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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/02/2000 Minutes of a Regular Meeting March 2, 2000 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, March 2, 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Dauber called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Dauber and Councilmembers Casey, Finn and Johnson Absent: None Staff: City Manager Mark Miller, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, Planning Director Curtis Williams,Public Works Manager Jim Rasp and City Clerk Pat Dowd • Press: Clyde Noel,Los Altos Town Crier 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 2.1 Appointment to Environmental Design and Protection Committee Pat Ley, 26850 Ortega Drive, stated that she was interested in serving on the Environmental Design and Protection Committee and believed that her experience as a horticulturist would be helpful to the committee's work. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Dauber and passed unanimously to appoint Pat Ley to the Environmental Design and Protection Committee for a term of two years. 2.2 Presentation by El Camino Hospital No one was present at the meeting to make this presentation. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported on the following items from the 2/23/00 Planning Commission Meeting: Lands of Humble, 14475 Liddicoat Circle: approved request for a site development March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 1 • permit and a conditional use permit for a new residence and carport, and variances to exceed the maximum development and floor areas, to allow parking within the front setback and grading within ten feet of the front and side property lines; and Lands of Pan, 11481 Magdalena Road: request for a site development permit for a new residence and tennis court — continued. The Planning Commission also began their discussion of development criteria for constrained lots. Casey appealed the Lands of Humble stating that she was concerned about managing lots by variances. Council also asked that they receive the staff report on the issue of constrained lots so that they could let the Commission know of any comments they might have. Dauber raised the issue of requiring fire sprinklers in the homes in the Quarry Subdivision and inquired if the water pressure in the subdivision was adequate. Staff advised that applicants had a choice of hydrants or sprinklers. Council agreed to agendize for discussion the issue of how many hydrants would be needed in the Quarry Subdivision in order not to have sprinklers and to invite representatives from the fire department to be present at the discussion. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously to approve the Consent Calendar, specifically: • 4.1 Approved Warrants: $364,572.57 (1/21/00—2/18/00) 4.2 Concurred with the actions of the Planning Commission at their 2/9/00 Meeting: 4.2.1 Lands of Thomas, 14576 DeBell Road: approved request for a conditional development permit and site development permit for a second story addition and variance to exceed allowable floor area. 4.2.2 Lands of Wang, 27581 Samuel Lane: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence. 4.3 Approved Site Development Permit(Fast-Track) for a new single-family two-story residence with attached garage and detached guest house, Lands of Pacific Peninsula Group, 28000 Laura Court 4.4 Approved Site Development Permit(Fast-Track) for a new single-family, two-story residence with attached garage, Lands of Pacific Peninsula Group, 12000 Kate Drive 4.5 Approved Site Development Permit(Fast-Track) for a new single-family residence with pool, Lands of Owen Company, 27466 Sunrise Farm Road i March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 2 • 4.6 Accepted agreement for conservation easement, Lands of Packard, 26580 Taaffe Road—Reso#14-00 4.7 Accepted pathway easement, Lands of Packard, 26580 Taaffe Road- Reso #15-00 4.8 Accepted pathway easement, Lands of Patmore, 27650 Central Drive— Reso#16-00 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Continuation of Discussion on Alternative Investment Administration for Town Reserve Funds The City Manager referred to his staff report which outlined the discussions to date on the issue of alternative investment options for the Town. In part this report commented on the possible expansion of the current Finance Committee, the establishment of a new Investment Committee and the possible.impact of either decision on the allocation of staff time in particular that of the Finance Director. Finn noted that it was his understanding that Council was going to proceed with the establishment of a separate Investment Committee. The City Manager could be empowered to • make the investments or Casey noted that the committee could make a recommendation to the Council whether the staff should make the decisions or an outside consultant. Dauber asked why establish a separate committee as opposed to adding these charges to the Finance Committee. Finn responded that an understanding was needed of budget and cash flows. Johnson stated that he supported the establishment of an investment committee but was concerned that there would be two committees dealing with the Town's money and there would be no interaction between the two. Casey suggested that the chairmen of the Finance Committee and the Chairman of the Investment Committee be ex officio members of each other's committee. Dauber raised the issue of staff time and Council priorities and asked if, by establishing this committee, Council agreed that the review of the fee structure would be lowered on the priority list. Casey and Finn did not agree stating that the establishment of an Investment Committee need not be complicated and Council could proceed with its other priorities. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Finn, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously to create a separate five member Investment Committee to make recommendations to the Council on more aggressive investments of the Town's money; to manage cash resources; and to establish procedures to get a return more in keeping with the current market. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Mayor Pro Tem Finn agreed to prepare a list of the Investment Committee's charges for approval at the next Council Meeting. 6. NEW BUSINESS March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 3 • 6.1 Discussion of Council Initiated Items on Council Agendas Johnson referred to his memo on the subject which suggested that council-initiated items be used only for scheduling matters for consideration at a later council meeting or for making brief informational reports which might interest the council with no further action being required. This might result in council asking for further information from staff. Johnson further suggested that a Councilmember could schedule an item under New Business if they wanted to place something on the agenda and if they wished it could clearly state that it was at their request it was on the agenda. Johnson did not believe that Council could intelligently discuss an issue without a staff report therefore council initiated items should not be agendized expecting a full discussion and decision. Casey noted that the Mayor and City Manager set the agenda and the reason why council initiated items were placed on an agenda was to give a Councilmember the opportunity to raise an issue without having five Councilmembers setting the agenda. Dauber referred to the Town's Municipal Code which states that the City Manager may place on the agenda for any regular or special meeting any item which he deems of interest to the Council. Dauber believed that any Councilmember could place an item under council initiated and then the Council had three options. These options included: 1) discuss; 2) direct staff to prepare a report and reagendize; or 3) decide it was not appropriate for a Council discussion. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: It was agreed the Mayor would draft a policy on Council-Initiated Items on Council Agendas for the next Council Meeting. • 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 WebPage Subcommittee Johnson reported that the webpage now included a chronological listing of Council and Planning Commission agendas and minutes as well as a search by key word function. He also reported that the Parcel Data Base was on the webpage but there were some problems with this part of the webpage. Also at the 2/3/00 Adjourned Regular Council Meeting Council had agreed to agendize a discussion of the privacy issues related to information available on the webpage and this discussion was scheduled for the 3/16/00 Council Meeting. Mike Scott, Black Mountain Road, recommended that prior to the 3/16/00 Council Meeting the information be available on what was on the Town's webpage, particularly concerning the parcel data base. Council assured Mr. Scott that the report would be quite detailed. 7.2 Utility and Information Systems Committee Johnson stated his concerns about some of this issues being discussed by the Utility and Information Systems Committee at their meetings. One issue of particular concern was their discussion of a utility tax and Johnson urged the Council liaisons (Casey and Finn) to remind the committee that such a tax would need an approval vote of the residents. Casey stated that she has • advised the committee that they need to submit written proposals to the Council for approval of such recommendations. March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 4 • 7.3 Town Newsletter Dauber complimented the editor of the Town Newsletter, Duffy Price, on another excellent e edition of the newsletter. Reports Police Re 7.4 Review of o p Dauber noted that she was basically a committee of one to review the sheriff s reports on police activity in Town. About four or five months ago the sheriff's department started distributing this report on disk rather than paper copy. The problem was that no computer at Town Hall could read the disk. She noted that in the annual report from the Sheriff's Department which Council had just received some areas of'police activity seemed quite high. Dauber wanted to see the reports again in hard copy so that the numbers could easily be.checked. Johnson suggested asking the Town's computer consultant to see that the computers could read the disks from the Sheriffs Department. Casey suggested scheduling a workshop with the members of the Sheriff's Department to meet the deputies and to discuss the needs of the Town. 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager • 8.1.1 Bullis School Construction The City Manager reported that staff was continuing to work with Bullis School on its construction project. The Associate Planner, Carl Cahill, was the primary staff contact. 8.1.2 Heritage Tree The City Manager noted that Eric Clow on Red Rock was interested in designating a tree on his property as a Heritage Tree. This would be the first Heritage Tree not on Town-owned land. Dauber commented that at one time a resident had offered to take pictures of the Heritage Trees so that a pemanent notebook on these trees could be kept at Town Hall. 8.1.3 Los Altos Garbage Company The City Manager commented that LAGCO would soon be conducting a test whereby customers could pay their bill over the internet. 8.1.4 Seminar on the Electronic Age The City Manager noted that he would be attending a seminar on March 15 and 16 on Government in the Electronic Age. • March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 5 I • 8.1.5 Inglin Easement The City Manager commented that Mr. and Mrs. Inglin's issue on easements would be brought back to Council for discussion. 8.1.6 Requests for Proposals for architectural services for Town Hall The City Manager commented that on 3/9/00 he would be interviewing representatives from the for companies that submitted proposals for the Town Hall project. He had sent copies of the proposals to the members of the Town Hall Building Committee and to the Council for comment. Any Councilmember and member of the committee was welcome to attend the 3/9/00 meeting. It was agreed to schedule a Special Meeting of the City Council for 8:30 a.m. on 3/9/00 in case a majority of Councilmembers were interested in attending the meeting. 8.2 City Attorney 8.2.1 Vacation The City Attorney reported that she was going to be on vacation and Dan Siegel from her office would be attending the next Council Meeting. • 8.2.2 Brown Act The City Attorney reminded Council that although the newly elected Councilmember from the 3/7/00 election would not be seated until the certified results were available, that person was subject to the Brown Act. 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence 9. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Discussion whether to agendize pathways letter from Dr. Curatola(Mayor Dauber) Dauber stated that she raised this item under Council Initiated because she felt that Council should be even handed in their approach to issues raised in campaign literature. If one was agendized,then others should be as well. If not,then all of them should be dropped. MOTION MADE BY DAUBER AND FAILED DUE TO LACK OF A SECOND: To agendize all accusations made in campaign mailings or none of them. • March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 6 iJohnson was not pleased with Council responding to issues raised in campaign mailings. He also did not believe that Mrs. Cheng's pathway issue should be discussed at the Council level unless Mrs. Cheng requested this or if a member of the public requested it be agendized. Johnson believed this should be resolved at the administrative level. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED BUT NOT VOTED ON: Moved by Casey, seconded by Johnson but not voted on to agendize a campaign issue if a person requested in writing that it be agendized. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Finn and passed unanimously to reverse the Council decision from the 2/17/00 Council Meeting to agendize the pathway issue on Emily Cheng's property. Council directed staff to handle this on an administrative level and if the issue could not be resolved bring the matter back to Council. 9.2 Purissima Path Finn noted that Council had received an inquiry from the Medinas concerning the path on Purissima about when it would be completed. The Public Works Manager responded that the path was under design by Wilsey Ham and would be completed by June. 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR • Michael Scott, 27856 Black Mountain Road, first commented that he believed the Council had neglected their fiduciary duty by failing to fine Mayor Pro Tem Finn for his building code violations at the last meeting. Mr. Scott believed Finn should be fined even $1 to show the residents that the Council knows the value of a dollar. Secondly, Mr. Scott recommended that Council agendize a discussion of how they prioritize projects for the staff to accomplish. He believed Council was micromanaging staff's time and the city manager should be allowed to manage the project direction of the Council. Casey believed that a special meeting of the City Council and Mr. Scott to discuss a more efficient running of Town Hall would be beneficial. Helen Cunningham, 27980 Central Drive, presented several letters to the Council from members of the Pacific Ridge Pony Club. The young riders had expressed their concerns about the closure of a pathway connecting Westwind Barn to the Town's pathway system. Council responded that due to the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Patmore who had granted a pathway easement over their property this situation had now been corrected. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS • March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 7 11.1 Review the amendment to the agreement with Los Altos Garbage Companyfor solid • g waste, recyclables and yard trimmings collection franchise agreement regarding rates —Reso# The City Manager referred to the staff report and noted that the Town had an option of absorbing the annual compensation adjustment equal to 80% of the change in the consumer price index for the San Francisco Bay Area or passing it on to the customers of LAGCO. Council agreed that this should be absorbed by the Town. The City Manager further referred to the two changes in the amendment before Council. One reduced the distance charge per 100 feet of driveway to be a flat rate regardless of the number of cans being serviced and the other added an eight yard debris box option for rock, dirt or concrete. Dauber asked if the new debris boxes were being used for recyclable construction materials or trash. The City Manager reported that Bill Jones, General Manager of LAGCO, stated that most of the materials in the debris boxes were segregated and recyclable. Dauber suggested that when this issue is next discussed a two-tier rate be considered which would encourage customers to separate out recyclable materials from contaminated materials. She believed an incentive should be available for those recycling. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Finn and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution #17-00 approving and authorizing the amendment of Exhibits F • and G to the agreement between the Town of Los Altos Hills and the Los Altos Garbage Company for solid waste, recyclables and yard trimmings collection franchise agreement. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the March 2, 2000 City Council Meeting were approved at the March 16, 2000 City Council Meeting. March 2, 2000 Regular City Council Meeting 8