City Clerk

2018 Election

Election season is upon us and campaign signs are starting to appear throughout the City. To see a brief overview of the City’s regulations on campaign signs, click here. 

City Council Open Office Hours This Sunday

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.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

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

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos

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

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month and this week’s theme is “Check Your Coverage.” FEMA encourages you to consider buying or reviewing insurance coverage that protects you, your family or business during a disaster. FEMA’s “Emergency Financial First Aid Kit” helps families strengthen their financial preparedness for disasters and emergencies and you can download this workbook for your own analysis.

The City of Los Altos brought emergency preparedness information to the Egan Junior High School community on September 14 ^th at a gathering of parents and students for a social and food truck dinner. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Ann Hepenstal hosted a table with brochures, mini-disaster kits and other resources covering a range of preparedness topics. Egan families received information about signing up for the AlertSCC emergency notification system, building an emergency kit, disaster preparedness for their pets, and more. Visit losaltosca.gov/emergencyprep to find out for yourself! 

Community Development

Planning Commission to Consider Housing Proposal

At its meeting this evening, Thursday, September 20, the Planning Commission will consider a five-story fifty-unit project at 4856 El Camino Real. The project proponents are seeking an incentive to allow an increase in the overall height of the building in return for providing affordable residential units as a component of the project. This incentive is provided through the City and State’s density bonus regulations which outline incentives such as increases in the height of buildings and additional market rate units, in return for including affordable (below market rate) units in the project. The Commission will consider the project and develop a recommendation to the City Council.

New Site Development Standards for R3-4.5 Zone District Proposed

At its meeting this evening, the Planning Commission will also hold a study session on site development standards for the R3-4.5 Zone District, which currently lacks specific requirements for setbacks, lot coverage, floor area ratios, and height among several others. The feedback provided by the Commission during the study session will provide guidance to proponents of the proposed site development standards and help clarify what should be included in the formal application. Los Altos has one R3-4.5 Zone District and it is in the southern portion of Los Altos along Stevens Place and Marshall Court.

Police

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.

Public Works

Stormwater Annual Report (FY2017-18)

This week the Engineering Division completed the annual stormwater report, which will be submitted to the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board at the end of the month. The report details the City’s programs, inspections, outreach, planning, and other activities accomplished over the 2017-18 fiscal year in compliance with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

 

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 twelve segments of pipe using various construction methods such as pipe reaming, open cut and directional boring. This week, the contractor completed work at Foothill college, replacing a pipe segment located under Adobe Creek and began work on Mount Hamilton Avenue.

 

Grant Park Basketball Court Resurfacing

Work began this week on the resurfacing of the basketball court at Grant Park. Crews will repair cracks, seal and refinish the court surfacing over the next two weeks. The court is expected to reopen on Saturday, September 29.

 

Marymeade Tennis Courts Resurfacing

The three tennis courts located at Marymeade Park will be closed October 1 – 19 for repair and resurfacing work. Tennis players are encouraged to play on the recently resurfaced courts at Montclaire or McKenzie Parks until work is completed.

Police Station EOC and HVAC Upgrades

The existing Police Department (PD) building was built in 1967 and this building does not have a code-compliant essential facilities Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The current EOC is located at the Municipal Services Center approximately 2.5 miles away in a building that is not rated as an Essential Facility. The Police Department building also has many components in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) at or near the end of their useful life. An assessment and re-design of the existing HVAC system is needed to provide an efficient and balanced system for current needs.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) for the PD HVAC Upgrades and a RFP for the EOC were issued on June 21, 2018 with proposals due on July 31, 2018. Proposals received by the deadline have been evaluated by the RFP Evaluation Committee. Of the proposals, Jeff Katz Architecture (JKA) scored highest in both RFPs. A recommendation to combine the award of both EOC and HVAC Upgrades into one design agreement to JKA will come forward to City Council at their September 25, 2018 meeting. 

Recreation & Community Services

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.

For more information about our programs, please visit LosAltosRecreation.org or call (650) 947-2790.

Senior Program Updates

Hillview

Thursday, September 25: Bring your energy to a fun 45-minute, low-impact aerobics with rhythm class. The movements are designed to improve coordination, balance and range of motion. Tuesdays and Thursdays starting September 25 ^th from 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. in Hillview Social Hall. $101/Members and $121/Non-Members.

Grant

October 3: Alex Imbesi from CSA (Community Service Agency) will 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

City Hall Closed Friday, September 21

Los Altos City Hall will be closed on Friday, September 21 as part of the Defined 9/80 Schedule. A complete list of public counter and administrative office hours, as well as a schedule of Friday closures, are available on the City’s website at  losal tosca.g ov/hours. 

El Monte Avenue Sidewalk Gap Closure Project Meeting

An Open House has been scheduled at the Community Chambers at City Hall on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, from 6-7pm to provide information and gather input regarding the El Monte Avenue Sidewalk Gap Closure project. This Safe Routes to School project is intended to improve pedestrian safety for the many local school children traveling along El Monte Avenue as they walk to and from school. The project limits extend between Almond Avenue to the north and Clark Avenue to the south. The project includes the addition of a five-foot wide decomposed granite pedestrian pathway with pressure treated wood header on the west side, storm drain improvements, ADA compliant curb ramps, high visibility crosswalks, and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) at Almond Avenue and Mills Avenue. Parking on the west side of El Monte Avenue between Almond and Higgins Avenues will be eliminated as part of this project.

Staff and the design consultant will be available to provide information, answer questions and receive feedback at the Open House. The Complete Streets Commission (CSC) will hold its regular meeting following the Open House at 7pm. The CSC is scheduled to receive an update on the project and the public is welcome to attend to gather information and provide input on the project. 

Los Altos Has Talent

Registrations for the 1 ^st Annual Los Altos Has Talent: Teen Talent Show are due today, Friday, September 14 by 5 p.m. Teens in grades 6-12 are encouraged to audition for the show, scheduled to take place on Friday, November 9 ^th from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Los Altos Youth Center (LAYC) located at 1 N San Antonio Road. All acts must have at least one member living or attending school in Los Altos and are required to submit a  Talent Show Application. For more information, visit our website at Los Altos Has Talent.