HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/05/2001 i
Minutes of a Regular Meeting
April 5, 2001
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting
Thursday,April 5, 2001, 6:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road
1. CALL TO ORDER,PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Finn called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in
the Council Chambers at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Finn and Councilmembers Casey, Cheng, Fenwick
and O'Malley
Absent: None
i Planning Carl Cottrell — Chairman, Eric Clow, Carol Gottlieb, Janet
Commissioners: Vitu and Charles Wong
Staff: City Manager Maureen Cassingham, City Attorney Sandy
Sloan, Planning Director Carl Cahill, Public Works Manager
Jim Rasp and City Clerk Pat Dowd
Press: Liz Clautman, Los Altos Town Crier
2. CONTINUED DISCUSSION WITH PLANNING COMMISSION
Dot Schreiner, member of the LUF Committee, inquired about the meeting on the
19th to discuss the LUF Committee's report. It was confirmed that this would be a
Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission and would be
scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on April 19th.
Jim Abraham, Chairman of the LUF Committee, noted that the committee would
be finalizing their report to the Council in preparation for the meeting on the 19th
He commented that it was a complicated issue and while there were differing
opinions on the committee there was also some consensus.
Carl Clement, member of the LUF Committee, commented on the drainage issues
in Town and noted that they were addressed by the consulting firm Wilsey Ham
and there was a standard checklist of items to be reviewed.
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Sandra Humphries, 26238 Fremont Road, concurred that more landscaping was
needed especially on the larger homes on hillsides. She recommended trying to
enforce the drip system of irrigation. She also referenced the La Paloma corridor
where the residents themselves had agreed that they wanted one story homes. In
conclusion Ms. Humphries questioned whether larger homes should be required to
have more parking.
Casey commented on the good job that the Planning Commission was doing for the
Town. She also believed the Council had a good relationship with the Commission
and she did not want the Commission to misunderstand if the Council disagreed
with them on a particular issue or application. O'Malley suggested that when the
Commission reported back to the Council on the several issues that were raised at
this meeting, they also include why policies, ordinances, etc. had originally been
put in place so that they could get some history on these issues.
It was agreed that another joint meeting of the City Council and Planning
Commission would be scheduled when the Town survey results were available so
they could discuss the results and decide what directions to take with the results.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR
Item Removed: B (O'Malley)
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Fenwick
and passed unanimously to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar,
specifically:
A. Approved Minutes: February 15, 2001 (Regular Meeting)
March 15, 2001 (Regular Meeting)
C. Accepted public utilities easements at Maurer Lane and Chaparral Way
— Resolutions#20-01 and#21-01
D. Fast Track Application approved by Planning Director: Lands of
Afsanch & Oskouy, 24143 Hillview Avenue: site development permit for
new residence and guest house—concurred with decision
E. Fast Track Application approved by Planning Director: Lands of Yanez,
28025 Natoma Road: site development permit for new residence with
pool—concurred with decision
Item Removed:
B. Approval of amendment to agreement between the Town of Los Altos
Hills and the Los Altos Garbage Company for solid waste, recyclables
• and yard trimmings collection franchise agreement—Reso #
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O'Malley asked if historically the Town had raised the rates to the residents when
LAGCO received their annual consumer price index increase. In his opinion it was
a better way to do business if the increase was passed on to the customers.
The Finance Director noted that the solid waste reserve fund had been increased
last year and was adequate to cover the increased cost for collection services. In
addition individual services such as debris boxes had been reviewed and increased
if necessary. At this time staff was not recommending increasing the rates charged
to the residents.
Council discussed whether or not to consider raising the rates to the residents. If
the rates were increased they discussed whether to raise the rates every year when
LAGCO received its CPI increase or whether to raise the rates every two or three
years. Casey did not agree with passing the increase on to the residents and she did
not concur with the City Attorney's comment that the reserve fund could be used
for expenses other than solid waste issues.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by
Cheng and passed by the following roll call vote to direct staff to schedule a public
hearing on the issue of passing the annual rate increase to LAGCO onto the
residents on an annual basis. Furthermore staff shall send a Town-wide mailing
notifying the residents of this hearing.
• AYES: Mayor Finn and Councilmembers Cheng, Fenwick and O'Malley
NOES: Mayor Pro Tem Casey
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng
and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution#22-01 amending agreement between
the Town of Los Altos Hills and the Los Altos Garbage Company for solid waste,
recyclables and yard trimmings collection franchise agreement.
4. Adoption of ordinance amending Sections 10-1.5020 and 10-1.5030 of the
Zoning Code with reizard to allowable development area and floor area
(SECOND READING)
The City Attorney referred to her report which included the recommendation that
due to the numerous proposed revisions to the ordinance on constrained lots, the
negative declaration should be substantially revised and recirculated for public
review before the newro osed ordinance can be adopted. Her report also noted
P P p p
that the proposed ordinance dealt not only with very constrained lots but to all
parcels where the slope was greater than 10%. In addition with the proposed
changes, the allowable maximum development area on most lots would be more
than 50% of what was allowed today.
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The Planning Director commented that the revised negative declaration had been
• prepared and was in the public review process. The Planning Commission would
be discussing this proposed ordinance at their 4/26/01 meeting which was after the
completion of the negative declaration review process.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To schedule a public hearing for the May 3rd Council
Meeting on the first reading of the proposed ordinance amending the Town's
Zoning Code with regard to the amount of allowable development area and floor
area. This first reading shall include Councilmember Fenwick's following change:
"10-1.503.a.1 be deleted and the new 10-1.503.a.2 be renumbered 10-1.503.a and
modified to read: For all parcels with a LUF greater than 0.5: MFA=3000+(Gross
Acreage) (2000)+ (2000) (LUF—0.5).
5. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Jim Abraham, 12831 Viscaino Road, did not agree that significant changes had
been made to the proposed constrained lot ordinance and a revised negative
declaration was needed. He believed it was simply correcting an oversight in the
earlier proposed ordinance.
6. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
6.1 Council Meeting Scheduled(Councilmember Chang)
• Chang asked if Council could consider the upcoming schedule of Council Meetings
so that future planning could take place. .
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To cancel the July 5fl'Council Meeting.
7. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting
was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
espectfully submitted,
.
Patricia Dowd
City Clerk
The minutes of the April 5, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at
the April 19, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting.
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