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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 20Next meeting: April 17, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 1 of 3 Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee Minutes of March 20, 2007 (Actions Items Printed in Bold) Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Nancy Couperus, Mary Davey, Alice Sakamoto, Jean Struthers Regrets: Patty Ciesla, Karen Lemes, Barbara Mordo, Sue Welch Guests: Susan Mandle Staff: None 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:05 am. The minutes of the February 20th meeting were approved as written. 2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: Susan Mandle of the Adobe Creek Watershed Collaborative sat in on a portion of the meeting. Susan had previously researched funding that might be available for some restoration projects on the O’Keefe property. 3. Current Business:  Wildlife Corridor Project Nancy reported on the status of the final map and report. Both have now been submitted to the Town staff for review. The map represents the most important thoroughfares that wildlife are using to get around Town. Creeks and waterways seem to be the most valuable habitat areas for wildlife. According to Carl Cahill the report and map will go first to the City Council in May, followed by the Planning Commission in June.  General Plan Open Space Element – Status Report The Wildlife section of the Conservation Element has been submitted to the staff for review. The staff made some recommendations that seemed to a be a reasonable compromise. The revised version will go back to the Planning Commission for reconsideration on April 5th. All the completed elements (Introduction, Open Space & Recreation, and Conservation Elements) will be reviewed by the City Council on April 26th. Notices have been sent to residents.  Fencing issues – Papp fence application status Following the Council meeting on March 8th, at which the Planning Commission’s decision to allow Mr. Papp to fence within a pathway easement Next meeting: April 17, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 2 of 3 had been appealed by Councilman Mike O’Malley, Mr. Papp decided not to pursue legal review of the case. He opted instead to fence on his own property outside of the easement. At the March 8th City Council meeting Councilman O’Malley prefaced his comments with a strong statement about the original intent of the Pathway Committee – not to vacate any pathway easements. Nancy read Mike’s statement to the OSC.  Recreation issues – O’Keefe parcel plans Nancy shared with OSC members the information she heard at the Parks & Recreation Committee meeting on March 19th – the preliminary results of the Town-wide survey. A community park garnered the most interest – 52%. Following the park was soccer field (38%) and pool (34%). These figures still need to be verified, however. Nancy was alarmed that a member of the P&R mentioned O’Keefe in the context of the discussion of the survey results. She informed the P&R that O’Keefe is an open space preserve, which means “passive use,” such as hiking, bird watching, horse riding. Nancy has been invited to a monthly coffee of O’Keefe neighbors at which she will present the OSC vision for O’Keefe. The following suggestions by members of the OSC will be included in a letter to Breene Kerr and Carl Cahill on the subject. The recommendations included – restoring the property to its natural habitat, including a network of low-impact pathways, creating areas of native plantings with meditative seating, restoring the riparian area of Purissima Creek in collaboration with the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and aligning the use of the property with the existing neighbor- hood. To achieve the above, the OSC recommends that the Town select a professional consulting firm to do a layout incorporating these elements. Roger will put together a letter.  Byrne Preserve issues Nothing new to report.  Water Conservation subcommittee report Nancy and Sue attended the first meeting of the ad hoc water conservation subcommittee headed up by Planning Commissioner John Harpootlian. Robin Robison of the Environmental Design Committee also participated. Members were given a broad overview of the issues. The committee will meet again in a couple of weeks.  Herbicide Reduction Carl said at the meeting with OSC members that he would look into this. New Business  Preventing Deer Collisions – Strieter Lites Next meeting: April 17, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 3 of 3 Nancy presented a video which illustrated how these reflective lights on roadways can keep deer from crossing the road until vehicles pass. The installation of the lites have been shown conclusively to reduce deer collisions and are used in a number of states.  Report on general issues meeting with Carl Roger reported on the meting with Carl. As regards the O’Keefe property, Carl wanted a point person to be selected by the OSC. Roger agreed for the present time to be that person. Carl did not feel that it was a good idea to lump the O’Keefe Open Space Preserve with Byrne and Westwind Barn in a Master Plan. Carl agreed to have the staff review the Wildlife section of the Conservation Element. Carl will facilitate this. On pathway easements that no longer appear on the Master Plan Map Carl stated that the General Plan didn’t address this leaving the matter ambiguous for the staff. Regarding the proposed survey on land use, Carl explained that the survey would lose validity if too many people were involved and passed the information on to others.  Earth Day 2007 preparations Nancy is working on preparations. A dozen groups have responded to the invitation to participate in this year’s event. Jean Struthers said that the California Native Plant Society would be able to participate this year. Karen Hoyt will, unfortunately, not be available, as first planned. The Bay Area Amphibian and Reptile Society will instead fill in with a special presentation between the two live cat programs. Nancy asked if the OSC would allocate up to $2,000 for this year’s Earth Day Celebration. The OSC approved the expenditure. 5. Open Discussion None. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am. Submitted by: Nancy Couperus The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 17th at 9:00 am.