07/21/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Following a brief discussion, Mayor Kerr offered to work with the City Manager to identify the VTA meeting schedule and to review the option of changing the meeting to • the second and fourth Thursdays. The item would be returned to Council at their next meeting for their consideration. 5.5 Proposed Annexation Policy Planning Director Carl Cahill introduced this item to Council. He advised Council that the policy before them was consistent with the City Council's direction and was a comprehensive tool for evaluating proposed annexations. The policy would provide the maximum latitude in terms of discussion of future residential annexations The Planning Commission had reviewed and recommended approval of the proposed Annexation Policy at their June 23, 2005 meeting. Cahill noted that he had reviewed the comments and requests for revisions from Ms. Green and staff was recommending approval of the policy as presented without modification. Council discussion ensued. They concurred that the policy would be a"starting point" for annexation considerations. OPENED PUBLIC COMMENT Marjorie Green, West Loyola, (unincorporated-Los Altos Hills sphere of influence) addressed Council. She explained that her neighborhood had been striving to annex to the Town for approximately five (5) years. She expressed her concern that the proposed policy was too restrictive for the developed properties. Green provided Council with a revised list of proposed additions to the annexation policy from the W. Loyola neighborhood. She reviewed the items with Council and requested a redrafting of the policy. CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT Planning Director Carl Cahill explained that the Town would use the policy when notified of new development projects in the County to assist in ensuring that Town's codes were applied. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Jones, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 72-05 adopting a policy applicable to all residential annexation applications. 5.6 Proposed Ex Parte Contacts Policy Planning Director Carl Cahill introduced this item. He explained that in a small town setting, such as Los Altos Hills, it was easy for Commissioners and Councilmembers to have an ex parte communication about a particular project by meetings at the project site, social gathering, phone calls and emails out side of the quasi-judicial process. He noted that reliance on information received this way could be unfair because the opposing parties are not there to rebut the information. The proposed policy would provide a • guideline for publicly disclosing any ex parte communications that did occur. 5 City Council Meeting Minutes July 21,2005