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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 16Next meeting: February 20, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 1 of 3 Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee Minutes of January 16, 2007 (Actions Items Printed in Bold) Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Patty Ciesla, Nancy Couperus, Karen Lemes, Barbara Mordo, Alice Sakamoto, Jean Struthers Regrets: Mary Davey, Sue Welch Guests: Councilman Breene Kerr Staff: None 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:10 am. The minutes of the December 19th meeting were approved as written. 2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: Councilman Breene Kerr was welcomed as our new Open Space liaison. Mike O’Malley has moved on from Open Space to Pathways Committee liaison. Councilman Kerr had two issues to bring before the Committee. The first concerned the O’Keefe Open Space Preserve. Breene would like the OSC to make some recommendations to the Council on possible uses of the property. Committee members agreed with Breene that the property has been neglected. Invasive weeds have taken over a large area that was disced instead of mowed. Breene is interested in exploring low-impact sustainable farming at O’Keefe and better property management. The OSC had heard some ideas from Adobe Creek Collaborative members, Susan Mandle and Jitze Couperus, at a previous meeting. These ideas included a potential retention pond at O’Keefe, as well as restoration of the Purissima Creek riparian area. Info on this can be found at: www.lahopenspace.com/Opportunity Breene suggested that JJ Harris who lives directly across from the O’Keefe Open Space be invited to attend the OSC meetings as a neighborhood representative when options for O’Keefe are being discussed. The OSC decided to invite Craig Murray, an organic farmer in Los Altos Hills, to its next meeting to hear his ideas for a community garden. Nancy said that she would contact both Craig and JJ Harris about attending the February meeting. Breene also wanted the OSC to know about his ideas concerning the Bullis playing fields. Breene is interested in seeing one large multi-use field rather than Next meeting: February 20, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 2 of 3 two smaller ones. He is thinking about contacting hydrologist Andy Lipkis to advise the Town on how to manage the water to keep the field green. 3. New Business: O’Keefe Update & Future Plans – Covered under Guest Presentation 4. Follow-up actions from previous meeting:  Wildlife Corridor Project Subcommittee members Sue Welch, Nancy Couperus, and Alice Sakamoto will continue working with Live Oak Associates to complete the report and corridor map..  General Plan Open Space Element – Status Report The Subcommittee working on the update of the General Plan will introduce the Open Space/Recreation Element and Conservation Element at the next scheduled Planning Commission meeting on February 1st.  Byrne Preserve (Drainage project – Master Plan) Patty Ciesla announced that she was recently hired to chair a new organization – Volunteers for Outdoor California, a project of Acterra. The organization will provide a volunteer workforce for land stewardship activities on public land. Patty will be training team leaders. Patty recommended that the Town hire an environmental planning firm that would do an analysis of our natural resources (native plants and animals, stream erosion, etc.) Patty suggested bundling Byrne Preserve and O’Keefe – creating a master plan for both properties. The OSC supported this idea.  Water Retention Policies & Practices Nothing new to report.  Open Space/Pathway Easements Roger presented a statement for review by the Committee (attached). Barbara Mordo suggested that we add a sentence which states that there are national trends toward acquiring lands for greenbelt rather than abandoning them. Roger will add this and forward the statement to the Pathways Committee. The OSC felt that action needs to be taken immediately, as there were rumors about individuals requesting vacation of easements.  Living with Wildlife The Evening with Owls was a great success, with an audience of approximately Next meeting: February 20, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 3 of 3 125 individuals (children and adults). Karen Hoyt of Sky Hunters Environmental Education was an inspiring presenter, the owls were wonderful, the displays created by Karen and Sue Welch outstanding. The barn owl houses and smaller bird houses were particularly interesting. Nancy shared some photos from the evening with the group. The OSC agreed to do another Living with Wildlife program in the fall. 5. Open Discussion There was no additional time for open discussion. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am. Submitted by: Nancy Couperus The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 20th at 9:00 am.