HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/03/1967d ,
CITY COUNCIL
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
{ MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
April 3, 1967
The Regular Meeting of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills was called to
order by the City Manager, Lowell W. Morse, in the absence of the Mayor, at 7:50 P. M.
Monday, April 3, 1967 at the Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilmen Aiken, Davey, Fowle
,ABSENT: Mayor :Henley
PLANNING COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE: Commissioner A. C. Prentice, Jr.
ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO TEM: For Meeting of April 39 1967,
NOMINATION: Wm. Ross Aiken; BY: Davey; SECOND: Fowle;
ACTION:
That Nominations be closed.
MOTION: Fowle; SECOND: Davey; VOTE: Passed unanimously
Mayor Pro Tem Aiken took'the Chair to preside over the meeting.
APPROVAL OF _MINUTES: March 20, 1967.
ACTION:
Adopt Minutes of March 20, 1967 as submitted.
MOTION: Fowle; SECOND: Davey; VOTE: Passed unanimously
COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Robin D. Faisant�.CitY Attorney - Letter of March 28, 1967 forwarded letter from
Zurich Insurance Co. Jan 20, 1967) relative to Claim of Stephen Pingree, for
damages to automobile as result of accident occurring on Magdalena Road
Mr. Faisant recommended the Claim be denied.
ACTION:
That the Claim of Stephen Pingree be denied.
MOTION: Fowls; SECOND: Davey; VOTE: Passed unanimously
2. Robin D. Faisant, City Attorneys - Letter of March 28, 1967 forwarded Claim of
Sylvia Lief, for personal injuries. sustained as result of automobile accident on
Page Mill Road December 1964.
Mr. Faisant recommended the Claim be denied.
�-� ACTION:
That the Claim of Sylvia Lief be denied.
MOTION: Davey; SECOND: Fowle; VOTE: Passed unanimously
3-RobinD. Faisant, City Attorney - Letter of March 28, 1967 tendered res*gnation
as Asistant Director of Civil Defense of the Town of Los Altos Hills.
ACTION:
.That the Council accept the resignation of Robin D. Faisant as Assistant
Civil Defense Director of the Town of Los Altos Hills, with extreme regret,
and that Mr. Faisant assist the Council. in finding a replacement.
j4OTION: Fowle; SECOND: Davey; VOTE: Passed. unanimously
:ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Santa Clara County Inter -City Council - Monthly Dinner Meeting will be held
Thuraday, April ,L , 7 . e at Marson's Restaurant, Gilroy, California.
The Mayor's meeting will be held at 6:30 P. M. Mr. Milton Felstein, Director
of Technical Services, Bay_Area Air Pollution Control District, will speak and
presentslideson the Ray Area Air Pollution Control District and causes of air
pollution.
SCHEDULED ITEMS:
1, Mr, Marvin Nachtsheim, Engineer, reported that little progress has been made
since the last meeting. He stated that progress is being made in installation of
improvements in. Rose Hill Estates.
The Mayor Pro Tem requested Mr. Nachtsheim to exactly what is causing the delay.
The City Attorney explained, stating the Assessment District encompasses two
large subdivisions--Corbetta and Rose Hill Estates, and that it is not'possible
to include these subdivisions until underground improvements are installed which
-must be accomplished prior to the time the Resolution of Intent is adopted by the
City Council.
2. Path Priority List No. 2.
Mr. Horse, City Manager., stated the list was amended, and unanimously approved by
the Planning-Com6issionlat its meeting of March .27,:1967.
Mrs. Ez-:•Ginzton, Chairman of the Path Committee, submitted the fallowing amendment
to Item 5 -
"5. Elena Road bemade safe for pedestrians and equestrians between Natoma,
and Robleda-byusing: La Barranca between Purissimn. and, Elena, and thence
left to Robleda and right to Natoma Road. Signs will be needed directing
non -vehicular traffic to use La Barreaca and ashort path along Elena under
the Freeway will still be needed.
Professional engineering -design will be needed to lay out'a safe route
from Purissima to Natoma so that the path will neither cutaway the bank
nor be eroded away."
The City Manager commented that the basic need for the4-Priority List is to; have
on hand alist to be followed and also as an aid in budgeting funds.
Councilman Davey suggested that Item 2 should be amended, deleting the phrase in
' Line 1 --'to Town Standards', commenting further that paths should be suitable for
V bicyle use:
2
Priority List - Contid. ...
ACTION:
Thatthe.Council adopt the recommendation for amendment as read by
.::.Mrs. Giazton. -
MOTION: Davey; SECOND: Fowls; VOTE: Passed unanimously"
Mayor Pro. Tem Aiken raised a question relative to Items 9.and 10 and asked for
clarification. -
Mrs. Ginzton explained, relative to Item 9, 'No Road from E1 Monte to Moody
Court-, that the plan was to work to finish a path route from E1 Monte Road at
the Freeway Interchange and along Moody Road to Moody Court. She commented
that the Town needs a path along Moody Road within the Town Limits.
Relative to Item 10 'Route from Magdalena and San Antonio Roads or Freeway exit
to Moody Road for equestrian and pedestrian use particularly', Mrs. Ginzton stated
the proposal is for a cross-country route, and that. easements would have to be
gained on private properties. She further stated that a request has been made
to the State to gain a path easementalong the Junipero Freeway, but no answer
has been received.
The Manager was requested to follow through to gain an answer from the. State.
Mayor Pro Tem Aiken stated that. the Stonebrook -Drive sectionof road from
Magdalena Road to San Antonio -Road has been offered for dedication, but not yet
accepted (unincorporated area in the County).
ACTION: -.
That the Priority List No. 2 be approved as amended.
I MOTIQN:"Davey;, SECOND: Fowls:
The Mayor. Pro Tem asked for comments from the Floor. There being none, the
Question was called.. -
- VOTE: Passed unanimously
3. Consideration of Appointment of Auditor- City.,Treasurer. Arthur S. Alter.
Mr.. Alter explained .that only one applicant_ has. been interviewed, and, requested
the matter be. postponed until the next meeting.
UNSCHEDULED ITEM:
1, lJhiteomb Gla a A. --Request for Extension. of Time to File Final Subdivision Map
2 - _,.2 970 A;aetradero. Road. -
Mr. - Clayton J. Smith,. Building Inspector., stated that. a -request for an extension
of one year has been requested,. and pointed out the. fact that four (4). extensions
have previously been. granted.
The City
AtY stated the .new provisions of the_State Subdivision Map Pct now
._ p granting , ng nsions for tentative subdivision maps for more than one (1)
year.
) fflr'94 z. �ypWAI
l� ,9' Mrs. Whitcomb and her son explained they are negotiating to purchase 2/10 of
an acre in order to gain an additional building site and need additional time
to complete negotiations.
In view of the problem explained by Mrs. Whitcomb, Councilman Fowle asked the
Attorney whether the Council could accomodate Mrs. Whitcomb by postponing action
until the next meeting. The City Attorney ruled that the Council could grant no
further extensions. -
ACTION:
That the request of Gladys A. Whitcomb, for an extension of time to file
final subdivision map, be denied.
MOTION: Davey; SECOND: Fowls; VOTE: Passed unanimously
2. Rhus Ridge R-ncho Unit No. 2 - Approval of Engineering Requirements in Tract
No. W69
The City Manager explained that Santa Clara County Flood Control District,in
letter of March 22, 1967, had revised their recommendations of December 9, 1965
relative to flood control protection in the Rhus Ridge Rancho Subdivision. He
stated that the Planning Commission recommended approval of the revised require-
ments as stated in the letter from the Flood Control District.
In answer to Councilman Fowl's question of why this matter was before the Council,
Mr. Nachtsheim, Engineer, explained that the developers had appealed the require-
ments which had been approved by the Council when the Subdivision Nap was approved
subject to approval of cognizant agencies. Since the developers made the appeal,
the matter had to be brought back to the Council for approval of revisions.
ACTION:
Thatthe revised engineering requirements, as recommended by the Planning
Commission, on March 27, 1967, be approved.
MOTION: Fowls; .SECOND: Davey; VOTE: Passed unanimously
3
The Manager announced that Mayor Henley had written a letter requesting Mr.
Wm. A. Perkins to serve as the Town's representative.
Mr. Perkins was present and accepted the appointment.
4. Sapplementary Flood Control Facilities for Foothill Drainage_ Basins - Report by
Commissioner A. C. Prentice, Jr.
Commissioner Prentice reported the Planning Commission had recommended adoption of
the motion for supplementary flood control facilities for foothill drainage basins
which was unanimously passed by the Palo Alto City Council. He stated the motion
of the City Council of Palo Alto is the report, and motion as revised by the
Los Altos Hills Planning Commission is a recommendation for approval.
-4-
Supplementary Flood Control Facilities - cont -d..
,Councilman Davey commented that the motion follows with the philosophy of the Town
nwith regard to drainage.
The motion passed by the Planning Commission on March 27 1967 was read, as
follows:
"I. The Planning Commission recommends to the City Council that it is
urgent to adopt at this time a philospphy which will protest the
creek beds from erosion caused by the increased water£low resulting
from increased development. That we regard -our creek beds as a
natural asset and the moisture that falls on the hills as a valuable
water resource instead of as a drainage problem to be carried as
quickly as possible to the bay. We find it desirable to maintain
our stream channels without excessive erosion and scarring as positive
natural open spaces.
II. In addition, the Planning Commission recommends to the City Council
to initiate a pilot study of headwater storage basins in respect to
conservation of watersheds with these principal aims:
1. To retard peak flood runoff, reducing the need for downstream
channel construction. -
2. To minimize down stream siltation.
3. To provide open natural areas.
4. To provide neighborhood recreational opportunities.
5. To facilitate fire control and prevention.
6. To enhance neighborhood property values and contribute to
neighborhood stability.
7. To insure for posterity creek beds as open green areas laced with
ponds and green trees instead of drainage canals.
III. Further, .the Planning Commission requests the City Council to jointly
seek cooperation with the City of Los Altos , City of Palo Alto, and
the Slack Mountain Soil Conservation District to initiate a pilot
study under Public Law 566 to achieve the main purposes of:
1: Flood prevention.
2. Agricultural water development or utilization.
3. Agricultural drainage.
And the secondary purposes of:
1. Municipal water.
2. Fish and wildlife development.
3. Recreation.
4. Pollution abate."
ACTION:
That the Council adopt the motion as read.
MOTION: Davey; SECOND: Fowls:
l�1 Discussion followed, relative to recommendations that the cooperation of the
Cities with the Mack Mountain Soil .Conservation District to achieve their
common goals. -
-5-
Supplementary Flood Control Facilities - cont'd.
The Mayor Pro Tem asked for comments from the Floor. There being none, the
Question was called.
VOTE: Passed unanimously
5. Report of Sewer Committee.
Announcement was made that the following meetings have been scheduled:
April
11,
1967
- To hear
comments from
the audience.
April
18,
1967
- Experts
will present
answers to questions and City Engineer's
report
will be given
(no comments from audience).
6. Report of Drainage Committee.
Wm. Wm. A. Perkins reported the Committee had met for the third time at which
drainage courses, relative to creeks, were discussed; that the Committee has
met with the Planning Commission representative of the City of Palo Alto and
Mr. Morse, City Manager, with the objective being to discuss mutual drainage
problems. Future meetings will be held in an attempt to solve financing of
drainage implementation.
7. Report of Law Enforcement Committee.
Mr. A. E. Corduan, Chairman of the Law Enforcement Committee, submitted a coapro-
hensive report (copy attached to Record copy of Minutes).
Mr. Corduan commented on the report relative to traffic accident survey, using
a map, prepared by Mr. Kenneth Young, with layout of locations of accidents
occurring with the Town. He stated the Committee has information relative to
these accidents according to time of day, weather conditions, day of week, etc.
Recommendations of the Committee were reviewed and discussed by Mr. Corduan, re-
lative to the following: Foothill College and E1 Monte Road traffic, the Town's
contract with Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department, unsafe traffic conditions
on the Town's roads, need for engineering of roads to make them safe for traffic,
establishment of consistent speed limit policy, service of the Sheriff's De-
partment,and Budget for the Law Enforcement Committee to continue gathering
pertinent &its.
Mayor Pro Tem Aiken commended Mr. Corduan on the excellent work of the Committee
and the comprehensive report presented.
Councilman Fowle suggested the Committee meet with the County of Santa Clara
relative to constructions of roads with the Town, and that the Committee be
directed to negotiate with Foothill College and the Sheriff's Department.
Comments were heard from the Floor from the following: Mmes. R. W. Towle and
R. Goldsmith and Mr. David Janssen. Comments were relative to the Sheriff's
Department policy of issuing citations to offenders (how much over the speed
limit is allowable before citation may be issued?). The Manager was directed
to obtain this information from the Sheriff's Department.
�,..� 6. Consideration -of Lease Agreement With Bank of America for Accounting Machine.
The City Attorney was requested to present a resolution under RESOLUTIONS.
-6-
Mr. Faisant reported a violation of overflowing septic tank, stating that he has
brought the matter to the attention of the Health Department.
He was directed to proceed to take such steps, short of legal action, to gain
compliance with the Town's ordinance and report to the Council.
In answer to question from Councilman Davey, Mr. Faisant stated he had received
no reponse from owners having faulty septic tank facilities which were reported
at the March 20th meeting. He indicated he would report to the Council in order
to determine whether or not legal proceedings should be commenced.
The Attorney reported that he has been informed that a property owner has a storm
drainage system connected to the sanitary sewer system of the City of Los Altos.
He was instructed, by the Council, to proceed to have ,the violation abated.
Mr. Faisant announced the Building Inspector has requested a ruling relative to
the proposed conversion of a barn, on a parcel of land created prior to incor-
poration of the Town, to living quarters. He explained this means a change in
the permitted useof the property, and questioned whether provisions of Ordi-
nance No. 102 would have to be complied with, relative to Building Site approval.
Councilman Fowle asked if it were necessary to bring such matters before the
Council and whether they could not be handled by the Staff. The Attorney an-
swered that it has been the policy in the past, and that it seems to maintain
goodwill with the people in the Town.
Mr. Faisant announced that the Legislation Bulletin of the League of California
Cities indicated amendments to the Brown Act are 'dead' for this Session.
10. Report of the Cid Engineer.
Mr. Nachtsheim explained the displayed three-dimensional of a Town, showing topo-
graphy, trees, roads and developed areas. Recommendation was made by the plan-
ning Commission that the Town purchase this type of model for the Town to aid
in planning.
Chairman Minckley commented that a model layout of the Town would be most helpful.
It was pointed out that the cost --96600.00 would be shared by the Charles S.
McCandless Company. They will pay $300.00.
Diseuesion followed relative to step ontours on the model as opposed to sanded
contours and the proposed scale of 1" = 4001.
ACTION:
That the Council approve the purchase of a stop -countour model of the Town,
scale 1" = 400', the cost not to exceed $600.00 with the understanding that
the Charles S. McCandless Company will contribute one-half the cost.
MOTION: Fowls; SECOND: Davey;
ROLL CALL:. AYES: Davey, Fowls, Mayor Pro Tem Aiken
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Henley
Report- of CitMen agere .
,Mr. Morse announced his 'City Manager's Report' had been published in the Town Crier
march 29, 1967.
He reported a communication from the Santa Clara County Civil Defense Office had been
received announcing the office will test its outdoor warning equipment on Friday,
April. 29, 1967 at 11:00 A. M.
Mr. Morse reported the Sewer Committee needs to expend some funds to have the Engineer
,prepare an estimate of cost per homeowner --the difference in cost of Sewer Assessment
District No. 1 and Sewer Assessment District No. 2. The estimated expenditure is
"150-:00: _
ACTION:
That the Council authorize the expenditure necessary for an engineering study
for the Sewer Committee, as requested, not exceed '150.00.
MOTION: Davey; SECOND: Fowle;
ROLL CALL AYES: Davey, Fowle, Mayor Pro 'Tem Aiken
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Henley
PRESENTATION FROM THE FLOOR:
1. Robleda-Chapin Intersection.
Mr. J. Speigel, of 26925 Orchard Hill Lane requested an explanation of the pro-
posed change in the traffic pattern at the intersection of Chapin and Robleda Roads,
stating the plans had been delivered to residents in the area with no explanation.
Mayor Pro Tem Aiken pointed that this item was not on the published Agenda, and
that no action could be taken by the Council.
It was the feeling of the residents in the area that one-way traffic was not
feasible and therefore objectionable. Following discussion, the following plan
was agreed upon.
For southbound Robleda traffic approaching the Chapin intersection,
there should be placed 'No Left Turn' and 'Yield' signs. For the
Chapin Road traffic, approaching the intersection with Robleda, there
should be placed 'No Right Turn' and 'merging Traffic' signs.
No action was taken, and the Mayor Pro Tem requested the drawings be changed
-- and appear on the Agenda of the April 17' meeting.
RESOLUTIONS:
1. Resolution No. 388 - Requesting the California State Legislature to Enace Enabling
Legislation Relative to a Vehicle Use Fee to Finance a County -Wide Highway System.
Councilman Davey commented on the proposed resolution, endorsing a vehicle use fee,
relative to the fact there are no provisions for non -vehicular traffic using the
roads, and suggested that a certain percentage of the funds be set aside for
-� financing construction of public improvements for traffic other than motor vehicles.
-8-
Resolution No, 388 - cont'd.
Discussion followed relative to adoption of the Resolution. Mayor Pro Tem Aiken
/ expressed some misgivings in that he felt the legislation is proposed to get
I. around the people who are opposed to a bond issue.
The Attorney read the Resolution and the amendment, as proposed by Councilman
Davey.
ACTION:
Adopt Resolution No. 388 as read.
MOTION: Fowle; SECOND: Davey;
ROLL CALL: AYES: Davey, Fowls, Mayor Pro Tem Aiken
NOES: None
ASSENT: Mayor Henley
2. Resolution No. 389 - Directing the City Clerk to Canvass the Results of the
Special Municipal Election to be Held April 11, 1967.
The Resolution was presented and read by the City Attorney.
ACTION:
Adopt Resolution No. 389 as read.
MOTION: Davey; SECOND: Fowls;
ROLL CALL: AYES: Davey, Fowls, Mayor Pro Tem Aiken
NOES: Mayor Henley
3. Resolution No. 390 -- Authorizing Execution of a Certain Lease Option Agreement.
The Resolution was presented and read by the City Attorney.
ACTION:
Adopt Resolution No. 390 as read.'
MOTION: Davey; SECOND: Fowle;
ROLL CALL: AYES: Davey, Fowle, Mayor Pro Tem Aiken
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Henley
WARRANTS:
Bills, in the amount of EIGHT THOUSAND EIGHTY-SEVEN DOLLARS and Thirty --Nine Cents
($8087.39), were presented by Councilman Fowls.
ACTION:
That the bills, as presented, be approved; that the City Clerk be authorized
to draw appropriate warrants.
MOTION: Fowls; SECOND: Davey;
ROLL CALL: AYES: Davey, Fowle, Mayor Pro Tem Aiken
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Henley
MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:15 P. M.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: Monday, April 17, 1 M. at the Town Hall.
,
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4-3-67