HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/21/2002 Minutes of a Special Meeting
March 21, 2002
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Special Meeting
Thursday, March 21, 2002, 5:00 p.m.
Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Casey called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 5:05
p.m. at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Cheng, Finn and
O'Malley
Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick
Staff: City Manager Maureen Cassingham,Planning Director
Carl Cahill, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, City Engineer/
Director of Public Works Mintze Cheng, Assistant
• Engineer John Chau and City Clerk Pat Dowd
Press: Liz Cloutman,Los Altos Town Crier; Chuck Carroll,
San Jose Mercury News
2. STUDY SESSION ON THE INFORMATION OBTAINED BY TOWN
STAFF ON OFF-ROAD PATHWAYS PATHS AND EASEMENTS
AND THE PROCESS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL IMPLEMENT TO
OBTAIN PUBLIC IN PUT PRIOR TO ADOPTING AN UPDATED
MAP
The City Engineer/Director of Public Works commented that Council had
before them a map showing the following: road-side pathways, off-road
pathways with easements, off-road pathway easements without paths, and
off-road pathways without easements. She also noted that the Town had
retained the services of Brian Robinson to walk the paths and to provide
an assessment of the path system. Mr. Robinson was available to answer
any questions.
Casey outlined what she hoped would be accomplished at this meeting.
She believed Council needed to discuss methodology and also needed to
determine what were the vital links between on and off-road paths; which
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Special City Council Meeting
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• off-road paths were vital; and which off-road paths needed to be added or
deleted. Casey further recommended that input made at this meeting be
sent to the Pathways Committee and to staff for comment. On April 4t' a
special City Council Meeting was scheduled for 5:00 p.m. to continue this
discussion and the Pathways Committee would be invited to attend this
meeting. At their 4/18/02 Meeting Council would discuss the public
hearing and notification process for the Town-wide mailing on this issue.
Council reviewed the map before them and agreed there were several areas
they would go out and check before the next study session. There were
certain issues Council agreed to look at: easements connecting to private
roads and/or cul-de-sacs, parallel off-road path easements; usability of
easement; and review of pathway element of the General Plan. It was
agreed staff would provide input on these issues. Council further agreed
that they should look at the paths eliminated since 1981 and that the
minutes of the 1997 public hearings should be provided for reference.
Nancy Ewald, 26131 Altadena, recommended talking to the Town's Crew
for input on the path issue.
Keith McFarland, 13661 La Paloma Road, commented that he had lived
for a long time in Los Altos Hills and he believed the paths were a key
element in the Town. He suggested looking carefully before making major
changes to the pathway system.
Sid Hubbard, 25228 La Loma Drive, commented on the private vs. public
issue and noted that private roads have public access but are not
maintained by the Town. Mr. Hubbard also referred to the 1997 public
hearings on the path issue and commented that these hearings focused only
on a couple of paths.
Bob Stutz, 25320 Elena, stated the importance of off-road paths for
emergency secondary accesses.
The City Engineer/Director of Public Works agreed that she would be
meeting with Brian Robinson to see if any further work or clarification
was needed on his report.
3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
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4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council
Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Res ectfully su tte
Patricia Dowd, City C r
The minutes of the May 21, 2002 Special City Council Meeting were
approved at the April 18, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting.
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