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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/01/2001 Minutes of a Regular Meeting November 1, 2001 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday,November 1, 2001,-6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick and Councilmembers Cheng, Finn and O'Malley Absent: Mayor Casey Staff: City Manager Maureen Cassingham, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, City Engineer/Director of Public Works Mintze Cheng, Planning Director Carl Cahill and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Liz Cloutman, Los Altos Town Crier, Kara Chalmers, Palo Alto Daily 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported that the following applications had been heard at the 10/25/01 Planning Commission Meeting: Lands of Foothill College/Sprint PCS, 12345 El Monte Road: request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing/previously approved wireless communications facility comprised of panel antennas on the Foothill College Gym — recommended approval; Lands of Foothill College/CrownCastle/Verizon, 12345 El Monte Road: request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing/previously approved wireless communications facility— recommended approval; Lands of Foothill College/Metro PCS, 12345 El Monte Road: request for a site development permit and a conditional use permit renewal for the placement of six panel antennas on an existing pole and ten equipment cabinets within an existing telecommunications facility and negative declaration — recommended approval; and Lands of California Department of Transportation/Verizon, 2350 Old Page Mill Road: request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing/previously approved wireless communications facility — recommended approval. November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 1 The Planning Director also noted, in response to a Council inquiry, that the Planning Commission had decided to meet only once a month. Cheng suggested it would be better to continue two meetings a month and, if the work load allowed, cancel a meeting. Finn noted that the agendas had been reduced due to the success of fast track. The Planning Director stated that this had been done with the goal in mind of creating an efficient meeting atmosphere and if they found it was not working they would change back to two meetings a month. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Items Removed: 4.1 (Fenwick) and 4.4 (O'Malley) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.2 Awarded Certificates of Elayne Dauber,North County Appreciation Library Authority Scott Vanderlip, Pathways Committee 4.3 Approved Investment Report for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2001 4.5 Approved a fourth stop sign at Dawson Drive and Rebecca Road — Reso #73-01 4.6 Accepted grant of conservation easement, Lands of Schaepe & Chiu, 24150 Hillview Road—Reso #74-01 4.7 Accepted dedication of right of way, Lands of Schaepe and Chiu, 24150 Hillview Road—Reso #75-01 4.8 Approved request for amendment of maximum contribution to employee health coverage premiums—Reso # 4.9 Issued Proclamation: Recognizing November 12, 2001 as Veteran's Day 4.10 Issued Proclamation: Proclaiming the Town's intolerance of all hate-related crimes Items Removed: 4.1 Approval of Minutes: October 18, 2001 (Regular Meeting) November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 2 • Fenwick stated that he had removed the minutes to clarify the comments made by the Chairman of the Municipal Code and Policy Review Committee on the issue of the design review guidelines document. In checking the tape of the meeting it was correct as stated in the minutes that Evan Wythe had stated that their committee planned to rewrite the design guidelines. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting with the following correction: page 13, item 11.1; second sentence should read: "She noted that at the 9/13/01 meeting there had .been only three commissioners present and the Chairman had not realized that he was in a position to cancel the meeting because of the September 11th events which caused travel difficulties and other disruptions." 4.4 Approval of a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release on Property Tax Allocations—Reso# O'Malley stated that he had removed this item from the Consent Calendar for clarification. The City Manager explained the property tax allocation issue before Council for approval. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution#77-01 approving and authorizing execution of an agreement among the Town of Los Altos Hills, the County of Santa Clara and various subsidiary districts, special districts, cities and school districts. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1. Bicycle Laws — Captain Dennis Bacon, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department Captain Dennis Bacon concurred with the City Attorney's report on the legality of mandating single-file bicycle riding. The Vehicle Code section while stating that bicyclists should ride furthest to the right as possible did not require or mandate single file riding all the time. Captain Bacon did note however that in other jurisdictions citations had been given based on Vehicle Code Section 21202(a). He asked direction from Council as to whether they wanted warnings given or enforcement done. Deputy Greg Taylor noted that there were actually very few bicycle accidents in Town. They could, if Council wanted,provide direct enforcement. Deputy Jeff McCoy commented that the major areas for bicyclists were Altamont, Natoma, Black Mountain and Page Mill Road. There were often as many as fifty bicyclists and he constantly cautioned them about riding close to the right and stopping at stop signs. • November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 3 Council discussed signage requiring single file riding for bicyclists but the City Attorney stated that this was not-legally possible. It was agreed that the City Attorney and City Engineer would work together on appropriate wording for warning signs for bicyclists and the Sheriff's Department would be on the alert to warn bicylists regarding safety issues particularly in the high use areas. 5.2 Award of contract for website redesign—Reso # The City Manager referred to her staff report which outlined the bids received for this project, her evaluation of the four firms and the reasons for her recommendation to award the contract to Visual Perspectives Internet. Steve Brodie, Vice President of Business Development—Visual Perspectives Internet, commented on the background and experience of their company. . He also referred to the wide range of webpages they had done. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution #78-01 approving and authorizing execution of an agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and Visual Perspectives Internet. 5.3 Update on Mayor's Goals and Objectives for FY 2001-02 a) Break ground for a new Town Hall funded by resident donations. • The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem had had a conference call with the architects to revise the Town Hall plans and the total square footage had been significantly decreased. The architect will be coming back to Council with the revised plans when completed. b) Complete the building and planning fee study and revise fees in accordance with State law. Maximus,the consultant conducting the fee study, will complete their work in January/February 2002 for consideration by Council with the mid-year budget. c) Implement a Resident Customer Satisfaction Survey Program. Report given by the Planning Director at the 10/18/01 Council Meeting. Program in place. d) Complete an analysis of all Town codes, policies and ordinances for consistency, relevance and conformance with the General Plan. A meeting of this committee was scheduled for next week and the committee would be presenting ort on conservation easements at the 11/15/01 Council Meeting. P g their report g November.1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 4 • e) Have broadband internet access available to all residents According to an update received from PacBall everyone in Town (except for a section off Page Mill Road) should have DSL capability by the end of the first quarter in 2002. f) Adopt and implement a town pathway policy which includes a specific five- year program for the new construction of along side the road paths and a plan which improves the maintenance and materials of current town pathways. A draft existing pathway map has been prepared by staff and would now be distributed to the Pathways Committee and residents for input. The second phase was to record off road paths. Copies of this draft map were distributed to Council. g) Complete the review of setbacks and height-limits and revise .town ordinances accordingly. The ordinance changes should be coming to Council in January or February. h) Continue to explore alternatives to underground all utilities in Los Altos Hills. • The City Attorney noted that a meeting had been scheduled 11/13/01 with bond counsel. The suggestion was made to authorize a payment of up to $5,000 for Don Maynor, municipal utilities attorney, to approach PG&E and PUC regarding what the Town wanted to do and to encourage them to change the tax code. It was noted that the State encouraged undergrounding but tax laws and financing rules did not encourage this approach. It was also agreed that Mr. May-nor could contact other communities to see if they wanted to participate in this endeavor. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously to authorize up to $5,000 for Don Maynor to proceed with approaching PG&E and PUC regarding change in tax codes for undergrounding utilities. i) Adopt a plan for the highest and best use of town property for all town residents. (Los Altos Hills owns 27. parcels totaling 168.04 acres of unused and/or underutilized property.) Fifteen parcels had been determined to have no.restrictions on them. Title reports on these parcels will be available early in 2002 for Council's review. j) Approve a five-year capital spending budget to assure the infrastructure of the Town is sound. Completed November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 5 An additional goal was added: k) Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission A Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission has been scheduled for Thursday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will be a Study Session to review planning issues. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Amendment of the Town's Employee Benefit Listing for FY 2001-02 to include a Vision Plan—Reso # MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Cheng, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution #79-01 amending the Town's employee benefit listing for Fiscal Year 2001-02 to provide for a comprehensive preventative vision care plan through Vision Services Plan for employees and their dependents. 6.2 Los Altos Hills County Fire District Commission vacancies — recommendations for appointment It was noted that two terms on the Los Altos Hills County Fire District Commission would expire the end of December. Both of these positions were for representatives on the Board from Los Altos Hills. Both board members currently serving wished to be considered for reappointment. Council stated that they believed it was important for Town representatives on this Commission should be seated members of the City Council. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously be all members present to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick and Councilmember Finn to the Los Altos Hills County Fire District Commission. 6.3 Proposed Planning Commission recommendation that carports should be counted as floor area and that the City Council consider a minimum requirement for two-car covered parking The Planning Director reported that the Council had directed the.Planning Commission to study whether new carports should be counted as floor area and whether the Town should require some covered parking on new structures and major remodels. He further commented that there had been instances where an applicant put in a carport and after final inspection turned it into a garage. Cheng, Fenwick and Finn concurred with considering this ordinance change. Parking should definitely be required and this ordinance should be adopted for all new carports and major remodel as of the effective date of the new ordinance. November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 6 PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance change stating that carports should be counted as floor area and stating a minimum requirement for two-car covered parking and to schedule a public hearing on this issue for the January 17, 2002 City Council Meeting with a Town-wide notification mailed on this subject. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 Parks and Recreation Committee Cheng reported that the Parks and Recreation Committee had scheduled a Gingerbread House Workshop for December 9th. The limit for this class was 25 participants. 7.2 Joint Powers Authority Library Board Cheng reported that the Joint Powers Authority Library Board had scheduled a closed session meeting for 11/29/01. She was unable to attend but Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick would be attending in her place. 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager S8.2 City Attorney 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence 9. COUNCIL-MTIATED ITEMS 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Mary Griffin, consultant, presented the Council with a copy of the Draft Compact for a Sustainable Bay Area as prepared by the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Development. She asked Council to review this material and to consider approval of this plan in concept at a future Council Meeting. Sandra Humphries, 26238 Fremont Road, commented on the decision to reduce Planning Commission Meetings from two meetings a month to one. She noted that some Planning Commissioners did not even know about this decision until it had been made and she did not think this was the way business should be done. She also believed that this decision may have been made more to accommodate the schedules of certain Planning Commissioners rather than having the interest of the Town in mind. November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 7 Ernest Solomon, 25700 Elena, commented that he agreed with the Council's decision not to make any new rules requiring single file bicyclists in Town but to direct the Sheriff's deputies to caution riders to obey the bicycle laws in place and to urge caution on the Town's narrow roads. He noted that he would help notify local bicycle groups of this discussion. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Introduction of Ordinance amending Section 10-1.223 (Floor Area) of Title 10 Zoning and Site Development) of Chapter 1 (Zoning) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code and adoption of negative declaration and initial study (FIRST READING) This public hearing has been continued to the January 17, 2002 City Council Meeting. 12. CLOSED SESSION: PENDING LITIGATION: PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE - SECTION 54956.9(a).—two cases: 1) International Disposal Corporation vs. Town of Los Altos Hills CV802309; 2) Wells vs. Gheyri and Town of Los Altos Hills CV 787358 CLOSED SESSION: POTENTIAL LITIGATION: PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(b) — claim of Woolsey regarding air conditioner • The City Council adjourned to a Closed Session at 7:10 p.m. and reconvened at 7:25 p.m. Council returned to open session to report, if necessary, any actions taken. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To reject Mr. Woolsey's claim. 13. ADJOURNMENT There beingno further new or old business to discuss, the Ci Council Meeting was City g adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the November 15, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting. November 1, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 8