Thanksgiving Office Closure

City Hall and Recreation & Community Services offices and programs will be closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Weekly Updates will resume the week of November 26.

California Wildfires

As wildfires rage on in Northern and Southern California, you may be wondering what you can do to support the families impacted as well as first responders who are on the frontlines managing the response. If you’d like to assist victims from the fires, consider donating through the organizations below: 

Due to our proximity to the Santa Cruz mountains, Los Altos does bear some risk of wildfire. In addition to multi-agency emergency planning to negate and respond to such risk, residents are encouraged to be prepared. Give your household the best chance of surviving a wildfire by being ready to go and evacuating early. This includes going through pre-evacuation preparation steps (only if time allows) to increase your home’s defenses, as well as creating a Wildfire Action Plan for your family. For tips and templates, visit sccfd.org. Also, be sure you are registered to receive emergency alerts from the City and County of Santa Clara by visiting AlertSCC.org today.

Assistant City Manager

Los Altos Resident Recognized as an Emergency Volunteer of the Year

Los Altos resident Jim Clark has been named a recipient of the 2018 Mick McDonald Volunteer of the Year award by the Santa Clara County Emergency Managers Association. Jim leads the Los Altos Amateur Radio Emergency Services (LAARES) group and serves as the Assistant Emergency Coordinator for the Santa Clara County amateur radio emergency communications group. He is an integral member of the Los Altos PREPARES program, with a long history of leading emergency preparedness in the community. Jim also serves on the Los Altos PREPARES Steering Committee, linking the efforts of the community volunteers and City of Los Altos staff, and on the Los Altos Block Action Team Leadership Committee.

Through Jim’s leadership over the past year, LAARES acquired and installed equipment which significantly strengthened the amateur radio emergency communications capabilities in Los Altos. Funded by the Los Altos PREPARES program of the City of Los Altos, the Los Altos Rotary Club Endowment Fund and LAARES members, LAARES acquired a repeater system with battery back-up and installed the equipment at the Los Altos Police Department building. This equipment enables emergency volunteers to receive and broadcast information and assure citywide reliable amateur radio communications capabilities during a disaster. Jim led the design of the antenna and repeater, worked through installation options, evaluated equipment purchases, managed the installation and calibration of the equipment, and more. The Emergency Managers Association will recognize Jim and other County volunteers at a luncheon on December 13 ^th. Congratulations, Jim, on this well-deserved award!

Community Talk: Storm Preparation and your Neighborhood

The community is invited to attend a talk on Storm Preparation and your Neighborhood on Thursday, December 6th from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Grant Park Community Center, Multipurpose Room (1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos). As California enters the winter season, there are some basic preparations residents can make to stay safe in storms and prevent flooding around their homes. Attend this talk to hear from the City’s maintenance division and learn how you can get your home ready for storm season. The City’s Public Works Department will explain how they prepare for the storm season and share resources to help residents prepare for and respond to storms. The Santa Clara Valley Water District will talk about storm safety and provide informational brochures and other giveaways, so you can bring back information to your family and neighbors. Admission is free, but please RSVP at https://dec6session.eventbrite.com. Refreshments will be served.

Police

Winter Spare the Air Alert

As a reminder, due to heavy smoke in the Bay Area from the extensive Camp Fire in Butte County, the Bay Area Air Quality District has extended the Winter Spare the Air Alert through Tuesday, November 20. Burning wood, including manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel is banned throughout this alert. Additionally, the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department is advising residents to take precautions due to the current poor air quality. Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure. If you smell smoke, protect your health by avoiding exposure. If possible, stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside. Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside. Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses. Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from respiratory conditions, such as asthma or emphysema/COPD. For more information on this topic from County Public Health, click here.

Public Works

Public Works Director Announces Departure

Susanna Chan, Public Works Director at the City of Los Altos, has accepted a position as Assistant General Manager with the Midpeninsula Open Space District. Her last day with the City of Los Altos will be Friday, November 30, 2018. We are very thankful for all Susanna has accomplished during her time in Los Altos. She has overseen the successful adoption of critical master plans and completely revamped our Capital Improvement Program. Susanna will stay on through the month of November, giving the City time to work on plans for her replacement. We wish her all the best in her new endeavor.

First Street Resurfacing

This week, the City’s contractor completed resurfacing work on First Street in downtown between Plaza North and Shasta Street. Additional work, with minimal impacts, will continue over the next few weeks including adjustments to utility lids, installation of curb ramps, striping and vehicle detection loop adjustments. The Public Works Department thanks you for your patience while repaving work was completed earlier this week.

Citywide Street Paving

This week, the City’s contractor, Interstate Grading and Paving completed paving operations along Los Altos Avenue. Minor work will follow including adjusting utilities to grade, temporary striping and final striping. Preparation is underway for the next road segment this week and the contractor will begin paving operations on Covington Road while Covington Elementary is out of session the week of Thanksgiving.

Sewer Improvements - Structural Reach Replacement

The City’s contractor, EPS Inc., plans to complete the sanitary sewer pipe replacement at Mimosa Court this week. Last week, the contractor finished replacement of the sewer line in the easement near Barley Hill Road. On Friday November 16, the contractor plans to begin pipe replacement work in the easement at Morningside Road, which is anticipated to be completed on November 21. On Monday November 26, EPS plans to begin work in the easement at Farndon Avenue, with the goal of completing the pipe replacement by November 30.

Recreation & Community Services

Holiday Camps

If you’re looking for options for your children while they enjoy holiday breaks, be sure to check out our Holiday Camps! Registration is now open for camps for kids ages 3.5 – 13. For more information, click here.

Hillview Senior Program

Friday, November 16: Join us for a very special Thanksgiving lunch at the Hillview Multi-Purpose Room at 11 a.m. For entertainment, we will be playing “Name the Tune” and awarding prizes!

Tuesday, December 4: Join the Los Altos Senior Program at Hillview Community Center for its 2 ^nd Annual Tree Lighting on Tuesday, December 4 ^th from 5 - 7p.m. This year, we’ve added Cookies with Santa! This event will be held in Rooms 10, 11, 12. In addition to Cookies with Santa, entertainment includes a Gingerbread House Exhibit, Lyric Victorian Carolers and Bel Canto Flute Choir. Refreshments will be provided by the Los Altos Sunset Rotary and The Los Altos Senior Center. Please join us for this festive event!

Grant Park Senior Program

Wednesday, November 21: Christine Moore and Gina Cali from the Santa Clara County Disaster Preparedness organization will be coming to speak about the Bay Area disaster risks and how residents can prepare for emergencies that could impact the Los Altos community. This activity will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room.

Questions about Senior programming can be directed to Senior program staff at (650) 947-2797.

Reminders

City Hall & Maintenance Services Center Closed Friday

Los Altos City Hall and the Maintenance Services Center will be closed on Friday, November 16 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   losaltosca.gov/hours. 

Community Meeting: Homestead Road Corridor Safe Routes to School Study

Please join us at a community meeting on Monday, November 26, 2018 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Homestead High School Library to learn more about and provide feedback on the Homestead Road Corridor Safe Routes to School Study. In June 2018, the County Board of Supervisors approved one-time funding to secure a consultant to develop a multi-jurisdictional conceptual plan for additional on-street safety improvements to the Safe Routes to School on the Homestead Road corridor for students coming to and from West Valley Elementary School, Cupertino Middle School and Homestead High School.

The overall objective of the study is to identify near-term pedestrian and bicycle improvements on Homestead Road, from Grant Road to N. Stelling Road/Hollenbeck Avenue, and to seek funding for the identified improvements through various grant applications. The purpose of the community meeting on November 26 is to a) introduce the scope of the study and provide a study schedule and process; b) present existing conditions observed through data collection and field observations; and c) receive community feedback on existing issues and priorities for the corridor. There will be a second community meeting in early 2019 to provide an update to the community on the study status and receive additional community feedback on the proposed concepts that will be developed based on input received from the first community meeting. Homestead High School is located at 21370 Homestead Road in Cupertino. Parking will be available in either of the lots on campus. More information about the study can be found on the County website.

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.

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

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

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos