HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 19
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Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Minutes of June 19, 2007
Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Mary Davey, Karen Lemes, Alice Sakamoto, Jean
Struthers, Sue Welch
Regrets: Patty Ciesla, Nancy Couperus, Barbara Mordo
Guests: Susan Mandle
Staff: None
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 9:05 am. The minutes of the May 17th meeting were
approved as written.
2. Current Business:
Wildlife Corridor Project
Completion of the map has been temporarily put on hold while the LOA
cartographer works out some bugs. The final version is expected in July.
General Plan Open Space Element – Status Report
The General Plan Committee is now working on the Safety Element, and the Land
Use Element will be next.
Fencing issues
Roger Spreen presented a useful consensus vocabulary for describing different
types of fencing, including definitions for demarcation fencing, see-through
fencing, perimeter fencing, and solid fencing. No new action on fence regulations
is anticipated at this time.
O’Keefe planning
Richard Chen, LAH Associate Engineer, sent an email saying that the Fire
District wants O'Keefe mowed ASAP. Sue Welch replied to him that the Town
should proceed with mowing as directed by the Fire District. Mark Heath,
President of Shelterbelt Builders will meet with OSC members and Town staff at
O'Keefe on Friday, June 22. He will review the property and, if appropriate, write
a proposal for creek restoration and management of invasives. Money for the
planning phase may come from OSC budget and/or grants.
Town staff have been informed about the garbage pile and the excavation under
the heritage oak near the interstate. Sue Welch moved that because of fire safety
issues, a member of the OSC draft a letter to Town staff recommending
appropriate measures to discourage misuse of the property. The vote was
unanimously in favor. Sue well draft a letter to the Town about this.
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Rhus Ridge Road Open Space
Town-owned Open Space at the corner of Moody Road and Rhus Ridge Road has
been used as a staging area for construction of the Moody Road roadside path.
The OSC needs to review the status of this area and assure that it is appropriately
restored. Improvements might include a split-rail fence to discourage parking and
a simple enclosure for the garbage bins. Jean Struthers and Sue Welch will visit
the site and make recommendations.
Byrne Preserve planning
No news to report.
Water Conservation subcommittee report
OSC members Nancy Couperus, Karen Lemes, and Sue Welch participate in this
subcommittee. Current focus is on updating the LAH landscaping guide that is
provided to homeowners submitting plans for construction or remodel. The
update will reinforce the importance of water conservation in the landscape.
Herbicide Reduction
It was suggested that an exit interview with Town Engineer, Henry Louie, be
done before he leaves in order to review the status of the roadside vegetation
management program in LAH. The company managing the landscape at Town
Hall has been asked to have workers hand-pull weeds rather than use herbicide.
Sue Welch reported that an invasive new weed is spreading rapidly along
roadsides in the Town and suggested that spot spraying should be done during the
next month or two to help control it. She will contact Richard Chen about
arranging this. Karen Lemes reported that some contractors involved in the new
construction at Foothill College apparently have not been informed of the ban on
herbicide usage there and are using herbicides.
"Going Batty" wrap-up
“Going Batty” – the latest in the series in Living With Wildlife was held at
Hidden Villa on Wednesday, June 13th. Monique Lee of the California Bat
Conservation Fund presented a lecture and slide show and showed several live
bats. After the talk, participants walked to the bat house at Hidden Villa for a
view of the local bats.
3. Open Discussion
Morrison Subdivision
The developer requested that the grove of four heritage oaks near Deer Creek be
excluded from the conservation easement that Town Staff requested. OSC
supports including these trees in the easement. Planning Commission voted 2;1 o
exclude the trees. The issue of how best to conserve heritage oaks was discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am.
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 19th at 9:00 am.
Respectfully submitted, Sue Welch, July 14, 2007
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