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Minutes of a Regular Meeting
August 2, 2001
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting
Thursday, August 2, 2001, 6:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road
1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Casey called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in
the Council Chambers at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Fenwick and O'Malley
Absent: Councilmembers Cheng and Finn
Staff: City Manager Maureen Cassingham, City Attorney Sandy
Sloan, Planning Director Carl Cahill, City Engineer/Director
• of Public Works Mintze Cheng, Planning Consultant
Drummond Buckley and City Clerk Pat Dowd
Press: Liz Cloutman,Los Altos Town Crier
Casey introduced Mintze Cheng,the Town's newly appointed City Engineer/Director
of Public Works. Ms. Cheng came to the Town from the City of San Mateo where
she had been Senior Engineer for ten years. Casey also pointed out that Ms. Cheng
had impressive educational credentials including a Master of Science Degree in Civil
Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of
Engineering Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California at
Berkeley. Council welcomed Ms. Cheng to the staff.
The City Manager requested that Council add an urgency item to the agenda
authorizing her to pay $5,160 for termite removal at Town Hall and Council
Chambers. An inspection had been made and the situation warranted tenting of the
buildings. Since the contractor had an opening this weekend to do the work she was
requesting urgency consideration of this request.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Fenwick, seconded by
O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to add an urgency item to
the agenda authorizing the City Manager to pay$5,160 for termite removal.
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LA. CLOSED SESSION: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —
ANTICIPATED LITIGATION: Government Code Section 54956.9(b):
Significant Exposure to Litigation: unknown number of cases.
This closed session was moved to after Item 9 on the agenda.
2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
The Planning Director reported on the following applications discussed at the
7/26/01 Planning Commission Meeting: Lands of Williamson, Adobe Creek Lodge
Road: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence and pool;
Lands of California Department of Transportation/Sprint PCS, 2350 Old Page Mill
Road: recommended approval of a request for a conditional use permit renewal for
an existing, previously approved wireless communications facility; Lands of
Purissima Hills Water District/Sprint PCS, 12863 La Cresta Drive: recommended
approval of a request for a conditional use permit renewal for an existing, previously
approved wireless communications facility; and Lands of Metro PCS, 12345 El
Monte Road: request for a site development permit and a conditional use permit for
the placement of six panel antennas on an existing pole, and ten equipment cabinets
within an existing telecommunications facility, and negative declaration—continued.
The Planning Commission also agreed to extend the review period for a conditional
• use permit from three to five years.
3.1 Discussion of letter from Mr. and Mrs. Currie concerning development on
Wildflower Lane
It was noted that the Planning Director had responded to Mr. and Mrs. Currie
regarding their concerns and notified them that the owners of the property on
Wildflower Lane had not violated the Town's codes.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Items Removed: 4.1 —7/19/01 minutes (Fenwick), 4.4.2 (O'Malley), 4.8 (Casey)
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Fenwick, seconded by
O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the balance of
the Consent Calendar, specifically:
4.1 Approved Minutes: June 21, 2001 (Regular Meeting)
4.2 Approved Warrants: $508,690.92 (7/1/01 —7/26/01)
4.3 Accepted grant of sanitary sewer easement, Lands of Avary, 12857
La Cresta Drive—Reso#52-01
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4 Concurred with Fast Track Application approved by the Planning
Director: Lands of Schaepe and Chiu, 24150 Hillview Drive: site
development permit for a new residence, secondary dwelling and pool
4.6 Approved final map and subdivision improvement agreement, Lands of
Cottrell, 13480 North Fork Lane,Reso#53-01
4.7 Approved agreement with Goldman Architects for Town Hall Project
Reso#54-01
Items Removed:
4.1 Approval of Minutes July 19,2001 (Regular Meeting)
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Fenwick, seconded by
O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the minutes of
the July 19, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting with the following correction: page
9, Item 13, first paragraph, change all references to four architectural firms to five
architectural firms and include the name of the fifth firm.: Mock/Wallace Architects
in San Francisco.
4.4 Actions of the Planning Commission: July 12, 2001 Meeting:
4.4.1 Lands of Mendez, 27581 Elena Road: approved a Site
Development Permit for a 13,000 square foot barn and arena
4.4.2 Lands of Macomber, 25980 Vinedo Lane: approved a Site
Development Permit for a new residence and pool and a
variance to allow parking area encroachment into setbacks
O'Malley stated that he concurred with the actions of the Planning Commission. He
just wanted some clarification of the siting of the structures.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Fenwick, seconded by
O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present.to concur with the
following actions of the Planning Commission: Lands of Mendez, 27581 Elena
Road: approved a Site Development Permit for a 13,000 square foot barn and arena
and Lands of Macomber, 25980 Vinedo Lane: approved a Site Development Permit
for a new residence and pool and a variance to allow parking area encroachment into
setbacks.
4.8 Authorization for City Manager to hire an interim Administrative
Services Director at a cost not to exceed $24,000
Council clarified that this action was being taken as a result of the resignation of
Carol Ferrell,the Town's Administrative Services Director.
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MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by
• Fenwick and passed unanimously by all members present to authorize the City
Manager to hire an interim Administrative Services Director at a cost not to exceed
$24,000.
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5.1 Update on Goals and Objectives
• 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. Space programming was discussed and it was noted that Mr. Goldman
would be contacting staff, Planning Commissioners and volunteers to ascertain
their space needs. Casey also reported that she and Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick
would be meeting with Mr. Goldman again before the September 6th Council
Meeting.
• Complete the building and planning fee study and revise fees in accordance
with State law.
The City Manager reported that seven requests for proposals had been sent out.
• • Implement a Resident Customer Satisfaction Survey Program.
The Planning Director reported that the surveys were at the printers and would be
sent out in the next couple of weeks.
• Complete an analysis of all Town codes, policies and ordinances for
consistency, relevance and conformance with the General Plan.
O'Malley noted that the Chairman of this committee, Evan Wythe, would be
reporting to the Council.
• Have broadband internet access available to all residents
Casey asked the City Manager to have Stacey Wagner from PacBell report back to
Council on the status of this issue. Council also asked that AT&T and Sprint be
asked for their input on this availability.
• 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.
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Casey noted that she was Manning on meeting with the Pathways Committee at
• 5:00 p.m. on September 20 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 in September.
• Continue to explore alternatives to underground all utilities in Los Altos
Hills.
Casey noted that Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick's proposal on this matter was continued
to the September 6" Council Meeting so that it could be discussed by the full
Council. In addition the City Manager was asked to contact the Chairman of the
Utility and Information Systems Committee and ask him to provide a report on the
consultants' work that was done on this issue (McGuirewood, Inc. and R.W. Beck,
Inc.).
• 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.)
• Casey noted that four Town committees (Finance, Pathways, Parks & Recreation
and Utility & Information Systems) had been asked for input on this issue. Casey
asked that they report back at the September 20th Council Meeting.
• Approve a five-year capital spending budget to assure the infrastructure of
the Town is sound.
This matter had been reviewed by the Finance/Investment Committee and was
scheduled for the September 6th Council Meeting.
6. NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Request for approval of concept of a plan for beginning the
undergrounding of existing utility wires in the Town of Los Altos Hills
(Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick)
Casey stated that this item was being continued to the September 6th meeting so that
it could be discussed by the full Council.
6.2 Request for proposals for consulting services for geotechnical services
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The Planning Director's report noted that upon approval staff would circulate the
• request for proposals and bring back a recommendation to Council. The timeframe
for this project was estimated at 45-60 days.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by
Fenwick and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the proposed
request for proposals for consulting services for geotechnical services.
6.3 Discussion of Community Preference Survey Cross Tabs
Casey stated that resident Tom LeFevre had withdrawn his suggestion for
community survey cross tabs.
6.4 Discussion of agenda format: whether to move Presentations from the
Floor and Public Hearings to 6:00 p.m. (Mayor Casey)
Casey suggested moving presentations from the floor and public hearings to 6:00
p.m. for a more efficient process of dealing with the agenda issues.
The City Attorney reminded Council that meeting times were stated in the Code
(Section 2-1.101) and therefore any changes would require an ordinance amendment.
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Carol Gottlieb, 24290 Summerhill, and Sharyn Brown, 27673 Lupine, stated their
• concerns that an earlier time would be difficult for those coming from work.
Council took no action on this issue.
6.5 Discussion of upcoming Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission
During the discussion of a possible joint meeting of the Council and Commission,
the Planning Director noted that there were several training programs available on
plan reading and other relevant issues. Council asked the Planning Director to bring
back a report on such training materials and they would then schedule a joint meeting
of the Council and Commission and incorporate such training.
7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND
COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES
7.1 Environmental Design and Protection Committee: request for status of
code compliance issue concerning removal of oak trees
Council had received a report from the planning staff on the code compliance issue
raised by the Environmental Design and Protection Committee. Staff noted that trees
had been removed and a stop work order was put into effect. This stop work will
remain in place until staff has met with the property owners and resolved any code
violations. Council agreed that this matter should be handled administratively.
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Sharyn Brown, Chairman of the Environmental Design and Protection Committee,
recommended making the fee substantial for cutting down a tree. She also
recommended using a Town arborist for the recommendation on whether or not a
tree should be removed rather than an arborist hired by the property owner.
8. STAFF REPORTS
8.1 City Manager
8.1.1 Termite Removal
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Fenwick, seconded by
O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to authorize the City
Manager to pay $5,160 for the tenting of Town Hall and Council Chambers for
termite removal on August 3ra
8.2 City Attorney
8.3 City Clerk
8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence
9. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS
• 9.1 Discussion of grading permit for Lands of Dorrian, 25400 La Loma Drive
(Mayor Casey)
Casey stated that this issue had been resolved.
9.2 Letter from Jim Sievers (Mayor Casey)
Casey referred to the letter received from resident Jim Sievers commending the staff
for their prompt answers and resolution to his building issues. She also commended
staff for providing this excellent service to the Town's residents.
9.3 August 16, 2001 City Council Meeting(Mayor Casey)
Council agreed to cancel the August 16,2001 City Council Meeting.
9.4 League of California Cities Conference in Monterey(Mayor Casey)
Casey reported that she had attended the League of California Cities Conference in
Monterey in July. One of the issues discussed was the approval of funding by all but
eighteen cities for the League's Grassroots Project. Casey noted that concerns were
now being expressed by some that funding had been given for this project before
• raised issues had been addressed. Los Altos Hills was one of the cities that voted no.
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9.5 Discussion of agenda format: whether to move Presentations from the
Floor and Public Hearings to 6:00 p.m. (Mayor Casey)
Casey referred back to this issue which had been discussed earlier in the meeting.
She suggested starting the presentations from the floor and public hearings at 6:30
p.m. as a compromise. She further recommended that.an article be put in the
upcoming September Town Newsletter and the public be invited to make any
comments at a public hearing scheduled for the September 20th Council Meeting.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance
amendment reflecting the time change for presentations from the floor and public
hearings from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and to schedule a public hearing for the
September 20th Council Meeting on this issue and to welcome comments at that
time.
10. CLOSED SESSION: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —
ANTICIPATED LITIGATION: Government Code Section 54956.9(b):
Significant Exposure to Litigation: unknown number of cases.
10.A REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
The City Council adjourned to a Closed Session regarding litigation at 6:35 p.m. and
reconvened at 7:00 p.m. Council returned to open session to report, if necessary; any
• actions taken. No actions were taken.
11. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Jim Steiner, 14195 Wild Plum, referred to the earlier agenda item about community
survey cross tabs and inquired about the status of the survey. Casey stated that the
survey was completed as far as Council was concerned. The discussion of cross tabs,
which had been removed from the agenda, had been raised by a resident not by
Council and that resident had withdrawn it from the agenda.
Dot Schreiner, 14301 Saddle Mountain Road, commented that the survey had
actually been the first step and she wondered when Council planned on taking the
next steps such as the review of the Land Use Element.
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS
12.1 Lands of Mora Drive Sewer Project, unincorporated Santa Clara
County lands located East of the Town of Los Altos Hills and south
of the City of Los Altos, generally between Ravensbury Avenue and
IS280, including portions of West Loyola Drive, Mora Drive and
Berkshire Drive. Prezoning of approximately 245 unincorporated
parcels by the Town of Los Altos Hills
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Drummond Buckley, Planning Consultant, stated that the application for prezoning
had been filed by Enrique Klein on behalf of the Mora Drive Sewer Project. This
application for prezoning was the result of a directive to the Mora Drive Sewer
Project representatives from the Local Agency Formation Commission. Mr. Buckley
reported that the San Antonio Hills area proposed for prezoning encompassed 284
acres with 245 separate parcels. He further noted that this unincorporated area
already contained a Town of Los Altos Hills General Plan designation that was
established at the time the General Plan was adopted and which was consistent with
the proposed residential agricultural prezone designation. Mr. Buckley noted that
this prezoning was a planning tool only. It would have no force or effect unless an
annexation, with a separate public process, were to occur. This prezoning did not
obligate the Town to annex the area under discussion. Since no annexation was
proposed as part of this proposal, approval of this application by the Town would in
no way affect the zoning regulations that apply to the subject properties; the Santa
Clara County regulations would continue to apply.
Enrique Klein, representing the Mora Drive Sewer Project, thanked Council for their
support of the Mora Drive Sewer Project and their willingness to consider this
prezoning. He also thanked staff for their assistance. Mr. Klein noted that it had
been an arduous, two-year project and Council's approval of this prezoning would be
of great benefit to those involved in the Mora Drive Sewer Project.
Richard Blanchard, President - San Antonio Hills, Inc. stated that it was the opinion
of their Board of Directors that the area under discussion had already been prezoned
in the early 1980s. He referred to newspaper articles from the spring of 1980 which
he believed substantiated this belief. Mr. Blanchard requested, on behalf of the
Board of Directors, that the Council include all of the San Antonio Hills area in this
prezoning. He believed that this would correct the earlier oversight of not including
all of this area which, according to their records, had been agreed upon in the early
planning of the Town.
Council thanked Mr. Blanchard for his comments but noted that his request was not
part of the application before them and not on the agenda.
Casey commented that adoption of this ordinance would not obligate the Town to
take any additional steps but it might help a group of people get sewers. She
believed this was a good neighbor issue.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by
Fenwick and passed unanimously by all members present to waive further reading of
an ordinance amending the zoning map to prezone certain San Antonio Hills area
property and to introduce the ordinance amending the zoning map to prezone certain
San Antonio Hills area property.
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12.2 Introduction of Ordinance amending the Town's Zoning Code
with regard to the net area definition (Section 10-1.206) and
review of the initial study and negative declaration (FIRST
READING)
Bruce Worster, 11271 Magdalena, stated that he was building a home on Magdalena
and he supported this ordinance and urged Council to adopt it.
Dot Schreiner, 14301 Saddle Mountain, stated that she thought ordinances were
being adopted without sufficient study. She believed this ordinance would increase
the paved area in Town and would negatively affect erosion and drainage. Mrs.
Schreiner did not support this piecemeal approach. She recommended that a study
be done of the cumulative effect of ordinance changes.
John Harpoothan, 26435 Anacapa, commented that the Lot Unit Factor (LUF)
Committee had looked at this ordinance. He suggested that minimums be set and
also noted that such issues as shared rights of way should be considered.
O'Malley commented that he shared some of Dot Schreiner's concerns but he
supported the adoption of this ordinance at this time.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by
Fenwick and passed unanimously by all members present to waive further reading of
the Ordinance amending the Town's Zoning Code with regard to the net area
definition (Section 10-1.206), adopt the initial study and negative declaration and
introduce the ordinance amending the Town's Zoning Code with regard to the net
area definition(Section 10-1.206.
13. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was
adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Dowd
City Clerk
The minutes of the August 2, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at
the September 6, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting.
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