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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes February 27Los Altos Hills Pathway Committee DRAFTI Minutes of Meeting of Monday, February 27, 2012 1. ADMINISTRATIVE Chairman Eileen Gibbons called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM Members present: Courtenay Corrigan, Nick Dunckel, Eileen Gibbons, Breene Kerr, Joseph Kleitman, Bob Stutz, Tim Warner Sue Welch, Denise Williams Members absent: Ann Duwe Council Members present: Mayor Ginger Summit Members of the public present: None The agenda and minutes from the previous meeting were approved without amendments. 2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR None 3. PROPERTY REVIEWS. The following properties were reviewed for pathway recommendations: A. 12085 Hilltop Drive (Lands of Tate). The reason for pathway review is construction of a new residence. The homeowners were not present. The property is on the north side of Hilltop drive at the intersection with Barley Hill Road and has frontages on both roads. Both streets are public roads. A pathway easement already exists on the property along the Barley Hill roadside, although no path has been constructed there. Roadside paths exist on several properties further west on Barley Hill and an off-road pathway connects from Barley Hill (between 12291 and 12135) to an off-road path that runs along I-280. A roadside path has been constructed along Hilltop Drive one lot to the east and on the opposite side of the road (12100 Hilltop). The consensus was that no roadside path is needed on this property on the Hilltop frontage. Courtenay Corrigan moved that the owners of 12085 Hilltop Drive be asked to construct a roadside path to IIB standards in the existing pathway easement along Barley Hill Road after construction is finished. Ann Duwe seconded. The vote was 7 in favor and one abstention. 4. NEW BUSINESS A. Create Process to Update Master Path Plan. Chairman Eileen Gibbons presented at the Feb 16, 2012 City Council meeting a proposal for a process that the PWC could follow in making recommendations for pathway easements and construction on properties in the newly annexed parts of Town. She proposed that a draft map of the newly annexed areas could be created and used as a guide until the Master Path Plan (MPP) can be formally updated and also suggested that Council make a schedule for updating and approving the MPP at regular intervals. The Council approved the proposal and asked the PWC to create a procedure for updating the MPP and present it at the CC meeting in March. Council agreed that annexations to the Town would trigger an update of the MPP. After discussion of options, the PWC agreed on the following process: • The Town will send notice to all property owners in the newly annexed areas that the PWC will be reviewing the area for potential pathway routes and invite them to attend walks and meetings. City Council members will also be invited. • PWC will walk the annexation areas and assess opportunities for appropriate on- and off- road pathways. • PWC will work out a draft map indicating potential pathway routes. • PWC will present the draft map with the proposed routes to City Council. DraftlPWC_Min12-0227 3/21/12 The consensus was that the first priority for this process are the West Loyola and Olive Tree annexation areas. Correction of errors on the MPP (which the PWC has been documenting since 2008) is also an important goal. Additional walks will be scheduled in March and April so the committee can review these areas in addition to the usual property reviews. B. Review and Possibly Upgrade Specifications for Native Trails Plan. This item was tabled until the March meeting. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Budgeting and CIP Projects for 5 -Year Plan. Council has asked the PWC to plan the CIP strategy based on a five-year scope instead of a one-year scope. The PWC discussed the status and relative priority of the following projects: 1. Summerhill Road. Parts of the pathway along this busy road need upgrading for safety. Specifically, paths are needed at 24555 and 24525 Summerhill. The work should be relatively inexpensive. 2. Central Drive to Zappettini Court. This connection would be useful because of its proximity to Byrne Preserve and West Wind Barn. In 2010, Town engineering staff received bids for construction of this route that were prohibitively expensive (i.e., about $450,000). The route requires a bridge to cross the creek and ascent up a steep bank. Chairman Gibbons will review these estimates and present her findings to the PWC in March. 3. Corner of Natoma Road and Elena. The roadside path on the south side of Natoma ends about 60 feet from the intersection with Elena because of a steep roadside bank. Walkers and horses must cross to the opposite side of Natoma to reach the intersection. Extension of the path all the way to the intersection on the south side of Natoma would improve safety. B. Status of Ongoing Projects 1. Page Mill Road and Paseo del Robles. Chairman Gibbons will ask staff for an update. Because this path is on the banks of Matadero Creek, the California Department of Fish and Game and the Regional Water Quality Control Board must be involved to assure the creek is protected. The Town has put further planning on hold until the Robleda Road project is completed so that what is learned from the Robleda project can be applied to this creek -side project. 2. Fremont Road Bike Path. The "Cultural Resource Study" requested by CalTrans has been completed. Environmental review is pending. The guardrail has been extended as requested, but only as far as Seven Acres Lane. A meeting with CalTrans is planned for May and construction is scheduled to begin in August and take three months. 6. GENERAL DISCUSSION Breene Kerr noted that the Town has about $250 K in grant money banked for use at Page Mill Road and Arastradero and suggested that the money be used instead to landscape the portion of El Monte under I-280. Mayor Ginger Summit reported new work to improve safety at the intersection at Page Mill Road and Buena Vista. Palo Alto has agreed to cut back more of the bank on the right side of Page Mill to improve sight distance up Page Mill for drivers turning left onto Buena Vista or Moody Roads. 7. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETINGS Draft1PWC_Min12-0227 3/21/12 2 March regular pathway walk: Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 8:30 AM at Town Hall March regular meeting: Monday, March 26, 2012 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall Two additional special walIs will be made to review annexation areas: Special Walk to review Olive Tree area: Sunday, March 25, at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Special Walk to review West Loyola area: Sunday, April 22, at 8:30 AM at Town Hall Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch March 14, 2012 DraftlPWC_Min12-0227 3/21/12 3