HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/05/2002 I
Minutes of a Regular Meeting
December 5, 2002
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting
Thursday, December 5, 2002, 6:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Fenwick called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:04 p.m. in
the Council Chambers at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Fenwick, Mayor Pro Tem Cheng and Councilmember
O'Malley
Absent: Councilmembers Casey and Finn
Staff: City Manager Maureen Cassingham, City Attorney Steve Mattas,
Planning Director Carl Cahill, City Engineer/Director of Public
• Works Mintze Cheng, Administrative Services Director Sarah
Joiner and City Clerk Karen Jost
Press: Sharon Noguchi, San Jose Mercury News; Christina Bellantoni,
Palo Alto Daily and Scott Wong, Los Altos Town Crier
Mayor Fenwick announced that tonight's meeting would be adjourned in memory of Susi
Johnson, wife of former Mayor Bob Johnson. Susi was a treasured member of the Los Altos
Hills community and will be greatly missed.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mayor Fenwick, seconded by O'Malley
and passed unanimously by those present to limit the length of time for public comments to three
minutes.
2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
2.1 Resolution Declaring Canvass of Returns and Results of General Municipal Election
held on Tuesday,November 5, 2002—Reso# 107-02.
Council had before them the results of the November 5, 2002 General Municipal Election as
prepared by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters.
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MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng and
• passed unanimously by those present to adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the Town of
Los Altos Hills Declaring Canvass Returns and Results of the General Municipal Election Held
on November 5, 2002.
2.2 Administering the Oath of Affirmation and Seating of the Newly Elected
Councilmembers
The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Councilmembers Breene Kerr
and Dean Warshawsky. They joined the Council on the dais. Mayor Fenwick welcomed the
new members of the Council.
Councilmember Warshawsky thanked his supporters and acknowledged that he will work
diligently to be a citizen representative for the whole community. He announced he will
maintain office hours every Tuesday, 4:30–6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Councilmember Kerr acknowledged his supporters and stated that he will strive to live up to
expectations defined in his campaign. He is hopeful that everyone will work together in the
democratic process and looks forward to a civil town government.
2.3 Presentation by Mary Davey—Silicon Valley 2-1-1
This item was continued to the Regular City Council Meeting of December 19, 2002.
• 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
Planning Director Carl Cahill stated there was no business to report from the Planning
Commission.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
Items Removed: 4.1 (O'Malley)
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Cheng, seconded by
O'Malley and passed unanimously to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically:
4.2 Approval of Warrants: $569,673.90 (11/14/02 - 11/25/02)
4.3 Request for Proposals for Evaluation of Building and Planning Departments
4.4 Consideration of Minor Amendments to the Cities Association Bylaws
4.5 Acceptance of Grant of Conservation Easement, Lands of Micheletti, 26671 Moody
Road, Reso# 108-02
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• 4.6 Approval of Final Map and Subdivision Improvement Agreement,Lands of
Micheletti, 26271 Moody Road Reso# 109-02
4.7 Summary Vacation of 10-Foot Public Utility Easement, Lands of Corrigan,
13441 Robleda Road Reso# 110-02
4.8 Facility Fee Review/AB 1600 Reso# 111-02
4.9 Dedication of Right-Of-Way, Lands of Perry, 27411 Altamont Road Reso # 112-02
Items Removed:
4.1 Approval of Minutes: November 21, 2002
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng and
passed unanimously by those members present at the Regular City Council Meeting of November
21, 2002 to approve the minutes of the meeting with the following corrections: page 4, Item 5.3,
last paragraph should read...Councilmember O'Malley questioned the City Attorney regarding
the validity of the Negative Declaration with the proposed changes in the conservation
easements.;page 7"Egger" should read"Eger" and page 9 "Egger" should read"Eger".
5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5.1 Update on Mayor's Goals
• (1) Break ground for the new Town Hall,partially funded by donations
Mayor Fenwick noted that there would be a Special Meeting of the Council to
address this issue that would convene shortly.
(2) Undergrounding of utility wires in Los Altos Hills
This item will be placed on the December 19, 2002 Regular Meeting of the City
Council for discussion.
(3) Complete the update process for an accurate 2002 master pathway map
Completed with the adoption of Resolution# 103-02 approving a revised General
Plan Pathway Element Master Path Plan.
(4) Consider the possibility of adopting a view ordinance for the Town
Mayor Fenwick commented that he had directed staff to use the Tiburon View
Ordinance as a working model. This ordinance relates primarily to trees
obstructing views. Following discussion, the Planning Director was directed to
report to Council on this item at their Regular Meeting of January 16, 2003.
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•
6. NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Discussion of the Regular City Council Meeting of January 2, 2003
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng and
passed unanimously to cancel the Regular City Council Meeting of January 2, 2003.
7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES,AND COUNCILMEMBERS
ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES
Mayor Fenwick reported that he has been working with the Joint Volunteer Awards Committee.
They are expecting both Councils to be in attendance at the luncheon tomorrow.
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
The City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m. to the Special City Council Meeting and
reconvened at 6:53 p.m.
10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Jean Mordo, member - Committee for Los Altos Hills Open Space Initiative, Committee,
reported to Council that the "Los Altos Hills Open Space and Public Recreation Initiative" had
been delivered to the City Clerk on Monday, December 5 and is presently at the Registrar of
Voters for signature verification. He thanked the community for its support and hoped Council
would adopt the Initiative.
Craig Jones, representing "Concerned Parents ABC", spoke to the Council on the issue of the
possible closure of Bullis-Purissima Elementary School. Jones stated that the Los Altos School
• Board of Trustees at their next meeting Monday night would be considering schools for
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renovation and Bullis was not on the short list. He felt this was a clear indication that the Board
has predetermined to close Bullis School in the near future. He looked for Council to address
this issue by voicing their support to keep the only public school in Los Altos Hills open now
and in the future for the benefit of Town residents.
John Radford, parent of a Bullis-Purissima Elementary School student, commented on the
strong parential support for keeping Bullis open and hoped that Council could act on this critical
matter this evening.
The City Attorney informed the Council they could consider taking action on this item tonight
because they were receiving knowledge of the action to be taken Monday night by the School
Board after the Council Agenda was prepared. With a 2/3 vote of the Council, they could
entertain a motion to add an item on tonight's agenda and it would take a Council majority to
take action on the item as a Council.
Mark Brier, 26379 Esperanza, presented the Council with a Code of Conduct that had recently
been adopted by the Mountain View City Council
Kim Cranston, 27080 Fremont Road, stated that he was in favor of Council adopting this code
as a guide.
Scott Vanderlip, 13851 Fremont Pines Lane, stated that the Committee for the Preservation of
Los Altos Hills would be turning in their "Referendum Against an Ordinance Passed by the City
• Council" with over 1100 signatures tomorrow at Town Hall at 10 a.m. He invited interested
residents to join the Committee and added that this democratic process has been a positive
experience for all.
Dot Schreiner, 14301 Saddle Mountain Drive, commented that it had been very easy to collect
the necessary signatures for the referendum in just three weeks. She hoped Council would move
quickly to consider rescinding the pathway map that had been approved and send it back for
further review.
Nancy Ewald,Pathway Committee-26131 Altadena, invited everyone to join the Committee for
their annual caroling event on December 17, 2002.
William Downey, 14330 De Bell, stated his opinion on the leadership of the Pathway Committee.
He feels Chair Montgomery and Member Fernandez should be removed.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
11.1 Introduction of an Ordinance of the Town of Los Altos Hills Repealing
Chapters 1, 1.6, 2, 3, 4, and 8 of Title 8 (Building Regulations) of the Los
Altos Hills Municipal Code and Adding Chapters 1, 1.6, 2, 3, 4 and 8 to
Title 8 to the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code (Building Regulations) to
Adopt the 2001 California Building Standards Code, and the 1995 Edition
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of the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code with Amendments.
Reso #
Planning Director Carl Cahill clarified this item for Council. He explained it was a routine
procedure and updates the Town's building code. O'Malley noted that the attached amendments
reflected the differences in the California Building Code and the Town's code, specifically our
roofing requirements for fire retardant materials.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Cheng and
passed unanimously to waive further reading and introduce the Ordinance and to adopt the
Resolution of the California Buildings Standards Code.
The City Attorney outlined the procedure necessary for Council to add and act on an agenda item
regarding Bullis School at tonight's City Council Meeting. The item meets the criteria for
consideration because it is deemed urgent for Council to take action before their next scheduled
meeting and they were informed of the issue after the posting of tonight's agenda
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Cheng, seconded by Kerr and passed
unanimously to add an agenda item for Council consideration to show their support of the
continued operation of Bullis-Purissima Elementary School.
Kerr explained to Council that the Board of Trustees is not voting to close Bullis-Purissima
Elementary school at their Monday meeting but are voting on which elementary schools to
renovate and Bullis is not among those sited for improvement. Because of the District's financial
• problems, and the fact they only have enough funds to refurbish a limited number of sites, this is
a clear indication that the school is slated to be closed.
Kerr added that Bullis School is a priceless community asset and has many intangible benefits for
the Town and that these assets should be considered when drafting the language of the letter to be
forwarded to the School Board. He also wanted it to reflect Councils support for keeping Bullis
School open. O'Malley added that the letter could state that the Council opposes any action by
the Board that could lead to the potential closing of the school.
Following discussion, Council directed staff to prepare a letter that would be signed by all five
Councilmembers and a Resolution expressing the Council's support for the continued operation
of Bullis-Purissima Elementary School in Los Altos Hills.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Kerr, seconded by O'Malley and passed
unanimously that the City Council approve a Resolution to be drafted by staff that is consistent
with the request of Craig Jones and includes the modifications by Councilmembers Kerr and
O'Malley and also prepare a letter to be signed by all five Councilmembers that conveys the
same intent.
Councilmember O'Malley congratulated the members of the committees that have been very
active in the petition drives for the Referendum and Initiative for their commitment and
participation in local government.
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MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Fenwick, seconded by O'Malley and
• passed unanimously to adjourn.the City Council Meeting of December 5, 2002 in memory of
Susi Johnson. The meeting was adjourned at 7:26p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kare
City Clerk
Minutes of the December 5, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the
December 19, 2002 Regular City Council Meeting.
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