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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/07/2000 Minutes of a Regular Meeting September 7, 2000 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, September 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 6:10 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Finn and Councilmembers Casey, Cheng and Dauber Absent: Councilmember Johnson Staff: Acting City Manager Bob Quinlan, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, • Planning Director Carl Cahill, Public Works Manager Jim Rasp and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Shobha Rao, Los Altos Town Crier MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously by all members present to add an urgency item to the agenda: Discussion of City Manager Recruitment added to Closed Session. 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 2.1 Appointments to Pathways Committee, Safety Committee and the Valley Transportation Authority Bicycle Advisory Committee Council had received three applications for the Pathways Committee from Barbara Arden, Charlene Geers and David Stahl. In addition the following members of the committee who had served for more than four years had stated their interest in being considered for reappointment: Diane Barrager, Les Earnest, Sylvia Jensen and Bob Stutz. There were four vacancies on the committee. Diane Barrager, 13220 Robleda, stated that she had been on the committee about six years, had enjoyed working on this committee and wished to be considered for reappointment. September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 1 Bob Stutz, 25310 Elena, noted that he had been involved with the pathways committee since the early seventies. He had a lot of history about the paths in Town and would like to continue working with the newer members of the committee on path issues. Dave Stahl, 25505 Bledsoe Court, expressed his interest in serving on this committee and referred to his experience as an avid bicylist. Charlene Geers, Barbara Arden and Sylvia Jensen were not present. MOTION FAILED DUE TO LACK OF A SECOND: Dauber moved that the Pathways Committee be increased to twelve members. Nancy.Ewald and Scott Vanderlip, Co-Chairmen of the Pathways Committee, supported increasing the membership of the committee to twelve. They noted that the committee had a lot of work to do, the volunteers were all busy people and having more members would be quite helpful. They supported adding on new members but also noted the importance of keeping on the more experienced members. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously to appoint Charlene Geers, Barbara Arden, David Stahl and Bob Stutz to the Pathways Committee each for four-year terms. Council had received an application for the Finance Committee from Arthur Bernstein. • In addition the following members of the committee who had served for more than four years had stated their interest in being considered for reappointment: Tom Turner and Bob Hall. Arthur Bernstein, 10350 Magdalena, expressed his interest in serving on the Safety Committee. Tom Turner, 14425 Liddicoat Drive, noted that he was interested in continuing work on the emergency preparedness project for the Town. He also asked for more input from the Council on the work the committee was doing. Bob Hall was not present. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Dauber and passed unanimously by all members present to appoint Tom Turner, Arthur Bernstein and Bob Hall to the Safety Committee each for four-year terms. Council had received one application from David Stahl for appointment to the VTA Bicycle Advisory Committee. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously to appoint David Stahl to the Valley Transportation Authority's Bicycle Advisory Committee. September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 2 PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Council directed the committees to work out the staggering of terms on their committees so that vacancies would not all occur at one time. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported on the following applications from the 8/23/00 Planning Commission Meeting: 1) Lands of Munshi, 26450 and 26478 Ascension Drive: request for a lot merger—recommended approval; 2) Lands of Munshi, 26450 Ascension Drive: request for a site development.permit for a new residence — approved; Lands of Cleage, 26140 Rancho Manuella Lane: request for a site development permit for a new residence, pool, cabana and pool house: approved. (This item has been appealed by Council and will be agendized for the October 5t' Council Meeting at the applicant's request.); and 4) Discussion of ordinance on constrained lots: continued for additional information on options. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Items Removed: 4.1 — 8/17/00 Regular Meeting (Cheng), 4.4 (Finn), 4.6.2 (Dauber), 4.7 (City Manager) and 4.8 (Dauber) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically: • 4.1 Approved Minutes: August 11, 2000 (Special Meeting) August 17, 2000 (Special Meeting) 4.2 Awarded Certificates of Appreciation: Arthur Bernstein, Finance Committee Ken Clifford, Finance Committee Ramona Chown, Los Altos Senior Center 4.3 Adopted Ordinance#409 amending Section 9-1.306 (Acts Prohibited: Sale of Lots) of the Subdivision Code 4.4 Accepted grant of conservation easement, Lands of Schneider, 24708 Olive Tree Court—Reso#64-00 4.6 Concurred with the following action of the Planning Commission from the August 23, 2000 Meeting: 4.6.1 Lands of Munshi, 26450 and 26478 Ascension Drive: recommended approval of a lot merger 4.7 Approved site development permit for a major addition, Lands of MacMillian, 27345 Natoma Road(Fast-Track) As September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 3 • Items Removed: 4.1 Approval of Minutes: August 17, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2000 City Council Meeting with the following corrections: Page 7, Item 7.3, second sentence should read: `The major topic of conversation had been the subject of BART extending from Fremont to San J p J g Jose.'; and on Page 9, Item 11.1, third paragraph should read: `Council agreed that this path issue could be discussed when the large bottom lot came in for subdivision.' 4.4 Proclamation: Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week: September 18-22, 2000 PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To delete this item from the agenda. 4.6 Action of the Planning Commission from the August 23, 2000 Meeting: 4.6.2 Lands of Munshi, 26450 Ascension Drive: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence Dauber asked for clarification of the fact that this was actually a site development permit for a new residence only and did not include approval of a secondary dwelling permit. The Planning • Director concurred stating that the applicants would be living in the secondary dwelling while the main residence was being built and the demolition of the secondary dwelling was part of the conditions of approval for the project. In addition a $25,000 deposit had been made by the applicants to the Town to guarantee that this was done. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously by all members present to approve a site development permit for a new residence for Lands of Munshi at 26450 Ascension Drive subject to the conditions of approval as recommended by the Planning Commission. 4.8 Approval of contract with recruitment firm for City Manager position—Reso # The City Manager noted that the issue before Council at this time was not approval of a contract with a recruitment firm but rather creating a Council committee to interview and select a professional recruitment firm and authorizing execution of an agreement with the selected firm for the recruitment for the position of City Manager. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution 65-00 creating a Council committee to interview and select a professional recruitment firm and authorizing execution of an agreement with the selected firm for the recruitment for the position of City Manager. September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 4 i4.9 Approval of Animal Services Contract with the City of Palo Alto—Reso # Dauber asked if there was-a cap to the costs involved for Palo Alto's new animal services building. Staff noted that there was no specific cost figures now but the Town would receive legal notification of any such costs. Dauber believed this was taxation without represenation. She suggested staff start looking at alternative options for animal services. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution #66-00 approving and authorizing execution of an agreement for animal control and sheltering services between the Town of Los Altos Hills and the City of Palo Alto. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Additional information from staff on request from the American Lung Association for support for wood smoke ordinance proposed by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously by all members present to take no action on this issue but to agree to direct the Planning Department to conduct an informal survey of the applications coming into Town Hall on what kind of fireplaces were being requested. • 5.2 Report on parking on paths PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue this item for a report from the City Manager and City Attorney. 5.3 Introduction of Ordinance amending Site Development Ordinance regarding appeals The Planning Director noted in his staff report that this issue originally came up when the Planning Commission continued several applications for additional information and subsequently these continuances were interpreted by the City Attorney as Planning Commission decisions. The City Council on a 3-2 vote directed the City Attorney to draft a revised ordinance which would allow an appeal only of a substantive decision (approval or denial) of the Planning Commission or Planning Director. Casey stated that she would not support this ordinance change. She did not think the Council should abdicate its responsibility. She referred to planning applications which had been continued by the Planning Commission but when appealed by the Council were approved basically as originally designed. She questioned the reasoning behind such continuances and noted the delay imposed on applicants by such decisions. Dauber referred to the policy whereby an applicant was given a chance to accept a continuance or ask for a denial so there should never be a situation where an applicant expected a decision and there wasn't one. September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 5 • MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed by the following roll call vote to take no action on the introduction of an ordinance amending the Site Development Ordinance regarding appeals. AYES: Mayor Finn and Councilmembers Casey and Cheng NOES: Councilmember Dauber 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Request that the Town accept ownership of the Mora Drive sewer extension in an unincorporated pocket of the County of Santa Clara Hal Feeney, representing the Mora Drive Sewer Project, commented on the process and stated that they concurred with the staff report and they were willing to pay for the project. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed by the following roll call vote to support the staff s recommendation that the Town not agree to ownership of the Mora Drive sewer extension unless the parties to be served agree to annexation or not to oppose annexation should the Town in the future initiate the action of annexation. AYES: Mayor Finn and Councilmembers Casey and Cheng • NOES: Councilmember Dauber ABSENT: Councilmember Johnson Dauber stated that she was opposed to providing sewers to non-residents. 6.2 Request for support of local television programming at Foothill College and coordination with Los Altos Access Television Dr. David Kleitman, representing a volunteer committee of Los Altos Hills/Los Altos residents whose goal was the retention of `greater Los Altos' access locally generated television and continued use of the Foothill College studios. He urged Council to support their effort as the college appeared reluctant to renew the lease for the studios and might be planning to convert the space to classrooms. Dr. Kleitman asked the Council to appoint either a Councilmember or subcommittee or create a task force of specific members or city employees or citizens officially authorized and instructed to 1) help achieve a `greater Los Altos' (including Los Altos Hills) community access television generation activity for 2001 and beyond, which would include retaining the key Los Altos Hills Foothill College television studios and expanding the type of community access television that had been in place and successful for sixteen years; and 2) be empowered to meet with local leaders and discuss this issue and look for solutions and report back to Council. • September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 6 • PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Council agreed that Dr. Kleitman should meet with the Utility and Information Systems Committee and this committee will appoint two of their members to work with Dr. Kleitman on this issue. Council also directed the Mayor to send a letter of support for this program to Foothill College. 6.3 Discussion with Purissima Hills County Water District regarding the installation of water pipe lines on Tepa Way Casey and Finn raised several issues regarding the installation of a pipeline crossing Adobe Creek on.Tepa Way. They had received complaints concerning the equipment noise,the ugliness of the pipe and the lack of response by the Purissima Hills Water District to customer complaints. Finn also stated that the quality of the patch was not good. Ernest Solomon, President of the Purissima Hills Water District Board, addressed Council on this issue. He explained the status of the project to date, the requirements imposed by the Santa Clara Valley Water District and their efforts to complete the project as efficiently as possible. Although he noted that they had received calls from residents, he questioned the comment that their concerns had not been answered. He believed staff had been responding to all calls. Phil Harris, Purissima Hills Water District Engineer, also commented on the requirements imposed by the Santa Clara Valley District as well as their plans to landscape and mitigate the pipe as much as possible. • Casey stated that she had received calls specifically from the Hulls and the Sullivans and she asked the Public Works Manager to call them and give them a status report on this project. Dauber also reminded Mr. Solomon that there was bond money designated for the Adobe Creek Project to improve the culvert on that street available from the Santa Clara Valley Water District and he should look into this. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 Parks and Recreation Committee Cheng stated that she had attended the meeting of the Parks and Recreation Committee and they were proceeding with great programs for recreational opportunities in Town. 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8.2 City Attorney 8.3 City Clerk • 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 7 Council agreed to agendize the request from Joan Cunneen concerning private/public road issue on Laurel Lane for the 10/19/00 Council Meeting. 9. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Parks and Recreation Committee (Mayor Pro Tem Casey) Casey noted that Shelley LeFevre had moved out of Town and this vacancy on the committee should be advertised. 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Nancy Ewald, Co-Chairman of the Pathways Committee, commented on the earlier appointments to the Pathways Committee. While she supported the involvement of new members she was concerned about the process undertaken. She felt it was almost like firing the volunteers who had worked hard for the Town. Evan Wythe, 13828 Moon Lane, asked for a status report on televising the Council and Planning Commission Meetings. He was advised that a report would be made at the next Council Meeting. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Request for a permit modification to approved site development permit regarding construction of a type IIB pathway adjacent to Edgerton Road, Lands of Birnbaum, 27760 Edgerton Road Dauber questioned the necessity of a 23' foot wide road on Edgerton. She noted Page Mill was only 20' wide and Edgerton was not a high traffic road. Dauber asked why Edgerton was not made 20' wide with a 4' path. The Public Works Manager referred to his report on the path discussion with the applicant's architect and the mutually agreed upon configuration. He commented on the 23' as the preferred width of the road as agreed upon by all agencies involved in the project. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Cheng and passed unanimously to support the pathway configuration for the Birnbaum property on Edgerton Road providing adequate pavement width on Edgerton and also saving the pine trees in front of the Birnbaum's house as agreed upon by Jim Rasp, the Public Works Manager, and Mr. Malek, the architect for the Birnbaum project, and as detailed in the Public Works Manager's staff report dated 8/30/00 (on file at Town Hall). September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 8 • 12. CLOSED SESSION: PERSONNEL: PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS: City Attorney and Acting Cityanager and Discussion of City Manager Recruitment The City Council adjourned to a Closed Session regarding personnel at 8:20 p.m. and reconvened at 9:10 p.m. Dauber noted that she was present at the Closed Session for only the last two minutes. Council returned to open session to report, if necessary, any action taken. No action taken. 13. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd • City Clerk The minutes of the September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the September 21, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting. • September 7, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 9