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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/1996�a' Minutes of a Regular Meeting May 15,1996 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Meeting Wednesday, May 15,1996,6:00 P.M. Council Chambers. 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL. AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Siegel called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Siegel and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard and Johnson Absent: Councilmember Casey Staff: City Manager/City Engineer Jeff Peterson, Acting City kr Attorney William McClure, Planning Director Curtis Williams, Public Works Manager Ed Taylor and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Clyde Noel, Los Altos Town Crier 1.A. ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND PROTECTION COMMITTEE The following members of the Environmental Design and Protection Committee were present: Chairman Guy Jinkerson, Sharon Brown and Dexter Hake. A. Acceptance of List of 1995-96 Accomplishments B. Goals and Objectives for 1996-97 C. Discussion of specific items brought up by committee and Council Members or introduced in the Goals and Objectives Guy Jinkerson, Chairman, referred to his letter dated 5/10/96 to the Council in which he outlined the committee's achievements over the past year. In part, these included attending Site Development and Planning Commission Meetings, recommending designation of heritage trees, working for the beautification of the Town and implementing the Town's landscape policy. Mr. Jinkerson believed the committee's goals were to determine how the house fit into the land and the Itaw May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting neighborhood and balancing the rural community and the use of the land. He believed the committee worked well together toward the attainment of these goals. Siegel noted that Councilmember Casey had been unable to attend this meeting but he shared some of her concerns related to the Environmental Design and Protection Committee reviewing and commenting on certain aspects of projects which were not related to their charges. Complaints had been received from applicants. Hubbard too expressed concerns about the many levels of government one had to go through for a project. Dauber believed this committee was a strong advocate for the environment and supported their comments on projects. Guy Jinkerson noted that the committee made its comments available for the Planning Commission reports and this process seemed to work well for both the applicant and the Town. Sharyn Brown stated that they advised the applicant that they worked with the Planning Commission. She also believed it was important for the committee to voice their opinions and then the Planning Commission and Council could do what they wanted with the information. Siegel asked the committee to pay particular attention to the location of dead oak trees, advertising signs and where street trees should be placed. Siegel recommended that the committee specifically address the placement of street trees when reviewing an application. Dauber asked what the committee thought of the new fire regulations including wider roads. In response, Mr. Jinkerson said they needed clarfication from the Fire Department on these regulations. Dauber commented that when the new Town Handbook was done, the section on environmental issues was deleted due to length of the booklet. She suggested that a separate pamphlet be prepared on environmental design and protection issues and be inserted as a supplement to the handbook. It was further suggested that the design guidelines checklist be used again by the committee when reviewing a project. Council noted that an ordinance on processing issues would soon be going to the Planning Commission for review and suggested that the Environmental Design and Protection Committee might want to review this ordinance and provide input. 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 2.1 Appointment to Environmental Design and Protection Committee Ralph Cheek, 27525 Edgerton Road, introduced himself to the Council. He commented that he was retired and they had settled in Los Altos Hills. He thought it time to get involved in the community after many years of moving around. May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Dauber and passed unanimously by all members present to appoint Ralph Cheek to the Environmental Design and Protection Committee for a two-year term. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT The Planning Director reported that the following items were discussed at the 5/8/96 Planning Commission Meeting: Lands of Powers, 12080 Green Hills Court: approved request for a site development permit for a major addition and remodel; Lands of Denardi, 26966 Fremont Road: approved request for a site development permit for a new residence and pool; Lands of Lau/Liang, 12894 La Cresta Drive: continued request for a site development permit for a new residence and pool; Lands of Gerena/Roach, 24020 Oak Knoll Circle (Lot 18): continued request for a new residence, pool and spa, pool house and two detached garages; and a discussion on secondary dwellings was continued. 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Item Removed: 4.8 (Dauber) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Hubbard and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.1 Approved Minutes: May 1, 1996 4.2 Approved Warrants: $112,449.18(4/30/96) 4.3 Decided Not To Review the following Planning Commission Actions at its meeting on April 24,1996: 4.3a Lands of Wolken, 27345 Deer Springs Way: approved request for a site development permit for a major addition and remodel 4.3b Lands of Teng, 25420 Crescent Lane: approved request for a site development permit for an accessory building 4.4 Rejected Claims: Terrace Associates (John Lopez)/Shirley Searfoss 4.5 Set the time and place of a public hearing to consider all objections or protests to the proposed adoption of the Palo Alto Sewer Service Charge Final Report -- Reso #32-96 May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting %W4.6 Set the time and place of a public hearing to review the annual sewer charge set by the City of Los Altos for the Los Altos Sewer Basin — Reso #33-96 4.7 Accepted dedication of right of way adjacent to Robleda Road and approved and authorized execution of an agreement for conservation easement between the Town and Hung C. Lam and Loanie T. Lam, 13597 Robleda Road -- Resolutions #3496 and #35-96 Item Removed: 4.8 Accepting final map, Lands of Lindy, 27591 Purissima Road -- Reso #_ Dauber referred to a letter received from Mr. Pilling regarding the Lands of Lindy. She inquired whether Mr. Pilling's concerns about drainage had been addressed. The City Manager responded that they had and he would send a letter so advising Mr. Pilling. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Johnson and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution #36-96 accepting the final map for Lands of Lindy, 27591 Purissima Road. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Adoption of Resolution extending the lease with the Purissima Hills Water District -- Reso # MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Siegel and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution #37- 96 extending the lease with the Purissima Hills Water District 5.2 Recommended list of proposed roads with paths on both sides Council discussed a proposed list of roads with paths on both sides which had been submitted by the Pathways Committee. In addition Council had a report from Siegel modifying this list. Siegel stressed that the Town was not maintaining roadside paths and he believed the Town should concentrate its resources on paths on one side of the road. Additional modifications, Siegel commented, could be made in the future. Dauber believed there were three stages to be considered: 1) build the path now; 2) obtain the easement now for potential future need (a heavy traffic street with no present pathway); or 3) determine no path is needed and obtain an in lieu fee. She recommended that the following statement be included with the approved list of roads with paths on both sides: "The following streets have sufficient traffic May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting (auto, pedestrian and equetrian) to warrant paths on both sides. While desirable �,. there may be segments where creating the path is not economically feasible at this time. Nevertheless, the Town will take the easement and should it become important, the Town will put in the path." The City Manager expressed concern about maintenance and staff time involved in the placement of paths in difficult locations. There was a capital improvement budget to consider and such projects would probably be contracted out as staff was fully committed to current projects. Les Earnest, Chairman of the Pathways Committee, reviewed his committee's proposed list and discussed the modifications as presented by Siegel. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Siegel and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution #38-96 stating that the following streets shall be planned with pathways on both sides of the street: Fremont Road, EI Monte Road from Summerhill Road to Stonebrook, Manuella Road from Fremont to Scarff, La Paloma Road from Fremont to Purissima Road, Concepcion Road from Fremont to Purissima Road, Purissima Road from Arastradero to Robleda Road, Page Mill Road, Altamont Road and Moody Road. The resolution will begin with the following statement: "The following streets have sufficient traffic (auto, pedestrian and equetrian) to warrant paths on both sides. While desirable there may be segments where creating the path is not economically ` feasible at this time. Nevertheless, the Town will take the easement and should it become important, the Town will put in the path." 6. NEW BUSINESS 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES. SUB -COMMITTEES. AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 Pathways Recreation and Parks Committee 7.1.1 Recommendation for updating the Master Path Plan Les Earnest, Chairman of the Pathways Committee, presented to Council the committee's recommendation that the following amendment to the proposed off- road paths shown on the Master Path Plan be approved: add the path along the northeast boundary of 27880, 27886 and 27994 Via Ventana, following an old road that connects with Via Ventana at both ends. Council discussed this proposed amendment and the process involved. Siegel recommended that the committee provide more rationale for such off-road paths. He also noted that the process for these amendments was outlined in the pathway �u May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting element. Hubbard suggested that this was not the appropriate time to discuss the path on Via Ventana because of a pending application for development in that area. Dauber commented that there were sixteen pages of maps covering the Town and recommended that public hearings on such path amendments be scheduled for those on each map. The suggestion was also made to advise the neighborhood coordinator of such public hearings. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To schedule public hearings for updating the Master Path Plan on a map by map basis with the appropriate notification of all neighbors involved and to begin with a hearing on page 13. 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8.1.1 Budget Hearings The City Manager recommended and Council concurred with the following schedule for budget review: June 4, 1996 at 5:00 p.m., June 5, 1996 at 4:30 p.m. and adoption on June 19, 1996. 8.1.2 Central Drive Paving The City Manager reported that he had stopped the paving project being done on Central Drive pending information from the contractor on easements on Central Drive. The City Manager further noted that Central Drive was a private road and controversy over whether or not it should be paved at all needed to be decided among the owners of the private road. 8.13 Special Council Meeting on Garbage Issues The City Manager advised Council that the packets for the Special Meeting to be held on Monday, May 20, 1996 were available. 8.2 City Attorney 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence dated May 8, 1996 9. COUNCIL -INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Santa Clara County Flood Control Meeting (Councilmember Dauber) May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting Dauber noted that the next flood control project was Permanente Creek. She further commented that the Adobe Creek/Lodge had been designated a landscape mitigation project. 9.2 Fire Regulations (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber asked that the new fire regulations and their impact on applications and the amount of resulting paving in the Town be agendized for Council discussion. 9.3 Opening of the new Fire Station (Mayor Siegel) Siegel reported that the opening of the new fire station was scheduled for June 29, 1996 and he invited all to attend the ceremonies. 9.4 Use of New Fire Station Facilities (Mayor Pro Tem Hubbard) Hubbard noted that the on the 6/18/96 Fire Commission's agenda there was a discussion on the use of the facilities for meetings (i.e. the Town's Safety Committee). He asked if anyone had any input on this item to let him know. 9.5 Household Hazardous Advisory Committee (Mayor Siegel) Siegel reported that Palo Alto Councilmember Rosenbaum has requested a meeting `, to discuss the Town reconsidering its decision not to participate in the Household Hazardous Advisory Committee for FY 96-97. He would be meeting with the City Manager and Mr. Rosenbaum early next week. 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Proposed levying of increases in fees, deposits, charges for services and other assessments -- Reso # Council referred to the staff report on proposed fees. Hubbard concurred with the Finance Committee's recommendation that the planning and building fees be considered at one time not just the building fees as proposed. Dauber was not pleased with the way fees were charged. She believed there should be a flat fee charged based on square footage. As it was proposed Dauber thought the fees were decreasing for larger projects while increasing for smaller projects. PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue the issue of proposed increases in building fees to discuss with planning fees and to direct the Planning Director to address the recommendation of a flat fee. May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting �kw MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Hubbard and passed by the following roll call vote to approve the revisions to the animal control charges as set forth in Exhibit 'B" and effective as of July 1, 1996. AYES: Mayor Siegel and Councilmembers Hubbard and Johnson NOES: Councilmember Dauber ABSENT: Councilmember Casey Dauber did not agree with the licensing or impoundment charges. She believed if a pet was caught a second time there should be a high fee and Dauber also did not think the licensing charges for less than six months, 7 - 12 months, 13 - 18 months, etc. was logical. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Hubbard and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the appeal fee for notice of code violations as set forth in Exhibit "C" (zero fee and zero deposit). PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To adopt Resolution #39-96 amending the fee and deposit schedule regarding animal control charges and appeals. 12. ADJOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Respectfully -submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the June 5, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting. May 15, 1996 Regular City Council Meeting