HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 23Next meeting: May 21, 2009
8:30 am – Council Chambers
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Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Meeting
Minutes of April 23, 2009
(Actions Items Printed in Bold)
Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Nancy Couperus, Mary Davey, Karen Lemes, Richard
Partridge, Alice Sakamoto, Jean Struthers
Regrets: Patty Ciesla, Sue Welch
Guests: Susan Mandle, Associate Member
Staff: none
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 am. The minutes of the March meeting
were approved as written.
2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: None
3. Ongoing Business:
Earth Day Celebration (April 19)
This year’s Earth Day was well attended – approximately 500 people. Nancy
suggested that Earth Day be eventually handed over to the Parks & Recreation
Committee, as it seems the appropriate Committee to sponsor the event. Mary
moved that the OSC request a collaboration next year with the Parks &
Recreation Committee, if they would be receptive to this. The motion was
approved.
Sudden Oak Death
Sue Welch is working hard on the SOD Blitz, which will take place over the May
9-10 weekend. Signs will soon go up around town reminding people about the
SOD Blitz.
Fencing Issues
The OSC discussed the possibility of a continuous rail fence ordinance. Members
recommended that vertical protuberances should not be within 4 feet of each
other. Alice and Roger will put together a fencing statement for the next
month’s meeting.
Open Space Operating/Management Plan
Nothing new to report. Roger will forward the Plan to Town Staff.
O’Keefe Open Space Preserve
Next meeting: May 21, 2009
8:30 am – Council Chambers
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Nancy asked Brian Schmidt of the Committee for Green Foothills about the Santa
Clara Valley Water District Measure B funds. Brian was optimistic that the funds
would start being spent again next year. Mary Davey said that she was recently
informed that the Measure B funds were no longer frozen. This news was
welcomed by the OSC.
Edith Park
The Town Staff recommended a scaled-down plan for Edith Park in keeping with
its location as a “pass through” open space/park area.
Invasives
Green Waste Recovery Systems has asked the Town how it wants Green Waste to
deal with poison oak. Karen explained that LAGCO had required residents to bag
it, place it in a sealed cardboard box, and label “Poison Oak.” Roger will convey
this information to Valerie of Green Waste.
PLANNING REVIEW: 11641 Buena Vista Drive (10.22 acres)
Planner Nicole Horvitz asked Roger if he would provide a statement on the open space
easement on the Evans property. The following is the statement Roger put together:
“The purpose of this open space easement is to form one piece of a continuous, unimpeded open space
corridor connecting Page Mill Road to the open space lands of Byrne Preserve and Westwind Barn.
This corridor is a significant open space resource for the Town of Los Altos Hills, as it is centrally located
and joins two major open space areas (Byrne Preserve to the east and Foothills Parks to the west) and needs
to be specifically preserved in the face of increasing residential development. Preserving such a natively-
vegetated, unfenced, greenbelt open space connection is important (1) to maintain the open space aesthetics
of the area, (2) to maintain a healthy ecosystem of vegetation and wildlife, and (3) to keep wildlife safely
away from the residences.
The owners of this particular parcel have expressed that they may wish to further develop the property in as
yet undetermined ways; in the future, the Town may choose to alter the bounds of this open space easement
to accommodate such changes, as long as the goals of this easement for location and contiguity as stated
above are maintained, and the size of the easement is not decreased.”
OPEN DISCUSSION: There was no time left for open discussion.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am.
Next meeting – May 21 at 8:30 am.
Submitted by Nancy Couperus
Next meeting: May 21, 2009
8:30 am – Council Chambers
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