HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 11OSC Final_Minutes14-0911.docx 1
Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation Building
FINAL Minutes of Regular Meeting September 11, 2014
Members Present: Nancy Couperus, Karen Lemes, Jean Struthers, Alice Sakamoto, Roger Spreen,
Sharen Schoendorf, Wendie Ward, Sue Welch
Members Absent: George Clifford
Associate Members Absent: Kit Gordon
City Council Liaison Present: Gary Waldeck
Members of the Public: Kjell Carlsson
1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
A. Roll Call. RS called meeting to order at 9:08 am.
B. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes. Minutes of the August 14, 2014 Regular Meeting and the
September 9, 2011 Special Meeting were approved as written (NC moved; SS seconded;
KL, JS, AS, SS, RS, WW voted in favor; SW abstained). Agenda was approved as written.
2. Continuing Business
A. Byrne Preserve
i) Open Space Stewardship Update. Acterra continues to make progress on invasive weed
removal using volunteers and has held regular community workdays (Byrne Brigade).
They will present their second quarterly report to Richard Chiu on Friday, September 19,
2014. OSC is invited.
ii) Birding at Byrne. As part of the contract educational program, Acterra has scheduled a
birding walk with local expert Lisa Myers for Sunday, September 21, 2014. The event is
fully subscribed.
iii) SOD Treatment. Richard Chiu forwarded to RS the proposal from arborist Deborah Ellis
for Agri-Fos treatment of oaks in Byrne. This year selected Bay trees near oaks will be
removed to help prevent spread of SOD. Dr. Garbelotto at Berkeley reviewed the
proposal and confirmed the value of this strategy.
iv) Coyotes. After consultation with by Project Coyote, Town staff removed the coyote alert
signs in Byrne. No complaints or sightings have been reported.
v) Conditional Use Permit for Byrne Preserve. City Manager Carl Cahill suggested creating
a common conditional use permit (CUP) for Byrne Preserve and the Westwind Barn
which would regulate the number of horses permitted on each site. After discussion or
pros and cons, the OSC consensus was that a common CUP was not needed. Horse
numbers should be determined by accepted grazing standards and could be stipulated in
the contract for the Westwind Barn concessionaire contract.
B. Horse Grazing Workshop. Deferred.
C. Community Trail Camera Project. Deferred.
D. O’Keefe Restoration Project. Staff told NC that they received a letter from Central Coast
Wilds stating that they will begin Year 0 monitoring of the creek restoration site this fall.
Acterra held three invasive weed removal workdays at O’Keefe Preserve in August and
September and removed large amounts of yellow star thistle. A volunteer group also
removed several bags of trash and drug paraphernalia from O’Keefe.
E. Tree Management Policy. KL moved that the OSC send the latest version of the Tree
Management Policy (dated May 12, 2014) to Richard Chiu for comments and editing.
Kjell Carlsson recommended that the Town prohibit tree trimming by persons other than
homeowners on weekends when staff are not available to monitor compliance with
permitting and heritage tree ordinances. Item agendized for the next OSC meeting.
OSC Final_Minutes14-0911.docx 2
F. SOD BLITZ Update. Treatment training meeting with UC Berkeley SOD researcher, Dr.
Garbelotto, will be held Sunday, October 19, 2014 at Foothills Park. This year the agenda
will be broader and include general oak care (Oak Health 101: How to Manage for SOD,
Drought, and More). NC moved that OSC request Town funds not to exceed $500 for costs
of this meeting (publicity signs, copying, refreshments, fee for park site). SS seconded and
the vote was unanimously in favor (NC, KL, JS, AS, SS, RS, WW, SW). Suggestions for
publicity included Town calendar, Town web site, and Hills2000.
G. Town Newsletter Articles. It was suggested that OSC thank Tay Vanderlip for her series of
wildlife article. Another article on invasive weeds would be of value for next summer’s
issue.
3. Planning
A. Fence Permit Report. No reported issues.
B. Site Plan Reviews
i) Stirling Subdivision. The public subdivision committee for this project was held August
26, 2014 and was attended by the developer, staff, neighboring property owners and
representatives of OSC, Pathways Committee, and Environmental Design Committee.
Discussion included staff reports (Planning and Engineering), committee
recommendations, and concerns voiced by neighbors. Developers need to provide
additional items required for a tentative subdivision map (e.g., hydrology report, Fire
District report). A staff report summarizing the meeting is pending.
ii) 13686 Page Mill Road. OSC reviewed development plans submitted by the previous
owner 6-7 years ago. At that time, OSC recommended a standard 25-foot riparian
easement and an Open Space Easement extending 25 feet from the top of Matadero
Creek, which runs along the eastern border of the parcel. RS will send an email to
Planning Department reminding them of this recommendation.
iii) 25055 La Loma Drive. OSC discussed this parcel located on the north side of La Loma
Drive. Several members had visited the site. SS moved that the Town require an Open
Space easement on the steep hillside at the bottom of the property. WW seconded and
the vote was unanimously in favor (NC, KL, JS, AS, SS, RS, WW, SW).
4. New Topics
A. Monitoring Development in Easements. WW reported prohibited development activity
encroaching into the Adobe Creek riparian setback on her parcel. OSC discussed options for
monitoring and compliance and how to address this specific situation.
5. Open Discussion.
A. CNPS Native Horticulture Symposium. CNPS will hold a symposium at Foothill College on
Saturday, September 20, 2014 covering gardening with drought-tolerant native plants.
Sponsors include SCVWD and Lyngso Garden Supply. The CNPS fall native plant sale will
be held Saturday, October 18, 2014 at Hidden Villa.
B. SCVWD Lawn Rebate Program. Council Member Gary Waldeck reported that SCVWD
Lawn Conversion Rebate Program has increased the rebate for removing turf to $2 per
square foot as a further incentive for residents to save water by removing thirsty lawns.
6. Communications from the Floor. None
7. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 am.
Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, October 9, 2014
9:00 AM at LAH Parks and Recreation Building
Attachments: None