beyond >> well this is this is this is not an and condition it's an or if one of these are met right >> correct the tree is dead right >> that's the first one and these all say the tree is dead >> so we don't need to look at the other reasons because the tree is dead >> correct on the remaining ones correct >> right so we don't need to look into anything so that's why I'm saying the ones that say tree is dead we keep them on the list remove those. >> Okay. So, I'll move to uh remove the dead trees uh which five 6 7 8 9 10 that those may be removed immediately. I would add number four to that list as well because I do believe that it is dead and we have photographs that make it dead to the naked eye. Um that I don't think but I'm fine. Uh and then the remaining ones that are oaks aside, I'm not speaking about number two. I'm speaking generally about as our city policy um that the oaks be given a maintenance uh a review by our company or or a tree care maintenance professional and a plan with a cost estimate. and we can move forward at that time as to whether we want to proceed in that regard and that would be brought back to us at a later date that's convenient for city staff and the work to be done. >> So if I could just make a suggestion >> is that not >> further complicate the matter. >> Um your current policies u do not require that the council approve the tree removal list. It's brought to you forformational purposes. So if you take >> Yes. >> So if you take no action, every tree on this list would be removed if you take no action. >> So if you want to give direction to staff to not remove some of the trees at this point, I think you only need to address those. >> Okay? >> You don't need to you don't need to address 5 through 10 or 4 through 10 or whatever. Just the ones you don't want staff to remove right now. >> That's the only thing you need to make a motion on to give different direction to staff than what your policy otherwise provides. Okay. >> So, I think you need to make a motion on 4 through 10 or 5 through 10 or whatever. >> I will move that any California oak that is before being removed has the potential to be on a maintenance, care, and preservation plan. um subject to uh budgetary future approval >> unless it's dead. >> Okay. So So because there's three that are dead. >> Point of clarification. Are you >> that are not dead yet? >> Point of clarification. >> Feel like a Monty Python movie here. >> Are are you changing the city's policy citywide for all California oaks? Are you addressing this specific list? >> I'm addressing >> If you're addressing this specific list, >> I understand. >> Okay. then I think >> that are not yet dead. >> You're addressing this specific list. If you're talking about California oaks, you should only be making a motion with regard to tree one and three. >> Okay. >> One and three. >> That's my motion. >> So >> then somebody else can make a different motion if you guys want to take on tree number two. But >> would it be appropriate making a motion to remove tree one two >> and remove from this removal list? I found that you got two negatives removed from the removal list. So, we're keeping the tree, >> right? The ones, you know, I'm just addressing the specific trees that we like to remove to be removed from the tree until >> right >> until future meeting when we can um get a little bit more >> information. Yes, that's what that's what I'm trying to say. >> All right. >> I thought there was a fourth one, wasn't it? A fourth one. Oh yes, >> that's what I was trying to say. >> This is a well it's not the picture. >> It doesn't state but if we don't add that to the list then that's going to be removed and that's not a correct that's not >> a simple motion then right remove one two and three from this list >> until staff comes back with further >> but I cannot vote on it. Well, you can bifurcate that motion if you'd like to make the motion for tree one and three >> to remove them from this list at this time until staff comes back with additional information. >> Thank you. That's my motion. >> All right. Second. >> Okay. >> All right. How about >> roll call? >> I may council member Chang. >> Yes. >> Council member Chow. >> Council member Shepard Romy. >> Hi. >> Vice Mayor Lowe. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Cho. >> No. >> Okay. I make a motion to remove tree number two from this list. >> I'll second. >> And I will recuse myself from voting on this motion because of potential conflict of interest. >> Council member Chang, >> yes. >> Council member Chow, >> Council member Shepard Romy, >> abstain. Vice Mayor Lowe, >> yes. >> And Mayor Cho, >> yes. Motion carries 4 Z. >> We have what we need. We will return. Thank you, council members. We will return in the fall uh with further study on trees one, two, and three. >> Please have the tree doctors look at them ASAP and make before we put pls on. >> Thank you. Um so remaining pulled items on the consent calendar are three, four, and 10. Does the council have a preference in which order we go? >> Number three. >> Okay, number three. All right. >> Thank you for taking that out of order though. I appreciate it. Thank you for coming and speaking. >> Um I guess uh I'll start with number three since I was one that pulled that item. Um and this is regard to the five-year animal care and control services contract with the Pasadena Humane Society. I um just want to emphasize that since I am hearing a lot of complaints from residents with regards to coyotes and peacock that that is not under the um under this uh included under this uh particular contract and that that is uh something that is uh beyond the control of the city to to maintain um unless there's a safety uh concern whether one of these animals happen to be attacking I guess uh resident or or pets. Is that correct? >> Correct. Coyotes are highly regulated in the state of California. Um and there are escalating criteria in which we can engage coyotes and that would be the Department of Fish and Wildlife I believe is what they're called now. And they are the ones that we engage through the uh San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. We have a coyote hotline on our website that folks can go in and report those types of things. And uh that was not handled through Pasadena Humane. >> Okay. and I will refer residents to that if they have any complaints and not complain about that since there's not much that we can do about it. All right. I don't know if there's any other comments otherwise I can make a motion to approve this item number three. >> Second roll call, please. >> Council member Chang. >> Oh, yes. >> Council member Child. >> Yes. Council member Shepherd Romy, >> I. >> Vice Mayor Lowe, >> yes. >> And Mayor Joe, >> Motion carries. 5-0. >> Thanks. Item number four. >> Oh, yeah. I pulled that one. Yeah. A real simple thing. Um, just reading through it. Um, everywhere we talk about eight guards and then when it came up to the worksheet, we were build for nine guards. So, we got a revision here to change it to eight, which saves about $30,000. So we have it here and just want to um but make a motion to approve this revise to from 9 to 8. Yeah. >> Uh second >> second. >> Council member Chang. >> Yes. >> Council member Chowo. >> Council member Shepard Romy. >> Vice Mayor Low. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Cho. >> Motion carries 5. number I item number 10 I believe is 10 >> I believe 10 was pulled as well. Yes. >> Uh yes I had pulled that item and um in reviewing the list of uh streets that were um included in this uh repair uh project. Uh I noticed that alleyways were not included. Is that correct? >> Correct. They wouldn't be part of SP1. Uh-huh. And and that Okay. SP1 in spec. Okay. So, this is specific uh to SB1 and the funding that's available for streets, but we do have um as part of our capital improvement projects um uh a few alleyways that is um scheduled for I think end of this year, early next year. >> Yes, that's correct. That's separate from this funding. >> Okay. Thank you for that clarification. U I'll go ahead and make a motion to approve um consent calendar item number 10. >> Second. Roll call, please. >> Council member Chen, >> yes. >> Council member Cho Chow, >> Council member Shepard Romy. >> Vice Mayor Low. >> Yes. >> And Mayor Cho, >> yes. >> Motion carries 5. >> Do we have any uh written communication or public uh writings for distribution at this time? >> No, we do not. And are there any items the council would like to add to the future agenda >> not go through that >> and now I guess now we will recess to a close session and >> there's actually no need for a close session after all today so you can adjourn. >> Oh okay. So now uh now I'll recommit the regular agend meeting. Uh S of this is there any uh report of item but that's just no nothing. All right. uh so for Jen meeting today.

Testing. Testing. Soundtrack. Testing. Okay. Good evening. It is 6 pm and I would like to call to order the regular meeting of the San Marino Planning Commission for June 24, 2026. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Staff, may we have the roll call, please? >> Commissioner Chang, >> present. >> Commissioner Chow, >> Commissioner Giles, >> present. and Vice Chair Mccay >> present. >> Let the record reflect that Commissioner Batnes has an excused absence this evening. >> Thank you. The agenda is posted 72 hours prior to each meeting at the following locations: City Hall, the Croll Public Library, and the Stone Building. The agenda is also posted on the city's website. The city welcomes public input. At this time, the public may address the planning commission on items that are not on the agenda. Pursuant to state law, the planning commission may not discuss or take action on issues that are not on the meeting agenda. To ensure that everyone, including those joining us remotely, are able to hear all speakers clearly, please speak directly into the microphone. Please note that all comments are limited to three minutes and will be timed by city staff. I would now like to ask staff to explain how the public comment will work for those individuals who are participating through Zoom and phone. For each item on the agenda, there will be time for public comment. The city will accept comments in three ways. First, we will take in-person comments for each item. Please fill out a speaker card and turn it into me if you wish to speak on an item. There will be a countdown timer displayed to help speakers keep track of their remaining time to speak. Second, we will also accept comments from our Zoom participants. To give a public comment via Zoom, please utilize the chat box. When using this method, name yourself so that your first and last name are reflected for the record. If the comment is regarding a specific agenda item, please indicate which item. Comments will be accepted only until the end of the public comment period for that item. Please keep in mind that if there are technical difficulties with Zoom, the meeting will proceed as normal. The city will do its best to resolve any technical issues as quickly as possible. Third, I will then state the amount of public comments we have received by email for a particular agenda item. Due to technical limitations associated with gathering, printing, and sorting emailed public comment, the city has instituted a 3pm cut off the day of the meeting for emailed public comments. This is to ensure there's sufficient time to gather and provide the emailed comments to the planning commission. Any comments received after the 3pm deadline will be included in the public comment record, but will not be provided to the planning commission during the meeting. Thank you. Does anyone present here wish to speak on an item that is not on the agenda? If so, please come forward, state your name and city of record. And seeing none, staff, do we have any public comments that are submitted electronically? >> No, we do not. >> Thank you. Moving on to public hearings. Each commissioner has received plans and staff comments and reviewed every item on the agenda and had the opportunity to visit each site. The general order for hearing each case will be as follows. First, staff will discuss the case and provide background information and a recommendation. Commissioners may ask questions of staff after the presentation. Second, the applicant will then present their project if they desire to do so. The commission may take the opportunity to ask the applicant questions. Third, the hearing will then open up for public comment from in-person and teleconference participants. Fourth, at the conclusion of public comment, the applicant will have a chance to respond to the public comments at which time the public comment period will be will be closed. I will then ask for comments from each of the commissioners for discussion and ask that they please not repeat comments made by their fellow commissioners. Commissioners may then vote to approve, deny, or continue the project. In the event of a denial, it is hoped that the applicant will have heard comments during the public comment period and during deliberation that will be useful in resubmitting an application. It's also important to understand that there is a 15-day appeal period after an action has been taken for the applicant or any interested party to request the city council to review and act on the case. So, moving on to the agenda staff who will be presenting item number one. >> Uh madame vice chair before the presentation uh first off I want to welcome our new uh pl commission members uh commissioner commissioner Giles. Um, Commissioner Chow obviously is somewhat of an expert since he's coming from DRC and typically that's what happens in these uh in these boards and commissions. So, we welcome that and we welcome the expertise of Commissioner Giles who's a licensed architect and so we obviously will appreciate all the information and tools that he will propriate for us during his term. Um I you know obviously uh the idea here for the commission is to guide um applicants in the right direction and part of that is having a respectful and effective dialogue during um the exchange with the applicants. And that means asking questions about the project during that time and not during the dialogue with then yourselves because at that point the public hearing is closed and you don't have the opportunity to receive the information that you might have uh received during that dialogue and could have helped you shape your decision on that project. So uh just as a reminder if you can ask those questions not repeat questions that you or repeat comments or questions that your fellow members have already asked that would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully that will uh help run a more effective meeting and will also help produce uh better projects in the future. So appreciate that. Welcome both to both our new members and uh I will then turn it over to uh assistant planner Aubrey Aubrey Stark Miller. >> Thank you director. >> Thank you director. This is assistant planner Aubrey Stark Miller speaking for the record. The applicant is proposing a 703q ft 3car garage attached to an existing 889 ft detached garage in the street facing rear yard of the residence. The project proposes to construct a garage in the rear yard of a lot abuing on two streets which requires the same development limitations in the rear yard as if the rear yard were in fact a front yard. A conditional use permit is required for a garage and a front yard. A variance is required as the project exceeds the permitted lot coverage for this property. Staff has made all applicable findings for all three entitlements. Staff's recommendation is to approve the project. If a committee after the public hearing feels there is evidence to support each finding, they should approve the project. Conversely, if the committee feels that they cannot make one or more of the required findings based on the upon the information presented, they should suggest a condition of approval to address the relevant concern. And if one cannot be crafted to address the concern, they should then deny the project. This concludes staff's report. Staff is available to answer any questions. The applicant is present as well. Thank you very much. Uh does any commissioner have a question for staff? Commissioner Cow. >> Thank you. So, um I'd like to just ask staff and some of these questions I already uh emailed staff beforehand. So I just like to seek uh further clarification. So the first question I have is in regards to replacement parking when somebody is constructing a ADU, an ADU. So California law does not require replacement parking when an existing garage is converted into an ADU. Is that correct? >> That is correct. >> Okay. So in the second question uh second and third basically it's also something I email staff beforehand. I would just also uh like to share the questions and uh some information with my fellow commissioners. So um in one of the findings um that the staff had uh used as comparison the two uh properties uh in the legal neighborhood. One is uh 20 uh is uh 1265 Winston Avenue and one isu uh 2515 Ridgeway Road. And um because this variance the one of the uh what in front of us today is the variance uh seeking uh over the limit the uh lot coverage. So um the staff had included two compar comparables. So the first one 1265 the current the allowable lot coverage is 5700 and the current lot coverage is under it at 5,66 uh 68 feet. Uh I just want to kind of once again ask that question and confirm that that is correct. So both properties are under their allowable lot coverage. >> The uh 1265 Winston A is under their lot coverage and livable area. Uh 2515 Ridgeway, they are under their permitted lot coverage. they are over their permitted livable area. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I have a question. Um so just a point of clarification. So with this variance and the request from applicant, will there effectively be three separate dwelling places on the property? The main home, the addition, and then the converted existing garage. the the residence. There's the main residence, right? >> There is a fourcar garage that's being converted to an ADU, correct? >> And there is an existing second story unit over an existing over that fourstory or sorry, fourcar garage and that is also being converted to an ADU. >> Okay. And so effectively there's three dwelling place spaces. >> I mean put this way if someone was to try to apply to San schools as a as a resident there could be three home there could be three families residing in this residence. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I I have a couple of questions. I have the same question. So, there are three potential residences, right? We don't know how they'll be used. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Um, and is there any guidance in the city code as to minimum parking spots per residence? The ADUs both both of the ADUs do not require additional parking and the residents does not have to if they are converting the existing garage they are not required to replace that parking. >> So, so, so once the ADU um comes into play, state law prohibits us from requiring additional parking or any parking at all. Uh last question, sorry, one more question. Uh regarding the actual physical address. So is the address to remain the same for all three dwelling spaces or is that would that be more like a subdivision of the lot to get three different addresses? >> Uh the address remains the same. Uh the our current ADU ordinance allows uh the city to consider multiple addresses for public safety purposes. I don't know that that has been seek at this at this point, but they do have the potential to request additional addresses for public safety purposes. >> That's right. For public safety purposes. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> So, just a quick followup. uh it could be redundant. So because the law does not require parking space, right, or garage uh when someone builds ADU, so it's basically that the owner in this case, the owner wants a new garage um because the existing garage will become ADU. It's not as opposed to the owner needs a new garage. I just want to make that distinction. So I I think the uh question should be posed to the owner. What what I can tell you is that state law does not require additional parking, right? >> However, what we have found is that uh parking will become more and more of an issue. As you know, uh overnight parking is not allowed in the city. So there's been um nothing we hear um from residents who have ADUs or from neighbors who have now complain about parking. So, um to have a resident who wants to provide parking on site actually and has the plan to do so. Um is actually a benefit. Um that you can see it as a benefit because it does not create a parking situation where you see cars in the on the driveways um or uh neighbor disputes. But as I previously mentioned, it's not a state, it's not a requirement to provide the loss um parking, >> but we're moving from four parking spaces to three. Correct. And what are the consequences if parking spills over into the street? Aside from what what you what director has already mentioned which is that there is no overnight parking allowed in the city what are the consequences that should be considered? >> Um well the the only the only issue is uh the municipal code is also restrictive in terms of parking in the driveway and as you know a lot of people do park their cars in the driveways. We uh have a uh requirement that I I I can't remember if it's either 48 or 72 hours that you have to move your car if it's stored in the driveway. How effective uh enforcement is is really tricky because you would have to get on the property with permission to mark and then come back and say, "Yeah, you've been there more than the aotted time." That's difficult. But what you do see and you we get a lot of complaints is that people do park their cars on the driveway. Um but again, you're allowed to have it's either 48 or 72 hours. I wouldn't say it's 48, but you you do have um 48 or 72 hours where you can leave your cars parked in the on the driveway. >> But my question was more about if it spills onto the street. Well, they would get tickets because obvious they they can um you do have the ability to receive overnight parking. I don't know what the criteria is and how long you can have it for and how repetitive it can be, but you you know you could seek that um that relief, but it would be cumbersome and I don't know if there's a fee or not, but sorry, one more question, vice chair. Um, so, so how is this request or applicant request different than what would pres what would be characterized as a multif family development in the city? >> Um, well, one, it's not multifamily because the state has allow you or not allow you but allow the property owner to have multiple um accessory dwelling units. So, it's not multif family. It's still in the nature of residential uh with the uh ADU being in or being subordinate to the main residents. Um multifamily is only allowed in the multi in the mixeduse and commercial use uh or commercial zones, I'm sorry. Uh with required parking, require amenities and um all these other things that come into play. None of that is required here. >> Okay. Um and so as far as when this if it gets approved for with the variance and it goes through a full plan check, does the additional square footage trigger all the normal things that would be triggered for a renovation, meaning like fire sprinklers and fire alarm, etc.? Uh, ADUs do have I couldn't tell you specifically for this project, but um there are protections for ADUs that do not require them to provide uh sprinklers and other requirements, but I don't know what those thresholds are. Those are typically done at the plan check level. >> Okay. And so last question I promise. So in the city of San Marino, are there has there ever been more than two one ADU on a property? >> Yes. I believe there's typically what you see is uh ADU detach uh in a junior ADU, which is >> a Junior ADU. Um, but we also have conversions of garages into ADUs or other structures and then a detach if it's if that's attached. So, there have been instances of two. I'm not sure if there's been one with three other than this one. I I couldn't tell you, but there there's multip Yeah, >> there's instances of multiple of two. Um, I don't know that we have many instances where there's three. This is for two. Yeah. Okay. Thank you very much. >> One more question. Um because this variance the request is quite large quite broad I would say. Um so just to confirm and that the the two comparison properties that's the 1265 Winston and 2515 Ridgeway they do not have any variances. Right. Currently they they've never pulled any variance. >> No, those properties um staff did not find any permit history of entitlements for those properties. >> So those propert 1940s, what year were they built? I I I believe those two properties were built in the 1940s under different development standards. The lot coverage I believe was adopted by the city and I believe it was in the email that you received and it was in 2003. So um developed under two well this garage uh is being proposed under a an ordinance that was adopted in 2003 where the other properties were developed when the lot coverage was not a requirement. >> Correct. But I just want to um ensure that I understand that the other two properties have not pulled do not have any variances. No >> because we're trying to see if this we can justify >> the other two did not have a variance >> that we are aware of. >> Any other questions for staff? Seeing none, does the applicant or the applicant's representative wish to comment on the proposal for a maximum of five minutes? If so, please come forward. State your name and address for the record. >> Hello, good evening. My name is Thomas Kuang. I live at 1241 Winston Avenue. >> I'm sorry. Can you speak directly? You can move the microphone, too. >> My name is Thomas Kuang. I live at 1241 Winston Avenue. I'm here with my designer, Miny Fong, as well. Thank you everybody for your time. Our project, as everyone's talking about, is this uh additional garage attached to our current garage. Why we're trying to do it is because I'm trying to convert our current garage as an ADU for my parents to live with us as they age. And the reason why we're trying to work in the garage and not the existing seconds story unit is they can't use the stairs. And so we're trying to build the garage. Well, at the moment they can with some effort, but I wouldn't want any sort of emergency where they couldn't get out. And the moment we're trying to replace the garage space, that's the intention. Um I understand there's design review conditional use and variance things. Sounds like it's mostly the the variance concern we'll get to. Um just trying to mention that regarding the design review, the compatibility with neighborhood and existing building were entirely flexible with whatever stylistic concerns. We tried to match the layout and the roof line and the colors and um we the location that we're proposing to put it in is screened by a lot of mature oaks and pines and bamboo. So we hope that it's not disruptive visually to anybody. And we know that the four legal neighborhood homes that also face the alley also have garages facing into the alley in the same fashion. Um the four there also have returned the neighbor letters for designer view without objection. Um in terms of the garage and the front yard, I was under the impression that this alley is our front yard because we're a corner lot on Winston and Raleigh. Um, and the shortest front or shortest street facing surface is the alley. And so that was our front. Um, as I understand, the driveway and the garage have been in the front since the home was built in the ' 40s. I'm not aware of that being any sort of issue. And also, our legal neighbors have garages and driveways facing the alley. The geography of the lot means you can't really get out with a vehicle in any other direction. Um, regarding the lot coverage, um, the maximum is 4420 based on the equation or the the calculations. Uh, the existing home is already over at 4565. Um, my understanding of why there's such an issue is because the statutory lot size in the area is 12,000 ft² and the actual lot is 25,000 ft and the majority of the calculation comes from the statutory amount. And also, we're a corner lot, so we take a 10% off for that. We don't really look like a lot of other corner lots, but that's the case. And um the new garage adds a lot of lot coverage. But that's where we're just hoping that we could continue to park vehicles inside. And the actual percentage of the lot that ends up covered with our proposal is 21%. Cuz the total is 5268 and the lot is 25,000. Um, we arrived at the size because we're trying to match the existing geometry of the driveway. The existing structure there is 43 ft wide. Um, the proposed structure narrows as the as the driveway and the lot narrows because it narrows towards the front. And so the proposed structure was 32 ft wide because it leaves the same amount of setback on both sides as currently is there. And we felt that a smaller garage in that space just looks awkward because it would for instance a 20 a 20x 20 or something like that a twocar attached to a 43 ft building becomes there's just large gaps on the side or if it's displaced to one side or the other it ends up being really asymmetrical and disproportionate. Um we don't believe that it would be inconsistent or inconsiderate. Um, the four legal neighbors that face the alley also have garages there. They're two-car garages. 1265 Winston has two two-car garages. Um, but their setbacks are about 10 ft, 30 ft, 30 ft, and 50 ft. And we're proposing that ours is 75 ft back from the alley with a lot more screening in the hopes that it doesn't appear more disruptive than the others. Um, right now the structure there is a fourcar garage with a second story. And I would venture that from the alley it doesn't look any more disruptive or visually imposing than any of our other neighbors despite the fact that it's already that large. And we believe that adding a threecar in front of it doesn't change the silhouette and shouldn't make it appear any bigger. Um, I would also like to note just about the lock coverage that it's really hard to see all the lot coverage. If you're in the alley, you can't actually Sorry, man. If you're in the alley, you can't actually see the main home because there's about 8 or 10 ft of elevation change down to the home. And if you're on the street, Winston and Raleigh looking up, it's far enough and elevation is such that you can't see the garage either. so that from any other any public street you can't actually see all the buildings making up the lot coverage. >> I hope we address the concerns. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Uh do any of the commissioners have questions for the applicant? >> Uh did you have a question? >> One at a time. >> A quick question. Uh noticed on site that on the plans you're calling for the existing balcony to be I would say removed. just going to remain when I was on site. There's a current awning. >> Yeah. >> Over that balcony. >> So, we don't really want to do anything to the guest house to be honest, but we were told that we needed to legalize it in order to work on the structure at all. Is the only reason we're trying to legalize it as an ADU cuz as my understanding that guest house was also built in the ' 40s and predates all the regulations or permitting that would that would defend its existence. And we were told that ADU can't have a balcony. I'm just trying to get rid of the balcony. I don't really know how to do it other than close the door. >> You know why um your neighbor at uh 1248 Winston objected to the project? >> I don't know. Uh I found out I went to go knock on their door uh twice in the last two weeks. I left a note saying the city's asked me to ask you. um because I had already sent a letter initially, but I wrote one saying, "Please, the city's asking me to ask you." I didn't get a response from them. So, I don't know what their concern is. Um I guess I know just from their property, they can't actually see either the existing garage or the new garage, but but I don't know. >> Commissioner J, did you have another question? >> Would you be opposed to just a two-car garage? >> Um no, I don't think so. I think we're open to conditions. I'm not sure how to do it, I suppose. >> So, it's your intention um not to have anybody occupy the upstairs unit. >> I don't intend to rent it out, whatever or whatever that means. I suppose I don't intend to. I don't want to. I'm just saying that as much as I can promise you that I don't want that. I don't know. >> I do think we have to be careful though because the intent of the state law is to provide housing and so we I just want to put that we cannot condition this project not to rent out these units. >> Absolutely. >> Or ask really ask what the intent is. You know, obviously the the applicant provided the what the intent is, but really what they want to do is really up to them. >> Fair enough. Again, I only asked this question because you provided the intention of of the purpose of the request. Um, was there any reason or inability to add to the existing home square footage wise to accommodate your aging parents to live reside in the main residence? >> I'm happy to talk about it. The two reasons why we don't want to do that is that from the garage to the main residence is 14 steps. it's retained at about eight or 10 feet and they would have to walk down to it. And second, I felt that adding to that home would be a negative in the sense that I like the home as as in its form. There isn't really space to add to it. There's essentially canopy cover over the rest of the lot, and I I don't know where we would, and I think it would be detrimental to the the building as it's there. I don't think it would be consistent with the building. So, I suppose to add on, I feel that my parents prefer to have their space or in a way as they age that is favorable for them to not necessarily feel like they've suddenly become dependent on me. Um, but I suppose that's a personal thing. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions for the applicant? Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> I'll now open up this item for public comment. Does anyone present here wish to speak on this item? If so, please come forward. State your name and city of residence. And you have three minutes. And seeing none, staff, do we have any public comment requests that have been submitted electronically? >> No, we do not. Thank you. At this time, I'll close the public comments and bring this item back to the commission for discussion. Commissioner Chang. >> Uh I mean I what I find difficult to make a finding is I feel like the property is already at its limit. Um they're already square footage watch lot coverage wise is already exceeding and this is just allowing uh further of that. Um I understand the uniqueness of the the the terrain and the specific topography of the the land and um and the requirements that the applicant has provided as to the purpose of this. Um, however, given that I feel like it does not meet the requirements for being compatible with the neighborhood or the um the streetscape, even if not wholly visible, still visible for what's being proposed, uh, I can't make the findings. >> And which finding is that? Um, it would be one for the designer DR2615 and then the conditional use permit of 26-01. >> I'm sorry. Those were the entitlements. What were the which finding? Can you be specific to the finding that the proposed structure is not compatible with the neighborhood? That's the the the initial finding I'm saying that I would not be able to meet. And that's for the design review, >> correct? >> I think you mentioned the C as well. >> Uh requiring additional the additional variance for square footage >> uh or approval of the so so each each entitlement has a finding or findings and uh for the design review you mentioned compatibility, >> correct? And so do do you um are you unable to meet or make any of the other findings in the other entitlements or is it just that one for the design review? >> Just that the design review. >> Okay. So you have no issue with the variance. It's just the design review. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Commissioner Chow. >> Thank you, Chair. So I will go by finding by finding uh that my thoughts on this. This is under variance. So I have comments on under variance finding number two, three and five. So number two that um it appears to me that both cited comparison properties are below their permitted lot coverage limits. And uh those examples that may support compatibility of alley facing garages, but to me they do not appear to support the separate variance findings that allow this property to exceed its lot coverage limited by approximately 848 square ft. And um according to that finding I just I I think that will constitute a special privilege. So that is finding number two. Uh and then finding number three this is regarding reasonable utilization of the property. Uh I also am concerned that um even that I agree that the property's slope, tapered shape, narrow alley, frontage and all that may limit where an accessory structure can be placed. However, the finding requires more than showing that development is con constrained or less convenient. It requires a showing that strict application of the lot coverage regulation would deprive the applicant of reasonable utilization of the property. But the property is already reasonably utilized as a single family home residence and presently presently includes a fourcar garage adune and all that. So that's number finding number three and finding number five um also have concern that uh number five says the the finding requires showing that denial of the variance would be unreasonable and would deprive the applicant of any practical use of the property. I just think that's a very high threshold to meet and I do not think that this particular um item meets that threshold. Um it the I believe that the variance would not deprive sorry um I believe that because denying this variance would not deprive the property of pract practical use. The home existing garage and residential use remain. Denial would prevent a particular new three garage configuration but not the pract practical use of the property. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Giles. >> Um, thank you. I had uh asked Aubrey and early on um and had many of the same questions. So, good to see that we're like minds. Um I I am struggling with the variance and the lot coverage is basically where I am. And um the the there is no requirement to replace the covered parking which is therefore then the request for the variance and the excessive lot coverage. So they didn't do the garage, we wouldn't be here and they would not be denied any use of their property. Cor is that my correct assumption? So they they they could still park as they're parking now. They could park as many cars as they're parking now. They could do the conversion of the garage to the ADU. They could do the guest house above. Nothing else would change. That that's I'm looking for correction. My correct assumption. I I just want to say that add to that because of the the the parking the the driveway is actually quite steep. I mean quite quite deep. So I do see a lot of space that potentially they can even if they do the ADU they can have uh ample parking there. I don't think it will have a overflow to the street concern. If that's addressing to what you were saying. >> Correct. My my I I I think there's there's plenty of parking. You could park easily four cars across the existing front of the fourcar garage. Now, I I believe that's what was out there when I walked the property plus whatever is in the driveway. So, again, it's the it's the trigger of the conversion of the existing garage and the replacement of the covered parking, which isn't a requirement in the city and isn't required by code. Commissioner Changen, do you have any other comments? >> No, no other comments. >> Um, I concur with my fellow commissioners. Uh, I do not find the um listed residences um as proper comparators uh those that have been listed for finding number one under um design review 26-15. I also have concerns about findings one, two, and five under the variance. Um, I'm not going to repeat the comments of my fellow commissioners. I do concur. Um, so we need to talk about a motion. >> So, director, if we go ahead. >> Yeah. If if you're contemplating a denial, a motion to deny, um what we ask is that you're be specific in terms of what those uh findings that you were unable to meet in terms of a consensus from this group so that we can then bring back a resolution of denial. >> I think everybody concurred on finding number one for compatibility with the neighborhood. Do we all concur on that one? But we don't we can't make it. >> Put my mic on. >> I'm okay. >> I'm okay with the compatibility, but I do struggle with the findings under variances uh 2, three, and five. >> The compatibility I've been I've been back there. There's along the alley in that neighborhood, there's a lot of rearfacing garages. >> I think it's more than just a rearfacing garage, though. I think that the concern is that the comparators are not above the square footage. >> And >> I agree. I I I again, >> that's what's making it that's what's giving me a problem with that finding. M >> I I I'm unable to make the finding of the compatibility of the requests being made with regards to the design review. Um with regards to the actual lot coverage and variance of the request um as already stated by other commissioners, their feeling is it exceeds and you know I I similarly find that feel that way. But if if they were if there was a argument to be had that there is some reasoning and and ability to allow that usage, I could be open to that. However, for me, it's it's mostly compatibility with neighborhood. >> And Commissioner Chow, I think you listed several findings under the variance. The ones I definitely agreed with were one, two, and five. Um, which ones did >> also three me is two and three. 235. I I agree with Commissioner Chow. 2, three, and five. >> Okay. >> I agree with three also. So, are we leaning toward a denial, not a continuence then? So, uh, director, if we have a motion for denial, do we need to state, um, the, um, I forgot the word. >> The reasoning for the, uh, >> besides the reasoning, uh, the So, they can come back. >> Oh, without prejudice. >> Yeah, without prejudice. >> Moving toward a motion for denial without prejudice. I think it's I believe it's a denial. Yes. >> Do we have a motion? >> Do you want to list all the >> I think >> all the findings. So the way we recommend that you do this is uh is for you to set a motion including the motion that uh the plane commissioner was unable to meet finding number under the entitlement and the reason why you couldn't meet it and without prejudice and then we can take the vote. a motion to deny resolution PCR 2607 for the following reasons. And then then you can go into the findings that you're unable to make for each of the entitlements or for the entitlements that have that you have issues with. So we will need to have a motion to deny just to confirm the the variance, right? That's a V 260. >> So >> PCR 2016 >> PCR resol resolution. >> It's it's attached. >> Oh, okay. After after the letters. >> Oh, after the letters. >> Yeah. So, you would say um the motion would be to deny PCR resolution and the number and for the following reasons. So you would say uh unable to meet finding number x for the variance and then state the reason. So if I'm going to be able to try I just want to make sure I got everything right. So the variance will be the PCR 2603 and then also um commissioner Chan your yours is under the DRC right? >> Correct. I believe I believe PCR26-07 encompasses both. Correct. >> Deny the resolution. >> Y >> for the following reasons. We're unable to make finding X for >> the variance. I see >> encompasses of everything >> that you had inquired about with or without prejudice. So the the um you could use the verbiage motion to deny resolution PCR2607 without prejudice for the following reasons. >> Okay. Do we then need to break it down to each category like the DRC which finding and then the variance which finding? >> Yes. So so far I've heard you cannot as a consensus. So you would have to make sure that everyone's on board because I I feel like on the design review there were some that said that you can make it and some that could not make it. I don't I don't remember hearing anything about the cup and then the variance there were obviously the multiple findings that you weren't that as a consensus you were not able to make. So I think the first thing to do is to make sure everyone's on board with each individual finding that cannot be made. >> Okay. you know where Commissioner Chang and I are on on the >> but but do we have to have a majority on each one? >> If it's a 22 two that motion does not pass, >> right? >> Can I just ask a question? I mean in in theory, wouldn't you if you were saying for the design review case or for the variance, I mean there's similar conditions in the conditional use permit that relate to the area. Would you have to do both or can you? >> So um again a consensus needs to be ma needs to be made by all of you as to which findings can now be made. Uh so far like I said we've heard the multiple findings for the variance. So I think there's a consensus there. I believe there was not a consensus on the design. I did not hear anything about the cup. So if there is a consensus on the CUP, you would also have to state that >> the question is that CUP is basically related to the various >> I understand but it's the entitlement. So if you feel it doesn't make it >> okay so my thinking right now is if we're going for deny denial for the variance and then we should deny the cup as well. That is your tier. >> It's our prerogative, but we have to state the reasons is what you're saying. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. So, we've got we've got consensus on the variance. >> Um, >> which ones? Which findings? >> Let's just list them out. Uh, is one, two, three, five? >> I believe one, two, three, five. >> One, two, three, five. We are we all agree on that? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. And then when it comes to the design review DRC, >> it's two two directors that we >> I I'll go along with that. So >> right, number one, >> finding number one and then the cup. Uh how many conditions do we have? CU >> there's four conditions. >> Four conditions. One is I have concerns with two, three, and four. >> I'll go on with two, three, and four. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Chen, you okay with C? Uh, CRP 234. Do you want to go ahead and make a motion then or >> I'm I'm okay with four. I agree agree on four. >> Okay. Right. So, um, okay. I'll give it a try to deny resolution PCR 2607 based on the following findings. um that uh it does not meet design review finding number one. It does not meet uh CUP finding 2, three and four and it does not meet variance findings 1 2 3 and five >> and the reasons. >> Okay. Um the design review number one um the commission does not find that it um it's compatible with the neighborhood in the I'll go to the variance first. The variance. Do you have variance one? And it does not meet variance finding number one. that a denial of this um proposal would have unnecessary hardship um imposed on the property. And it does not meet finding number two. Yeah. Uh because it will constitute a it will grant a special privilege inconsistent with the limitation uh upon other properties in the vicinity. And number three does not meet the finding uh because it does not deprive the applicant of reasonable utilization of such property and does not meet number finding number five that it would unreasonably and deprivation of any practical use of the property. So moving on to uh cup bindings 2, three and four does not meet um cup finding number two that the proposed condition use is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the yards. And number Three is that the proposed condition used will not have a detrimental effect upon the nature condition and development of nearby uses and buildings. And lastly, number four, that the site of the proposed conditional use will relate to streets in highway adequate in pavement to carry the kind and quality of traffic such use would generate. >> Is there is there a second? Well, actually, did you was the mot in the motion? Did you include without prejudice? >> And the motion is to deny the uh resolution without prejudice. >> I'll second. >> May we have a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Chang, >> yes. >> Commissioner Chow, >> Commissioner Giles, >> yes. >> And Vice Chair Mccay, >> Motion carries 40. >> Thank you. This decision is final unless appealed to the city council within 15 days. >> So the the motion was to deny the resolution. So that means that we'll bring it back to you for an actual adoption. >> Okay. >> We need a a written >> resolution first >> denial. So that'll be brought back at the next meeting. >> Okay. >> And that will will be on the consent calendar. >> Very good. So that's when the decision will become final and appealable at that point. >> Okay. Correct. Thank you. We'll move on to new business. Is there a motion to appoint a chair of the planning commission for the next term? >> Uh I make a motion to nominate uh Commissioner McKay as uh chair of the San Marino Planning Commission. I second that. >> Commissioner Chang, >> yes. >> Commissioner Chow, >> Commissioner Giles, >> yes. >> And Vice Chair McKay, >> Motion carries 40. >> Thank you. I'll make a motion to appoint uh Commissioner Batnes as the vice chair of the planning commission for the next term. >> I second that. >> Commissioner Chang, >> yes. >> Commissioner Chao, >> Commissioner Giles, >> yes. and Chair McKay. >> Yes. >> Motion carries 40. >> Thank you. We'll move on to the consent calendar. Uh is there a motion to adopt resolution number PCR26-06 denying design review case number DR22-25 at 1469 Bradberry Road. >> I just want to say that I did watch the recording so I'm able to participate. >> Thank you. >> I did not watch the recording so I will not vote. Okay. >> Recuse yourself. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I uh Commissioner Chang did watch the video and is able to also partake in the voting of the adoption of the denial. >> Is there a motion? >> I'll move to adopt the denial of resolution number PCR26-06 review case number DR22-25 at 1469 Bradbury Road. >> I'll second. >> Commissioner Chang, >> yes. >> Commissioner Chow, >> yes. Commissioner Giles >> abstain >> and Chair McCabe. >> Yes. >> Motion carries 300. >> Thank you. And is there a motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting? >> I'll move to approve. >> I second that. >> Commissioner Chang. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Chow. >> Commissioner Giles. >> Abstain. >> And Chair McKay. >> Yes. Motion carries 30. Excellent. Thank you. Do we have a director's report? >> Thank you, chair. Uh really quickly, uh just the status on the appeal of 5350 mill to the city council. Uh that went before the city council on June 6th. The city council uh decided to set a denovo meeting uh that will take place September 9th. Uh so I will bring you an update once that occurs. Uh and then uh just a a note in terms of staffing um our assistant planner, our former assistant planner Abigail uh Wiser uh resigned uh a couple weeks ago. U we currently are in an open recruitment that will end this Saturday for the position and so far we've had a healthy 130 something applications. Um so um been going through all of those so hopefully we'll have someone on board relatively quick. Uh that concludes the director's report and chair. Congratulations. Looking forward to working with you as chair. >> Same here. Thank you so much. Um do we have any written communications or public writings for distribution? >> No, we do not. >> Thank you. Uh before we adjourn, I want to recognize that June is Pride Month and it's a time to honor and celebrate the history and achievements of LGBTQ plus community and um it's a time to stand together for a world where everyone is treated with dignity, respect, and love. I also want to note that the next planning commission meeting is in late July. So, we wish all of the community in San Marino and all of the employees of the city of San Marino a safe and happy 4th of July, this 250th anniversary of our nation's independence. And with that, we have no further business to discuss and the meeting is adjourned at 6:58 p.m. And the next planning commission meeting will be held on July 22, 2026 at 6 p.m. in city hall council chambers. Thank you. You

Testing soundtrack. Testing DRC soundtrack. >> Mhm. >> Good evening. It um it is 6:00 and uh I'd like to welcome to you all to the June 17th meeting. Um the Design Review Committee meeting for the city of San Marino. To get started, can you please join me to um call it to order a meeting to order first. So, uh and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance, please. Thank you. >> Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, >> Thank you very much. Uh to get started, I'd like to take this opportunity welcome one of our new member, uh Giovanni Arias. He just joined the uh committee uh for his first meeting. So, welcome Giovanni. >> Thank you very much. >> Uh, roll call, please, uh, staff. >> Committee member Jones. >> Yes. >> Committee member Lee. >> Here. >> Committee member Arias. >> Present. >> Vice Chair Torgerson. >> And Chair Ching. >> Yes. >> The agenda is posted 72 hours prior to each meeting at the following locations: City Hall, the Core Library, and the Stoneman Building. The agenda is also posted on the city's website. The city welcomes public input. At this time, the public may address the Design Review Committee on items that are not on the agenda. Pursuant to state law, the Design Review Committee may not discuss or take action on issues or on the meeting agenda. To ensure that everyone, including those joining them remotely, are able to hear all speakers clearly, please speak directly into the microphone. Please note that the comments are limited to 3 minutes and will be timed by city staff. I would now like to ask staff to explain how the public comments will work for those individuals participating through Zoom and phone. >> For each item on the agenda, there will be time for public comment. The city will accept comments in three ways. First, we will take in-person comments for each item. Please fill out a speaker card and turn it in to me if you wish to speak on an item. There will be a countdown timer displayed to help speakers keep track of their remaining time to speak. Second, we will also accept comments from our Zoom participants. To give a public comment via Zoom via Zoom, please utilize the chat box. When using this method, name yourself so that your first and last name are reflected for the record. If the comment is regarding a specific agenda item, please indicate which item. Comments will be accepted only until the end of the public comment period for the item. Please keep in mind that if there are technical with Zoom, the meeting will proceed as normal. The city will do its best to resolve any technical issues as quickly as possible. Third, I will then state the amount of public comments we have received by email for a particular agenda item. Due to technical limitations associated with gathering, printing, and sorting email public comment, the city has instituted a 3:00 p.m. cut-off the day of the meeting for email public comments. This is to ensure there is sufficient time to gather and provide the email comments to the Design Review Committee. Any comments received after the 3:00 p.m. deadline will be included in the public comment record, but will not be provided to the Design Review Committee during the meeting. >> Thank you. Does anyone here wish to speak on an item that is not on the agenda? If so, please state your name and city of record for the record. Seeing none, uh staff, do we have any public comments submitted electronically? >> No, we do not. >> Thank you. We'll go into the public hearing part of it. Each committee member has received plans and staff comments. Review each item on the agenda and have the opportunity to visit each site. The general order of hearing each case will be as follow. Staff will discuss the case and provide background information and the recommendation. Committee members may ask questions of staff after the presentation. The applicant will present the project if they desire to do so. The committee may take the opportunity to ask the applicant questions. The hearing will then be open up to public comments from in person or teleconferencing participants. At the conclusion of public comments, the applicant will have a chance to respond to the public comments, at which time the public comments will be closed. I will then ask the comments from each of the committee members or discussion, but please do not repeat comments made by your fellow committee members. Committee member may then vote to approved, denied, or continue the project. In the event of a denial, it is hoped that the applicant will have heard comments during the public comment period and during deliberation that will be useful in submitting the application. It's also important to understand that there is a 15-day appeal period after an action has been taken for the applicant or any interested party to request the planning commission to review and act on the case. Move on to I I tend item number one. Um Staff, please represent the number one item. >> Good evening. Thank you, Chair. This is Assistant Planner Aubrey Starkmiller speaking for the record. I will be presenting this item. The applicant proposes two first-story additions totaling 1,035 square feet on the rear of the main residence. The all four required design review findings apply to this project. Staff has made all applicable findings. The applicant also proposes a rear yard wall, re-roof of the entire structure, and an interior remodel, all of which are not subject to design review. Staff made finding number one for compatibility as the massing, roof lines, and design are compatible with other residences in the legal neighborhood. Staff made finding number two for privacy as the property has existing hedges and an existing wall, and the proposed windows are compatible with the existing um existing windows and height lines. Staff has made finding number three as the proposed project matches the existing roof slope, does not increase the height of the residence, and the materials are compatible with the existing residence. Staff made finding number four for colors and materials as the proposed additions match the existing colors and materials of the main residence. Staff's recommendation is to approve the project. This concludes staff's report. Staff is available to answer any questions, and the applicant is present as well. >> Any committee members have any question for staff? >> So, I just have one question. I was looking for it in the staff's review of the project, and I couldn't find it. So, with the proposed approximate 1,000 square foot addition, uh it will create a structure size of approximately 3,500 square feet on a 13 plus thousand square foot lot, which is about 25% lot coverage. For the legal neighborhood, how does that stack up against the legal neighborhood? >> It's a the proposed structure is 25% the livable area is 25% of the lot area size and the average for the neighborhood is 21%. >> So it was just a little bit north of the average in the legal neighborhood. >> Correct. >> Okay, thank you. >> Thank you. Any other question for staff? >> Yeah, I have a question. Um I noticed that there is an objection from the neighbors. Were there any details about this objection? >> No, there was no additional information provided. >> Okay, thank you. >> Any other question? All right. Hearing none, does the applicant or the applicant's representative wish to comment on the proposal for a maximum of 5 minutes? If so, please state your name and address for the record. >> Hello everyone. Uh My name is Yunfei Yang. I also go by Esther. I'm the architect for the project and also the representative for the owner. So basically I'll give a um short presentation for the project. So as you can see that we're doing a one-story addition to the existing house. So basically it's because the owner they have a consideration that their young adult kids may come to live with them for a while. So they do have the physical need to expand their living space considering they may live together with them for a while. So, they want to take the chance of using this lot and try to maximize the floor area they can get. So, that's the that's the basic need and that's why we are doing this addition. And when we start working on this project, we basically have focusing on two major points. One is to maintain the existing building character in terms of no change of the street facing facade and also no change of the existing building height and also just do the extension based on the current building style. So, that means the roof line and the proportion is going to maintain the same style. So, we don't try to change any of the existing style of the building. And as the planner also mentioned that we try to also match the window styles and paint and and the roof styles and everything. So, that's one thing and another thing we have the key consideration is of course to have our building to fit in the neighbor- hood environment. As you can see on the drawings, we do provide a messing comparison to the adjacent neighbors to show that our after our addition, the house remain similar messing volume matching the neighborhood surrounding buildings. So, we don't go beyond. So, we're trying to do a humble fit in and also consideration of the privacy influence on the neighbors as well. We have several approaches. One is we consider that exterior lighting to not shine into the neighbor's yard and also trying to provide enough privacy screens in terms of providing a green screen planting wall on the edge per discussion with the adjacent neighbor and also providing windows with matching sizes and also window locations are also considering the privacy need or influence to the neighbors. So, we have our uh, major opening directions more towards our inner courtyard rather than facing the neighbors. So, generally speaking, those are the two major key concern of design approaches we start the whole project ideas. So, I think that concludes everything that we're trying to solve. And for the retaining wall, we're trying to fix this more like the wall is kind of broken as existing condition and we think extension is going to be hard to keep. So, we just propose that one to be fixed during the construction as well. Yeah. Thank you. >> [snorts] >> Hey, uh, any question for the applicant? Uh, you're good there. >> I have I have one question. The the rear roofline, that's going to be a consistent slope? >> Right, that's going to be a consistent slope. So, >> That's the 3 3 12. >> Right, right. So, uh, we did a careful study of the slope and everything and try to um, just start the extension from the ridge line. So, the height is maintained and then it's going to be a consistent slope all the way down. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> Yes, I have a question about the um, hedges you're planting. >> Mhm. >> I think that's on the south side. >> Yeah. >> Where will those actually go? It seems very narrow. There isn't a lot of room to plant. >> Right. So, we did a careful measurement on site and from where the garage door is and to the wall, it's probably around 2 ft 6 or something. And per our previous planting experience, that's sufficient for growing a bush type of screen green screen walls and which is going to be something Our experience, it grows pretty fast and once it's grow down and one year it's going to be coming a screen wall. Yeah. >> So, it goes the length of the wall >> Mhm. >> but not beyond that. >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. And that one uh we had a specific discussion with the adjacent neighbor and uh reach agreement. So, that's the area they consider it's sufficient going to cover their space and we're willing to offer whatever we can accommodate in this process. Uh driveway stays. Driveway stays. Yes. >> Thanks. >> I have a question on the on the retaining wall portion. Uh uh Your what you're planning on doing is to remove the existing retaining wall, right? >> Yeah, based on our on-site observation, it looks like we have to cuz it's broken. Yeah. >> And then so you would replace it with a new one. >> Right. >> And the building extension >> Mhm. >> in fact will go into the new retaining wall area, right? >> Uh it's going to go into the existing portion of it. And then the new one's going to continue retain the left uh soil. >> So, when when we are doing when you're doing it >> Mhm. >> uh the addition will be actually uh the foundation and the soil >> Yeah. >> will be retained by the new retaining wall, so to speak. >> Right. Yes. Yes. >> So, I just want to make sure that that you you you are extremely careful when you when you start you have input the you have to input the right cuz there's you don't have enough soil to take care of the foundation portion of the addition. >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Will be some inputting there. >> I would assume so. We're trying to minimize that cuz um I think uh our current idea, of course we haven't go into the technical portion for structure yet, but our um idea is uh probably it's going to be uh retained for the for the addition portion is the soil is going to be retained and we're going to try and look into if we're going to have a raised foundation for the area to be consistent with our current structure system and the addition's going to eating to uh current retaining wall area a little bit and we would um expect the uh retaining wall and the the new addition um foundation portion's going to start together. Um so to minimize the the um I wouldn't expect it's going to be infill. I wouldn't expect it's more of probably export. >> It It means [clears throat] you may have to export dirt. >> That's my expectation because I feel it's not going to be import. That's That at least that's currently what I feel that's going to be the situation. >> So So you're building addition >> Mhm. >> to the to the east. >> Yeah. >> And that portion that the the it's going to be slab on grade, right? You You plan on using slab on grade or >> I would think it's going to be raised foundation. >> Raised foundation? >> Yeah. I would think it's going to cuz current house is raised foundation. So >> Okay. >> Yeah. So we plan to >> had to dig deeper >> Yeah. soil out. >> The soil >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> So either way, whether it's going to be imported or exported, uh I just want to make make sure that you understand that be be careful when you do that kind of operation. Work with the city on the hours, the the route, and the truck because usually that's how the neighbors got uh >> Of course. >> the soil operation. >> Yeah, of course. >> So make sure you do that and then work out that detail with the neighbors. >> Uh-huh. >> Yeah. >> The second question is that do you know that the person objected on the on the on the response? Have do you know who they are? Have you talked to them or >> Um >> [clears throat] >> I think the owner mentioned a little bit something um but they have a neighbors here. I don't know if I want to say this but we heard some story. Um so the the I think I mean if that's the one I'm not 100% sure if that's the neighbor or not but what we heard was the neighbor had consideration of uh the view's going to be blocked and it's based on actually our neighbor's project um saying that their ADU blocked the view for them. So they literally against everything in front of their view but I'm not sure if that's the neighbor. That's what I heard. So um so basically I explained to the to the owner I'm not sure if he had chance to go to the neighbor again to trying to say that cuz ours is like uh the uh the the building line is like really pushed back for almost uh 30 ft. The reason well one thing is to of course consider the backyard scale influence. We don't want to use up the whole backyard space and another key factor is because we do have a oak tree at the backyard with a large crown. So even if we want to do something it cannot. So basically that corner where I think um they have their view consideration is already for our law is already covered by that tree. So so it's the whole coverage of the tree covered the whole area. I mean, that's what I heard, but I'm not sure if that's the specific neighbor saying something. Yeah, but that's that's the information. Yeah. >> I I see that you do have some planning to protect all those existing trees. >> Yes. Yes. Except Yeah, except two ones on per the arborist report that it's dying. So, we have to remove it. Yeah. Yeah. >> I don't really have further questions. Anybody else may have any questions? >> But in in looking at the map, the neighbors on Hampton and it's not directly behind, but kitty-corner from the property. So, I'm not sure they even have a view. >> Right. That's That's our question. I was like >> [laughter] >> we don't know. But But for sure, we won't block their view. So, that's that's that's the thing. Yeah. >> I just wanted to ask I presume that the new stucco finish is going to match the existing stucco finish on the home with the larger texture. >> Yes. Yes. Of course. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Mhm. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Mhm. Thanks. >> One more thing along the same line. I think [clears throat] your plan call to have the retaining wall, the one you're building new, is going to be finished with the same stucco finish, right? >> Yes. Yes. Yeah. >> I just want to make sure that way it looks part of the the wall rather than what you have now. >> Right. It's going to look nice. Yeah. Mhm. >> Okay. I have a question. Um it's a clarifying one. So, like the current existing building only has 7 to 12 pitch roof line. That That's right? >> Uh I didn't specifically count, but I would assume yes. >> So, I mean they're all like the same, I guess. And the addition will be introducing a new slope of 3 to 12. >> Uh you mean it's going to be a different slope compared to existing one. >> Correct. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we literally have a um actually a debate on uh which direction we want to go, if we want to remain the same slope and have a lower portion one or have a consistent one uh starting from the edge. And when we study the messing, we kind of feel that it's more clean uh this way to uh have the building to have a consistent roof slope. So, that's why we proposed this way. Yeah. >> I see. Is Is the owner uh open to doing it the other way? >> Um I wouldn't think they're going to against it. Yeah, but if this way uh it's going to be acceptable to the board, we would definitely want to keep this way. Yeah. >> I The only reason I'm saying that is that there's many houses on that street that are done the other way with a low slope. And I I don't really see any others that have like a um a roof where where you know, one side of the roof is steep and the other side is very um >> shallower. >> Shallower, yes. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thanks. >> Mhm. >> Hey, any other question from the Not you have any other people wanted to speak um to present the project or Are you the only one or do you have any other one or not? >> Yeah, I'm I'm the only one for the project. Yeah. >> I'm sorry. >> So, can you I'm a little confused about the roof line now because from what I read, the existing pitch is 7 to 12. >> Mhm. >> And that the addition was expected to be the same to match the existing roof line. Is that incorrect? I don't see anything about a 3 to 12 pitch roof line. Am I missing it somewhere? >> Uh I think it shows on the roof plan on A105. So, it's mainly the addition portion for uh the uh kitchen and dining area. >> There's a The additions on that that are that qualify for design review are where the length of the building is extended and so they extended on the uh to the northeast and to the south side relatively of the residence and those are the portions where the roof does maintain a 7 12 um roof line. The section of the addition in the middle of the structure that does maintain a roof line of 3 12 and so there's like a small portion there but it's the it's the portion of the addition on the end of the home that qualifies for the for design review. >> According to the plan the 3 12 is all the way up to the ridge though. >> Is is what? I'm sorry. >> goes all the way up to the ridge. >> So yes, there is a section of the of the roof that is 3 12 that matches the existing slope of the house. >> Does that mean that finding number three no longer is correct? >> No because it's matching the >> Well no because there's no 3 12 currently. >> I think it's it's I'm sorry. Why don't you explain to the right this on page 105. >> My understanding is that you kept the the northeast and southeast at 7:12 cuz that's consistent with the property. >> Yes. >> But then for the the the section in between those two you changed to a 3:12 to not have to add mass. In order to keep a 7:12 we have we would have to make the building taller. >> Right. >> to reach >> Yeah, we do have the building height to go higher, but we don't want to. So that is why we're trying to keep the the ridge line for the roof in order to maintain the house to be as the same height and then have a shallower roof slope at the back and which apparently is not visible from the street at all. >> Right, right. And then that that was my concern with making sure it's a consistent slope and not not 7:12 and then flat. >> Right, that's what we're Yeah. >> From from the top of the ridge >> Yeah, that's what we're trying to do to make it consistent cuz we figure structural wise and also roofing wise and prevent future leaking possibilities. We think it's a clean move to do. Yeah, so that's that's why. Yeah. >> So if I view it correctly, uh that change of ridge line slope would not affect the front elevation. >> Right, that's totally not visible from from >> Yeah, because cuz you you try to maintain the ridge line pretty much at the same line as the existing. >> Yeah. >> But from the back because it's got the addition, you try to maintain it keeping the ridge line. So, you will see a little different from the back side. >> Right, it's more it's a little bit shallower. Yeah. >> Shallower. It'll be >> Yeah. >> as deep as the 7 12, which uh I I understand that. So, I I personally don't have a big problem with it, but we'll we'll we'll um >> It's not too shallow. It's not too shallow. It's I think it's in the okay range. Yeah. >> I'd be a better solution than raise the ridge line higher in the front to keep maintain the 7 12 and then have a big pop-up in the front. >> Right, that's what we're trying to avoid. >> change the entire character of the home. >> Mhm. >> Okay, another question for the uh applicant. >> Is it visible from the side? >> No. >> No, it's not even visible from the side. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> I mean cuz the elevation on A204 indicates that it might be um >> Yeah, I think they they the portion that is visible from the side side, it does have the same slope as the existing portion. It's only where it's hidden in the middle has a different slope. As if you are checking the if you are checking the uh the proposed roof plan that we are trying to fill in the little gap um between our addition and the new one, so uh the portion where it's visible from the side view is the is still the same slope as the existing trying to match it. Yeah. It's only the portion hidden in the middle got changed to a little bit shallower. >> Okay. >> Mhm. >> Um I I still have a question for uh planner Audrey. If about that finding number three, if that still stands. Because it's written there that what does it say? The proposed additions match the existing roof slope of 7 to 12. Which uh it's no longer the case, right? >> The portions of the addition that are subject to design review are the portions that extend the length of any side of the residence. So, it is the portions on the exterior, not the interior portion of the addition. That's not subject to design review. So, it's just the portions that are extending the side. Which are continuing the roof line of 7 12. >> Okay. Got it. Thank you. >> Hey, any other question for staff and or the applicant? Hearing none, uh I I like to There's nobody else here want to speak on the about the project. >> I think neighbor want to say something. >> You want to speak? Just come on up and >> Yeah. >> Give us your name and address for the record, please. >> I'm Joseph Quag um residing at 1476 Kensington Road. Um we're the neighbor to the north um of the property. In general, we you know, I don't really have too much I'm not Well, first of all, I want to put it on record that I'm not the one who wrote in uh in opposition to the project. Um I just have >> [clears throat] >> I just have a >> [cough] >> I just have I generally don't have, you know, much of problem with the proposed addition. Um I just have a question about the landscaping in term you know, my main concern is really the tall hedge that we see from on the property which is on the on the north side of the property. Um For the past 35 years, the previous owners have always maintained it well. It's a very very tall hedge and the previous owner have maintained it well by topping it, you know, periodically. But ever since the new owners come in, it has never been done. And I'm just concerned about um the maintenance and the landscaping which is going to affect me the views from my side. Um in terms of I I just realized that you guys have a question regarding the 3 and 12 roofs. So it my little understanding of the construction itself, if you have a 3 to 12 roofs, if you want to use the same type of like you know, tile material, there has to be special treatment. Um I think it's something that, you know, we need to take a look at. I mean, that may be a construction, you know, building detail. So, you know, I just want to address the landscaping concern. Thank you. >> As I thank you for your comment. Just want to make sure that you said the previous owner maintained the hedge at a certain height and topped it off correctly. >> Yes, I'm able to trim it on my side, but this hedge actually um occurs on on their property. >> Right. >> And the previous owners have been very religious in topping it. It's a very, very tall hedge. So, you know, it takes like, you know, um tall ladders uh to um top it. And the previous owner have done it really, really well and really enjoy that. So, I hope that you know, that can be maintained um like what the previous owners did. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate that. Um anyone else want to speak for about the project? I'm hearing none. Uh anybody electronically want uh submit it for this project? Want to make any comment? >> We've not received any comments from our Zoom participants. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, so I'd like to close the public portion of the meeting at this time. And um then we'll go on to our own deliberation. So, uh I'll start um with the commissioner member um Lee. Can you share with us about your feeling on the project? >> Thank you, chair. Um Yeah. So, I mainly just have an issue with the roofline. Um I uh I think that the part So, the between the two parts that are addition and they they stick out, there is a addition in the middle. And and I I believe that is um subject to design review, right? Because it's square footage is being added. Um and so, the roof on top of that is 3:12, which does not match the current roofline. Um I think it looks kind of weird that it's roofline don't match. Um and so I would really like to see a roof pitch that matches and then have a low slope. Um that seems to be pretty common in the neighborhood. Um and I feel like we don't typically see uh rooflines that you know, all of a sudden are are low sloped um here. So, um if the applicant is willing to to do that, then I can support it. Otherwise, um I would probably not. >> Um any member Jones, you want to >> Uh so, uh I I like the project. Um I think the additional square footage will make the house more usable for the family. Um I do find it a little peculiar or a little odd that that middle section of additional square footage of I think 700 square feet is not under our purview because it's doesn't extend out past the maximum amount and only the two side additions are under our purview. Having said that, um I do think from the side from the roofline, the side elevation where you can see the difference in the pitch is a is a little unusual. It wouldn't prohibit me from voting um for the project, but um if we're really being told it's not part of our purview, then it's not part of our purview, I guess. But I do think that's odd. Um as far as materials, um it's all consistent with what's already there. Um so, you know, I I can support the project, I guess. >> Thank you very much. Any member Arya? >> Yeah, I'll I'll echo um you know, I think the project could have gone a lot of different ways. Keeping the massing at a minimum was a is a benefit. Staying at the single story. Um I do understand the need to extend the roofline on in the center. Um you know, I I I think there may be multiple ways to do that, but again, I guess if it's within our purview, this is not really up for discussion. All the other matters that have been discussed, I think, fit well with within the guidelines of our our design committee. >> Appreciate that. Thank you. Vice Chair. >> I agree with um my fellow committee members who support the project. I think it I think it matches the findings. I can I can agree with the findings of the staff. And um I don't have an issue with the roof changing pitch in that portion. Uh so, I would be be in support of the project. >> Thank you, Vice Chair. Uh I tend to agree with all the most of the comments made, which is supporting the project. I think overall, um the architect has done what they could and try to maintain the massing and the volume of the home by keeping the ridge line at the right place. Um And and and the elevation is not changing the front and also on both side. Yes, I agree that the rear elevation uh will have a lower pitch roof, but I don't think that's going to hurt the project. So, I can also support the project. So, uh with that said, I'd like to entertain a motion to approve the project. >> Uh sure. I'll go for it. Um so, I'll make a motion to approve case DR 2588 of 1488 Kensington Road for the addition uh for a square foot addition of 1,035 square feet at the uh rear of the existing structure. >> Thank you very much. Do I hear a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Um I'd like to tell you one more comment. The architect you heard what the comments made by the neighbors about the side yard, um, landscaping. So, if you can relay that information to your owner and tell them to be good neighbors and try to keep maintain that. Um, thank you. Uh, please call for the question. >> Committee member Jones? >> Yes. >> Committee member Lee? >> No. >> Committee member Adyas? >> Yes. >> Vice chair Torgerson? >> And chair Ching? >> Yes. >> Motion carries 4-1. >> Thank you very much. So, please forward that information to the property owner and and work with the neighbors. Okay? Thank you very much. Okay, so moving on, um, do we have a design review committee reorganization? Am I saying that correctly? >> Uh, Mr. Chair, yes, you are correct. That is our new business. Uh, so, uh, at this point, uh, the committee will now nominate a, uh, chair. >> Um, let me go ahead and nominate, uh, vice chair to be the new chair for the committee. Would that uh, So, would that work? It's, uh, I need a second for that. Anyone? >> Sure, I'll second that, uh, that nomination. >> All right, so, um, I'll call for the question. All those in favor, please say aye. >> Actually, uh, we'll call roll call. >> Oh, you'll call roll call. Okay, good. >> Committee member Jones? >> Yes. >> Committee member Lee? >> Committee member Adyas? >> Yes. >> Vice chair Torgerson? >> And chair Ching? >> Yes. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> Uh, Mr. Chair, uh, at this point, if you would like to if you have any words you would like to say as now going chair, this is an opportunity for you to say. Yeah, if you want to say anything, you don't have to. >> To say anything? >> No, if you don't you don't have to. >> No, I I I think I think let me thank the committee members for for this whole last year. Um it's been fun. I think we we tried to keep the meetings um prompt and and uh running smoothly and I really appreciate everybody's input to make my job a lot easier. And uh I I appreciate every every bit of it. And the the the way we work together together with staff's valuable input and the director's guidance has make this city a little bit better at a time. Every project supposed to being bring a better result. And I I have to say this our our newest member had asked me how long have I served on this committee. Uh I served not only on this committee, I served on this committee first. After I retired, I went to the planning commission. After I termed out, I went back to this committee. So, it's a total of 17 years. And out of this >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Yes. I was a young man like you at that time. >> That's a compliment. >> But it's it's been uh it's I I'm passionate because I I look at how every project when we vote on it I look at it this way. Is the end result of the project better than we not approving it or stopping it? If the result is yes then we'll try to work with the applicant to make it better. Because obviously each homeowner love to see the people they move in. And homes are aged and some of them are either physically or economically obsolete. So, we need to do something to maintain our city to be upkeeping with the latest and the greatest. But then the other hand, we want to maintain our quality, the trees, the vegetation, uh the new way of living. Uh it it's it's a combination of a lot of factors. So, we try to work with them to make it happen. And of all these many years between the two side two times design review committee and one time planning commission we've done a lot of projects and challenging projects to make this city better when I started. Yeah, I have to say that cuz I've seen homes that are challenging and sometimes you only just don't want to do anything about it and you hope that they'll come and say, "Hey, I want to improve the home." And one at a time after hundreds of home are being improved over the years it is looking a lot better. So, I just want to thank the city and thank the committee members and staff to work hard to make it happen. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Now, if you would like to change uh chairs. >> I'm Oh. Or the script, too. >> Oh. Okay. So. Okay. We'll switch here. >> All right. Formal movie. >> Yeah. >> movie >> Thank you, Madam Chair. If you would like to now entertain a motion for a vice chair. >> All right. I like to hear a motion for vice chair, nominations for vice chair of the Design Review Committee. >> You yourself can make a motion. >> All right. I would like to propose Mr. Jones as vice chair of the Design Review Committee. >> I'll second a motion. >> All right. >> Committee member Lee? >> Yes. >> Committee member Cheng? >> Committee member Adias? >> Yes. >> Vice Chair Jones? >> Yes, thank you. >> And Chair Torkelson? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Next item. >> Okay. Uh uh congratulations. Uh let's see. New business. I I I also want to just say a couple of little things, and that is I really have enjoyed being on this committee, cuz I think we're a very compatible group, and everybody has their own strengths and brings those strengths to this committee. And I had heard that it was really difficult to get projects through in San Marino. I don't know if that reputation was deserved or not. I see some of the things that I think were done in the '70s, and I don't think that was terribly difficult back then. Uh but I think if a applicant is coming to us and is wanting to spend a fair amount of money, a considerable amount of money, in many cases, then we owe that applicant uh our best input and and working with the applicant, so that our community continues to improve. So, I I see that happening here, and um I'm very uh fulfilled uh as as a member of this committee. So, thank you. >> Vice Chair, would you like to say anything? >> Um so, I would just like to thank everybody for my two years of experience on here as a committee member. It's been very rewarding. It's been very fulfilling and it's been very educational, quite frankly. Working with the the public in terms of to reiterate uh committee or chair uh madam >> [laughter] >> uh Torgersen's comments that uh working with the community to really help them enhance their properties is really critical to maintaining and preserving the architectural integrity of the city. So, I think we serve a very important role and um you know, I I think that we all take that role very seriously and I would like to do what I can do to continue that movement forward. Thank you. >> Appreciate it. Um Madam Chair, we can move on to the consent calendar. >> Consent calendar. So, we have approval of minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes? >> I I move to approve the minutes as presented. >> Uh just before uh you move on to the roll call, uh committee member I just asked that you uh are you willing to participate? And if you are, did you see the Did you watch the previous meeting? What what day was that meeting? >> May 20th. >> May I have That's been a while. I can't I can't recall that. >> No, so you just have to recuse yourself. >> Yeah, I'll recuse myself. >> All right. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I need a second. >> We need a second. >> it. >> All right. Committee member Lee? >> Yeah. >> Committee member Cheng? >> Yes. >> Committee member Arias? >> Abstain. >> Vice Chair Jones? >> Yes. >> And Chair Torgersen? >> Motion carries 4-0. >> Thank you. >> Do you Do you have a report? >> Thank you, ma'am Chair. Uh first off, I want to thank uh both you and the former Chair for the tireless efforts that uh you have displayed throughout the year. First off, uh Committee member Cheng, uh thank you for your leadership the past year. Uh we appreciate uh the the way you run the meetings and how tight you are with time, so that's good for staff who have been here since 7:00 a.m. and will be here helping at the counter at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, so we really do appreciate that. Appreciate your expertise. Um it obviously pays off that you're an architect and you can bring in that insight. Um and obviously as you mentioned, you've been doing this for a long time and your footprint in the city is visible and we appreciate everything that you do and have done and will do. Uh Chair, um uh I appreciate our staff appreciates all the hard work and effort that you put in and the sacrifices that you've put in throughout not only this year, but in the past and so we really do appreciate that you're always there when we need you and we really we we don't we will never forget that. Um my first interaction with the Vice Chair was actually as an applicant when he had a project going before DRC. And um as the Chair had mentioned uh in her uh comments, um I had heard the same thing when I came into the city 4 years ago and how difficult things could be and I think uh the Vice Chair displayed some frustration and uh one of the things that he did was obviously apply to be a DRC member to help in that process and I think he's done that and uh um I I've I've been surprised of how efficient he has been and the analysis that he puts in and how courteous he is with staff and he tries to work with the applicants and so I think um you know, this is one of those examples where uh he his first interaction might have not been the most positive one but uh the work and effort that he's put in has helped make this process a lot better. So we do appreciate that and look forward for this upcoming year you as this you be vice chair. I also want to um identify two our two new alternative alternate members uh Mr. Jean Chen and Ms. Ingrid Kolisk. Uh Mr. Jean Chen is actually in the audience if you want to wave. Uh so uh he'll be here um helping us out with one of you is out on uh hopefully a good holiday or vacation day and have to miss a day um which leads to my next comment. You know, anytime that you are going to be out if you can let us know so that we can give our alternates a head head time for them to review the comments and so forth and plans. That'll be greatly appreciated. And again, I think one of the things that helps out staff is as you review these staff reports, if you have questions ahead of time if you can let staff know, that way they can do the research cuz sometimes, you know, these questions are research intensive and we won't be able to provide you with the response at the day of the hearing. But if you provide us those questions ahead of time, we'll do our best to provide you with the response. Um so again, looking forward to the new upcoming leadership with both uh you chair and vice chair and thank you so much for your hard work and effort and that concludes the director's report. >> Thank you, director. Do we have any written communication, public writings? >> No, we do not. >> All right. Since we have no further business >> Actually, vice chair, one I would be remiss if I did not thank outgoing committee member Chow and Hoyles who served the past 2 years. Actually, committee member uh Chow has graduated to the planning commission. He was appointed to be a planning commissioner and so he'll be there for the next 4 years. So, we'll have some continuity between DRC members and planning commissioners. And committee member Hoyles, you know, we want to thank her for her participation and all the assistance she provided when when one of you had to miss one of the meetings, so thank I want to thank both of them for their hard work and effort. >> All right, thank you, director. All right, since we have no further business to discuss, the meeting is adjourned at 6:54. >> Thank you.