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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/02/1997Minutes of a Regular Meeting July 2, 1997 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Regular Meeting Wednesday, July 2, 1997, %0 P.M. Council Chambers 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Casey called the Regular Meeting of the City to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard, Johnson and Siegel Absent: None Staff: City Manager/City Engineer Jeff Peterson, 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 Community Development Block Grant Citizens' Advisory Committee Gloria Shiff, 12111 Old Snakey Road, expressed her interest in participating on this committee. She regularly attended the meetings and would welcome the opportunity to represent the Town. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to appoint Gloria Shiff as the Town's representative on the Community Development Block Grant Citizens' Advisory Committee 2.2 Appointments to Technology Improvement Committee Tom Griffiths, 14125 Berry Hill Lane, and George Knight, 15421 Vista Serena, each expressed their interest in serving on the Technology Improvement Committee and offered to answer any questions. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Siegel and passed unanimously to appoint Tom Griffiths to the Technology Improvement Committee for a two- year term. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Motion by Siegel, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to appoint George Knight to the Technology Improvement Committee for a two- year term. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting The Planning Director reported that the following issues were discussed at the 7/9/97 Planning Commission Meeting: Lands of Stitt, 25703 Lomita Linda: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence, pool house and pool; Lands of Lohr, 24044 Oak Knoll Circle: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence; Lands of Arias, 10460 Albertsworth: approved request for a site development permit for a major addition and remodel; Lands of Janssen and Sessions, 26415 Anacapa Drive: request for a site development permit and conditional development permit for a new residence, and variances to allow the maximum floor and development areas to be exceeded - continued; and Lands of Taylor, 25528 Hidden Springs Court: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence, pool and spa. The Planning Director further commented that Commissioner Finn had resigned due to conflicting business schedules with the meetings. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To agendize the issue of Planning Commission appointment process for the next meeting. In the meantime, ask the City Attorney to ascertain if a Planning Commissioner needs to be a resident of the Town. Also, ask Commissioner Doran to advise the Council if she agrees with the one year extension of her term. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Items Removed: 4.1 (Hubbard), 4.3a (Siegel), 4.3b (applicant), 4.5 (Dauber), 4.7 and 4.9 (Casey) and 4.8 (Dauber) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.1 Approved Minutes: June 18, 1997 (Adjourned Regular Meeting) 4.2 Approved Warrants: $56,678.12 (6/16/97) 4.4 Awarded contract for Pavement Management Project FY 96-97 — Reso #37-97 4.6 Accepted Grant of Storm Drain Easement, Lands of Rossi, 13867 Robleda Road — Reso #38-97 4.10 Approved addendum to agreement with Collection Systems Maintenance Service — Reso #39-97 On this issue Siegel suggested that the Town look at the feasiblity (private versus public costs) of hiring a single contractor for both Los Altos and Palo Alto sewer maintenance 4.11 Approved request for authorization to advertise the Town's Robleda Drainage Basin Storm Drain Improvement Project FY 96-97 for competitive bids --- Reso #40-97 Items Removed: 4.1 Approval of Minutes: June 18, 1997 (Regular Meeting) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of the June 18, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting with the following correction: Page 9, Item 9.2, change the word `mutual' to `automatic'. July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting Siegel commented that including the complete text of policies, accomplishments, goals, etc. was a good procedure to follow especially now that the minutes were on the Webpage. 4.3 Consideration of Whether To Review the following Planning Commission Actions at its meeting on June 11, 1997: 4.3a Lands of Clevenger, 14400 Kingsley Avenue: approved request for a Site Development Permit for a new residence 4.3b Lands of Vellequette, 25505 Bledsoe Court: approved request for a Site Development Permit for a new residence Council decided to review the request for a site development permit for a new residence at 14400 Kingsley Avenue for Lands of Clevenger and the applicant appealed the Planning Commission's decision for a site development permit for a new residence at 25505 Bledsoe Court for Lands of Vellequette. Hubbard stated that he lived within 2,500 feet of the Vellequette property but this application had no financial impact on his property. 4.5 Approval of ninth amendment to agreement to provide Local Law Enforcement Agency access to the California Identification (CAL -ID) System —Reso #_ Dauber noted that the cost of this agreement had gone up substantially with salaries increasing by 9% and she asked who reviewed the budget for this group. The City Manager responded that this was done by the CAL -ID Rand Board which was made up of various police chiefs and one City Manager. Dauber suggested this Board write an explanatory letter for the increase. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to adopt Resolution #41-97 approving the ninth amendment to agreement to provide Local Law Enforcement Agency access to the California Identification System. 4.7 Ordinance amending Chapter I (Zoning) of Title 10 (Zoning and Site Development) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code to amend the sections on non -conforming structures (SECOND READING) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Johnson and passed by the following roll call vote to waive further reading and adopt Ordinance #387 AYES: Mayor Pro Tem Johnson and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard and Siegel NOES: Mayor Casey 4.8 Ordinance amending Chapter I (Zoning) of Title 10 (Zoning and Site Development) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code to amend the section on setback lines (SECOND READING) Hubbard stated that he had given this ordinance further thought and believed the phrase `including necessary backup areas' should be deleted because of the possible intrusion on the neighbors. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Casey and passed by the following roll call vote to continue this item for a public hearing by the Council. July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting 4 AYES: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard and Johnson NOES: Councilmember Siegel 4.9 Ordinance amending Chapter I (Zoning) of Title 10 (Zoning and Site Development) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code to amend the section on exception to setback lines (SECOND READING) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Siegel and passed by the following roll call vote to waive further reading and adopt Ordinance #388. AYES: Mayor Pro Tem Johnson and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard and Siegel NOES: Mayor Casey 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. NEW BUSINESS 6.1 Request from Ray and Betty Rooker for real estate sign placement for 27870 Baker Lane Council reviewed the request from the Rookers to place a directional real estate sign at the comer of Baker Lane and Purissima Road within the Town's right of way to assist them in the marketing of the house for sale. Dauber commented that this property for sale could be seen from Purissima and she suggested a criteria be established allowing for exceptions for streets with different names (i.e. houses on Moon Lane have Page Mill Road addresses). MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Dauber and passed by the following roll call vote to deny the request from the Rookers to place a directional real estate sign at the comer of Baker Lane and Purissima Road. AYES: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard and Siegel NOES: Mayor Pro Tem Johnson 6.2 Appeal of false alarm charges, Mr.and Mrs. Cabak, 13810 La Paloma Road Hubbard stepped down from consideration of this item as he and Mr. Cabak were business associates. The City Manager presented his report which outlined the number of false alarm charges received by Mr. and Mrs. Cabak this yew. He further noted that an appeal had been received from the Cabaks that the Town reduce or revoke this $1,650 bill because of their faulty alarm system. The City Manager outlined the charges incurred by the Town for staff time, deputy response time and paperwork. The result was $640 actual cost to the Town with no fines included. Mr. Cabak, 13810 La Paloma Road, addressed the Council on his appeal. He noted that they had had a lot of difficulty with their first alarm system and having received no assistance in getting it working properly had changed companies. The company involved in the false alarm charges would not consider paying the charges Mr. Cabak incurred. VaW July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Siegel and passed by the following roll call vote to reduce the false alarm charges incurred by Mr. Cabak from $1,650 o $640. AYES: Mayor Casey and Councilmembers Dauber, Johnson and Siegel NOES: None ABSTAIN: CouncilmemberHubbard 6.3 Proposed Policy on Outdoor Lighting Hubbard expressed concerns that because of the following wording on the agenda under this item: " At the request of the Mayor, Council is being asked to continue this item to allow time for a Town -wide mailing on this issue." interested parties might have thought this item was going to be continued. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to continue this item to the July 16, 1997 City Council Meeting. 6.4 Council Appointments to Committees, Subcommittees and Outside Agencies MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Dauber and passed unanimously to approve the following Council appointments to committees and outside agencies: Committee Liaison Community Relations William Siegel Environmental Design and Protection Sid Hubbard Finance Sid Hubbard Pathways, Recreation and Parks Toni Casey Safety Bob Johnson Technology Improvement Committee Elayne Dauber Youth Commissioner Mayor Exhibit Curator Mayor Town Historian Mayor Volunteer Awards Bob Johnson Appointments to Outside Aeencies ABAG William Siegel Elayne Dauber (alternate) Community Health Awareness Council Rory Kaplan (CHAC) City Selection Mayor Emergency Preparedness Council Mayor League of California Cities - Peninsula Elayne Dauber Division William Siegel (alternate) League of California Cities - City Toni Casey Legislative Delegate Program July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting Los Altos Hills County Fire District William Siegel Commission Sid Hubbard Los Altos Senior Coordinating Council Ramona Chown North County Library Authority Elayne Dauber Joint Powers Authority Library Board Elayne Dauber Valley Transportation Authority Policy Bob Johnson Advisory Board Sid Hubbard Santa Clara County Library Commission Roger Summit Development Citizens Advisory Committee Dottie Harrison Brown Valley Transportation Authority Transit District Board William Siegel Santa Clara Valley Water Commission Elayne Dauber Santa Clara Valley Water District Elayne Dauber Northwest Flood Control Advisory Jeff Peterson (alternate) Committee Santa Clara County Cities Bob Johnson Association Elayne Dauber(alternate) Santa Clara County Housing and Community Gloria Shiff Development Citizens Advisory Committee Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network Toni Casey Public Sector Roundtable Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network Toni Casey Council on Tax and Fiscal Policy Community Advisory Committee for the Peggy Esber Palo Alto School District Community Services Agency Action Group: Bob Johnson Family Violence Council Subcornrnittees Housing Element Elayne Dauber Bob Johnson* (Commissioners Schreiner & Stutz) Solid Waste Sid Hubbard Elayne Dauber Town Hall Remodel Sid Hubbard* William Siegel July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting III PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To delete the Town Newsletter as a subcommittee noting that Dauber and Siegel acted as Council liaisons to the newsletter rather than as a subcommittee. Council further agreed that the Planning Issues Subcommittee had completed its tasks. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to delete the communications subcommittee from the list as its objectives had been completed. 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB -COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8. 1.1 City Managers Meeting The City Manager reported that several items of current interest were scheduled for discussion at the 7/9/97 City Managers Meeting, including development fees, library internet censorship and the Household Hazardous Advisory Committee. He would be bringing a status report back to the Council. 8.2 City Attorney 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence Council agreed that the letter from the Grand Jury requesting comments on their final report on domestic violence should be agendized for the next Council Meeting. 9. COUNCIL -INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Mayors' Conference - San Francisco (Mayor Casey) Casey reported that she had attended the recent Mayors' Conference in San Francisco and had found it to be extremely interesting and worthwhile. 9.2 Santa Clara County Cities Association (Mayor Pro Tem Johnson) Johnson reported that the Cities Association was addressing the issue of taxing the Internet Operations and the huge amount of money being lost to the cities in sales tax through internet sales. 9.3 Magdalena Path (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber inquired abou t the status of the letter from Mr. May on the Magdalena Path issue. Les Earnest, Chairman of the Pathway Committee, commented that he had checked on this path. While it was true that Mr. May did not have a path in front of his property and had to cross over to get to the path on the other side, it did not appear to be a safety issue. It was noted that Mr. May had been contacted that this issue was under review. July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting 9.4 Censoring of the Intemet (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber reported that a group in Gilroy was demanding that the library begin censoring access to the Intemet. The Library's position was that they do not filter information on the Intemet and the Council concurred with this position. 9.5 Excavation on Fremont (Councilmember Siegel) Siegel inquired about the excavation on Fremont outside Town Hall. It had been there for some time. The Public Works Manager responded that it was a Pac Bell operation and should be completed in the near future. Siegel recommended that if it was not done in week the Mayor should send a letter to Pac Bell. 9.6 PacBell (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber commented that on Page Mill a new power pole had been installed but the old cable wires had been left on the old pole which was still there. 9.7 PG&E (Councilmember Siegel) Siegel reported that there were three dual poles on Stonebrook and it was agreed a letter should be sent to the utilities on these issues. (Also report a porta potty still on Alta Lane North to PacBell.) 9.8 Household Hazardous Waste (Councilmember Siegel) Siegel referred to a recent ad in the Town Crier on Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days and recommended finding out who paid for the ad. 9.9 Reflectors on Magdalena (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber inquired about the reflectors on Magdalena and the Public Works Manager reported that they had been moved to the edge of the swale. 9.10 Easement Donations (Councilmember Hubbard) Hubbard suggested and Council concurred that the Mayor should send thank you letters to those donating easements to the Town. 9.11 Hidden Villa (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber reported that she had recently met with Judith Steiner of Hidden Villa in an attempt to resolve the path issue on their property. Unfortunately, Hidden Villa was not interested in making an easement for this path to the Town. 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Request for renewal of a conditional use permit for the operation of a commercial stable, Lands of Cole (Full House Farm), 23219 Ravensbury Avenue July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting Casey disclosed that she lived within 2,500 feet of this project but this application had no financial impact on her property. Ry Smith, 23230 Ravensbury Avenue, addressed the Council with his concerns about the operation at Full House Farm. He noted that when they had moved into the Town in 1973 the Cole farm had a few horses. Now they had an operation that not only included a commercial stable but more recently a summer camp. Over the years he had worked with the Coles on several issues including dirt and odors from the stable and for the most part the issues had been resolved. The summer camp, however, was another issue. His family was finding it increasingly difficult to enjoy their outdoor living area because of the noise generated from the summer camp. Mr. Smith was most concerned that approval of this conditional use permit would go with the land and a future owner may not be at all interested in the concerns of the neighbors. He recommended a one-year extension of the permit rather than the fifteen year length being proposed. Terry, Opdendyk, 23100 Encinal Court, expressed his support of the Cole family and their running of Full House Farm. They were good neighbors. However, he was concerned about a fifteen year permit and the possibility of others running the programs. He recommended a shorter permit. Scott Overstreet, 23200 Encinal Court, noted that he had lived in Town since 1968 and thought the Coles were good neighbors and had a well run program. Christine Cole, applicant, commented that Full House Farm had been in operation for a long time and she had always tried to work well with the neighbors and address their concerns. She noted that the Town was a perfect location for the stable operation because of its rural quality. Concerning the summer camp she explained the daily routine for the children noting that the main focus was on horses but she did allow for one hour of swimming a day from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. While she wanted everything to work out with the neighbors, she did not think one hour was unreasonable. Regarding the number of horses, she stated that eighteen was the maximum number. Ms. Cole further commented that she had no problem with the review process and commented that if there was a change in hands there could be an immediate public hearing to review the permit. Dauber suggested that the rules for the summer camp be specifically stated in the conditions of approval. Siegel noted that this permit went with the land and recommended that the swimming program be deleted. Council agreed that the permit should be limited to eighteen horses, twelve children and a five yea review period for the stable and a public hearing on the summer camp operation after two years. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Hubbard and passed unanimously to direct the Planning Director to redraft the conditions of approval for Full House Farm to include the use as a summer camp and to bring this renewal request with amended conditions of approval back to the next Council Meeting for decision. 11.2 Proposed Ordinance: A) Amending Chapter 10-1 (Zoning Code) to add purpose statements reflecting the Town's Site Development Policy July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to waive further reading and introduce an ordinance amending Sections 10-1.503 (Floor Area), 10-1.504 (Height) and 10-1.505 (Setbacks) of Chapter 1 (zoning) to include site development policy purpose statements as amended by Council as follows: Section 10-1.505(e) (Setback Lines), change `site specific constraints' to `site characteristics' and change the final sentence of the paragraph to "Some examples of site characteristics include, but are not limited to, high site visibility where a greater setback is deemed necessary to reduce the appearance of bulkiness of the structure; and/or proximity to other lots or structures where a greater setback is deemed necessary to promote a variety in setbacks to avoid the appearance of uniform house designs or layouts." B) Amending Article 10-2.10 (Outdoor Lighting) of the Site Development Code to add a purpose statement and clarifying language; and adoption of negative declaration Casey recommended that this item be noticed to all residents in a Town wide mailing. She believed the proposed changes regarding outdoor lighting would affect many homes. Councilmembers did not agree stating that the proposed wording did not result in major changes. However, they did agree that because of the wording placed on the agenda ("At the request of the Mayor, Council is being asked to continue this item to allow time for a Town -wide mailing on this issue") some may think that this item was going to be continued. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously to waive further reading and introduce ordinance amending Article 10-2.10 (outdoor lighting) of Chapter 2 (site development) to provide a purpose statement and clarifying language. It was further agreed to schedule the second reading of this ordinance for a public hearing at the next Council Meeting. 4. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. in memory of Mane Singer, a long-time resident of the Town and much respected community leader. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the July 2, 1997 City Council Meeting were approved at the July 16, 1997 City Council Meeting. July 2, 1997 Regular City Council Meeting 10