HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 17Next meeting: June 21, 2012
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Los Altos Hills Council Chambers
Minutes of May 17, 2012
(Actions Items Printed in Bold)
Present: Roger Spreen, George Clifford, Nancy Couperus, Karen Lemes, Alice
Sakamoto, Sharen Schoendorf, Wendie Ward, Sue Welch, Council liaison Gary Waldeck
Regrets: Jean Struthers and Susan Mandle, Associate
Guests: Kit Gordon, Yoriko Kishimoto (MROSD)
Staff: none
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 8:40 am. The minutes of the April meeting were
approved as written.
2. Introductions/Presentations/Guests: Kit Gordon was introduced to the OSC. She is
joining the Committee as an Associate Member.
3. New Business
Annual Report to Council – Roger will be making a presentation to the Council
this evening.
4. Current Business
Ad Hoc Committee on Fencing
Roger summarized the proposal for fence setbacks for properties that are over 2
acres. He pointed out that Portola Valley requires setbacks of 20’ and 25’ from
side and rear parcel boundaries on properties over 2 acres. Sue has located
between 40 and 50 properties of 2+ acres to determine where and what kind of
fencing are on these properties. It appears that many of these properties have
open areas that are not fenced. Karen pointed out that fencing was not critical
years ago when the Town was less developed and had more open space.
The fencing subcommittee will be going back to the Council with a status report
and request to move forward with a proposal. Roger will make the presentation
at the June Council meeting.
Next meeting: June 21, 2012
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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.
Land & Creek Management
Yoriko reminded OSC members about the September 22, 2012 Silicon Valley
Watershed Summit. It will be held at Foothill College (9 to 2 pm). One of the
goals of the Summit is to identify opportunities for ongoing collaboration among
agencies, cities, businesses and individuals. Lester Snow, former Director of the
California Department of Water Resources, will be a keynote speaker.
.
Stanford/Arastradero Trail –
There has been feedback from neighbors living close to Matadero Creek that they
don’t want to have a low split-rail demarcation fence next to the Creek. Sue
suggested that this should probably be put off for the time being. If a problem
becomes apparent, then we can always approach the Town again.
Town Documents for Planning
Roger will present our first two documents – Open Space Easements and
Wildlife Management to Council members when he makes the OSC Annual
Report to Council. The document on creeks and riparian areas is still being
worked on and will be forwarded to Roger for his review.
Open Space Easements and Conservation Easements
Nothing new to report.
Wildlife Issues
Kit Gordon shared her interest in integrated pest management and her concern
about poisoning of raptors through the use of rodenticides. She shared an
excellent article from the May 13, 2012 S.F. Chronicle entitled “Poison lurking in
raptor’s prey” that explains in detail the problems associated with rodenticides.
Kit attended a meeting at Hidden Villa at which Gophers Limited made a
presentation. Kit is working with the Town to see if there is a way to avoid using
poison bait to control gophers and ground squirrels on the Town’s recreation
properties.
Planning Projects – Ravensbury Avenue (new residence)
A new house is being proposed on a property on Ravensbury Avenue that has a
creek running through it. Neighbors have raised concerns about the status of the
creek – a tributary of Loyola Creek – because the Staff has described it as a
Next meeting: June 21, 2012
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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drainage swale. This would allow the developer to plan the house very close to
the creek bank. The OSC will continue to follow up on this.
SOD Blitz 2012
The SOD Blitz will take place on Saturday, May 26th. Sue has made all of the
preparations for the workshop.
Town Open Space Properties (incl. Byrne Preserve)
George noticed that the Land Use Map omitted a portion of the Byrne Preserve
Corridor. He checked this out with the Staff who agreed that this was an error.
We’ll want to correct the Land Use Map before printing additional copies of the
Open Space Easement document, which contains the Land Use Map.
5. Open Discussion
There was no time for open discussion.
The next OSC meeting will be held on June 21, 2012.
Submitted by Nancy Couperus
Next meeting: June 21, 2012
8:40 am – Council Chambers
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