HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/07/1987 CITY COUNCIL
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills , California
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, January 7, 1987
cc: Reel 183 , Tr. I , Side II , 001-end, Tr. II , Side I , 001-466
Mayor van Tamelen called the Regular Meeting of the City Council of
the Town of Los Altos Hills to order at 7:35 p.m. in the Council Cham-
bers at Town Hall .
A. ROLL CALL AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Present: Mayor van Tamelen and Councilmembers Dronkert, Plummer,
Siegel and Tryon
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager George Scarborough, City Attorney Frank
Gillio, City Engineer Michael Enright, City Planner
Nancy Lytle and City Clerk Pat Dowd
Planning
Comm: Jean Struthers
B. CONSENT CALENDAR:
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel , seconded by Tryon and
passed unanimously to approve the Consent Calendar, specifically:
1. Approval of Warrants: $23 ,470.24 (12/31/86) and
$77,861.68 (1/7/87)
2. Resolutions for Adoption:
a) Resolution #1-87 accepting a certain deed con-
cerning Chapin Road and West Sunset Drive
(additional right-of-way for Chapin Road and West
Sunset Drive - Lands of Lindsay)
b) Resolution #2-87 ordering the performance of
certain work (Chapin Road Guardrail , adoptance of
plans and specifications and calling for bids)
C. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR:
`' Dr. Joseph Ignatius, 12871 Atherton Court, expressed his concerns
to Council about the traffic problems on the section of Robleda near
his home. There had been several serious accidents, including one fa-
tality and he was very concerned about the safety of his family as
well as the damage to his property. Dr. Ignatius recommended a guar-
drail be installed at this section of Robleda.
Council thanked Dr. Ignatius for his comments and requested that this
matter be placed on a Council agenda for consideration. Council also
requested that accident statistics be obtained from the Sheriff's De-
partment, a recommendation be submitted by staff and a list of the
neighbors in the area be obtained. Commissioner Struthers suggested
that the Sheriff' s Department be alerted to increase patrol during
noon recesses from the schools and on Friday evenings. Staff will look
into this suggestion.
D. REPORT FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION:
Commissioner Struthers reported that the Planning Commission Meet-
ing scheduled for December 24, 1986 had been cancelled.
E. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Cable TV - consideration of proposals and decision to enter
into negotiations with particular applicant or to delay
decision
The City Manager summarized his report dated 12/30/86 which included
the recommendation of the Cable TV Ad Hoc Committee that Hearst
Cablevision be chosen as the preferred company. The recommendation
notes, however, that the committee believed that both the United and
Sun proposals were strong, viable, though not quite as attractive,
alternatives. (Copies of all proposals and reports are on file at Town
Hall. )
Mr. Gene Musselman, Hearst Cablevision, thanked the Council for allow-
ing Hearst to participate in their franchise search for cable tv. He
presented some background on Hearst and reiterated that that are will-
ing to commit to building 85% of all existing homes in Los Altos
Hills.
Lyn Simpson, Sun Cable, presented an update on recent business ac-
tivities at Sun and reiterated their interest in providing courteous
and efficient cable tv service to the Town.
Mario Dieckmann, United, requested a 45 day delay before Council made
their decision on this matter. United had already done research and
analysis in the Town and now was prepared to spend $8-10,000 to
prepare strand maps to determine if it is financially feasible to
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4111is cable the Town. Mr. Dieckmann also commented that they might be able
to bring construction costs down. On the subject of the tower, Mr.
Dieckmann reported that LaCresta was no longer suggested as a possible
location.
Mr. George Beers, Cable TV Ad Hoc Committee Member, commented that he
did not see a problem with waiting 45 days. He also noted that
Foothill uses United' s equipment and the access channel is owned and
funded by United. If another firm were selected by the Town for cable
tv, Mr. Beers would think that some financial arrangement would have
to be made with United. Mr. Robert Kincheloe, Cable TV Ad Hoc Commit-
tee Member, commented that he would prefer to see Council ' s decision
based on as much accurate information as possible.
Mr. Jerry Currie, 25545 O' Keefe Lane, thought Council should seriously
consider the good proposal before them. He felt that if additional in-
formation obtained resulted in a negative attitude toward cabling the
Town, then Council ' s negotiating position would not be very good.
Mr. Musselman, Hearst, commented that the disadvantage to Council ' s
not making their decision now was that after he did strand mapping the
85% figure he had already presented to Council might be lowered.
Tryon stated that she was against further delays on this matter. A lot
of research had been done and Council had good proposals available to
them. Dronkert commented the she was not particularly interested in
any of the proposals. The only interest she had heard from residents
concerned the availability of Foothill Classes and the Access Channel
and she understood that unless United were chosen, these might not be
available to the residents.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel , seconded by Plummer and
passed by the following roll call vote to continue consideration of
proposals and decision to enter into negotiations with particular ap-
plicant for cable tv for 45 days.
AYES: Mayor van Tamelen and Councilmembers Plummer and Siegel
NOES: Mayor Pro Tem Tryon and Councilmember Dronkert
2. LANDS OF CURRIE, 25545 O' Keefe Lane, tentative map applica-
tion - request for eight lot subdivision (File TM #3-86
APN #175-48-056)
The Town Planner referred to her staff report dated 12/31/86 which in-
cluded the recommendation that Council approve the proposed eight-lot
subdivision for Lands of Currie subject the conditions of approval
submitted by the Planning Commission.
Mr. Ron Rainey, applicant ' s lawyer, presented a letter to the Council
dated 1/7/87 recommending changing the following conditions of
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approval : 1.D. , S.E. , and S.F. Regarding condition 1.D. they were as-
king that the condition instead require that the Final Map show set-
back lines based upon noise readings now and projected noise levels
using generally accepted technical methods employed in the profession,
or the condition require that the final map state that each lot may be
subject to a habitable structure setback line to be dedicated at or
prior to issuance of a building permit for habitable structures.
Regarding condition S.E. they were requesting the inclusion of the
statement that the subdividers would be required to pay only an equi-
table portion of the costs of upgrading O' Keefe Lane on this subdivi-
sion. For condition S.F. Mr. Rainey' s letter stated construction of
the noise mitigation measures was acceptable if bonding was permitted
to insure completion after Final Map recordation.
Mr. Mohammidian, developer, explained the findings of the noise
studies which had been done on the property and Mr. Edward L. Pack,
noise consultant, commented on his experience in this area and ex-
plained the technicalities of how he approached the studies done on
the Currie property.
Dr. Bill Fee, Pathways Committee, commented on the pathway easements
for the property.
Mr. Currie, applicant, requested for exception to Condition 4 requir-
ing all lots to be connected to sanitary sewer. He stated that he had
spent a lot of money on a new septic system not too long ago and he
would like his lot to remain on septic.
Mr. Malek, Ace Consulting Engineers, Mr. Mohammidian, developer, and
Mr Currie, applicant, each commented on the upgrading of O' Keefe Lane
as related to this project and supported equitable sharing by the Town
in this project.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel , seconded by Dronkert and
passed unanimously to adopt the negative declaration for Lands of Cur-
rie, File TM #3-66, with the mitigating measures as stated in the Con-
ditions of Approval .
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To correct any reference to the Pathways Commit-
tee in the conditions of approval to the Pathways, Recreation and
Parks Committee.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To delete 'as indicated on the referenced tenta-
tive map' from condition 1.C.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To amend Condition 1.D. to read ' The owner shall
dedicate a Human Habitation Setback Limit on the Final Map to follow
the 60 dB Ldn noise contour line, as measured on each lot in accor-
dance with standards determined by the City Engineer and results found
acceptable to the City Engineer. If a proposed setback limit on any
lot makes it impossible to provide a building site circle then the
tentative map shall be resubmitted for redesign.
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PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To amend the first sentence of Condition 5.F. to
read 'Noise mitigation measures to reduce outdoor and indoor noise
shall be approved by the site development committee and constructed
unless bonded prior to final map recordation. '
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel , seconded by Dronkert and
passed unanimously to adopt Resolution #3-87 approving tentative sub-
division map of the Lands of Currie (File TM #3-86) subject to the
conditions of approval as approved by the Planning Commission and
amended by the City Council .
3. LANDS OF FINNEY, 11876 Murietta Lane, File VAR #11-86,
appeal of the Planning Commission' s decision to deny
without prejudice the variance request to encroach 11
feet into the westerly setback for construction of an
addition to an existing residence, and to deny the site
development permit for the proposed project.
Mayor Pro Tem Tryon stepped down from consideration of this item.
Mr. Finney, applicant, explained to the Council his reasons for re-
questing a variance. In part, he noted that his addition would fit in
with the present landscaping and would have no visual impact. Mr. Fin-
ney also commented that he could not move the addition because he
would lose a large tree they would like to save. The Adobe Creek ease-
ments on his property made this a peculiar lot and restricted what op-
tions he had. Mr. Finney also stated that they needed the extra room
as his mother-in-law would be staying with them for six months out of
the year. In conclusion, the applicant presented new plans for the
Council to review and noted that all of his neighbors were in agree-
ment with the proposal .
Loren Nelson, Gerard Homes, presented a map of the subdivision includ-
ing Mr. Finney' s lot and explained the particular restrictions on his
property.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel , seconded by Dronkert and
passed by the following roll call vote to express the intent of the
Council to grant the appeal of the Planning Commission' s decisions
regarding Lands of Finney based on the exceptional circumstances, the
architectural integrity of the house and the new information provided
by Mr. Finney and to refer this action back to the Planning Commission
for a report.
AYES: Mayor van Tamelen and Councilmembers Dronkert, Plummer and
Siegel
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Mayor Pro Tem Tryon
Council discussed the awkwardness of this procedure requiring the mat-
ter to go back to the Commission for a report.
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Nip PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To direct the City Attorney to prepare an or-
dinance amendment deleting the process of returning the matter to the
Planning Commission for a report.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Tryon, seconded by van Tamelen
and passed unanimously to go past the hour of adjournment.
F. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Report on Little League Lease - status of Little League
expenditures and lease agreement.
The City Manager presented his report dated 1/7/87 on the Little
League Lease. In part, this report presented a background on the lease
with the Little League and expenditures made by the Little League last
season to improve the condition of the playing fields. The report also
noted that lease negotiations with the Little League would begin in
the near future. One of the suggestions in the report was that the ex-
penditures made by the Little League be treated as payment in lieu of
the lease rental payment and that this issue be included in the nego-
tiations on the lease renewal .
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: To express agreement with the statements made in
the City Manager ' s report dated 1/7/87 on the Little League (on file
at Town Hall ) .
1111/ 2. Clarification of Planning Commissioner Patmore' s term
(Commissioner Patmore' s term to end June, 1989)
Council noted that the December 3, 1986 Council minutes incorrectly
state Commissioner Patmore' s term will end in 1987 rather than 1989.
3. Landscape Bond Policy - suggested implementation of policy
regarding installation and maintenance of landscaping.
This item was continued to the next meeting.
G. NEW BUSINESS:
1. Consideration of draft Planning Commission Work Program
and possible additions to the program.
Council had before them the Town Planner' s draft Planning Commission
Work Program dated 12/11/86 and noted that this matter would be dis-
cussed and reviewed at the Joint Meeting of the City Council and Plan-
ning Commission scheduled for January 13 , 1987.
H. OTHER BUSINESS:
1. Reports from Standing Committees:
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lbw a) Finance Committee - report on Town Audit and
annual report to the City Council
This item was continued to the next meeting.
2. Reports from Ad Hoc Committees:
a) Sub-committee on Zoning Ordinance (recommended
revisions to Article 10 , Chapter 1 of the
Municipal Code)
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Dronkert, seconded by van
Tamelen and passed unanimously to send the recommended revisions to
Article 10 , Chapter 1 of the Municipal Code as submitted by the Zoning
Review Committee in their report dated 1/2/87 to the Planning Commis-
sion for their comments, recommendations and initiation of ordinance
changes.
I. STAFF REPORTS:
1. City Manager:
2. City Attorney:
3. City Clerk:
labr 4. Council Reports:
a) Mayor
b) Councilmembers
1) Tryon: League of California Cities Conference
Councilmembers Plummer and Siegel stated that they were unable to at-
tend the New Mayors and Councilmembers Conference scheduled for Janu-
ary 14-16 , 1987.
J. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City
Council adjourned at 12 :20 a.m. to an Adjourned Regular Meeting
on Tuesday, January 13 , 1987 at 7: 30 p.m. in the Council Chambers
at Town Hall .
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Dowd, City Clerk
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