By Shobha Rao

Los Altos Hills City Councilmembers plan to discuss a decade-long pathway controversy at their next meeting, this Thursday.

According to the town’s pathways master plan, a public pathway is shown connecting the ends of Voorhees Drive and Miraloma Way, linking adjacent neighborhoods and functioning as a school path. There is also a parcel map that shows a 10-foot “pedestrian/equestrian easement” along the southern and eastern boundaries of a property on Voorhees Drive, owned by Councilwoman Emily Cheng and her husband, Frank.

Les Earnest, a former Pathways Committee chairman for five years and a nearby neighbor, said that this path has been a “long-festering issue for the town.”

Earnest claims that town officials have repeatedly tried and failed to clear the path. In the “request for new tennis court” granted to the Chengs in 1989, the condition was placed that a “pathway along southerly border to be cleared prior to release of final building deposit.” The building deposit was released without the pathway being cleared.

Emily Cheng said she “was not involved with the town at that time and wonders how (the return of the deposit) could have happened.” Cheng said the contractor for the job “handled everything.”

Earnest claims Frank Cheng refused to have the path cleared when town workers approached him in 1996.

Cheng said her husband knew nothing of this matter and “was not even home at the time.”

Cheng, who is running for council in November, questioned the timeliness of this issue being brought up prior to the election, and indicated the issue was meant to be used against her politically.

Cheng said she has tried to get the pathway issue agendized numerous times over the past few years, even after the last election when she was elected to the council, but the town denied the requests and said, “the staff will handle it.”

This past April, Earnest said, Mark Miller, then city manager, sent a letter to Cheng stating that the path appeared to be “walk-able for most of its length,” but that shrubs “impaired access.” According to Earnest, Miller also stated that homeowners are encouraged to clear such vegetation but that the town crew would do the work if the property owner did not.

The issue has rested since that time, until Earnest brought it up again at the Sept. 21 city council meeting.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, appointments will be made to the Finance and the Parks and Recreation committees.

In addition, there will be a public hearing on a request for a site development permit for a new residence with basement, pool, cabana, pool house with basement and garage with basement for Lands of Cleage, located at 26140 Rancho Manuella Lane.

The complete agenda can be found on at www.losaltosonline.ca.gov or by calling Dial-Agenda at 941-7222, ext. 300.