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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/21/1973CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS iUWUTES OF A REGULAR 11EETIdG march 21, 1973 CC Reel 51 Side 2 Track 1 435 - end CC Reel 52 Side 1 Track 1 000 - 190 Mayor Leslie Helgesson called the regular meeting of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills to order at 7:50 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California. A. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmen Davey, Grabowski, Kubby, Hiller and Mayor Helgesson Absent: None Planning Commission Representative: Commissioner Perkins The new Public Works Director/City Engineer was introduced and welcomed by City Hanger Lawson to the Town. mr. Alexander D. Russell is a resident of the Town and has field similar positions in Honterey and Santa Cruz. He has most recently been in private consulting. #4,r E. CONSEi'IT CALENDAR: 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 12, 1973 (Adjourned Reeting) 2. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: £3,273.29; the City Manager/City Clerk was authorized to draw the appropriate warrants. 3. MOTIONS FOR ADOPTION: a. Flotion approving Variance request of Dr. Arthur J. HcPadden (V-383-72) for swimming pool, subject to conditions recommended by the Planning Commission b. iiotion approving Building Site for Peter Wilson (BSA -94-73) for a lot known as Lot. No. 3, Tract Ho. 3306, located on Radcliff Lane subject to condi- tions recommended by the Planning Commission. c. idotion ai�proving list dated March 21, 1973 of applications/permits as trivial in degree of environmental impact as submitted by the City Hanger. 4. RESOLUTIOAS FOR AUOPTION: a. Rasolution No. 693 authorizing division of unpaid assessment for Mrs. Elsie !Aright, Parcel ilo. 132-4-9, SAD N9. iOTIOil, SECONDED AHD CARRIED: Councilman Kubby moved, seconded by Councilman Grabowsk NO and carried unanimously to adopt the CONSENT CALENDAR. C. APPROVAL OF HINUTES: March 7, 1973 -1- MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Davey moved, seconded by Councilman L Grabowski and carried by majority vote with Councilman Kubby abstaining due to his absence at the March 7, 1973 council meeting to approve the Minutes of March 7, 1973. D. MOTIONS FOR ADOPTION: a. Motion authorizing Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office to resume issuance of bicycle licenses for the Town of Los Altos Hills. Spaaking from the floor: Mr. A.M. Laws suggested that paying the Sheriff $20 per hour to license bicycles was not a wise use of money. Perhaps the PTA might be willing to ren- der the service to the Town without charge. The City Manager explained that both the Town and the Sheriff's Department are each making $1.00 per license. He explained also that the local Fire Depart- ments are handling licensing seven days a week and that he cannot justify the use of staff time to license bicycles. Speaking from the floor: Mr. A.M. Laws suggested that the matter be looked into further for a better solution to the problem of bicycle licensing. Councilman Miller asked if there were volunteers who might take on the responsibility, to which no reply was made. Councilman Grabowski asked if it were necessary for the bicycle to be phy- sically present for inspection at Town Hall, to which an affirmative response was rendered. Speaking from the floor: Mrs. Millie Saviano stated that licenses are being given in the schools for those who wish than, and that volunteers working out of City Hall would not do enough licensing to warrant the time they would spend there. Councilman Miller asked if the Los Altos Hills Association might have any ob- jection to rendering this service. Speaking from the floor: Mr. A.M. Laws, as a member of the Los Altos Hills Association Board, could not speak for the entire membership, but stated that Mr. Lawson should look into the matter further. Mayor Helgesson suggested that more time should be taken to review the matter. Councilman Kubby stated that if there were no volunteers willing to devote some time to licensing, the staff recommendation was logical. Councilman Davey suggested that the staff recommendation might be supplemented by a volunteer program and that the schools' and fire stations' role in the program should be further explored. Speaking from the floor: Mrs. Millie Saviano suggested that the Pathway Com- -2- u in mittee participate is the program. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Kubby moved, seconded by Councilman Davey and carried unanimously that bicycle licensing be carried out by the Fire Stations, as recommended by staff, and possibly supplemented by the schools. E. CURREHT BUSI14ESS: 1. Review of Town Newsletter. The City Manager explained the purpose and content of the Newsletter, once again breaking down the cost as being $290 for the initial mailing and publi- cation with subsequent cost of $210 for additional mailings. Mayor Helgesson inquired as to when the Newsletter would be mailed to citizens of the community, to which the City Manager replied that it could be mailed in a matter of 10 days. Councilman Grabowski inquired as to the cost of staff labor for this endeavor. The City Manager replied that the staff will be responsible for the prepara- tion and typing of the brochure for printing and that all other tasks will be performed by outside labor. Each draft will be given to Council for review and editing. Councilman Miller asked if an envelope was necessary for mailing, to which the City Planager replied that the brochure would be folded, addressed with labels, and mailed without envelope. Councilman Kubby suggested that staff biographies be put in the Newsletter, as well as a statement of the financial position of the Town. Councilman Davey agreed with these suggestions with a comment about the potential problem caused by the dead Eucalyptus trees facing the Town also to be included. Townspeople might be asked to participate in felling the trees, as well as in a path maintenance effort. Councilman Grabowski stated that he was not necessarily in favor of the publi- cation of the brochure, as it might not be welcomed by the citizens. He stated his opposition to the expenditure because of adequate coverage of Town events by the press and due to the high cost of the publication. Speaking from the floor: Capt. Frank Gorman stated his objection to the pub- lication of the document for fear that it might be used for political purposes at the citizens' expense. If it must be published at all, it should be done after the Recall. Mr. Mason Brutschy suggested that most of what is contained in the Newsletter is already known to the public through the news media. He suggested a mimeo- graphed and stapled sheet as a less expensive sub- stitute for the Newsletter. Mr. Donald Spencer suggested the possibility of the Townspeople purchasing Minutes of the council -3- meetings as a source of information and the publica- tion of a City Hanger's Report in the newspapers as was done in the last several years to inform citizens ` of items of interest in Town. The money might better be utilized for the repair of Page Mill Road. Hrs. Alma Wood suggested the possibility of the Agenda being published in the newspaper at a lesser cost, which might create better attendance at council meetings and more civic awareness in general. Nr. Fred Brutschy suggested that the publication of the Newsletter during the Recall period might not be appropriate. Mr. David Jansson stated that something that has not been seen should not be judged and that the Newsletter was a wonderful idea. Mayor Helgesson suggested that many of the items in the Newsletter were super- fluous and that the contents were not so outstanding as to warrant circulation among the Townspeople. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Kubby moved, second^ cy Councilman Davey and carried by majority vote with Councilman Grabowski and Mayor Helgesson opposed, that the Newsletter be published and circulated to the Townspeople. 2. Presentation by the Hillside Subcommittee of the Planning Policy Committee of Santa Clara County regarding the alternate plan proposals for the Montebello Ridge area. Messrs. Lee Wilcox and Gil Fayette of the Hillside Subcommittee presented al- ternate policy possibilities for the planned development of Montebello Ridge. In essence, the Town of Los Altos Hills is to advise the Hillside Subcommittee jointly with the Cities of Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino and Los Altos as to the desires of the citizens in regard to the future residential density of the five cities. The concept of planned development was explained. It was es- tablished that the four suggestions put forth by the Hillside Subcommittee as a basis for determination of land use are not necessarily to be approved or accepted by the Town. Rather, these plans should be studied and a new plan devised integrating the Town's proposal and submitted to the Hillside Committee for subsequent presentation to the Planning Policy Committee. Cost of retain- ing the land mostly as open space might be financed through county taxes, baser on the County Assessor's valuation of the land. At the present time, most of this land is privately owned. The Town must submit a plan to the Hillside Subcommittee by May 10, 1973. Consequently, the Planning Commission should review the plan at their earliest regularly scheduled meeting to be able to present their findings to the City Council for approval in order to meet the May 10th deadline. Notice of the meeting of the Hillside Subcommittee re- garding all plans submitted by the five jurisdictions will be forwarded to the Town. F. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION: -4- 1. Ordinance No. 206 of the Town of Los Altos Hills amending Title 4, Chapter 4, Sections 4-4.01 through 4-4.05 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code relating i to weapons. �r The City Attorney read Ordinance No. 203. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIES: Councilman Davey moved, seconded by Councilman Miller and carried unanimously to introduce Ordinance No. 208. Ordinance No. 209 of the Town of Los Altos Hills amending Title 9, Chapters 1 and 2, Sections 9-1.01 through 9-2.10 of the Los Altos Hills relating to Administration; the Environmental Planning Commission; Official Plan Lines; and Site Approval. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Davey movod, seconded by Councilman Miller and carried unanimously that reading of Ordinance No. 209 relating to the Environmental Planning Commission be waived and to introduce the Ordinance by title. G. ADJOUR14MENT TO LITIGATION SESSION: 9:50 P.M. H. CONTINUING BUSINESS: 10:20 p.m. Discussion of Sphere of Influence area between the Town of Los Altos Hills and the City of Los Altos. The City Attorney announced that he has been instructed by the City Council to take appropriate legal action to preclude the rezoning of the E1 Retiro property and to seek leave of the Attorney General to file suit to overturn the annexation. I. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR: 1. Mr. A.M. Laws inquired as to who was appointed to hold the position of Police Chief and City Treasurer of the Town. The City Attorney replied that the City Manager filled these positions by ordinance and resolution respectively. 2. Mrs. Florence Fava requested that the Town insure that the Costello property be returned to the Sphere of Influence of Los Altos Hills due to its historical value and beauty to preclude the possibility of problems as encountered by the present struggle over the E1 Retiro property. Mrs. Fava asked that Council institute a historical ordinance such as exists in other cities. The City Attorney was directed to prepare the historical ordinance for Council approval. 3. Mr. William Downey questioned the new lock system at Town Hall, stating that 0: Los Altos Hills Association was unable to enter the Council Chambers on the evening of Warch 19th. The City Manager explained the new policy whereby groups wishing to use the facilities would contact a member of the staff to obtain a key prior to the meeting, and return it thereafter. Councilman Kubby suggested that a charge to unofficial groups be levied for use of the facility. The City Manager stated that no charge was presently being made for use of the Chambers, but that staff would comply with Council's wishes in this regard. fir. A.M. Laws stated that the Los Altos Hills Association was a recognized ` group which should be entitled to free use of the Chambers. -5- Mrs. Millie Saviano stated that no Town association should be charged for use of Town Hall which is a public building. `, Mrs. Theodora Schick stated that she felt that money was being spent to put out an unnecessary newsletter, and that now people were going to be charged to use their own Town Hall. J. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS BY COUNCILMEN: 1. Councilman Miller reiterated Mrs. Florence Fava's concern regarding the Cos- tello property to avoid future Sphere of Influence problems. She also stated her concern that tapes were being damaged due to constant use by the Townspeople Speaking from the floor: Capt. Frank Gorman suggested that a copy of the original tape be made for use by residents so as to keep the original intact. Councilman Grabowski asked how the tapes were damaged. The City Manager stated that parts of the tapes may have been inadvertently erased by those not knowing :10w i0 use tlie machine properly. He stated that persons wishing to hear the tapes were constantly halting the flow of work by the staff. A certain time should be set aside for listening to tapes so that staff might set up the ma- chine for those wishing to listen, thereby precluding the possible erasure of tapes and enabling the staff to work uninterrupted with prescribed times allo- cated for listening. Speaking from the floor: Mrs. Theodora Schick stated that at no time that she had come to Town Hall to listen to tapes, had she physically handled the aparatus or the tapes, and that any damage resulting to the tapes was not the fault of herself or the citizens utilizing the tape - recorder. Capt. Frank Gorman stated the ineffectiveness of the present aparatus. 2. Councilman Grabowski commented as to an item on the March 15th Miscellaneous Comments of the City Nanager regarding the use of the term "Council person" as now being an item of proper usage. The City Manager stated that the Legisla- ture had approved the wording and that the use was now established. Councilman Grabowski inquired as to the particulars of the recently acquired liability insurance for the City Manager utilizing his own vehicle for Town business. The City Manager replied that there was an annual savings to the Town of $21 and that coverage would now be provided by only one carrier as opposed to two as was formerly the case. There is no personal enhancement to his own situation as this is simply coverage for the Town required by the use of his personal car for Town business. K. STAFF REPORTS: City Manager Lawson announced that Mr. Donald Miller is to chair the Environmental Pollution Symposium April 17 - 18, 1973 at the Stanford Research Institute in -6- Menlo Park. Dr. Marjorie Evans and Mr. Frank Shriver of the Aoise Abatement Committee will also be panel chairmen. L. ADJOURK4E[fr: 11:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Michele R. Shaw Deputy City Clerk U "%W -7-