HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/28/1974TOWN, OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
June 28, 1974
cc: Reel 66, Side 1, Tr. 1: 001-857
Mayor Stanley Grabowski called the Special Meeting of the City Council of Los
Altos Hills to order in the Mulipurpose Room of Fremont Hills Elementary School,
26800 Ortega Drive, at 3:04 P.M.
A. ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilmen Cheney, Heigesson, McReynolds, Councilwoman Miller,
Mayor Grabowski
Staff: City Manager Bruce Lawson, City Engineer Alex Russell, City
Attorney Frank Giitio, Deputy City Clerk Virginia Huffstetter
B. SPECIAL REPORTS:
1. Budget Review Committee Report - Fiscal Year 1974-75 Budget:
SPeakin from the Floor: Mrs. T. Schick, Weston Road, inquired as t, w:,
the nee nq a not been noticed in the Palo Alto Times. The Mayor as i
that notices had been sent out, but the newspaper had not received i". 4n
time for publication. Staff was directed to telephone the newspa,er `or
all meetings called on short notice in the future.
Mr. B. Gottlieb, member of the Budget Review Committe, briefly ra<;i_•s•i t)e
outline of the report and the criteria used for their recew.endations.
Following is a summary of the discussions held by specific items anI
departments:
a) Public Works - Parks Division
The Mayor asked for the Committee's feeling on funds for pethwa:, minterance,
statirq that he arzuld like to have 410,000 for use on pathways eurin0 the
fisca5 year. Mr. Gottlieb said the Committee had left the total racemmended
amiz!nt in the Parks budget, but they did question :oma of the spscific
uses.
Mayor Grabowski said the Tarn had a heavy investment in pathways and should
appropriate tine entire monies b,dgeted for pathways. This amount cannot be
collected next year in in lieu fees. He felt the money should be scent on
spxifie proi,lems on t^e pet".Z, i.e., m� ntsna::ce, but thought more study
shouid be cone in order tc establish priorities.
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City Counati Minutes - June 28, 1974
taumilwolaen Miller asked about the use of Federal Revenue Sharing funds,
and how they Were used for pathways last year.
City Manager 9ruce Lawson said the funds were used for summer help only.
Oiscussion followed regarding the use of summer student help, maintenance,
and problems relating to supervision.
Councilman Cheney stated that he would like to see a detailed daily work plan
for all the work done by the maintenance men, and would like to see better
supervision of the summer help.
Mr. Lawson reviewed the work program for summer help, particularly the path-
way work, and outlined the supervision used.
Mrs. Alma !good, member of the Committee, asked if it would be possible to
start work on the pathways during the spring instead of waiting until summer.
She said other cities had done this and it seemed to work well.
Councilman Cheney emphasized that he would like to see the entire $10,000
used for the maintenance of paths, not for salaries and equipment use by the
summer help. Discussion followed on the use of manpower versus the use of
equipment.
Councilwoman Miller suggested that the Pathway Committee meet with Staf-'
review and revise the path priority list, and thereafter present Counc`.
with the results.
b) Public Safety - Police Protection Division
Mr. Lawson stated that the money in the proposed budget projected a 10%
increase in the Sheriff's contract; however the Sheriff's Department had
just requested a 19% increase in service fees. He stated that if the i9%
increase is approved by the Town, this item will increase the proposed
$83,278 to approximately $91,000.
The Mayor commented that it might be wise for the Town to look into the
possibility of having its own Police Department and dispense wit,: ,ae
contract with the Sheriff's Dep>rtment altogether.
Discussion ensaad on alternatives available to the Town such as reducing
the hours of srvice, increasing the Security Patrol hours, or eliminatina
the Sheriff Department services entirely and using the Security Patrol
exclusively.
In response to the Meyor's inquiry on the possibility of requiring Fei)0111
College to share the expe^se of the Sheriff's Department, City Attorav
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - June 26, 1974
Frank Gillio responded that State Law required the Town to provide police
services to the College at no expense to the College.
Councilwoman Miller requested that Security Officer Gordon Penfold attend
the regular Council meeting of July 3, 1974 for further discussion of this
matter.
c) Planning Department
Mr. Gottlieb stated that the Budget Review Committee rec(mnended reduction
of Special Studies, elimination of Special Divisional Expenses, and reduction
In the retainer fee for the Planning Consultant. The Committee felt the
special studies would not benefit enough of the Town's residents to warrant
the expenditure.
Mr. Lawson explained that the Planning Consultant is on a Retainer contract
and the Town is obliged to pay that Retainer fee. He reviewed the requested
Special Studies, stating that part of them were required by State Law, i.e.;
geologic hazards in the Town. He said the Planning Commission feels the
remaining studies (slide area study) are needed to provide adequate in-
formation to the Commission for matters before them for deliberation.
Por. Donald Spencer, Chairman, Planning Commission, spoke concerning the
far feelings of the Commission on the proposed budget and studies and how the
would benefit the Town as a whole. He also said the Commission plans t.
conduct a study on possible revisions to the Town's zoning ordinance a%,
specifications fcr subdivisions per City Council direction, and that funds
for this special study were not included in the proposed budget.
City Engineer Alex Russell said that if the special Divisional Expens,
removed from the Planninq Budget, he would like to have those exoen!,e, in-
cluded in the Engineering Budget since materials provided by this ars
are necessary for the Commission, such as mans and transparancies.
Discussion followed regarding ways and means of paying for the spar+a)
studies needed. Councilman McReynolds commented that the Town hez� -o regi
information concerning tie items the special studies would cover.
suggested that any special studies made by the Town should be pais.
the rievelopers by wa.y of special fees when tae land is developed
d) PubliC Wcr4 - Strreees,
Courcilman Helgessun asked about the street budget and the recommonaatinns
made concerning it by the Budget Review Committee.
Hr. Gottlieb staled :hit there were no specific projects listed, but
specific amount of muney was requested. The Committee felt there was a
need for pr+orities which should be listed, along with the specific cost
for each project.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - June 7.8, 1974
During the qeneral discussion on the subject of streets, Mayor Grabowski
stated that Council will have to decide what the philosophy of the Town
will be on streets, that is, whether the streets should be repaired as
needed, or whether they should be rebuilt.
Because of time limitations, further discussion on the budget was continued
to a meeting to be scheduled at a later date.
C. GENERAL ORDERS:
1. Plans for New Council Chambers
Mayor Grabowski said that Council felt that the restrooms, which had keen
deleted from the contract for the new Chambers, should be included as
originally planned. He also commented that the entrance to the building
as shown on the plans, could cause problems for the syrroundinq neighbors
of Town Hall, and sugaested rotatinq the buildinq 180 .
City Attorney Frank Gillio advised Council that any changes must be approveu
by Council, and a contract listing the change orders should be signed by the
Contractor since the contract had already been awarded.
The Mayor requested Mr. Minckley, Architect for the Chamb=rs, to prepare e..
revised plan shaving the restrooms, utility room and an aisle dmen the crnezr
of the Chambers with the doors at the end of the Chambers. He asked th,
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the drawings, along with a transparancy, be prepared for the Council mc: ,
of July 3, 1974.
D. ADJOURNMENT:
The Council adjourned at 5:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Virginia Huffstetter
Deputy City Clerk