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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 20Next meeting: December 18, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 1 of 4 Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee Meeting Minutes of November 20, 2007 (Actions Items Printed in Bold) Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Nancy Couperus, Mary Davey, Karen Lemes, Richard Partridge, Jean Struthers, Sue Welch Regrets: Patty Ciesla, Alice Sakamoto Guests: Susan Mandle, Associate Member Staff: none 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:00 am. The minutes of the October 16th meeting were approved as written. 2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: None 3. Current Business:  Sudden Oak Death Following up on the discussion at the previous OSC meeting on SOD, Nancy reported that over 65 people attended the Hidden Villa/Hills 2000 informational meeting on SOD. Katie Palmieri of the Oak Mortality Task Force and Cindy Roessler of MPROSD were the featured speakers. The majority of attendees were Hills residents. The Town has accepted the advice from the OSC on the priorities for SOD spraying – the Heritage Oak at Town Hall, the trees visible from Altamont Road in Byrne Preserve, and those susceptible trees in Byrne Preserve that border residents’ homes. The Town is currently soliciting bids for this job. Jay Shideler of the Environmental Initiatives Committee has written a detailed informational piece on SOD. The OSC recommends that a qualified arborist review this before it becomes an official Town document. There was discussion about the advisability of closing the Artemas Ginzton Trail during the rainy months to minimize spread of the pathogen. Sue will check in with experts to see if this is warranted. In the event that it is, the OSC passed the following motion made by Karen Lemes – “that the Town be advised that, following consultation with an expert, it should consider posting a sign notifying Next meeting: December 18, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 2 of 4 residents that the Artemas Ginzton Trail may be closed in the rainy season because of concern over potential spread of the SOD pathogen. If this course of action is not required, then a sign could be posted advising people of the presence of SOD in Byrne Preserve.” Nancy volunteered to contact Alicia Earle (County Agricultural Department) to see if the County is mapping locations of confirmed SOD. The information from the SOD website’s mapping tool is not current.  Foothill College Loop Road Foothill College has decided to abandon its plan to extend the loop road into the Los Altos Hills neighborhood next to the College. Instead the loop road will remain where it currently is and two pedestrian footbridges will be added to alleviate concern over pedestrian/vehicle conflicts. Susan Mandle expressed concern about the 4 ½ acres of parking lots and how the extra run-off is going to be accommodated. She believes that the OSC must continue to keep an eye on this, as well as on Purissima Creek.  O’Keefe Open Space Preserve Sue Welch set up a meeting with Mark Heath of Shelterbelt. The meeting focused primarily on the stakeholders and who else might want to contribute to the project. Mark also requested various Town maps and information about O’Keefe which Sue offered to collect for him. Sue felt that the meeting with Mark and his colleague was useful. At a recent Santa Clara County Creeks Coalition meeting, Sue spoke to representatives from the City of Cupertino Stevens Creek Corridor Project – a $11.2 million creek restoration project. Sue requested from one of the representatives a novel instrument for soliciting public input on the project – the Vision Kit. Participants drew their vision on the project map and then this information was examined and compiled to see if there were common themes. The project was apparently very successful in Cupertino and helped stakeholders recognize the constraints that were not apparent initially. Sue will also e-mail the group requesting a kit for our OSC and one for Mary Davey for Mid-Pen. This same process might be utilized in developing a project for O’Keefe.  General Plan Update Subcommittee members, Sue Welch, Richard Partridge, and Nancy Couperus met with Art Lachenbruch to familiarize themselves with the slope density formula, originally created by Art and George Mader of Portola Valley. Richard pointed out that there are two issues involved. The first is slope density that dictates how land can be subdivided and the second is building on slope. Richard will do some research into our zoning ordinances to see how these are codified. A follow-up meeting will be planned shortly. Next meeting: December 18, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 3 of 4  Byrne Preserve Master Plan/Pasture Usage A recent document on management practices for Westwind Barn indicated that additional horses could be added to Byrne Preserve Pasture (if the horses were supplemented with hay) in order to produce more income for the Barn. Members of the OSC agreed that this would not be a good idea – that the land should dictate the use – that the land should be managed as mixed use open space rather than as range land. Problems of erosion and over-grazing could result with an increase in the number of horses. The OSC passed a motion recommending “limiting grazing on the Byrne Preserve Pasture to 10 horses in order to protect the land and to decrease liability for the Town.”  Fencing No new news.  Water Conservation Update Adobe Creek Project Update – Susan Mandle reported that the project is pretty much on course but is not yet at the 90% level that had been reported by SCVWD. In December trees along the creek will be removed in preparation for the project to get underway in spring 2008. Edith Park will be used as the staging area. Matadero Creek Channelization – Sue Welch reported that Brian Wines of the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board was taking the lead on this project. Removal of the concrete and restoration of the creek bank will be an enormous undertaking.  Herbicide Reduction No new news.  Riparian Corridor Policy Development of a riparian corridor policy is being temporarily put off. Sue Welch recommended that the OSC thank the Daughters of Charity (Seton) for planting natives after removing the eucalyptus along Altamont Road and the creek channel.  Herbicide Reduction Roger will request an update (current status) from Carl on herbicide spraying.  NEW BUSINESS Orr Project on Altamont Road: Next meeting: December 18, 2007 9:00 am – Kitchen Conference Room Page 4 of 4 Nancy described the situation on the Orr property along Altamont Road – the proposed lot line adjustment and open space easement on part of the property. Debbie Pedro has requested that the OSC look at the existing perimeter fence on the north side of the property and make a recommendation to the Town. Roger will schedule a meeting with OSC members to look at the property in the near future. Crozier-Hogle Conservation Easement: Roger summarized the situation with the Crozier-Hogle Easement. The family was considering a request to modify the easement on the house but is now reconsidering because of IRS implications. The price of the home has been reduced in hopes that a buyer will be found. OPEN DISCUSSION: There was no additional time for Open Discussion. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am. Submitted by: Nancy Couperus The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 18th at 9:00 am.