Assistant City Manager

We Can’t Alert You if We Can’t Reach You

Have you updated or signed up for emergency alerts lately? Stay alert, stay safe—sign up today! Simply send a text message with your zip code to 888-777. This will register you to receive public safety text messages from local police and fire departments. To register multiple zip codes to receive alert messages from agencies where you work or where family members live, simply send additional text messages to 888-777 with each zip code you wish to add. If you prefer email notifications, register online at www.nixle.com.

Take a few more minutes to register with AlertSCC. You can register your mobile phone and email address to receive emergency messages from the Los Altos Police Department and County of Santa Clara such as notifications related to earthquakes, fires, crime incidents or hazardous material incidents. Since AlertSCC is only used for emergency messages, you’ll rarely receive a notification—but if we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you to information you may need during emergency events. 

City Clerk

Youth Commission Now Accepting Applications

The Los Altos City Council invites residents in grades six to eleven to apply for appointment to the Youth Commission. The Youth Commission advises the City Council on matters relating to youth interests and youth concerns. Members are appointed to two-year terms. Eight positions expiring in June 2020 are available; four incumbents are eligible for reappointment. Applications are due by Wednesday, May 16, 2018. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for May 21, 2018.

Applications can be picked-up at Los Altos City Hall, downloaded as a PDF, or submitted online. Submit completed applications to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall. For more information, call (650) 947-2720. To view more information about the Youth Commission, click here.

Community Development

Planning Commission Meeting

At its meeting last night, Thursday, May 3, 2018, the Planning Commission solidified recommendations on the following for the City Council:

General Plan Training for Complete Streets Commission

At a special meeting next week, planning staff will provide the Complete Streets Commission with an overview of the Los Altos General Plan with an emphasis on the Circulation Element. The Circulation Element contains numerous policies and programs that provide guidance when evaluating the City’s capital improvement projects and the various development applications it evaluates. Staff will also provide an outline of the development review process and how development applications are processed once received by the City.

Police

Distraction Burglar Alert

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office is warning the community that “distraction burglars” are targeting older adults throughout the County. Don’t be fooled by strangers posing as utility company workers, roof or home repair professionals, or other fake workers trying to gain access to your home. Help family members, neighbors and friends, older adults and grandparents, know the facts and learn safety tips that can help protect against distraction burglars or other types of elder fraud. Awareness is one of our best crime prevention tools.

Distraction burglars often pose as utility company workers and will say they need to come inside the home to assess equipment, discuss bills, or other potential issues with the service. They could also be approaching homeowners offering dent repair to their vehicles, roof work, tree trimming or driveway cement repair. The stranger may ask the homeowner to go into the kitchen or backyard and turn on a water faucet to test the water line. When the homeowner or resident is somehow distracted by the fake worker, another person will enter the home and take whatever valuables they can find. In the past, such burglars have even managed to take safes bolted to the floor.

Residents should know that utility employees or authorized contractors who need access to your home (for repairs or otherwise) typically schedule an appointment in advance. If they claim it's "an emergency," they should be accompanied by Police or Fire Department personnel. Legitimate employees always carry proper identification for your review and are usually properly uniformed and arrive in official, marked company vehicles. However, scammers have been known to wear unofficial safety vests or other equipment. Don't assume – check identification and remember:

New Communications Officer

The Los Altos Police Department is pleased to introduce our newest Communications Officer, Dina Taylor. Dina has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from California State University, Hayward. She began her career in dispatch with the City of Mountain View in 2009 and joins us most recently from the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and Police Department. Dina’s first day of orientation was Monday, April 30 and she is now immersed in her training program. Dina is excited to be part of the City of Los Altos doing what she loves best and that is helping people. 

Public Works

Bike to Work Day

On Thursday May 10, 2018 tens of thousands of regular and first-time Bay Area residents will bike to work for the 24th Annual Bike to Work Day, part of National Bike Month. The Los Altos Complete Streets Commission will staff an “Energizer” station from approximately 6:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Burke and Foothill Expressway (at the entrance to Lincoln Park, near the gazebo). For more information about Bike to Work Day, including a comprehensive list of refresher stations, visit bikesiliconvalley.org.

Sewer System Repair Program

The City will begin a Sewer System Repair Program project in the Downtown area on Monday, May 14. Work consists of rehabilitation of six sanitary sewer segments, three of which are located in South Parking Plazas with the other three located in residential areas. Work will be performed in three phases, beginning in Plaza 3 which runs adjacent to San Antonio Road. The phase two area includes Plaza 2 located behind Main Street, between Second and Third Streets. The final phase of work is located in residential areas along Eleanor Avenue and Annette Lane.

Staff has worked closely with contractors to mitigate traffic impacts and has identified methods to maintain vehicular traffic circulation through each of the Plazas while work is performed. However, there will be alternating reductions in travel lanes in the Parking Plazas and on Third Street as needed while work is performed. Flaggers will be onsite to help guide drivers through the work zone safely. Contractors will also minimize the number of parking stalls impacted by the trench work required as part of this project. Steel plates will be laid to cover any open trenches at the end of each work day.

The City has worked with the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce and Los Altos Village Association to share information about the project with downtown merchants and workers. Questions about this project should be directed to the City’s Engineering Division at (650) 947-2780.

National River Cleanup Day

This year, National River Cleanup Day is on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon. The City of Los Altos is seeking volunteers to lend a hand and keep our local creeks litter-free. Last year, volunteers picked up nearly 88,000 pounds of trash from creeks in Santa Clara County. That’s equivalent to the weight of 33 Honda Civics! There are currently 43 cleanup sites to pick from throughout Santa Clara County, including one on Permanente Creek in Los Altos. Register online to reserve your spot.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

This year’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event was held on April 14 ^th at Egan Middle School. The results are in – a total of 27,930 pounds of waste was collected from the 369 residents who participated in the event! Thank you Los Altans for doing the right thing and disposing of your HHW safely and properly.

City Hall Restroom and Lobby Renovation Project

The City of Los Altos is soliciting proposals from qualified architectural-engineering firms to provide design and construction support services for one project to improve public restrooms and access to the Los Altos City Hall facility. The work includes the preparation of plans, specifications, construction cost estimate, and contract bid documents, bid period support, and construction support during construction. The proposal deadline is Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

Lincoln Park Gazebo Facelift

The Los Altos Rotary Club approached the City last year for permission to work on and spruce up the Gazebo at Lincoln Park. Working in partnership with a private contractor retained by the Rotary Club, City crews provided the contractor with the use of a power washer, source of water and manpower as needed. The contractor has power washed the structure, performed minor carpentry repairs and provided a primer coat to ensure the exterior is sealed. The final coat will be applied in the coming week to bring the Gazebo back to original condition, giving it a much-needed face lift for upcoming summer activities.

Hetch Hetchy Pathway Maintenance

This week, Parks crews performed focused maintenance on the Hetch Hetchy pathway off Los Altos Avenue. Crews removed two dead/dying trees and trimmed all other trees. Weeds were mowed along the pathway and mulch was spread to minimize new weed growth.

Citywide Weed Abatement

Spring time is peak season for weeds. City crews have been working diligently to remove and control weeds, despite strict restrictions passed down by the County of Santa Clara on chemical use this year. This week crews focused on removing weeds in areas that had spring tulips. It is important to note that the areas where we had tulips have been weeded but the foliage of the bulbs will remain and will be removed when they turn brown. It will not look attractive but it is necessary to allow the bulbs to live the full life, they need to get as much sun for photosynthesis so they have the best chance of returning next year. 

Recreation & Community Services

Summer Concert Series

The City of Los Altos Summer Concert Series has been announced! Our 16th Annual Summer Concert Series features eight performances by a variety of local bands.

The Peninsula Symphony will kick off our Summer Concert Series on Saturday, June 16 ^th at 6 p.m. on the soccer field at Hillview Community Center.

Visit our website to view the full lineup of concert dates and performers!

San Antonio Club

With the support of City Maintenance and Recreation & Community Services staff, Boy Scout Troop #75 completed many projects for the betterment of the San Antonio Club. Tiny Tots Preschool has been learning and practicing growing flowers, plants, vegetables and more in the amended soil made possible by the Boy Scouts. Tiny Tots Terrific 3’s and Fabulous 4’s classes still have space. Visit our website to learn more and request a tour!

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

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.

Mini Trip: Join us on Monday, May 14, 2018 for a guided tour, meditation session and a vegetarian lunch at the Chung Tai Zen Center in Sunnyvale. The cost is $37/members and $47/non-members and includes the tour, lecture, meditation session, lunch, transportation and gratuity. Seats are limited. Participants must arrive at the Hillview Community Center by 9:45 a.m. Please RSVP by calling (650) 947-2727.

Grant Park Program

Grant Park Senior Program Speaker Series:

Monday, May 14, 2018 – 10 a.m.: Eric Gee, Generation’s Lab – Cyber Security: The Do’s and Don’ts of Being Online. Worried about your online information being stolen? What happens with information in “the cloud?” If you have these questions then come join us for a very special lecture

Reminders

SVCE Bike to the Future

Students from Los Altos, Mountain View and Alta Vista High Schools will be competing against teams from other local schools at  Bike to the Future, SVCE’s electric bike building scholarship competition! Come watch students compete in a series of challenges for a $5,000 scholarship prize using electric bikes they’ve designed and built. This event will also feature a clean commuting fair with electric bike vendors, safety tips for bike commuting and entertainment for all ages. The event takes place on Saturday, May 5 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at  Gilroy Gardens, 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy, Gilroy, CA 95020. The first 100 guests will receive a free ticket to Gilroy Gardens!

Now that your electricity is carbon-free, transitioning to electric transportation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps the climate. Bike to the Future provides an opportunity for high school students to get excited about alternative and sustainable modes of transportation while engaging in STEAM learning. This event also helps SVCE reinvest in the community by providing a scholarship opportunity for local students. Come out and show your support for an electric future!

City Council Open Office Hours

City Council will host their next Open Office Hours on Thursday, May 17 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at Grant Park Community Center, Room 3 (1575 Holt Avenue). 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 with community members. You may drop-in anytime during the two-hour window. Everyone is welcome.