HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 8Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Minutes of August 8, 2006
(Actions Items Printed in Bold)
Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Patty Ciesla, Nancy Couperus, Mary Davey, Sue Welch
Guests: Karen Lemes, Councilman Mike O’Malley
Regrets: Barbara Mordo, Alice Sakamoto, Jean Struthers
Staff: None
1. Call to Order
Roger Spreen called the meeting to order at 8:35 am. The minutes of the previous
meeting were approved as written.
Roger announced that Bob Lefkowits has resigned from the OSC, as he has suffered a
very serious spinal injury as a result of a body surfing accident. Nancy said that she
would try to get more information on Bob’s condition and send Bob a get well card
which members present signed.
2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests
Roger welcomed Karen Lemes back to the Committee and encouraged Karen to
rejoin the OSC which she agreed to do.
3. Ongoing
Wildlife Corridor Project:
Status update - Nancy summarized some of the observations made by wildlife
ecologist, Michele Korpos, on a recent “ground truthing” visit to Los Altos Hills.
Michele suggested that we might want to encourage replanting of trees where
eucalyptus have been removed. Michele recommended black walnut, as an example,
as a possible replacement where large trees are desired. Roger agreed to put together
some recommendations for replanting and for avoiding the resprouting of
eucalyptus stumps. There was agreement that an information sheet would be very
useful to residents.
Michele observed that at 28025 Natoma Road where land is being cleared for a new
home the mature oak trees close to a large ditch being trenched were threatened. The
digging has occurred under the drip area of the trees which could compromise the root
systems of the oaks. Michele recommended protection of the mature oaks by contractor
fencing around the oaks in question – using the canopy as a guide to determine where the
contractor fencing should occur. (The root system would not be wider than the tree
canopy.) Sue and Nancy will schedule a meeting with Debbie Pedro to discuss this.
Michele agreed that some of the lesser known creeks where wildlife has been
observed need to be incorporated into the corridor map.
Communications going forward – Nancy passed out to the members the article on the
wildlife study which has been submitted for the Town newsletter. It was agreed that it is
important to keep residents informed about how the study is progressing, and, especially
important to keep Council members informed.
Byrne Preserve Master Plan/Restoration:
Sue Welch reported that Henry Louie (Town Engineer) informed her that he had
plans for the gully in Byrne Preserve next year. Henry plans to extend a pipe from the
gully through the Preserve to a lower point in the Preserve. Members expressed concern
about concentrating water into a ditch rather than dispersing it naturally. As a resident on
Moody Court, Patty was very concerned about the unintended consequences of the plan
and noted that the storm drain in that area plugs up every other year. Karen’s son has
some knowledge about dispersing water and Karen will ask him to check out the
Preserve. Roger will contact Henry to request early discussion of the “pipe
solution” and suggest that there may be better alternatives. The following OSC members
are interested in participating in the meeting with Henry: Patty, Karen and Roger.
The purchase of native plants from Acterra was discussed and what action to take if
they are not needed for re-vegetating the gully. Sue will contact Sandy to see if the
Environmental Design Committee could use the plants.
Patty is also concerned about the natural erosion that is occurring in the Preserve.
Herbicide Reduction:
Roger reported that at the last City Council meeting the Council voiced its support
for reducing herbicides. Nancy added that the OSC had been directed by Council to work
with staff to develop an integrated pest control management plan that would have an
overall goal of at least a 25% reduction in herbicide use. Mike suggested meeting with
staff – Carl and Henry.
On November 14th there is a County forum on integrated pest management control.
Staff attendance at this forum would be important to the furtherance of the herbicide
reduction goal.
Karen suggested that residents might be interested in alternatives to spraying, such as
wood chips being spread to keep down the weeds, or native flower plantings.
Roger suggested doing a test on a stretch of road and asked Karen if she could find
out about the feasibility and availability of wood chips. This could be a pilot project.
There was discussion about the undergrounding project next to Byrne Preserve and
what techniques for re-vegetation would be most appropriate along the pathway
bordering Byrne Preserve after the undergrounding is completed.
Sue would be interested in a pilot project – a native plant (or grass) replacement plan.
4. New Business
General Plan Updated Elements:
Mike presented the OSC with a Draft of the Revised Conservation & Open Space
Element which is being worked on by an ad hoc committee. This is part of the work
being done to update the Land Use Element of the General Plan, which has not been
updated in 30 years. The committee is made up of the following members: Mike, Carl
Cottrell, Elayne Dauber, Carol Gottlieb, Dot Schreiner and Janet Vitu. Planner Leslie
Hopper has had a lot of experience in writing general plans and has been working with
the committee as well.
Mike explained that currently the Open Space and Conservation Elements of the
General Plan are separate elements. The committee decided to join them together, as
there is otherwise a lot of unnecessary redundancy.
Mike would like each member of the Open Space Committee to review the draft and
come up with recommendations or suggested changes. After committee review (the OSC
being just one) the draft document will move on to the Planning Commission and then to
City Council.
Roger suggested that we should review the items we believe are important and make
sure that the draft incorporates them. This will be every member’s “homework
assignment” before the next OSC meeting. Members should send their comments to
Roger who will post them on a website for everyone to view. At the next meeting on
September 12th, a member of the OSC will be selected to represent the group on the ad
hoc committee.
Meeting Times:
It was agreed that Tuesday mornings at 8:30 seemed to work well as a meeting time
for everyone. A motion was made and passed that the regular meeting time of the OSC
be changed from the second Friday to the second Tuesday of the month – 8:30 to 10:30
am. Meetings will take place in the Kitchen Conference Area so as not to interfere with
Site Development meetings, which are scheduled in the Council Chambers at 10 am.
Roger will convey this to City Clerk Karen Jost, as well as finding out the
procedure to re-nominate Karen Lemes to the Committee.
The meeting was adjourned shortly after 10:30 am. Next meeting – Sept. 12th - 8:30 am