TOWN OF WOODSIDE
TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES January 17, 2023
Independence Hall, 2955 Woodside Road, Woodside 7:00 p.m. le meeting was held as a hybrid meeting with the option to attend by teleconference/video conferenc r in person, in compliance with Town of Woodside Resolution No. 2023-755(
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Shaw called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Fluet, Goeld, Wall, and Mayor Shaw Staff Present:
Kevin Bryant, Town Manager
Jean Savaree, Town Attorney
Sage Schaan, Interim Planning Director
Sean Rose, Town Engineer/Director of Public Works
Melissa Cardinale, Assistant to the Town Manager
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Goeld led the Pledge of Allegiance.
COMMUNICATIONS
David Mittelman spoke about Still Creek Road and the easements that exist on that private road; during the storms, 8 redwood trees fell and 4 are leaning over the road; in 2017 the neighbors paid for repairs to the road; California codes indicate that in the absence of a road maintenance agreement, any easement holder should also participate in the maintenance of their private right-of-way proportional to the use; it is either a private road and the Town has easements on it and, as such, shall participate in a road maintenance agreement that doesn't exist and needs to be formed; or it should become a public road with all the public benefit that it does provide and maintained as such.
Mayor Shaw thanked Mr. Mittelman for his submittal of information and asked that staff review the documents and refer the item back to Council or work with Mr. Mittelman directly.
Val Taft spoke about his research of the history of use of eminent domain by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1964 and there are no clear records as to what that forced easement entails; they have very frequent encroachments by PG&E and their subcontractors; he is asking for help from the Town to review the framework and provide dos and don'ts, what residents can or should not do and what we can do as a community as opposed to each individual resident.
Mayor Shaw asked that staff review the documents and refer the item back to Council or work with Mr.
Taft directly.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Minutes: Special Meeting of January 6, 2023.
Town Council Special Meeting Minutes January 17, 2023 Page 1
2. Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute a Contract with Marina Landscape for Construction of the Woodside Road Median Island Beautification Project.
Resolution No. 2023 - 7555
3. Resolution Accepting Completion of the Barkley Fields and Park Batting Cage Project and Authorizing the Town Clerk to Record a Notice of Completion.
Resolution No. 2023 - 7556
4. Resolution (1) Approving Plans and Specifications for the Glens Path Phase 3 Project, (2) Authorizing the Bidding of the Glens Path Phase 2 and Phase 3 Projects Under One Combined Construction Contract, (3) Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute a Construction Construct for the Project, and (4) Amending the Agreement with Harrison Engineering Incorporated for Additional Design and Construction Support Services.
Resolution No. 2023 - 7557
Councilmember Brown pulled Item 4 for discussion.
Councilmember Fluet moved approval of the Consent Calendar Items 1-3.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Wall and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Fluet, Goeld, Wall, and Mayor Shaw NOES: None
Regarding Item 4, Councilmember Brown's questions and comments included: what the budget was when Council first saw this project, what the final cost is going to be given the latest estimates for the work, and where will the extra funding be coming from; did we receive incremental funding from C/CAG.
In response, Mr. Rose stated: the first estimates were from 3 years ago; the first phase in construction was completed; the current budget in the adopted CIP is $450,000 for Phase 2 and $450,000 for Phase 3 for a total of $770,000; design estimates have increased in order to have a continuous path in the Glens, installation of vegetation screening for privacy impacts to residents along the the path, addition of retaining walls because of cuts into the hillside in order to accommodate the path, and installation of drainage infrastructure because the path will be built over roadside ditches for most of the length of this project; the current estimate is $900,000 for both phases; there is a shortfall of $130,000 in the current budget; the Town received a grant of $291,000 from the Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA).
Councilmember Brown moved approval of the Consent Calendar Item 4.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Fluet and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Dombkowski, Fluet, Goeld, Wall, and Mayor Shaw NOES: None
NEW BUSINESS
A. Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute a Contract with with Community Tree Service for Removal of the Nine Large Eucalyptus Trees on Mountain Home Road.
Resolution No. 2023 - 7558
Mr. Rose presented the staff report.
Council's questions and comments included: this work is important to help with fire safety in Woodside but it is expensive; can we bring the work in house; is there a way to prioritize versus a full clearcut based on the quality of the tree; when trees are placed on the hazardous tree list and come before Council for action, if no action is taken, who is liable; can PG&E share the cost because it is benefitting Town Council Special Meeting Minutes January 17, 2023 Page 2 them as much as it is the Town; what is the cost for cleaning up trees in an emergency versus taking them out proactively.
In response, Mr. Rose stated: to bring the work in house would be a significant capital expense; the Town's existing staff does not have climbers; a lot of the costs are off haul and disposal; eucalyptus doesn't have a lumber value and can't be harvested to sell; PG&E has not been asked to share the cost of removal; PG&E has removed some trees at their expense and they frequently prune these trees; there is some cost sharing for trees near power lines that PG&E has designated for removal; during the recent storms, the Town has removed approximately 15 trees on an emergency basis; the approximate cost is $50,000-70,000; 3 trees went down on power lines in this storm which resulted in 1-2 days of outage for some neighborhoods; each of these trees were too large for the Town crew to cut and a contractor was hired; the total cost to remove those trees was $19,000.
In response, Fire Marshal Don Bullard stated: if trees are in poor health, then you have an increased risk of a fall hazard; this section of the roadway is an evacuation route for those who live on Mountain Home Road; eucalyptus trees are highly flammable and these trees are in close proximity to the power lines.
In response, Mr. Bryant stated: these trees are in the public right-of-way and are the Town's responsibility; they have now been identified as hazardous which means that in the event of a failure in the future, that is something that is known to the Town; the Town is working on a FEMA hazard mitigation grant to help with this program but that would apply for removal of future trees added to the list.
The Public Comment period opened at 7:36 p.m.
Jim Olstad summarized the documents he provided to Council outlining his opposition to the trees being removed.
Mr. Mittelman spoke in response to the cost of removing fallen trees versus standing trees; he thinks having someone on staff and equipment to remove trees might be good for the future.
The Public Comment period closed at 7:58 p.m.
Council's questions and comments in general included: are these the 9 most critical hazardous trees or is it more cost effective to remove all from one location; a 100-foot tree represents a pretty imposing hazard; nobody is advocating removal of all of the dangerous trees on the list but some of them do call for some remediation; power outages from fallen trees cause a major impact on residents; these trees are located in major evacuation routes; the equipment needed to perform these jobs is expensive; an outside contractor should be hired unless we are going to be removing a lot of trees in the future; removing hazardous trees happens all over town.
Council's questions and comments in support included: feeling sympathetic to the aesthetics and the desire to preserve the natural beauty but we shouldn't second guess the Fire Marshal and staff; we should trust that they are being selective and careful with their decisions; eucalyptus trees are a fire danger and for the most part they need to be removed; we have a pretty competitive bid and much higher bids were received; non-native, invasive species like eucalyptus, should be removed; the fire models show a eucalyptus acts as a ladder fuel and can set off spot fires up to a mile or more away; not seeing the value in picking and choosing x number of trees to remove; experts have said these trees should be removed; this is part of the Town's ongoing safety operations.
Council's questions and comments in opposition included: this is a lot of money to be spending in one small location; could the removal be parsed by quality of trees; could they be clear cut instead.
In response, Fire Marshal Bullard stated: due to the proximity to the power lines, that is how they rated those trees when they selected them; the arborist has completed his assessment and they are in medium to poor health which also contributes to the increased risk.
Town Council Special Meeting Minutes January 17, 2023 Page 3 Councilmember Fluet moved to approve the resolution.
Motion seconded by Councilmember Wall and approved by roll call vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Fluet, Goeld, Wall, and Mayor Shaw NOES: Councilmembers Brown and Dombkowski
REPORTS
B. Mayor and Councilmember Communications.
Councilmember Dombkowski spoke about public frustration with creek flooding during the storms and cut logs in the creek bed at Cañada Corners. The Town should consider a pre-rainy season inspection or a walk of the creeks. More preventative education should be provided.
Mayor Shaw agreed and asked staff to consider a fall creek inspection and public outreach to discuss creek maintenance.
Councilmember Fluet spoke about storm drains maintained by the Town and frustration on Old La Honda Road for their main storm drain being blocked. Better maintenance of the Town-owned storm drains would be something he would want to add to the list.
Councilmember Wall agreed and also heard a request for public outreach on what residents can/can't do in terms of creek maintenance behind their homes.
Mayor Shaw spoke about AB 2449 and the effective date is March 1, 2023.
COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Mittelman spoke about Alambique Creek and it flows right down Highway 84 and then into town.
Mr. Taft spoke about identifying the communications contact at PG&E who would cover grievances and sometimes compliments from residents.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Shaw adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
of the Town of Woodside
APPROVED:
Mayor of the Town of Woodside
Town Council Special Meeting Minutes January 17, 2023 Page 4