HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/21/2010 i
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road
CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Kerr called the City Council Regular Meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Council
Chambers at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Breene Kerr, Mayor Pro Tem Rich Larsen,
Councilmember Jean Mordo, Councilmember Ginger Summit and
Councilmember Dean Warshawsky
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Carl Cahill, Planning Director Debbie Pedro, Assistant
Planner Nicole Horvitz, City Engineer/Public Works Director Richard
Chiu, Finance Director Nick Pegueros, City Attorney Steve Mattas, and
City Clerk Karen Jost
• APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Appointment to the Los Altos Hills Youth Commission
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Larsen, seconded by Summit and
passed unanimously to appoint resident Eric Nevalsky to the Los Altos Hills Youth
Commission.
2. Consideration of Request from Superintendent Jeffrey Baier for Appointment of
Los Altos Hills Representative to Participate in the Los Altos School District's
"Educational Blueprint"Planning Process.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Warshawsky, seconded by Summit
and passed unanimously to appoint Standing Education Committee Chair Bart Carey to
serve as the Town's representative in the Los Altos School District's Blueprint Planning
Process.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Items Removed: Agenda Items 6 and 7 (Mordo)
Mayor Pro Tem Larsen recused himself from consideration of agenda item #10 due to a
potential conflict of interest.
Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mordo, seconded by Summit and
passed unanimously to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar with Mayor Pro
STem Larsen recusing himself from consideration of agenda item#10; specifically:
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting—September 16, 2010
4. Review of Disbursements: September, 2010 $365,794.74
5. Acceptance of Right-of-Way; Lands of Yarlagadda, 12368 Melody Lane
(Staff. R. Chiu) Resolution No. 47-10
8. Annual Approval of Investment Policy(Staff. N. Pegueros)
9. Authorization to Auction Surplus Equipment(Staff. N. Pegueros)
10. Acceptance of W. Loyola Sanitary Sewer Project(Staff. R. Chiu)
Resolution No. 48-10
11. Authorization to Purchase Backhoe Loader(Staff. R. Chiu)
Items Removed:
6. Acceptance of Irrevocable Offer of Dedication of Right-of-Way; Lands of Johnson,
24182 Summerhill Avenue (Staff. R. Chiu)
7. Acceptance of Pathway Easement; Lands of Johnson, 24182 Summerhill Avenue
• (Staff: R. Chiu)
Council considered the two agenda items concurrently. Councilmember Mordo requested
clarification from staff. City Engineer Richard Chiu offered that the two agenda items
before Council were site development conditions of approval for a new residence at the
site. Historically, Santa Clara County had maintained the section of Summerhill Avenue,
however,the portion of the road being dedicated was located in the Town.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mordo, seconded by Summit and
passed unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 49-10 (Irrevocable Offer of Dedication of
Right-of-Way) and Resolution No. 50-10 (Grant of Pathway Easement)
PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Mark Jensen, Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot representative, extended an
invitation to the Council and residents to participate in the 2010 Silicon Valley Turkey
Trot. The annual event has successfully raised over$1 million for local charities since its
inception. Last year Los Altos Hills won the Mayor's Cup and Jensen encouraged the
Council and staff to compete again for the special award.
B 'YChang� Coun
cilmember Cupertino, addressed Council. He requested Council's
support in addressing the Lehigh u 'Yand Cement Plant emission issues. Chang
referenced the permit application currently being reviewed by the Bay Area Air Quality
• Management Board and the SCC Board of Supervisors. Council was apprised of the
litigation filed against the plant.
2 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
Council thanked Councilmember Chang for sharing his concerns and his proactive stance
on the critical health and environmental issue. Council discussed the feasibility of
requesting an air monitoring station from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
It was noted that Los Altos Hills has submitted a letter under the Mayor's signature to the
District, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and San Francisco Bay Regional Water
Quality Control Board expressing their concerns about the permitting process for the
plant and requesting that the health and welfare of the citizens of the region be considered
when the permit for the plant was reviewed. Council reiterated their concern with the lack
of monitoring of the plant by the appropriate agencies.
Karen Lemes, resident, shared that she had heard Councilmember Chang speak before the
Board of Supervisors and had invited him to share his concern with the Los Altos Hills
City Council.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
12. Consideration of Amendments to the Zoning and Site Development Ordinances to
incorporate the Fast Track Guide and Checklist as part of the Fast Track Process
(Section 10-2.1305.1) and remove the term "Design Guidelines" in Sections 10-
1.502, 10-1.503, 10-1.504, 10-1.505, and 10-2.1305; (Staff. D. Pedro)
Planning Director Debbie Pedro introduced the item to Council. She proceeded with a
PowerPoint presentation that outlined the key amendments to the Zoning and Site
Development Ordinances that would incorporate the Fast Track Guide and Checklist. The
Fast Track Guide for New Residences had been adopted by the City Council at their July
15, 2010 meeting. In addition to the language proposed by the draft ordinance, references
to the term"Design Guidelines"would be deleted from the Municipal Code.
The Planning Commission had reviewed the ordinance amendments at their September 2,
2010 regular meeting and vote unanimously to recommend approval of the draft
ordinance.
OPENED PUBLIC HEARING
No public comment.
CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor Pro Tem Larsen queried the Council subcommittee members that had participated
in the development of the new Fast Track Guide (Mordo and Summit) on their opinion of
the recommendations. He questioned if they were supportive of the proposed language.
Councilmember Mordo offered that he believed the revisions would reduce the
subjectivity that could be a factor in site development reviews and would provide
assurance that the review process was rational and fact based. Councilmember Summit
suggested that the new Guide and supporting amendments to the Code would help to
provide a clear idea of expectations for applicants.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Summit, seconded by Mordo and
passed by a 4-1 voice vote (No-Councilmember Warshawsky) to waive reading and to
introduce Ordinance No. 522.
3 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
13. LANDS OF LOS ALTOS HILLSpp A licant: T-Mobile) 26379 Fremont Road;
(
File #92-10-CUP; A request for a Conditional Use Permit for a wireless
communication facility consisting of three (3) new panel antennas to be co-located
on an existing 70' tall monopine and a 184 square foot addition to an existing
storage/cutting shed on the property to enclose the associated ground equipment.
CEQA Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15301 (a) (Staff: D. Pedro)
Planning Director Debbie Pedro introduced the item to Council. She provided an overview
of the application. The proposed T-Mobile wireless communication facility was to be
located at Town Hall. The applicant was requesting to collocate on the existing 70 foot
tall monopine with AT&T wireless, Verizon and the Town's Emergency Communications
Committee's antennas.
Pedro proceeded with a PowerPoint presentation that included: a vicinity map of the town
hall site and neighboring properties; a town hall site plan; an enlarged site plan that
included an illustration of the proposed addition to the equipment shed; elevation of the
monopine that include the location of the antennas; photo simulations of the existing and
proposed antennas on the monopine; and text of the requested clarification on the
Planning Commission's recommended Conditions of Approval.
Council Questions:
Councilmember Mordo requested clarification on the level of radiation that would be
emitted from the addition of another wireless facility to the existing monopine. He
• questioned if the radiation was cumulative and if the addition of the new facility would
exceed the recommended level of emissions.
Planning Director Pedro reviewed the radio frequency (RF) analysis for the project that
had been submitted by the consulting engineers. The report concluded that the proposed
wireless service along with the existing service (AT&T, ECC and Verizon) would be in
compliance with the FCC exposure standards.
Councilmember Summit asked if the monopine would now be considered "full". Pedro
acknowledged that she had received an inquiry from Clearwire but she was unsure if its
microwave dish could be accommodated.
City Manager Cahill explained that the carriers would enter into a lease with the Town for
their ground equipment that would support their wireless facility on the monopine.
Location on the tree would be negotiated with AT&T.
Emergency Communications Committee member Ray Egan acknowledged that the
committee supported the proposal.
OPENED PUBLIC HEARING
Resident, Snell Court, questioned if the appearance of the tree could be improved.
4 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
Planning Director Pedro noted that the Town had a maintenance agreement with Cingular
Wireless and staff could contact them regarding the tree's appearance. Council directed
• staff to continue to monitor the tree's appearance.
CLOSED PUBLIC HEARING
Council Discussion:
Mayor Pro Tem Larsen requested an opportunity to question the project's Radio
Frequency(RF) consulting engineer.
Bill Hammett, P.E., Hammett & Edison, Inc. addressed Council. He summarized his
report that had been included in the staff report before Council. Hammett noted that the
maximum calculated cumulative level of emissions at ground level for the simultaneous
operation of all four carriers was 1.2% of the public exposure limit; the maximum
cumulative level at the second-floor elevation of any nearby building was 1.8% of the
limit. The calculations included the proposed Clearwire facility. Hammett explained that
this was 50 times lower than the recommended safety factor.
Discussion ensued regarding the methodology used for the calculations and measurements.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mordo, seconded by Summit and
passed unanimously to approve the request for a Site Development and Conditional Use
Permit subject to the recommended conditions of approval and recommended findings of
approval that were included in the staff report as attachments 1 &2.
• UNFINISHED BUSINESS
14. Town Goals
• Environmental Leadership and Outstanding Recreational Facilities
Mayor Kerr reported that the boarding and use operations were back to normal at
Westwind Barn.
Following a brief discussion, the City Council directed the City Manager to remove the
"coke"machine at the Barn.
15. Receive Response to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Report and Consider
New Policies to Control Personnel Costs (Staff: N. Pegueros)
(item continued from 9/16/10 regular city council meeting)
Finance Director Nick Pegueros provided an overview of the staff report. The item
before the City Council was receipt of the response to the 2009-2010 Santa Clara County
Civil Grand Jury Report that focused on employee costs. The report was a countywide
effort that had reviewed compensation and benefit costs for all cities in the county. At the
completion of the analysis, the report had made several recommendations to be
considered by the agencies.
•
5 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
Pegueros proceeded with a PowerPoint presentation that outlined the Civil Grand Jury's
recommendations and the response from management to implement two of the
recommendations. First, the report had recommended that the salary schedule be
expanded. The proposed action by Town management was to increase the current 5 steps
to 9 steps. The new scale would reduce the percentage increase between merit based
salary increases and provide a 2.469% differential between steps. If implemented, this
change would have the effect of slowing growth in employees' salaries. Second,the Civil
Grand Jury report recommended reducing the pension provided to future hires. The
pension benchmark would be raised to 2% at 60 years of age. Management concurred
with the recommendation.
Pegueros reviewed the report's additional recommendations which included employee
contributions to pension and medical benefits.
Pegueros provided an overview of the Town's participation in the CalPERS risk pool and
pension costs. The Town is one of 428 member agencies with a total of 11,827 members.
As a percentage, the Town is 0.0017%. It was noted that given that the Town did not
participate in Social Security, this was the only pension retirement option for staff.
In addition to the discussed recommendations, Pegueros offered that management was
recommending the creation of a $700,000 pension contingency reserve fund over a ten
year period. Management recommended using the $70,000 annual pension expense
savings that had been realized by paying off the CalPERS pension side fund liability in
June 2010. The funds would remain with the Town and would be reported as a designated
fund balance available when deemed necessary by the City Council.
Council Discussion:
Councilmember Summit questioned if the Finance and Investment Committee had
reviewed management's response to the Civil Grand Jury's report. Pegueros offered that
the Committee had reviewed the report.
Councilmember Mordo noted that he did not support the current"steps" formula for merit
salary increases. He supported the option of using a salary range for each position. This
would afford more flexibility for management. In addition, Mordo recommended a full
review of employee compensation and benefits and suggested that a Council
subcommittee be created for the review process and with the possible retention of a
consultant. Council briefly discussed the feasibility of creating a subcommittee's and its
composition. Mordo added that he did not favor the implementation of a two tier pension
plan.
OPENED PUBLIC COMMENT
John Lemes, resident, spoke to the two recommendations under consideration. With
regards to the step increases, Lemes acknowledged that the process was widely pervasive
in very large government institutions. It afforded the employee the opportunity to start at
step 1 with the knowledge that there was room for growth and what the successive merit
salary increases would be. Lemes added that the pension plan for staff (2% at 55) was
"cheap" given there is no social security. He offered that many institutions pay both and
6 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
noted that the Grand Jury's report did not focus on the Town's level of pension but on
other institutions with an enhanced level plan. He recommended that the Town consider
paying social security in addition to the pension.
CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mordo, seconded by Larsen and
passed unanimously to eliminate the step formula for merit pay increases and to replace
the process with a salary range for each position.
Council discussed the formation of the Council subcommittee that would be tasked with
reviewing staff compensation and the inclusion of a consultant to advise the committee.
City Manager Cahill suggested that the Council consider the option of providing
management with a goal and afford him the opportunity to meet that benchmark. He felt
it was important for management(City Manager)to be included in the review process.
OPENED PUBLIC COMMENT
Karen Lemes, resident, provided Council with a report that focused on the current
economy in Silicon Valley and its effect on lower and middle class incomes. She noted
that the Town had a very small staff(21 employees) and encouraged the Council to treat
them well because it would benefit the wealthy people who reside in Los Altos Hills.
CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mordo, seconded by Larsen and
passed unanimously to form a Council subcommittee consisting of Mordo, Larsen, and
the City Manager to review employee compensation and benefits.
Council consensus was to engage consultants on an as needed basis to address specific
questions. The subcommittee would return to Council with their recommendations.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Kerr, seconded by Mordo and
passed unanimously to authorize management to establish a Pension Contingency
Reserve of$700,000 over 10 years utilizing the $70,000 annual pension expense savings.
Councilmember Warshawsky noted that the Town's employee costs and"fiscal house"
were a complete anomaly to the rest of the state and were in excellent condition.
NEW BUSINESS
16. Consideration of Ordinance Amending Title II, Chapter 6 of the Los Altos Hills
Municipal Code deleting the Appendix and amending Sections 2-6.03 and 2-6.10
and approving a Resolution updating Los Altos Hills "Designated Officials and
Employees with Disclosure Obligations" (Staff: K. Jost)
City Clerk Karen Jost introduced the item to Council. She provided an overview of her
staff report. The Political Reform Act requires every local government agency to review
7 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
its conflict-of-interest code biennially. Following review of the code appendix, it was
determined that certain amendments should be made to the Town's List of Designated
Employees. The recommendations included: deletion of titles Public Works Manager,
Town Planner; the addition of titles Finance Manger, Associate Engineer, Senior Planner
and Associate Planner; and, revision to the Planning Technician title to Building
/Planning Technician.
In addition to the amendments to the List of Designated Employees, the City Attorney
had identified two additional minor code modifications. The first modification was to
delete reference to the Appendix and replace that list with a list approved by City Council
resolution. The proposed change would avoid having to process an ordinance amendment
every two years. The second ordinance amendment related to identification of the
maximum value of any gift that a designated official or employee might receive. The
current amount under state law is $420 per year.
It was noted that both the City Attorney and City Clerk had reviewed the proposed
amendments.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Larsen, seconded by Summit and
passed unanimously to waive reading and introduce Ordinance No. 523 amending Title II,
Chapter 6 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code and approval of Resolution No. 51-10
amending the"List of Designated Officials and Employees with Disclosure Obligations."
17. Consideration of Ordinance Amending Title 6, Chapter 4, Section 6-4.435, of the
• Los Altos Hills Municipal Code,Regarding Sewer System Connection fees for
secondary dwelling units (Staff. R. Chiu)
City Engineer Richard Chiu introduced the item to Council. Chiu summarized his report.
At their September 16, 2010 meeting, the Council had directed staff to return to the
Council with a draft ordinance that would clarify that a secondary dwelling unit on a
single residential parcel would not be assessed an additional Sewer Connection Fee.
Chiu reviewed the current code that authorized the Town to charge for each new and
additional connection to the public sanitary sewer system. The fee amount is based on the
number of fixture units. The proposed ordinance would amend the provision with a
provision that secondary dwelling units not be required to pay the fee provided that the
sum of the fixture units for all dwelling units on the parcel did not exceed sixty (60)
fixtures. For parcels where the addition of the secondary dwelling unit results in the total
number of fixture units exceeding sixty (60), then the applicant would be charged a
proportionate amount of the formula for the connection.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Warshawsky, seconded by Mordo
and passed unanimously to waive reading and introduce Ordinance No. 524 amending
Title 6, Chapter 4, Section 6-4.435 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code, regarding
Sewer System Connection fees for secondary dwelling units.
8 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
18. Consideration of December City Council Meeting Schedule (Staff: K. Jost)
Council discussed their December meeting schedule. There was a consensus that the
reorganization of Council, installation of new Mayor and Oath of Office for the
councilmember-elects be scheduled for their regular meeting (December 16).
COUNCIL RECESS: 8:55 P.M.
COUNCIL RECONVENED TO OPEN SESSION: 9:05 P.M.
19. Consideration of User Fees at Westwind Community Barn(N. Pegueros)
This item was continued to a future meeting.
20. Consideration of Contract to Provide Surveying Services for Old Page Mill Road
and Authorization of Funding for Pavement Repair Work
(Staff. R. Chiu)
City Engineer Richard Chiu introduced the item to Council. Chiu clarified that the survey
would assist the Town in determining how much of the pavement on Old Page Mill Road
was within the Town. With the information garnered from the survey, the Town would
be able to establish which jurisdiction (Town or County) was responsible for road
maintenance. Chiu noted that currently, there were no agreements in place for road
maintenance and by default; the Town was responsible for the portion within its limits
and the county was responsible for the other portion. With the findings from the survey,
the Town could better calculate the cost of the pavement repair work and could
coordinate the project with the county to improve their section of the road concurrently.
Council acknowledged that the area was an important bicycle route.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Summit, seconded by Larsen and
passed unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 52-10 awarding the contract to Giuliani &
Kull for surveying services in an amount not to exceed $23,000 and authorizing the
expenditure for pavement repair in the amount not to exceed $30,000.
21. Consideration of Additional Funds for Storm Drainage Improvements Needed for
Eastbrook Avenue Sanitary Sewer Diversion Project(Staff: R. Chiu)
City Engineer Richard Chiu introduced the item to Council. He explained that the project
had been necessitated by the 2006 Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Sewer Agreement. The
project had included the installation of a new sewer line to abandon the existing siphon
that crossed Permanente Creek. High groundwater levels were not anticipated during the
project planning and design and staff has determined that additional funds were needed to
satisfactorily complete the sewer project.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mordo, seconded by Warshaswky
and passed unanimously to approve Resolution No. 53-10 authorizing the City Engineer
to execute contract change orders for the Eastbrook Avenue Sanitary Sewer Diversion
Project in an additional amount of$65,000.
9 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
22. Notification of Planning Commission Approvals: (Staff. D. Pedro)
A. LANDS OF BUDGE, 24175 Dawnridge Drive; File #97-10-ZP-SD-GD; A
request for a Site Development Permit for a new 5,706 square foot two story
residence with a 2,883 square foot basement/bunker, 800 square foot swimming
pool, and 315 square foot accessory building. CEQA Review: Categorical
Exemption per Section 15303(a). Planning Commission Vote: 5-0 (Unanimous)
B. LANDS OF CUE, 26491 Ascension Drive; File#122-10-ZP-SD; A request for a
Site Development Permit for a landscape screening plan and an additional
Grading Policy exception of.6" of cut to the previously approved 7' of cut for
the yard areas. Review: Categorical Exemption per Section 15304(b). Planning
Commission Vote: 3-2 (Ayes: Collins, Clow, Abraham/Noes: Harpootlian,
Partridge)
C. LANDS OF MAKOWER, 14300 Miranda Road; File #118-10-ZP-SD-GD; A
request for a Site Development Permit for a 5,437 square foot two story new
residence with a 4,208 square foot basement which includes a 599 square foot
secondary dwelling unit, a 1,326 square foot bunker, and a 671 square foot
swimming pool. The applicant is also requesting a Grading Policy exception of
up to 15' of cut for the basement garage, backup area, and driveway. Review:
Categorical Exemption per Section 15303(a)&(e). Planning Commission Vote:
5-0 (Unanimous)
Planning Director Debbie Pedro summarized the recent actions by the Planning
Commission. The City Council had copies of the staff reports and supporting documents
of the reviewed projects in their Council packets.
Councilmember Mordo requested further clarification on Lands of Makower, specifically;
their request for an exception to the Grading Policy. He expressed his desire to appeal
approval of the project for review by the City Council. Mordo noted that he was
uncomfortable with the Town's inconsistency with actions regarding the Town's Grading
Policy. However, following comments by Planning Commissioners Harpootlian and
Partridge on the project and their reasons for voting to approve the exception, he
withdrew his appeal.
There was a concurrence by the City Council that the Town's grading policy and
basement ordinance should be reviewed in the near future by the Planning Commission.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND
COUNCIL.MEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES
23. Consideration of Senior Community Pilot Questionnaire and Funding-LA/LAH
Senior Committee (Staff. S. Gualiteri)
0 By consensus of the City Council, this item was considered out of order of the agenda.
10 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
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Councilmember Summit introduced the item to the City Council. The request before
Council was authorization to distribute a Questionnaire prepared by the LA/LAH Senior
• Committee to residents over 55 years of age residing in the respective communities.
Members of the committee were available to answer questions.
Committee member Tanya DeMare summarized the Committee's process for developing
the Questionnaire and reviewed the draft with Council.
Council discussion ensued. They requested two additions to the draft: the identification
of Foothill College as a resource for seniors and horseback riding as a senior activity.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Summit, seconded by Mordo and
passed unanimously to authorize distribution of the Questionnaire as modified and
funding of an amount not-to-exceed$1,000 for distribution.
CO UNCILMEMBER REPORTS.
Mayor Kerr reported that the VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
would be making recommendations to the VTA Board of Directors on the grant
submittals for funding for new bike routes. The Town had submitted an application (Safe
Bicycle Route to Los Altos Hills Schools) for a new bike lane on Fremont Road.
Councilmember Summit reported that she had attended a Santa Clara County Cities
Association meeting and a meeting hosted by Supervisor Liz Kniss on seniors.
24. Request from the Standing Environmental Initiatives Committee for Council
• Position on Proposition 23- (Peter Evans, Chair)
By consensus of the City Council, this item was considered out of order of the agenda.
EIC Chair Peter Evans addressed Council. Council had before them a request from the
Committee to take a formal position on Proposition 23 to be voted on in the upcoming
November election. Included in the Council meeting packet was a recommendation from
the EIC for Council to oppose Proposition 23 and supporting arguments for the position.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Larsen, seconded by Mordo and
passed unanimously to declare the City Council's opposition to Proposition 23.
STAFF REPORTS
City Manager
No report given.
City Engineer:
• Emergency Call-Out Status Report
City Engineer Richard Chiu reviewed the costs incurred for Public Works in-house staff
call outs for after hour emergencies. By using Town staff versus an outside contractor for
the work performed for the seven month period, the Town had realized a savings of
• $6,025.
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October 21,2010
• Natoma Road Sewer Project Status Report
City Engineer Chiu provided an overview of the project. The repair work to the sewer line
• was nearing completion with testing scheduled to begin on Friday (October 22) and
paving tentatively scheduled for the following week.
• Stanford Trail Status Report
City Engineer Chiu reported that Town staff had been working with representatives from
Stanford on the design details of the trail. The agreement between the Town and Stanford
for the project was currently being reviewed by the respective attorneys.
City Attorney
No report given.
City Clerk
No report given.
COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
25. Discussion of Term Limits for Planning Commissioners (Councilmember
Warshawsky)
Councilmember Warshawsky explained that he had requested this discussion in light of
the Town's term limits for councilmembers (two four year terms) and the challenge that
serving multiple terms presents to the Commissioners. He noted that he recognized the
• value of institutional knowledge that comes with time; however, he believed there was
also a benefit to appointing new people to the Commission. Warshawsky suggested that a
general discussion on the issue was appropriate given the influence and power of the
Commission.
Council discussion ensued. Mayor Pro Tem Larsen noted that he was generally in favor
of term limits. Mordo noted that the Council was the appointing authority and could
choose to limit the terms by simply not re-appointing a Commissioner and could initiate a
policy that gave a preference to new people if they were qualified. He offered that the
position was difficult and required a familiarity with a wide range of information (zoning
ordinances, site development ordinances, municipal code, and policies).
PUBLIC COMMENT
Planning Commissioner Partridge concurred that it was a time consuming and difficult
position. He acknowledged that it was an ongoing learning experience but personally, he
was not sure that he would be interested in serving more than eight years.
Planning Commissioner Abraham had submitted a letter to the City Council that was
available on the dais. He did not support term limits.
Planning Commissioner Harpootlian commented that the Council had the authority to
remove a Commissioner if they wanted to or not re-appoint a Commissioner to an
• additional term. He concurred that it was a difficult position. Harpootlian questioned
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October 21,2010
why Councilmember Warshawsky was interested in moving this dialogue forward at this
time.
Councilmember Warshawsky suggested that the impetus for the discussion was the
possibility that term limits would encourage more applicants. He noted that last year
there were few applicants seeking appointment.
CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT
MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED TO PASS: Moved by Warshawsky, seconded by
Larsen to impose a two four year term limit for Planning Commissioners. The motion
failed to pass by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmember Warshawsky, Mayor Pro Tem Larsen
NOES: Mayor Kerr, Councilmember Mordo and Councilmember Summit
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
26. Request for Additional Funding-Los Altos Hills Families (LAHF)
(Mayor Pro Tem Larsen)
By consensus of the City Council, this item was considered out of order of the agenda.
Mayor Pro Tem Larsen introduced the item. He spoke to the successes of the Los Altos
Hills Families (LAHF) association during their first year and noted that the group was
• before the City Council for consideration of funding to continue their program.
Former Mayor Craig A. T. Jones thanked Mayor Pro Tem Larsen for sponsoring their
item on the Council agenda and thanked the Council for their support during their initial
year of development. He introduced Jennifer Carlstrom, member of the association.
During their presentation, Carlstrom provided an overview of their events.
Jones proceeded with a PowerPoint presentation that illustrated their efforts, successes
and funding request. LAHF is an association whose membership is open to all LAH
residents with a current membership of 345 residents. Jones noted that the group was
complimentary to the Town's Parks and Recreation Department and they have mutually
co-sponsored events, includin : pumpkin-carving, holiday tree lighting and movie night
at Town Hall, and the LAH 4t of July parade. Jones suggested that the monies provided
to LAHF was "low-spend/high-impact" funding that provided families a means to build
community given the challenges of the Town(large-lot, hilly, multi-school district town).
Jones reviewed the group's request for funding in 2010-2011 of $10,000. The funds
would be used for outreach to increase membership, 8-10 annual events, continuation of
the website forum, and the development of parent and teen events.
Council thanked Jones and Carlstrom for the presentation.
•
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October 21,2010
Council Discussion:
Council discussion ensued.
Councilmember Mordo congratulated the group on their successes but noted his concern
that the Town was providing 100% funding for a "private" group and questioned if the
members who directly benefited should minimally participate in the funding at a minimal
cost($20/30 membership).
Mayor Kerr suggested that the Council consider approving the request for the next nine
months and then revisit the funding allocation during budget discussions.
Councilmember Warshawsky added that he and his son attend the family oriented events
and they were a wonderful resource for meeting neighbors and new families.
Councilmember Summit congratulated Jones and Carlstrom for their efforts and spoke to
her experience as a new resident and how difficult it was to network and meet new
people. However, she concurred with Councilmember Mordo's comments and offered
that she had been under the assumption that the initial funding of$5,000 last year would
help launch the group but that it was a one time funding request. The new proposal
request of $10,000, suggested that it would be an annual request. She expressed her
uncertainty where the funding could be addressed in the annual budget and suggested that
it might be considered as a subset of the Town's Parks and Recreation program. She did
not believe that it would be appropriate to include it with the grants to the non-profit
organizations.
Council discussed the feasibility of integrating the group into the Town and the consensus
was that it was more beneficial for them to remain a separate independent entity. Jones
confirmed that the expectation was to return to the Town annually with a funding request.
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Mordo, seconded by Kerr and passed
unanimously to approve the funding request of$10,000 for 2010-11 and to recommend
that the LAHF investigate ways to self-finance a portion of their expenses. The funding
for LAHF would be reviewed as a line item during the annual budget discussions.
27. Deer Creek Road Bike Lane Project(Mayor Kerr)
Mayor Kerr reported that Stanford had several proposals under consideration for Deer
Creek Road including reducing the road to two lanes and stripping for bike lanes. He
suggested that before the agreement with Stanford for the C-2 trail was signed, it would
be prudent for the Town to have an understanding of Stanford's proposal for Deer Creek
Road.
City Engineer Chiu acknowledged that staff had made an attempt to have representatives
from Stanford attend the Council meeting but due to the short notice, they were unable to
attend. However, they did indicate that they could attend a future meeting if that was the
desire of the Council.
14 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Breene Kerr adjourned the meeting at 10:55 p.m. in memory of Mary Davey,
former Los Altos Hills Councilmember, Mid Peninsula Regional Open Space District
Director, and long time community volunteer and environmentalist.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Jost
City Clerk
The minutes of the October 21, 2010 regular City Council meeting were approved as
presented at the November 18, 2010 regular City Council meeting.
15 Approved City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
October 21,2010