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Council declares two public nuisances, continues Crest Road case to January after owner seeks time
Summary
After staff presented enforcement timelines for three properties with alleged fire and safety hazards, Council adopted abatement resolutions for 6 Running Brand and 77 Portuguese Bend, and continued the 2 Crest Road dead-tree case to the January meeting to allow the owner to secure bids and meet with fire officials.
The Rolling Hills Estates City Council opened a public hearing on nuisance abatement for three properties and considered staff recommendations to declare public nuisance conditions and order abatement. Benjamin Johnson, code compliance officer, reviewed enforcement histories and evidence for each site and recommended that the council adopt resolutions to begin a 30‑day abatement clock under Rolling Hills Municipal Code (RHMC) chapter 8.24.
2 Crest Road East (dead tree): Staff said the dead tree was first reported April 22 and that multiple notices and follow-up inspections occurred through July; a notice and order to abate was mailed Nov. 21. Johnson reported the homeowners were soliciting contractor bids. Cynthia Cashman Macon, a co-owner, testified she had not received prior notices and asked the council to continue action to the first January meeting so she could obtain bids and consult the fire department. Council voted to continue Resolution No. 13 99 for 2 Crest Road East to the first meeting in January to allow the owner time to show progress; notices will be reissued for the continued hearing date.
6 Running Brand Road (retaining wall and debris): Staff said inspections dating from May found an unstable retaining wall and debris cascading down a slope, creating fire and safety hazards. The homeowners engaged an architect and indicated they are preparing plans to repair the retaining wall and remove debris. The council adopted Resolution No. 1400 declaring the conditions a public nuisance and authorizing abatement procedures if the owner fails to make timely progress.
77 Portuguese Bend Road (overgrown and dead vegetation): Staff presented a long history of notices dating back to February and said the property contains widespread overgrown and dead vegetation. Council members raised concerns about the property’s access (some argued heavy equipment may not be able to reach portions of the site) and the scale of clearing (staff said the area is about 20 acres and that the municipal code allows the city manager discretion to work with property owners where access is limited). The council adopted Resolution No. 1401 declaring the property a public nuisance and instructed staff to return with status updates soon after the 30‑day window; council also directed staff to coordinate with other agencies where necessary.
City attorneys and the city manager told Council the 30‑day period in the municipal code is intended to start the abatement timeline and does not necessarily require full completion of large projects within that interval; staff said good‑faith progress by property owners will be taken into account and that city abatement would return to council for authorization before the city undertakes costly measures and billing.
Council’s actions were narrowly procedural: the Crest Road case was continued to allow the owner to gather bids and coordinate with the fire department; the two larger and less responsive cases were advanced with abatement resolutions and directions for staff follow-up.
