The San Marino City Council was expected to discuss the hiring of a new finance director and review the first reading of ordinances for Stoneman School and amendments to the 2019 California Building Standard Code at its adjourned meeting in the Crowell Public Library’s Barth Community room on Friday.
The council was expected to sign off on the hiring of Paul Chung as the new finance director, a position that has been vacant since the start of the year. If concurrence is received from council, he would begin employment on Monday, November 25.
According to a city report, Chung was selected from among 32 initial applications as the city worked with the executive recruiting firm Peckham & McKenney. Chung has approximately 15 years of experience in the municipal finance world and currently works for the City of Santa Monica. His experience includes budget preparation, treasury analysis, revenue forecasting, cost allocation and fee studies and plans, weekly cash flow preparation, investment management, debt management, grants and contracts administration, and payroll. Chung holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and an MPA (Master’s in Public Administration), with an emphasis on public sector management and leadership.
Stoneman School was also expected to be on the agenda, with the first reading of an ordinance that would amend the city code in regards to schools in the residential zone. Stoneman, located at Huntington Drive and Granada Avenue, is bordered by existing single family homes in the R-1 zone and commercial buildings in the C-1 zone. The city report specified that the code amendment’s intent was to “codify the use of the Stoneman property as a school in a residential zone” and further justify the city’s long standing school use and activities on the property. The code language would also allow for a third-party vendor to use the property in a similar fashion. Uses, such as a private school or a recreation/childcare provider, would only be allowed with the issuance of a conditional use permit.
In addition, the council was expected to hear the first reading of an ordinance incorporating the 2019 editions of the California Building Standards Code and the 2019 Los Angeles County Appendix J Grading. The “most significant” amendment to the building codes are noted in a city report as limitations to the installation of natural wood roofing materials. It is prohibited to install wood shingle and wood shake roofing materials when more than 10 perfect of the total roof is replaced. This step is to ensure that natural wood roofing materials are phased out of the city code.
As for impact on property owners, the city report noted: “As with each Code adoption, there are stricter regulations that are being proposed this time around. However, a homeowner who is constructing a small addition or updating a bathroom or kitchen will likely not be significantly affected. Homeowners who seek to replace their natural wood roofs will face added cost as they will have to consider alternative materials.”
A public hearing and second reading of the ordinance, after which it can be adopted, is scheduled for the Nov. 13 council meeting at City Hall at 6 p.m. If adopted then, the ordinance will go into effect Dec. 13.
