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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/16/2017 (2) 1 Joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting November 16, 2017 Special Meeting Minutes of the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills and the City Council of the City of Los Altos Thursday, November 16, 2017 Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California Mayor Waldeck called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER (4:00 PM) A. Roll Call Present: Town of Los Altos Hills Mayor Waldeck, Vice Mayor Radford, Councilmember Corrigan, Councilmember Spreen, Councilmember Wu City of Los Altos Mayor Prochnow, Vice Mayor Mordo, Councilmember Bruins (arrived at 4:20 p.m.) Councilmember Lee Eng, Councilmember Pepper Absent: None Staff: Los Altos Hills City Manager Carl Cahill, Los Altos City Clerk Jon Maginot, Los Altos Hills City Clerk Deborah Padovan B. Pledge of Allegiance 1. PUBLIC COMMENT (PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO ITEMS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING) David Smith, Los Altos, said he would recommend having a study completed prior to any library remodel or expansion project to determine needs and see if private capital can be raised for a new library. Les Earnest, Los Altos Hills, said he supports a pathway connection along Fremont Road to Redwood Grove. 2. DISCUSSION: A. Los Altos Library Remodel Expansion 2 Joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting November 16, 2017 Los Altos Vice Mayor Mordo stated that we are seeking approval from the Los Altos City Council and the Los Altos Hills City Council to being the process of planning for a library expansion project. A study would be needed to determine needs assessment and the North County Library Authority (NCLA) can be used as a vehicle to place a bond measure on the ballot for a parcel tax. He proposed utilizing NCLA, the Library Commission, Los Altos Library Endowment (LALE) and Friends of the Los Altos Library to assist in funding. He is not asking for financial assistance at this point, but is asking for the two Councils to bless the idea of going forward with a study and possibly coming back to the Council s with different options. Councilmember Corrigan clarified that the NCLA has not met and discussed this topic yet. At this time we are only talking about blessing the concept. Councilmember Wu asked who will pay for the study and research. Councilmember Mordo replied, the Library Endowment Fund, a private non-profit organization set up to support the library. Councilmember Lee Eng asked about the process. Councilmember Mordo replied that the NCLA can take the legal move. Councilmember Corrigan said the next NCLA meeting is tentatively set for December 4th and the meeting is open to the public. She further stated that the NCLA represents both libraries, the downtown library and the Woodland branch, and the NCLA will need to have the discussion on how we spend taxpayer funds. She said that a blessing is needed from both councils to have the NCLA and LALE pursue additional information on a path for renovation or expansion. Vice Mayor Mordo added that if the support is there, then we can have a capital campaign in order to add enhancements. Councilmember Spreen said that he strongly values the library and community center and supports the concept of finding out what is needed. He added that the study should be updated and is happy to support a statement of moving forward. However, jumping to parcel taxes now is a very premature discussion and the two topics should be separated. Councilmember Pepper said she is on the NCLA board and she supports improving the library. However, we need to think about how this intersects with the new community center. Mayor Prochnow said was in support of exploring the idea, but it should not should be included in the community center discussion. Vice Mayor Mordo clarified that the community center should impact library design, but not necessarily the other way around. Councilmember Bruins asked about the scope of the study. 3 Joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting November 16, 2017 Councilmember Corrigan asked Los Altos Hills City Councilmembers to please support the concept tonight blessing the concept that the NCLA and LALE should they desire, pursue the idea of a study on our library and its future needs. There is no financial contribution, she is just asking that the Council bless the concept. City Manager Cahill suggested a letter jointly signed by both Mayors with collective concurrence of the City Councils. DIRECTION: There was collective concurrence by both Councils that a joint letter should be issued. B. Discussion on Potentially Shared Parks and Recreation Activities Mayor Prochnow suggested publishing one activity guide for both Parks and Recreation Departments to save on costs. Vice Mayor Mordo stated that when he served on the Los Altos Hills City Council, he approached Los Altos with a similar plan and was rejected. Mayor Waldeck expressed concerns that a joint activity guide implies that all classes are open to all. Councilmember Corrigan said it was an interesting idea and nuances would need to be explored. The Town Picnic would have to be excluded. Councilmember Bruins said there is merit in exploring the idea. She was in support of providing direction to staff from both cities to discuss the topic further. Councilmember Wu said the Town's Parks and Recreation Activity Guide has been developed over the years. There are too many unknowns and too many differences right now and was not in support. Councilmember Spreen suggesting returning to our parks and recreation staff to discuss further. City Manager Cahill suggested having the staff directors work together on the specifics and then return to each Council. Manny Hernandez, Parks and Facilities Director for the City of Los Altos , said that we will look into it. Sarah Robustelli, Parks and Recreation Supervisor, said that we are already have some joint programming and activities. Councilmember Pepper said that the directors should think about appropriate programs that should be shared. C. Los Altos Hillview Community Center Funding 4 Joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting November 16, 2017 Mayor Prochnow asked if Los Altos Hills would like to contribute to the new Los Altos community center. Councilmember Pepper stated that a number of seniors from Los Altos Hills participate in the programs at the community center and we could potentially share more parks and recreation programs. She further stated that we share a downtown and asked Los Altos Hills to be a part of the community center as well. Councilmember Corrigan expressed concerns about funding the community center. Los Altos Hills is spread out and makes it difficult to say that all the residents use downtown Los Altos, when some may be closer to Mountain View or Palo Alto. More importantly, we do have programs run out of town hall and we have our pathways system. She said she wanted to be sensitive to spending money to help with Los Altos community center. She further stated that she is not saying no yet, but suspected that the amount she would be willing to part with is paltry compared to what is needed. Councilmember Lee Eng said we really need to give some thought on how we need to service our seniors. Both communities need space for teens and seniors. She asked about Los Altos Hills offering funds for a Los Altos/Los Altos Hills senior center. Mayor Waldeck said he likes that thinking. However, we are focusing on a senior center, instead of a more general-purpose center and he wondered how much use would these centers receive from the residents. Mr. Hernandez, said that through research, highlighting the programs for seniors and the programs in general, it comes to approximately 10% of usage from Los Altos Hills residents. Vice Mayor Radford said that Los Altos Hills keeps about 5% of property taxes in town. We have no business taxes to rely on and are marginally funded. He said he will be asking for study to determine what is needed here in the hills. However, he said he would be interested in sharing the costs of developing programs. Councilmember Lee Eng said that if we share a senior center, both cities would feel some sense of ownership of that center. She said that the current senior center needs upgrading and with that upgrade, it could be utilized much more. Councilmember Bruins said that on behalf of the Los Altos City Council our most pressing thing is to have a discussion on whether or not the Hills would like to make a contribution toward a capital project of a community center. She asked that Los Altos Hills entertain a number. At some point we may need to have a conversation of a charge for seniors. Right now, they want to understand the receptivity of Los Altos Hills to help Los Altos move forward. Mayor Waldeck said Los Altos Hills can agendize the topic for a future meeting. 5 Joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting November 16, 2017 D. Discussion on Los Altos Hills to seek a new ZIP Code for LAH and its associated Sphere of Influence Mayor Waldeck presented the unique zip code idea. He asked if Los Altos would endorse the concept if Los Altos Hills decides to move forward. The Los Altos City Council agreed to support the zip code change as long as it does not impact anyone in the City of Los Altos. E. Los Altos Improved Pathway Connection to Redwood Grove Vice Mayor Mordo said that this topic was put on the agenda at the request of Los Altos Hills resident Ann Duwe. She asked about a connector pathway to Redwood Grove. He said that Los Altos would agree to the pathway, but Los Altos Hills would have to pay for it. Les Earnest, Los Altos Hills, said the Pathways Committee has always supported a pathway in that location. The route is already there and there is a gate into Redwood Grove that allows access. Vice Mayor Radford said that Ms. Duwe got out in front of the committee. It should be referred to the Pathway Committee. Ann Duwe, Los Altos Hills, said this idea has been around for a very long and did not originate with her. It was brought before the Council in 2009 and she articulated a desire to see that connection made. Councilmember Spreen said the Pathways Committee can study it and return to the Council for approval. Councilmember Wu asked about liability and maintenance. City Manager Cahill replied that staff can look into that. Councilmember Lee Eng wanted to confirm that any design would be shared with Los Altos before anything is implemented. Ginger Summit, Los Altos Hills, said she has lived at the corner for over 50 years and that the pathway is not just for the benefit of Los Altos Hills; it is used by Los Altos residents too. Vice Mayor Mordo said he would pay part of the cost of the pathway as long as the Town pays for part of the community center. Councilmember Bruins said she open to hearing about a proposal. Her expectation is that Los Altos Hills would do the outreach to the individuals who live in that area. Her real motivation is public safety. 6 Joint Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting November 16, 2017 Kjell Karlsson, Los Altos Hills, said that half the Gardner Bullis school population is from the Los Altos side. Les Earnest, Los Altos Hills, said that if you do it the right way, the cost would be zero as the path already exists. Jon Maginot, City Clerk, City of Los Altos, clarified that it is not a sanctioned city path and individuals are using it at their own risk. Councilmember Spreen asked that the topic be sent to the Pathways Committee for further discussion. Vice Mayor Radford asked Los Altos for an update on the community center and the next steps. Mayor Prochnow said that their taskforce will bring back their conclusions to the City Council on December 12, at which time they will move forward with a plan. There were some financing hiccups and have asked the staff to do a 10 year plan to determine what they can spend. Councilmember Corrigan asked if there is a number they are looking from the Town of Los Altos Hills? Vice Mayor Mordo replied, "two million dollars." Jean Struthers, Los Altos Hills, said she went to the planning meeting for the community center. She said the plans included access from the driveway that goes in front of the library and asked that the parking problem at the library be addressed. Mayor Prochnow thanked everyone and said hopefully we can find ways to work together. 3. ADJOURNMENT (The meeting will adjourn no later than 5:45 p.m.) The meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Deborah Padovan Deborah Padovan City Clerk The minutes of the November 16, 2017 special City Council meeting were approved as presented at the January 18, 2018 regular City Council meeting.