HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/18/2013Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California
CALL TO ORDER (6:00 PM)
A. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Waldeck, Vice Mayor Radford, Councilmember Corrigan,
Councilmember Harpootlian, Councilmember Larsen
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Carl Cahill, City Attorney Steve Mattas, Planning
Director Debbie Pedro, City Engineer/Public Works Director Richard
Chiu, Finance Manager Richard Lee, City Clerk Deborah Padovan
B. Pledge of Allegiance
Los Altos Girl Scouts Troop 61543 presented the colors and led the pledge of
allegiance.
A representative from the Girl Scouts thanked the City Council for "making the
wonderful path to encourage walking and biking."
1. AGENDA REVIEW
Mayor Waldeck pulled items from the Consent Calendar and said Item 6.I would be
discussed first.
Further, 6. B, D, F, G and H were pulled in advance of the Consent Calendar.
The Council now considered CONSENT CALENDAR Item 6.I.
1. Proclamation Recognizing April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month (Staff- D
Padovan
Mayor Waldeck explained that the proclamation before the Council was to proclaim
April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness month. A similar proclamation was approved by
the Council last year.
Robin Katsaros, Los Altos Hills, stated that the proclamation is to celebrate and educate
the community about Parkinson's disease which affects one and a half million people
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April 18, 2013
annually across the United States. It is the second highest neurological disease in the
country.
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Larsen seconded by
Councilmember Corrigan and passed unanimously to approve CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 6.I reco ng izing April as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month.
Mayor Waldeck presented the Proclamation to Ms. Katsaros.
2. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
A. Request by Community Services Agency for Funding in FY 2012-13
Tom Myers, Executive Director of Community Services Agency, Mountain
View, stated that he was seeking funding from the Town as CSA did not participate
in the budget process for the current fiscal year. Further, he considers CSA's
partnership with Los Altos Hills to provide services to the community very
important.
Council discussion ensued.
Richard Lee, Finance Manager, responded to questions from Council and stated
that the budget for the community service grants was $65,600 and the Council
authorized disbursements of $60,000.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Larsen moved to approve
$5,500 for Community Services Agency, capping the total distribution ofresat
$65,000 in FY 2012-13. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Radford
AYES: Mayor Waldeck, Vice Mayor Radford Councilmember Harpootlian
Councilmember Larsen
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Councilmember Corrigan
MOTION CARRIED.
DIRECTION: Prepare a calendar of events so all agencies and individuals know
when the grant application process will begin, the response dates and when the
Council will issue the grants.
B. History Committee Annual Report
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Carol Gottlieb, Chair of the Los Altos Hills History Committee, provided the
annual report on the activities of the committee.
Jitze Couperus, Los Altos Hills History Committee Member, explained the
process for digitizing the historical documents.
Ginger Summit, Los Altos Hills History Committee Member, provided
information on what's ahead for the History Committee.
Council discussion ensued. No action was taken.
C. Traffic Safety Committee and CalTrans Presentation on the Proposed I-280/Pam
Mill Road Signalization Project
Public Works Director Richard Chiu provided the background on the project.
Kjell Karlsson, Chair of the Los Altos Hills Traffic Safety Committee,
introduced the CalTrans representative.
Ramiel Gutierrez, Representative from CalTrans, outlined the I/280 Page Mill
Road signalization project.
The Council asked questions of Mr. Gutierrez and received his responses.
Mr. Chiu provided the current status of the project.
Robin Katsaros, Los Altos Hills, stated that that there is a Park and Ride station
for carpools and the parking lot gets full. She hoped that the parking along Page
Mill would not be eliminated.
Mr. Gutierrez confirmed that the parking along Page Mill would not be removed.
Richard Partridge, Chair of the Planning Commission, Los Altos Hills, stated
that this topic has to come back to the Council as it will affect about one-third of the
Town and will inconvenience a large number of people.
Jaime Rodriquez, Chief Transportation Office for the City of Palo Alto, stated
that the City of Palo Alto has not had a policy discussion with their City Council on
the specific project as of this date.
Eileen Gibbons, Los Altos Hills, stated that committees do participate in Town -
wide outreach. The Pathways Committee had Town -wide meetings for the
Arastradero and the Fremont Road paths.
There was consensus for a Town -wide informational meeting by the Traffic Safety
Committee to review the project and receive public comments; that a representative
from the Traffic Safety Committee and the Planning Commission attend any public
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April 18, 2013
meetings that the City of Palo Alto may have where the topic is discussed; that staff
work with the County, CalTrans and the City of Palo Alto.
3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Persons wishing to address the Council
on any subiect not on the agenda may do so now. Please complete a Speaker Card
located on the back table of the Council Chambers and submit it to the City Clerk.
Comments are limited to two (2) minutes per speaker. California law prohibits the
Council from acting on items that do not appear on the agenda. Under a Resolution
previously adopted by the Council, such items can be referred to staff for
appropriate action, which may include placement on the next available agenda.
Emily Hanson, GreenWaste, San Jose, provided updates for the month of April;
Saturday, April 20th is fire prevention cleanup; Sunday, April 21 st is the Earth Day event;
and the quarterly clean-up is Saturday, April 27th.
Cory Wolbach, Office of Senator Jerry Hill, introduced himself to the City Council and
stated that he is the official liaison to the Town from Senator Hill's office.
4. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB -COMMITTEES AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES
A. Report from the Community Relations Committee on Public Art Donations to the
Town
Roger Burnell, Member of the Los Altos Hills Community Relations
Committee, presented the Council with the public art policy.
DIRECTION: The public art donation committee is a sub -committee of the
Community Relations Committee. The committee shall return at the next Council
meeting and present a final public art policy.
Be Report from the Community Relations Committee on the Town Picnic Budd
Barbara Waldeck, Chair of the Los Altos Hills Community Relations
Committee, updated the Council on the status of the picnic budget.
Council discussion ensued. No action was taken.
C. Report from the Education Committee on Public School Enrollment Data
(Education Committee Chair Heather Rose)
Heather Rose, Chair of the Los Altos Hills Education Committee, provided a
report on the 2012-13 enrollments.
Council discussion ensued. No action was taken.
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D. Report from the Westwind Barn Taskforce: Preliminary Findings (Taskforce
Chair Allan Epstein)
Finance Manager Richard Lee, presented a financial overview of Westwind
Community Barn operations and maintenance as of March 31, 2013.
Allan Epstein, Chair of the Taskforce to Review Westwind Barn, outlined the
taskforce's findings.
Council discussion ensued.
Nancy Couperus, Los Altos Hills, stated that the concessionaire model is the way
to go.
The report was received. No council action was taken.
The Council recessed at 8:50 p.m.
The Council reconvened at 9:00 p.m.
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Resolution Approving the Santa Clara Valley Water District Grant Fund
Application for the Purissima Creek Restoration Project at O'Keefe Open Space
Preserve (Staff. D. Pedro)
Planning Director Debbie Pedro presented the report.
Council discussion ensued.
Jitze Couperus, Los Altos Hills, stated that this was once CalTrans land when they
put in I-280 and CalTrans allowed the Town to purchase it. It is currently an open
space area and not for recreational purposes.
Ginger Summit, Los Altos Hills, stated that her family has used the area for
recreation for 40 years and that "it is a fabulous little hidden corner of the Town."
Eileen Gibbons, Los Altos Hills, stated that people do use that area and the
Pathways Committee has been asked to upgrade the O'Keefe to Robleda pathway.
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Vice Mayor Radford, seconded
by Councilmember Corrigan and passed unanimously to approve Resolution 20-13
Authorizingtpplication for Grant Funds from Under the Clean, Safe Creeks
and Natural Flood Protection Program of 2000.
At this point the Council considered Item 7.1).
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7.D. Planning Director: Verbal Update on the Development Area Policy
Regarding Artificial Turf
Planning Director Debbie Pedro stated that the Development Area Policy
regarding artificial turf had been reviewed by the Environmental Initiatives
Committee. The next step is to bring the item to the Planning Commission on May
9, 2013.
Council now returned to Ongoing Business — Item 5.13.
B. Resolution Establishing a Preferential Parking District in the Town of Los Altos
Hills for Tepa WU. #88-13-Misc. (Staff. D. Pedro)
Planning Director Debbie Pedro presented the report.
Council discussion ensued.
Rajiv Khemani, Los Altos Hills, spoke in support of the preferential parking
district. He requested the time be listed between 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on
weekends and holidays.
Gary Wimmer, Los Altos Hills, spoke in support of the parking district.
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Larsen, seconded
by Councilmember Corrigan and passed unanimously to approve Resolution 21-13
Establishing a Preferential Parking District for Tepa Way.
MOTION RESTATED, SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by
Councilmember Larsen, seconded by Councilmember Corrigan and passed
unanimously to restate the previous motion approving Resolution 21-13
Establishing a Preferential Parking District for Tepa Way to include modify times
from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
C. Discussion of a Joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills City Council Meeting (Staff. D.
Padovan
At this point, an item of urgency was added to the agenda.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Larsen, seconded by
Councilmember Corrigan and passed unanimously to add an Agenda Item to the Current
Agenda as Item 8.0 Discussion of Scheduling the Mandatory Sewer Meeting Date in July and
the MU Regular Meeting Date.
Council discussion on the joint meeting occurred.
DIRECTION: The City Clerk shall request from the City of Los Altos additional
dates in August, September and October.
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D. Proposed Draft Policy for Capital Improvement Project Review by the Planning
Commission (Staff. R. Chiu)
Public Works Director Richard Chiu presented the report.
Council discussion ensued.
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Corrigan,
seconded by Vice Mayor Radford and passed unanimously to approve the CIP
Review Policy with the following edit: that an additional paragraph (#9) be added to
clarify that all recommendations will be approved by the City Council, and to
remove the words "City Council" from the review process in Items 1 through 8.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Harpootlian, seconded
by Councilmember Larsen and passed unanimously to approve CONSENT
CALENDAR Items 6.A, 6.C, 6.J and 6.K.
A. Approval of Meeting Minutes: City Council Study Session - March 21, 2013
B. Approval of Meeting Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting - March 21, 2013
City Clerk Deborah Padovan stated that she would correct the wording on the
March 21, 2013 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, Item 2.G from "absent" to
"recuse."
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Harpootlian,
seconded by Councilmember Larsen and passed unanimously to approve
CONSENT CALENDAR Item 6.13Corrected Meeting Minutes for the Regular
City Council Meeting of March 21.
C. Approval of Meeting Minutes: Joint City Council and Finance and Investment
Committee Study Session - March 28, 2013
D. Review of Disbursements: March 1 2013 - March 31, 2013 $273,867.58
Councilmember Harpootlian asked if the Finance and Investment Committee
reviewed the monthly disbursements.
Finance Manager Richard Lee responded that the committee do not review the
disbursements in advance.
MOTION MADE AND CARRIED: Moved by Mayor Waldeck, seconded by
Vice Mayor Radford and passed unanimously to approve CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 6.1)Receive and Approve March 2013 Disbursements.
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E. Item Pulled -Intentionally Left Blank
F. Amend Resolution 71-12 Establishing Standing Committees and Adopting
General and Specific Rules Pertaining Thereto to Update the Pathways Committee
Charter (Staff: D. Padovan)
Vice Mayor Radford pulled the item in order for the Pathways Committee Chair to
comment.
Eileen Gibbons, Chair of the Los Altos Hills Pathways Committee, requested
that no changes be made until the Pathways Committee can test it.
Council discussion ensued.
Pat Ley, Chair of the Los Altos Hills Environmental Design and Protection
Committee, stated the volunteer committees are advisory and do not make
decisions. They pass on information to the Planning Department.
City Attorney Steve Mattas stated that if the tour by the Pathways Committee will
continue to be conducted on Saturday, needs to be in compliance with the Brown
Act.
r MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Larsen,
seconded by Councilmember Corrigan and passed unanimously to extend the
meeting past 10:00 p.m.
DIRECTION: The adoption of the resolution was tabled. Staff shall further edit
the resolution to include: if any committee engages in site visits, the homeowner
shall be properly notified in advance of said visit.
G. Proclamation Recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Week in Los Altos Hills
from May 5 through May 11, 2013 (Staff. D. Padovan)
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Larsen,
seconded by Councilmember Harpootlian and passed unanimously to Approve
Proclamation Recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Week.
H. Proclamation Recognizing Rex Gardiner (Staff: D. Padovan)
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Councilmember Larsen,
seconded by Councilmember Harpootlian and passed unanimously to Approve
Proclamation Recognizing Rex Gardiner.
J. Resolution Accepting the Grant of Public Storm Drain Easement; LANDS OF
r DJNH, LLC, 26420 Eshner Court (Staff. R. Chiu)
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K. Resolution Accepting Dedication of Right -of -Way Adjacent to Elena Road;
LANDS OF YIU, 26880 Elena Road (Staff. R. Chiu)
7. STAFF REPORTS
A. City Manager
No report.
Mayor Waldeck stated that the Council is receiving far too many verbal reports
and would like to see written reports in the packet.
City Manager Carl Cahill clarified that staff will have no problem complying with
the directive.
DIRECTION: The deadline to receive all staff reports and committee reports is one
week in advance of the City Council meeting. If the reports are not received by the
time the agenda is published, staff or the committee will not be allowed to present
the item to the Council.
B. City Attorney: Verbal Update on Tax Attorney Advice re: Dedications and
Donations
City Attorney Steve Mattas provided an update on the advice on the federal tax
attorney about whether or not the mandatory payments could qualify as charitable
deductions. The conclusion was "no." The tax attorney's advice was provided at no
charge. He further provided an update regarding charitable donations to the Town.
Council discussion ensued.
DIRECTION: Staff to provide more information on creating a 501(c)(3).
C. City Clerk
City Clerk Deborah Padovan reminded the Council of the Crime Prevention
Forum on April 25th and the Arastradero Trail Improvement Project
groundbreaking on April 26th.
E. Finance Director
No report.
F. Public Works Director: Verbal Update on Arastradero Pathwa s�Project
Public Works Director Richard Chiu provided an update on the Arastradero Trail
Project.
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Council discussion ensued.
Jitze Couperus, Los Altos Hills, inquired about how a horse may react to flashing
lights.
DIRECTION: The Planning Commission shall review the lighted cross walk.
8. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
A. Review Public Comments with Regard to the Safe Routes to School Project -
Fremont Road (Councilmember Harpootlian)
Councilmember Harpootlian presented the item. Council discussion ensued.
Heather Rose, Los Altos Hills, provided a summary of feedback she received from
parents and local community members. Further, she thanked the Council for the
project.
Ginger Summit, Los Altos Hills, stated she has been with the project since its
inception and is thrilled with the results.
Further discussion occurred. No Council action was taken.
B. Discussion of the Fremont Road Safe Routes to School Project - Phase II (Mayor
Waldeck
Public Works Richard Chiu provided the status on the project.
No Council action was taken.
Item 8.0 was added to the Agenda for discussion.
8_C Discussion on the Scheduling the Mandatory Sewer Meeting Date in July and the
May Regular Meeting Date.
Council discussed scheduling for May 2013.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Mayor Waldeck, seconded
by Councilmember Corrigan and passed unanimously to Reschedule the Combined
Finance and Investment Committee/City Council meeting to occur at 4:00 p.m. on
May 20 2013 schedule a special City Council meeting to occur on May 20, 2013 at
6.00 p.m., schedule a sewer financial discussion on July 31, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. and
cancel the May 16 2013 Regular City Council meeting.
Councilmember Corrigan, provided an update on SB 629 and stated there would be a
weekly conference call with the lobbyist every Thursday.
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Mayor Waldeck met with the Chamber of Commerce and the Cities Association and
stated that we now have letters of endorsement from each on SB 629 going to Senator
Beall.
9. ADJOURN
On behalf of the entire Los Altos Hills City Council, Councilmember Larsen wished
Mayor Waldeck a very happy birthday.
Mayor Waldeck adjourned the meeting in Memory of Robert "Smitty" Smithwick. He
was instrumental in support of Foothill College and a founding member of the Town's
Emergency Communications Committee and a true gentleman.
The meeting adjourned at 11:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
X&ffl" IVM&anI
Deborah Padovan
City Clerk
The minutes of the April 18, 2013 regular City Council meeting were approved as presented at
the May 20, 2013 regular City Council meeting.
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