Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/02/2002 Minutes of a Regular Meeting I. May 2 2002 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, May 2, 2002, 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's office Dan Siegel, Planning Director Carl Cahill, City Engineer/Director of Public Works Mintze Cheng and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Liz Cloutman, Los Altos Town Crier 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS i - 3. - PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Item Removed: 4.1 —minutes regular meeting(Fenwick) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.1 Approved Minutes: April 18, 2002 (Special Meeting) 4.2 Approved Warrants: $230,464.08 (4/11/02—4/23/02) 4.3 Approved agreement with BMI Imaging Systems for Document Scanning Services—Reso#50-02 - - 4.4 Concurred with Fast Track Application approved by the Planning Director: request for a second story addition, Lands of May, 26810 St. Francis May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 1 • 4.5 Concurred with Fast Track Application approved by the Planning Director: request for a major addition, Lands of Mielke, 25026 La Loma Drive 4.6 Issued Proclamation: Eagle Scout Chris Metcalfe 4.7 Issued Proclamation: Eagle Scout Christopher Seifert 4.8 Awarded contract for Phase II Street Rehabilitation Project; adopted resolution approving and authorizing execution of an agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and James G. Boyle for construction inspection services—Resolutions#51-02 and#52-02; approved a project contingency fund of$100,000; and authorized the City Manager to approve potential contract change orders within said fund Item Removed: 4.1 Approval of Minutes: April 18, 2002 MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the minutes of the April 18, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting with the following corrections: page 2, Item 3, last sentence change "Cahill" to "Cottrell"; and page 4, Item 4, change references to LUF to Municipal Code and Policy Review Committee. I 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS I 5.1 Update on Mayor's Goals 1) Break ground for a new Town Hall funded by resident donations. The proposed parking area had been increased from 44 to 52 spaces and discussions were ongoing with the architect on this project. 2) Complete the building and planning fee study and revise fees in accordance with State law. The revised fee study would be brought back to Council at their 5/16/02 meeting and would include a report from the City Attorney on State Law requirements for establishing fees. 3) Implement a Resident Customer Satisfaction Survey Program. This survey was implemented by the Planning Department on September 1, 2001. Surveys received will be provided to Council with each Council packet. May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 2 4) Complete an analysis of all Town codes, policies and ordinances for consistency,relevance and conformance with the General Plan. The Municipal Code and Policy Review Committee made a presentation of their final report to the Planning Commission on April 11, 2002 regarding house siting, colors, landscaping and outdoor lighting and this presentation was continued to the May 9th Planning Commission Meeting. 5) Have broadband internet access available to all residents Pac Bell remains on schedule to complete Project Pronto, their DSL project serving Los Altos Hills, by the end of this year. The first of their two gateways (vaults)has been completed and it serves 972 homes. The second gateway will serve 1,343 homes for a total of 2,315 residences and it will be in service on or before December, 2002. 6) 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. DuBose Montgomery, Chairman of the Pathways Committee, gave Council an overview of the committee's review of the pathways map. He noted that lengthy meetings had been held on April .17'' and 25h at which each pathway was reviewed. Recommendations were then made by the committee. Council agreed that a Public Hearing on the new path map would be scheduled for the June 6th Council Meeting. At the 5/2/02 meeting Council would be approving the wording for the Town-wide mailing on this issue. 7) Complete the review of setbacks and height limits and revise town ordinances accordingly. A public hearing was scheduled for the 5/9/02 Planning Commission Meeting and this issue would be scheduled for a public hearing at the June 20th City Council Meeting. 8) Continue to explore alternatives to underground all utilities in Los Altos Hills. The suggestion was made and Council agreed that a study session should be held to discuss specifically what Council wanted to do regarding the issue and what they wanted to present to the voters. Per the Election Calendar, Council had until May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 3 August to make these determinations. In preparation for this meeting a sub- committee of the Council was named (Fenwick and O'Malley) to discuss this issue and bring a report back to the Council. Included in this report would be a list of definition of terms to be presented to the voters. 9) 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.) A Special Meeting of the City Council and Finance/Investment Committee and Parks and Recreation Committee was held at 5:00 p.m. on April 18th to discuss Town-owned properties. The discussion focused on the following properties: Westwind Barn, Byrne Preserve, O'Keefe and Story Hill/Page Mill. It was agreed that O'Malley would contact the Nature Conservancy to see if moving Westwind Barn onto the Preserve, would be in accordance with their restrictions on the property. Regarding the O'Keefe property it was noted that discussions were ongoing with Caltrans regarding the quitclaim deed. Council directed staff to obtain an appraisal on the Story Hill property and also directed the City Attorney to prepare a report on the restrictions and process for selling Town land. 10) Approve a five-year capital spending budget to assure the infrastructure of the Town is sound. Completed An additional goal was added: 11) Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission A Joint Meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission was conducted on Thursday, December 6th at 6:00 p.m. This meeting was a Study Session to review -planning issues. 12) Data Base for Emergency Emails The City Clerk reported this contact program was currently on her computer, the City Manager's computer and would also be placed on a computer in the Heritage House. Presently the computer consultant was developing the instructions for implementing this program. Council agreed that another-mailing would be done to see if additional residents were interested. It was also agreed that the new Emergency Preparedness Committee would review this contact program to determine exactly what kind of emergencies constituted an emergency. May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 4 The City Manager reported that the first meeting of the Emergency Preparedness Committee was scheduled for 5/6/02. 5.2 Adoption of resolution on standing committees—Reso # PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To make the following changes to the resolution on the Standing Committees and to direct the City Attorney to amend the resolution accordingly and bring it back at the 5/16/02 meeting for approval: Section 4(a): add: "Once the Standing Committee has established a time and a place for its regular meetings, the Standing Committee shall request the City Council to approve the time and place of the regular meeting."; "The agenda shall be set by the Chairperson, but upon request of any Standing Committee member an item shall be placed on the agenda."; and "Special Meetings of a Standing Committee may only be called by the Standing Committee Chairperson, Mayor or City Manager and must be called in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act." Section 4(b) add: "The Standing Committee at its first meeting in July of each year shall elect by a simple majority of the members present a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary and other such officers as the committee deems advisable."; "At any other meeting an officer may be replaced. However, at any meeting other than the first regular meeting in July, a vote of the majority of the Standing Committee is necessary • to replace or elect an officer." John Harpootlian, 26435 Anacapa, commented that there were Council liaisons to the Town Committees and he suggested using these liaisons more effectively. 5.3 Update on Little League No Parking Suspension The City Manager reported that the most recent report from the Sheriff's Department indicated that there had been no problems with parking at the little league fields during the last two week trial period of suspending the no parking restrictions on Purissima. She did note that they were recommending sealing and restriping the current parking areas at the ball fields to maximize the available area for parking. Ben Gikis, representing Little League, reiterated their request for extra parking. He noted that they were entering a very busy time of year and needed the extra parking. They were encouraging the little league parents who were members of the Fremont Hills Country Club to use that parking for little league events but they also needed the extra parking on Purissima. He noted that there had not been any problems with the waiver of the no parking restrictions. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To authorize the City Manager to allow the continuation of the no parking waivers through June 15th unless safety issues were raised. The City Manager was also authorized to continue working with the Sheriff's Department and Little League on a mutually agreeable solution to this problem. May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 5 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Request for approval of transfer of control for cable franchise from AT&T Broadband to AT&T Comcast Corporation — Resolution i # The City Manager reported that the Town had received a letter dated 2/25/02 from AT&T Broadband. It was noted in this letter that AT&T Corporation, the parent corporation of AT&T Broadband, and Comcast Corporation had announced their intention to combine their cable systems into a new public company, AT&T Comcast Corporation. The correspondence also included a formal request for any Town consent that might be required by the franchise or applicable law. The Town had engaged Telecommunications Management Corporation, at the franchisee's expense, to evaluate this request. Telecommunications Management Corporation and Town staff concluded, in part, that the current franchisee, AT&T Broadband, was, to the extent known, in compliance with the existing franchise and had requested no changes to the existing franchise agreement. In addition,AT&T Comcast appeared to be qualified to operate the Town's cable system. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the request for transfer of control of the present AT&T Broadband Cable Franchise with the Town of Los Altos • Hills to AT&T Comcast Corporation and to adopt Resolution #53-02 giving consent to change of control and internal restructuring. 6.2 Approval of Parks and Recreation Position Patty Radlo, Co-Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, stated that if there was to be any chance of growth in the recreation programs offered in the Town a _ restructuring was needed. The committee had a lot of good ideas but they did not have the.time to put them in place. Mrs. Radlo also asked Council to consider adding a qualification to the job description that would state the successful applicant had experience in researching and writing grant proposals for recreational opportunities. Finn did not see that grant writing should be in the job description as he believed this was the City Manager's responsibility. He also stated that when they had originally discussed this opportunity he had not had in mind a full-time job paying $59,640 including benefits. He questioned why this level of position was needed. The City Manager noted that Council had approved an hourly position person to assist the Parks and Recreation Committee with their programs but this was not enough assistance for the members on the committee. They really wanted to see the recreation programs expanded and take on an advisory role. May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 6 MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Cheng, seconded by Finn and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the Parks and Recreation Committee's recommendation of the position classification and position description for a Recreation Program Coordinator; to establish a salary range #118 for same in the Town's Salary Schedule effective July 1, 2002; to direct the allocation of Town General Funds for the total compensation costs for this full-time position beginning July 1, 2002; and to authorize staff to immediately initiate the recruitment process to fill the position as soon as possible. 6.3 Approval of wording for the 6/6/02 public hearing notice on update of the off-road pathway plan Nancy Ewald, member of the Pathways Committee, asked why the map did not include the path easements that the Pathway Committee recommended by eliminated. She thought that some--might want to keep the paths being recommended for deletion and felt that it was important to show existing pathways. DuBose Montgomery, Chairman of the Pathways Committee, explained the approach the Pathways-.Committee had taken at their meetings on review of the pathways map. They looked at several different types of paths including off-road, on-road, suggestions for removal of paths and addition of paths, existing off-road paths with easements and existing off road pathway easements without paths. Mr. Montgomery suggested that for purposes of clarification it might be better to include two maps in the Town-wide mailing to show all the detailed information. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the following wording for the Town-wide mailing on the pathways issue: `On Thursday, June .6th, 2002, at approximately 6:30 p.m., at Congregation Seth Am 26790 Arastradero Rd, Los -Altos Hills, the City Council will review the Pathway Committee's recently completed recommendations for updating the Town Master Path Map. The current Master Path Map is 21 years old. The 1996 General Plan Pathway Element calls for a new map to be developed by the Pathways Committee and approved by the City Council. An up to date Master Path Map is vital to preserving the Town's path system. The Master Pathway Map is intended to diagram a comprehensive path system that is feasible to construct and complete, sensitive to changing community needs and respects the privacy of individual residents. The Pathway Committee spent a considerable number of hours reviewing the 1981 Master Path Map and formulating recommendations. The Pathway Committee worked with Town staff and a nationally acclaimed trailways consultant who walked virtually the entire Town pathway system and recorded his observations for the benefit of the Pathway Committee's review. May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 7 The Pathway Committee found that some future off-road pathway routes identified on the 1981 Master Path Map including those with existing easements would not be necessary or practical to ever construct due to significant impacts on the privacy of adjacent residents; redundancy in terms of function and steep terrain that would be unsafe or difficult to traverse. Existing off-road pathways open for public use and existing roadside pathways shall continue to be maintained by the Town. There is no proposal to eliminate any part of the Town's pathway system that is now open for public use. The Pathway Committee also identified some locations for new off-road trails that would facilitate off-road trail use and not impact the privacy of adjoining property owners. Enclosed is a copy of the 2002 Master Path Map update as recommended by the Town Pathway Committee. This map also shows the current pathway system. The Council requests that all residents carefully review the enclosed pathway map and -legend and attend the June 6th Study Session in order to provide input on the future pathway needs of the Town. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please forward your written comments to the attention of the City Clerk at Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, or e-mail comments to: pdowd@losaltoshill.ca.gov.' PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Council agreed that the map should include the paths recommended for deletion by the Pathways Committee. The preference was for only one map to be mailed Town-wide showing all the information but if it was not possible to do this in a clear manner then two maps would be sent. • 6.4 Set dates for Budget Study Sessions PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Council agreed to hold the public hearing on-the budget for FY2002-03 at their June 20t" meeting. They also agreed that the Administrative Services Director would distribute the draft budget to the Finance/Investment Committee for their comments and also to Council for comments but there would be no study session scheduled on this issue. Council further agreed that the July 4, 2002 Council Meeting would be.cancelled. Cheng and Finn noted that they were available at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 10th to meet with the City Manager to discuss the lease with the Purissima Hills Water I District. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES T1 Parks and Recreation Committee Cheng reported that the Earth Day held at Westwind Barn on April 21" was a huge success. 500-600 people had attended. Cheng also reminded everyone that the Los Altos Hills Pathways Run/Walk was scheduled for May 11 th • May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 8 7.2 North County Library Authority Cheng reported that she had attended a recent meeting at which the proposed budget was discussed and a copy of this budget would be given to the Administrative Services Director for her review and comment. 7.3 Santa Clara Valley Water Commission O'Malley stated that at a recent meeting a discussion was held on the repairs needed to Hetch Hetchy and the legislation being proposed to address these problems. O'Malley stated the Town's needed support of these legislative bills as this was a serious problem and could have negative consequences on the Town's water supply if not addressed. 7.4 Emergency Communications Committee Fenwick reported that a VHF (very high frequency) repeater had been installed in the Town. This repeater provided for better emergency communications in the Town as well as with outside agencies. 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 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Alan Bien, 26540 Conejo Court; Chris Bien, 26540 Conejo Court; and Ann Hubbell, 26530 Conejo Court each addressed`the Council concerning the proposed new Town Hall project. They stated that they appreciated the meeting that had been held.with Mayor Pro Tem Fenwick and the City Manager on the proposed new Town Hall but they wanted to be included in the process for this project. Their concerns included the ingress/egress off Fremont Road and safety. They also wanted to .be sure the Town followed the planning/building processes required for other projects in Town. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Approval of draft 2002 Housing Element Update and negative declaration— Reso # May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 9 The Planning Director noted that this Housing Element represented an update to the Town's 1998 Housing Element. The Town had successfully implemented a number of the programs outlined in the 1998 Element and the success of these programs had resulted in the following: developing 27 new residential second units since 1998; expediting the development review process for second units; and providing financial support for local nonprofits and organizations that provide special housing needs for the Town and the region. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution#54-02 amending the General Plan and adopting the Housing Element of 2002. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Res ectfully submitted Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the May 16, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting. May 2, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting 10