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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/20/1973CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING June 20, 1973 CC Reel 55 Side I Track 1: 000-999-224 Mayor Leslie A. Helgesson called the regular meeting of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills to order at 7:50 PM In the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California. A. ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmen Davey, Grabowski, Kubby and Miller, Mayor Helgesson and Commissioner McReynolds for the Planning Commission. B. CONSENT CALENDAR: At the request of Council, Items I and 2 were removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 6, 1973 (Regular Meeting) MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Kubby moved, seconded by Council- man Davey and carried, with Councilman Grabowski and Mayor Helges an abstaining due to absence from the meoting, that the Minutes of June 6, ` 1973, be approved. ` APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 12, 1973 (Special Meeting) Councilman Kubby requested that the following be inserted in paragraph 3, line 4, following the words, "De La Raza Sults" " ..the City Manager Informed the Council that there are suff is lent funds in the Budget for Iltigatlon expenses for the De La Raza suit as confirmed to him by the attorney for the De La Raza Stilt." MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Kubby moved, seconded by Council- man Davey and carried unanimously to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting of June 12, 1973, as amended. 2. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS: $155,161.40 Councilman Miller Inquired concerning a warrant in the amount of $122.50 to Clayton J. Smith. The City Manager stated that the emount covered discing for the second time of three parcels owned by the Town --the Littls League site on Purissima; property adjacent to Town Hall; and proporty at the Intersection of Edith and Fremont. Following questions of the City Manager, and discussion regarding this payment, Mrs. Harold Schick, speaking from the floor, Inquired whether she understood the City Manager to say that the Little League Field was C dlsced. The City Manager stated that the ball field portion was not dlsced but the part of the orchard adjacent to it. Mrs. Schick requested that the record show that the Little League Field was not disced, but a portion adjacent to it. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Davey moved, seconded by Council- man Kubby, and carried unanimously that the Warrant List of June 20, 1973, be approved. C. CURRENT BUSINESS: I. Review of proposed Santa Clara County Zoning Ordinance for control of Urban Development in an Urban Service Area. The City Manager stated that the Staff had reviewed the Ordinance, and had prepared a draft letter encompassing Staff recommendations. The City Manager read the letter to Council. It was the consensus of Council that the proposed Santa Clara County Zoning Ordinance for control of Urban Development In an Urban Service Area be referred to the Planning Commission, along with the Staff's letter. 2. Appointments to Environmental Planning Commission and Town Committees. It was agreed by the Council that appointments to the Environmental Planning Commission and Town Committees be deferred to Executive Session (Item J, City Council Agenda, Wednesday, June 20, 1973). ` D. CONTINUING BUSINESS: �r 1. Continued discussion of Content of Proposed City Charter. It was agreed by the Council that further discussion of the content of a proposed City Charter be deferred until the recommendations of the Planning Commission are available, at the next regular City Council Meeting on July 3, 1973. E. PUBLIC HEARINGS: I. Continued Public Hearing on Proposed 197.3-74 Fiscal Year Budget: Mayor Halgesson declared the Public Hearing on proposed budget for Fiscal Year 1973-74 open. The City Manager reviewed portions of the Proposed Budget. Questions of the City Manager and discussion of the proposed budget, by the City Courcll and the public ensued. Mrs. Ann Spencer, speaking from the floor and requesting that her remarks be Included in the record, read a letter addressed to the City Council by Mr. Don Spencer. Mr. Spencer's letter stated that the budget Indicated that 70 homes were added In Fiscal Year 1972-73, amounting to a 3+% In- crease, and that taxpayers In Los Altos Hills had been subjected to almost annual Increases In assessed valuation. In the light of this, Mr. Spencer L Inquired as to why the assessed valuation per dwelling Is less than 41 1972-73 (That Is, approximately = to the 1969-70). Inasmuch as the Town shows a 2% Increase In property taxes, Mr. Spencer stated his belief that the budget underestimates the value from property taxes. Mr. Spencer sta- ted further that this view was supported by the fact that all the various fees show a higher percentage Increase, and suggests that the Town has a higher Income than indicated, and that a tax decrease should, therefore, be made, particularly In the light of receipt of Federal revenue sharing funds designed to reduce the tax burden. The City Manager stated that revenue estimates for property tax for 1972-73 were not lower than actual, but that actual revenues received on property taxes for 1972-73 are within $120 of the budget estimate. Mr. Lawson stated further that budget estimates were based on actual assessed value, multiplied by the tax rate, and subtracting a percentage factor for delinquencies. For 1973-74, computation of the estimated property tax revenue is based on the figure estimated by the Santa Clara County Assessor --that Is, a 7% to 7-I/2$ increase, overall, in assessed valuation, Includ- ing new building. Mrs. Spencer inquired concerning page 208 of the proposed budget, referring to the respective sewer basins, In which there was a reference to a slope density formula in force, accompanying one -acre minimum zoning, when a contract was signed with Palo Alto in 1968 by the Town for capacity rights in the Palo Alto sewer plant. Mrs. Spencer questlonned whether a slope density formula actually was In effect at that time. 4W Mayor Helgesson stated that the Town did not have a slope density formula In effect at that time. Councilman Kubby stated that the formula was being considered at the time in question and that figures based on its potential existence were used In preparing the contract. Mrs. Spencer further expressed her understanding that one itom proposed for deletion from the budget would be $500 for the Town Historian. The City Manager replied that that was his recommendation. Mrs. Spencer recommended that reinstatement of the amount for Town Historian be considered --stating further that as the budget showed $1300 for rental and cleaning of uniforms showing a Los Altos Hills designation, for use by the maintenance crew, the Town should look at the two expenses with the Idea of dote. -mining which expense will be of greater value to the Town in future years. Mrs. Spencer stated that she would prefer to see the Historian's expenses reim- bursed rather than cut with the $1300 uniform expandlture retained. Questions and discussion of the budget by the City Council and the public continued. Concluding this discussion, Mayor Helgesson declared the Public Hearing closed. It was agreed by the Council that the portion of the budget relative to salaries of Town employees would be discussed at a personnel session, and that further consideration of the proposed budget would be continued to the -3- next regular meeting of the City Council on July 3, 1973. No action was e taken on the budget. �+ F. ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION: I. Ordinance No. 210 amending Los Altos Hills Municipal Code by adding provi- sions for placement of Sewer Service Charges on the Tax Rolls. The City Attorney read the Ordinance by Title for the second time. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Davey moved, seconded by Council- man Miller and carried unanimously to waive further eading and adopt Ordinance 210. G. STAFF REPORTS: The City Manager stated that the Council had received Minutes of the Traffic and Public Safety Committee meeting at which a burglary and crime prevention program was discussed. Mr. Lawson stated further that the program would Involve voluntary participation by citizens in that Sheriff's deputies would visit each residence In Town, offering to make exterior Inspections to determine how burglar-proof the home is. The City Manager Indicated that Staff could not recommend any action relative to the program until Council has approved a Fiscal Year 1973-74 budget. Following questions of the City Manager concerning the program --in which It was determined that the cost would be $500 --and discussion, the follow- ing motion was adopted: MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Davey moved, seconded by Council- man Kubby and carried unanimously to expend the funds necessary for parti- cipation in the Burglary and Crime Prevention Program. H. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS BY COUNCILMEN: I. Mayor Helgesson referred to a communication from the Town of Les Gatos suggesting passage of a resolution opposing proposed Assembly redistr'ct- Ing of Santa Clara County. Mayor Helgesson stated further that The League of California Cities Indicated the view that a formal resolution might not accomplish as much in this direction at this time as would letters written Individually and addressed to appropriate assemblymen. 2. Mayor Helgesson stated that the item concerning Bicycle Paths and Transpor- tation Plan, referred to in the Minutes of Council Meeting fcr June 6, 1973, had come up at the Transportation Commission meeting of June 13, and was referred to the Highway Committee of the Metropol H an Transportation Commis- sion. The Mayor Indicated that the subject is, therefore, alive, and money may well be appropriated for a County -wide bicycle plan. Further, haver Helgesson announced that the Commission's planning concept of establishing certain fixed routes through the County, as well as areas that would be served adjacent to these routes, involving almost personalized service to ( people In the County, was adopted by the MTC on Wednesday, June 13, also, and that a Committee of the Commission will work on it more specifically. -4- ` 1. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR: ` I. Mr. Fred Schneider presented a letter to the Mayor and City Council, stating his belief that variance and zoning procedures of the Town should be more clearly outlined and that enforcement of zoning restrictions, as well as procedures for Issuing variances and building permits, should be tightened. Following discussion and questions by the City Council, It was agreed that Mr. Schneider could best resolve his concern regarding the Town's enforce- ment of a variance affecting his neighbors, Mr, and Mrs. Guilbert, and himself, by first meeting with the Guilberts and staff. Mr. McReynolds, Environmental Planning Commission Chairman, stated that it Is the Commission's policy that no consideration be given to any subject unless specific and detailed plans are available to Commissioners prior to the Environmental Planning Commission, and that Mr. Schneider's letter actually reflects the policies of the Commission --which policies have evolved over the past 4 years from fairly loose to strict enforcement of zoning restrictions. Commissioner McReynolds stated further that state law sets 6 conditions which must be met before a variance can be Issued and that that is the law by which the Commission operates. Additionally, Commissioner McReynolds Indicated that the only problems that arose in this connection occurred when the Council overruled Commission recommendations. 2. Mrs. Marjorie Fitting expressed disapproval of a past Environmental Plan- ning Commission action in which the Commission held a hearing on December 26, with prior notices of the hearing, therefore, not reaching all con- cerned neighbors, some of whom were away for Christmas. Mrs. Fitting added that In her view the City Manager should provide other and more detailed information concerning a fence, whose appearance Is in dispute between neighbors, than that material for any fence must be structurally sound. 3. Mr. Frederick Brutschy expressed displeasure with reference to a newspaper article in the Palo Alto Times which quoied the City Manager as making some comment pertinent to the forthcoming Special Election to bo held June 26, 1973. Mr. Brutschy further requested that the Mayor ask the City Manager to refrain from commenting to the Press concerning the Election until sa!d Election has been held. Mayor Helgesson stated that the article In the Times left the impression that the City Mcnacer had revealed that absent voter applications for Election included Individuals numbering approximately one-half In favor and one-half opcosed to r9calI of Councilman Davey and Councilman Kubb�,. Councilman Davey stated, as a point of order, that Mr. Brutschy had made an assumption that could not be established as correct until the City Managsr had been hear from. The City Manager stated that the only portion of the article that had quoted him was that In which he had said that the Town had received approximately 270 applications for Absentee Ballots. -5- Councilman Kubby stated that it was improper for the Chair to criticize Staff In a public session rather than in Exocuilve Session. Mrs. Carl Gould, speaking from the floor, indicated that she had read the article in question, and stated that she knew the City Manager would not wish to give such information to the press so that whether he was misquoted or pressured, great care should be exercized by him. Mrs. Florence Magruder, speaking from the floor, stated thai the �rticle did not quote Mr. Lawson exactly, but left the Impression that he had supplied the information. Mrs. Magruder Indicated that Robert Pack, author of the article, should print a retraction. J. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Litigation and Personnel): I. Following adjournment of the Executive Session, the Council reconvened to adopt the following: a. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Miller moved, seconded by Councilman Kubby and carried unanimously that the claim of Lisa Merritt be denied because it is apparent that it is not timely filed. This Is not to be deemed an action on the merits of the claim. b. Councilman Kubby requested that the Minutes reflect the absence of Councllman Grabowski prior to the Porsonnel Session. Mayor Helgasson stated that Councilman Grabowski had requested par- ` mission to be absent. c. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Davey moved, seconded by Councilman Kubby and carried unanimously that the following sections of the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 1973-74 be adopted In the interest of allowing certain pertinent activities to proceed: (1) Federal Revenue Sharing Fund (Pp. 129-;47: (2) Hiring of 2 additional nointonanca men (Ctneral Fund) (Pp. 87 and 101) (3) A-qulsition of Cnp!tel Egaipment (Gena rel Fend) (P. 91). K. ALJCURN477: 12:15 P61 ONE Respectfully submitted, Karen R. Halvorsen Deputy City Clerk I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 20, 1973 (Regular Feeling) Councilman Grabowski re Guested that the following ccrrectien be inserted In the i,linures of June 20, 1973, (page 6) as Follows: Uv That the words "prior to" be omitted `rom paragraph J,i,b, and /-,v`,'„✓ the words "during and after" be insertea so that the paragraph reads: "b. Councilman Kuhby requested that the Minutes ref le^_t the absence of Councilman Grabowski during and after the Personnel Session." MOTICN, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Councilman Miller, and carried unanimously, to approve the Hinutes of June 20, 1973, as amended.