HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 18Next meeting: December 16, 2010
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Meeting
Minutes of November 18, 2010
(Actions Items Printed in Bold)
Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Nancy Couperus, Alice Sakamoto, Sharen Schoendorf,
Jean Struthers
Regrets: Karen Lemes, Wendie Ward, Sue Welch
Guests: Ginger Summit, Susan Mandle
Staff: none
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 8:40 am. The September Special Meeting minutes
and the October meeting minutes were approved .
2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: None
3. Ongoing Business
Hidden Villa Update
Nancy provided an update on Hidden Villa and Heifer. The final Heifer
application has not been submitted to the County.
The Committee for Green Foothills would like representatives from Heifer and
from the Open Space Committee to make a short presentation at their January
meeting. Roger will contact Carl Cahill to let him know about the meeting.
Creek Issues
Karen, Nancy, and Shari Emling attended the Santa Clara County Creeks
Coalition Conference in November. It was a very successful event. The Heifer
issue (encroachment into the creek setback) was highlighted as one that should be
a concern to the environmental community. Board of Supervisors President Ken
Yaeger was a keynote speaker. Los Altos resident, Dr. Rick Lanman, provided a
history of Adobe Creek in his afternoon presentation and mentioned the concern
about the newest threat to Adobe Creek. The Conference brochure contained an
article about Heifer and Adobe Creek.
Creek Setbacks
Nancy brought copies of Portola Valley’s creek set back ordinance, which was
passed in 2007. The Portola Valley ordinance could serve as a model for Los
Next meeting: December 16, 2010
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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Altos Hills. The new setback requirements in Portola Valley apply only to new
home construction or remodeling of over 50%. Setbacks range from 30’ on
parcels less than one acre in size to 55’ for parcels of 2.5 acres or more.
Roger suggested that in Los Altos Hills we might want to address only very large
parcels and new subdivisions. Committee members will review the Portola
Valley ordinance, and recommendations will be discussed at the next Open
Space Committee meeting in December.
Edith Park
Susan Mandle did not think that the landscapers had been back to the Park for
awhile. She and the neighbors are quite satisfied with the Park.
Open Space Properties
Nothing new to report
4.. New Business
Wildlife Issues
Sarah Gualtieri, Community Services Coordinator, had requested information
about control of ground squirrels. She wondered if the OSC would do a program
on the subject. Nancy contacted various pest control companies and Santa Clara
County Vector Control. The response was the same – ground squirrels are very
difficult to control. Baiting with treated grain is the most common method of
control. If damage is being caused by one or two squirrels, residents could
contact Critter Control who will live trap and euthanize them. This method,
however, is expensive. Nancy passed the information she received from Vector
Control along to Sarah.
Open Discussiion
Ginger announced that there will be a meeting at Cubberley Community Center
at 3 pm on December 5th regarding Lehigh Cement. Air and ground water
pollution are issues.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am. Next meeting is scheduled for December 16.
Submitted by Nancy Couperus
Next meeting: December 16, 2010
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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Next meeting: December 16, 2010
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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