HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/15/2016 Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California
CALL TO ORDER(6:00 P.M.)
Mayor Harpootlian called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
A. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Harpootlian, Vice Mayor Waldeck, Councilmember Corrigan,
Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Spreen-
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Carl Cahill, City Attorney Steve Mattas, Planning
Director Suzanne Avila, Interim Public Works Director Tina Tseng,
Administrative Services Director Pak Lin, City Clerk Deborah Padovan.
B. Pledge of Allegiance
L AGENDA REVIEW
There were no changes to the agenda.
2. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
A. Reappointments to the Environmental Initiatives Committee
City Clerk Deborah Padovan presented the reappointment request.
Council discussion ensued.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Spreen moved to
reappoint Serena Giori and April Anair to the Environmental Initiatives.
Committee for a second, four-year term. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Corrigan.
Motion Carried 5 to 0:
AYES: Mayor Harpootlian,Vice Mayor Waldeck, Councilmember
Corrigan, Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Spreen
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NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
B. Annual Report by the Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Senior Commission
Jim Basiji, Chair of the Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Senior Commission,presented
the annual report of the Commission.
Council asked questions of Mr. Basiji and received his responses. No action was
taken.
Karen Lemes, Los Altos Hills Senior Commission, complimented Mr. Basiji's
chairmanship.
3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR Persons wishing to address the Council
on any subject 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.
Rosemarie Nahm, Los Altos Hills, raised to concerns that have come up over the last
year, namely, what are we doing about properties with underlying lot lines we need a
comprehensive management of the issue; and when will the town annex the remaining part
of Mora.
Planning Director Suzanne Avila reported about the annexation items,which includes 87
parcels, plus the road rights-of-way. She said that staff is working with. the County
regarding geotechnical issues on Eastbrook Drive.
City Manager Carl Cahill said that annexation is not a tool to force the merger of
underlying lots. Information was provided;no action was taken.
Lena Broydo, Los Altos Hills, said that the lovely country road of Purissima Road is now
a commuter lane raceway.
4. CONSENT.CALENDAR
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Radford moved to approve
the CONSENT CALENDAR, with the exception of Item 4.I, specifically: The motion
was seconded by Vice Mayor Waldeck.
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Motion Carried 5 to 0:
AYES: Mayor Harpootlian, Vice Mayor Waldeck, Councilmember Corrigan,
Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Spreen
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN:. None
A. Review of Disbursements: July 1, 2016- July 31, 2016 $644,721
B. Review of Disbursements: August 1,2016 -August 31, 2016 $982,047
C. Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Standing Purchase Orders for Fiscal
Year 2016-17 in an amount not to exceed $2,703,115 (Resolution 54-16) (Staff:
P. Lin)
D. Resolution 55-16 Amending the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Operating Budget to
Appropriate Fiscal Year 2015-16 Carryover Encumbrances (Staff: P. Lin)
E. Resolution 56-16 Accepting Dedication .of Right-of-Way Easement; Lands of
West Loyola Drive, LLC; 10490 West Loyola Drive(Staff: T. Tseng)
F. Resolution 57-16 Accepting Dedication of Right-of-Way Easement; Lands of
Good Moodys, LLC; 25616 Moody Road(Staff: T. Tseng)
G. Resolution 58-16 Acknowledging, but Rejecting the Offer of Dedication of Right-
of-Way Easement; Lands of McDermott; 25600 Burke Lane (Staff: T. Tseng)
H. Resolution 59-16 Accepting the Miranda Road Pathway Improvement Project
(Staff: T. Tseng)
J. Application for Olive Tree Lane Sanitary Sewer Main Extension Improvements-
Proposed for a Sewer Reimbursement Agreement(Staff: T. Tseng)
K. Adoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance 567 Amending Title 2, Chapter 6 -
Conflict of Interest- of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code(Staff: D. Padovan)
The Council now considered Consent Calendar Item No. 4.I.
L Resolution 60-16 Authorizing the City Manager to Award a Consulting Services
Contract to Provide Geotechnical Engineering Services for the Eastbrook Avenue
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Geotechnical Investigation(Staff: T. Tseng)
Vice Mayor Waldeck said that he pulled the item in order to inquire on why we are
doing this.
City Manager Cahill said it is a geotechnical investigation for Eastbrook Avenue.
That street is currently not in the town, but is in the urban service area. Our
geotechnical consultant is recommending an investigation of a portion of Eastbrook.
Allan Epstein, Los Altos Hills, said that this portion of the Town is closer to the
Magdalena section that contains a number of substandard lots in terms of their size.
Council discussion ensued. Vice Mayor Waldeck suggested that he would approve
the item with a caveat that if something is found with the road,the Town negotiates
strongly with the County.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice Mayor Waldeck to adopt Resolution.
60-16 authorizing the City Manager to award a consulting services contract to
Cotton, Shires & Associates for investigation of geotechnical conditions beneath
Eastbrook Avenue. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Corrigan.
Motion Carried 5 to 0:
AYES: Mayor Harpootlian, Vice Mayor Waldeck, Councilmember Corrigan.,
Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Spreen
NOES: None
ABSENT: None"
ABSTAIN: None
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Adoption (Second Reading) of Ordinance 566 Amending Sections 10-1-503 And
10-1.1007 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code Modifying Development
Regulations for.Substandard Lots; File#342-15-Misc; CEQA Review: Categorical
Exemption Per Section 15061(B)(3) (Staff: S. Avila)
Ex Parte Communications: Vice Mayor Waldeck reported that during office hours
earlier in the week he had a conversation with three residents in the DeBell area
and he also spoke with Harry Price; Councilmember Corrigan said she has had
conversations about scheduling, but no conversations of real substance other than
comments she has already made publically; Councilmember Radford spoke with
Harry Price, but other than that, -he has had no other conversations;
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Councilmember Spreen spoke with Estacada neighbors; Mayor Harpootlian
had some residents visit during mayor office hours.
Mayor Harpootlian opened the public hearing.
Planning Director Suzanne Avila presented the staff report.
Council discussion ensued.
Norman Happ, Los Altos Hills,presented information on substandard lots and was
not in support of the proposed ordinance.
William Bachalo, Los Altos Hills, said he has lived here since 1982 and has
enjoyed the smaller lots and charming, modest small homes. He was not in support
of the proposed ordinance.
Abbie Bourgan, Los Altos Hills, stated that he was not in support of the proposed
ordinance.
Barry Smith, Los Altos Hills, said that basing policies on outliers often creates a
bad general policy; he was not in support of the proposed ordinance.
Ray Strimaitis, Los Altos Hills, said that we have a system that works and was not
in favor of the proposed ordinance. •
Harry Price, Los Altos Hills, stated that has lived on a substandard lot since 1983
and he said "ditto" and support a number of earlier comments and was not in favor
of the proposed ordinance.
Wing Chau, Los Altos Hills, said "ditto" to what previous speakers had said.
Reza Ahi, Los Altos Hills, suggested a win-win formula and was not in support of
the proposed ordinance.
Navin R.Thadani,Los Altos Hills, was not in favor of the proposed ordinance.
Nina Twersky,Los Altos Hills,was not in support of the proposed ordinance.
Susan Bourgan, Los Altos Hills, said she was speaking on behalf of five of her
neighbors and stated that they were not in support of the ordinance.
Moj Razmi-Ahi,Los Altos Hills, was not in support of the proposed ordinance.
Ling Su,Los Altos Hills, spoke in opposition to the proposed ordinance.
Jade Lum,Los Altos Hills, stated her opposition to the proposed ordinance.
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Mayor Harpootlian closed the public hearing.
Council discussion ensued.
Councilmember Spreen said that he would like to give the Planning Commission
the tools to deal with the problems as setbacks and boxiness become an issue in.
some neighborhoods. He stated that he walked some of the neighborhoods. He
expressed that this proposal casts too wide of a net-and this solution overshoots and
doesn't take into account the neighborhood or shape of the parcel. As such, he said
he could not support the current proposal.
Councilmember Corrigan said that she has been steadfast in her opposition to this
ratio. The neighborhoods are as diverse and broad as our neighbors. As much as she.
would like to protect the rural feel of the Town, this ratio does not protect rural,
what it does is constrains or add more regulations.
Councilmember Radford said that he is unable to support the proposal.
Vice Mayor Waldeck said that there has been an awful lot of work on this and it
was driven by people trying to max out everything and asking for more. Most of the
provisions of this ordinance work and he recommended a trigger, if one has an
existing home, one should be able to replicate the floor area and if the
homeowner doesn't ask for a variance, you can use that as a basis for building
another home; if one asks for a variance, it would trigger the FAR.
Mayor Harpootlian explained that rules have been changed a number of times for
small lots. Perhaps the ordinance should be returned to the Planning Commission so
they can review again. This is a problem that is not going to go away.
Councilmember Corrigan said there should be sufficient direction to the Planning
Commission. Her consistent:and steadfast opposition to this ordinance is in no way
a reflection of disrespect of the Planning Commission, she just reserves the right to
disagree.
Further council discussion ensued.
Vice Mayor Waldeck suggested a friendly amendment; send it back to
the Planning Commission for subsequent.discussions. Councilmember Corrigan
rejected the friendly amendment.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Corrigan moved to reject
tonight's further reading and not adopt Ordinance 566 Amending Sections 10-1-503
and 10-1.1007 of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code Modifying Development
Regulations for Substandard Lots. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
Radford.
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Motion Carried 3t 2:
AYES: Councilmember Corrigan, Councilmember Radford, Councilmember
Spreen
NOES: Mayor Harpootlian, Vice Mayor Waldeck
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Mayor Harpootlian thanked everyone who spoke and the Planning Commission for
the efforts they placed on this topic.
The Council meeting went into Recess at 8:32 p.m.
The Council reconvened at 8:40,p.m.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Exemption Request for Pathways Committee Chair(Staff: D. Padovan)
City Clerk Padovan presented the report.
Council discussion ensued.
Sue Welch, Los Altos Hills,said that in order to have a functioning committee, the
leadership must have the confidence and the cooperation in the members. The
members of Pathways Committee have overwhelmingly indicated their confidence
in Ann Duwe and Eileen Gibbons.
Carol Gottlieb, Los Altos. Hills, said this goes back to the 1980s when
the committee was putting the first pathway element in the general plan. She was
chair of the committee at the time, her chairmanship was expiring and so was her
term. She was allowed to continue to serve. She requested the Council to allow
Ann Duwe to continue to serve as Chair of the Pathways Committee.
Nick Dunckel, Los Altos Hills, said it is inappropriate to change chairs during a
complicated master path plan update process and offered his support for Ann Duwe
to continue as chair of the Pathways Committee.
Bridget Morgan, Los Altos Hills, said she nominated Weegie Caughlin for chair
of the Pathways Committee. Weegie has extensive executive experience and is
qualified to assume the position of chair.
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Weegie Caughlin, Los Altos Hills, said she accepted Bridget's nomination because
she would really like to be chair at some point. Ann's expertise will be greatly
appreciated. Ms. Caughlin understands the work it takes to carry on the job of the
chair..
Further Council discussion ensued.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Radford moved to
approve Ann Duwe to continuing to serve as Chair of the Pathways Committee until.
her term ends in November. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
Corrigan.
Motion Carried 5 to 0:
AYES: Mayor Harpootlian, Vice Mayor Waldeck, Councilmember Corrigan,
Councilmember Radford, Councilmember Spreen
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
B. Discussion of November and December City Council Meeting Schedule (Staff: D.
Padovan)
City Clerk Padovan presented the report.
Council discussion_ensued. No action was taken.
7. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES,AND
COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES
Councilmember Corrigan stated and Councilmember Spreen and she will be meeting
Monday morning as a subcommittee to review the cost of pathways construction.
8. STAFF REPORTS
A. City Manager
City Manager Cahill reported after the policy for cost sharing for cable service was
approved last month, the residents of Julietta Lane have sent their share of the
money to Comcast and the Town has also sent its share. Comcast expects the cable
to be provided to the residents of Julietta Lane by the end of November.
B. City Attorney-No report.
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C. City Clerk-No report_
D. Planning Director—Report on the Next Steps for Future Annexations
Planning Director. Avila reported on future annexation plans. Councilmember
Radford suggested not annexing any additional areas without understanding of
possible underlying lots.
E. Administrative Services Director-No report.
F. Public Works Director-No report.
City Manager Cahill introduced Tina Tseng as the Interim Public Works Director.
9. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
A. Discussion and Possible Action to Elect a Vice Mayor for 2017 (Councilmember
Radford)
Councilmember.Radford expressed his desire to serve as Vice Mayor for 2017.
Vice Mayor Waldeck stated that it has been the Council's practice to elect a vice
mayor earlier in the year.
Mayor Harpootlian spoke to a procedural issue. He said as the Council has the
potential to have three new members after the election, he suggested that the vote of
Vice Mayor wait.until new council is seated.
Council discussion ensued.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Vice Mayor Waldeck moved to elect
John Radford as Vice Mayor for 2017. The motion was seconded by
Councilmember Corrigan.
Motion Carried 3-0-2:
AYES: , Vice Mayor Waldeck, Councilmember Corrigan, Councilmember
Radford
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Mayor Harpootlian, Councilmember Spreen
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10. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah Padovan
City Clerk
The minutes of the September 15, 2016 regular City Council meeting were approved as
presented at the November 17, 2016 regular City Council meeting.
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