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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 22 2017FINAL_PWC_Minutes17-0522.docx 1 Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee FINAL Minutes of Regular Meeting of Monday, May 22, 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, Melissa Dyrdahl, Ann Duwe, Bob Elson, Rachelle Mirkin, Judy Nagy, Sue Welch, Denise Williams (Members); Susan Cretekos (Associate) Members/Associates absent: Bridget Morgan, Sonia Wilkerson (Members); Eileen Gibbons, Bob Stutz (Associates) Council Liaison present: Roger Spreen Council Members present: Mayor Gary Waldeck LAH Staff present: Allen Chen, Carl Cahill Members of public present: Monica Evensen (LAH resident) Kjell Karlsson (LAH Finance Committee) C. Approval of Agenda. Agenda was approved after moving the presentations from Allen Chen (Maintenance and enforcement issues) and Bob Elson (Summerhill path recommendations) ahead of property reviews. SW moved, DW seconded, and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, JN, RM, SWe, DW). D. Approval of Minutes. Review of minutes from PWC meeting of April 23, 2017 were deferred until the June PWC meeting. SW moved, DW seconded, and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, JN, RM, SWe, DW). E. Ex Parte Communications. None reported. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Properties for Review. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: i) 25136 La Loma Drive (Lands of Chan Trust; APN 336-32-081; #148-17-ZP-SD-GD). Reason for PWC review is construction of a new residence. The developer was not present. This parcel is on the east side of La Loma Drive just south of the intersection with Summit Wood. No pathway easements on the parcel were found in a brief search of Town records. La Loma is a public road, not designated to paths on both sides. The opposite side of La Loma is the preferred side for a roadside path and path segments exist on several parcels on that side. SW moved the PWC recommend the Town request a pathway in-lieu fee from the developers of 25136 La Loma Drive. BE seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, JN, RM, SWe, DW). B. Maintenance and Enforcement Issues. i) Report from Director of Engineering and Public Works Allen Chen. Director Chen updated PWC on recent pathway maintenance work. The crew is currently mowing roadsides and off-road path routes. Moody, Altamont, Foothill College, Arastradero, El Monte, and many other main streets as well as off-road paths are done; some will require repeat mowing. Trails in Byrne Preserve were cleared for the upcoming Pathways Run Walk. Chen reported the Town has a 1-year agreement to use the app, “See-Click-Fix”, that will allow residents to photograph and report maintenance issues to Public Works using their smart phones. Public Works will develop a pull-down menu of reporting categories and will use the data collected as part of the Town maintenance record. Residents can download the app from the web. Several PWC members agreed to test the system before it is rolled out to the whole Town next month via Town web site, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Town Crier. ii) Blocked Path. Complaints have been received about obstruction of the off-road path from the Town- owned parcel on Page Mill Road up to Saddle Court. The homeowners installed a fence and landscaping blocking the pathway. The LAH Code Enforcement officer apparently was unable to find the location. ND volunteered to make a site visit with him. FINAL_PWC_Minutes17-0522.docx 2 iii) A request was made for Public Works to mow the native off-road path route from Berry Hill Lane up to Town-owned land on Saddle Mountain Drive and the route behind Baleri Ranch parcels and up to Saddle Mountain Court. iv) Repairs on Native Paths. AD reported several native off-road paths remain wet and muddy for much of the year because they run through riparian or seep areas (e.g., the path off the west end of Dawnridge, the path across Moody Creek down from Central in Byrne Preserve). AD asked PWC to make an occasional exception toTown standards for native paths to allow use of gravel or decomposed granite for native path surfaces in wet areas. She will bring a copy of the standards to the June meeting. C. Vic Hesterman Pathway Loop Routes. Former PWC member Vic Hesterman provided Chair AD with detailed maps for 16 pathway loop routes. SW volunteered to modify Vic’s maps for public use. RM agreed to scan the routes and return them to AD. AD suggested PWC prepare a catalog of pathway loop routes in Town that in the future can be digitized and made available to the public on the web or on an app. PWC members were asked to identify additional loops. Also, Scott Vanderlip (LAH Parks and Rec Committee) is working with P&R to compile a series of pathway routes. 4. OLD BUSINESS A. Presentation of Summerhill path recommendations. Bob Elson, who worked with the Town on the Miranda Road CIP project, has developed a new process for evaluating potential pathway CIP projects and estimating their costs. He presented analysis of the proposed Summerhill Road path as an example of how the process works. The goal is to provide standardized and detailed assessment of all proposed CIP projects as well as an estimate of their cost. This will aid engineering staff and help PWC and Council make more informed decisions about pathway capital spending. The cost algorithm will also provide info on appropriate values for ILFs. The process uses APN maps, property records, and field studies to create a systematic parcel- by-parcel description of each potential project that includes length of the proposed path, length of new path needed, driveways, street crossings, ROWs, easements, etc., as well as engineering issues that must be addressed (e.g., water bars, retaining walls, cement work, culverts, bridges, fence or mailbox relocation, tree removal). A standardized Data Card is prepared for each parcel in the project (including photographs, proposed path configuration, engineering elements). PWC members will gather this information for CIP projects they wish to champion and work with PWC, engineering staff, and residents to develop the plan. The information for each project is entered into a standardized Excel Data spreadsheet, which is linked to the Costing Algorithm, which applies cost assumptions (documented from various sources) for all construction elements of the project and calculates a preliminary cost for the proposed project. It also provides a summary sheet and other useful standardized cost analyses. The standardized format allows for easy comparisons of all proposed CIP projects and should help set spending priorities. Bob presented the data and preliminary cost estimates (about $400K) for the Summerhill path as a test case for the process. B. Review of CIP List and Five-Year Budget Recommendations. Chair AD summarized recent budget allocations for pathways. Council approved $142K from the FY 2016-17 for construction of the Magdalena end of the Bob Stutz Path (as yet unspent). Design is complete but the Town is waiting for an encroachment permit from CalTrans. In the FY 2016-17 budget cycle, Council also approved $110K for design of the Page Mill Road-Mood Lane path improvement ($20K for design and $90K for a pre- fab bridge) and $30K for design of the Summerhill Road project. None of these funds have been spent. This year Allen Chen requested an additional $25K for design of Summerhill path (based on response to his RFP) from the FY 2017-18 budget. Council did not approve this additional $25K and asked to first hear Bob Elson’s estimate of the construction cost for Summerhill. Council will discuss and vote on the final FY 2017-18 budget (available on web) at the June 15 Council meeting. PWC discussed pathway funding and CIP planning in general and potential pathway CIP funding requests from the FY 2017-18 budget, including items on the PWC CIP list discussed in Feb 2017 (e.g., Summerhill path, missing segments). The Summerhill project has been on the CIP list for years and is currently the only project for which cost estimates are available using the Elson cost algorithm. AD moved that PWC request Council to allocate $400K from FY 2017-18 budget for FINAL_PWC_Minutes17-0522.docx 3 construction of the Summerhill roadside path project. ND seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, JN, RM, SWe, DW). In future, the PWC will develop detailed information and cost estimates for potential CIP projects using the Elson method. PWC members were asked to identify up to five potential pathway CIP projects they wish to champion for discussion at the June meeting. Projects near schools and/or that may qualify for BPAC funds should be identified. Members should provide their proposals (including a map or diagram and rationale) to ND by June 23, 2017 (the Friday before the June 26 PWC meeting) C. Master Path Plan Map (MPP) Update. Planning Commission will take up unresolved areas at Jun 1, 2017 meetings (except Voorhees and Fernhill). D. GIS Pathway Survey Update. No data available yet. E. No Parking on Pathways Update. Will be discussed at Council June 15, 2017. 5. GENERAL DISCUSSION A. Guided Walks. PWC guided public walks have proved popular (e.g., more than 40 attended the New Year’s Day walk). Chair AD asked PWC members to consider identifying routes and leading a guided walk. Routes of 1.5 to 3 miles (about 2 hours) are appropriate and routes should generally have parking and restroom facilities at the starting point (e.g., Purissima Park, Town Hall, Westwind Barn). B. Town Picnic. PWC will have an information table at the Town picnic on Sunday June 4, 2017 (12:30 to 4:00 pm). Eileen Gibbons volunteered to provide a shade structure, table and a large pathway map. Pathway Walking Maps will be sold. ND, BE and SC volunteered to staff the table. 6. REPORTS FROM OTHER MEETINGS. A. Joint Council-Finance Committee meeting. The most recent version of the FY 2017-8 budget was discussed at this May 15 meeting. The current budget includes allocation of $27.4K for a GIS system (including 1-year of maintenance). PWC discussed access to the system, roll out timeline, and requesting funds to add pathway easements to the GIS system. See 4B above also. B. Brown Act Training. Many PWC members attended this one-hour session on May 11, 2017. C. Pathway Run Walk. SC and DW staffed the PWC information table and sold a number of Pathway Walking maps at this popular event. D. VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. Susan Cretekos, LAH representative to the VTA BAPC reported LAH will receive $8-10K from Measure B funds later this summer and asked for suggestions for use of these funds. No formal criteria are available; anything related to bicycle, pedestrian or equestrian safety would qualify. Allen Chen is also requesting additional funds from other sources for education (bike safety). PWC members were asked to identify projects that for BPAC funds. Deadline for request will be in September (TBA), but SC would like the supporting material available as soon as possible. 7 PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR. None 8. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS. Next Pathway Walk: Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 9:00 am at Town Hall Next PWC Meeting: Regular Meeting; Monday, June 26, 2017 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall 9. REQUEST FOR TOPICS FOR NEXT AGENDA Discussion of proposed CIP projects; guided walk routes 10. ADJOURNMENT. Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm per motion by SW, seconded by AB and unanimously in favor (AB, ND, AD, MD, BE, JN, RM, SWe, DW). Minutes recorded by SWe. Final minutes were approved with amendments (in red) at the regular Pathways Committee meeting of June 26, 2017.