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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/21/1976V %V1 CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED MEETING Tuesday, September 21, 1976 cc: Reel 94, Side 1, Tr. 2 - 265-1219 Mayor Robert Cheney called the Adjourned %eting of the City Council to order at 8:00 P.M. A. ROLL CALL: Present: Council Members Brown, Grabowski, Hillestad, Proft, Mayor Cheney Absent: None Staff: City Manager Robert Crowe, City Attorney Frank Gillio, City Clerk Norma Hislop Press: Los Altos Town Crier - Ms. Tuck Shepherd Palo Alto Times - Mr. Paul Voecks t B. CURRENT BUSINESS: ` 1. Review alternative proposals for use of Westwind Facility: Mayor Cheney noted that this matter was the only one before Council this evening, and because Council had opened the matter to the public, he asked that those present conduct themselves with decorum. The Mayor requested the City Manager to review the history of the property for members of the public present this evening. Mr. Crowe stated that, approximately 1� years ago, the Town had acquired approximately fifteen acres plus the Westwind Barn, most of which had been the gift of the former owner, the Countess Besseney; however, the Town had purchased the land under the barn for the sum of $25,000. Subsequently, the property had been appraised at $400,000. Previous to the Town's acquisition, Mr. Crowe noted that the property had been used as a horse facility, operated by various people. Subsequent to the acquisition, Council had appointed an Ad Hoc Committee, who conducted public hearings to determine the best use for the facility, and had reported their recommendations to Council: 1) That if there was a demon- strated need, the facility be used for horses, giving Town residents priority, and it were economically feasible; 2) Use the property for open space; and 3) Remove the barn and sell the property for restricted development. The Planning Commission had also recommended that the barn continue in its historic use. Council had then directed the City Manager to prepare guidelines for proposal to be sent to persons wishing to lease the Westwind barn as a �w horse facility. After revision by Council, these guidelines had been sent to interested parties. Nine proposals had been submitted to the Town for consideration, and Council had formed an Ad Hoc Committee to review these CITY COUNCIL MEETING - September 21, 1976 WESTWIND FACILITY (Cont'd): proposals and make recommendations to Council. Out of the nine candidates, the Committee had recommended three persons to Council with the recommendation that their financial status and references be checked. Following the sub- mission of these recommendations, Council had also received a number of other proposals including offers to buy the property and proposals for razing the barn structure. For these reasons, Council had scheduled this meeting to open the matter again to the public and discuss the various alternatives. Speaking from the Floor: Mrs. Harriet Aiken Ma dalena Ave: Noted that Use Permit would have to be app to ors ou ouncil lease property as a horse facility, and urged them to consider the peripheral neighbors before taking any such action. Mr. Tom Conlin, Tri oli Court: As peripheral neighbor of Westwind property, Fp— urge Counse to keep an open mind, consider tax monies which miqht be put to better use, possibly, on roads. Also noted he spoke for many of his neighbors. Ms.Vicki Ohlber Julietta Lane: Also a peripheral neighbor of subject property, s e state s e wou t e to see barn stay, and was against razing barn and putting residences on property. Ms. Sherri BellLa Cresta Dr.: Speaking for 200 members of Sierra Club who rest a to t e, own an Tor members of the Committee for Green Foothills, Ms. Bell read a letter signed by members which supported the use of the barn as a horse facility. Mr. John Glathe, La Paloma: Supported use of property as horse facility. Mrs in e t Agir; riscilla Lane: Outlined highlights of letter she had forwarded to council, supporting use of property as horse facility, and suggesting Committee to oversee its' operation. Mr. Jack Elmberg, Taaffe Road: Supported use as horse facility if it paid its' own way. Dr.Harold Schick, Weston Road: Read letter from former Mayor Helgesson, who was una a to atten tis evening's meeting, supporting use of property as open space. Ms.Carol Seeds, Fremont Pines Ln.: Concerned that public should be informed Of e mite tgures concern ng montes spent for property improvements. Also urged Council to act on recommendations solicited from the Ad Hoc Committee, and if the operation did not work, other alternatives could be looked at at that time. Ms. Diane Eggink, Briones Wy: Supported use as horse facility, and felt that many o the children w o owned horses would help to work on the barn to keep it in shape. Mrs. Jose hine Duvenek, Hidden Villa Ranch, S.C. County_: Felt this was unique ommunity an 9t t a va ua a asset. uied as hurse facility, organizations such as 4-H clubs could utilize it. Mrs. Irma Goldsmith, Elena Road: Noted that the facility had been used as horse operation or over years, and questioned why neighbors anticipated any problems when there had been none in the past. Mr. Oscar Sobel, Christopher's Lane: Against spending taxpayer's money for horse facility. -2- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - September At, 1976 WESTWIND FACILITY (Cont'd): Speaking from the Floor (Cont'd): Mrs. Mar Stutz Elena Road: Suggested that Countess Besseney might not have given tie gift to t e own had she been aware that the Town would contemplate tearing it down. Mr. 011ie Hubberton, Appaloosa W : Hoped Council would keep barn and not have i torn own. Mrs. Mildred Gallo, LaLanne Ct: Reminded Council that their first commitment was to all the resiclenE of the Town. Also suggested that the horsemen get together and buy the barn from the Town. Mrs. Fran Stevenson Beaver Lane: Referring to term "special interest group", remin a ounce tat t ey a appropriated funds in this year's budget for improvements to Little League field, which was also a special interest group. Ms. Libb Drown Elena Road: Did not want to see character of Town changed an supporte use o am as horse facility. Mrs. Ann S encer, Sherlock Ct.: Reiterated uses recommended by Ad Hoc Committee, oping ounce wou ma a decision based on what was best for the Town and which would not be detrimental to neighborhood. Discussion returned to Council at 9:17 P.M. Councilwoman Hillestad stated that she had reviewed all the proposals before the Town concerning this matter including review the founding principles of the Town; talked with people; reviewed all Committee reports and recommendations; re -read letters of concern from citizens, and the petition signed by residents urging caution. Councilwoman Hillestad said she did not want to see the barn razed; that $25,000 seemed expensive, but not when the price per acre was considered. She noted that the road the Town had installed would also benefit the Byrne Preserve, and the fence needed to be installed in any case. She also said she would like to see the land left in open space, and that her decision on this matter would be based on what would be best for all taxpayers. She also did not feel that Council should give any consideration to selling the property. Councilman Grabowski stated he felt his views on this matter were well known. He stated that his concern was the question of whether the Town wanted to go into "business." He also questioned whether the operation of the property as a horse facility would be a service to the Community. Councilman Brown noted that this was the fifth public hearing concerning this matter. He stated that he favored the use of the property as a privately - owned horse facility, but had not seen such an offer before Council. He also did not feel there were funds available to convert the barn into a Community facility. He noted that all the proposals regarding the use of the property being considered this evening had been before Council previously; that nothing new had been added. Councilman Brown also noted that the Town did not have a broad tax base and a budget had to be developed accordingly. He stated he had reviewed all the proposed uses and information before Council, and felt in the lkiw best interests and welfare of the Town and considering costs, that the barn site should be converted to residential use, but the remainder of the land be -3- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - September Ai, 1976 WESTWIND FACILITY (Cont'd): left in open space. Councilman Brown thought it also advisable for Council to consider leaving the barn vacant and putting the issue on the ballot for the voters to decide. He made this in the form of a motion, which died for lack of a second. Councilman Proft stated he had also spent much time reviewing the matter, and in response to his question, City Attorney Frank Gillio stated that leasing the property for the operation of a stable would not violate the Town's zoning laws, provided a Conditional Use Permit were applied for and granted by the City Council. Councilman Proft also asked the City Manager if the insurance situation on the property had been reviewed to compare it with the beginning of the year. Mr. Crowe replied that when the facility was first acquired, the Town had applied for insurance coverage through the Town's broker. After an article had appeared in a local newspaper regarding the barn's being vacant, the Town had received notice of cancellation of the policy; however, Mr. Crowe had assured the broker that a decision as to its use would be forthcoming, and based on this assurance, the policy was re -instated. Mr. Crowe also noted that it had been indicated that, should the barn remain vacant, the policy would be cancelled and other coverage would have to be found. Councilman Proft noted that he had moved to the Town because of its' rural environment and wished to keep it that way, and would like to see the acres 4, left in open space. He pointed out that many properties remaining to be subdivided were in the steeper areas of the Town which would not accommodate horses, thus there would be a greater demand for boarding facilities. He stated that he did not know whether leasing was the most desirable way for the Town to go, but thought it was a way for the Town to recover its' costs, which could be amortized in less than ten years. He also thought that, in ten years, the Town might need the facility for some other use, and that the price that the Town had paid for this acquisition was relatively small. Councilman Proft felt that, if properly managed and controlled through conditions in a Use Permit, a horse facility could prove an asset to the Town. He stated that he did not take this decision lightly, and as a Councilman, he would see that any conditions of a Use Permit which might be granted would be strictly followed. Mayor Cheney clarified his position on the matter, stating that he favored preserving the barn and felt it was worth considerable effort on the part of the Town to preserve it. He said he thought the question of concern was whether the Town wanted to be a "landlord." The Mayor stated that enough information had been received from people whose opinion he respected, and his feeling now was that the barn should be sold for use as a horse facility. However, he stated he would like to see any decision on this matter delayed for six to twelve months since the issue had become so emotional. Council addressed questions to the City Attorney pertaining to the possible sale of the property in terms of Internal Revenue, who stated that the Town was not involved with IRS in terms of being a taxpayer, and he did not see L any problems in this regard. Relative to how the former owner might feel, 4r Mr. Gillio stated that he could not speak for her, but that a position should be obtained from her representatives. -4- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - September dl, 1976 6r WESTWIND FACILITY (Cont'd): Mayor Cheney moved, seconded by Councilman Grabowski, to defer final action on the use of the Westwind facility until the first Council meeting in April, 1977. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilman Grabowski, Councilwoman Hillestad, Mayor Cheney NO: Councilmen Brown, Proft ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None Councilman Proft moved that Council instruct Staff to have a chain link fence installed around the barn to discourage vandalism; however, the motion failed for lack of a second. Discussion continued regarding liability of the vacant building and possible insurance costs. Concensus of Council was to place this matter on the Agenda for consideration at the next Regular Meeting of Council. Councilman Proft requested that the record show his concern over the building at Westwind not being protected, and that the Town stood in danger of losing its insurance coverage. C. NEW BUSINESS: 4W Mayor Cheney: Requested that Council consider recognition of the Ad Hoc Committee he had appointed at the last meeting to do a cost analysis study on maintenance costs in the Town. Council concensus was to Agenda this matter for con- sideration at the next Regular Council meeting. D. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the meeting at 10:15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Norma J. Hislop City Clerk -5-