City Clerk

City Council Open Office Hours on Monday

Visit Open Office Hours and personally connect with Los Altos City Council members. At each event, one City Council member will be available to the public for a two-hour period to answer questions, receive input and discuss topics of interest to community members. All are welcome.

Monday, October 1, 2018

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Hillview Community Center, Room 2

97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos

Friday, October 19, 2018

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos

Assistant City Manager

Good Neighbor Day

Join us in celebrating National Good Neighbor Day on Friday September 28 ^th! Take a moment to say hi to a neighbor, invite neighbors over for coffee, go visit an older person or new mother in your neighborhood, host a potluck—the possibilities are endless! Studies show that the more connected we are with others, the less isolated—the better for our health.

Good Neighbor Day is also a great time to learn more about the Block Action Team (BAT), which helps neighbors to connect, care and prepare. BAT is a managed program of the Los Altos Community Foundation in partnership with the City of Los Altos. For more information or to sign up for a free BAT leader training in October or November, visit www.losaltosbat.org.

Community Development

Planning Commission Recommends Approval of Housing Proposal

At its meeting on September 20, the Planning Commission recommended approval of a five-story 50-unit project at 4856 El Camino Real to the City Council. The project includes eight affordable (below market rate) units and incentives to allow for increased building height and a reduced rear yard setback. The recommendation included a request that the project come back to the Planning Commission for final approval of the building’s exterior design and to have the project improve the size and type of its affordable units. The project is scheduled for review by the City Council on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 7 p.m.

Planning Commission Supports Development of Site Standards for Marshall Court/Stevens Place

At its meeting on September 20, the Planning Commission held a study session on the R3-4.5 Zone District, which includes the properties on Stevens Court and Marshall Place in southern Los Altos. The Commission directed staff to proceed with an amendment to clarify the site and design standards for the district. Commissioners heard testimony from neighboring residents and nearby property owners before providing staff with direction. The amendment will clarify the site standards such as setbacks, height and floor area, and establish a design review process for approving additions and remodels, but will not change the density or allow for additional units to be built. Once the amendment has been drafted, additional neighborhood outreach will be conducted and a public hearing with the Planning Commission will be scheduled.

Downtown Employee Parking Permits

The annual 2018-19 Downtown Employee Parking Permit program officially begins Monday, October 1, 2018. Downtown business owners, employees, and contractors are reminded to display the correct permit in all vehicles parked in the white dot spots. These annual permits will be valid from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. 

If you have not already purchased your permit, please do so online at losaltos.thepermitstore.com in order to avoid a citation.

Police

Pumpkin Carving with a Cop

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 27 and join Los Altos Police for our 3 ^rd annual Pumpkin Carving with a Cop! This year’s event will be held at the Los Altos Youth Center from 3 to 5 p.m. Los Altos Police Officers will be carving pumpkins alongside fellow jack o’ lantern enthusiasts during this fun, FREE, family-friendly event. Participants are asked to bring their own pumpkins and to RSVP. We will provide carving tools, snacks and refreshments. We hope to see you there!

Public Works

El Monte Avenue Sidewalk Gap Closure Project

On September 26, a public open house was held to discuss and gather input on the El Monte Avenue Sidewalk Gap Closure Project. Members of the public, Council members Jeannie Bruins and Lynette Lee Eng, Mayor Mordo, Complete Streets Commission members and staff attended the meeting. The public was presented with project design drawings and attendees were able to ask questions and provide feedback. Following the public open house, a Complete Streets Commission meeting was held with discussion of this project included the agenda. Staff presented the project information highlighting the design presented at a previous Commission meeting in February 2017 and the design updates completed since then. This presentation is available on the project webpage. The Commission unanimously supported the project. Members of the public who identified themselves as residents along this corridor expressed the importance of this project and strongly supported moving forward with implementation. Based on the feedback received at these meetings, design will be completed to get the project ready for construction. Staff pursued and successfully secured a Federal Grant Fund for the construction phase.

Homestead Corridor Safe Route to School

Supervisor Simitian's office successfully secured a one-time allocation of $100,000 funding to develop a multi-jurisdictional conceptual plan of additional on-street safety improvements to the Safe Route to School on the Homestead Road corridor. Students from south Los Altos and northwest Cupertino use Homestead Road to travel to Cupertino Middle School and Homestead High School. The conceptual plan would serve as the basis for subsequent multi-jurisdiction applications for state and federal funding to implement identified on-street improvements. The City strongly supports this effort and will work collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions and County staff. As part of this effort, a kick-off meeting with the member agency staff and consultants was held on September 27, 2018. Public outreach has been identified as an integral part of this project.

Sewer Improvements - Structural Reach Replacement

This Capital Improvement Project replaces segments of pipes throughout the City that have been identified as having moderate to severe structural defects. This week, the City’s contractor, EPS, Inc. dba Express Plumbing, began work for pipe replacement on Fremont Avenue in front of Pinewood School. The project includes a second segment along Fremont Avenue that is located between Parma Way and Echo Drive. Replacement of both segments along Fremont Avenue is anticipated to be completed by October 12. Early this week the contractor also performed follow-up work on the pipe segment replaced at Foothill Community College.

 

CalWater – First Street Water Main Relocation

Underground work is complete on a water main relocation on First Street between Main Street and Whitney Street. Construction crews will continue minor pavement restoration activities this week and re-stripe pavement markings upon completion.

Recreation & Community Services

Senior Program Updates

Hillview

October 3: The CSA (Community Service Agency) will have a table available in room 10 at 10:30 a.m.

Friday, October 5: Join us for a two-part AARP driving class to renew your driver’s license on October 5 ^th and 12 ^th at 1 p.m. in Room 2.

Friday, October 5: 1 p.m. Movie: Last Holiday. Super-size screen in Room 12 at the Hillview Community Center Senior Program. Members: Free, All others: $1.00.

Grant

Monday, October 1: Senior Commission Meeting will be held at 3:30 p.m. the Grant Park Community Center, 1575 Holt Avenue.

Wednesday, October 3: Alex Imbesi from CSA (Community Service Agency) will be coming to speak about SSI, Medical and Cal Fresh benefits at 12:30 p.m. in Room 4.

Questions about Senior programming can be directed to Senior program staff at (65) 947-2797.

Reminders

North County Gun Buyback Event

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office and the cities and police departments of Los Altos, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Santa Clara are coming together to host the first North County Gun Buyback event on Saturday, September 29. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church located at 728 W. Fremont Avenue in Sunnyvale. 

The overall goal of the gun buyback event is to reduce the availability of unwanted, unsafe and illegal guns in communities by providing a voluntary opportunity for the safe and anonymous disposal of firearms. Each participant will receive $100 per handgun, rifle or shotgun and $200 per assault weapon to the maximum of $400. There will be no limit to the number of guns an individual may surrender for safe disposal. 

An important reminder to participants for the day of the event; all guns must be in working order, unloaded and transported in the trunk of your vehicle or truck bed. Please remain in your vehicle, and do not handle your weapon at any time. Buybacks will be first-come, first-serve.

Halloween Movie in the Park

The Los Altos Parks & Recreation Commission is pleased to present “Twas A Week Before Halloween Movie Night.” This free event will take place on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Grant Park located at 1575 Holt Avenue. The following movies will be shown on an outdoor screen:

Bring a chair, blanket, or jacket and join us for this fun, family-friendly Halloween double feature.