Defined 9/80 Schedule

The City of Los Altos is implementing a new compressed work schedule to begin on August 27, 2018. This effort will decrease the number of commute trips (and the associated greenhouse gas emissions) required of City employees by 10%, while allowing for affected offices to remain open to serve the public for the same or a greater total number of hours. Under the new schedule, called a “Defined 9/80 Schedule,” staff will work 80 hours over nine days every two weeks. Every other Friday, City Hall will be closed to staff and the public. Recreation offices hours will not be impacted. Employees will begin their new schedule on August 27, 2018. The first closure date will be on Friday, September 7, 2018.

As part of the City Climate Action Plan, adopted in December 2013, employee commute and travel were identified as the largest contributor to 2005 municipal operations emissions (37% of total emissions). The Plan calls for the City to support sustainable employee travel and recommends the City establish alternative work schedule or telecommuting options for City staff to reduce daily commute trips. Over the last few years, City employees have been encouraged to adopt compressed work schedules as operational needs allowed, and this has already been successful in many departments. However, this has caused difficulty with employees being off on different days. A Defined 9/80 schedule will align all schedules by defining the Friday that City Hall will be closed while allowing additional employees to participate in a compressed work schedule.

Beginning Monday, August 27, City Hall will be open a half-hour earlier, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed alternate Fridays. Walk-in service hours and front counter hours for City Hall will be 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, allowing the public to complete City business before traditional business hours. On the open Friday, walk-in services and front counter hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Hillview Community Center and Recreation office hours will not be impacted and will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday each week. Police, Fire, and other patrol and emergency services will not be affected by this schedule change. Arrangements for construction or building inspections can be made to accommodate contractors requiring inspections on the Friday when City Hall is closed. Dispatch services for water, sewer and street issues will still be available by calling (650) 947-2785.

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. 

Assistant City Manager

Anti-Idling Campaign

This week, the City implemented a new anti-idling campaign focused on vehicles using City parking lots. Idling is running a vehicle engine when the vehicle is not moving. As part of the City’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we are asking City staff and the community to help “Spare our Air.” Researchers estimate that personal vehicles generate 30-million tons of CO2 every year just by idling. Here in the Bay Area, car exhaust is the number one source of summertime air pollution. Turning off the engine not only helps the environment, it reduces exposure to pollutants, saves money and keeps our beautiful California skies blue. The City is taking steps toward cleaner air by requesting that employees not idle in any city-owned vehicles or any personal vehicles being used to conduct city business. Exemptions apply for emergency and police vehicles, safety precautions, or auxiliary equipment operation. Idle-free signage will soon be installed in the parking areas of civic facilities such as the Civic Center campus and city parks. The entire Los Altos community is encouraged to join our efforts to reduce unnecessary idling and create healthier environments for the people who live, work, and play in Los Altos. Turn the key, be idle free!

Employee Wellness Fair

City staff participated in an employee wellness fair at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation in Downtown Los Altos on Wednesday, August 8. The event focused on safe and healthy lifestyles, energy conservation and family activities. The City provided Foundation employees with information on personal safety, emergency preparedness and recreational programming. Representatives from the Police Department, the City Manager’s Office and the Recreation & Community Services Department were in attendance, as well as Santa Clara County Fire Department and Silicon Valley Clean Energy. Like all the businesses and organizations in town, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation is an integral part of the Los Altos community and the City was pleased to participate and share more about the services and programs provided to our community members.             

#CityHallSelfie Day

On August 15, 2018, the City of Los Altos will participate in an international celebration of local government. City Hall Selfie day is a great opportunity to celebrate the services provided to the Los Altos community and the facilities in which they are served. Interested participants can snap a selfie in front of City Hall or another municipal facility and share it on social media using #CityHallSelfie and tagging @CityofLosAltos. Follow #CityHallSelfie to see photos of people celebrating their local governments all around the world. Show your Los Altos pride and tell us through photos what makes our community great!

City Clerk

Commission Recruitment

The Los Altos City Council invites residents to apply to open seats on the following Commissions: Design Review, Environmental, Historical, Planning and Public Arts. Each Commission contributes knowledge and expertise that helps guide and inform decisions made by the City Council. Serving on a Commission is a fantastic way to give-back to your community and residents are encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity. Applications can be picked-up at Los Altos City Hall (1 N San Antonio Road) or downloaded and submitted online. The application deadline is Wednesday, August 29 and interviews are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, September 4. For more information, click here or call (650) 947-2720.

Community Development

Downtown Employee Parking Permits

Annual parking permits available for Downtown business owners, employees and contractors will go on sale beginning Tuesday, September 4 online at losaltos.thepermitstore.com. Current parking permits for 2017/18 will expire on September 30, 2018, however, please do not discard of current parking permits until then to avoid a citation. The permits for next year will be valid from October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019. Business owners are urged to inform employees of the upcoming parking permit sales, so they will have the appropriate permits starting in October.

Planning Commission to Review Two Housing Proposals

At its meeting next Thursday, August 16, the Planning Commission will hold a study session to consider pre-application design review for two new multiple-family development applications. The Commission will take public comments and provide feedback and guidance to the applicants and staff, but it will not take any formal actions. The projects on the agenda include:

18-PPR-04 – Dutchints Development, LLC – 5150 El Camino Real

Design Review Study Session for a new multiple-family development. The proposal includes 24 three-story townhouse units in the rear of the site and 172 condominium units in two five-story buildings along El Camino Real with one level of underground parking. Project Planner: Dahl

18-PPR-05 – Jeff Warmoth – 425 First Street

Design Review Study Session for a new multiple-family development at the corner of First Street and Lyell Street. The proposal includes 20 condominium units in a three-story building with one level of underground parking. Project Planner: Dahl

Design Review Commission Meeting Canceled

The Design Review Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, August 15 has been canceled. A special meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, August 23 ^rd at 7 p.m. to review three design review applications that have been deemed complete and are ready for Commission review. 

Police

National Night Out

The Police Department was pleased to celebrate another successful National Night Out with Los Altos community members on Tuesday, August 7. Now in its 35 ^th year, this annual event is designed to heighten community awareness and generate support and participation in crime prevention efforts while strengthening neighborhood spirit. We attended sixteen neighborhood events throughout Los Altos ranging from backyard potlucks to a churchyard ice cream social and a large community picnic organized by local resident Andy Wong, photographed here with Police Chief Andy Galea, son Micah and Santa Clara County Fire Assistant Chief Tony Bowden.

National Night Out takes place on the first Tuesday in August each year. If you missed out this week, be sure to mark your calendar for Tuesday, August 6, 2019 and stay tuned for announcements from Los Altos Police beginning in May of next year. Thank you to all who invited us to celebrate this great event with you, your families and neighbors! To view additional photos, visit our Facebook Page.

Public Works

First Street Resurfacing

The Engineering Division issued a request for bids this week to perform construction improvements on First Street in Downtown Los Altos between Parking Plaza North (across from Safeway) to Shasta Street. The project includes base failure repairs and milling and overlaying hot mix asphalt concrete. Bids are due Thursday, August 28 and it is anticipated that the project will be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder at the September 10 City Council meeting.

2018 Annual Street Treatments (Slurry Seal and Micro-Seal)

The Engineering Division issued a request for bids this week to perform construction improvements for the citywide Annual Street Treatments project. The project includes performing preventative maintenance to extend the useful life of Los Altos streets by utilizing treatment measures such as slurry seals and micro-seals. Bids are due Thursday, August 28 and it is anticipated that the project will also be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder at the September 10 City Council meeting.

Recreation & Community Services

Pop-Up Camp on the Downtown Green

Recreation & Community Services is hosting a Mini Pop-Up Camp on the Downtown Green on Wednesday, August 15 from 6 – 8 p.m. This program is appropriate for ages 5 – 11, and the cost is $10.00 per child. Please note this drop-in program is first-come, first-serve; there is a maximum of 15 participants. Take a night off and enjoy a nice summer night in Downtown Los Altos, shopping and dining out. There will be a variety of fun activities for kids to take part in such as group games, table tennis, crafts, classic family board games and more. For more information about the Downtown Green, visit losaltosca.gov/downtowngreen.

Energy Day on the Downtown Green

Mark your calendar for Energy Day on the Downtown Green scheduled Sunday, August 19 from noon to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Silicon Valley Clean Energy, all are invited to join us for an afternoon filled with electric cars, electric bikes and even a solar cooker with freshly baked cookies! Representatives will be on-hand from companies specializing in solar installations, smart energy use and our very own electricity service provider, Silicon Valley Clean Energy. Gather ideas that will save you energy and money, and learn about the GreenTown Challenge, a program to help you reduce your carbon footprint. For more information, visit losaltosca.gov/downtowngreen.

 

Hillview Senior Program

Dinner on the Patio : The Senior Program has collaborated with the Los Altos Sunset Rotary Club to plan this memorable event with music, a food demonstration and bingo/raffle prizes. Join us on Thursday, August 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hillview Community Center Senior Program in Room 10. The cost is $20 for members and $29 for non-members. Please sign up for this action-packed delectable dining event by calling (650) 947-2797.

Grant Senior Program

Speaker Series: Join us on Wednesday, August 15 at 12:30 p.m. in Room 4 for a discussion with Santa Clara County Fire Department regarding home emergencies.

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

Reminders

City Council Open Office Hours on the Downtown Green

Visit Open Office Hours on the Downtown Green on Sunday, August 19 between 12 – 2 p.m. and personally connect with Los Altos City Council members. One City Council member will be available to the public for this two-hour period to answer questions, receive input and discuss topics of interest to community members. All are welcome. The Downtown Green is located on Third Street between Main and State Streets in Downtown Los Altos. 

Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards Committee

The Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards Committee is recruiting to fill one open seat. This Committee selects community members to be recognized for their volunteer service and organizes a luncheon in their honor each December. This recruitment is for one term expiring in March 2021. Applicants must be residents of the City of Los Altos to be considered for an appointment. The deadline to submit applications is Wednesday, August 15, 2018 and interviews are scheduled for Tuesday, August 28, 2018. Submit applications online or to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, located at 1 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos. For more information, call (650) 947-2720.

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 1:00 - 3:00 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.

Los Altos Has Talent

Teens in grades 6-12 are encouraged to audition for our 1 ^st Annual Los Altos Has Talent: Teen Talent show scheduled to take place on Friday, November 9 ^th from 6:00 - 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 by September 14 at 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit our website at Los Altos Has Talent.