Collection of Materials Related to the City of Rolling Hills Estates 038
Lulu Zilinskas
Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.
2019 Jun 10
701 Silver Spur Road
Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274
localhistory@pvld.org
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Palos Verdes Library District, Peninsula Center Library. Local History Center.
Title: Collection of Materials Related to the City of Rolling Hills Estates
Creator:
Hopkins, Jack, (1915-1997)
Identifier/Call Number: 038
Physical Description:
3.5 Cubic Feet
7 legal document boxes
Date (inclusive): 1933; 1957-1998
Physical Location: Local History Center
Abstract: Collection of records relating to the City of Rolling Hills Estates. The bulk of the collection covers Jack Hopkins tenure
as Mayor (September 1957 – April 1959, May 1965 –April 1966), Vice Mayor (April 1967 – April 1968), and Council Member (1959-65,
1966-1972).
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation
[Name of item], Collection of Materials Related to the City of Rolling Hills Estates (Collection #38). Local History Center,
Peninsula Center Library, Palos Verdes Library District, Rolling Hills Estates, CA.
Biographical / Historical
Rolling Hills Estates was founded on September 10th, 1957 with 1.4 square miles of land and a population of 3,600. It was
the 60th city formed in Los Angeles County and the 3rd on the Peninsula. The city formed out of a need to maintain local rule
during annexation attempts by the cities of Torrance and Lomita.
Jack Hopkins, chairman of the Peninsula Citizens' Committee, led the drive to get unincorporated areas on the Peninsula into
the new city proposal. He became the city's first mayor.
Arrangement
Arranged into two series: 1. Subject files for former Mayor and Council Member Jack Hopkins, 1933; 1958 – 1972; and 2. City
of Rolling Hills Estates records, 1957 – 1998; arranged alphabetically by folder title, thereunder chronologically. Undated
materials filed after dated materials.
Scope and Contents
Collection includes city administrative documents (meeting minutes, agendas, ordinances, etc.) and personal documents related
to Jack Hopkins. Records include newsletters, clippings, informational mailers, brochures, election material, court filings,
blueprints, petitions, rosters, handbooks, and photographs.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired by donations, collected and assembled by the Local History Center.
Processing Information
Initial rehousing and stabilization of materials by Local History Center volunteers. Final arrangement and description by
Lulu Zilinskas, 06/10/2019. Folders with bracketed titles are subject files created during processing.
Related Materials
For photographs of the City of Rolling Hills Estates see the Rolling Hills Estates photo collection on the Palos Verdes Library
District's digital respository,
www.palosverdeshistory.org
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Minutes (Records)
Newsletters
Rolling Hills Estates (Calif.)
Municipal ordinances
Annual reports
Subject files for former Council Member and Mayor Jack Hopkins
1933; 1958 - 1972
Scope and Contents
Series contains both personal and administrative documents of Jack Hopkins during his time on City Council. Documents include
correspondence, memos, newsletters, informational mailers, meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, clippings, reports, plans,
surveys, brochures, election material, handwritten documents, letters and photographs. Clippings are from the Los Angeles
Times, South Bay Daily Breeze, Palos Verdes Peninsula News, and editions of City of Rolling Hills Estates. Correspondence
includes organizations such as the League of Women Voters of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the Horsemens' Association. Series
also includes correspondence from homeowners associations, such as the Ridgecrest, Del Cerro, and Mesa Palos Verdes.
Box 1
1966 election
1966
Scope and Contents
Includes documents related to the April 12, 1966 Rolling Hills Estates City Council election with a focus on candidates Jack
Hopkins, Jack O'Hara, and Ray Slaney. Documents include a "Know the Candidates" questionnaire from the League of Women Voters
of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and a final report on the Hawthorne Boulevard improvement project.
Box 1
1968 election
1967 - 1968
Scope and Contents
Includes documents related to the April 9, 1968 Rolling Hills Estates City Council election. Many documents concern the five
proposition topics of the election: Annexation no. 24, Summer Recreational programs, Palos Verdes Drive North, city hall,
and City Council member salary. Other documents include informational mailers from the Citizens Committee for Annexation no.
24 and the Rural Homes Environment Committee.
Box 1
1970 "our" candidates
1970
Scope and Contents
Includes documents related to the April 14, 1970 Rolling Hills Estates City Council election with a focus on candidates Jack
Hopkins, Clyde Hall, and Dan Whitcraft. Contains a questionnaire from the League of Women Voters of the Palos Verdes Peninsula,
positions on Palos Verdes Drive North, and a list of families who attended Rolling Hills County Day School in 1970.
Box 1
1970 "their" candidates
1970
Scope and Contents
Includes documents related to the April 14, 1970 Rolling Hills Estates City Council election with a focus on the candidates
Al Shemet, Arthur Greenberg, and Richard Young. Also contains candidate statements and campaign information from the Rolling
Hills Estates Citizens Association.
Box 1, Box 2
Annexation
1962 - 1971
Physical Description: 3 Folders
Scope and Contents
Includes documents on attempted annexations of the City of Rolling Hills Estates. Annexations mentioned in the file include:
no. 7 and no. 8 (Great Lakes Carbon Corporation properties); no. 9; no. 10; the 1964 Annexation (Marineland, Del Cerro, and
Abalone Cove); no. 18; no. 20; no. 21; no. 22; no. 23 (Larga Vista, Harbor Sight, Deer Hill, Sweet Grass, and Spinning Wheel);
no. 24 (Mesa Palos Verdes, Del Cerro, and Ridgecrest); Westfield-Chadwick Annexation; and no. 1971-1.
Files contain correspondence from the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Los Angeles County, Committee on Annexation,
and Great Lakes Properties, Inc. Other documents of interest include a legal description for the proposed City of Rancho Palos
Verdes, a General Study of the City of Rolling Hills Estates, and an analysis of Proposed Annexation no. 3 for the City of
Palos Verdes Estates. Files also contain Ordinance no. 174, concerning horse overlay zones.
Box 2
[The Brown Act]
1961 - 1963
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the Ralph M. Brown Act and its effect on the City Council of Rolling Hills Estates. Notably,
this file includes a speech given by Richard Carpenter of the League of California Cities.
Box 2
[Cities for Consolidated Services]
1958
Scope and Contents
Contains meeting minutes of the Cities for Consolidated Services.
Box 2
[City council elections]
1961 - 1972
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to various Rolling Hills Estates City Council elections.
Box 2
Civil defense
1964 - 1967
Scope and Contents
Contains documents concerning disaster defense and civil defense in the South Bay of Los Angeles during the 1960s. Documents
of interest include correspondence from the League of California Cities, documents on the Mutual Aid and Joint Powers Agreement
concerning supplemental police, correspondence from the Disaster and Civil Defense Commission, a Washington Report from the
American Security Council, several photocopied clippings concerning race riots, and a newsletter from Richard Cotten's Conservative
Viewpoint.
Box 2
[Civil rights general]
1964
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence from the County of Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations and a bulletin from the Palos Verdes
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Congressional Action Committee.
Box 2
[Clippings]
1965 - 1970
Scope and Contents
Of note is one photocopied clipping from Fortune magazine on suburban sprawl.
Box 2
[Committee for the Preservation of Research Park]
1962
Scope and Contents
Contains informational mailers from the Committee for the Preservation of Research Park concerning Great Lakes Properties,
Inc.
Box 2
[The Committee for the Preservation of the Rural Atmosphere of Rolling Hills Estates]
1967
Scope and Contents
Contains an informational mailer from The Committee for the Preservation of the Rural Atmosphere of Rolling Hills Estates
about annexation no. 24.
Box 2
Contract city information
1962 - 1964
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the contracted services of the Los Angeles County Sheriff to cities in Los Angeles County, otherwise
known as the Lakewood Plan. Documents of interest include correspondence with the California Contract Cities Association and
a legislative bulletin from the League of California Cities.
Box 2
Freeway
1967 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the proposed route 1/107 freeway, a ten-mile section from Vermont Ave. to route 405. Includes
a preliminary plan of the 1/107 and 91 freeways, a District 7 Freeway Report, and a resolution from the California Highway
Commission.
Box 2
[Homeowners associations mailing lists]
1966 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Contains mailing lists of homeowners associations in Rolling Hills Estates.
Box 2
[Hoof Beats]
1968 - 1970
Scope and Contents
Contains editions of Hoof Beats, the newsletter for the Dapplegray Homeowners Association.
Box 2
Horses
1964 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Includes documents related to horse zoning laws on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Of particular note, there are results of a
questionnaire on "Horse Lots" in the Marloma Area and a draft of Ordinance No. 166, also known as "Horse Lot Ordinance".
Box 2
Howlett
1967
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence relating to the re-appointment of Ernest Howlett as a member of the Rolling Hills Estates Planning
Commission.
Box 2
The Jack Cameron Controversy
1967
Scope and Contents
Includes material related to the annexation of several lots within Tract 29223 to the City of Rolling Hills Estates. Documents
contain correspondence between the City Council and Jack Cameron and two drafts of proposed land grants.
Box 2
"John T. Knox"
1964
Scope and Contents
Contains the remarks of John T. Knox to the California Contract Cities Association regarding the Special Districts 1965 Legislation.
Box 2
Koletos
1963 - 1964
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the violations of Rolling Hills Estates ordinances by Telo Koletos. File contains a memo on
the criminal prosecution of Koletos due the ordinance violations.
Box 2
Landfill
1960 - 1970
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to landfill projects, including: Rockbluff Drive Canyon, Dobbin Lane Canyon, Ranchview-Santa Bella
Canyon, Roanwood Canyon, Chadwick Canyon, and Sorrel Lane. File contains a geological study of the Chadwick-Santa Bella and
Ranchview Canyons, a drainage report of Chadwick Canyon, and documents mentioning the County Sanitation District.
Box 3
Landscaping - trees
1963 - 1964
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the beautification and landscaping of Rolling Hills Estates. File contains a proposed Parkway
Tree ordinance, official tree list, preferred tree list, and a memo on discussions with the Los Serranos Group and Property
Owners.
Box 3
[League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division membership roster]
1969 - 1970
Box 3
[League Committee on the Future]
1961 - 1962
Scope and Contents
Contains a draft annual report concerning the future of California's cities.
Box 3
[Loose photograph]
1972
Scope and Contents
Contains a single photograph from a contact sheet of three unidentified people with "Apr. 13 1972" written on the back.
Box 3
[Los Serranos Family Community Center project]
1964
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the establishment of a community center in Rolling Hills Estates. File contains a presentation
for the Family Community Center by the Los Serranos de Palos Verdes, a list of groups using school facilities conducted by
the City of Rolling Hills Estates, an Option to Purchase Real Property, and resolution no. 262, allowing a study to begin
for the proposed community center.
Box 3
Lot splits
1959 - 1966
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the formation and enactment of various lot splits in Rolling Hills Estates. Includes a draft
resolution regarding procedures for subdivisions and documents relating to the Walter Lindley lot split case.
Box 3
Miller case
1963
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to City Council case #166, Miller variance, for additions to Harry Miller's home on 21 Ranchview
Road in Rolling Hills Estates. File includes resolution no. P27, granting variance for construction.
Box 3
Misc. letters
1962 - 1970
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence Hopkins received during his time on City Council, including documents from the League of California
Cities and the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles. Of particular interest, file includes a timeline of mayors of Rolling
Hills Estates, from 1957 until 1969, and a pamphlet on the Financial and Statistical Data of the Los Angeles Unified School
District during 1966-1967.
Box 3
[Montecillo Home Owners Association]
1962
Scope and Contents
Contains the first newsletter for the Montecillo Homeowners Association.
Box 3
Narbonne
1964 - 1967
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to construction on the northwest corner of Palos Verdes Drive North and Narbonne Avenue. Includes
resolution no. 414, relating to the vacation of portions of Narbonne Avenue. Of particular note, several documents refer to
the Land Use Plan and Telo Koletos, then the owner of the northwest corner.
Box 3
[Neil Stanton Palmer and Associates architectural plans for Ranch Center]
1967
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the building of Ranch Center, a redevelopment of the property on the corner of Palos Verdes
Drive North and Rolling Hills Road. File contains a plan and three photos of illustrations for the proposed Ranch Center.
Box 3
P.V. Drive development records
1933; 1961 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the development and improvement of Palos Verdes Drive North. File includes two photos of construction
on Palos Verdes Drive North circa 1933, a street survey and storm damage report, a project report by the Road Department of
the County of Los Angeles, and a report to the City Council by the Planning Commission Committee on Palos Verdes Drive improvements.
Of particular note, there are several letters from citizens to the City Council concerning Palos Verdes Drive North.
Box 3
Parks and recreation
1964 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the development of a parks and recreation program in Rolling Hills Estates. File includes a
preliminary parks and recreation plan and a map of Rolling Hills Estates recreation facilities and public land. Notably, this
file contains a proposal brochure and a recreation survey created by the League of Woman Voters of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Box 3
[Peninsula Citizens' Committee]
[n.d.]
Scope and Contents
Contains a newsletter and members list of the Peninsula Citizens' Committee.
Box 4
Personnel
1962 - 1964
Scope and Contents
Contains resumes for the position of City Administrator of Rolling Hills Estates. Also includes memos on personnel policies
for city employees.
Box 4
Public works
1964 - 1967
Scope and Contents
Contains documents relating to public works in Rolling Hills Estates and in the greater Los Angeles area. Many documents concern
transportation and metropolitan growth in Los Angeles, including a "fact sheet" from the California Freeway Support Committee,
a report on a survey by the Intergovernmental Council on Urban Growth, and "LARTS: Bank for Community Planners". Of particular
note, this file includes a document on the 1911 Improvement Act as well as a tract price list of the area known as the Palos
Verdes Peninsula Center.
Box 4
Referendum
1963 - 1964
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the special referendum election on annexation no. 7, an annexation concerning the Great Lakes
Properties, Inc. and the Palos Verdes Research Park.
Box 4
[Ridgecrest Homeowners]
1966
Scope and Contents
Contains a newsletter from the Ridgecrest Homeowners Association.
Box 4
[Rockbluff Canyon Committee]
[n.d.]
Scope and Contents
Contains a memo to the Rockbluff Canyon Committee concerning a landfill operation in the area.
Box 4
[Roessler-Chadwick Foundation]
1968
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the Roessler-Chadwick Foundation and Zoning Case No. 5357-(4), concerning re-zoning part of
the Chadwick School property.
Box 4
Rolling Hills Country Day School
1966 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Contains documents regarding to the formation of Rolling Hills Country Day School. File contains correspondence from both
those for and against Miss Evelyn Dawn's use of Rolling Hills Methodist Church for classes.
Box 4
[Rolling Hills Estates Homeowners, Inc.]
1968
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to the Rolling Hills Estates Homeowners, Inc., also known as the Rolling Hills Estates Property
Owners Association and the Rolling Hills Estates Homeowners Committee. File contains a rough draft of the by-laws of the Rolling
Hills Estates Homeowners, Inc. and organization chart of precincts within Rolling Hills Estates.
Box 4
[Rural Homes Environment Committee]
1968
Scope and Contents
Contains drafts of reports on the April 9th 1968 election by the Rural Homes Environment Committee Get Out the Vote Sub-Committee.
Box 4
Scout files
1961 - 1967
Scope and Contents
Contains documents on the Boy Scouts of America in the 1960s. Many documents concern the activities of Jack Hopkins' sons'
troop, Troop 879. File includes minutes of committee meetings, trip itineraries, and a roster of members. There are also handwritten
journal entries from Mark Hopkins about camp life. Other documents includes several pamphlets on camp expeditions, a Boy Scouts
of America publication of Trek Aid Number 5, an edition of "Scouters' News," and an edition of San Pedro and the Peninsula's
"YMCA News."
Box 4
[Sewage]
1965
Scope and Contents
Contains documents concerning sewage in Los Angeles County and information on the fourth ocean outfall sewer at White's Point.
Box 4
[South Bay State College]
1962 - 1963
Scope and Contents
Contains documents concerning the development of the South Bay State College. File includes resolution no. 231 and correspondence
concerning the Palos Verdes Research Park area and the State Public Works Board.
Box 4
"The Speech I Didn't Give"
ca. 1967 - 1968
Scope and Contents
Contains drafts and copies of a speech Jack Hopkins wrote as vice mayor concerning the 1967 or 1968 Rolling Hills Estates
city elections. In the speech, Hopkins voices his concerns about the incoming City Council. Of particular note, he mentions
the failure of annexation no. 24 and its connection with horses while also noting the problems surrounding the future of Palos
Verdes Drive.
Box 4
[Statewide Committee on Regional Plan Areas (SCORPA)]
1967
Scope and Contents
Contains a newsletter from Resist Regional Rule concerning the Southern California Association of Governments, or SCAG.
Box 4
Tennis club
1962
Scope and Contents
Contains documents on the development of Jack Kramer's Montecillo Tennis and Swim Club. File includes a site plan, resolution
no. P-15, and drafts of an unnumbered resolution.
Box 4
Trails
1962 - 1963
Scope and Contents
File includes Bridle Trail Committee meeting notes and correspondence between Chuck Bishop, the Bridle Trail Committee chairman,
and City Council.
Box 4
Transit in Rolling Hills Estates
1966 - 1967
Scope and Contents
Includes documents concerning the formation of public transit in Rolling Hills Estates. File contains a sample bus timetable
and bus route created by the Southern California Rapid Transit District and two Southern California Rapid Transit District
"In Transit" newsletters. Of particular note is an essay by John R. Begg on the benefits of the Alweg Monorail.
Box 4
[The Unconcerned Citizens Committee]
ca. 1970
Scope and Contents
Contains three community bulletins sent by the Unconcerned Citizens Committee to the voters of Rolling Hills Estates prior
to the 1970 City Council election.
Box 4
Water
1961 - 1965
Scope and Contents
Contains material on the establishment of a municipal water works service in Rolling Hills Estates. File includes rough drafts
of an agreement for purchase of a water system between the City of Rolling Hills Estates and Palos Verdes Water Company, bulletins
from the Peninsula Free Enterprise Committee, correspondence from the Municipal Water District Committee, and a Montecillo
water supply study. Of particular note, this file contains a master plan of the streets and highways of Rolling Hills Estates
in 1963.
City of Rolling Hills Estates records
1957 - 1998
Scope and Contents
Series includes city administration documents such as meeting minutes, reports, studies, ordinances, correspondence, memos,
resolutions, agendas, court filings, newsletters, plans, maps, rosters, permits, calendars, and a photograph. Series also
contains ordinances from the City of Rolling Hills.
Box 5
Agendas
1963 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Contains both City Council and Planning Commission regular meeting agendas.
Box 5
Annual reports and city calendars
1973 - 1977; 1998
Scope and Contents
Contains annual reports presented as city calendars.
Box 5
California Contract Cities Association
1965 - 1969
Scope and Contents
Contains official minutes and a membership roster of the California Contract Cities Association.
Box 5
City of Rolling Hills Estates audit and financial reports
1962 - 1969
Box 5
City of Rolling Hills Estates fiscal budgets
1963 - 1970
Box 5
City of Rolling Hills Estates ordinances
1960 - 1968
Box 5
City of Rolling Hills ordinances
1957 - 1958
Physical Description: 2 Folders
Box 6
Committee report on the proposed City Hall
1970
Scope and Contents
Contains several reports from the City Hall Committee to the mayor and City Council.
Box 6
Contract documents
1962
Scope and Contents
Contains a book of contract documents and guide specifications for improvements for Palos Verdes Drive North created by Wilsey,
Ham, & Blair, Engineers and Planners.
Box 6
Court filings
1962 - 1963; 1970
Scope and Contents
Contains court filings mostly involving Great Lakes Properties, Inc. and Patricia K. Brockett.
Box 6
[The Courtyard]
1981
Scope and Contents
Contains documents related to The Courtyard, a retail center in Rolling Hills Estates. Of note, file includes a three-dimensional
model of The Courtyard and an informational fact sheet and brochure called "The Courtyard" describing the development.
Box 6
Correspondence
1961 - 1971
Scope and Contents
Contains correspondence to and from the City of Rolling Hills Estates. Of note, documents include letters related to zoning,
bridle trails, Empty Saddle Road, annexations, Palos Verdes Drive North, and Rolling Hills Country Day School. There is also
a recommended plan for progress and building design criteria regarding the formation of City Hall, and resolution no. P-22.
Box 6
General Plan
1962
Scope and Contents
Contains a proposal to prepare a general plan for the City of Rolling Hills Estates by Koebig and Koebig, Inc. and Hahn, Wise,
and Associates, Inc.
Box 6
Meeting minutes - joint
1964
Scope and Contents
Contains City Council and Planning Commission joint meeting minutes.
Box 6
Meeting minutes - regular
1964 - 1968
Scope and Contents
Contains both City Council and Planning Commission regular meeting minutes.
Box 7
Memos
1961 - 1970
Scope and Contents
File contains memos involving Tract 29223, the Los Serranos project, the Brown Act, Rolling Hills Country Day School, and
zoning issues. Also included is a proposed master plan of Rolling Hills Estates and an amendment to ordinance no. 106.
Box 7
Memos to the file
1962 - 1965
Box 7
Palos Verdes Properties
1966 - 1970
Scope and Contents
Contains a declaration of protective restrictions by Palos Verdes Properties and a grant deed between Palos Verdes Properties
and the City of Rolling Hills Estates.
Box 7
Permit agreement
1963
Scope and Contents
Includes unsigned permit between the County of Los Angeles, the City of Rolling Hills Estates, and County Sanitation District
No. 2 for landfill purposes.
Box 7
Precinct map
[n.d.]
Scope and Contents
Contains a precinct map of the City of Rolling Hills Estates used during a city election.
Box 7
A Report on the Southwest Area of L.A. County
1961
Scope and Contents
Contains a report, one of ten area studies of Los Angeles County, by the Regional Planning Commission.
Box 7
Reports and studies
1958 - 1965; 1970
Physical Description: 2 Folders
Scope and Contents
Contains surveys, studies, estimates, resumes, and reports concerning the City of Rolling Hills Estates written by various
agencies such as Los Angeles County Road Department, the Department of County Engineer, and Koebig & Koebig, Inc. Report intitiled
Law Enforcement for City of Rolling Hills Estates includes a photo of a map of Rolling Hills Estates numbering the amount
of accidents between January and June of 1962. Also, Resume' of Sewerage and Refuse Disposal Practices of Sanitation Districts
of Los Angeles County July 1965 includes a photo of a sanitation facility between Figueroa St. and the 110 Freeway. Of note,
file contains a map of assessment of district no. 2 in Rolling Hills Estates and Data from a Survey Conducted by the Institute
of Urban Studies at California State College, Long Beach.
Box 7
Resolutions
1962 - 1968
Scope and Contents
Contains both City Council and Planning Commission resolutions.
Box 7
Rolling Hills Estates City Council and staff roster
[n.d.]
Scope and Contents
Contains the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the City Council, Planning Commission, and staff.
Box 7
Rolling Hills Estates city newsletters
1966 - 1980; 1986 - 1988
Box 7
Rolling Hills Estates resident handbook
1985
