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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/06/2001 Minutes of a Regular Meeting September 6, 2001 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, September 6, 2001, 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Casey called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Council-Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Cheng, Fenwick, Finn and O'Malley Absent: None Staff: City Manager Maureen Cassingham, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, Planning Director Carl Cahill, City Engineer/Director • of Public Works Mintze Cheng, Drummond Buckley Planning Consultant and City Clerk-Pat Dowd Press: Liz Cloutman, Los Altos Town Crier PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To add the following two items to the agenda as urgency items: 4.13 Proclamation honoring Mary Davey for her receipt of the Duveneck Humanitarian Award and 7.1. Appointments to Joint Volunteer Awards Committee. 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 2.1 Presentation to Jeanne Evilsizer recognizing her 25 years of outstanding service to the Town of Los Altos Hills Mayor Casey presented Jeanne Evilsizer a framed picture of the Town's Seal in appreciation for her twenty-five years of outstanding service to the Town. On behalf of the Council, the staff and the residents of Los Altos Hills, Casey thanked Jeanne for her many, many contributions and especially for her patience and good nature. As Building Technician Jeanne had assisted untold numbers of residents and builders through the building process. September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 1 • 2.2 Presentation by Santa Clara County Manufacturing Group regarding Housing Trust Chris Block, Executive Director of the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County, explained that the Housing Trust was a local source of financing for housing assistance. To date they had raised $20 million which was the goal of Phase I of their program. They were hoping Los Altos Hills would join them in their efforts. Los Altos Hills was the last city in the County to be asked to participate and if they did there would be 100%participation by Santa Clara County. Carl Guardino, President & CEO of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, supported the Housing Trust and noted they were pledged to raise the money to help address the housing crisis in the area. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To direct staff to review this request and bring it back at the next Council Meeting. 2.3 Presentation by Pacific Bell regarding Broadband Trent von Wormer, PacBell representative, explained to Council their projected schedule for providing DSL to the Town. Mr. von Wormer stated that nearly all residents would be able to,obtain high speed access to the internet through Pacific Bell within the next five months except for a small area near along Page Mill Road. • This area cannot be done at this time because their telephone lines which they share with Palo Alto don't work with Pac Bell's DSL system. Council thanked Mr. van Wormer and asked that a progress report be given to the Council at their second meeting in October. 2.3.1 City Manager's Report on Sprint and AT&T The City Manager stated that in her discussions with AT&T, Kathi Noe, AT&T's Director of Governmental Affairs, had said that given the age of the cable system in Town nothing could be done with it to offer DSL without rebuilding the system. She noted that this could be discussed during franchise negotiations in 2003. Patricia Rocco with Sprint Broadband reported that she could check on an individual addresses to see if Sprint could currently provide them with DSL. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported that at the 8/9/01 Commission Meeting the following applications were discussed: Lands of Episcopal Layman's Group of Los Altos/Sprint PCS, 26140 Duval Way: request for a site development permit and a conditional use permit for the placement of a wireless communications facility consisting of three panel antennas and six equipment cabinets at an existing church September 6 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 2 • site also containing other telecommunications facilities and a negative declaration— recommended approval; and Lands of Askarinam and Yazdani, 27830 Elena Road: request for a site development permit for 2,224 cubic yards of additional fill — approved. The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for 8/23/01 had been cancelled. The Planning Director also noted that the Housing Element which had been approved by the State in 1998 needed to be updated. Casey suggested scheduling the Site Development Meetings earlier(8:15 a.m. rather than 10:00 a.m.) as a more convenient time for those on their way to work. It was agreed this would be done. O'Malley noted that he had attended a League of California Cities Conference and it was commented on that fines will be levied for ciites that do not update their Housing Elements in timely manner. O'Malley suggested that we move forward on this update. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Item Removed: 4.3 (City Manager) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Fenwick and passed unanimously to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.1 Approved Minutes: August 2, 2001 (Regular Meeting) • 4.2 Approved Warrants:$521,072.95 (7/27/01 -8/30/01) 4.4 Approved contract with L. Patrick Samsell for financial consulting services --Reso #55-01 4.5 Accepted grant of sanitary sewer easement, Lands of Owen, 24905 La Loma Court—Reso #56-01 4.6 Accepted dedication of right of way, Lands of Chansler, 25700 Deerfield Drive -- Reso #57-01 4.7 Accepted dedication of right of way, Lands of Yang, 13481 Mandoli Drive, Reso #58-01 4.8 Approved the applicant to apply for grant funds for the Roberti- Z'Berg-Harris .Urban Open Space and Recreation Program under the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000—Reso#59-01 • September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 3 4.9 Issued Proclamation: October 6, 2001 Memory Walk: raising the • awareness of Alzheimer's disease and supporting the Alzheimer's Association 4.10 Concurred with Fast Track Application approved by the Planning Director: Lands of Hesari and Derakhshesh, 26520 Conejo Court: site development permit for a new residence,pool house and pool 4.11 Issued Proclamation: Congratulating the Immigrant Resettlement and Cultural Center on its 25th Anniversary and commending this organization for its contributions and successes. 4.12 Concurred with Fast Track Application approved by the Planning Director: Lands of Cheng, 26970 Arastradero Road: site development permit for a major addition 4.13 Issued Proclamation: Honoring Mary Davey on her receipt of the Duveneck Humanitarian Award Item Removed: • 4.3 Acceptance of report on solid waste fund rates analysis for FY2000-01 Elayne Dauber, 27930 Roble Alto Road, noted that the current contract with the Los Altos Garbage Company had been entered into in 1996 and would be up for renewal in one to two years. She noted that she was ori the Council in 1996 and the feeling had been at that time that when the contract was up the Town would go out to bid for solid waste services. Dauber urged Council to do this. She believed it was important that a comparison of charges for such services was done to make sure the Los Altos Garbage Company's costs were fair and reasonable. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Cheng, seconded by Fenwick and passed unanimously to accept the report on solid waste fund rates analysis for FY 2000-01. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Adoption of ordinance amending the Town's Zoning Code with regard to the net area definition(Section 10-1.206) (SECOND READING) September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 4 Elayne Dauber, 27930 Roble Alto Road, noted that this definition was written with the assumption that all the pavement in easements was already in place. She further referred to a tenet in the Land Use Element: 2 square feet uncovered area for each 1 square foot of covered. Mrs. Dauber did not support adopting the ordinance change before Council. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Fenwick and passed unanimously to adopt Ordinance#414 amending Section 10-1.206 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code regarding the definition of net area. 5.2 Adoption of ordinance amending the zoning map to prezone certain San Antonio Hills area property(SECOND READING) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously to adopt Ordinance #415 amending the zoning map to prezone certain San Antonio Hills area property. 5.3 Update on Mayor's Goals • Break ground for a new Town Hall funded by resident donations. Casey reported that she and Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick had met with Mr. Goldman of Goldman Architects before this Council Meeting to discuss the Town Hall • Project. Mr. Goldman had meetings scheduled with staff, Planning Commissioners and volunteers to ascertain their space needs. • Complete the building and planning fee study and revise fees in accordance with State law. Contract approved at 9/6/01 Council Meeting for this work. • Implement a Resident Customer Satisfaction Survey Program. Survey being mailed out and staff report with results will be brought back to Council in October. • Complete an analysis of all. Town codes, policies and ordinances for consistency, relevance and conformance with the General Plan. Report from committee at 9/20/01 Council Meeting. • Have broadband internet access available to all residents PacBell presentation and update at 9/6/01 Council Meeting. • September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 5 • 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. Casey noted that she was .planning on meeting with the Pathways Committee at 5:00 p.m. on September 24` to discuss this issue. • Complete the review of setbacks and height limits and revise town ordinances accordingly. The Planning Director reported that these issues were scheduled for Planning Commission review at their 9/13/01 meeting. • Continue to explore alternatives to underground all utilities in Los Altos Hills. Report from committee at 9/6/01 Council Meeting. • 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.) • Report scheduled for 9/20/01 Council Meeting. • Approve a five-year capital spending budget to assure the infrastructure of the Town is sound. Scheduled for 9/20/01 Council Meeting. 5.4 Approval of RFP for webpage redesign services MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Finn and passed unanimously to approve the request for proposals for webpage redesign services. 5.5 Set Date for Joint Meeting of City Council and Planning Commission PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To set December 6, 2001 at 5:00 p.m. as the date and time of the Joint Council and Planning Commission Meeting. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Report "from Utility and Information Systems Committee on undergrounding utilities: status of consultants' reports September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 6 Amir Rosenbaum, Chairman of the Utility and Information Systems Committee, introduced the members of the committee who were present: Andy Coleman and Ray Egan. In addition Mike Bell was present from the consulting firm of R.W. Beck, Inc. Mr. Rosenbaum noted that the recommendations being made to Council were unanimous from the committee. He stated the following reasons for undergrounding utilities in Town: reliability, aesthetics, safety and increased property values. It was also noted that in the recent Town Survey 72.7% stated that undergrounding utilities was important to them. The committee had formulated priorities; done a survey of all utility poles in Town; and had meetings with PG&E and PacBell. Two consulting firms had been engaged by the Town. R.W. Beck had done a cost analysis; had identified available options; had reviewed ownership and operational issues; and had reviewed the pros, cons,risks and benefits of the options to undergrounding utilities. McGuirewoods had reviewed the legal aspects regarding Federal, State and PUC (Public Utilities Commission) regulations. They had also considered the political ramifications. Mr. Rosenbaum stated that the recommendation of the committee was for the Town to proceed with undergrounding utilities. The cost would be approximately $50 million or $18 thousand per household. The funding could come from a Townwide Assessment District. Timing for the project would be five to ten years and the contractor would be Town selected. Concerning the assessment district it could be $2,000 per year for ten years with a one-time assessment for properly specific costs. The assessments could accumulate until property was sold or transferred. An out-of-pocket payment could be an option. The proposed action plan was for the Town to put a professional in charge of the project either paid staff or a consultant. A new advisory committee should be established to oversee the project and negotiations should be conducted with PG&E concerning modifications of regulations. Guidelines should be developed for an assessment district. The issue should be presented to the voters and a Joint Underground Utilities Conversion Planning Committee should be established. Another key part of the plan was to educate the residents about the project. Council stated their support of this proposal. It was a unique approach and they thanked the committee for their work and commitment in putting together their recommendations. Council asked staff to report back at the second meeting in October on three specific issues: PG&E concurrence, assessment district and election. 6.2 Proposal from Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick for approval of an undergrounding plan PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To table this item. 6.3 Award of bid for consulting services for user fee study September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 7 Richard Pearl, representing DMG-Maximus, commented briefly on their experiences in other cities and their approach to user fee studies. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Fenwick and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution #60-01 approving and authorizing execution of an agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and DMG- Maximus for a user fee study. 6.4 General Plan Land Use Element Update PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue this item until the Site Development Ordinance Review Committee and Municipal Code and Policy Review Committee had completed their reviews. 6.5 Approval of three-way stop signs at Dawson Drive and Rebecca Lane — Reso # Galen Mohler, 11641 Rebecca Lane; Janet Lull, 11623 Rebecca and Roger Summit, 13390 Lenox Way each stated their support of three-way stop signs at Dawson Drive and Rebecca Lane citing safety issue and instances of near misses at intersection. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue this item to the next meeting to allow • staff time to notify the neighbors of this discussion and to request input. 6.6 Adopt recommendation of the Planning Commission to not vacate a 20- foot wide portion of Stonebrook Avenue right of way adjacent to Lands of Laura Court Associates, 28008 Laura Court—Reso # The owner of the property requesting a continuance of this item. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue this item. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 Joint Volunteer Awards Committee PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To appoint the following to the Joint Volunteer Awards Committee: Sharyn Brown, Richard Ellinger and Bob Fenwick. 7.2 Site Development Ordinance Review Committee Jim Abraham, Chair, noted that their committee had had difficulty getting together but planned on reporting back to Council at their November 151'meeting. He noted September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 8 that the parcel data base was approximately 50% updated. To date the committee had agreed on retaining the height limit with a variable for increased setbacks. They had also discussed the following issues: changing the dual height limit, more flexibility with cut and fill, desirability of Architectural Review Board, bulk in houses and an enforceable way to take care of landscaping issues, i.e. blocking views. 7.3 Parks and Recreation Committee Cheng reported that the summer activities had been successful and the committee planned to add more next year. The also planned to hire a part-time worker and proposals were being submitted for State funding for programs. 7.4 Municipal Code and Policy Review Committee O'Malley reported that the committee would be meeting again next week and hoped to be making a final report in the near future to Council 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8.2 City Attorney • 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence 9. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Review of Council Meeting Schedule for the balance of 2001 (Mayor Casey) PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To cancel the following Council Meetings: October 4, 2001 and December 20, 2001. 9.2 Reassignment of Council Liaison to Safety Committee (Mayor Casey) PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To change the Council liaison to the Safety Committee from Bob Fenwick to Mike O'Malley. 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 9 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Lands of the California Department of Transportation/Sprint PCS, 2350 Old Page,MillRoad: request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing,previously approved wireless communications facility Ivan Tjoe, attorney for Sprint, rioted he was available to answer any questions and asked for Council approval of this application. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Fenwick, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously to approve the request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing, previously approved wireless communications facility for Lands of the California Department of Transportation/Sprint PCS at 2350 Old Page Mill Road. 11.2 Lands of Purissima Hills Water District/Sprint PCS, 12863 La Cresta Drive: request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing, previously approved wireless communications facility Mrs. Sun, owner of property at 13005 La Cresta Drive, wanted to be sure they were not building anything new. Drummond Buckley, Planning Consultant, stated that no 'changes were proposed and there would be no changes to the frequency. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng- and passed unanimously to approve the request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing, previously approved wireless communications facility for Lands of Purissima Hills Water District/Sprint PCS at 12863 La Cresta Drive 11.3 Lands of Episcopal Layman's Group of Los Altos/Sprint PCS, 26140 Duval Way: request for a site development permit and a conditional use permit for the placement of a wireless communications facility consisting of three panel antennas and six equipment cabinets at an existing church site also containing other telecommunications facilities and a negative declaration Fred Mueller, 26075 Duval Way, and Mary and Al Jackson, 26088 Duval Way, spoke to the Council.against the installation of another antenna. They believed there were already too many antennas on the street as well as on nearby Foothill College. They were concerned about the negative affect on their property values. Bob Fenwick commented that there were several antennas for phone, tv. etc. but he did wonder why the residents were concerned about this particular antenna which was not visible as it was mounted within the flagpole. Cheng also noted that she had served on the Planning Commission when there had been extended conversations about the safety of such antennas. September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 10 MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Fenwick and passed unanimously to approve the request for a site development-permit and a conditional use permit for the placement of a wireless communications facility consisting of three panel antennas and six equipment cabinets at an existing church site also containing other telecommunications facilities and,a negative declaration, Lands of Episcopal Layman's Group of Los Altos/Sprint PCS at 26140 Duval Way. 12. CLOSED SESSION: PERSONNEL: PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Cily Manager 12A REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION The City Council adjourned to a Closed Session at 8:30 p.m. and reconvened at 8:56 p.m. Council returned to open session to report, if necessary, any actions taken. No actions were taken. 13. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the October 18, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting. September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting 11