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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 27OSC Final_Minutes14-0327.docx 1 Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation Building FINAL Minutes of March 27, 2014 Members Present: George Clifford, Nancy Couperus, Karen Lemes, Alice Sakamoto, Sharen Schoendorf, Roger Spreen, Jean Struthers, Wendie Ward, Sue Welch Members Absent: None Associate Members Present: Kit Gordon (arrived 9:55 AM) City Council Liaison Present: Gary Waldeck Members of the Public: Jim Abraham, Planning Commission Kjell Karlsson, Traffic Safety Committee Bill Balson (Dori Lane) 1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes The meeting was called to order at 9:05 am. Minutes of the February 20, 2014 meeting were approved with minor amendments (GC, NC, KL, AS, SS, RS, WW approved; JS, SW abstained). The agenda was approved as written. 2. Current Business A. Announcements i) Earth Day. This annual event will be held Sunday April 27 at Westwind Barn and will feature the wild cats from Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund. Volunteers are needed to staff the OSC table. (Expenditure for cats approved below.) ii) Article for Town newsletter. The OSC informational article on ticks submitted in January was rejected by the editor. OSC discussed other potential topics, including the problem of cat predation on declining songbird populations. No action taken. iii) Request for new meeting time. OSC discussed a member’s request to move the monthly OSC meeting to a different week. This would make it easier to send communications to Council before their meetings on the third Thursday of the month. JS moved that OSC regular meeting date be changed from the third to the second Thursday of the month. KL seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor. B. Comments on Brown Act/Conflict of Interest training. OSC discussed at length the mandatory training session held March 13, 2014 at Town Hall. The consensus was that the course content was valuable and that it is essential for all members to comply with laws regarding ethics, potential conflicts of interest, and data retention. One member requested additional written guidelines specifically focused on issues that volunteers on standing committee are likely to encounter. C. Site Plan Reviews. The following property was reviewed at staff request: i) 2000 Old Page Mill Road (Lands of Glassman; Crozier-Hogle Conservation Easement). The owners of this 11-acre property have submitted plans to update the pool and patio area. Because the property (including the house and other structures) is in a formal conservation easement, the OSC was asked to review the proposal. Terms of the CE require that the new pool and patio fall within the footprint of the existing structures. The plans appear to meet requirements of the CE. SW moved that the OSC approve the plans submitted by the owners of 2000 Old Page Mill Road to update the pool and patio provided the City Attorney agrees that they meet all legal requirements of the conservation easement. NC seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor. OSC Final_Minutes14-0327.docx 2 ii) Other properties. WW, SS, and JS will review plans for two additional properties (24745 Olive Tree Lane and 24100 Hillview) and report to OSC at the next meeting. D. Coyotes in Byrne Preserve. The Town plans to place signs and informational brochures at entrances to Byrne Preserve to alert visitors to the presence of and educate them about appropriate behaviors (e.g., hazing) to reduce encounters. NC showed the two types of display boxes the Town will put up next week. E. Open Space Stewardship Update. SW reported that Richard Chiu, LAH Director of Public Works, sent the contract to Acterra on March 7, 2014 for their approval. A kick- off meeting will be scheduled after the contract is signed. F. Stirling subdivision. The Subdivision Committee held a public meeting on March 18, 2014 to solicit comment on the developers’ draft preliminary map from neighbors and other interested parties. Approximately 16-18 members of the public attended. The next step will be submission of a preliminary map. G. Wildlife Management Conference. NC reported on a conference she attended in Denver that included federal, state, and local agencies, NGOs, and individuals interested in wildlife issues in suburbs and cities. She outlined the missions and activities of several organizations including the Mule Deer Foundation and the Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Service. H. Earth Day Expenditure. Parks and Rec Committee have requested the live wild cats program from Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund. OSC generally makes these arrangements. WW moved that the OSC recommend to staff that the Town contract the Wild Cat Education and Conservation Fund for Earth Day and pay the $600 fee and arrange for insurance. SS seconded and the vote was unanimously in favor. I. Lehigh Quarry Update. A meeting to discuss Lehigh use permits will be held next week at the Santa Clara County Planning Department. Council Member Gary Waldeck outlined Lehigh’s proposal to build new stacks that will reduce the concentration of particulates released locally. J. Open Space Stewardship Subcommittee. Deferred. K. Fence Permit Report. No issues for OSC for two permits that were reviewed. L. Subcommittee report on Tree Cutting Policy in Byrne Preserve. Nothing to report. M Creek Signs in LAH. Signs at major creek crossings will increase public awareness of local creeks and enhance public safety in the event of floods by assuring residents know locations of nearby creeks. KG reported that staff prefers metal signs (either brown and white or green and white) and will post them on existing structures, not new poles. N. Review “Charges and Duties” of the OSC. OSC briefly discussed possible changes to the charges and duties of the OSC. Further discussion was deferred to the next meeting. 3. New Business. None. 4. Open Discussion A. Open Space networking with other towns. OSC discussed pros and cons of meeting with OS committees from other towns to discuss issues of mutual interest. It was suggested that a list of potential topics be prepared. 5. Communications from the Floor A. Mr. Balson, an LAH resident, read a statement regarding upgrading drainage swales in the Town. (See attachment) 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 AM. Next Meeting: Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 9:00 AM at LAH Parks and Recreation Building Final minutes approved at the OSC meeting of April 10, 2014.