HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 15Los Altos Hills History Committee
Minutes of Tuesday, January 15, 2019 3:30 PM Regular Meeting
Meeting Place: Parks and Recreation Building, Los Altos Hills Town Hall
26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Present at the Meeting: Carol Gottlieb, Carol Grewal, Sylvia Jensen, Jitze Couperus, Roger
Spreen (Council Liaison), Suzanne Avila, Associate Members—Joe Heinrich, Linda Swan
Guest: Jane Patrick
Absent—May Davenport, Nobuko Cleary, Sally Wood
1. The meeting was called to order at 3:30 PM.
2. Presentations from the floor. Les Earnest spoke about the inconsistency between the
municipal code and what the Committee is doing in trying to update Appendix A. He feels that
Municipal Code must first be revised to specify qualifications to be on the list. If not, he feels
list should be eliminated.
3. Minutes for Meeting of November 20, 2018 were approved.
4. No Meeting Minutes for October 16, 2018 due to lack of quorum.
5. Dates of Interest
October 5, 2018 Juana Briones Exhibit at the Los Altos History Museum
January TBD Overview of the LAH History Presentation to Staff—Background for the
founding of the Town and planning commission. Horsemen were instrument in the founding
after stabling horses in Los Altos was prohibited. Los Altos Hills Trails Club and Horseman’s
Association were instrumental in establishing trail system. Early on, most trails were informal.
February 17, 2019—Los Altos Hills Resident’s Day at LA Museum. 1 PM. Juana Briones
Exhibit. Speakers will include a person who was involved in the demolition of her home and has
artifacts from it. Ginger Summit will give a presentation on preparing fleece for spinning.
A band who plays music from the early 1800’s was contacted by wanted $850. Unless someone
else is found, there will be no music.
Alex Atkins has agreed to speak, if a lady who has been contacted cannot make it.
Refreshments will be served.
March 25, 2019—History Walk. 9:30-11:30 AM Start at Fremont and Miranda to Manuella.
Maybe see shells in Carol Grewal’s backyard (if not too muddy). Maybe see Hill Brothers
Coffee Greenhouse.
6. Old Business
a. Appendix A on Council’s Agenda—February 21, 2019
Roger Spreen discussed that Appendix A contains historic sites, structures. It was suggested
that it would be easier for the Committee and the Town if the Appendix A list was removed
from the General Plan and just a list was used by Town Staff. There would be more
flexibility to expand or clarify list without having to go to Town Council or amend General
Plan, which is only updated every 10-15 years, as was last done in 2007.
Suggested that a sub-committee draft criterion for determining which properties go onto the
list. Allow History Committee to generate incentive list for Town. Need to alleviate
concerns about being on list by property owners. Incentives and variances should be offered
to owners for preservation. However, it would be the owner’s prerogative whether or not to
avail themselves of the incentives. The Town would not force any historic preservation. The
list would be available for the staff to use.
There was a concern that as staff turns over, the existence of the list may be lost or forgotten
or overlooked. Therefore, an ordinance or policy in writing will be necessary to ensure that
the list is consulted as homes come up for development.
The small number of properties in Town with State and Federal designations are already
covered.
It was suggested that lists of historical events and famous people who lived in Los Altos Hills
(without addresses) should be generated. History Committee would be the curator is the lists.
A motion was made, seconded, and passed unanimously to “Delay consideration of an
Appendix A update while the Town Staff and History Committee work on a resolution on
how best to document and manage the historic lists.”
Separate issue—Should Town institute Mills Act to reduce property taxes on appropriate
properties. Involved process to get it implemented.
At 5 PM, Linda Swan had to leave, and minutes were continued by Carol Gottlieb.
Landmark Designation: After a short discussion of the for the request for Landmark
Designation of the Hillsbrothers Coffee House, a motion was made Sylvia and second by
Jitze that we forwarded the request for the Landmark Designation for 14700 Manuella Road
to the Council for their approval. The motion passed unanimously.
Cosmo George Morgan “Little Gables House” Designation: The house is designated as
historic structure. However, the home is in very poor condition the Committee; therefore, a
motion was made Carol and second by Carol that a Historical Report with possible plaque be
requested if the new owner’s choose to tear it down. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
Respectively submitted by Linda Swam and Carol Gottlieb