HomeMy WebLinkAboutPathways Jan 28 2019 MinutesPATHWAYS COMMITTEE Regular Meeting Agenda
- Final Minutes
January 28, 2019 at 7:00pm
City Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Rd. Los Altos Hills, CA
1.Call to Order (roll call)
●Members
i.Alisa Bredo (AB)
ii.Nick Dunckel (ND)
iii.Ann Duwe (AD)
iv.Val Metcalfe (VM)
v.Judy Nagy (JN)
vi.Sonja Wilkerson (SW)
●Associate Members
i.Susan Cretekos
ii.Eileen Gibbons
●Town Council Liaison
i.Roger Spreen
●Town Staff
i.Jeremy Koch
ii.Dylan Parker
iii.Nichol Bowersox
●Public
i.Jim Waschura - La Cresta
ii.Eric Bredo - PageMill
iii.Matt Daly - Robleda
iv.Lester Earnest - Dianne Dr.
v.Sue Welsh
vi.Grant Bowen - Robleda
vii.Kjell Karlsson - Menalto Dr
2.Agenda Review
3.Review & Approval of Minutes of:
●Nov 12, 2019 - SW moved and ND seconded. The motion was approved. (AB,
ND, VM, JN, SW) AD abstained as she did not attend that meeting.
●Jan 7, 2019 - Nick made comments and Judy will email them tomorrow.
4.Ex Parte Communications - none
5.Announcements/Updates
●Town Staff Updates
i.Pathways Budget/Funding Update for 2019 Projects - Nichol passed
around same finance information she collected regarding pathways. Total
PWC Fund Balance is $709,639.
ii.GIS System for mapping pathways and easements - Staff received a
proposal from the GIS consultant which includes correcting the property
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lines and including pathway easements. Now staff is evaluating how to
proceed. The County data used was not accurate so that has caused
some problems and now there are two proposals for how to fix this data.
Eileen’s husband has been able to quickly correct the data. She would
like town to consider using resident help, instead of paying a consultant.
●Maintenance and Enforcement Issues
i.Native Path construction requirements - AB asked for town staff to explain
what guidelines are currently used when homeowners are asked to put in
a native path. Jeremy Koch mentioned that the engineering team works
with the homeowner/contractor to determine the requirements but mostly
it means clearing vegetation. As for the Native Path Guideline that Nick
lead and was approved by the committee a while back, Jeremy
responded that town staff has some comments and are still looking into
how to implement a standard or recommendations. Staff feels Native
Paths are each very different and should be addressed on a case by case
basis. They could potentially use the native guidelines where certain
situations trigger certain features. Currently, the feeling is that the current
version of these guidelines are potentially too restrictive and complicated
for native paths.
Les Earnest feels dirt paths are a bad idea. He would like all paths to
have an improved surface and no stairs. He will send his ideas to staff.
Eric Bredo suggest that paths be consistent. He has concerns about
safety on pathways especially along PageMill. Kjell Karlsson says
communication about changes from recommendations could be an issue.
ii.Update on blocked paths - Matadero Creek path was paused due to staff
changes and will be worked on with the compliance officer shortly. The
Central Dr to Buena Vista path is waiting for the documentation for the
easement information from the homeowner and his engineer is working
on it and will hopefully be resolved soon. Staff has not been getting PWC
recommendations. Alisa will add Jeremy to the distribution list. Jeremy will
place follow up information in the drawer with maps.
6.New Business
●Property Review
i.27388 Sherlock Ct, New Residence, Lands of Chung (APN 182-29-038,
File SD19-0003) There is an active pathway easement and private road
right of way on the property on the south side (along the blue line). It is an
off road path, and was on the MMP (left off the current MPP in error and
has been trying to be corrected for a long time). ND feels it would be good
to have the easement cleared enough to be walkable and ask for an
easement on the north side of the driveway, instead of continuing straight
as the section across the next property is steep. AD moved that we ask
the homeowner at 27388 Sherlock Ct to clear the existing easement
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along the lower property line and ask the homeowner to grant an
easement for a native path up to Sherlock Ct to connect to the current
easement. VM seconded the motion. The motion was approved
unanimously. (AB, AD, ND, VM, JN, SW) Staff needs to confirm the
wording for the current easement to ensure the easement allows for
pathway access.
ii.24180 Dawnridge, ADU, Lands of Teratum Lowchareonkul (File
SD19-0006) This is roadside, on the MPP, 15 lots on the court, and an
existing off road path at the end of the street and another proposed off
road path. This home is on Dawn Ridge and Princess Elena. A path could
be requested on both road sides of the property. Dawnridge is very wide
and there are currently no other paths segments along Dawnridge. There
was discussion if there is space for a path within the road right of way
since the road seems unusually wide. It was determined in our best guess
that there is space in the road right of way. AD said the “bubble map”
indicates the opposite side as the preferred side. AD mentioned that
another property on Dawnridge recently was asked to pay an in-lieu fee.
AD moves that we collect an in-lieu fee from the homeowner at 24180
Dawnridge. SW seconded the motion. The motion was approved. (AD,
ND, VM, JN, SW - AB voted no because our flow chart would result in
asking for a 2B roadside path.)
●Proposed pathway and easement at 12950 Robleda Road - Matt Daley and
Grant Bowen, representing the homeowner at 12950 Robleda Rd, proposed that
the homeowner at 12950 Robleda would like approval to build a path to complete
a connection from Robleda to West Sunset and give a 5 foot easement across
their property. Since this is a voluntary donation of an easement and due to the
terrain, the homeowner feels the 5 foot easement is sufficient instead of the usual
10 foot easement. Les Earnest says there is a pathway easement already
existing for this pathway. He will bring in documentation. There was discussion
about the “hook” section near West Sunset. AD mentioned it might be best to go
straight, possibly on the neighbors property. Town staff is concerned that this
path is not fully on the 12950 property and needs approval from both the
neighboring properties to the right and left. The homeowner knows one neighbor
has agreed but will reach out to the neighbor on the other side to confirm they
agree as well. AD pointed out that tree number 7 in the existing new path that
connects to this proposed path blocks horse access. AD requested its removal to
allow horse access. The applicant agreed to look into tree number 7 and will go
back to the neighbors to confirm their agreement of this proposal.
●Proposal for PWC to forward a recommendation to Council re: MFA Allowance
for pathways easements - Jim Waschura gave a presentation regarding pathway
concerns and ways to mitigate resident concerns regarding off road pathway
requirements and granting of easements. A packet was handed out. We went
around the table to hear what everyone thinks. Some felt it might not be
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necessary to give an incentive. Many agree that an incentive might encourage
homeowners to allow off road pathways on their property. One felt homes are too
large as it is so MFA might not be the right incentive.
7.Presentations from the Floor
●Les Earnest suggested we look into the Foothill Path along the Adobe Creek
from downtown Los Altos to Foothill College.
●Eric Bredo commented on the Moon Lane bridge and efforts on Page Mill. He
would like to request a path along Page Mill just beyond Moon Lane. A house
(13816 PageMill) just redeveloped there and the previously existing native path
has disappeared. He would like the committee/town to look into why a native path
was not cleared during the redevelopment.
●EG would like the MPP to be approved and completed. She asked that the MMP
approval be a standing item on the agenda until it is approved by TC.
8.Old Business
●Updates from individual PWC members on potential CIP projects - Time was
running short so we did not discuss each project. Members were reminded to
have a presentation packet ready the Thursday before the next meeting.
9.Open Discussion
10.Reports from Other Meetings
●VTA Meeting - Susan had to leave
●City Council - Roger had to leave
●Planning Commission - La Paloma property was reviewed for landscape review
and the homeowner was asked to remove the proposed pavers that crossed the
road side path.
●Fast Track - We need to select someone to keep follow FastTrack properties. AD
will do it for now.
11. Pathway Promotion & Communications - none
12.Topics of Interest
a.Easement tracking - EG demonstrated how to look up the recorded easements and
view the parcel map. You can go to the Country Survey Record website. A link will be shared
via email. There is an old database that had easement information by APN and she is hoping
we can get this information updated and available online.
(https://sccplanning.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=bc21a949580746968c
b7139386996978)
13. Next Pathway Walk: Feb 23
14. Next Pathway Meeting: Feb 25th
15.Adjournment
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