Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/07/1993Minutes of a Regular Meeting `► April 7,1993 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Meeting Wednesday, April 7,1993,6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER. ROLL CALL. AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Tryon called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Tryon and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard and Johnson Absent: Councilmember Siegel Staff: City Manager Les M. Jones, II, City Attorney Sandy Sloan, Director of Public Works Jeff Peterson, Town Planner Linda Niles and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Bill Kisliuk, Los Altos Town Crier 2. APPOINTMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS 3. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT 4. CONSENT CALENDAR Items Removed: 4.1 - 2/17/93 and 3/17/93 minutes (Dauber), 4.5 (Hubbard) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Hubbard and passed unanimously by all members present to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, specifically: 4.1 Approved Minutes: February 3, 1993 (Adjourned Regular) 4.2 Approved Warrants: $36,148.75 (3/23/93) 4.3 Dedicated Property for Road Right of Way, Lands of McCulloughs, 14251 Miranda Road -- Reso #12-93 `" April 7, 1993 4.4 Accepted Rejected Pathway Easements, Tracts 3280 (Orchard Hill Lane), Tract 3329 (Foothill Lane), Tract 3445 (Vogue Court), Tract 3505 (Brendel Drive) and Tract 3698 (Todd Lane) -- Resolutions #13-25, 1993 4.6 Awarded Certificates of Appreciation: R.D. Aschenbrenner, Mary Compton, Dick Duhring, Anita Kaplan, Hal Nissley, Maurice Osborne,Jr., William Stahl and Ginger Summit 4.7 Proclaimed: April, 1993 "California Earthquake Preparedness Month" 4.8 Supported AB 764 (Goldsmith) on Housing Council asked the City Manager to send a letter of strong support for AB 764 to the members of the Assembly Housing Committee. Items Removed: 4.1 Approval of Minutes: February 17, 1993 (Adjourned Regular Meeting) Dauber asked that the City Manager report on the Council's request to provide the Finance Committee with a schedule of franchise fees and the request to the Finance Personnel to develop a projects reporting method that reflected funding ` commitments and multi-year projects. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Dauber and passed by all members present to approve the minutes of the February 17, 1993 Adjourned Regular City Council Meeting. 4.1 Approval of Minutes: March 17, 1993 (Regular Meeting) MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Hubbard, seconded by Dauber and passed by the following roll call vote to approve the minutes of the March 17, 1993 City Council Meeting with the following corrections: page 4, Item 7.3, second sentence should read: "The subcommittee also recommended that doors or windows for exits, vents for air flow and a single garage door be allowed." and the last two sentences should be changed to: "Dauber asked the City Attorney to check the Town Code on the issue of basements. Should basements which are not counted as floor area be counted as development area?"; page 7, Item 9.6, the word "write" should be changed to "contact". AYES: Mayor Tryon and Councilmembers Dauber and Hubbard NOES: None ABSENT: Councilmember Siegel ABSTAIN: Mayor Pro Tem Johnson %W April 7, 1993 %, 4.5 Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Sewer Maintenance between the City of Los Altos and the Town of Los Altos Hills -- Reso # Hubbard asked for clarification of the following sentence: "Furthermore, nothing in this agreement obligates Town to provide sewer connections to those who have acquired capacity rights or to those who have not." The City Attorney explained that people purchased capacity rights but it did not give them the connector rights. Dauber had some concerns about the formula on page 5 and suggested some wording to clarify it. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Hubbard and passed unanimously by all members present to adopt Resolution #26-93 approving and authorizing execution of amendment No. 1 to the agreement for sewer maintenance between Los Altos and Los Altos Hills, as amended by the City Council by making the following changes to the formula on page 5: all references to Pine Lane should be changed to Pine Lane Lift Station; references to O'Keefe should be changed to O'Keefe Lift Station; reference to the district should be changed to Los Altos Basin and 'Town units in Pine Lane Lift Station' should be changed to 'Town units using Pine Lane Lift Station'. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Clarification of Council Direction Regarding Hall Project, 26070 Newbridge Council had before them the Town Planner's staff report which asked for clarification regarding the Hall project and whether or not the previous or the current floor area calculation interpretation should be used on their application. The question also included those applications that had not yet been scheduled for hearing before the Planning Commission and for those applications that were already in process and scheduled for Planning Commission. Council discussed the Hall application and believed they had proceeded in good faith. Hubbard believed that applicants who had drawn up plans and submitted their project should be grandfathered in under the old interpretation for basements. The Town Planner, in response to an inquiry from Council, stated that only two projects were affected by this decision (one of them being the Hall's and one which had already been heard by the Planning Commission). All other applications would be required to follow the new interpretation as they had not been before the Planning Commission as of the March 3, 1993 Council decision on basement interpretation. Council also discussed whether the Hall application should come directly to them for public hearing in an effort to shorten the application process for the Halls since they had been delayed in the process. �r April 7, 1993 MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Dauber and passed unanimously to state that the Hall application for a new residence at 26070 Newbridge will be grandfathered into the previous floor area calculation interpretation on basements and to state that the Hall project will follow the regular procedure and not go directly to Council for hearing. It was further noted that the Hall and Reddy projects were the only ones which would be grandfathered into the previous floor area interpretation, based upon them being previously scheduled before the Planning Commission. 6. NEW BUSINESS 7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB -COMMITTEES, AND COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES 7.1 Quarry Sub -Committee Dauber noted that today they had received an agenda from Supervisor McKenna's office for the meeting on the quarry scheduled for Thursday, April 8th. The agenda included far more issues than the scope of the project they originally planned to address. Dauber commented that she prepared another agenda but Mr. Gibbs from Supervisor McKenna's office was reluctant to change the agenda. Dauber reiterated that at this time a memorandum of understanding needed to be reached concerning what issues needed to be addressed before the filing of a tenative map by Mr. Vidovich. Hubbard also commented that a clear understanding of budget costs was necessary. It was agreed that the City Attorney and staff members would also be attending the meeting on the 8th. Dauber also reported that she had met with Supervisor Zoe Lofgren on the quarry subject. They discussed the safety of some of the lots and the necessity for the preparation of geologic studies. 7.2 Town Handbook Sub -Committee Tryon reported that she and Johnson had attended a meeting on the handbook on March 31st. The project was coming along very well and should be completed in the near future. 8. STAFF REPORTS 8.1 City Manager 8.1.1 Discussion of Palo Alto Development Issues affecting Los Altos Hills (oral report) The Town Planner reported that the project under construction on Page Mill Road was a replacement building for a previously obsolete office building April 7, 1993 of 175,000 square feet. The project at Fremont and Arastradero was for a Research and Development Facility. This project had received a change in land use in November 1992 from mobile residential to research office park. Staff will work with Palo Alto's staff and will advise Council when this project at Fremont and Arastradero is voted upon. Dauber was concerned about the impact on traffic especially at Page Mill and 280 and it was agreed Tryon would follow up on this with the City Engineer. 8.1.2 Housing Element Update (oral report) The Town Planner reported that final comments were being made and the Housing Element would be on the next Council agenda. 8.1.3 Yardwaste Site The City Manager commented that on the recent notice to residents from the Los Altos Garbage Company it had been noted that no dry grass or hay would be accepted at the yardwaste site. The City Manager noted that the Los Altos Garbage Company was considering changing this stipulation regarding dry grass particularly in view of the fact that the Town was encouraging its residents to mow instead of disc. However, if they had no place to take the dry grass this became a problem. Dauber asked how the residents would be notified of this change and the Manager responded that �. this would be accomplished either by letter or posted notices or both. 8.1.4 Presentation by the Sheriff's Department at Bullis School The City Manager commented that a presentation was scheduled for April 20th at Bullis School for 7:00 p.m. by the Sheriff's Department to discuss 'Safeguarding Your Home'. This will include an update on the current burglary situation in Town and also a discussion of burglary prevention. 8.2 City Attorney 8.2.1 Report on Town's Solicitation Ordinance (oral report) The City Attorney reported that California Law allows for solicitation in the Town, non-profit as well as those groups which are not non-profit. She did suggest that the Town could institute a procedure whereby a group would have to register with the Town to solicit and certain information could be required. Also residents could post "No Solicitors" signs on their property. Council commented that an item could be placed in the newsletter and a recommendation could be requested from the Safety Committee on this issue. `" April 7, 1993 8.2.2 Fair Political Practices Commission The City Attorney reported that she had received a letter from the FPPC on her request for advice regarding Mayor Pro Tem Johnson voting on the Town's decision to set sewer rates which affect his place of residence. FPPC ruled that Mayor Pro Tem Johnson may participate in the decision to set sewer rates. 8.3 City Clerk 8.3.1 Report on Council Correspondence Council discussed the letter from Louise Pahl on law enforcement. Tryon stated that she would attend their neighborhood meeting scheduled for May 1st and she asked Dauber to ask the Safety Committee if they wished to form a task force to review the law enforcement issue in the Town. Council further asked the City Manager to obtain a police report on the incident Mrs. Pahl referred to in her letter. Dauber suggested it might be a good idea to request information from Praxis Housing Partners concerning affordable home ownership. She further referred to an ABAG newsletter which noted the Pacific Recycling Convention scheduled for April 7-8. While it was too late to attend this `, convention, Dauber believed this was information that the Environmental Design and Protection Committee would be interested in in the future. It was agreed that the City Manager would respond to the letter from the student at Hoover Middle School requesting financial support for his school project stating that the Town was unable to contribute at this time but it was a worthy project. 9. COUNCIL -INITIATED ITEMS 9.1 Request for Council appointment to the Policy Advisory Board of the Santa Clara County Local Transportation Authority PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To appoint Mayor Tryon to the Policy Advisory Board. 9.2 SB 566 Benefit Assessment Legislation ( Councilmember Dauber) Dauber reported that SB 566 had been introduced which, if enacted, would add provisions to the California Government Code to allow the funding of libraries through assessments on real property. Although she was concerned about possible reduction in library funding, Dauber was not sure this was the appropriate course of `' April 7, 1993 action. Everyone believed their cause was important and it was necessary to find a way to prioritize these worthy projects. 9.3 Community Development Block Grant Program (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber noted that Planning Commissioner Jim Simmu was the Town's representative to CDBG but he has been unable to attend several of the meetings. Planning Commissioner Dot Schreiner will assume this responsibility in July. Dauber believed the CDBG was a source of funding for projects important to the Town and it was important that Los Altos Hills be represented at the meetings. It was agreed that staff would attend those CDBG meetings that the representative was unable to attend. 9.4 Crime Prevention Conference (Mayor Tryon) Tryon noted that she had been asked to represent all California Cities at the Crime Prevention Conference in Washingtion, D.C. and she asked Council for approval to attend and payment of the $100 registration fee. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Hubbard and passed unanimously by all members present to add Mayor Tryon's request to attend the Crime Prevention Conference to the agenda as an urgency item. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Hubbard and passed unanimously by all members present to approve payment of a $100 registration fee for Mayor Tryon to attend the Crime Prevention Conference. 9.5 Community Policing Conference (Mayor Tryon) Tryon thanked the Council for approving her attendance at the Community Policing Conference. It was an excellent and extremely worthwhile conference. 9.6 Council policy on meeting reimbursement (Mayor Tryon) Council clarified the expense reimbursement policy which was adopted in April, 1992. In part, this policy stipulated that when a Councilmember was appointed as a designee or alternate to an outside agency and attends a regular meeting of that agency, they shall be reimbursed $20.00 per meeting. It further states that when a Councilmember is appointed to a sub -committee or other committee by an agency for which they are the Town's designee or alternate, they shall also be reimbursed $20.00 for those sub -committee meetings. 9.7 Employee Policy Manual (Mayor Tryon) �W April 7, 1993 Tryon asked that Hubbard be appointed as a sub -committee of one to work on the Town's Employee Policy Manual. 9.8 Town's Center Dividers (Mayor Tryon) Tryon asked if the Town was doing anything regarding improving the appearance of the Town's center dividers. She suggested involving the Environmental Design and Protection Committee. The Director of Public Works reported that he and the Maintenance Supervisor were working on locations for tree plantings. 9.9 Letter from Mr. Springate (Mayor Pro Tem Johnson) Johnson asked the status of a response to the letter from Mr. Springate and was advised that one would be forthcoming. 9.10 Basement Ordinance (Councilmember Dauber) Dauber requested a report at the next Council Meeting on the proposed changes to the Town's Code regarding basements. 9.11 Adjourned Regular Meetings (Mayor Tryon) %W It was agreed that the following Adjourned Regular City Council Meetings would be scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on the following dates: April 21 -- City Manager's Review; May 5 -- Goals and Objectives; and May 19 -- Joint Meeting with the Safety Committee. 10. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Linda Swan, President - Historical Society and Rosemary Meyerott, Town Historian, addressed the Council regarding an Eagle Smut Project to display historical farm equipment at Town Hall. It was noted that they wanted to get the application fees waived and also that they had a limited amount of time as the Eagle Scout who wanted to do the project would be leaving for college in August. It was agreed that they would work with staff on proceeding with this project and it would be agendized for the next Council Meeting. Dauber commented on 1990 and 1992 reports done by Johnson on the subject of permit fees for smaller projects and it was noted that the fee schedule was being worked on at this time. 11. PUBLIC HEARINGS 11.1 Griffin House, 12345 El Monte Road (Foothill College) Consideration to designate site as a Town Landmark -- Reso # April 7, 1993 Johnson stated that he had not been at the March 17, 1993 meeting at which this issue had been discussed. Since then, however, he had reviewed the file, listened to the tapes of the meeting and he further disclosed that he had visited the Griffin House. Hubbard stated a letter had been received from Foothill College Interim Chancellor Donald Perata asking that this matter be continued to the next Council meeting as they were going to discuss it at their April 12th Board Meeting. Hubbard believed this courtesy should be extended to the College as a cooperative gesture. There would be no harm in delaying this decision to the next Council meeting. Tryon supported designating the Griffin House as an historical landmark at this meeting as she believed the property needed protection. The College had ignored the Griffin House for twenty years. Tryon did state that she would support working with the College on exploring funding alternatives for the project. Johnson noted that the City Clerk had responded to Mr. Perata's letter stating that any decision on the Griffin House, whether to further delay action or to act on the staff report, could only be made by the Council at their meeting on the 7th. He was amazed that no one from the College was present at this meeting to discuss the Griffin House and their request for a continuance. Dauber supported making the gesture to the College that the Town wanted to cooperate with them on this project by deferring enforcement of this ordinance for a certain period of time and by mutually investigating various alternatives for funding the project. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Johnson, seconded by Dauber and passed by the following roll call vote to adopt Resolution #27-93 designating the Griffin House as an historical landmark of the Town of Los Altos Hills based on the following findings: 1) The proposed landmark has significant historical, architectural, cultural, and aesthetic interest or value since it was constructed in 1901; has been an integral part of the history of the community of Los Altos Hills being previously owned by Juan Prado Mesa, Juana Briones de Miranda, William Taaffe and the Griffin family; as a Federal and State Historic Landmark located on Foothill College campus; as the location of a previously successful dried fruit and cannery business; having the significance of the architectural style "Shingled Craftsman" which was an important design designating the turn of the century architectural changes; the exterior and interior areas of the house are an aesthetic statement of the early 1900s; and the abovementioned families and site are a part of the cultural history of the Town. 2) The proposed landmark may be designated without imposing an undue hardship on the property owner, since the designation has been requested by the Town Historian and the Los Altos Hills Historic Society and approved by the Town in conformance with Title 11, Chapter 1 Landmark April 7, 1993 Designation and Preservation. Additionally, the house is currently listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is a State Historic Landmark. 3) The approval or modified approval of the application is consistent with the purposes and criteria of this chapter since the Griffin House is noted in the Los Altos Hills General Plan as an historic site and is clearly confirmed as an historic structure and site from records on file with the Town Historian. AYES: Mayor Tryon and Councilmembers Dauber and Johnson NOES: None ABSENT: Councilmember Siegel ABSTAIN: Councilmember Hubbard MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dauber, seconded by Johnson and passed by the following roll call vote to advise the Trustees of Foothill College that the Council would like to cooperate with them on this project and will suspend any enforcement of the Landmark Designation and Preservation Ordinance for sixty days from the date of this meeting to allow for review of alternative funding sources. AYES: Mayor Tryon and Councilmembers Dauber and Johnson NOES: None ABSENT: Councilmember Siegel ABSTAIN: Councilmember Hubbard Hubbard stated that he abstained because a no vote on this issue would convey the impression that he did not want this project to proceed and that was not the case. 11.2 Request for a tentative map for a two lot subdivision, Lands of Merrill, 25355 La Loma Drive PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To continue the public hearing on the request for a tentative map for a two lot subdivision, Lands of Merrill, 25355 La Loma Drive, to the April 21 City Council Meeting at the request of the applicant. This public hearing will be re -noticed so all of the neighbors will be aware of the rescheduled date. April 7, 1993 10 12. ADTOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully ubmitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the April 7, 1993 City Council Meeting were approved at the April 21, 1993 Regular City Council Meeting. April 7, 1993 11 Minutes of an Adjourned Regular Meeting April 21,1993 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Meeting Wednesday, April 21, 1993, 5:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Tryon called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 5:00 p.m. at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Tryon and Councilmembers Dauber, Hubbard, Johnson and Siegel Absent: None Staff: City Manager Les Jones, Il and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: None 2. CLOSED SESSION: PERSONNEL PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54957.6 Evaluation of City Manager The City Council adjourned to a Closed Session for purposes of personnel at 5:05 p.m. and reconvened at 6:00 p.m. 3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 4. ADTOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. ectf submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the April 21, 1993 Adjourned Regular City Council Meeting were approved at the May 5, 1993 Regular City Council Meeting.