HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 4 2017LOS ALTOS HILLS PATHWAYS COMMITTEE
Minutes of Special Meeting of Monday December 04, 2017
Scribe: Alisa Bredo
1.Call to Order (roll call)
a.PWC Chair called the meeting to order at: 7:02
Members Associates
Alisa Bredo (AB)
Nick Dunckel (ND)
Ann Duwe (AD)
Melissa Dyrdahl (MD)
Bob Elson (BE)
Val Metcalfe (VM)
Rachelle Mirkin (RM)
Bridget Morgan (BM)
Judy Nagy (JN) (until 9:57pm)
Sonja Wilkerson (SW)
Denise Williams (DW)
Susan Cretekos (SC)
Eileen Gibbons (EG)
Bob Stutz (BS)
Council Liaison present: Roger Spreen
Other City Council Members present: Mayor Gary Waldeck
Town Staff present:
Allen Chen, Public Works Director
Jeremy Koch, Assistant Engineer Public Works Department
Carl Cahill, City Manager
Members of the Public present:
Les Ernst
Kjell Karlsson
Sadr Emad-Vaez
Pouran Aazad
Kimberly Lee
2.Approval of Agendas and Minutes:
a.Approval of agenda for Dec 2017 PWC meeting
i.MD moved to approve the agenda without edits. DW seconded, and the vote was
unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, VM, RM, BM, JN, DW)
b.Approval of Minutes from Oct 23, 2017 PWC Meeting
i.PWC reviewed minor edits. ND moved to approve the minutes as amended. MD
seconded, and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, VM, RM, BM, JN,
DW
3.Review of Operating Principles
a.At last meeting PWC agreed to accept proposed Operating Principles and to review at each
meeting. PWC discussed Item 8 regarding honoring commitments to committee by supporting
decisions once they are ratified, and whether PWC members may express minority view at City
Council meetings. PWC Chair clarified that individual members may share their personal
opinions with City Council or Planning Commission, but as committee member and if discussing
PWC decisions or representing PWC decisions, they must adhere to PWC ratified decisions. PWC
LOS ALTOS HILLS PATHWAYS COMMITTEE
Minutes of Special Meeting of Monday December 04, 2017
Scribe: Alisa Bredo
members may clarify personal vs. PWC view. Council may want to hear issues – both overall vote
and pros and cons; often minority report is helpful. Minutes generally give background of
discussion but minority report is not currently called out specifically. PWC Chair open to
rewording item 8 of Operating Principles as needed, and PWC may consider ensuring minority
report noted in minutes. City Council Member Spreen suggested PWC members ask PWC Chair
for permission to speak out on issues for City Council or Planning Commission.
4.New Topics & Announcements
a.Welcome to Val Metcalfe, new PWC member
b.Staff Update
i.Gardner Bullis frontage path: School district took down LAH recommendation and their
attorney is reviewing whether they can grant a usage agreement like the ones granted
for Foothill and Pinewood. Reached out to Public Works Director to see if they can use
an easement. Still in review.
ii.Potential code changes: Second units have to be administratively approved per state
law, which complicates making a discretionary decision like pathway and would
preclude PWC review. LAH Town Staff would have to review secondary units for any
pathway requirements by applying guidelines used by PWC to determine pathway
details. PWC could provide guidelines and staff could use these guidelines to address
second units.
iii.Summerhill path – Public Works Director and BE walked path, see 5b on agenda for
update.
c.Property Review
i.13661 La Paloma Rd (Lands of Gu, File 374-17-ZP-SD, APN 175-35-026)
PWC noted that the property is a flag lot, and that the driveway should be roughened
for horses. After some discussion PWC did not include restoration of existing path on
either side of the driveway since the driveway is on an easement and the path sections
on each side are not part of the property. BM moved that property owner pay an in
lieu fee, ND seconded, and the motion passed with 9 in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE,
VM, RM, BM, DW) and one abstention (JN) due to proximity.
ii.12615 Miraloma Way (Lands of Trustee, File 368-17-ZP-SD, APN 336-16-064)
This property has streets on two sides, and an existing path along the Miraloma
frontage. PWC noted that the connection from Miraloma to Vorhees is one of the
unresolved areas from the 2005 Master Path Plan map, and that one proposed route for
this connection could impact the property under discussion. After some discussion of
the two options (the previously existing path extending straight from Miraloma to
Vorhees and an alternate option that would turn right to go along the school border and
connect lower on Vorhees), the committee determined that the unresolved area was
out of scope of the current discussion and focused on the IIB path along the Miraloma
frontage of 12615 Miraloma Way. The current path does not fully meet IIB standards,
since there is a drainage culvert and some reflectors partially impeding the path. The
committee noted that there may be additional development history that would add
context to the design/limitations of the current path. AD moved that the PWC
recommend that the homeowner at 12615 Miraloma Way build a path to IIB standard
along the Miraloma frontage of the property and that the homeowner consult with
Town Engineering Staff regarding handling of the drainage, reflectors, and other
obstacles and if the path needs to be rerouted slightly to accomplish that, to do so.
Drainage and obstacles should be corrected to allow a clear IIB pathway without
LOS ALTOS HILLS PATHWAYS COMMITTEE
Minutes of Special Meeting of Monday December 04, 2017
Scribe: Alisa Bredo
obstacles. Staff should understand the history of the lot and take that into
consideration for the final recommendation. ND seconded and the motion passed
with 8 in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, VM, RM, DW) and 2 opposed (BM, JN).
iii.13830 Page Mill Rd (APN 182 08 011)
Bob Elson moved that the homeowner dedicate a pathway easement and build a IIB
path on the portion of his property parallel to Page Mill Road and on the west side of
Matadero Creek. The path should be separated as far from the Page Mill pavement as
possible, meandering so as to connect with the bridge scheduled to be installed just
east of Moon Lane. The path should be staked and reviewed by the PWC prior to
being built. AD seconded. All in favor except BM and JN. AB abstained due to
proximity, and minutes were recorded by AD.
iv.26634 Snell Ct. (APN 175 33 073)
This property is a flag lot. JN moved to collect an in lieu fee, DW seconded and the
motion passed unanimously (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, VM, RM, BM, JN, DW).
v.14525 Miranda (Lands of Lee and Chong, File401-17-ZP-SD, APN 175.05.018)
BE stated that this property had a partial IIB path built in front of house (roughly ¾ of
the total path). The town completed the remaining part of the path in front and an
additional segment on the side at the time of the Miranda Path construction, so a full IIB
path is currently in place. PWC discussed whether the property had paid an in-lieu fee
historically and whether to collect in lieu fee if house has already partially contributed.
BE moved to have Planning Department ask the owners at 14525 Miranda Rd. to pay
an in-lieu fee subject to the review of the prior history of the property and to look at
the proportionality of construction cost of what was constructed before vs. the total
cost of the path. MD seconded and the motion passed passed unanimously (AB, ND,
AD, MD, BE, VM, RM, BM, JN, DW).
vi.26811 Moody Ct. (Lands of Navarro, File 393-17-ZP-SD-GD, APN 182-30-047)
This property is on a private road. PWC discussed public access on private roads, and
confirmed that such access is in place and paths can be requested along private roads
–depends if property owner owns or partially owns the road. Per the plans the property
owner has ownership of part of road. AD moved that property owners pay an in lieu
fee and requested that confirmation be made that there is public access on Moody
Court along the frontage of this property. ND seconded, and the vote was
unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, VM, RM, BM, JN, DW).
vii.25700 Bassett Ln (APN 336 43 013)
Off road path. PWC revisited this property but pathway markers were not in place, so it
was not clear why the file was returned to the PWC for review. PWC suggested that
staff refer back to original motion.
*The agenda was rearranged to address 5b, then 5f, and then the rest of the Continuing Business to allow for
Town Staff participation*
5.Continuing Business
a.Meeting Reports
i.Education committee rescheduled.
ii.Joint LAH/LA City Council meeting to discuss Redwood Grove path happened, AD was
asked to put together position paper and will send to Roger for review, then send to
Council. Both councils receptive to idea of exploring path but interested in cost.
LOS ALTOS HILLS PATHWAYS COMMITTEE
Minutes of Special Meeting of Monday December 04, 2017
Scribe: Alisa Bredo
b.Pathway Connectors (Summerhill update, others)
i.BE updated on Summerhill project: Public Works Director sent letter to 6 homeowners
most impacted on Summerhill. Met with homeowners at 24624 and 24616 Summerhill.
Receptive to path, had recommendations (would like to cover culvert and use half of
covered culvert near street side rather than removing trees). BE updated cards to
reflect that and gave copy to Public Works Director. BE and Public Works Director then
went to 24388 Summerhill and they were also for the path. Resident at 24290
Summerhill had attended a town council meeting in support of the pathway and said
she would grant an easement for the construction. She requested that Public Works
Director speak to her after he has spoken to all of the other neighbors. 12610 generally
support pathways but would like the town to install screening trees and shrubs since a
majority of the trees and shrubs between their property line and the street will have to
be removed to install a path. 24130 Summerhill residents were not at home. Public
Works Director composing letter to reach out to rest of residents, get input and try to
gather support and record if opposed. Following process flow.
ii.Altamont: DW worked with BE, in progress
iii.Page Mill: AB working with BE, in progress
iv.Others: need to start scoping assigned projects Chair recommended that all look at
process flow and see how relates to specific projects, see if can endorse the process
flow at the next PWC meeting to share with town regarding how to cost out projects.
BE is currently maintaining the list of pathways projects.
c.Communications, Marketing, and Map (MD, SW)
MD will mail out plan [Attachment A] for the year. Also designed New Year’s Day Pathways
Walk. Aiming for 100 attendees at walk, will have multiple routes.
d.Maps (AD, AB)
AD will draft cover letter to introduce maps sent to all residents in town, from PWC and
Parks & Rec Committee.
AB updated on conversation with Town Staff regarding the gis map, noting that it is too
early to know if we can put preferred side of the road, but sounds as though may be
possible at later date.
e.Native Path Specifications (ND, All)
i.Existing IIB specifications– moved to next meeting
ii.Recommendation for native path – moved to next meeting
f.27333 Ursula Ln
Town Staff are working with property owners to look at pathway options. The currently granted
easement is too steep to put in a path without steps, which may rule out equestrian usage.
There is also a cross slope, which may be mitigated but adds to expense. The topic was brought
to PWC to utilize expertise of committee in developing suggestions, but with no recommendation
expectation. Suggestions for general recommendations to improve the process for similar lots in
future was tabled, and the focus was on suggestions for 27333 Ursula Ln. One suggestion was to
have the town pay for an alternative route path through the property, which would not be
prohibitively expensive (much flatter, more gradual descent on the opposite side of the property)
and would relieve homeowner of expense of installing path, but would require homeowner to
grant an easement on the other side of the property instead of the current one, possibly waiving
in lieu fee. Another suggestion was to request in lieu fee and for the path on Edgerton to be
improved. BE requested more information re: equestrian need for the path and AB clarified the
LOS ALTOS HILLS PATHWAYS COMMITTEE
Minutes of Special Meeting of Monday December 04, 2017
Scribe: Alisa Bredo
importance of the path to equestrians as a connector between the NW side of town (via the
Stegner Path) to Westwind Barn and Byrne Preserve, and noted that when the path was in place
previously it continued along Ursula to Black Mountain so there was no need to be in the road on
Ursula. A third suggestion was to follow the initial proposal but to add the property to the list of
CIP projects. Some concerns with this suggestion were raised regarding the impact of additional
delay on having the pathway. A fourth option would be to have the homeowner continue to
build the path for pedestrians in the current easement.
Homeowner was in attendance and expressed privacy concerns with the suggested alternate
route, as well as cost of the proposed pathway route within the current easement, the steepness
of the grade, and the overall burden on the homeowners. Carl Cahill clarified that the City
Council gave the property owner latitude to determine placement of path. PWC Chair noted that
the process fell short on many levels. A neighbor on Ursula Ln. also clarified that in previous
meetings the realtor represented himself as the owner incorrectly, and that the property lines
were unclear and ignored. PWC also discussed advisory committee status, and whether it is a
decision maker. Roger will take that topic offline to discuss with Carl. Next step for PWC is to
discuss PWC process.
Les Ernst addressed PWC with some suggestions:
o Unblocking blocked paths that are stuck between Staff and Council. Council needs to adopt
clear resolution on what to do about blocked paths, since some have been ‘stuck’ for ~25
years.
o Pathway entrance signs. Used to be at entrance of each off-road path. Some new off-road
paths have no signage. Council should state clear policy to have all offroad paths marked
o PWC too large. In 1990s had 7. Worked better.
6.Next pathway walk: Jan 20, 2018
Next pathway meeting: Jan 22, 2018
7.Topics for the next agenda
8.Adjournment
a.MD moved to adjourn, AD seconded, and the meeting was adjourned at 10:05pm