CC 01-18-94
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CC-872
MINUTES
Adjourned Regular Meeting
City Hall Council Cbamber
January 18, 1994
Legislative Review Committee - 6: 1 5 p.m. - Conference Room A
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIA.1IiCE
Mayor Koppel led the Pledge of Allegiance, and called the meeting to order at 6:48 p.m.
in the City Council Chambers, 1 0300 Torre Avenue.
ROLL CALL
Council members present: Jolm Bautista, Don Burnett, LauraIee Sorensen, Wally Dean.
and Mayor Barbara Koppel. Council members absent: None.
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Staff Present: City Manager Don Brown
City Clerk Kim Smith
Public Works Director Bert Viskovich
Community Development Director Bob Cowan
Administrative Services Director Blaine Snyder
Parks and Recreation Director Steve Dowling
City Attorney Charles Kilian
Public Infonnation Officer Donna KIey
CEREMONIAL MATIERS - PRESENTATIONS
Proclamation recognizing School Health Week and School Nurse Day on January 26,
1994. Mayor Koppel presented the proclamation to Ms. Katy Waugh and Ms. Teny
Tellup.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Rhoda Fry, 10351 San Fernando Avenue, displayed a bucket of golfba11s which she
had found on her property over the last six months. She ~~ concern about the
hazards it created for her family, and noted that she had nearly been struck by golf balls
three times. She!J8id that her previous contacts with staff had failed to rectifÿ the
problem and she asked Council to consider raising a second fence by the tee to prevent
future injuries. Ms. Fry also discussed a claim which had been rejected by the City
regarding damage caused to her property when an oak tree fell and """"'ged her fence
and landscaping. She noted that the estimate for repair at the time of the claim was
. $6,000 but would now be more expensive.
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January 18, 1994
Cupertino City Council
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The City Attom(y explained that her claim regarding tree damage was handled by a an
insurer for a consortium of cities under the auspices of the Association of Bay ~a
Govcmments (ABAG). The adjuster apparently felt that the claims were not warran\cd
and therefore the City rejected the claim. He said that the Council should not discuss the
merits of the claim because there was potential pending litigation, since that was the next
step for Ms. Fry to take if she so choo$es, and there was a pending claim regarding the
golf baIls as well. The City Manager suggested that Council may wish to have a more
thorough briefmg in closed session with the claims adjuster. Counc. Bautista asked that
staff provide a full briefing on the facts of the$e issues. Council directed staff to address
this issue at a closed session in two weeks.
CONSENT CALENDAR
It was moved by Counc. Sorensen, seconded by Counc. Dean, and passed unanimously to
approve the consent calendar as submitted.
1. Review of application for Alcoholic Beverage Control license for Main Street
Califomia, Inc., 10343 North Wolfe Road (formerly TGI Friday's).
2. Monthly Budget Update and Treasurer's Report, December, 1993.
3.
Monthly Activity Report, December, 1993.
4. Resolution No. 9013 : "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Allowing Certain Claims and Demands Payable in the Amounts and From the
Funds as Hereinafter Described for General and Miscellaneous Expenditures for
the Period Ending December 22,1993."
5. Resolution No. 9014: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Allowing Ct'rtain Claims and Demands Payable in the Amounts and From the
Funds as Hereinafter Described for General and Miscellaneous Expenditure!J for
the Period Ending December 29, 1993."
6. Resolution No. 9015: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Allowing Certain Claims and Demands Payable in the Amounts and From the
Funds as Hereinafter Described for General and Miscellaneous Expenditures for
the Period Ending January 7,1994."
7. Resolution No. 9016: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Allowing Certain Claims and Demands Payable in the Amounts and From the
Funds as Hereinafter Described for Salaries and Wages for the Payroll Period
Ending December 29, 1~3""
January 18, ",994
Cupertino City Council
Page 3
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8.
Resolution No. 9017: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Adopting a Schedule for Citizen Participation for the Twentieth Program Year
{I 994-95) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program."
9. Approval of minutes of the City Council meetings of December 13, 1993, and
January 3, 1994.
10. Resolution No. 9018: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Authorizing Execution of Cooperative Agreement No.6-CUP Between the City
of Cupertino and the Santa Clara County Traffic Authority for Route 85 Signal
and Intersection Modifications at Stevens Creek Boulevard and DeAnza College."
11. Resolution No. 9019: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Accepting Quitclaim Deed and Authorization for Underground Water Rights ftom
Lotus Development Company, Tract 8585, San Fernando Road."
12. Resolution No. 9020: "A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Authorizing Execution of Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of
Cupertir,,) and Santa Clara Valley Water District Regardin(; Existing and New
Storm Water Infiltration Devices."
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Members of the Ci~ Council
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT;
ABSTAIN:
Bautista, Burnett, Dean, Koppel, and Sorensen
None
None
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
13. Public hearing regarding annual renewa1 of bingo permits: (a) No.~hwest Valley
Y's Men's Club, 20803 Alves Drive; (b) Sl Joseph of Cupertino Ch.U'Ch, 10110
North DeAnza Boulevard; (c) International Order of Odd Fellows, Cupertino
Lodge #70, 20598 Homestead Road.
Mayor Koppel opened the public hearing and no individuals wished to speak.
The public hearing was closed, and it was moved by Counc. Dean, seconded by
Counc. Burnett, and carried unanimously to renew the three bingo permits.
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January 18. 1994
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Cupertino City Council
PLANNING APPLICATIONS
14. Appeal of Director of the Community Development's decision to grant a one year
exten.~ion of a temporary storage building located at 10594 South DeAnza
Boulevard per Application No. 39-11-83 - Rosalind Cardia (Byer Properjes.
property owner), Eugene and Susan Adrian, appellants.
The Community Development Director reviewed the report. Written
communications had been received from Ms. Adrian, the appellant, who said that
she and her husband objected to the storage building and that the applicant was
performing contracting at the business.
Ms. Rosalind Cardia, 10594 S. DeAnza Boulevard, said she was the owner of the
Plul1lbing Bank. She exphined that it was the retail side of the business, and the
same employees also comprised Cupertino Plumbing, which did contracting work
in customers' homes. She showed slides of her business. parking lot, storage
container at the DeAnza Center, and the adjoining residential area. Ms. Cardia
explained the improvements she had made in response to Ms. Adrian's concerns.
She showed additional slides of parking lots and storage sheds by other businesses
and said she believed the intent of the General Commercial ordinance had been to
exclude heavy equipment, heavy machinery, large areas of outside storage, and
on-site prefabrication, which the Plumbing Bank did not have. She asked for
assistance in interpreiing the ordinance, and then to have the documentation to
support the interpretation. The Community Development Director said that an
extensive general contracting business would not be acceptable there, but that
incidental plumbing connected with a retail business was okay. He said there may
be a way to allow the current business to continue pending the ordinance.
Mr. Jolt'l Statton, representing the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, asked
Council not to support the appeal but to allow the Plumbing Bank to retain their
storage ~,hed for the remainder of the permit period. He also asked that Council
address the interpretation problems with the General Commercial ordinance to
remove the ullcertainty. He noted that the Plumbing Bank was meeting some very
strict performance standard!J and had worked with the neighbors to accommodate
them.
The City Attorney said that the Council may decide in the future that the
plumbing shop definition should be changed to allow this kind of use, but in the
interim they may wish to direct that this particular activity not be prosecuted until
the definition of GCi1eral Commercial uses is clarified. The Community
Development Director said that he agreed with that recommendation.
January 18. 1994
Cupertino City ColB1Cil
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It was moved by Counc. Sorensen, seconded by Counc. Bautista, and passed
unanimously to affirm the Planning Director's decision to (\) Allow a one-year
extension for the storage building and the initiation of a public hearing to evaluate
the General Commercial zone and perfonnance standards; and (2) That the
Plumbing Bank not be prosecuted for performing plumbing contracting until the
definition of plumbing shop has been clarified by a change in ordinance.
NEW BUSINESS
15. Award of contract for Phase ß Blackberry Farm Water and SanitaJy
Improvements, Project No. 94-9105M.
The Public Works Director reviewed the report and announced that the lowest
bidder came in below the engineer's estimate. It was moved by Counc. Sorensen,
seconded by Counc. Dean, and passed unanim:>usly to award the contract to
Lowery Engineering in the amount of $42,850 based on the lowest bid, and to
authorize a 10"10 contingency of$4,300 fora total project cost of$47,150.
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16. Consideration of recommendation to modifÿ the composition of the Affordable
Housing Committee by removing the City Council and Planning Commission
representatives, and to consider the role of staff as non-voting members of t!le
Committ~.
(a) First reading ofOrdinanœ No. 1641: "An Ordinance of the City Council
of the City of Cupertino Ameniling Chapter 2.86 of the Cupertino
Municipal Code to Modify the Composition of the Affordable Housing
Committee. "
The Community Development Director reviewed the reasons for the proposed
ordinance amendment which was intended to reduce the chance of conflicts in
policy.
It was moved by Counc. Dean, seconded by Counc. Sorensen, and passed
unanimously that the reference to Planning Commission, City Council, and the
Finance director as members should be deleted. It was moved by Counc.
Sorensen, seconded by Counc. Burnett, and carried unanimously that Ordtnance
No. 1641 be read by title only and the City Clerk's reading would constitute the
fir3t reading thereof. The City Clerk read the ordinance title.
17.
Selection of dates for filing deadline and int~ews for Affordable Housing
Committee.
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The City Clerk reviewed the report. Staff was directed to set the deadline for
applications on Friday, February 18, and to arrange the City Council interviews
for Tuesday, March I, 1994, in Conference Room C at 7:00 p.m.
January 18, 1994
Cupertino City Council
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18.
Consideration of request fÌ'Om Summerhill Homes to set a public hearing for a
General Plan Amendment to change the designation of APN 326-19-117 ftom
CommerciaIlResidential to Residential; property is located at 21875-21881
Stevens Creek Boulevard. Environmental Determination; Categoricaily exempt
Recommended for approval.
Tbe Community Development Director reviewed the report. It was moved by
Counc. Dean, seconded by Counc. Sorensen, and passed unanimously to schedule
a Genera1 Plan amendment hearing out of the nonnaI General Plan amendment
sequence.
19.
Report ftom Steve Sparks, Re!'idents Against Noisy Trucks (RANT) regarding
Kaiser Cement Corporation truck traftic (continued fÌ'Om meeting of December 6,
1993.)
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Mr. Earl Bouse, representing )(a.her Cement, made a slide presentation which
included previou:; City Cour.;;il direction, the alternatives which have been
attempted to respond to complaints, how the hours of operation are driven by
consumer demand and traffic impacts, the reasons why rail did not provide
feasible solutions, and why Redwood City Terminal could not handle additional
volume or type of cement Mr. Bouse stated that specifically they iuod repaired
the road and lowered a man-hole to eliminate noise fÌ'Om trucks when they
bounced over it, undertook a sound study which was terminated by RANT,
reopened their offer to pay for sound walls for neighbors who didn't participate 15
years ago, conducted an off-site terminal study, and retained Santa Clara sheriff
reserve officers to work on neighborhood traffic enforcement until the photo-radar
system was in place. He !laid their future plans included utilizing the photo-=adar
system, pursuing .-iil1g edge technology to reduce noise fÌ'Om traffic by altering
wind shear or road surfaces, and attempting to shift as much traffic as possible out
of night-time hours. Mr. Bouse !laid that Kaiser Cement was bearing the burden
of public policy made by the City 15 years ago, and even more homes are being
remodeled so that their windows are above sound waIls. Mr. Bouse made the
following suggestions to the City Council: (I) An acoustical goal be established
in the bedrooms where they understand the problem is most acute; (2) Use a
Regional Task Force to establish that goal with representatives fÌ'Om the city,
county, and affected communities include DeAnza and Stonebridge, as well as
Kaiser Cement; (3) Include an independent acoustical engineer who has not
previously worked on this issue, and who has been trained or approved by
CALTRANS sound specialists; (4) Kaiser will continue tt) provide funds toward
noise abatement programs to respond to the acoustical goal. The compa.'ìY will
commit $500,000 over the next 10 years. up to $50,000 per year. This would
bring their investment in this issue to more than $1 million - which they
considered a ceiling; and (5) Kaiser actively encourag.-:s those funds to be
matched by the city, county, or others who may benefit from these programs.
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January 18. 1994
Cupertino City Council
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Mr. M. J. Bishop, the President of Kaiser Cement, said that Kai~r had been
willing to invest significantly to address this issue, and to date there had been
about $500,000 in direct costs and more in intemal resources that had been
committed to this matter. He said that Kaiser had been carrying this burden alone,
and all improvements were made unilaterally in the face of criticism ftom those
who would not meet them half-way. In order to maintain their operation, they
must be able to ship at night, and !Ie hoped their presentation demonstrated the
lengths to which Kaiser would go to continue to mitigate the problem. Mr.
Bishop said that Stevens Creek Boulevard was their only feasible access, and
Council must consider that the incompatible land use problem was not created by
his company.
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Mr. Bouse said that a 25 mile-an-houf limitation would not be a problem as far as
Kaiser was concerned, and he explained how the photo-radar system would give
them the abilit:, to censure or to work with their customers if the speed limit was
exceedt:d. The Public Works Director clarified that it would have to be a
voluntary program as far as the signs were concerned, because speed limit signs
enforceable by the Sheriff would require an engineering study and a study given
to the courts. Discussion followed regarding the appropriate speed limit for
Stevens Creek Boulevard near the Kaiser plant, as well as methods of enforcing
legal and/or advisory speed limits. Mr. Bouse said that Kaiser would be willing to
share the data fium the photo-radar system with the public. He also mentioned
that consideration could be given to 2djl,sting the: light at Stevens Creek
Boulevard and Foothill to allow a "free left" during evenir.g and night-time hours,
which was something that had been suggested by some of the neighbors.
Mr. Steve Sparks, representing Residents Against Noisy Trucks (RANT), said he
was delighted in the proposals by Kaiser and felt it was a step in the right
direction. He indicated that some members of Council and others did not
appreciate the seriousness of the night-trucking nuisance, and he invited thern to
spend a night in one of the homes along that area. He explained that the main
problem was not that there was an increase in traffic, but that there was heavy
industrial traffic in a residential neighborhood. They understood that their stand
against inside noise measurements was seen as uncooperative, but that stand was
taken against Kaiser's implied intent to use the results of the measurements to
make building modifications instead of mitigating the source of the: nuisance. Mr.
Sparks said they are now reversing their position and they invite inside noise
measurements, although they still believe that the impact of truck noise outside
must be resolved as well as inside. Mr. Sparks stated that the home buyers knew
that the Kaiser plant was there when they purchased their homes, but they did not
realize that trucks ran all night.
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January 18. 1994
Cupertino City Council
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Mr. Dan Sarouhan, also a member of RANT, pointed out that a number of
acoustical studies had been done in the past which showed that noise levels had
not changed even after the sound walls were constructed. The origina1 agreement
had been for Kaiser to do some additional sound testing after the sound walls were
constructed but it did not take place. In re!JPOnse to a question by Counc. Dean,
Mr. Sarouhan said that he supported the idea of a coalition of the COW.lty, City,
Kaiser, and RANT to work on this problem.
Counc. Sorensen moved to accept the suggestions by Kaiser. Counc. Bautista
asked that the phrase "acoustical baseline" be changed to "acoustical baselines", to
be established in different locations. He also said he would like to add to Kaiser's
proposed list the City's role in cooperating with Kaiser to look at ways of
enforcing the speed limit or to provide notice to drivers by granting an easement
for advisory signs. Mayor Koppel said that should be done within the
Memorandum of Understanding by the task force. Counc. Dean seconded.
Ms. Mary Kloss, the co-chair of RANT, said that it seems the issue Council is
addressing is one of speed, but RANTs concern was night-time truck noise.
Mayor Koppel said all of these issues will fall within the task force's area of study
Counc. Sorensen re!Jtated her motion for clarification; it was to take the
suggestions offered by Kaiser and create a task force made up of the County, the
City, the residents, and Kaiser to study not only these items but the whole issue,
which would include speed enforcement, acoustics, and any other methods to help
resolve the issue.
Counc. Bautista asked to clarify if the City would be corùlDÎtting to match the
funds spent by Kaiser. Mayor Koppel agreed that there was no guarantee that any
of these items would be implemented.
Counc. Dean had seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. The City
Manager stated it was his expectation that the County would be the lead agency
on setting up the meetings and moving forward on this. Council concurred.
Counc. Dean asked that the cardboard recycling bins by the fire station be cleaned
up.
20. Ordinance No. 1642: "An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Cupertino
Amending Section 2.20.010 of the Cupertino Municipal Code Designating the
City Clerk and Others to Keep and Enter in a Minutes Book a Record of Topics
Discussed and Decisions Made in Closed Sessions of the City Council and
Planning Commission." The purpose of this amendment is to bring the Municipal
Code into compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, Government Code 54950, et
seq.
January J 8, 1994
Cupertino City Council
Page 9
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It was moved by Counc. Sorensen, seconded by Counc. Bautista, and passed
unanimously that Otdinance No. 1642 be read by title only and the City
Attorney's reading would constitute the first reading thereof. The City Attorney
read the ordinance title.
21.
Reconsideration of the City Council's decision to consider a General Plan Land
Use Amendment and attendant hillside policies, including the consolidation of
lots of les$ than 5 acres in size. If Council decides to proceed with said
amendment there is a request by the Environmental Review Committee (ERe) to
e!Jtablish a project scope for General Plan Amendment file No. 2-GPA-93 (Lands
of Cecil Mahon) for property located on the west side of Regnart Road, about 320
feet southerly of Regnart Canyon Drive, 22045 Regnart Road. (Continued tÌ'om
January 3,1994.)
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The Community Development Director reviewed the staff report and displayed
overheads showing the hillside areas. He distributed a handout titled "General
Plan Amendment Options", and explained that both options 2 and 3 could be
selected. He reviewed the policy changes and implications of such changes. The
options were (I) do nothing; (2) Consider the amendment of the General Plan to
allow additional development on the Mahon property; and (3) Consider a General
Plan amendment to delete the requirement which disallows buildings on a lot less
than 5 acres if the adjoining lot is owned by the same party (Policy 2-38).
Mr. Kirk Hoftinan said he was the attorney representing Mr. and Mrs. Hanggi
who owned property on Lindy Lane. He asked that Council reconsider hillside
consolidation policy No. 2-38. He said it \\1IS his belief that the policy constitutes
the taking of property without the payment of just compensation because it
deprives Mr. Hanggi of the reasonable value and beneficial use of his adjacent
parcel of property. He showed slides reflecting Mr. Hanggi's house and property
and explained that the vacant parcel had been leveled, compacted, provided with
driveway access tÌ'om Lindy Lane, and provided with full sewer, utility, and
dectrical power, so the only reasonable use for the property was residential.
Ms. Kindel Blau, 23005 Standing Oak Court, spoke on behalf of herself and
Organization Advocating Keeping St. Joseph's as Open Space (OAKS). She said
it would set a bad precedent to dismiss e!Jtablished criteria for the General Plan
amendment process. She suggested that Mr. Mahon to re-write his proposal so it
did satisfy the criteria, or new criteria should be e!Jtablished. She urged that
consistency be maintained because there are other big property owners that might
be affected and it could create problems to open up the General Plan amendment
process whenever someone felt like it.
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Cupertino City Council
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Mr. Morey Nelson, 21801 Stevens Creek Bl,ulevard, said he was a civil engineer
representing Cecil Mahon. He reminded the Council that it had been a unanimous
decision to open the General Plan amendment process to consider Mr. Mahon's
project. He urged Council to refer this matter to the ERC to study the Regnart
Canyon area only so that Mr. Mahon's project can progress.
Mr. Jon Garliepp, 11690 Regnart Canyon Drive, said he supported Mr. Mahon's
request to add one house. The whole canyon should be of a similar density all the
way through, and the property there should all revert back to the general hilíside
plan ftom 1975-76. Lindy Canyon, containing 15 lots. should be included with
Regnart Canyon, which is enclosed by park district on each end and around it,
with a quarry behind it. He noted that his home is now considered a non-
confonning use, and asked if it were destroyed for some reason, would he be able
to rebuild it? The City Attomey explained that there is a process that would allow
reconstruction of a non-confonning house. Mr. Garliepp also said that the
designation of non-conforming could cause concern to future buyers. He said that
he agreed with option three recommended by staff, which was to delete Policy 2-
38.
Mr. Cecil Mahon, 22045 Regnart Road, said the reason he wanted to subdivide
was that disability prevented him from maintaining the property, and he wanted to
sell it for sufficient money to allow him to buy different property not in the
hillsides. He said he was reqUf'sting permission to building one more house, and
although there were three !:.:Jnconforming houses already on the property, they
should have been grandfathered in. He said he planned to sell the property to a
developer who could handle the financing, and suggested that the Council require
the houses be clustered to retain a large portion of open space. He said that he did
not have sufficient finances to perfonn a large envirt'nmental impact report, and
he asked for the Council's help.
Mr. Phil Zeitman, 22907 Cricket Hill Road, said that Council had developed a
hillside policy for all the hillsides in the City, and if the items under discussion at
this meeting were granted, it would seem to erode the hillside protection policy.
He urged that Council carefully consider the scope, criteria, and implications of
their decision.
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Mr. Dick Randall, 22348 Regnart Road, said that the current Council did not have
the benefit of the Council of 12 years ago when a large porticn of the Regnart
Canyon area developed. Sixty-four acres of land owned by the developer were
converted to open space, and there are 22.5 ar.res of land that owners of the
Regnart Ridge Homeowners Association maintain. When the Council adopted the
plan to approve the Regnart Ridge program, it had another 85 acres of land that is
in pennanent open space, but those facts are not being considered at tonight's
meeting. He said that the other Council took into an environmental impact report
which considered the issues now under discussion. Mr. Randall said that he
January 18,1994
Cupertino City Council
Page 1l
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believed Policy 2-38 did constitute a taking, and he noted that he bad a copy to all
the Council of the letter that he bad received fium the City which told him that he
had to merge the lots. He expressed support for the zoning which had been in
place in 1975.
Mr. Robert Nellis, 22322 Regnart Road, said he bad developed the upper portion
of Regnart Canyon about IS years ago. Prior to that the City had developed the
Hillside General Plan EIR, with a hypothetical development plan for Regnart
Canyon, and was essentially the way the canyon was develcped except that 64
acres of the upper portion was sold to the Mid-Peninsula Open Space District,
which removed approximately II homes which were planned to be built. He
urged that the City go back to the zoning that existed prior to the current General
Plan, and to make the homes conforming.
CLOSED SESSION
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At 9:46 p.m., the City Council convened in closed session to discuss signifk.ant exposure
to litigation, pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(BX1). The City Attorney
explained that Mr. Randall, in his last hearing before the Council, indicated that he had
secured the services of an attorney and was considerin~ the possibility of litigation, and
Mr. Hangii was also rep=ted by an attomey. At 10:22 p.m., Council reconvened in
open session. The City Attomey announced that Council had discussed various legal
options regarding the requests on the agenda but no action was taken and the matter was
now back in open session for a vote.
NEW BUSINESS
21. (Discussion continues) The Council members requested that the record reflect
their comments, as follows;
Counc. Burnett said that a policy was established to determine whether a hearing
will be held to modify the Genera1 Plan. He read the General Plan Review
Procedure which was included in the backup materials on page 21-4, and said that
the decision to proceed should be based upon those findings. He said the policy
was so stringent Þel-""~ the General Plan was an important document and should
not be changed capriciously or for a trivial reason, or if it did not benefit the
whole City. He indicated that Mr. Mabon did not act in time to subdivide his
property although others bad urged him to do so, and now Council was being
asked to fix Mr. Mahon's problem by changing the General Plan. Counc. Burnett
reviewed the fmdings made by the Planning Commission when they denied the
request, as shown in Planniug Commission Resolution No. 4472, on page 21-12
of the backup materials. Counc. Burnett said that amendment would be strictly
for the benefit of Mr. Mahon and it would not benefit the community, and Counc.
. Burnett did not feel it was right to grant the change.
January 1~,I994
Cupertino City Council
Page 12
Counc. Bautista said the Council was committed to the hillside policy and its
goals, but he felt it warranted to look at this issue to detennine the environmental
impact of a potential amendment to the General Plan. He said there was also a
fundamental issue of fairness considering the fact that it was an historical
planning area, and it deserves review.
Counc. Sorensen said that Council has a process to do General Plan amendments
and if they reopened it, it wO'.tId be brought into the establis1:ed process. She
agreed with Counc. Bautista's comments about the Hillside Protection Policy and
this is something that should be carefully looked at during the process.. She said
she would not do anything to endanger the hillside protection policy, but in
faimess, there is a process to address General Plan amendments.
Counc. Dean said it would be somewhat of a spot zoning issue as it was now
portrayed, and the topic of Lindy Canyon had come up this evening, which had
not been mentioned before. If Council were trying to address it in a spot zoning
manner or separate section manner, tTom the standpoint of the City they could be
in a tenuous legal position. The options presented would need to be in the
conservative vein, so therefore it was his desire to uphold the Planning
Commission's recommendation for denial.
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Mayor Koppel said that she W?'1ted to reopen the General Flan on the Regnart
Canyon area. There was an issue of fairness and Regnart Canyon perhaps should
have been kept separate tTom the hillside policy because up until a year and a half
ago it was treated differently. Mayor Koppel made a motion that Council
continue with the re-opening of the General Plan for the Regnart Canyon area,
that the item be referred to the Environmental Review Committee since they had
requested direction regarding a scope of study, and that the item then be referred
(0 the Planning Commi"5ion before coming back to City Council. Counc. Bautista
seconded, and the motion carried with Counc. Burnett and Dean voting no. The
City Attorney said that a companion motion would be to refer to the ERC and
Planning Commission for consideration the removal or deletion of Policy 2-38.
Counc. Sorensen so moved and Counc. Bautista seconded, and the motion carried
with Counc. Dean voting no.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Koppel said that Thursday night they would be voting for a new chair and vice
chair of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Congestion Management Agency. She
had postponed a meeting "ith the Santa Clara County Cities Association regarding an
agenda for the new State Senator Tcm Campbell. Mayor Koppel said that she and the
City Manager would also be meeting with other representatives of the Library Committee
with the Mercury News and Rob Elder. There was also a meeting scheduled
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Jar;uary 18, 1994
Cupertino City Council
Page 13
with the West Valley Mayors and Managers, and one item for discussion was the grand
opening of Highway 85, which was scheduled for October IS. She asked that Council
contact her if they had any ideas for the celebration, and to consider tying in the
community parade with the highway opening.
Counc. Dean said that at the Emergency Service meeting they were very concerned about
the upcoming world cup soccer event, which was sold out Traffic and law enforcement
protection would be taxed.
The City Manager reviewed the items which had been considered by the legislative
Review Committee prior to the Council meeting. The Committee recommended (I)
Supporting AB 443, removing cities' responsibility for checking contractors for their
Worker's C"!!!~ensation coverage; (2) Supporting AB 688 which would change
enforcement provisions of AB 939, an omnibus recycling garbage reduction bill, which
had contained severe cash penalties for day for not complying with reduction
requirements. AB 688 would impose penalties if the City were willfully or intentionally
violating the requirements, and if the City had made substantial compliance and making a
good faith effort, the pena1ties would not be charged; (3) Supporting AB 13, a smoking
and tobacco control bill which provides a stronger State-wide ordinance but allows cities
to go further if they wish. The Sta:e ordinance would exclude ftee-standing bars, parts of
hotel lobbies, and hotel sleeping rooms. Co.mc. Dean moved that the Council support the
recommendations of the Legislative Review Committee. Counc. Bautista seconded, and
the motion carried unanimously.
Mayor Koppel described the opportunity she had to welcome Vice-President Gore to
Cupertino, and noted that the County had agreed to share the cost of Sherift's
Department coverage.
ADJOURNMENT
At 10: p.m. the Council adjourned to Tuesday, February 1, 1994, at 7:00 p.m. for
interviews with applicants for Planning CommiS$ion and Bicycle Pedestrian Committee.
~~~
Kim Marie Smith
City Clerk