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Home My WebLink About12/07/2000 Minutes of a Regular Meeting December 7, 2000 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, December 7, 2000, 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER 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 Dauber and Johnson Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Casey and Councilmember Cheng Staff: City Attorney Sandy Sloan, Planning Director Carl Cahill, Public Works Manager Jim Rasp and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Clyde Noel, Los Altos Town Crier • 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 2.1 Approval of Minutes: October 19, 2000 (Regular Meeting) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the minutes of the October 19, 2000 City Council Meeting with the following correction: page 4, last paragaph, change the word `recommendation' to `decision'. 2.2 Resolution declaring canvass of returns and results of General Municipal Election held on November 7, 2000—Reso# The City Clerk reported the certified results of the November 7, 2000 General Municipal Election: Robert Fenwick, 3295; Michael O'Malley, 2274; Emily Cheng, 2040; Sandra Humphries, 1965; and Evan Wythe, 1864. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Dauber and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution#77-00 declaring canvass of returns and result of General Muncipal Election held on November 7, 2000. December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 1 2.3 Presentations to outgoing Councilmembers Mayor Finn presented Bob Johnson with a plaque in appreciation of his many years of service on the City Council and noted that an oak tree will be planted in Town in appreciation of Elayne Dauber's many contributions to Los Altos Hills. On behalf of the Council and the residents Mayor Finn thanked both Bob and Elayne for their leadership, guidance and contributions to the community. Elayne Dauber stated what she believed were her top five significant accomplishments while serving on the Council. First the selection of Jeff Peterson as City Manager in 1995 and his subsequent hiring of excellent staff members. Second the production of the Design Guidelines Booklet. Third the renegotiated contract with the Los Altos Garbage Company. Fourth the approval by the State of the Town's Housing Element. Five, the installation of a new left turn lane at the Page Mill exit off 280. Bob Johnson commented on the many people he had to thank for all of their help during his twelve years as a Councilmember. He thanked staff, the City Attorney and all of the committee volunteers. He noted that he had enjoyed working with them and shared their commitment to the Town. He also thanked the voters for their support and the five Council candidates in the last election who had the courage to run for office. Most especially Bob thanked his wife for all of her support over the years. Dorothy Price, 26435 Anacapa, presented Elayne Dauber and Bob Johnson with token of appreciation from some of their many friends and supporters in appreciation of their many contributions to the Town. 2.4 Administering the Oath of Affirmation and Seating of the Newly Elected Councilmembers The City Clerk gave the oath of office to newly elected Councilmembers Bob Fenwick and Mike O'Malley. 2.5 Presentation by VTA Caroline Gonot, Manager of the Congestion Management Program, made a presentation on the draft Valley Transportation Plan 2020, the countywide long-range transportation plan. Ms. Gonot noted that they had looked at cities needs, received input for projects and defined procedures and policies for project submittals. She thanked the cities for their support and cooperation and noted that this report would be updated every two years. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported that at the November 8t' Planning Commission Meeting the request for a zoning permit for a six foot solid wood fence and a minor December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 2 variance to exceed the maximum fence height of three feet for Lands of Montgomery at 27755 Central Drive had been approved. However, only three Commissioners were present and the vote was 2-1. Since then it had been pointed out that the application was not approved because three votes by Commissioners was needed for an approval. The application had been appealed by Council and was scheduled for the January 4t' Council Meeting. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Item removed: 4.3 (Finn) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by O'Malley and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.1 Approved Warrants: $811,504.85 (10/11/00— 11/30/00) 4.2 Approved agreement with Robert Graham and Associates for Planning Services—Reso#78-00 4.4 Approved lot line adjustment,Lands of Sindhu and Bertrand, 27060 Old Trace Lane 4.5 Accepted agreement for sanitary sewer easement, Lands of Venkatesh, 12117 Oak Park Court—Reso#79-00 4.6 Approved change orders to the contract with D'Arcy and Harty Construction, Inc. for the construction of the Sanitary Sewer Repair Project —Reso#80-00 4.7 Approved amendment of maximum contribution to employee health coverage premiums—Reso#81-00 4.8 Awarded Certificates of Appreciation: James Steiner, Finance Committee David Struthers,Finance Committee 4.9 Approved request for extension of tentative map, Lands of Blair, 27161 Fremont Road—Reso#82-00 4.10 Accepted subdivision improvements, Lands of Elmberg, Parcel Map 681M50&51 —Reso #83-00 • December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 3 • Item Removed: 4.3 Approval of lot line adjustment, Lands of Dorrian,25400 La Loma Drive Mayor Finn asked that this item be scheduled for further discussion at the January 4h Council Meeting. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Mora Drive Sewer Extension Project 5.1.1 Adoption of Resolution requesting LAFCO action for an out-of-agency contract for services for the extension of sewer service to properties located on and adjacent to Mora Drive in an unincorporated area of the County of Santa Clara 5.1.2 Adoption of Resolution approving and authorizing execution of an agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and property owners on and adjacent to Mora Drive MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by O'Malley, seconded by Finn and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution #84-00 • requesting LAFCO action for an out-of-agency contract for services for the extension of sewer service to properties located on and adjacent to Mora Drive in an unincorporated area of the County of Santa Clara and Resolution #85-00 approving and authorizing execution of an agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and property owners on and adjacent to Mora Drive 5.2 Discussion of Customer Survey(verbal report) The Planning Director reported that they were working on the formulation of a Town survey. Basically it would be a few questions given to residents to get their input on how their projects went, what they would recommend or like to see changed. They were in the process of getting input from other cities and would be reporting back to Council with a copy of the proposed survey. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Set Date for Volunteer Dinner PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To schedule the Volunteer Dinner for Friday, March 16th subject to the availability of Councilmember Cheng 6.2 Discussion of Town Code Section 2-2.102(b) concerning Planning Commission December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 4 The City Attorney referred to the current section of the Code which stated that an action of the Planning Commission shall require at least three affirmative votes. This section was included when the Planning Commission was reduced from seven to five members. Elayen Dauber, 27930 Roble Alto Road, stated that she and Sid Hubbard had voted in favor of a three vote needed for approval by the Planning Commission. She noted that when the Commission was reduced from seven to five they were concerned that decisions could be made by only two Commissioners if others were unavailable or unable to vote because of conflict of interest regulations. Betsy Bertram, 11854 Page Mill Road, stated her support of a three member approval vote by the Planning Commission on projects. Finn noted that this issue was being discussed at the request of Mayor Pro Tem Casey and since she was not present at this meeting he suggested continuing this item. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue this item to the January 4th Council Meeting. • 6.3 Policy Discussion on accepting appeals by email PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve a policy that appeals of applications can be made via email. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 Nominations for appointment by the City Selection Committee of the Santa Clara County Cities Association to the Solid Waste Commission, the Council on Aging and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue consideration of nominations to the Solid Waste Commission to the next Council Meeting. No recommendations for nomination to the Council on Aging and the Bay Area Air Quality Managerment District were made. 7.2 Recommendations for Appointments to Los Altos Hills County Fire Protection District Board PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To recommend to the Board of Supervisors Mayor Pro Tem Casey and Councilmember Fenwick for appointment to the Los Altos Hills . County Fire Protection District Board. December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 5 i 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8.1.1 Report on COPS Funding 8.1.2 Report on televising Council Meetings 8.1.3 Report on recruitment of City Manager(verbal report) Since the City Manager had been unable to attend this meeting due to family illness, these items were continued to the next Council Meeting. 8.2 City Attorney 8.2.1 Report on mass mailings at public expense The City Attorney referred to her report which addressed the use of Councilmember Johnson's picture receiving an award in a recent Town newsletter. When asked if this violated State Law regarding mass mailings at public expense the City Attorney had • stated it did not. However, in this report she corrected this stating that the use of the picture did not fall within the exception of an announcement of any official agency event for which the agency is providing the use of its facilities or staff for other financial support. She concluded that it was incorrect to use Councilmember Johnson's picture in the Town newsletter. 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence 9. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Authorization to attend the Mayors and Councilmembers Institute, January 10-12 in Sacramento (Mayor Finn) PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To authorize attendance by any Councilmember at the January 10-12 Mayors and Councilmembers Institute in Sacramento. 9.2 Approval of holiday party on December 15th including luncheon expenditure (Mayor Finn) PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve a holiday parry at Town Hall on December • 15'h including the luncheon expenditure. December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 6 • 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Betsy Bertram, 11854 Page Mill Road, commended Elayne Dauber and Bob Johnson for all of their contributions to the Town. She applauded their efforts to preserve the rural atmosphere of the Town. She did note however that times were changing and large homes were becoming more prevalent. She and her husband preferred the way the Town once was and for this reason they were selling their home and moving to the country. Mrs. Bertram commented that they were having a final holiday party in their home on December 16th and she invited everyone to attend . Jim Steiner, 14195 Wild Plum, thanked Elayne Dauber and Bob Johnson for their dedicated service to the Town. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Introduction of ordinance revising Sections 10-1.242 and 10-1.505(a),(c) and (e) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code requiring minimum setbacks for HVAC (heating and air conditioning) and pool equipment from property lines (FIRST READING) This public hearing has been continued to the January 4, 2001 City Council Meeting. • 11.2 Introduction of ordinance amending Sections 10-1.5020 and 10-1.5030 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code regarding allowable development area and floor area on constrained lots (FIRST READING) This public hearing has been continued to the January 4, 2001 City Council Meeting 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. s ectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the January 4, 2001 Regular City Council Meeting. • December 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 7