HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 13
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
Open Space Committee
Meeting Minutes
Heritage House
Los Altos Hills Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road
Wednesday, November 13th, 2019
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
1.Call to Order
Members Present: George Clifford, Richard Contreras, Jean Struthers, Peter Brown
Members Absent: Kit Gordon, Sue Welch, Wendie Ward
Associates Present:
Council Liaison Present: George Tyson
a.Acceptance of October 9, 2019 Meeting Minutes
Minutes were approved
b.Announcements
2.Planning
a.Planning site reviews:
i.12170 Dawn Lane (KG, RC)
No Recommendations; new house; preserve some oaks or replace them -
approved
ii.25538 Hidden Spring Ct. (KG, GC)
Vacant lot; has existing conservation easement; proposed convert it to open
space easement and to expand to top of bank along creek along Altamont;
move driveway; and to save tree #1, 24" valley oak; Approved
iii.25750 Vinedo Lane (JC, PB)
No recommendations; approved
iv.13210 La Cresta (WW, GC)
Existing house, teardown; recommend OSE on steep area in back between
Nina Place and 350' contour line; heavily overgrown in back - fire hazard;
approved.
b.Fence permit reviews
Many fences are being built in town; OSC does not always get notified of
applications. Richard to talk to Zach about reviewing fence permits.
3.New Business
a.Updated committee roster (RC)
Richard wants updated committee member list with contact info, to be distributed to
committee members
b.Native plants for landscape screening (KG)
Kit wants to encourage native plants in landscaping and screening - Make it a Town
policy; distribute Landscaping Guide at site development meeting
4.Continuing Business
a.Stinkwort eradication progress (GC)
George: They sprayed for both stinkwort and SOD in Byrne Preserve, but didn’t
spray part of the area; he reminded them of the missed area. George and his neighbors
will be spraying their trees. There is a USDA report on SOD, which George will
forward to the group. Nichol Bowersox reported that stinkwort spraying has been
completed; they are following up on missed areas; people are pulling it up. The Town
notifies residents who have infestations on their private property. It's too late now to
do any more control since it has already bloomed and gone to seed.
b.Fences
i.Wildlife corridors and fence ordinance (PB)
EDPC's proposed amendment to the fence ordinance was discussed; Peter
will incorporate comments.
ii.Definition of wildlife-friendly fencing (GC)
c.Tree ordinance (PB)
In process
d.Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan (KG)
e.Updates from Town meetings; Council, Planning, Site Development,
Committees
f.Review Future Topics for 2019 OSC planning
g.Signup for Fast Track/Site Dev Hearing
5.Open Discussion
a.Presentations from the Floor: For persons wishing to address the
committee on any subject related to Open Space that is not on this
agenda. Presentations are limited to three minutes. Although the
committee cannot respond or take action on your issue at this meeting, it
may decide to place this issue on the agenda of a future meeting.
6.Future Topics
a.Wildlife Panel
b.Invite Town Consultant, Jonathan Buck from ENGeo to OSC meeting
c.Arundo Removal in Adobe Creek, Deer Creek (KG)
d.Soil & weed management on private property, work with fire district
e.OSE vegetation management guidelines
f.Path for O'Keefe Preserve
g.Re-evaluate fence policy between construction zone and creek, should not
become wildlife barrier
h.Guidelines for pathways near or over creeks (Joanne McFarlin guest
speaker)
i.Our Town Articles (Animal Services, Invasive Pest Plants)
j.Citizen Science (wildlife, water quality, SOD, etc)
k.Open Space easement v. riparian set back
l.Groundwater management on new constructions (KG)
7.Adjournment
Adjourned at 10:39am.
Any writings or documents provided to a majority of the Open Space Committee
regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the City
Clerk’s office located at Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California
during normal business hours.