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City Manager Weekly Update
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Eagle Scout Service Project
On Tuesday, August 15, Eagle Scout candidate Isaac Conner presented the City with four handmade owl boxes. His completed Eagle Scout project provided a learning and leadership opportunity, which also served to fulfill a community service project obligation to the City by Boy Scout Troop 37. Isaac worked with the Audubon Society to design and plan the project, conducted fundraising to pay for the materials, and organized fellow scouts and troop leaders to construct, assemble, and paint the owl boxes.
Serving both as owl shelters during their winter breeding period and as hawk perches the rest of the year, the owl boxes are intended to help ensure the continuation of the City’s owl and hawk populations. The owl boxes were carefully constructed with recessed hinges to allow for the maintenance and cleaning of the boxes without sharp edges that can harm the owls. The boxes will soon be on display in Redwood Grove and then installed at the Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserve where the habitat is conducive to attracting owls and hawks. The owl population at Redwood Grove has increased this year and we are hopeful the owls will find homes both in Los Altos and the Mid-Peninsula Open Space Parklands.
The City expresses its thanks to Isaac Conner, his troop leaders, fellow scouts and the Audubon Society.
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City of Los Altos Participates in #CityHallSelfie Day
City employees participated in the second annual International City Hall Selfie Day on Tuesday, August 15. This was a fun opportunity for staff and residents to show their love for the City of Los Altos and to celebrate local government. City Hall Selfie Day is coordinated by ELGL, Engaging Local Government Leaders, a nonprofit committed to connecting, communicating, and educating local government leaders. Check out our collection and pick your favorite #CityHallSelfie on our Twitter feed at
@CityofLosAltos.
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Sculpture Installation
On Thursday, City staff assisted artist Eileen Fitz-Faulkner install her sculpture
Mutha Hen at the corner of State Street and Third Street. This sculpture is part of the City’s Sculpture Loan Program and will be in place for a two-year period.
City Council Open Office Hours
City Council will be hosting
Open Office Hours on the Downtown Green this Sunday, August 20 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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Downtown Vision
The Downtown Vision consultant team and staff have been engaged in an extensive community outreach effort intended to gather community input on the Downtown’s future. Outreach efforts to date have included over 22 meetings and pop-up workshops, one-on-one interviews and a community-wide questionnaire that garnered over 1,500 responses.
The feedback and information gathered have helped form the basis for three future vision scenarios for Downtown Los Altos. The three future scenarios, each reflecting varying degrees or intensity of development in the Downtown, will serve as an important tool that will be used to continue the community engagement effort. Additional feedback will be sought on the scenarios and the various components within each scenario. The feedback gathered will be further evaluated in the fiscal analysis by the economic consultant.
Staff is seeking concurrence or direction from the City Council on the three scenarios at the City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 22, 2017. A staff report, future scenario maps and results of the community questionnaire are available in the Council agenda packet (
see item 11).
CT Zone District Amendments and Density Bonus Regulations Review
At last night’s Planning & Transportation Commission (PTC) meeting, Commissioners considered amendments to the CT Zone District Regulations and a proposed Density Bonus Ordinance. A representative from the City Attorney’s Office was present to answer questions and provide guidance on the language of the draft Density Bonus Ordinance in response to comments that were submitted by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Following public comment and a discussion, the PTC voted to recommend that the City Council adopt ordinances amending the CT zone district regulations and adding and new set of Density Bonus Regulations to the Los Altos Municipal Code.
Work on Downtown Building Committee Recommendations Continues
The City Council has received an update on the recommendations of the Downtown Buildings Committee (DBC). The DBC made suggestions on items ranging from changes to building height limits in the Downtown to updating forms and processes for development applications and review. Work on the recommendations is an ongoing process. The updated recommendations are
available online for public review.
Recruitments Underway for Building and Planning Staff
With the departure of a building inspector and planner in the Community Development Department, a recruitment effort is underway to find new staff members to fill these vacancies. Staff is exploring new avenues to attract qualified candidates to fill these positions. Vacancies like these are always challenging for remaining staff who work hard to maintain the levels of service the community expects – especially during periods of high development activity. Staff has risen to the challenge and is doing its best to keep up with the heavy workload.
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Downtown Green
The Downtown Green’s summer festivities include the following upcoming events:
August 18: Live Concert with Amy Dabalos - 6-9:00 p.m.
August 19: Saturday Cinema: La La Land - 8:30-10:00 p.m.
August 20: Yoga - 8:00 a.m.
Pilates - 10:00 a.m.
It’s Electric! Energy Day - 12-4:00 p.m.
Barre 3 - 12:00 p.m.
City Council Open Office Hours - 12:30-2:30 p.m.
August 21: Miracle Jones Trio - 6-8:00 p.m.
August 22: The Underground: Live Concerts
5:30-6:30 p.m. – Crow Eats Man
7-8:00 p.m. – Ana and MRI
August 23: Living Classroom - 6-8:00 p.m.
“Eat a Rainbow” salad from vegetables grown in the LASD school gardens! We will be making and eating a vibrant salad filled with delicious veggies.
August 24: DIY Terrarium Class - 5-7:00 p.m.
Make your own terrarium at the Farmers’ Market!
August 25: Vintage Noise Performance - 6-8:00 p.m.
August 26: Saturday Cinema: Guardians of the Galaxy - 8:30-10:00 p.m.
August 27:
Yoga - 8:00 a.m.
Pilates - 10:00 a.m.
Safe Moves! Bike Safety & Repair for Back to School - 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Barre 3 - 12:00 p.m.
Community Supper with Covington School Group - 4:00 p.m.
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Redwood Grove Creek Bank Restoration Efforts
City crews partnered with interns from Grassroots Ecology to begin creek bank restoration efforts near the pedestrian bridge in Redwood Grove. Last season’s high water events damaged previous bank restoration efforts. Work in the park included the addition of several redwood logs and branch mattress (layering) structures to the creek bank. Further work in the area will continue in the fall with the addition of willow plant staking.
Construction Site Stormwater Inspections
Every year, and specifically over the next couple of months, Engineering staff will review and inspect the erosion control measures at active construction sites throughout the City to ensure sites are in compliance with Storm Water Pollution Prevention regulations for the upcoming rainy season. Sites are required to be protected at all times throughout the year.
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Recreation & Community Services
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Tiny Tots
The Recreation & Community Services Department’s pre-school program, Tiny Tots, is gearing up to start the week of September 5. The Kinder Prep program is held at the Hillview Community Center and the Terrific 3’s and Fabulous 4’s programs are held at nearby San Antonio Club. This historic building has a spacious yet quaint indoor area and a large outdoor area with a covered picnic area, playground, garden, sandboxes, play house and “raceway” which is perfect for the Tiny Tots participants. There is limited space still available in the 3’s and 4’s programs. Those interested in enrolling are encouraged to call (650) 947-2890 to learn more about the program.
Hillview Senior Program Update
The Senior Center located at Hillview Community Center will be closed from Monday, August 28 through Monday, September 4, 2017. The Senior Center will re-open on September 5.
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Reminders
City Council Open Office Hours
The Los Altos City Council will host Open Office Hours on the following dates and times:
Sunday, August 20, 2017
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Downtown Green
Third Street between State and Main Streets
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Hillview Community Center, Room 2
97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Grant Park (outside picnic tables)
1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos
One City Council member will be available to the public for these two-hour periods to answer questions, receive input and discuss topics of interest with community members. Everyone is welcome.
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Los Altos Commissions Now Accepting Applications
The Los Altos City Council invites residents to apply for membership on the Financial Commission, Library Commission and Public Arts Commission. Each Commission advises the City Council on its respective area of expertise. Serving on a Los Altos Commission is a tremendous opportunity to give-back to your community by engaging in the civic process. Applicants must be residents of the City of Los Altos to be considered for an appointment and applications are due by Wednesday, August 30, 2017. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, 2017. For more information and application materials, call (650) 947-2720 or
click here.
Yoga on the Downtown Green
The Downtown Green will host Yoga at the Park on Sundays (8/13, 8/20 and 8/27) from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Start your day with a yoga class led by an instructor from Yoga Bharti, which teaches holistic yoga practice that includes breath and body synchronization, body poses and meditation with simple sounds to enhance awareness. For more information, call instructor Joseph at (917) 753-1317.
Upcoming Emergency Preparedness Training
September is National Emergency Preparedness month and the City of Los Altos is pleased to partner with Santa Clara County Fire Department to bring emergency preparedness training to Los Altos. Life-threatening emergencies can happen fast and they can happen anywhere. Learn how you can help yourself and others, until help arrives.
Personal Emergency Preparedness (PEP) Training
PEP training covers workplace and home safety, earthquake preparedness, when and how to turn gas, electrical and water off and basic fire safety. This free, 3-hour PEP course is being offered on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. – noon at Hillview Community Center. To register, contact Santa Clara County Fire Department at (408) 378-4010 or email
communityoutreach@sccfd.org
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training
CERT training educates people about basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Using classroom and simulation based education, CERT members learn how to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace immediately following an event when emergency responders may not be immediately available to help.
The CERT Academy includes six nightly sessions and a final skills exercise. Students must attend all seven sessions to receive a Certificate of Completion. The September CERT Academy will be held at the Hillview Community Center on the following dates:
- September 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- September 30 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Los Altos community members play a vital role in preparing for and responding during a disaster situation. Residents are encouraged to prepare for such emergencies by taking a CERT or Personal Emergency Preparedness training course.
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City of Los Altos | (650) 947-2700 | www.losaltosca.gov
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