Memorial Day Office Closure

City Hall and Recreation & Community Services offices will be closed on Monday, May 28, 2018 in observance of Memorial Day.

Assistant City Manager

Prepare your pets, prepare yourself!

City emergency preparedness volunteers joined the 71st Annual Kiwanis Pet Parade on Saturday, May 12 to remind everyone to “Prepare your pets, prepare yourself.” Block Action Team leaders, Community Emergency Response Team volunteers and their furry friends encourage all to add supplies to your emergency preparedness kit for any pets in your home. Just as you do for yourself and your family, consider food, water, sanitation, medical needs, and other items for your pets. For more information on pet preparedness, see the FEMA brochure Preparing Your Pets for Emergencies Makes Sense. 

City Clerk

Community Survey: Should the City allow commercial marijuana businesses in Los Altos?

The Los Altos City Council is interested to know if residents support allowing commercial marijuana businesses to operate in Los Altos. Please take a moment to tell us what you think about marijuana businesses operating in Los Altos by completing our Open City Hall survey. In November 2016, voters approved Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), allowing for recreational possession and use of marijuana. Under AUMA, a variety of non-medical marijuana businesses can operate subject to local ordinances. Currently, both medicinal and adult-use commercial cannabis sales are illegal in Los Altos. However, with some nearby cities allowing and/or moving towards allowing marijuana sales, the City of Los Altos is studying whether it should also permit commercial marijuana sales in Los Altos. Thank you for taking a few moments to  share your input by Monday, June 11, 2018.

North County Library Authority Library Redevelopment Task Force

The North County Library Authority (NCLA) is accepting applications to its Redevelopment Task Force. The mission of the NCLA Library Redevelopment Task Force is to hold public meetings to gather community input and provide a recommendation to the North County Library Authority Board on options for redevelopment of the Main Library. Members of the Task Force will be appointed to a temporary term for the duration of the project; five positions are available. Applications are open to residents of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, June 15 and interviews are tentatively scheduled during the week of June 18. Applications can be picked up at Los Altos City Hall (1 N San Antonio Road) or completed online. For more information, call 650-947-2720.

Community Development

Downtown Los Altos Vision

The City Council reviewed a draft of the Downtown Los Altos Vision Plan at its meeting on Tuesday, May 22. The plan was well received overall; however, the City Council sought some amendments and wanted an opportunity to review the electronic 3-D model of the Downtown. This policy document will provide guidance on how best to evaluate future change in the Downtown. Staff will work with consultants to update the Plan and bring it back to Council at a later date.

New Multi-Family Development Project

The new multi-family residential development proposal at 4856 El Camino Real, a five-story building with 50 condominium units, was reviewed by the Complete Streets Commission on Wednesday, May 23 ^rd. The Commission’s discussion included the project’s effects on El Camino Real traffic, design and layout of the underground parking garage, quantity and accessibility of the bicycle parking, and bicycle and pedestrian linkages to and from the site. Following the discussion, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the project to the Planning Commission and City Council. The project is now scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission on June 21, 2018 at 7 p.m.

Certification

Our Building Inspector, Veronica Tinoco has passed her third International Code Council (ICC) examination. Veronica is now a Certified ICC Plumbing Inspector. Her efforts to gain additional knowledge are confirmed by the Certification she has earned. This demonstrates her on-going quest to be able to assist property owners and the construction community with the array of situations that come up as they seek to complete their improvement projects.

Full Complement of Building Inspectors

Our very valued Journeyman Building Inspector, Garrett Jones is back in business providing inspection and plan-checking services for Community Development. Garrett has returned to duties after being out of the office for a bit and all are happy that he is able to continue using his vast knowledge of construction and inspections to assist residents as they seek to improve their homes.

Police

Congratulations to D.A.R.E. Graduates

This week, we celebrated the final group of 2018 D.A.R.E. program graduates, who received their certificates and special awards for exemplary work throughout the program. D.A.R.E. is a National Program, originally geared toward teaching children how to resist drugs and violence. Curriculum evolved in 2009 to include a component to instruct kids on how make safe and responsible choices, covering a variety of topics including how to deal with peer pressure, effective listening, developing “Help Networks,” responsible use of the Internet and recognizing and reporting bullying and cyber bullying.

Over a 10-week period, 5th and 6th grade children are given the tools to assess and make proper decisions in any area of their lives by exercising the D.A.R.E. decision-making model (DDMM):

Special thanks to Agent Ryan Langone for his dedication to this effective and engaging program, which he has reached over 500 students from local students. The Police Department would also like to thank the staff, parents, and students of St. Simon, St. Nicholas, Montclaire Elementary, and Los Altos Christian Schools for allowing us to participate in this essential learning environment.

Thanks, Emergency Medical Service Workers!

This week, we pause to celebrate and thank the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) practitioners who serve our community. It’s the 44th annual EMS Week, recognizing the contributions of EMS practitioners who help safeguard the health and safety of our community and provide basic and advanced medical care at the scene of an emergency and during transport to a hospital. Santa Clara County Fire Department serves Los Altos with paramedics on duty at the Almond and Loyola Corners Fire Stations. And Rural/Metro Ambulance provides EMS and ambulance service to Santa Clara County. We thank you for your service!

Each of us can learn some simple skills to provide immediate care while we wait for professional EMS to arrive, or during a disaster when services are busy.

Public Works

National Public Works Week

At its meeting on Tuesday, May 22, City Council issued a proclamation that the week of May 21-27, 2018 is “National Public Works Week.” City Council recognized the Public Work Department as a diverse, hard-working group of dedicated individuals - including engineers, project managers, supervisors, lead workers, maintenance workers, mechanics and technicians. Public Works staff are responsible for maintaining, improving and protecting our City’s streets, underground utilities, parks, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for the sustainability of Los Altos. The American Public Works Association has celebrated National Public Works Week since 1960, and it is the pleasure of the City of Los Altos to join with the APWA to recognize and commend all public works professionals in the City of Los Altos and throughout the State of California.

Stormwater – Building Demolition Permit Requirements

Engineering staff participated in a webinar this week regarding upcoming stormwater requirements during building demolitions presented by the Bay Area Storm Water Management Agencies Association (BASMAA). The Bay Area municipal stormwater permit requires most San Francisco Bay Area municipalities to develop a program to ensure that PCBs from building materials (e.g., caulk) do not enter storm drains during building demolition. BASMAA is assisting Bay Area local agencies with program development to address these new stormwater permit building demolition requirements by developing tools, including a pre-demolition building assessment protocol, model language for municipal adoption of the new program, and supplemental demolition permit materials.

Sewer Improvements - Structural Reach Replacement

This annual capital improvement project replaces segments of pipes throughout the City, which have been identified as having moderate to severe structural defects. This year, the project will replace 12 segments of pipe using various construction methods such as pipe reaming, open cut, and directional boring. The City held a preconstruction meeting this week with the recently awarded contractor EPS, Inc. dba Express plumbing. Work is anticipated to begin in early July.

Stop Sign Analysis Study

On May 23, 2018, the Complete Streets Commission reviewed and discussed a Stop Sign Warrant Analysis study presented by Public Works staff and consultant. This study analyzed intersections in Downtown and other locations in the City for installation of 4-way stop signs. These intersections include Main Street (at 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd), State Street (at 2 ^nd, 3 ^rd and 4 ^th), Main/State, Orange Avenue/Lee Street, Sherwood Avenue/Acacia-Levroni Lane and Miramonte Avenue/A Street. After analyzing these locations, intersections on Main Street at 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd Streets met the warrant criteria for all-way stop sign, while other locations did not meet the warrant requirements. The stop signs on Main Street at 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd Streets will be installed in June this year. A staff report with further details about this stop sign analysis study are available on the city website. 

Recreation & Community Services

Adult Basketball League Championships

Motley Crew played Scratchy Scratchy in the Adult Basketball League Championships on Monday, May 21, 2018. Congratulations to team Motley Crew who took first place! The season began in March with six teams playing ten games. Staff members Estela, Barbara and Ann Marie kept score throughout the season. Good teamwork, fun and sportsmanship was exhibited by all players, spectators and referee’s this season. It was fun to watch! 

Los Altos Hills vs. Los Altos Softball Game

Recreation staff from the City of Los Altos and Town of Los Altos Hills have partnered to plan the 1 ^st Annual Los Altos Hills vs. Los Altos Adult Softball Game! We hope you will come cheer on your hometown on Saturday, August 18, 2018 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Purissima Park, 27400 Purissima Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022. Want to join the Team? Contact Sarah at srobustelli@losaltoshills.ca.gov or 650-947-2518 and she will put in you touch with your Team Captain. 

Congratulations Graduates!

The Tiny Tots preschool program concluded this week with a trip to the park for the three’s and graduations for the 4’s and Kinder Prep classes. Children have had an incredible time learning, growing and having fun throughout the school year.

There is still space in the Terrific Three’s and Fabulous Four’s for next year. Call 650-947-2890 or email cavina@losaltosca.gov for a tour and more information.

Retirement Congratulations

On Thursday, May 24th, City staff joined the Recreation and Community Services Department to bid farewell to long-time staff member, Marie Backs. Marie is retiring from the City of Los Altos after having worked in Recreation for over 23 years. She has been a treasured employee who will truly be missed. Marie is very active in the Los Altos community, volunteering her time and talents at the Los Altos History Museum, Parade of Lights Association and more. We wish Marie a happy retirement and hope that she will stop by and visit us on a regular basis.

Senior Program Updates

Hillview Senior Program

Art on the Patio : Enjoy summer by strolling through our patio and viewing artwork created by our own ArtVentures participants. Join us on June 13 ^th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hillview Community Center on the Senior Center Patio. Refreshments will be available with a suggested donation of $3.00. For more information or to sign-up, call (650) 947-2797.

Reminders

City Council Open Office Hours

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.

Upcoming Open Office Hours

Sunday, June 10, 2018

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Hillview Community Center, Room 2

97 Hillivew Avenue, Los Altos

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos

Friday, July 6, 2018

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Hillview Community Center, Room 2

Thursday, July 19, 2018

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

Sunday, August 5, 2018

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Hillview Community Center, Room 2

Summer Concerts

Our 16 ^th Annual Summer Concert Series will be starting soon. Summer concerts provide a great opportunity for the entire family to join us for an evening of fun. Below is the lineup for this year’s concerts. Note: concerts are held on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and rotate between Hillview Park and Grant Park.