HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-14 City Council Summary Minutes
Special Meeting
March 14, 2005
1. Interviews of Candidates for Human Relations Commission (HRC) ........2
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. .................................2
1. Santa Clara Valley Water District Update on Creek Collaborative
Process .........................................................................................3
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ........................................................................3
APPROVAL OF MINUTES ..........................................................................3
2. 1st Reading entitled “Ordinance Amending Section 22.04.220
Pertaining to Parks and Recreations Building Use and Regulations to
Deregulate the Operation of Skateboards, Roller Skates and Coasting
Devices on the Renzel Trail and Other Paved Off-Road Multi-Use Open
Space Trails” .................................................................................4
3. Approval of a Utilities Enterprise Fund Contract with MTH Engineers
Incorporated in the Amount of $161,945 for Engineering and Design of
the Alma Substation Relocation to Quarry Substation (Staff requests item to be
pulled) .............................................................................................4
4. Public Hearing ................................................................................4
5. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY - EXISTING LITIGATION .............9
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. ......................10
03/14/05 99-1
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council
Conference Room at 6:16 p.m.
PRESENT: Beecham, Burch, Cordell, Kishimoto, Morton (arrived at 6:22
p.m.), Ojakian
ABSENT: Freeman, Kleinberg, Mossar
1. Interviews of Candidates for Human Relations Commission (HRC)
No action required.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.
03/14/05 99-2
Special Meeting
March 14, 2005
The City Council of the City of Palo Alto met on this date in the Council
Chambers at 6:50 p.m.
PRESENT: Beecham, Burch, Cordell, Freeman, Kishimoto, Kleinberg,
Morton, Ojakian
ABSENT: Mossar
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
1. Santa Clara Valley Water District Update on Creek Collaborative
Process
No action required.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Norman Carroll, 425 High St., #120, spoke regarding meeting schedule
conflicts.
Peter Drekmeier, 3153 Stelling Drive, spoke regarding the
Arastradero/Foothills Trail.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION: Council Member Morton moved, seconded by Beecham, to
approve the minutes of February 14, 2005, as submitted.
MOTION PASSED 8-0, Mossar absent.
CONSENT CALENDAR
City Attorney Gary Baum noted staff had requested Item No. 3 be removed
from the Consent Calendar.
Doug Cox spoke regarding Item No. 2, noting there were safety issues to
consider with those regulations.
MOTION: Council Member Morton moved, seconded by Cordell, to approve
Consent Calendar Item No. 2.
LEGISLATIVE
03/14/05 99-3
2. 1st Reading entitled “Ordinance Amending Section 22.04.220
Pertaining to Parks and Recreations Building Use and Regulations to
Deregulate the Operation of Skateboards, Roller Skates and Coasting
Devices on the Renzel Trail and Other Paved Off-Road Multi-Use Open
Space Trails”
ADMINISTRATIVE
3. Approval of a Utilities Enterprise Fund Contract with MTH Engineers
Incorporated in the Amount of $161,945 for Engineering and Design of
the Alma Substation Relocation to Quarry Substation (Staff requests item to be
pulled) MOTION PASSED 8-0 for Item No. 2, Mossar absent.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. Public Hearing
a) Zoning Ordinance Update: 1st Reading of an Ordinance for a
Revised Single Family Residential (R-1) Chapter (18.12); and Chapter 18.04 and Home Improvement Exception Provisions in
18.76 and 18.77; and Incorporating R-1 Single-Story Height
Combining District (S) Regulations in 18.13, Special Residential
Building Site Combining District Regulations in Chapter 18.15, and
R-1 Single Family Individual Review Provisions Contained in
Chapter 18.14 into Chapters 18.12, 18.76 (Permits and Approvals)
and 18.77 (Processing of Permits and Approvals) of Title 18
(Zoning Ordinance) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code and Amending
Cross-References in Other Code Sections (18.08, 18.88)
b) Zoning Ordinance Update: Low-Density Residential. Revisions to
Low Density (RE, R-2, and RMD) Zoning Districts, Including the
Neighborhood Preservation (NP) Combining District. Approval of
the Low Density Residential Chapter (18.10) of Title 18 (Zoning
Ordinance) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
Director of Planning and Transportation Steve Emslie introduced the Zoning Code team that prepared the staff report.
Planning Manager John Lusardi said the goal was to create an ordinance that
would be user-friendly for the community, applicants, the Planning and
Transportation Commission (PTC), the Council and staff. The key revisions
were: 1) second story and substandard lots; 2) implementing the housing
element with respect to second dwelling units; and 3) maximum lot sizes.
03/14/05 99-4
Planning and Transportation Commissioner Phyllis Cassel said the PTC was
pleased to present the Zoning Ordinance Update.
Planning and Transportation Commissioner Bonnie Packer said it was
important that the predominantly single-family character of the
neighborhoods be maintained. The Commission encouraged reasonable
opportunities to create second dwelling units.
Mayor Burch declared the Public Hearing open at 7:44 p.m.
Abby Boyd, spoke on behalf of the Meadow Park Residents Board, 3998
Bibbits Court, who had concerns with traffic, parking and privacy.
Eric Stietzel, 239 Whitclem Court, expressed concern about rental properties
adding second units and creating more congestion.
Fred Hodge, 4140 Old Adobe Road, believed property values would decrease
due to additions encroaching on neighboring properties.
Elisabeth Seaman, 3934 Nelson Drive, said input from the community should
be considered.
Chris Draper, 345 S. San Antonio Road, said the second unit provision would
help with resolving the affordable housing problem.
Mayor Burch announced that at 8:00 p.m. speaker cards would no longer be
accepted.
Sunny Dykwel had concerns regarding the PTC’s recommendations to have
noise producing equipment housed, insulated, and located within the
envelope of the building.
Leannah Hunt said Palo Alto should address the loss of housing with the
combination of lots.
Chris Lundin, 2756 Ross Road, said the ordinance’s flexible alternatives
could provide individuals the ability to live in Palo Alto.
Judith Wasserman, 751 Southampton Drive, said second units on smaller
lots were a vital addition to the community.
Mary Carlstead, 147 Walter Hays Drive, said the proposed changes would
alter the face of the City.
03/14/05 99-5
Sophia Dhrymes, 483 Hawthorne Avenue, spoke regarding the economics of
living in Palo Alto.
Annette Glanckoff, 2747 Bryant Street, said second stories should not be
allowed on substandard lots.
Stephanie McGraw, 3303 Thomas Drive, said second stories would increase
the population.
George Chippendale, 2241 Santa Ana Street, said it was important to reduce
the stress for individuals with housing problems.
Carla Bliss, 588 Barron Avenue, said Palo Alto was becoming an exclusive,
rather than an inclusive, community.
Judith LoVuolo-Bhushan, 3838 Mumford Place, said, historically, the City
cared whether affordable housing was available.
John Hanna, 1424 Hamilton Avenue, said the City was taking a significant
step toward establishing affordable housing.
Tim McCay, 626 Everett Avenue, said the City needed change, not
neighborhood restrictive covenants or preservation.
Tom Wyman, 546 Washington Avenue, said the Comprehensive Plan did not recommend placing second dwelling units in R-1 areas.
Wayne Swan, 240 Kellogg Avenue, said neighborhood character was difficult
to define in an ordinance; the Code change should be given preliminary
approval.
Mark Sabin, 533 Alberta Avenue, Sunnyvale, said in order to make the
community functional, affordable housing was needed.
Stephanie Munoz, 101 Alma Street, said there had been opportunities for the
City to encourage, foster, and preserve affordable housing in Palo Alto.
William Spangler, 471 Carolina Lane, said the proposed changes for second
units should be denied or expansions should be reduced.
Syed Rizli, 225 Whitclem Drive, expressed concern that the character of the
R-1 zone would change.
Robert Moss, 4010 Orme Street, said if the density of Palo Alto were
increased by 50 percent, the City would go bankrupt.
03/14/05 99-6
Council Member Cordell left the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
Charlotte Reissmann, 3394 South Court, said she did not want neighbors
encroaching on her property.
David Solnick, 227 Webster Street, said substandard lots had to abide by the
same regulations as large lots.
Ellen Wyman, 546 Washington Avenue, said the community did not want
increased density and congestion.
Tom Meadows, Clara Drive, said he did not believe a “granny unit” should be
approved on a lot less than 10,000 square feet.
Bonnie Bernstein, 2114 Bellview Drive, said the entire community needed to
be involved in the decision of the proposed change.
Elliot Margolies, 1430 College Avenue, said the current zoning policy
produced affordable housing but also market rate housing.
Council Member Cordell returned to the meeting at 9:02 p.m.
Peter Drekmeier, 3153 Stelling Drive, said he worked in the non-profit field
and depended on affordable housing.
RECESS: 9:05 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Ute Engelke, Oberlin Street, said urban sprawl should be prevented; second
stories should be allowed on substandard lots to minimize storm water
runoff.
Emily Renzel, 1056 Forest Avenue, said substandard lots were not designed
to accommodate larger houses.
Carlin Otto, 231 Whitclem Court, said a limit should be placed on the
number of units permitted.
Eser Ayanoglu, 2859 Kipling Street, said he would like to add a second story
to his home even though it was on a substandard lot.
Shauna Wilson, spoke on behalf of the Human Relations Commission, and
said existing “granny units” and second dwellings constructed without
permits should be brought up to Code and grandfathered.
03/14/05 99-7
Arthur Keller said a new ordinance should be created, which limited the
number of units annually.
Angela Bumbera said property values would decrease with increased density.
Deborah Ju, 371 Whitclem Drive, said the current law struck the right
balance and should not be changed.
D. Brown, 3525 Greer Road, said only 25 percent of the people who lived in
Palo Alto, worked in Palo Alto; housing problems would not be solved.
Ashok Srimvasan, 3209 Ramona Street, said he believed the proposed
contextual setback was good.
Jean Olmsted, 240 W. Charleston Avenue, said it was important to preserve
Palo Alto.
Edie Keating, 3553 Alma Street #5, said the new second unit regulations
were respectful of neighbors.
Sally Probst, 735 Coastland Drive, said the need for additional affordable
housing was urgent.
Bojenna Keating said the same set of rules should apply to all properties.
Kelly Germa said restrictions on building large homes on annexed lots could
be accomplished with height maximums, setbacks, and daylight plane
angles.
Darren Neuman, 1301 Parkinson Avenue, said the proposal provided
flexibility for homeowners and a process to include neighbor’s concerns.
Patricia Saffir, 2719 Bryant Street, said second units on her block had not
impacted her neighborhood.
Douglas B. Moran, 7910 Matadero Avenue, said zoning changes were difficult
and slow to change.
Allan Berman, 4032 Orme Street, recommended the size of the second unit
be gauged by lot size.
Millie Davis, 443 Tennessee Lane, said there should be a maximum height
limit on houses in R-1 neighborhoods.
03/14/05 99-8
Joy Ogawa, Yale Street, expressed concern about second stories on
substandard lots because exceptions and variances were often requested
and granted.
Dorrit Kingsbury, 1320 Webster Street, said Palo Alto was a bedroom
community where backyards were important.
Mayor Burch declared the Public Hearing closed at 10:08 p.m.
City Manager Frank Benest suggested Council identify questions for staff’s
response.
Council Member Morton asked staff whether front yard parking could be
limited; whether it was necessary to enclose air conditioning units and heat
pumps; and whether the number of permits per year could be limited.
Council Member Cordell questioned how staff arrived at 70 percent of owners
being in “overwhelming support” of their report. She asked for a response
on the noise reduction proposal, which would house and insulate units.
Council Member Ojakian said he would forward his questions to staff and
then his comments to his colleagues.
Council Member Kishimoto said the staff alternative recommendation on the
staff report (CMR:180:05, page 5 of 9) needed clarification; she questioned parking setbacks and continual pumping of basements.
Mayor Burch said two Council Members would be absent on March 21, 2005
and wanted to continue the item to April 11, 2005.
MOTION: Council Member Ojakian moved, seconded by Cordell, to close the
public testimony and continue the public hearing to Monday, April 11, 2005.
MOTION PASSED 8-0 Mossar absent.
Council Member Morton asked about the impact of combining lots.
CLOSED SESSION
The meeting adjourned at 10:25 p.m. to a Closed Session.
5. CONFERENCE WITH CITY ATTORNEY - EXISTING LITIGATION
Subject: In re Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a California
Corporation, Debtor, U.S. Bankruptcy Court case No.: 01-30923DM
Authority: Government Code Section 54956.9(a)
03/14/05 99-9
The City Council met in Closed Session to discuss matters regarding existing
litigation, as described in Agenda Item No. 5.
Mayor Burch announced there was no reportable action taken.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
NOTE: Sense minutes (synopsis) are prepared in accordance with Palo Alto
Municipal Code Sections 2.04.180(a) and (b). The City Council and Standing
Committee meeting tapes are made solely for the purpose of facilitating the
preparation of the minutes of the meetings. City Council and Standing
Committee meeting tapes are recycled 90 days from the date of the
meeting. The tapes are available for members of the public to listen to
during regular office hours.
03/14/05 99-10