HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 18Next meeting: October 17, 2013
8:40 am – Council Chambers
OSC_FInalMinutes13-0718.doc Page
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Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Los Altos Hills Council Chambers
FINAL Minutes of July 18, 2013
(Actions Items Printed in Bold)
Members Present: Roger Spreen, George Clifford, Nancy Couperus, Karen Lemes, Alice
Sakamoto, Sharen Schoendorf, Jean Struthers, Wendie Ward, Sue Welch
Members Absent: none
Associate Members Present: None
City Council Liaison Present: Gary Waldeck
Guests: Planning Commissioner Susan Mandel
LAH Town Staff: None
1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
The meeting was called to order at 8:40 am. The minutes of the June meeting were
approved as written.
2. Presentations from the Floor
A. Public Records Act and conservation easements. Nancy passed out an editorial
(Mercury News – July 10, 2013) on a ruling showing why the Public Record Act
now under threat by the legislature is needed. The Mercury News supported a
friend of the court brief backing the Sierra Club, which sought the data to
determine which open spaces were protected by conservation easements and which
were threatened by development. The OSC discussed how and when the open
space easements required on some properties during the development process in
LAH are being recorded at the Santa Clara County Assessors office. A member
volunteered to review how this recording is done.
B. Review of fence Permit Notification. Town staff has asked that the OSC charter be
formally changed to include this additional activity before they will provide this
information to the OSC.
3. Current Business
A. Plastic Bag Ordinance. Council Liaison Gary Waldeck suggested that when
developers apply for a business license the Town might require them to comply
with the ordinance and volunteer to look into this.
B. CEQA Update. Nancy Couperus reported that a number of bills with a variety of
proposed changes are moving through the legislature. A summary is available at
PCL website.
C. Heritage Tree Subcommittee. Nothing to report.
D. Open Space Management
1. Open Space Stewardship. After City Council allocated $50K from the 2013-14
budget for stewardship activities in Town open space, George Clifford and Sue
Welch prepared a preliminary draft for an RFP and met with Richard Chiu and
OOJAY to discuss it. They are currently incorporating changes suggested at
Next meeting: October 17, 2013
8:40 am – Council Chambers
OSC_FInalMinutes13-0718.doc Page
2 of 2
this meeting and will re-submit after additional review. Sue will contact
Edgewood Park group and the Sana Clara County Weed Management Area
members for additional suggestions. In addition to the non-profit, Acterra, four
“for profit” vendors that do restoration and invasive removal projects have been
identified.
2. O’Keefe Preserve plans. LASD is looking for a new school site to
accommodate the increased student population. Councilmember Gary Waldeck
volunteered to LASD that LAH would look for a site in the Town. The 8-acre
O’Keefe site may meet specifications, but would require voter approval to
remove its designation as open space. The OSC discussed this potential loss of
open space land and concerns about risk to other open space lands created by
the Open Space Initiative.
4. New Business
A. Annual OSC Chair Election. George Clifford was unanimously elected as the new
OSC Chair. Sue Welch agreed to act as Secretary.
B. Environmental Design Committee Status. Several residents have volunteered to
join the EDC to keep this important committee functioning.
C. Annual Pathways Walk/Run Cleanup. Event organizers left plastic streamers at
several locations in Byrne Preserve after the race. Parks and Rec Committee will be
asked to pick these up.
5. Recurring Topics
A. Town Open Space Management. Discussion deferred.
B. Invasives and Herbicides. Nothing to report.
5. Open Discussion – None.
Respectfully submitted by Sue Welch (09/18/13)
Approved 09/18/13