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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/04/1991 Minutes of an Adjourned Regular Meeting Nor September 4, 1991 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council and Planning Commission Adjourned Regular Meeting Wednesday, September 4, 1991, 6:00 P.M. Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Hubbard called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission to order at 6:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Hubbard and Councilmembers Casey, Johnson, Siegel and Tryon Planning Commissioners Comiso, Jones, Noel and Pahl Absent: Commissioners Cheng, Effinger and Stutz Staff: City Manager Les Jones, II, Director of Public Works Bill Ekern, City Attorney Sandy Sloan and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: None 2. STUDY SESSION WITH CITY ATTORNEY TO ADDRESS LEGAL ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST The City Attorney discussed the Brown Act and Conflict of Interest and referred to handouts she had distributed on these subjects. Regarding the Brown Act she noted that "all meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the legislative body of a local agency." The City Attorney also commented on the noticing procedures required for regular, adjourned regular, special and emergency City Council Meetings. A meeting occurred when there was a majority of the Council present. The open meeting laws also applied to meetings of the Town's standing committees. The City Attorney stated that it was appropriate to lobby but Councilmembers should be careful of polling. One of the handouts given to Council was a copy of California's Conflict of Interest Law for Public Officials as prepared by the Fair Political Practices Commission. In addition to disclosure, the City Attorney also reviewed the reasons for disqualification for voting on an issue. Regarding land use questions, the City Attorney stated that the Zoning Ordinances and General Plan were the basis of land use issues. She explained quasi-legislative acts of the Council as well as quasi-judicial acts and also explained non-conforming structures and non-conconforming uses. The City Attorney referred to CEQA which was enacted in 1970 and was an information-gathering law. All projects needed an environmental review but there were provisions for statutory and categorical exemptions. Explanations were given for negative declarations and environmental impact reports and the review periods required for these procedures. Concerning findings and conditions for a particular project, the City Attorney noted that conditions imposed must have a connection to the permit requested and while financial impact (additional costs to the applicant) can be considered, it cannot be the sole basis of findings made. 3. FUTURE DISCUSSION ITEMS OF MUTUAL INTEREST 4. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 5. ADIOURNMENT There being no further new or old business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the September 4, 1991 Adjourned Regular Meeting were approved at the September 18, 1991 City Council Meeting.