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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/16/2015�w Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Special Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 16, 2015 Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California Mayor Corrigan called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER (4:00 P.M.) A. Roll Call Present: Mayor Corrigan, Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian, Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Spreen, Councilmember Waldeck Absent: None Staff: City Manager Carl Cahill, City Attorney Steve Mattas (arrived at 4:21 p.m.), Public Works Director/City Engineer Richard Chiu, City Clerk Deborah Padovan B. Pledge of Allegiance 1. PUBLIC HEARING A. Public Hearing on the Removal of the Crosswalk Located on Fremont Road at Fremont Pines Lane Near Gardner Bullis School (Staff: R. Chiu) Mayor Corrigan opened the Public Hearing and explained the process for the meeting. Councilmember Radford presented a PowerPoint presentation outlining the history of the crosswalk in its current location. Ex Parte Communications: Councilmember Waldeck stated that he had a conversation with Los Altos School District Superintendent Jeff Baier; Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian and Councilmember Spreen had no ex parte communications; Councilmember Radford said he had a conversation with number (10 to 15) of Gardner Bullis parents, he discussed the topic at the Education Committee meeting on December 15, 2015, and also spoke with the principal of Gardner Bullis School; Mayor Corrigan disclosed that, in addition to talking to LASD Board Member Vladimir Ivanovic, she reached out to her neighbors including Norma Egan, Scott Vanderlip, Mary Vellequette, and she spoke with Councilmember Radford and 1 City Council Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2015 060 discussed it with several Gardner Bullis parents, including Amanda Boskin and exchanged emails. Mayor Corrigan acknowledged that both Superintendent Jeff Baier and Principal Katie Kinnaman were in the audience. Public Works Director Richard Chiu clarified that staff, along with the Traffic Consultant, looked into the Manual of Uniform of Traffic Control Devices and said there is no legal requirement that the crosswalk be marked at that location. Regarding the stop sign, there has not been a formal stop sign warrant analysis at this location. Mayor Corrigan said she attended the LASD meeting last week and provided information about the necessary requirements to remove the crosswalk. Jeff Baier, Superintendent, Los Altos School District, said that he was representing the Board of Trustees and reiterated that the School District requests that the crosswalk in front of Gardner Bullis be kept in place with the addition of a paid crossing guard. Superintendent Baier then responded to questions from the Council. Katie Kinnaman, Principal at Gardner Bullis School, spoke about the issue of student safety and requested that the crosswalk remain in place. Principal Kinnaman then responded to questions from the Council. Laura Weingram, Los Altos Hills, supported keeping of the crosswalk in the current location. Jennifer Carlstrom, Los Altos Hills, expressed concerns about potential liability if the Town removes the crosswalk. Margaret Pettit, Los Altos Hills, spoke in support of keeping the crosswalk. Erica Shapiro, Los Altos Hills, spoke in support of a crossing guard at that location. Elle RusselHapp, Los Altos Hills, said that she bikes to school and likes the crosswalk. She suggested having a crossing guard or neon flags to help. Kelly O'Neal, Los Altos Hills, said "please don't take away the crosswalk, add the neon flags or crossing guard." Claire Pettit, Los Altos Hills, said that she bikes and walks to school; she supported neon flags and a crossing guard. Alban Kasriel, Los Altos, asked that the crosswalk be kept and requested assistance to cross the road. 2 City Council Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2015 Gwen Kasriel, Los Altos, said that she has volunteered as a crossing guard, but requested that a paid crossing guard be hired. Nancy Bremeau, Los Altos, said that she thought it was unwise to remove the only crosswalk in front of the school Nico Bremeau, Los Altos, asked that the crosswalk remain and a crossing guard be put in place. Heather Rose, Los Altos Hills, suggested adding some crossing guards for the remainder of the school year. Tara Dhillon, Los Altos Hills, said that a raised crosswalk could solve the speeding problem. Councilmember Radford requested real data, year round on where the bikes are coming from specifically. Principal Kinnaman addressed the issue of the number of the bikes. Not all children ride bikes to and from school. Sometimes bikes are picked up in the middle of the day. �br Ty Connor, Los Altos Hills, said the majority of the traffic, including bikes, comes from the S curve. Mayor Corrigan closed the Public Hearing. Councilmembers asked the City Attorney about the town's liability with the crosswalk. City Attorney Mattas responded, outlining the Town's responsibility. Council discussion ensued. Amit Kothari, TJKM Transportation Consultants, clarified that the study and the report mostly focused the alternatives if the crosswalk is kept in place. If the Council chooses to remove the crosswalk, there are other ways to make it safer. Further Council discussion and deliberation ensued. Mayor Corrigan outlined as follows: Councilmember Waldeck volunteered to reach out and find a suitable working group with the parents and school community to come up with solutions; a proposed solution by March or April that can be given to a traffic engineer to review in totality; in the meantime, the crossing guard shall be handled by the school and the Council supported the use of neon flags; table the removal of the crosswalk, return in spring with proposals and conduct another study to evaluate what needs to be done, if anything. 3 City Council Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2015 Superintendent Baier said that there is training for crossing guards in terms of safety of autos, traffic and pedestrians; currently parents volunteer as crossing guards can be continued. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Moved by Councilmember Radford moved as follows: 1. Table any discussion of removing the crosswalk; 2. Endorse the concept of having the crosswalk fully staffed by crossing guards, morning and afternoon, with the Town to pay half of all costs through June 2016; 3. Establish an ad hoc taskforce led by Councilmember Waldeck, and including Los Altos School District representatives and parents, to discuss options including removal or non -removal of the crosswalk, what types of preventive measures could be taken. The taskforce will also look at additional traffic improvements in the area, including overall safety, overall patterns, and come up with a recommendation that the taskforce can agree upon and which can be implemented Summer 2016; the taskforce will be discussing the corridor as a whole for traffic safety. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian. Motion Carried 5 to 0: AYES: Councilmember Spreen, Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Waldeck, Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian, Mayor Corrigan NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 2. ONGOING BUSINESS A. Resolution Awarding of Contract for the Miranda Road Pathway Improvement Project to Redgwick Construction Company (Staff: R. Chiu) Public Works Director Richard Chiu presented the staff report. Council discussion ensued. Leslie Stuwe, Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition to the pathway. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Radford moved concerning the status of the Miranda pathway_ 1. Staff shall reach out to all affected property owners on Miranda, makingsure ure to outline the impact of the proposed pathway; 2. Item shall be sent to the Pathways Committee to reconfirm it as a top priority, along with the funds for the upcoming period of time, and then return to the Council City Council Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2015 with a recommendation. The motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian. Motion Carried 5 to 0: AYES: Councilmember Spreen, Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Waldeck, Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian, Mayor Corrigan NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 3. COUNCIL INITIATED A. Consideration of Naming a Street or Other Public Space in Memory of Town Founder Rex Gardiner (Councilmember Waldeck) Councilmember Waldeck introduced the item. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Waldeck moved at the first opportunity to find a place that reminds us of Rex and all that he has done for us. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Radford. Council discussion ensued. Jitze Couperus, Los Altos Hills, said there was a substantial amount of history on the first town council, but the person who actually was key to getting the Town established, wasn't allowed to be a councilmember. Vicki Gardiner -Taylor, said that her dad (Rex) loved to hike and would be grateful for any piece of open space that could be named in his memory. DIRECTION: Allow committees to weigh in and provide a recommendation on the naming a public place in memory of Rex Gardiner. The City Clerk shall inform the committees of the Council's request. Councilmember Waldeck amended his motion and Councilmember Radford withdrew his second to the motion. MOTION AMENDED AND SECONDED: Councilmember Waldeck moved to consider naming a street or other public place in memory of Town Founder Rex Gardiner. The motion was seconded by Pro Tem Harpootlian. Motion Carried 5 to 0. City Council Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2015 AYES: Councilmember Spreen, Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Waldeck, Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian, Mayor Corrigan NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None B. Discussion of Rescheduling the April 2016 City Council Meeting (Councilmember Waldeck) Councilmember Waldeck presented the item. Council discussion ensued. MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Mayor Corrigan moved to cancel the regularly scheduled meeting of April 21, 2016 and schedule a special meeting on Ami16. 2016. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Radford. Motion Carried 5 to 0: AYES: Councilmember Spreen, Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Waldeck, Mayor Pro Tem Harpootlian, Mayor Corrigan NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 4. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, 0 " 1 C4 .90 �-- Deborah Padovan City Clerk The minutes of the December 16, 2015 special City Council meeting were approved as presented at the January 27, 2016 special City Council meeting. City Council Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2015