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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 17Next meeting: August 21, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 1 of 3 Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee Minutes of July 17, 2007 (Actions Items Printed in Bold) Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Nancy Couperus, Mary Davey, Karen Lemes, Alice Sakamoto, Sue Welch Regrets: Patty Ciesla, Barbara Mordo, Jean Struthers Guests: Susan Mandle, Richard Partridge Staff: None 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. The minutes of the June 19th meeting were approved as written. 2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: Richard Partridge, a resident who lives on Briones Way, introduced himself to the group. Richard may have an interest eventually in joining the Open Space Committee. Richard has been attending Council meetings on a fairly regular basis. 3. Current Business:  Wildlife Corridor Project Nancy brought the completed map to show the Committee. The map will be laminated to protect it. Roger will check with Carl to make sure that the Council, Planning Commission and Staff have copies of the Final Report that was prepared by Michele Korpos of Live Oak Associates. The project has now been successfully completed.  Riparian Corridor Policy Sue and Nancy are working on putting together policies for riparian habitat/ corridor protection. Nancy passed out a riparian corridor diagram to members.  General Plan Update The OSC voted to form a subcommittee on hillside development regulations. Sue, Nancy, and guest Richard Partridge agreed to be part of the subcommittee.  O’Keefe The recent mountain lion sighting along Purissima Creek near the O’Keefe Open Space Preserve has provoked concern by residents living on O’Keefe Road. The Committee discussed putting together a wildlife safety informational meeting for residents. Mary Davey agreed to contact MPROSD to see if they could provide Next meeting: August 21, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 2 of 3 one of their park rangers. Nancy agreed to contact Michele Korpos of LOA and the Dicely’s of Leopards, Etc. A motion was made and passed unanimously to fund and organize a rapid educational meeting for the concerned neighbors on O’Keefe. Sue Welch will draft an invitation. It was also suggested that the gated community in Los Altos next to the O’Keefe neighborhood be invited as well. Sue presented a proposal for O’Keefe by Shelterbelt Builders, who come highly recommended by MPROSD and Friends of Edgewood Park. The cost is $3,000. This first phase would include a meeting with the members of the OSC and the creation of a plan for restoration. This project will be mostly about creek restoration. It’s recommended that the Town continue its current practice of mowing the rest of the property twice a year for weed control and fire protection. (Richard Chen has advised the OSC that the entire property has just been mowed.) Restoration of a grassland habitat with natives in O’Keefe would be extremely costly and time-consuming. The OSC voted to approve the contract with Shelterbelt. Sue will get back to Shelterbelt with this news and inform the Town. An article on the O’Keefe Open Space Preserve has been solicited by Hills 2000. Nancy will e-mail to the members of the OSC the article that she has put together. If the article is approved by the members, it will be submitted to Hills 2000 as endorsed by the OSC.  Matadero Creek Sue and Susan did a walk-through of Matadero Creek with the field crew from the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Protection Program as they did a formal assess- ment of Matadero Creek along Page Mill Road (Old Page Mill to Lupine Road). On the section of the creek just east of I-280 the creek has been channelized with chunks of recycled concrete pavement. Sue passed out pictures that showed the wall built around the trunks of large willows. This alteration of the creek has already impacted the downstream property owners. There is significant erosion. Sue has established that this area is in a FEMA floodplain and is a hazard area. Sue will investigate this further. She will also send Richard Chen a memo about illegal dumping on several properties along Matadero Creek. Roger will talk to Carl Cahill about the situation near Christophers Lane and the Town’s knowledge concerning the FEMA flood plain and whether or not permits were taken out for the work. Sue passed out an information sheet to OSC members on applicable Town ordinances (Title 7 and Title 10) and required permits. Karen Lemes stated that new upstream development should be prevented from adding run-off water to our creeks. Next meeting: August 21, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 3 of 3  Herbicide Reduction Roger reported that he had had a discussion with Carl Cahill about herbicide reduction along roadsides. Carl would like property owners to take responsibility for keeping weeds under control along roadsides. This would eliminate the need for chemical spraying by Clark Pest Control. The OSC supports this plan. Karen also suggested that residents be reminded about the chipping program, which is available to residents twice a year. Chips could be used to control weeds if they were made available to residents. Sue Welch passed out an information sheet on a particularly invasive and nasty weed called Dittrichia graveolens (stinkweed). This weed is sprouting up all over town and is spreading rapidly. This is one weed where herbicides may be required. Sue was advised to send the information sheet to Duffy Price for inclusion in the next Town newsletter and she will also forward this information to Debbie Pedro.  Byrne Preserve planning No news to report.  Morrison Subdivision At the July 26th Council meeting the OSC will present its recommendation to the City Council to include the heritage oaks on the Morrison subdivision in the open space easement. The Planning Commission voted 2-1 in favor of the applicant to remove these trees from the easement. However, Chairwoman Ray Collins would have voted in favor had she been present for the vote and has agreed to speak to the Council on the issue on the 26th. OSC members are encouraged to attend and lend support.  Fencing Alice presented a letter to the OSC that she intends to send to Council members and Planning Commissioners. The letter explains her personal experience with a fencing issue caused by a neighbor and the problems she has faced because of the existing fence ordinance. If the Town had a set-back requirement for perimeter fences (which it does not now have) this situation could have been avoided. The OSC expressed its appreciation to Alice for keeping the Committee informed about the issue. This is an issue that is affecting many property owners in our town. The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 am. Submitted by: Nancy Couperus The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 21 at 9:00 am.