HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/01/1973CITY COUNCIL
TOW1 OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
WHITES OF A REGULAR i7EETI'YG
August 1, 1973
CC Reel 56: Side 1 Track 1 411 to End
Side 2 Track ' 000 to 331
Mayor Leslie Heigesson called the regular meeting of the City Council of the
Town of Los Altos Hills to order at 9:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of
Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California.
A. ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilman Grabowski, Councilwoman Miller, Mayor Helgesson,
and Commissioner Phillips for the Environmental Planning Commission.
B. CONSENT CALENDAR:
At the request of Councilman Grabowski, Item 4, a motion to grant a
GO -day extension for filing of final map on lands of Costello (Tract
ib. 4340) was removed from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration.
` NOTION, SECOIIDED AMD CARRIED: Counciiwoman !tiller, "loved, seconded by
Councilman Grabowski, and carried unaninously to adopt the remaining
items on the Consent Calendar, namely:
1. Approval of Hinutes, July 10, 1973 and July 23, 1973.
2. Approval of I"arrants: $15,700.66.
31. 4. MOTIONS FOR ADOPTI0N:(Removed fron Consent Calendar)
a. Notion granting 60 -day extension for filinn of final map on
lands of Costello (Tract No. 4840) per request of owner.
Councilman Grabowski asked the City Engineer to explain the reason for
the request.
Itr. Russell informed the Council that this item has been given an extension
before, and the present request was merely for the extension of time
in which the final map and papers on the subdivision must be filed. Mr.
Russell stated that the subdivision has already received approval from
the Environmental Planning Commission and the City Council and that he
felt there was no reason to deny this request.
MOTION, SECOADED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by
[L Councilwoman Miller, and unanimously carried that the request for a
F,0 -day extension on the lands of Costello be approved.
;" C. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR:
1. Mrs. R. F. Witmer, Summitwood Road, requested that her letter to
the City Council be read at this time.
Mr. Lawson, City Manager, read the letter from Mrs. Witmer
reqarding the status of Summitwood Road and the necessary repairs.
firs. Witmer stated that in the past when the Town was approached
and asked to repair the road that she was informed that this was
a private road and any maintenance would have to be at the expense
of the residents. After searching through records at the County
Recorder's Office, she found that the road was deeded to the Town
and accepted in 1957, and was once again before the Council re-
questing that the City take sone action to repair the road.
The City Attorney informed the Council that the Town could take
one of two approaches. They could abandon the road through public
hearings, or they could form an assessment district and bring the
road up to Town standards.
Mrs. Hecky, Summitwood Road, stated that the residents on the road
did not want the Town to reimburse them for monies already expended
on the road, but merely to take over the maintenance. She also
stated that abandonment would not be acceptable to the residents.
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded
by Councilwoman Miller and unanimously carried that this item be
placed on the Agenda for the Council meeting on August 15th.
2. firs. Florence Fava, Town Historian, requested the Council to take
some action on her request to have a Historical Ordinance adopted.
She said that she had talked to the City Attorney and he did not
have the document ready for Council review. To illustrate the
importance of such a document, she pointed out that the lands of
Costello had great historical meaning and that the proposed ordinance
would insure that there i,ai1i be some preservation of historical
monuments, and requested that something be done to insure the
preservation of the Juan Praeda Mesa located on the lands of
Costello.
The Council concurred that fir. Faisant should proceed with the
Historical Ordinance immediately and requested that the City
Manager meet with the owner of the subdivision and Mrs. Fava in an
effort to work out some arrangement to secure space for the
historical monument. The Council further granted Mrs. Fava
permission to begin arrangements for the Town's input in the BI-
centenial celebration.
3. Mrs. Mary Valenti, Olive Tree Court, requested that the Council lift
L the requirement of off -tract frainage as one of the requirements on
'r their building site approval.
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` The Council reviewed the request of Mrs. Valenti and the information
given by Mr. Lawson on the history of this item. Mr. Lawson informed
the Council thz.t the Environmental Planning Commission had reviewed
the situation and recommended that the City Council order only one
catch basin instead of the two currently required by the Town
Engineer.
MOTION, SECONDED, AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded
by Councilwoman Miller and unanimously carried that the request for
elimination of the off -tract drainage as part of the building site
approval requirement be continued to the next regular meeting of the
City Council, at which time additional information should be
provided by the Staff.
D. CONTINUING BUSINESS:
1. Discussion of Town Newsletter
Mr. Lawson inquired as to whether the Town Newsletter should be
continued on a quarterly basis since the time is approaching for
another issue.
Mayor Helgesson stated that he felt the newsletter decision should
be held over until the two new members of the City Council were
oar elected.
MOTION. SECONDED AND CARRIED: Mayor Helgesson moved, seconded by
Councilman Grabowski, and unanimously carried that the question of
continuance of the town newsletter be continued until after the
upcoming election and appointment of the new Council members.
2. SuDDlemental Day Patrol Service provided by Santa Clara Count
Sheriff's Department
Mrs. Erma Goldsmith reviewed the Traffic and Public Safety Committee
report with the Council. The Committee felt this particular item
was very important and wanted to do an in-depth study, but that more
time would be required. She said the Committee would like to review
both sides of the question of continuing the supplemental service
now given by the Sheriff's office versus hiring a code enforcement
officer. The Committee would move their next meeting ahead so that
a full report would be available for the next meeting of the Council.
The Council continued the item until their meeting on August 15th,
instructing fir. Lawson to contact the Sheriff's Office and request
that they continue their supplemental service two days beyond the
contract expiration date at which time the City Council will meet
and make their decision.
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3. Review and establish riorities for Capital Improvements Program
or t e rsca ear.
Mayor Helgesson described his findings on the conditions of the
roads after his field trip on Monday, July 23 with the City
Manager, City Engineer, and members of the Council. Council
members discussed the priorities they would set for road improve-
ments and drainage improvements. Councilman Grabowski requested
that the Mayor list his findings for review and the item be
continued to the August 15th meeting of the City Council for action.
A field trip for Monday, August 6, 1973 at 1:30 P.M. was also
scheduled.
4. Proposed Plans for expansion of Town Hall
The consensus of the City Council was that Mr. Minkley finalize
plans to enable a call for bids on the following items for the
expansion of Town Hall and present them to the City Council for
review at their August 15, 1973 meeting.
1. Addition to the north of building.
2. Restrooms brought up to code.
40 3. Provide sprinklers and alarm system per code.
4. Provide air conditioning and heating on alternate basis.
5. Repair audio system.
6. Provide better seating arrangement.
The Council concurred that at this time the south addition should
be eliminated and the Council table should remain the same. The
Council further decided to take under advisement any rearrangement
of office space discussed during Study Session.
E. CURRENT BUSINESS
1. Construction of Private Drivewa on apparent public right-of-wa
TYT7aminLto)- Memo rom C ty ngineer
The City Attorney informed the Council that after reading Mr.
Russell's memo, he found the road to be a private road, but subject
to an offer of dedication. Mr. Faisant stated that the Council's
permission was needed to reduce the required road size from the
14-16 ft. Town standards requirement to a 10 foot exception. He
also said that the applicant would have to remove a row of trees in
order to widen the proposed driveway to Town standards.
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilvxmmn Miller moved, seconded
by Councilman Grabowski and unanimously carried that the applicant be
granStaff makethe
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amendmentswto thesize
checklist. aand that
4 2. Securit Re utations for Commercial Janitorial Services proposed
by—mac n�an rabowsk
Councilman Grabowski stated that for some time he has been concerned
over alleged thefts being reported by residents following the use
of contracted Janitorial Services. In many instances, he alleges,
the owner of the property has been requested to leave the premises,
or, in any event, not follow the workmen from room to room. He
requested that for the protection of private property for the citizens
of the Town that the Town consider an ordinance requiring all
Janitorial Services dispatching employees to work in the Town to
verify to the City Manager that said employees had been subjected to
a routine background check and, if possible, a credit check.
After discussion by the Council and speakers from the floor, the
Council instructed Staff to contact the County Counsel to determine
the legality of this proposed ordinance.
F. NEW BUSINESS BY COUNCILMEN
1. Councilman Grabowski stated that the memo prepared by Mr. Bellucci
regarding the EIR status of his property was inadvertently included
in his packet. He asked the City Manager if it was possible for him
t to receive a copy of the report.
�r Mr. Lawson informed Councilman Grabowski that the item was going
before the Environmental Planning Commission at their next regular
meeting and following that meeting he would provide Council members
with copies of the EIR.
G. ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION
1. Ordinance No. 212 fixing the tax rate for the 1973-74 Fiscal Year
at $.40 (forty) per $100 (one hundred) assessed valuation.
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded
by Councilwoman Miller and unanimously carried, waiving further reading
and introducing the ordinance by Title.
H. ORDINANCES FOR ADOPTION
1. Ordinance No. 211 amendinq Section 9-5.504 of the Municipal Code
(Zoning- Clarifying etbac Re u rements .
MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded
by Councilwoman Miller and unanimously carried, waiving further
reading.
2, Councilman Grabowski requested that an Urgency ordinance be adopted
regulating the expenditures of campaign funds to $.15 (fifteen)
per registered voter. He stated he felt that many good candidates
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are unable to run for office because they haven't the money to
carry on the large campaigns as their opponents sometimes have.
He felt that limiting the expenditures would insure that everyone
had an equal chance to be elected to office based on his merits
and qualifications as opposed to financial means.
fir. Faisant read the proposed ordinance to the Council and stated
that if adopted, the Ordinance would take effect immediately. The
Ordinance would add Section 2-1.127 to the Los Altos Hills Municipal
Code.
Councilwoman Miller questioned the urgency of such an Ordinance.
MOVED AND SECONDED: Councilman Grabowski raved, seconded by Mayor
Helgesson that the urgency Ordinance be adopted. Councilwoman
Miller voted NO. Because a 4/5 vote is required for an urgency
Ordinance, the motion failed. The Council instructed Staff to place
this item on the August 15th Agenda for further discussion.
I. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Council adjourned to Executive Session (Personnel € Litigation)
at 12:00 Midnight.
J. ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned at 1:25 A.M.to a meeting on Monday, August 6,
1973 at 1:30 P.M. for a Field Trip to review capital improvement':
projects and Executive (Personnel) session.
Respectfully submitted,
Norma J. Hislop
Deputy Clerk
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