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Published on 05/18/1998 All articles from this issue

Los Altos Hills City Council hears pathways concerns - again

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By Carol Tiegs

Special to the Town Crier

For the second time in two meetings, off-road pathways issues brought out folks by the dozen to share ideas with members of the Los Altos Hills City Council.

Some voiced support of the pathways system at the council's May 20 meeting. Others said they want to see some proposed pathways abandoned.

A group of Taaffe Road residents urged the council to put on the agenda abandonment of the segment running behind their property line.

By a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Toni Casey dissenting, the council reaffirmed an earlier decision not to consider the pathways plan piecemeal.

Casey said she had planned to place discussion of abandonment of pathway segments requested by Taaffe Road and Altamont Court residents on the June 17 agenda. Given the majority council position to wait for completion of the unified pathways map, she said, "I don't know if it makes sense to put it on the agenda again."

The completed unified pathways map will show existing and proposed pathways as well as existing and unobtained pathway easements. The master pathways plan has not been updated since 1981. Completion of the unified map was delayed when John Chau, the engineering technician hired for the project, was seriously injured in an automobile accident.

Town Manager Jeff Peterson said Chau has just returned to work part time.

"In combination with some other half-time people, (Chau) is starting to put together the pieces into one unified pathways map," Peterson said.

The council asked Peterson to come back with a schedule of when the map update would be complete.

In other action, the council approved a five-year agreement with Zanker Road Resource Management, Ltd. for disposal of yard waste. The agreement gives Zanker the exclusive right to receive the town's yard waste in exchange for a lower tipping fee for yard waste disposal and a supply of 10 percent of the yard waste returned to the town as compost.

The contract specifically states that Los Altos Hills residents may dispose of "tree trimmings, tree stumps and tree logs which exceed 6 inches in diameter." Residents may haul their own yard waste to Zanker. They must show photo identification to verify residency.

Residents will be charged for loads that are contaminated with garbage or other non-organic items if the contamination is discovered before the load is dumped. If the contamination is discovered after the resident has left, the town is responsible for payment.

The town may terminate the contract upon 30 days written notice. This provision was included to protect the town against individual's abuse of the yard waste disposal system.