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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/06/1999 Minutes of a Regular Meeting May 6, 1999 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Thursday, May 6, 1999, 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Johnson called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Johnson and Councilmembers Casey and Siegel Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Dauber and Councilmember Finn Staff: City Manager/City Engineer Jeff Peterson, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, Planning Director Curtis Williams, Public Works Manager Jim Rasp, Finance Director Carol Ferrell and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Carol Tiegs, Los Altos Town Crier 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS • 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported that the following applications were heard at the 4/28/99 Planning Commission Meeting: Lands of Kamangar, 24300 Summerhill Avenue: request for a site development permit for a 1,329 square foot addition and remodel-- approved; and Lands of Seufferlein, 13737 Wildflower Lane: request for a site development permit for a 4,571 square foot new residence, swimming pool and cabana- continued. The Planning Director also reported that the fast-track ordinance was scheduled for a 5/12/99 public hearing by the Planning Commission and it would be scheduled for the June 3rd Council Meeting for discussion. In addition the applicants had appealed the Planning Commission's denial of the Lands of Burger on Westwind Way and this hearing would be set for the May 20th Council Meeting. Casey reiterated her request that Council agendize a discussion on the allowed development area on constrained lots especially as this directly affected the Burgers' application. Council agreed this should be addressed during the later discussion on planning priorities. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Siegel and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.1 Approved Minutes: April 15, 1999 (Regular Meeting) 4.2 Approved Warrants: $110,136.66 (4/9/99 -- 4/20/99) 4.3 Awarded Certificate of Appreciation: Berin Fank, Safety Committee • May 6, 1999 Regular City Council Meeting 1 4.4 Accepted Quarterly Investment Report 4.5 Accepted dedication of right of way and irrevocable offer to dedicate storm drainage easement,Lands of Wheatley, 26644 Purissima Road--Resolutions #22-99 and#23-99 4.6 Accepted 1997-98 Pavement Management Project, Phase I, as complete-- Reso #24-99 4.7 Approved purchase order for purchase of 'bobcat'tractor 4.8 Approved contract amendment with Aleuron Systems --Reso #25-99 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Proposal by Safety Committee to distribute medical information vials to Town residents Bob Hall, Chairman of the Safety Committee, explained the vials which would be provided by the El Camino Hospital Senior Center for 40 cents a piece. These vials contained medical information including medications, etc. and were placed in the refrigerator. Paramedics routinely checked refrigerators for this vital information. The Safety Committee was recommending that the Town purchase 1,000 of these vials and distribute them at the Town picnic. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the request from the Safety • Committee for$400 to purchase medical information vials from the El Camino Hospital Senior Center. 5.2 Discussion of details in the 1998-99 Mid-Year Financial Summary The Finance Director explained the mid-year budget report as well as the summary for the 1998- 99 General Fund. The report included the following figures for the General Fund Balance at the end of the year: $6,169.646 (actual FY 97-98), $7,190,356 (adopted budget FY98-99) and $5,835,457 (adjusted budget FY98-99). Casey suggested that the Public Works Manager prepare a report for Council with his recommendations on how the Town could best spend more money on paths and path maintenance. 5.3 Recommendation for expenditure of AB3229 "Cops" Program Grant funding--Reso# PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To,adopt Resolution#26-99 approving the recommended programs and expenditure of AB 3229 "COPS" Grant Funding authorizing$6,379 to sponsor bicycle safety programs for youths. 5.4 Discussion of status of ownership of Almaden Court The City Clerk reported that Mr. McCandless, 26777 Almaden Court,had called and asked that this item be continued to a future meeting. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue this item until the residents on Almaden Court • requested that it be reagendized. May 6, 1999 Regular City Council Meeting 2 5.5 Discussion of project priorities for Planning Department • Casey raised the issue of discussing the allowed development area for constrained lots. She indicated that it had been agreed to agendize this issue at the last Council Meeting especially as it afftected the Burger application. Siegel noted that rather than change the entire policy,the appeal process could be used. Casey did not agree with this as the staff report would reflect that the applicants were requesting much more development area than presently allowed and this could alarm the neighbors. Mrs. Burger, Westwind Way, explained her understanding of the appeal process and noted that she had appealed the Planning Commission's denial of their project. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To add the following two projects to the list of planning projects in the 5/6/99 staff report: #15 -review of ordinance regarding allowed development area for constrained lots and#16 -basement ordinance. Casey stated that her priorities were issues that affected the residents the most. She further believed there should be a balance between long term strategic planning issues and individual applications. The Planning Commission should also be used more effectively to deal with long term issues. Casey listed the following as her priorities: #15 -review of ordinance regarding allowed development area for constrained lots; #7 revision to Matadero Creek Conditions; #16 basement ordinance and#14 review process for considering location of off-road pathways. Siegel believed the implementation of the Housing Element was very important. He also referred to the Packard Use Permit Ordinance as being a high priority. The City Manager reported that staff had met with representatives of the Packard family and preliminary discussions were underway. No formal application had been filed but the Packard Foundation • was planning to informally contact the neighbors about their proposed plans for the Packard property. Council expressed their concerns about not being involved with this project nor knowing its status. Casey recommended an informal study session with the Packard Foundation representatives and the Council to discuss a status of their proposed project. Casey further stated that she was not supportive of the Packard representatives contacting the neighbors until the Council had been given an update. She noted that if any of the neighbors were to contact her she would have no idea about this project. The City Manager noted that he had included this project in his monthly updates but a study session could certainly be scheduled. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To remove the following from the planning project list: #4 - conservation/open space element; #5 -parcel data base (completed) ; #6 development review process revisions (fast track ordinance set for public hearing at 5/12/99 Planning Commission and 6/3/99 City Council Meeting); #9 -revised garage ordinance; #12 planning and building fee review; and#13 pathways element. Add the following planning project: #17 - construction recycling materials policy. It was agreed that the Planning Director could obtain consultant help for the implementation of the housing element and the circulation element. In addition he would allocate certain time blocks to work with these consultants on the status of these projects. The Planning Director referred to the land use element and noted that the consultants, Crawford Multari and Clark,were scheduled to make a presentation at the June 3'Council Meeting giving an outline of what is involved with this project. The Planning Director further noted that the revision to the Matadero Creek conditions was scheduled for the first Planning Commission in June. May 6, 1999 Regular City Council Meeting 3 5.6 Discussion of process for review of Town's Color Board Siegel believed that this issue needed review and community input should be obtained. Casey suggeseted sending out a survey to the residents. It was agreed this survey should be a one-page description of what is being done now and the process. It was also agreed.that a Council subcommittee of Casey and Johnson would be appointed to work on this color board issue and report back to Council. Carol Graywall, Miranda, suggested that it was important to have a regulation on how colors were used. This would address situations, for example, where several colors on the board were used as stripes on a home or as polka dots. 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Request from Purissima Hills Water District for easement on Town land for installation of water well The City Manager reported that the Purissima Hills Water District was interested in the possiblity of a well located behind the Town's emergency generator as a source of water needed in the event of emergencies. Staff had met with representatives of the water district and it was agreed that this location would not interfere with Town operations. If Council agreed with this request,the water district would prepare the appropriate easements and would bring these back for final Council approval. A temporary easement would be for construction and initial testing purposes while the permanent easement would provide for the installation and continued access for maintenance purposes. • Les Earnest, 12769 Dianne Drive, commented that on the existing road access to the water tank off La Loma the fence was extremely close to the edge of a cliff. He suggested that a small flat pathway leading to the open space would be preferable. Patrick Water, General Manager-Purissima Hills Water District, commented on the potential costs of moving certain easements. He noted that he was not in a position to express agreeement with the moving of certain easements at this time. It was agreed this could be addressed, if necessary, in the agreement. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To approve in concept the request from the Purissima Hills Water District for the installation of a water well on the Town Hall property and to direct the Water District to work with the Town staff to prepare the necessary temporary and permanent easements and bring them back to Council for final approval. 6.2 Proposal for Town Recreational Facilities Casey referred to the 9/9/98 letter from residents requesting recreational programs in the Town and asked if they had been notified of this meeting. Johnson stated that he had written to each of them about this meeting and the City Clerk noted that she had sent them each an agenda and packet information. Since none of these residents were present,the matter was tabled. 6.3 Countywide Anti-Graffiti Campaign Council reviewed the proclamation before them on the countywide anti-graffiti campaign. Some concerns were expressed about the statements concerning putting up signs and posters and it was agreed to modify the proclamation to simply state strong support of this campaign. At Council's request,the Public Works Manager gave a status report on graffiti removal in Town. May 6, 1999 Regular City Council Meeting 4 Sandra Humphries, member Environmental Design and Protection Committee,noted that one suggestion was to either put plants in front of popular graffiti locations or to put hanging plants on these walls. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously by all members present to support the "Do Graffiti, Lose Your License" anti-graffiti campaign. 6.4 Request from the Alpha Omega Program to use St.Nicholas Catholic School from June 12, 1999 to July 10, 1999 MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the request from the Alphas Omega Program to use St.Nicholas Catholic School from June 12 to July 10, 1999. 6.5 Request for approval of logo for use at the July 4"'Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Picnic at Shoup Park MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the logo for use at the July 0'Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Picnic at Shoup Park. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES,AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 Approval of landscape recommendations guide prepared by the Environmental Design and Protection Committee • Johnson noted that Dauber had asked him to express her thanks to the Environmental Design and Protection Committee for the quality of this guide. Siegel noted that in June the water district would be discussing possible new water regulations and he thought it might be better to wait until after that to make a widespread distribution of this document. Sandy Humphries, member of the Environmental Design and Protection Committee, commented that this guide could be an addendum to the Design Guidelines Booklet. Also it could be added to the newcomers packet of information,the web page and could be included in the next newsletter. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To thank the Environmental Design and Protection Committee for the preparation of the landscape recommendations guide and to agree that copies will be distributed at the Town Picnic as well as at Town Hall and in the newcomers packets. 7.2 Utility and Information Systems Committee Casey noted that the Utility and Information Systems Committee had met twice and were actively pursuing their goals. She noted that they had requested business cards as an appropriate method of identification. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: Council agreed that the Utility and Information Systems Committee as well as other Town Committees should be offered business cards if they want them. May 6 1999 Regular City Council Meeting 5 • 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8.1.1 Schedule date for Budget Study Session Council agreed to schedule the Budget Study Session for 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 3`a 8.2 City Attorney 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence Casey asked about the letter from Mr. Fish requesting an ordinance modification to change the net one acre requirement to gross one acre for secondary dwellings. The Planning Director explained that this ordinance modification was actually part of the housing element implementation. It was agreed Council would let Mr. Fish know of the status of this request. 9. COUNCIL-INITIATED ITEMS 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Carol Tiegs, Los Altos Town Crier, commented that she would no longer be covering the Town's Council Meeting for the Crier as she and her family were relocating out of the area. She thanked • Council for their assistance and noted that she had enjoyed her association with the Town. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 12. CLOSED SESSION: PERSONNEL: PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957: Public Employment-- City Manager IIS Council adjourned to a Closed Session regarding public employment at 8:45 p.m. and reconvened at 9:00 p.m. Council returned to open session to report, if necessary, any action taken. 13. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss,the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. in memory of Tom Griffiths. Mr. Griffiths had been an active member of the community having recently served as a member of the Technology Improvement Committee. Council expressed their sympathies to Mr. Griffiths' family. Re e;c�Ttf�ulllub�nitted, Pa ricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the May 6, 1999 City Council Meeting were approved at the May 20, 1999 City Council Meeting. May 6, 1999 Regular City Council Meeting 6