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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/21/1970CITY COUNCIL TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 6 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING December 21, 1970 REEL 33 - SIDE 2, TRACK 1 -- FOOTAGE 00-1385 REEL 33 - SIDE 2, TRACK 1 -- FOOTAGE 00-185 Mayor Walter A. Benson 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 the Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, with the following members answering roll call: Present: Councilmen Corbett, Grabowski, Helgesson and Mayor Benson. Councilman Davey arrived at 8:03 P.M. PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE: Commissioner Don Hibner APPROVAL OF MINUTES: December 7, 1970. Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Corbett and carried unanimously (Davey absent) that the Minutes of December 70 1970 be approved, with the following correction. Under Scheduled Item No. 2, wherein the proposed regional park district was discussed at the top of page 3 after the word "would", delete the words "be, because" and insert "take place only if" so that the first sentence reads "Mayor Benson noted that any such tax increase would take place only if the voters elected to form the Regional Park District." COMMUNICATIONS: 1. The Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission notified of a hearing to be held January 6, 1970, regarding annexation by Purissima Water District of 172+ acres in the vicinity of Taaffe, Elena and Altamont Roads. This area is currently served by a private water district. 2. Letter from Mr. William Penn Mott, Jr., of the State Department of Parke and Recreation advised of a meeting scheduled January 59 1971 at 1:00 P.M. in Sacramento to discuss proposed revisions to the rules governing disbursement of the State's apportionment to local government from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 3. The League of California Cities bulletin stated the league is developing a statewide campaign aimed at obtaining additional revenue for cities at the 1971 Legislative Session. ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. Mayor Benson complimented Mrs. Irma Goldsmith for her decorative efforts that provided a Christmas air to the Council Chambers and expressed the Town's appreciation. 2. Councilman Grabowski requested and received Council concurrence to take out of sequence, Resolution No. 609 which rejects the litigation instigated by the Confederacion de Is Raza Unida to induce the judicial to legislate local zoning 4W ANNOUNCEMENTS: Cont'd contrary to the wishes of the Town citizenry. 6 The City Attorney noted this resolution merely reaffirmed the Town's zoning policy and a resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills concerning zoning regulations. Council discussion concurred. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Helgesson and carried by unanimous roll call vote, that Resolution No. 609 be adopted as read. Mayor Benson stated that "at the time of incorporation and in many elections since, the citizens of Los Altos Hills have expressed their determination that this be a rural community. The present legal action is an attempt to impose a different judgment upon us. The Council will take all steps necessary to defeat this legal action." SCHEDULED ITEM NO. 1: PRESENTATION BY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON BURGLARY PREVENTION. Sergeant Term of the Community Relations Office of the Santa Clara Sheriff's Department presented numerous points that would be beneficial to residents in regard to burglary prevention as well as aids in apprehension of stolen property. (Copies of the points highlighted were provided to the Town and are available at Town Hall.) SCHEDULED ITEM NO. 2: APPEAL OF PLANNING COMMISSIONS ACTION DENYING APPROVAL OF THE MATADERO OAKS TENTATIVE MAP FOR 44 LOTS. Staff reviewed this proposed subdivision which the Planning Commission had unanimously denied at their December 14, 1970 meeting per Section 6:40 of Ordinance No. 69, as amended by Ordinance No. 150, whereby 1f difficult terrain exists, lots larger in area than the minimum specified in the Zoning Ordinance shall be provided as necessary to accomplish the p¢poses set forth in this Ordinance. It was noted that the applicant had complied with all requests from the Planning Commission and Staff by revising their Tentative Map on two occasions; the minimal standards of the Town ordinances had been met and a Town retained engineering geologist had reviewed the soils report and found no evidence of gross instability. Extensive discussion as to the subjective interpretation of the ordinance in denial of the map by the Planning Commission ensued with floor participation by Commissioners Hibner, Perkins, Spencer and Chairman Weisbart. They reiterated that due to the perciptous terrain, 11 of the 44 lots were in excess of 30% slope and that their denial was to uphold the ordinances as well as the spirit of the ordinances. The applicant noted that by relocating building sites they would guarantee that no more than five building sites would be located greater than 30% slopes. Council consensus was that this proposal by the applicantwarranted consideration. Additional floor participation supporting the denial by the Planning Commission was voiced by Mr. John Ewing, 27811 Lupine Road; Mr. Duane Fullerton of the Sierra Club; Mrs. Florence Pave, 26691 Moody Road; Mr. Halsey Hoyden, 13466 Three Forks Lane; Mr. Dick Stark, 13686 Page Mill Road and Mr. Riser 27660 Central Drive. SCHEDULED ITEM NO. 2: MATADERO OAKS Cont'd f Motion by Councilman Davey to uphold the Commission's action and deny approval of the Tentative Map for Matadero Oaks died for lack of a second. Majority consensus of the Council was that the matter should be referred back to the Commission since resolution of the problems posed appeared near. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Grabowski moved, seconded by Corbett and carried unanimously to return the Tentative Map for Matadero Oaks to the Planning Commission for resolution of outstanding problem so that specific recommendations would be presented for consideration at the January 18, 1971 council meeting. Council concurred that informal recommendations to provide guidance to the Commission would be appropriate rather than giving them specific stipulations in the referral back to the Planning Commission. SCHEDULED ITEM NO. 3: DISCUSSION OF OPEN SPACE PLAN FOR LOS ALTOS MILLS. Councilman Davey noted the lead being taken by Palo Alto to conserve the foothills and proposed the Council set up a priority program to conserve as much as possible of the foothills within the Town limits. She urged the following five steps be initiated to accomplish this goal. 1. Develop a statement of policy regarding the conservation of open space resources within the Town, 2. Prepare an element of the Town's General Plan for open space conservation. 3. Prepare an inventory of open space areas, and rank them as to priority for preservation and conservation. 4. Develop the framework necessary to implement the open space program within the Town. 5. Develop financing arrangements to be used on a continuing basis for acquisition of open space. She proposed Council consideration of a bond issue that would be presented to the voters to finance the land acquisition plan. Council discussion noted the present Town indebtedness from land acquisition commitments and that the Townwide survey sents would be burdenaforional tax made lst s thheeepurchaseted re of more open space atithis time. MayooraBensontauggeated perhaps a vote of the residents might be desirable since the sentiments expressed in the Twn surveyement with Districtopromoters Welt was noted, ehowever, that oaeregional ecost diaringby the gional Park might attract support for formation of a district park but an agressive Town -only financed program possibly would not. Council concurred to continue this proposal to the next meting to allow additional study, so that if they wish the Planning Commission to pursue this matter, that more specific guidelines could be provided. UNSCHEDULED ITEM N0, 1: REPORT ON DRAINAGE PROBLEM OF RICHARD B. OLIVER. Staff noted that at the last meeting the Town Engineer was requested to study Mr. Oliver's drainage problem and report back to the Council. Mr. Crabtree's study 4WAttorney that the problem initiates and exists on private property and the City Attorney noted that resolution of Mr. Oliver's problem was a private matter to be worked out between he and the developer. -3- UNSCHEDULED ITEM NO. 2: REQUEST FOR PERMISSION TO FILE A PARCEL MAP: MT. HELEN. Staff stated that the Mt. Helen property had been approved by means of a Tentative Map for splitting into two parcels and the conditions placed on this have or will be met, should permission be granted to file a Parcel Map. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Corbett and carried unanimously to allow Mt. Helen to file a Parcel lisp subject to a $50 filing fee and costs for Town engineering. UNSCHEDULED ITEM NO. 3: REPORT FROM COMMITTEE STUDYING FIRE ORDINANCE. Commissioner Hibner recommended that the Town adopt the Uniform Fire Code in entirety rather than portions thereto as previously suggested. He acknowledged that although some areas were not now applicable, that they may be some day. Council discussion ensued with floor participation from A. M. Laws, 11210 Hooper Lane. Council concurred to defer action at this time. UNSCHEDULED ITEM NO. 4: DISCUSSION OF HOLIDAYS, ETC., FOR 1971. This item was continued to the next meeting. UNSCHEDULED ITEM NO. 5: PURCZASE OF LAND FOR LITTLE LEAGUE PARK. 00 Staff advised that the Palo Alto Unified School District agreed not to require a double payment at this time for purchase of the Little League and in effect made payment due at the end of the year instead of the beginning. The initial payment of $11,056 was on this meeting's warrant list, but Council majority consensus was that since the contract had still not actually been received, that the amount should be stricken from the warrant list. Reservations were expressed by Councilmen Corbett and Grabowski that the cost of the pending zoning suit may preclude consummation of the purchase agreement. Councilman Davey stated she felt the suggestion to renege on this contract was unthinkable, but majority consensus was that this must be a consideration because the Town moat be ready to prioritize its expenditures if the pending litigation necessitates. RESOLUTIONS: RFSOLUTION NO. 610 City Attorney introduced and read in its entirety Resolution No. 610,a resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hiller requesting the League of California Cities give more consideration to cities under 20,000 in program planning. MgTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Helgesson moved, seconded by Grabowski and carried by uranimous roll call vote that Resolution No. 610 be adopted as read. -4- RESOLUTIONS: Cont'd. t RESOLUTION NO. 611 City Attorney introduced and read in its entirety Resolution No. 607, a resolution of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills requesting the League of California Cities to urge legislation to alleviate the problem of litter, etc. MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilman Davey moved, seconded by Grabowski and carried by unanimous roll call vote that Resolution No. 611 be adopted as read. WARRANTS: MOTION, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Councilmen Helgesson moved, seconded by Grabowski and carried by unanimous roll call vote, that the warrants as presented in the amount of THIRTY-TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE DOLLARS AND Seventy -Four Cents ($32,163.74) be approved and the City Clerk authorized to draw the appropriate warrants. OTHER BUSINESS BY COUNCILMEN: 1. Councilman Grabowski stated he had requested the City Manager contact Foothill College to investigate the possibility of broadcasting Council meetings. Staff noted they had not received a response as yet as to the feasibility. 2. Councilmen Grabowski stated that since each councilman had been named as a defendent in the litigation before the Town, be enjoined all councilmen to withhold revelation of the aum or the substance of matters discussed in litigation sessions and "I further advise you separately that should it come to my attention by whatever means that privileged information has been revealed, I will proceed with civil action to restrain that individual from further eroding my legal rights plus an action to seek damages in the event the plaintiff prevails.' 3. Councilman Davey stated in regard to Resolution No. 609 that: "The zoning of Los A1tos,Hills is not designed to have an effect of racial or social restriction. If it were so designed I would be fighting it myself. In fact the result sought was and is a preservation of openness, space, some last degree of rural quiet. These things are expensive to buy and to keep. The inability of everyone to live in Los Altos Hills naturally follows: but the restriction is solely economic and not otherwise:' ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Mayor Banton adjourned the meeting at 11:40 P.M. to a Litigation Session and would reconvene solely to adjourn (12:10 P.M.) to: NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, January 4, 1971 at 7:45 P.M. at Town Mall. TJK:jm 12/21/70 Respectfully submitted, �' City Clerk VV Town of Los Altos Hills -5-