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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/16/1975CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, California MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, April 16, 1975 cc: Reel 76, Side 1, Tr. 1 - 001- 7Y of City Stanley inrthewski Councilled the Chambers oflar Town Hall, 26379eCouncil to order FremonRoad: A. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmen Cheney, Helgesson, Councilwoman Miller, Mayor Grabowski, Commissioner Carico for Planning Commission. Absent: Councilman McReynolds Staff: Alex Russell. Building Inspector—Planner Ken nPastrof, Deputy Engineer Cty Clerk Norma Hislop Press: None B. CONSENT CALENDAR: At the request of Councilman Helgesson, Item B1 was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration. City Manager Robert Crowe requested that Items 3 a) and b) be removed from the Consent Calendar entirely pending the submission of a soils and/or geologic report. Council so aqreed. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Councilman Cheney and unanimously carried to adopt the remaining item on the Consent Calendar, namely: 2. Approval of Warrants: $28,253.34 ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION: 1. Approval of Minutes: April 2, 1975: Councilman Helgesson noted that Mfr. David Janason's name had been misspelled on pages 2 and 7. tie also noted that on page 6, under "Speaking from the Floor in support, etc.", Mrs. Donald Spencer spoke, and not Mr.as indicated in the Minutes. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Councilman Cheney Meeting)r,daunnimusly ndatheoMinutes carried tpprove 1975the (Regulares of March Meeting), asl, 1975 correcteAdjourned d Mayor Grabowski questioned why two items that Council had scheduled for this evening's Agenda did not appear as noted in the Minutes of April 2nd. CITY COUMCIL MINUTES - April 16, 1975 City Manager Robert Crowe explained that the Variance Request for the Lands of Smith for an existing tennis court was not on the Agenda, but that Staff was in the process of scheduling a meeting concerning this request and would appear on the next Agenda. Mr. Crowe also noted that the City Attorney had not had a chance to prepare the appropriate Resolutions concerning the Traffic Survey Report, and this item would also appear on the next Council Agenda on Play 7, 1975. C. SPECIAL REPORTS: 1. Presentations from the Floor: a) Bullis-Purissima Parent Advisory Board - Report on Transportation Problems: Mr. Michael Sibitz, Principal of Bullis School, informed Council that because of financial problems facing the School District, Bullis School. was faced with a severe problem in that a recommendation had been made to delete the transportation budget for the next school year. Because a great number of children in the Town depended on buses for transportation to schools because of the distance from home, an Ad Hoc Committee had been formed to study the problem by the Parent Advisory Board. Mrs. S. Hall and Mrs. M. Balkenhol presented their findings to date on alternative solutions to the problem which had been approached, including private bus leasing, contacting the County regarding Dial -a -Bus, and other bus services. She presented the costs estimated by the various companies, noting that the ',ar-nt Board was not certain how many parents would be amenable to chartering a private bus service. After the presentation, Mayor Grabowski commented that he felt Council would do all it could to assist the parents with the problem, and suggested a Committee be formed of members of the City Council and the Parent Advisory Board to study the problem more deeply and to return to Council with a palatable plan relating to costs of bus service. Discussion ensued regarding how a private service would be audited, the charges made and their collection and enforcement procedures. Councilman Helgesson referred to the study completed by the Bechtel Corp. regarding the Dial -A -Bus service, and reported on discussions to date. He noted that he would stay on top of this situation and would keep the Board advised in this regard. Councilwoman Miller felt the District should be asked to review their priorities, and asked the City Attorney if the District could not be asked to participate in the costs of a private bussing service. Mr. Gillio responded that the District could be asked, but that since the problem was L a question of budgeting and funding, that the District could not be forced `r to participate in such a program. Mayor Grabowski appointed Councilman Helgesson to Chair the Committee to study the transportation problem, and Councilwoman Miller to the Committee. He also requested that Mrs. Hall, Firs. Balkenhol, and Mr. B. Pfefer to represent the Parents Advisory Board on the Committee, and -9- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - April 16, 1975 to report back to Council within two months on their findings. Mr. Gillio agreed to be available for any legal council the Committee might need. D. STAFF REPORTS CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. City Manager: a) Announcement of Committee Vacancies: Mr. Crowe reported that a letter of resignation had been submitted by Mr. Ralph Franks from the Pathway Committee. His term would have expired on June 30, 1976. Mr. Crowe also noted that Dr. Lawrence Hamilton had resigned from the Environmental Design Committee and his term also was to June 30, 1976. He said that applications to fill these unexpired terns would be accepted at Town Hall and scheduled for Council appointment for the first meeting in June. b) Report on discussions with Palo Alto Unified School District re Page Mill Road property. Mr. Crowe reported that he had talked with the Palo Alto Unified School District Board regarding the possible purchase of their 62 -acre site for open space, and the compensation expected. He said the District would be looking to recouoerate the funds invested in the property. Discussion ensued between Staff and Council regarding the price of the property, the possibility of obtaining grant funds under the Land and Water Conservation Funds Program, and the commitment involved to date. Council consensus was that no definite commitment should be made until it was learned whether a grant could be obtained, and the City Manager was instructed to pursue the application for grant funds. E. SPECIAL ORDERS: 1. Ordinances for Adoption: a) Ordinance #222 repea Mr. Crowe explained the purpose of this Ordinance which would repeal the deposit system used by the Town to date, and that the Resolution following consideration of this Ordinance would establish set fees, which would be helpful to both Staff and applicant. t After discussion and upon Mr. Crowe's reading of the title of the Ordinance, 7r Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Councilwonan Miller to waive further reading of Ordinance 222. Motion carried unanimously. -3- 4W CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - April 16, 1975 ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION (cont'd): Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Councilwoman Miller to adopt Ordinance #222. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilmen Cheney, Helgesson, Councilwoman Miller, Mayor Grabowski NO: NONE ABSENT: Councilman McReynolds ABSTAIN: NONE 2. Resolutions for Adoption: a) Resolution #877 fixin amounts for Variance fees Septic tanks, pp building site arova s and s to doe o�ment permits: Mr. Crowe read the non-refundable fees recommended by Staff as follows: Septic Tank Permits (new, modification or expansion) = $55.00; Building Site Approval = $250.00; Site Development Permit = $160.00; Conditional Use Permit = $50 + $200 deposit for services; Variance = $250.00. Discussion ensued between Counci and Staff as to how the figures were arrived at, and the clarification was made that there were no more deposits, but a non-refundable fee except in the case of a Conditional 6W use the Permit. was felt todbe atbetterthat ong those arrangement thanwnot knowing whatle with whom he e. a fee or permit would be. Maor Grabowski woucommended their ld work well for allconcerned, andwould streamlinosal ande the operationht this of Town Hall. Councilman Nelgesson moved, seconded by Councilwoman Miller to adopt Resolution #877. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilmen Cheney, Helgesson, Councilwoman Miller, Mayor Grabowski NO: NONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: Councilman McReynolds 3. Public Hearings: a) Seismic Safety/Safety Safety/SafetyElement of General Plan Los Altos Hills: Mr. Crowe informed Council that the Planning Commission had conducted Public Hearings on the proposed element to the General Plan and had referred it to Council with the recommendation that it be adopted. He turned the discussion over to Planning Consultant Tom Vlasic of 11illiam Spangle & Associates. Pir. Vlasic explained that this element had been submitted to various other public agencies for comment in conformance with State Law. He -4- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - April 15, 1975 SEISMIC SAFETY/SAFETY ELEMENT OF GENERAL PLAN (cont'd): noted that the recommended changes proposed by the Planning Commission, and the comments from the Fire Marshall were before Council. He then reviewed the recommended changes with Council, and stated that these proposed changes did not reflect changes in the policy, but were only clarifications of fact. fir. Vlasic also stated that the Commission had recommended approval of certain changes in Appendix 5 which Council had also received. Mayor Grabowski declared the Public Hearing open at 9:20 P.M. There being no one who wished to speak to the subject, the public hearing was declared closed at 9:21 P.M., and discussion returned to Council. Discussion ensued between Council and Staff concerning possible breakage of water mains, the polution possibility downstream should Adobe Creek flood the area, and the evaluation of this problem by the County Health Department. Council also asked for clarification of the first paragraph on page 23, and after discussion it was the concensus of Council to amend that paragraph as follows: "In Los Altos Hills the general approach to handling drainage has been to utilize natural drainage channels. Given the policy of the Town to preserve the natural quality of creeks and creek borders, it becomes important to not allow development to increase runoff to the point that channels become overloaded and to not place the works of man in natural flood plains." Mayor Grabowski raised questions pertaining to the Fire Protection District and how it was formed. Councilman Cheney responded that the District had been foxed before the incorporation of the Town by the County. Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Councilman Cheney to adopt the Seismic Safety/Safety Element as presented with the amendment to page 23 (above). Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilmen Cheney, Helgesson, Councilwoman Miller, Mayor Grabowski 140: HONE ABSTAIN: NONE ABSENT: Councilman McReynolds b) Noise Element of General Plan: Mr. Crowe noted that the Planning Commission had conducted public hearings on this recomme recommendation that it Headeferred etorMr. Vlasict to for with for the further discussion. Mr. Vlasic noted that this element of the General Plan had been prepared in order to be consistent with State Law requirements. He also said that noise contours had been prepared by the State Department of Transportation and submitted to the Town. That Department was also preparing a Noise -5- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - April 16, 1975 NOISE ELEMENT OF GENERAL PLAN (cont'd): Study which was to have been completed in September; however, the Study had not been completed at the time. Therefore, he commented that this Element became more general. He thought the Study, when completed, would enhance the Noise Element. fir. Vlasic also noted that the Santa Clara County Public Works Department were studying the Foothill Expressway noise, but the analysis had not been received to date. He stated that these studies would generate more specific information for inclusion into the Noise Element when received. The Element adopted by the Planning Commission on March 12, 1975 in- corporated the comments of the Noise Abatement Committee. The changes made were minor and did not reflect a major policy change. Mayor Grabowski declared the Public Hearing on this element of the General Plan open at 9:43. There being no speakers from the floor, the public hearing was declared closed at 9:44 Pfi, and the discussion returned to Council. Mayor Grabowski suggested that the wording b� changed on page 3, Item 2 b) regarding rights of way to: 11 ... plantfn9 or other noise attenuating devices....", but the motion failed. Discussion ensued between Staff and Council regarding the ambient dba's permitted for residential land use, and Mr. Vlasic suggested further study be done to determine a reasonable standard, which could be incorporated into the element at a later date. Councilwoman Miller moved that on page 6, Item 1 a) the following words be deleted, 'In addition., ZAOtA A$6 AAAA 5000 IfSaiddzjari property values have decreased....... Council agreed. After further discussion, Councilman Hel9esson moved, seconded by Council- woman Miller to adopt the Noise Element of the General Plan as presented and amended above. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: AYE: Councilmen Cheney, Hel9esson, Councilwoman Miller, Mayor Grabowski NO: NONE ABSENT: Councilman McReynolds ABSTAIN: NONE F. GENERAL ORDERS & UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Appointment to Planning COnmissiO fir. Because of the absence of Councilman McReynolds this evening, Councilman Cheney moved, seconded by Councilman Helgesson to defer this matter to the Adjourned Council meeting scheduled for April 30, 1975. Motion carried by the following roll call vote: -6- CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - April 16, 1975 APPOINTMENT TO PLANNING COPM9ISSION (cont'd): AYE: Councilmen Cheney, Helgesson, Mayor Grabowski NO: Councilwoman Miller ABSENT: Councilman McReynolds ABSTAIN: NONE Speaking from the Floor: Mr. John Ewing, Lupine Road: Presented petition to Council signed by neighbors in that area of Town who felt they would like to have a represent- ative on the Planning Commission for better representation. The petitions asked Council to consider the application of lir. J. Couperous, whom they felt well qualified to sit on that body. He said he did not want Council to feel that any pressure was being exerted on them because of the petitions, but only that they take this into consideration when an appointment was made. Councilman Cheney responded to Mr. Ewing, commenting that Council was con- sidering five well-qualified applicants for the vacancy, and he felt sure that whoever was appointed to the Commission would be fair in all matters which came before the Commission. He encouraged interested citizens to apply for vacancies as they occurred because the only way to have fair government was through citizen participation. G. NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman Miller: Councilwoman Miller noted the opposition of the City of Palo Alto to a recent letter of Senator Alquist's endorsing the building of a new Dunbarton bridge. The Mayor requested that Councilwoman Duller make a copy of the article which had appeared in the paper available to him for consideration. H. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned to an Executive (Litigation) Session at 10:32, and re- convened at 10:50 to adjourn to an Executive Session on Thursday, April 24, 1975 for purposes of discussing litigation, and to an Adjourned Meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 1975 at 7:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Norma J. Hislop Deputy City Clerk -7-