HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/15/2003 Meeting Minutes
September 15 2003
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council and Planning Commission Special Meeting
Monday, September 15, 2003 7:00 pm.
Council Chambers
26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL,AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Kerr called the Special Meeting of the City Council and Planning
Commission to order at 7:05 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Present: Mayor Pro Tem O'Malley, Councilmember Kerr, Councilmember
Warshawsky, Planning Commissioners Kerns, Cottrell, and Mordo
and Committee Members Downey, Radford, and Whaley
Absent: Committeee Member Oldberg
Staff: City Manager Maureen Cassingham, City Clerk Karen Jost
Guests: Peter Duxbury,AIA and Anthony Mirenda, Toeniskoetter&
Breeding, Inc.
• Press: Kaye Ross, San Jose Mercury News and Tim Seyfert,Los Altos
Town Crier
2. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Cottrell, seconded by
Warshawsky and passed unanimously to approve the meeting minutes of the August 20,
2003 City Council and Planning Commission Special Meeting.
3. NEW BUSINESS
None
4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
4.1 Project Status Report and Update of Schematic Plan,Floor Plan, Revised Exterior
Elevations and Conceptual Landscape Plan for New Town Hall—Peter
Duxbury/Tom Klope
Peter Duxbury, Architect of record for the New Town Hall, updated the Committee on
his recent modifications to the project. He has met with Tony Mirenda, Toeniskoetter &
Breeding, Inc (TBI), to achieve a better appreciation of the project costs and has clarified
the design to address budget concerns. Duxbury noted that he has eliminated windows in
Council Chambers, squared off the building to resolve earthquake issues and to make the
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September 15,2003
building more structurally sound and added the additional space suggested by the
Committee. He believes the revised design has a sophisticated modern aesthetic yet
retains the warm, inviting nuances of the rural design.
Duxbury reported that the interior schematic has been reviewed by the staff and has had a
favorable response. Each department will have their own file/records area and an
individual "service area". Duxbury added that the proposed design is adaptable to 2
person offices as needed in the future.
Ethel Blank, resident, asked if there was any space in the proposed project for art shows.
She requested that the Architect consider display space appropriate for sculptures and art
pieces. She would also like to see display lighting included in the project.
Peter Duxbury expects to have the project plans and renderings completed in early
October and ready for presentation to the Council by October 16, 2003.
Duxbury introduced Landscape Architect Tom Klope to the Committee. Klope had a
conceptual landscaping plan for the new Town Hall. The Committee was very impressed
by his vision for the site. Klope's conceptual plan featured a pastoral quality with
minimized paving, the incorporation of a "Town Green", an opportunity for a sculpture
piece or another large oak, a redwood grove and rhododendrons in the rear of the site and
color plantings featured in the front. Klope would like to use grass-cells for the
emergency parking areas. To integrate the Heritage House with the new Town Hall, he
proposes a walk/path that would possibly include markers identifying the historic
• DeAnza trail or the Ohlone Indians. He would revitalize the orchard and garden. Klope
described his presentation as a quiet, sophisticated landscaping that was appropriate for
the rural setting.
4.2 Preliminary Pricing of the New Town Hall Project—Tony Mirenda, TBI
Tony Mirenda, TBI, presented a summary of project costs to the Committee. Costs were
compared to the previous Goldman design. The total estimated project cost for the new
Duxbury design is $3,885,870.11 with the Goldman projected costs at approximately
$4,896,094.00. The cost included construction estimates, equipment for Town Hall and
furnishings. Mirenda noted that the cost of wood has doubled and there is presently a
material shortage. He added that the conceptual budget has been reviewed by several
respected contractors and they concur with the estimates. Mirenda said he has confidence
in the numbers and feels the prices will be good for a year.
Discussion ensued regarding the budget. Mirenda and Duxbury noted that changes to
materials could help to reduce costs.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To direct the architect and construction management
consultant to review the design and to make changes to reduce the costs to approximately
$39500,000.
• The Committee concurred that the design reflects the wishes of the residents. The
architect hassucceeded in designing a handsome utilitarian building that will serve the
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September 15,2003
needs of the Town for the next fifty years. The larger than the Goldman
footprint p is
design and will better address storage needs and meeting requirements.
5. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
None
6. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further new or unfinished business,the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Karen J t
City Clerk
The minutes of the Special City Council and Planning Commission Meeting of
September 15,2003 were approved at the October 6,2003 Meeting.
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City Council/Planning Commission Special Meeting
September 15,2003