HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/05/1975CITY COUNCIL
`, TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
26379 Fremont Road
Los Altos Hills, California
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
Wednesday, March 5, 1975
cc: Reel 75: Side 1, Tr. 1 - 001-795
Mayor Stanley Grabowski called the Regular Meeting of the City Council to order
at 7:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road:
A. ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilman Cheney, Helgesson, McReynolds, Councilwoman Miller (7:45)
Mayor Grabowski, Commissioner Brown for Planning Commission.
Staff: City Manager Robert Crowe, City Attorney Frank Gillio, City
Engineer Alex Russell, Deputy City Clerk Norma Hislop
B. CONSENT CALENDAR:
Councilman McReynolds abstained from approving the Minutes of February 19th
[` because of his absence.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Councilman
Cheney and unanimously carried to adopt the items on the CONSENT CALENDAR, namely:
1. Approval of Minutes: February 19, 1975 (Regular Meeting)
2. Approval of Warrants: $3,170.86
3. Resolutions for Adoption:
a) Resolution #870 opposing passage of SB275, Collective Bargaining Act
for Public Employment.
b) Resolution #869 approving & authorizing execution of contract with
California Highway Patrol for Abandoned Vehicle Abatement partici-
pation.
C. SPECIAL REPORTS:
1. County Health Services Area Boundary: Report from Mrs. Ruth Kaiser,
Comprehensive Health Planning.
Mrs. Kaiser presented Council with an overview of the material before them
concerning the setting of boundaries for the Santa Clara County Health
Services Area which was necessary for the implementation of Public Law
93-641, "The National Health Planning and Resource Development Act of 1974.
Council questioned Mrs. Kaiser regarding provisions for services for
�.- Gilroy, and the method used to set up Health Services areas. Mayor
Graboowski thanked Mrs. Kaiser for her presentation.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 5, 1975
HEALTH SERVICES AREA (cont'd):
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Helgesson moved <:`,at the City Manager
be instructed to inform the Board of Supervisors that the City Council of the
Town of Los Altos Hills approve the Health Services Area as presented. Council-
man McReynolds seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried.
2. Presentations from the Floor: NONE
D. STAFF REPORTS CORRESPONDENCE & ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. City Manager:
a) Mr. Crowe reported on a communication received from the Purissima
Hills County Water District relative to the setting of another Joint
Meeting date. Council requested that Mr. Crowe poll Council by phone
for the most convenient date and time.
b) Mr. Crowe reported that the Planning Commission had completed their
study and review of the proposed changes to the subdivision ordinance,
and their recommendations would be ready for the next meeting. Council
consensus was that a Study Session only should be scheduled for the
next Council meeting for the purpose of discussing and reviewing the
recommendations.
c) Mr. Crowe announced that three applications had been submitted
to date for the vacancy on the Planning Commission caused by the
resignation of Commissioner Spencer. Council scheduled interviews to
begin after an Adjourned Meeting scheduled for Friday, March 7th at
2:00 P.M.
E. SPECIAL ORDERS:
1. Public Hearing:
a) Consideration of changes and amendments to Los Altos Hills General
Plan:
City Manager Robert Crowe reported that the Planning Commission had
not completed this item, and Council should continue this matter to
the next meeting.
Discussion ensued between Council, City Manager and City Attorney
regarding the legal time frame requirements on items submitted to the
Planning Commission, and the request for additional information
requested by the Commission.
After further discussion regarding the subdivision moratorium, Council
continued the hearing on the proposed changes and amendments to the
Los Altos Hills General Plan to the Council meeting of March 19th.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 5, 1975
`, 2. Resolutions for Consideration:
a) Reso. # urging Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, City
of Los Afos, and City of Palo Alto to reduce speed on Foothill
Expressway. (Mayor Grabowski)
11r. Crowe reported that this Resolution was being submitted to Council
for consideration in light of recent actions taken by the various
jurisdictions to allow bikeways along the Foothill Expressway. This
Resolution requested that the speed limit be lowered for the protection
of bicyclists.
Mayor Grabowski moved that Council adopt the proposed Resolution, and
Councilman Helgesson seconded the motion for purposes of further
discussion.
The Mayor expressed his feelings regarding the threat to bicyclists
caused by the turbulence produced by high speed traffic and thought
Council should act now in an effort to avoid possible tragedy before
the bike lanes are installed.
Councilwoman Miller suggested the fourth paragraph in the Resolution be
changed to read: "The sequential impact of disruptive air forces
applied in rapid sequence (i.e. the nose wake, Bernoulli effect, and
wake turbulence) may quickly exceed the capability of the bicycle
operator to exert compensating forces, and the result will be that of
loss of control by the operator." There was no second for the
proposed amendment, and Council discussion continued.
Speaking from the Floor:
Mr. John Silver, 13474 Robleda Road: Supporting proposed Resolution.
Mrs. Pat Standring, Cortez Lane: Supporting proposed Resolution.
Mrs. Florence Fava, Moody Road: Supporting proposed Resolution.
Councilwoman Miller stated that she supported the proposed Resolution,
and pointed out that the City of Palo Alto had already reduced speed
limits where bike lanes had been installed.
Councilman Cheney opposed the Resolution feeling that traffic would
be impeded, and the purpose of the Expressway was to move traffic, and
said he saw no difference between the Foothill Expressway and the
Lawrence Expressway, and there would always be some amount of hazard
for a slower moving vehicle.
The question was called, and the motion to adopt Resolution #871 carried
by the following roll call vote:
AYE: Councilman Helgesson, McReynolds, Councilwoman Miller, Mayor
Grabowski
E NO: Councilman Cheney
ABSENT: NONE
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 5, 1975
`, SPECIAL ORDERS (cont'd
3. Request for Building Site Approval:
a) Lands of Guy, File #BSA6031-74 (cont'd. from 2/19/75):
Mr. Crowe explained the reasons for the Pathway Committee request for a
pathway easment on this property. Discussion ensued between Council and
Staff regarding how the pathway would inter -connect, and whether the owner
was agreeable to the easement. Mr. Crowe pointed out the requested path
on the viewer, and stated that the owner had no objection to the easement.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Cheney moved, seconded by Councilman
Helgesson and unanimously carried to approve the BSA, Lands of Guy, File #BSA -
6031 -74 subject to conditions imposed, and with the pathway easement requested
by the Pathway Committee.
4. Requests fcr Exemption from Subdivision Moratorium:
a) Consideration of Plannin Commission recommendation for exemption
Tor Lands of Monte Lucero 4, File #TM390-
Mayor Grabowski noted that this matter had been held over from the last
meeting because of the tie vote of Council in considering this matter.
City Manager Robert Crowe presented the background information on this
42r property, and stated that the revised map received by Council showed five
(5) possible lots, with one designated as a future building site, but not
but not intended as one at this time; this future site was designated as
"Lot 1".
Mr. Alan Lambert, Gerard Homes, representing the applicant, addressed Council
stating that Staff had recommended that this proposed subdivision be exempt
from the building moratorium; that the Planning Commission had endorsed this
recommendation because there would be minimum grading and there would be no
conflict with the tenets set down in the Resolution pertaining to the
moratorium. He explained the reasons the applicant did not want Lot 1
designated a site at this time was because the owner wished to keep the
density of the area to a minimum.
Discussio:i ensued between Council, City Engineer, and Mr. Lambert regarding
the property, and the City Attorney was requested to clarify the issue
before at this time.
MOTION SECONDED AI;D CARRIED: Councilman Cheney moved, seconded by Councilman
Helgesson ?nd unanimously carried to approve the Planning Commission recommend-
ation for exemption from the subdivision moratorium for Lands of Monte Lucero,
#4, because the evidance presented did not indicate a violation of the concepts
outlined within the Resolution pertaining to the subdivision moratorium.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 5, 1975
ftr SPECIAL ORDERS (cont'd):
4. Requests for Exemption from Subdivision Moratorium CcoM:'d):
b) Appeal by Land Resources, Inc., File NTM2020-75 re Planning
Commission denial of recommendation of request for exemption
(cont'd. from 2/19/75):
Mr. Crowe presented the background information on this parcel of property
and Planning Commission actions. He said the Commission had voted 4-3 to
deny the request for exemption from the subdivision moratorium because the
land concerned was fairly steep and could possibly fall within the concerns
outlined in the subdivision moratorium Resolution.
City Engineer Alex Russell explained that the property in question was
adjacent to the Lands of Dawson and the Lands of the Palo Alto Unified
School District, and addressed the access road problems.
Commissioner Brown summarized the concerns of the Planning Commission when
this matter was discussed.
Speaking from the Floor:
Mr. Jack Leudeman of Arastra Ltd., a subsidiary of Land Resources, addressed
Council concerning the issue before Council, and spoke of the maximum cuts
t which were planned for the proposed lands, which sere not excessive.
Nr. Dave Holmes of George Molte Associates, also addressed Council, stating
that tree removal, which was also a concern of the building moratorium,
would be minimal, and requested that Council bear in mind that the issue
before thein was only a request for exemption from the moratorium and not
a tentative map approval.
City Attorney Frank Gillio spoke regarding the wording in the Resolution,
and listed the items of concerns specified therein.
Counrilwomen Miller moved that the request for exemption from the sub-
division moratorium be denied, which was seconded by Councilman Cheney.
Councila3a +elgesson expressed concern over this property and its relation
to Arestridr;,o Creek, and thought that Staff and Council should receive
a recr,;,ror-.elaCion from the Santa Clara Valley Water District regarding the
lower ;:rr:ia, oP this property.
Councils: :r. Ch—ey also expressed concern over the creek, and thought there
were sa�icient questions raised that he would not be willing to grant a
waive, on i;, -.s property.
Councilr;,. Rc'eyir,-:is stated that the City Attorney's statement prevailed
regarding thin property, and felt there was no other way to go.
4 The question was called, and the motion to deny the request for exemption
for Lands of Land Resources, File NTM2020-75, because the property in
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 5, 1975
` SPECIAL ORDERS (cont'd):
question raised significant questions as outlined in the subdivision
moratorium resolution. was carried by the following roll call vote:
AYE: Councilman Cheney, Helgesson, McReynolds, Councilwoman Miller,
Mayor Grabowski
NO: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
F. GENERAL ORDERS L UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Cit of Santa Clara Resolution fl3451 Statement of Policyin regard to
The Aeration of County ransit District Buses.
Mr. Crowe stated a Resolution had been received from the City of Santa
Clara regarding the termination of the County's Dial -A -Bus system. He
stated that he agreed with the Mayor that sufficient time had not been given
to the system to make it workable. He thought that the County was doing
everything it could to solve the problems before such a Resolution was
adopted.
Councilman Helgesson commented on the reports received from the Santa Clara
County Transportation Commission regarding the use of pial -A -Bus, the times
of heaviest usage, which were between 7:30-8:30 A.M., and between 2:30-
3:30 P.M. He also commented on the problems, and the efforts which were
40 being made to solve them.
Counci'-in McReynolds noted that the Town did not appear to benefit greatly
from the system, and commented that since the Los Altos School District
had decreased school bus service, it might be possible to see if Dial -A -
Bus could provide that service for the school children.
Councilman Cheney wished to go on record as opposing the Dial -A -Bus system
because cf its expense, but he o.-7c>ed the 8esr.lution at this time.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman McReynolds moved, seconded by Council-
man Helgess(,, ind unanimously carried to table further consideration of this
Resolutioq ortil further information was available.
G. NEIN " -
1)='<--,_;_ebowski:
r;.snitation of 12 -Point Tax Reform Program as proposed by Mr.
Reilly, member, State Board of Equalization:
Ptayor 11600wsl<i stated that he had corresponded with Mr. Reilly and asked
hi:^ i.anprar at = future Council meeting to present his proposed tax
rens rra:: cd at that time, would like Council to consider endorsing
his program in part or in total.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 5, 1975
to NEN BUSINESS:
2. Councilman Cheney:
Councilman Cheney noted that it had been six months since the new
City Manager had been hired, and asked that Council consider an
Executive Session at this evening's meeting to review his performance.
Council agreed, and the Mayor called an Executive Session at 8:05,
and returned to the Council Chambers at 8:30 P.M.
Upon returning from the Session, Councilman Helgesson, with Council's
consent, stated that Council had voted unanimously to give the City
Manager their vote of confidence, and he moved to increase Mr. Crowe's
salary by $100.00 per month. Councilman Cheney seconded the motion,
which was unanimously approved by Council.
3. Councilman Helgesson:
Councilman Helgesson asked for clarification on an item to be con-
sidered at the forthcoming ICC meeting regarding CETA.
H. ADJOURNMENT:
Council adjourned at 10:15 P.M. to an Adjourned Meeting on Friday, March 7,
1975 at 2:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Norma J. Hislop
Deputy City Clerk