Ramzi Awwad

The meeting included communications regarding City Council zoning changes, updates on the city's Wireless Ordinance, and personal recognitions. The Commission reviewed and approved updates for the Planning Commission's twice-yearly update and work plan for the City Council. Additionally, the commission reviewed pre-agenda items for upcoming meetings.

The meeting commenced with committee announcements, noting that Member Crossman will assume the role of Chair in July 2025. Key business items included the approval of the Avenida Classica Traffic Circle Pilot Program, with an addition to consider supplemental advanced warning signage based on traffic engineering guidelines. A petition for speed bumps on Trudie Drive resulted in a motion to conduct a traffic study and implement temporary traffic calming measures for the neighborhood. Regarding the Hawthorne Boulevard Guard Rail Evaluation, the committee approved a traffic study for guardrail installation, investigation into temporary barriers, and a search for records concerning previous commitments for a block wall. Future agenda discussions will focus on procedures for Traffic Safety Committee requests.

The key discussions and actions during the meeting included the approval of the agenda and the continuation of previous public hearings (none were noted). For new public hearings, the Commission considered recommending text amendments to the General Plan elements to update references associated with the newly adopted Municipal Code Chapter 15.20 regarding Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex Regulations, passing the resolution on a 5-1 vote with one dissent. In new business, the Commission reviewed a major site plan review concerning the vacation of a sewer easement for the property at 5801 Crestridge Road, ultimately adopting a resolution finding the vacation consistent with the General Plan and exempt from CEQA requirements in a 6-0 vote. Future agendas for November 11 and 25, and December 9, 2025, were reviewed, with the November 11 meeting announced as canceled due to the Veterans Day holiday.

The City Council meeting included public hearings and regular business items. Key discussions involved the Abalone Cove Sewer Service Charge, for which a resolution was adopted determining the charge for FY 2015/16. Regarding Street Tree Maintenance Practices, the Council directed staff to modify the trimming policy, delete the City Tree Review Permit process, and rescind existing covenants, while also introducing an ordinance to preclude permit issuance temporarily. In addressing the Parks Master Plan Update, the Council removed Gateway Park from consideration, incorporated the privately funded Skate Plaza at Upper Point Vicente Park, approved modest improvements at Lower Hesse Park and Eastview Park, and directed staff to analyze the creation of a full-time position for trash pick-up and graffiti removal. Furthermore, the Council introduced an ordinance in a bifurcated manner, authorizing Volunteers on Patrol to issue parking citations and addressing the recovery of attorney's fees. A separate discussion addressed Southern California Edison Prolonged Power Outages, resulting in a motion to notify legislators about rebate program precedents.

The meeting involved several key agenda items related to land use and development regulations. A significant portion of the discussion concerned a request for a one-year time extension for a Height Variation Permit, Grading Permit, and Variance (Case No. ZON2003-00465), which was ultimately continued to the next meeting for the applicant to provide clearer justification regarding hardship. The commission also addressed a continuance request for a Height Variation Permit (Case No. ZON2005-00074). During Public Hearings, the commission debated a Height Variation Permit (Case No. ZON2005-00409) for a large residence, ultimately continuing the public hearing to allow the applicant to redesign the project to address concerns about bulk, mass, and neighborhood compatibility. Another public hearing involved a request to continue a Height Variation and Site Plan Review (Case No. ZON2003-00557). The commission approved a Grading Permit (Case No. ZON2004-00517), adding language to address construction truck idling hours. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding a Code Amendment for Cargo Containers (Case No. ZON2004-00265), where commissioners debated provisions for short-term and long-term uses, particularly concerning commercial zones and the requirement for foundations, leading to a continuance to allow staff to revise the draft language and include input from the Building Official.