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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 27 2017FINAL_PWC_Minutes17-0327.docx 1 Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee FINAL Minutes of Regular Meeting of Monday, March 23, 2017 1. ADMINISTRATIVE A. Call to Order. Chairman Ann Duwe called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM B. Members/Associates present: Alisa Bredo, Nick Dunckel, Ann Duwe, Melissa Dyrdahl, Bob Elson, Rachelle Mirkin, Bridget Morgan, Judy Nagy, Sue Welch, Sonia Wilkerson, Denise Williams (Members); Susan Cretekos (Associate) Members/Associates absent: Bob Stutz (Associate) Council Members present: Roger Spreen (PWC Liaison); Gary Waldeck (Mayor) LAH Staff Present: Carl Cahill (City Manager) Members of public present: Susan Chappell (Terry Way) Eloise Bodine (Mora Drive) Charles Bodine (Mora Drive) Hal Feeney (Mora Drive) Mary Jo Feeney (Mora Drive) Kjell Karlsson (LAH Finance Committee) Chris Vargas (LAH resident) C. Approval of Agenda. Agenda was approved after moving Item 2A to after Item 2C. ND moved, BE seconded, and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi, DW). D. Approval of Minutes. The minutes from PWC meetings of Feb 27, 2017 were approved with minor amendments. ND moved, DW seconded, and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi, DW). E. Ex Parte Communications. BE reported meeting with City manager, Carl Cahill. 2. NEW BUSINESS A. Earth Day Clean-Up. LAH resident Chris Vargas, who has organized the Earth Day Pathways Clean-Up for student volunteers for 10 years, reported that the LAH Youth Commission will now manage this project to remove trash from pathways. LAHYC co-chairs Anna and Mondi described plans for April 22, 2017 and asked PWC to identify path routes for clean up. Their base will be the Little League Fields (LAH will provide a dumpster) and plans include clean up of Deer Creek on SCVWD land between I- 280 and Purissima Road. PWC suggested O’Keeffe Open Space Preserve and the roadside between El Monte and Dawnridge as other potential clean-up routes. AD will email proposed routes to Chris Vargas. B. Appointment of Associate Member. Susan Chappell, resident of Terry Way, has requested to become an associate member of the PWC. Terry Way is in the Unincorporated County within the LAH Sphere of Influence and in an area Council will consider for annexation at the April 20, 2017 Council meeting. Residency is not a requirement for associate membership on LAH standing committees; associate members are appointed by the committee and then must be approved by Council. They cannot vote or participate in PWC site visits. During the past two years, Ms. Chappell has spoken at a number of PWC, Planning Commission, and Council meetings in support of pathways and the need for a roadside path on Mora Drive for safety reasons. She expressed interest in participating in pathways planning and would like to become a full PWC member in the future. She described her appreciation for providing pathways for pedestrian safety and to connect the community, both in her neighborhood and elsewhere in Town. PWC discussed at length pros and cons of appointing associates and Ms Chappell. Issues included criteria for associate membership; the role of associate members; and the process for appointment. Two residents of Mora Drive spoke against her appointment and said she does not represent the views of their neighborhood. BM moved that PWC appoint a subcommittee to write job description for associate members and the process for appointing them and come back to PWC with a proposal for discussion and approval. SWi seconded. After further discussion BM modified the motion to appoint a subcommittee to consider the issue of associate membership and come back to PWC with a FINAL_PWC_Minutes17-0327.docx 2 recommendation. SWi seconded. The vote was 7 in favor (MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi) and 4 opposed (AB, AD, ND, DW). BM, JN, and SWi volunteered to serve on the subcommittee. C. Election of Vice Chair. PWC reviewed the duties of Vice Chair (i.e., to assume duties of the Chair in his/her absence). ND nominated RM for Vice Chair. BE seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi, DW). D. Properties for Review. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: i) 26173 Rancho Manuella Lane (Lands of ; APN 175-21-075; #69-17-ZP-SD-GD). Reason for PWC review is construction of a new residence and pool. The developer was not present. The parcel is on the north side of Rancho Manuella Lane, a public cul-de-sac that serves 8 lots (TR#5914). The lot has a small frontage on the cul-de-sac in addition to the driveway. No pathway easements on the parcel were found in a brief search of Town records. No other roadside paths exist along the street and no off-road paths exit from it. BE moved that the PWC recommend the Town require the developers of 26173 Rancho Manuella to pay a pathways in-lieu fee. DW seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi, DW). ii) 14460 Miranda Court (Lands of X; APN 175-05-020; #77-17-ZP-SD). Reason for PWC review is an addition, remodel, and second unit. The developer was not present. The parcel is on the north side of Miranda Court at the intersection with Miranda Road and has frontage on both streets. Miranda Court is a public cul-de-sac serving three lots (Reso 154, 1961). No other roadside paths exist along the street and no off-road paths exit from it. Miranda Road is public (Reso181, TR#1632). In 2016 the Town constructed a roadside path along this side of Miranda Road, including a segment in good condition on 14460. No pathway easements on the parcel were found in a brief search of Town records. Conditions of approval for development project on the parcel dated 6/15/06 indicate a pathway in-lieu fee of $8,648 was paid. SWe moved that the PWC recommend 1) Town staff confirm that a pathway in-lieu fee was paid in 2006 for 14460 Miranda Court, and if one was not paid, the Town require one; and 2) require the developers to restore the roadside path on the Miranda Road frontage to IIB standards after construction is completed. BE seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi, DW). iv) 10728 Mora Drive (formerly 10730 Mora Drive; Lands of Linebarger; APN 331-15-061; #415-14- ZP-SD-GD-CDP-VAR). The reason for PWC review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. PWC reviewed both 10728 and 10758 Mora Drive as the single address 10730 Mora Drive at the PWC meeting of 1/26/15. Mora is a public street. The recommendation at that time was to construct a IIB pathway on the property side of the road ROW with a barrier to prevent parking on the path. Planning Commission did not approve the plans submitted in Jan 2015 and the developer has submitted revised plans for each lot. This lot (10728) is a substandard parcel (0.37 acres) on the east side of Mora Drive, a cul-de-sac serving at least 24 parcels. Mora Drive is a public road from Eastbrook to the fire truck turnaround that abuts Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. A private section of Mora Drive exiting to the east from the bulb serves residences in the Unincorporated County. Mora Drive has significant foot traffic entering Rancho San Antonio. No pathway easements on the parcel were found in a brief search of Town records. PWC discussed options for the parcels, including which side of the street is preferred for a roadside path; whether an easement is needed; the possibility that a roadside path for all of Mora could be constructed as a CIP project in the future; and whether the Council mandate applies to collect pathway in-lieu fees for parcels in the newly annexed areas for which no Master Path Plan MPP map has yet been approved. SWe moved that PWC recommend the Town require the developer of 10728 and 10758 Mora Drive to pay a pathway in-lieu fee for each parcel. BE seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi, DW). v) 10758 Mora Drive (formerly 10730 Mora Drive; Lands of Linebarger; APN 331-15-062; #413- 14-ZP-SD-GD-CDP-VAR). This is a substandard parcel (0.40 acres) on the east side of Mora Drive. See review above for 10728 Mora Drive. E. Town’s next major annexation (Terry Way and lower Mora Drive). At the April 20, 2017 Council meeting, Council will address possible future annexation of all or part of the unincorporated lands that include lower Mora Drive, Mora Glenn Drive, and parcels along Eastbrook. This area is in the LAH FINAL_PWC_Minutes17-0327.docx 3 Sphere of Influence and has been pre-zoned. LAH held will hold informational meetings for residents of the area. F. Maintenance and Enforcement Issues. i) ND and others reported the following: a) Downed tree on Moody Road near Hidden Villa b) Drainage issues creating muddy spots on the new Fremont Path near Gardiner Bullis School. Public Works is addressing this and a bobcat was seen at the site today c) Parts of the Artemis Ginzton Trail in Byrne Preserve were washed out in the recent heavy rains. d) The Fran Stevenson path remains closed because of a septic failure. e) The off-road path leading from Page Mill up to Saddle Mountain remains blocked. ii) Surface Improvements on Native Paths. Engineering staff has been reluctant to add new surface material to native paths because the formal description of native paths does not include this type of improvement. ND will provide photos of native paths needing repairs for discussion at the next PWC meeting. iii) BE reported frequent problems with construction vehicles parking on pathways and degrading the paths, which the Town must then repair. City Manager Cahill said the Town addresses this via review of pathway conditions requires as part of the final inspection for all development projects. G. Data on Town Cost for Building Pathways. BE reported progress in his analysis of the cost of pathway construction based on data from the Miranda path project. He plans to obtain from Allen Chen (LAH Director of Engineering and Public Works) itemized cost data for other paths built as CIP projects and he will present a full report at a future PWC meeting. H. Earth Day Table. PWC plans an information table at the annual LAH Earth Day Celebration at Westwind Community Barn on April 23, 2017 (1-4 pm). Display will include pathway photos and maps of the pathways system, and the 2016 Walking Map will be available for sale. ND, AD, and DW volunteered to staff the table. 3. OLD BUSINESS A. Mayor Waldeck Request to Review PWC Charter and General Plan. Mayor Waldeck requested all committees to review their charters for consistency with 1) current activities; and 2) LAH General Plan and code. Also, PWC will formally review the Pathways Element and code to bring new and old members up to speed on Town policies. Members are asked to assess whether current committee activities are consistent with Charter and Duties and the General Plan, and if not, to propose amendments for the next meeting. B. Master Path Plan Map Update. Council members have requested the PWC provide a draft copy of the PWC Working Reference Map for the newly annexed area covered in the MPP Map update. This working reference map shows built path segments and the provisional preferred side of the road for roadside paths (advisory only as of the date of the map and subject to change in the future). AD is working with staff on this. C. CIP Projects Update. AD reported the Public Works Department has sent out RFPs to complete the missing segments of a roadside path on the south side of Summerhill and for improvements (including a pedestrian bridge) on Page Mill Road at Moon Lane. The Town’s request for an encroachment permit from Caltrans for a segment of path near the I-280 Magdalena off-ramp has not yet been approved. D. Alta Design Update. The Town has hired Alta Planning and Design to inventory the existing pathways system. PWC subcommittee (AD, BM, JN) met and developed six criteria to evaluate pathways. These were sent to staff and Alta, but the subcommittee has not received feedback. PWC subcommittee and BE will join Alta Design on March 30 to review a range of existing paths and develop final categories and criteria for the assessment. E. Additional Q & A for Town web site. AD reported this material has been posted on the Town web site. F. No Parking on Pathways Update. Council Liaison Roger Spreen reported the both the California Vehicle Code and LAH code already prohibit motor vehicles on pathways (e.g., Public Safety Code 4- 3.803: Riding or driving on bridle paths: No person shall ride, drive, propel, or cause to be propelled any vehicle upon any bridle path or other pathway constructed for the purpose of accommodating equestrian traffic.) To specifically address parking, a minor change could be made to Public Safety FINAL_PWC_Minutes17-0327.docx 4 Code 4-3.1002 (No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within any parkway.) by changing “parkway” to “pathway”. AD will follow up with staff. 4. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS. A. City Council Meetings. AD reported that Council again declined to make changes to Policy 1.1 of the Pathways Element at the March 8, 2017 meeting, citing the need to focus on completion of the Master Path Plan Map update. B. Report from VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Susan Cretekos, newly appointed rep to the VTA BPAC, reported on the meeting she attended last week. Measure A grant funds will be available under several different programs, including the Educational Encouragement Program. 5 PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. A. PWC Annual Report. AD will present the PWC annual report to Council at the April 20, 2017 Council meeting. She will consult with PWC Liaison Roger Spreen on content. B. Review of Pathways Element and Ordinances. To help bring new and old members up to speed on Town pathway policies, PWC will review the Pathways Element, relevant Municipal code, and SWe’s decision tree pathway recommendations made in 2015. 6. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS. Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 9:00 am at Town Hall Next PWC Meeting: Regular Meeting; Monday, April 24 2017 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall 7. REQUEST FOR TOPICS FOR NEXT AGENDA Review of PWC charter and General Plan; review of native paths needing surface improvements (ND) 8. ADJOURNMENT. Meeting was adjourned at 9: 55 pm per motion by DW, seconded by AB and voted unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, RM, BM, JN, SWe, SWi, DW). Minutes recorded by SWe were approved with minor amendments (in red) at the Regular Pathways meeting of 4/24/17.