HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 20Next meeting: February 17, 2011
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Meeting
Minutes of January 20, 2011
(Actions Items Printed in Bold)
Present: Roger Spreen, Chair, Nancy Couperus, Karen Lemes, Alice Sakamoto, Sharen
Schoendorf, Jean Struthers, Wendie Ward, Sue Welch
Regrets: None
Guests: Council member Jean Mordo, MROSD Representative, Yoriko Kishimoto,
Residents - Susan Mandle and George Clifford
Staff: none
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 8:40 am. The minutes of the January meeting were
approved .
2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: None
3. Ongoing Business
Hidden Villa Update
Chair, Roger Spreen, provided background on Hidden Villa – in particular, the
fence along Adobe Creek (the Lower Field). Roger pointed out that the fence
(approximately 820 ft) runs very close to the top of bank of Adobe Creek at
several points.
While the fence would appear to have been built to protect the CSA field, it could
be moved next to the CSA field and serve that purpose, while at the same time
allowing wildlife the use of the riparian corridor and meadow. If the fence could
be moved away from the bank of Adobe Creek and outside the boundary of the
riparian setback, it “would be in conformance with county policies for protecting
riparian habitats, would allow greater wildlife access to open space by Adobe
Creek and present less of a barrier to this important regional wildlife corridor.”
(Sue Welch)
A draft letter (attached) was prepared by Sue Welch addressing this issue. OSC
members noted that another wildlife corridor near Moody Court that has been cut
off by fencing should be noted in the letter as well.
The OSC approved the draft letter, amended to include a statement about the
wildlife corridor near Moody Court, to be accompanied by a cover letter written
Next meeting: February 17, 2011
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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by Chair, Roger Spreen. A motion was made to approve this recommendation
and was passed unanimously.
Jean Mordo recommended that the OSC approach the Board of Hidden Villa to
ask for an opportunity to meet with them to discuss the fence issue. The OSC
agreed that this would be a good idea.
Creek Setbacks
The OSC briefly discussed the Portola Valley ordinance on creek setbacks. The
OSC supports increased setbacks for larger parcels in Los Altos Hills. Council
member Jean Mordo stated his support and would like to include creek setbacks,
along with new fencing regulations, size restrictions on new homes, as part of a
review of policies by a new Council subcommittee. Jean will be making this
proposal to the Council.
The Committee did not make any concrete proposal but agreed that the Portola
Valley model was excellent. Nancy provided a list of parcels in Los Altos Hills
of 3 acres and more. Sue offered to correlate these parcels with existing Los
Altos Hills creeks.
Fencing Issues
This item was not discussed due to lack of time.
Edith Park
This item was not discussed due to lack of time.
Sudden Oak Death
Sue announced that another SOD Blitz has been scheduled this year – May 28th.
This year the Skyline Residents Association will be participating in our SOD
Blitz.
4.. New Business
Lehigh Cement – Quarry Expansion
Council member Gary Waldeck is the Council-designated representative for this
issue. As Gary could not attend the OSC meeting, Councilman Jean Mordo
recapped some of the main issues with regard to Lehigh Cement. Among these:
Next meeting: February 17, 2011
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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Only the cities of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills seem willing to contribute dollars
to investigate whether or not Lehigh is complying with air quality standards,
which protect public health.
While the appearance is that Lehigh is meeting requirements, they are using self-
reported data.
While one monitoring station has been set up, it is only monitoring 5 toxins and
mercury and chromium are not included. Mercury represents 75% of Lehigh’s
emissions.
Monitoring stations are extremely expensive – in the hundreds of thousands of
dollars.
Water pollution tests could be conducted at very little expense.
Jean believes that since the cost of the monitoring stations is prohibitive that an
independent expert should be hired instead.
A Santa Clara County Public Hearing is scheduled for February 8th in San Jose.
The purpose is to determine if Lehigh has a legal non-conforming use (a vested
right) for mining its 2,050 acres of unincorporated Santa Clara County.
Open Discussiion There was no time remaining for open discussion.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 am. The next meeting is scheduled for February
17th.
Submitted by Nancy Couperus
Next meeting: February 17, 2011
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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Next meeting: February 17, 2011
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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