HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 13OSC FInal_Minutes14-1113.docx 1
Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation Building
FINAL Minutes of Regular Meeting November 13, 2014
Members Present: George Clifford, Nancy Couperus, Alice Sakamoto, Sharen Schoendorf, Jean
Struthers, Roger Spreen, Sue Welch, Kit Gordon (Associate Member)
Members Absent: Karen Lemes, Wendie Ward
City Council Liaison Absent: Gary Waldeck
Planning Commissioner Present: Susan Mandle
Members of the Public: Yoriko Kishimoto (Board of Directors, Midpeninsula Open Space
District)
1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
A. Roll Call. RS called meeting to order at 9:05 am.
B. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes. Minutes of the October 9, 2014 Regular Meeting were
approved as amended (NC moved; GC seconded; GC, NC, AS, SS, JS, RS voted in favor;
SW abstained). Agenda was approved as written.
2. Continuing Business
A. Byrne Preserve
i) Open Space Stewardship Update. Byrne Brigade volunteer stewardship group met on
Oct 30 and Nov 13, 2014. Four school groups are scheduled to plant natives in Byrne in
December. A nature hike at Byrne Preserve led by Acterra Staff Botanist, Paul Heiple,
will be held Nov 16, 2014 at 9:30 AM.
ii) Supplemental Horse Feeding. OSC discussed the impacts of horse feeding in preserve
lands adjacent to Westwind Community Barn (WWCB). Supplemental feeding is more
intensive than in the previous years because of the drought. Horses have trampled all
vegetation from the area where they are fed and barn workers are using a tractor to
spread the manure further down the hillside towards the Moody Creek drainage
(Attachment A). SW and NC met with Richard Chui and barn staff to discuss options.
The objective is to try to contain the damage by limiting the feeding area where hay is
spread and stopping tractor use. OSC will seek advice about sustainable grazing
strategies from a grazing profession who has expertise in open space stewardship as well
as horse management (e.g., Marin Land Trust, Creekside Science, MROSD).
iii) Annual SOD Treatment. Arborist Deborah Ellis recommended last month that removal
of bay trees from under oaks in Byrne Preserve would be more effective for SOD
prevention than spraying with AgriFos (as has been done in previous years). Because
this proposal is substantially different from her August proposal (spraying) and would
involve removal of hundreds of Bay trees, more information is needed before
committing to this strategy. Members will review SOD prevention methods, including
Bay removal, used for other local open space lands (e.g., MROSD).
iv) Conditional Use Permit relative to WWCB. Deferred.
B. Horse Grazing Workshop. Deferred pending consult with conservation grazing expert.
C. Community Trail Camera Project. The objective is to set up and monitor trail cams to
document wildlife in Town open space. OSC working to identify interested organizations.
Suggestions include LAH or LA Youth Commission and film groups at local high schools.
D. SOD Oak Health Workshop Update. OSC hosted a workshop, "Oak Health 101: Managing
for Sudden Oak Death, Drought, and More" in Foothills Park on Sunday, Oct 19, 2014. We
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had 27 attendees, most new to the workshop. Dr. Garbelotto (UC Berkeley SOD
researcher) presented a summary of SOD biology, how to assess SOD risk for oaks, and how
and when to consider preventative treatment. Igor Lacan, Urban Arborist from UC
California Extension Services, talked about when and how to water oaks during drought.
E. Creek Signage. KG and JS visited potential sign locations, shown on attached Google map
(Attachment B). KG strongly prefers “LAH standard” (i.e., wooden signs with white
lettering) and discussed cost and installation with LAH Public Works Director, Richard
Chiu. She will explore sources of funding for the signs (e.g., the annual Pathway Run, other
sources) and will verify creek locations in LAH with cartographers at the Oakland Museum.
F. Preventing tree work on weekends. Members will review LAH ordinances, find out how
other nearby towns (e.g. Portola Valley) address this, and consider writing an item for the
Town newsletter to remind residents of the existing ordinances.
4. New Topics
A. Manure Management. OSC discussed concerns about WWCB staff spreading manure from
the feeding pasture onto the land adjacent to the creek at the bottom of the hillside below
WWCB. Members will review guidelines and regulations for dumping near creeks and
consider options to address this.
B. Volunteer Committee “Code of Conduct”. Members were reminded to review and uphold
these standards (Attachment C).
C. Proposed Mary Stutz memorial bench in Juan Prada Mesa OSP. In 1998, LAH City Council
approved and installed a memorial bench for Mary Stutz along her eponymous pathway in
JPM OSP (Attachment D). The bench is no longer there and the Pathways Committee plans
to replace it. Although OSC does not generally favor such installations, this bench has
already been approved by CC and no objections were raised.
D. Flyer: “Town Identity” for realtors/developers. OSC discussed possible content for an
information booklet describing Town ordinances and policies related to conservation issues
(e.g. open space easements, creek setbacks) to educate developers and potential buyers. Text
can be primarily excerpts from LAH Municipal Code and General Plan.
E. Comparing development process for LAH and Portola Valley. KG and NC met with former
LAH Planning Director, Debbie Pedro, who is now Planning Director in Portola Valley to
discuss site development process in the two towns. PV engages the public earlier, holding
public study sessions for feedback before plans are submitted (Attachment E). Both
architects and planning staff appreciate the process because it allows modifications to be
made earlier and avoids the expense of changing more detailed plans later. It was suggested
that two LAH Planning Commissioners could visit Portola Valley for an informational
meeting and present their findings to LAH staff.
3. Planning
A. Fence Permits. Deferred.
B. Site Plan Reviews.
i) 25700 Bassett Lane Subdivision. OSC recommended the subdivider place a 25-ft
riparian setback (from top of bank) and open space easement along the drainage (small
tributary of Adobe Creek) that runs from Rhus Ridge Road down to Bassett Lane near
the eastern border of Parcel 2. This area is steeply sloped with many large oaks. This
approach is consistent with the Land Use Element of the General Plan, Goal 2 - Policy
2.5: "Steep slopes, canyons and ravines generally in excess of 30% slope, as well as
natural swales and drainage channels, and geologic hazard areas within areas designated
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for residential development shall be left undisturbed and preserved in their natural
condition to the maximum extent feasible.” There is an existing pathway and equestrian
easement along this eastern border of Parcel 2 that is about 30-ft wide at the top (Rhus
Ridge Road end) and 60-feet wide at the bottom (Basset Lane end) and the PWC
recommended a native path be constructed on this easement, meandering around the
trees and avoiding the creek. RS recused himself for proximity.
ii) 25750 Moody Road. Recommended 25-ft riparian setback and open space easement
from top of bank of Adobe Creek, which runs along the southern border of the parcel.
5. Communications from the Floor. None
6. Open Discussion.
A. Backyard Habitat. KG is preparing an info booklet encouraging backyard habitats. She will
distribute the draft to various committees for feedback and return edited version to OSC.
B. Bike signs in Byrne Preserve. The “Bikes yield to horses and pedestrians” signs requested
by the OSC and approved by Council were installed on 9-foot tall posts. Sarah Gualtieri,
LAH Parks and Recreation, reported that the posts had been cut down so they are now
legible to cyclists and hikers.
7. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 am.
Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, January 8, 2015
9:00 AM at LAH Parks and Recreation Building
Attachment A: Horse feeding areas on Byrne Preserve
Attachment B: Map of Potential Locations for Creek Signs
Attachment C: Code of Conduct for Town of LAH Appointed Persons
Attachment D: Notice of Mary Stutz Memorial Bench in Juan Prada Mesa OSP
Attachment E: Portola Valley Design Review Process
Approved without amendments at the Regular OSC meeting of Jan 8, 2015