HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 12OSC FINAL_Minutes17-1012.docx 5/10/19 1
Los Altos Hills Open Space Committee
Los Altos Hills Parks and Recreation Building
FINAL Minutes of Regular Meeting October 12, 2017
Members and Associates Present: Nancy Couperus, Kit Gordon, Alice Sakamoto, Sharen Schoendorf, Jean
Struthers, Wendie Ward, Sue Welch (Members); Peter Brown (Associate)
Members and Associates Absent: George Clifford, Richard Contreras (Members); Karen Lemes (Associate)
Council Liaison Absent: Roger Spreen
Member of Public Present: Pat Lang (LAH resident)
Kjell Karlsson (LAH Finance and Investment Committee)
1. Call to Order and Approval of Minutes
A. Roll Call. NC called the meeting to order at 9:05 am.
B. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes. KG moved to accept with minor amendments the minutes of the
Sep 14, 2017 meeting. SW seconded and the vote was 5 in favor (NC, KG, JS, WW, SW); AS and
SS abstained (not present at that meeting).
C. Announcements
i. Naming of Moody Creek. At the May 2017 OSC meeting, OSC voted unanimously to pursue a
request to USGS to officially designate as “Moody Creek” the creek that runs from Foothills Park
along Central Drive, through Byrne Preserve to Moody Road, and across Hidden Villa lands to join
Adobe Creek. KG contacted USGS and received instructions for pursuing this designation. She will
write a resolution and present to Town Council.
ii. Landscape Plan for 26691 Moody Court. OSC reviewed the landscape plan for this parcel at the
Aug 10, 2017 OSC meeting with a recommendation to require the fence be set back 25 feet from top
of bank of Moody Creek, which runs through the property. Also, the hardscape and fence in the
road ROW should be removed. Planning Commission will review the landscape plan on Nov 2,
2017.
iii. Historical Articles for LAH. KG received a file of historical articles about the Town and will pass
them to OSC members to read. SW took the articles and will return them next month.
iv. Communication with EDPC. KG plans to speak at a future EDPC meeting about the value of
riparian vegetation.
v. Lehigh Cement Plant Emissions. PL reported that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
(BAAQMD) will vote next week on whether to require new more strict regulations (Regulation 11-
18) controlling emissions that will lower all stationary sources of toxins exhausted from industrial
sources, including the Lehigh Cement plant near LAH. Emails in support of passing this regulation
must be sent by Monday, Oct 16, 2017. PL will send an email with additional details and the email
address for your letters.
vi. Proposed vegetable garden in O’Keefe Open Space Preserve. Parks and Rec Committee apparently
is still interested in installing a community garden in O’Keefe OSP. OSC reviewed this proposal in
the past and determined that this use is not consistent with an OSP.
vii. CNPS Native Plant Sale. The annual fall plant sale at the CNPS nursery at Hidden villa will be held
Sat Oct 21.
viii. New invasive pest plant in Foothills Park. SW learned at the Santa Clara County Weed
Management Area meeting on Oct 10, 2017 that a stand of Purple Loosestrife was found in Borundo
Lake in Foothills Park. This is the first report of this highly invasive aquatic plant in Santa Clara
County. The infestation, which was probably introduced by a landscape contractor, was extirpated.
OSC members will monitor Moody Creek for spread of this problematic plant.
2. New Business
A. Charter Revision and Council Suggestion. KG distributed for discussion a copy of the most recent OSC
charter (revised at the Sept 2017 meeting; Attachment A). The charter was revised further with the
following edits: 1) remove the text in parentheses in the fourth bullet “(including the identification of
properties for which preservation is recommended)”; and 2) to add the words “following standard Town
communication policies” at end of fifth bullet. KG will send the new revision to Council Liaison Spreen
for review and comment and bring it back to OSC at the November meeting.
OSC FINAL_Minutes17-1012.docx 5/10/19 2
3. Planning
A. Fence Permit Reviews.
i. 26965 Orchard Hill Lane. Replacement of full perimeter fence; no open space issues.
ii. 26815 Ortega Drive. Replacement of fence on Fremont Road frontage; no open space issues.
B. OSC Site Reviews and Recommendations for Development Projects.
i. 25700 Bassett Lane (Lands of Yiu). OSC reviewed the subdivision of this parcel several times
(11/13/14; 11/12/15; 3/10/16; 4/14/16) during the subdivision process. The main concerns were
slopes ≥30%, drainage swale, and mature oaks. OSC recommended OSEs on both parcels. The
current review is for site development (new residence) on Parcel 2. An OSE was dedicated on
March 2017 along the 532-ft elevation contour line. OSC discussed the plans and recommended
referral back to Planning Commission because of concerns about the large number of oaks to be
removed for the pool and the fire truck turn-around.
ii. 28550 Matadero Creek Lane. JS, KG, and SW volunteered to make a site visit and prepare a draft
recommendation.
4. Continuing Business
A. Byrne Preserve: Grassroots Ecology Update. Workdays for planting, invasive weed removal, and other
work in the preserves resumed on Oct 9 and will be held every other Monday until the rains start and
then every week.
B. Stinkwort Town-wide management. Herbicide spraying for stinkwort was done on Oct 4-6 under
direction of to Public Works Director Allen Chen. It appeared that some property owners responded to
the Town-wide notice about spraying and the stinkwort info flyer by pulling the stinkwort on their road
frontages before the spraying. OSC discussed the project and agreed on an earlier start (and spray date)
next year. Also, methods for helping to control stinkwort infestations on and near construction sites and
the numerous large infestations on private property are needed. It was suggested that conditions of
approval for permits for new projects could include responsibility to remove stinkwort on the site during
and after the project. Reporter Megan Winslow wrote an accurate and interesting article for the Los
Altos Town Crier about the stinkwort infestsion in LAH (Attachment B).
C. Westwind Community Barn (WWCB) weed management proposal. In early October OSC sent a memo
to City Manager Carl Cahill requesting the Town hire Ecological Concerns to do a preliminary
assessment of the weed situation on WWCB property, focusing on the lower wetland area. OSC is
awaiting action by the Town on this project. OSC members removed a large quantity of stinkwort, YST,
and PST from this area in late September and are composting it on site.
D. Tree ordinance proposal from EDPC. The proposal has not yet been sent to Planning Commission for
review.
E. Sudden Oak Death SOD BLITZ results. SW reported that Dr. Garbelotto will present results of the 2017
Sudden Oak Death Testing and Mapping Program at a meeting at Portola Valley Town Center at 7 pm
Friday, October 13, 2017. He will also discuss changes to recommended treatment options.
F. Site Development and Fast Track Review Meetings. OSC members were reminded to volunteer to
attend these important planning meetings (held Tuesdays at 10 am) to provide input on potential impact
of proposed development projects on creeks, trees, and other conservation resources.
5. Open Discussion. None
6. Communications from the Floor. None.
7. Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am.
Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, November 12, 2017
9:00 AM at LAH Parks and Recreation Building
Attachment A: DRAFT Open Space Committee Charter revised Sept 2017
Attachment B: Stinkwort article in Los Altos Town Crier
Final minutes were approved as amended (red text) at the regular OSC meeting of Nov 12, 2017.
Open Space Charter RevisedFeb 2017.docx 3/6/17
Committee Overview
The membership of this Committee shall consist of a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 9
members. The Open Space Committee currently has 9 members. Five members are required
for a quorum.
Responsibilities
The charges to and duties of this Committee shall be to:
• Advise and assist the Town Council, Planning Commission and staff in implementing the
policies and goals of the General Plan, specifically with respect to acquisition, maintenance
and protection of conservation easements, open space easements and open space
• Make recommendations at subdivision, site development, Planning Commission and Town
Council meetings regarding the acquisition, maintenance and protection of conservation
easements, open space easements and open space
• Advise and assist the work for the preservation, restoration and enhancement of the
environment and natural resources within the Town
• Study and recommend ordinances and resolutions relating to the acquisition, restoration,
maintenance and use of conservation easements, open space easements and open space
within the Town, including the identification of properties for which preservation is
recommended
• Communicate Town policies and procedures regarding conservation easements, open
space easements and open space
• Provide educational material and informational forums and programs to the public regarding
natural resources (e. g. wildlife, creeks, native plants and wildlife habitat)
• Develop relationships with other Town Committees, neighboring municipalities, and regional
entities to collaborate on environmental issues
', ffiA{.U Mfj Jr b- ob.l g?A{6 @ttAn4 rTleE (y
The Hills are alive -with the scourgu of
By Mega+ V. Winslow
staff Writc/lqeganw@l,atc.com
stinkwort, by any otler name,
would smell just as noxious, ex-
crete gils just as irritating an{ pro-
duce barbsjust as sharp.
"It's horrible stuff," said Sue Welch, Los
Altos Hills Open Space Committee mem-
ber. "I would really like to see the town get
a handle on it."
To that end, a pest control company is
scheduled to begin spot-treating specially
designated stinkwort infestations through-
out town with herbicide this week. Applica-
tion is expected to take one or two days.
It's been years since the town pursued
such an aggressivo approach agaitrst a pest,
but Op.en Space Committee membb.rs feel
it's warranted in this case;, stinkwort is a
highly invasive weed that starts fl<iwering
and spreading seeds in September. A map
the committee created to guide the pest
control company as it sprays shows pink
highlighted areas throughout town, and
their. number is particularly worrisome
considering just one stinkwort plant can
produce and disperse up to 30,000 seeds.
"The window of opportunity for pre-
venting reproduction this year is drawing
rapidly to a close," Welch said.
Unfavorable traits
Dittrichia graveolens, native to southern
Europe, first arrived in California in the
See STINKWORT, Page 6
MAG4N
An odiferous invasive weed has begun
seeding itself throughout Los Altos Hills,
promptlng an herbicldal qesponse.
STINKWORT
From Page 1
mid-1980s, according to the 2013
UC Davis book "Weed Control
in Natural Areas in the Western
United States."
From afar, stinkwort plants
resemble mini Christmas trees:
Their bright green limbs can reach
up to 3 feet tall, and the ends fea-
ture yellow buds like baubles. But
the plant's innocuous appearance
belbs some unfavorable traits
such as sticky, odiferous foliage
capable ofcausing contact derma-
titis in humans who touch it and
intestinal inflsnmation in live-
stock thaf eat it Stinkwort grow-
ing.near vineyards may even af-
fect tln tasle of grapes and wine.
Nd only does stinkwort dry
out during California's fire season,
ading to the fire fuel load, its resin
is, highly flammable, increasing fi re
risk, said Kit Gordon, Open Space
Committee chaiiwoman. In fact,
she said, it was volunteers' removal
of stinkwort and other invasive
weeds from Byrne Park Preserve
that trclpeO mitigate the 5-acre
Mountain Fire there in July;
Firefighters "said the fire didn't
have a lol of fueI," Gordon said.
"It was easy to put out."
In addition to the preserve,
stinkwort favors Los Altos Hills'
roadways and paths. It thrives in
well-drained, disturbed soil, so
hillsides and construction sites
are prime spots for infestations.
A common Los Altos Hills
sceirario' involves a residential
construction project in which the
home is built but the property is
not yet landscaped, Welch said.
Chances are, the house is sitting
on a dirt plot sprinkled with stink-
wort plants whose seeds can be dis-
persed-by wind or human activity
to neighboring properties.
Population explosion
Mowing, the town's"preferred
method of weed control, is not ef-
fective against stinkwort, and hir-
ing a contractor to pull the plant
by hand would take too much
iime and prove cost-prohibitive,
Gordon said.
The Open Space Commit-
tee recommended spraying, and
town officials hired Reno-based
Pestmaster Services at a cost of
$14Jso.
"We've not advocated this ap-
proach willingly, but we feel it's
an exponential population explo-
sion, and that's why we
need to take this mea-
sure," Gordon said.
Garlon 3a, the herbi-
cide used by Pestmaster,
is Environmental Protec-
tion Agency-approved
and safe for aquatic life,
said Jason Virden, the
company's business de-
velopment and contracts
manager. The spray, ap-
plied by hand, includes a
nontoxic, blue dye com-
ponent to show which
plants have been targeted.
.Garlon 3a "permeates
the earthTnd only kills
the weed it's supposed
to," Virden said. "Ito
"No Spraying" signs on
their road frontage "if they are
committed to removing any stink-
wort themselves," Public Works
Director Allen Chen wrote in a
Sept. 22letter mailed to residents.
Stinkwort's shallow root sys-
tem makes the weed fairly easy
to dislodge by hand, but residents
who elect for the herbicide-free
route should wear long pants, long
sleeves and gloves before yanking
to avoid allergic reactions. The\
may dispose of plants at Foothili
College through a free Green-
Waste Recovery service offered
the third Saturday ofevery month.
"We're hoping residents, when
they become more aware, will
start tackling the weed on their
property," Gordon said.
T;: MECAN V. WINSLOVTOWN CRIIIdoesn't kill the grass'" preventing p.otir".otion requiresThosc opposed to' btriking uErbre stinkivort's seeds fully
herbicides may erectr 6irn"..1", u p.o""r, already underway.