City Hall Closed Monday, November 12

City Hall and Recreation & Community Services offices will be closed on Monday, November 12 in observance of Veterans Day. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, November 13.

Administrative Services

Defined 9/80 Schedule

The City of Los Altos is implementing a compressed work schedule for the Maintenance Service Center (MSC) beginning Monday, November 19, 2018. Under a Defined 9/80 Schedule, MSC staff will work the same 80 hours, but over nine days every two weeks. Every other Friday, City Hall and MSC will be closed to staff and the public. This effort will decrease the number of commute trips (and the associated greenhouse gas emissions) required of employees by 10%, while also synchronizing MSC’s schedule to the same Defined 9/80 work schedule City Hall started in August 2018. MSC employees will begin their new schedule on Monday, November 19 with the first closure date scheduled on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Beginning Monday, November 19, MSC will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed alternate Fridays. Police, Fire, and other emergency services will not be affected by this schedule change. 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. 

City Clerk

2018 Election

Voters cast their ballots for two City Council seats and two City Measures this past Tuesday, November 6 ^th. The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is continuing to count ballots and current results can be viewed online.

Election Signs

After the midterm election, you may be wondering what to do with all those campaign signs. To dispose of them at home, place the signs in your curbside garbage bins. To recycle campaign signs, bring them to the City’s Municipal Services Center at 707 Fremont Avenue, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Paint the Town II Exhibit

The Los Altos History Museum recently completed its Paint the Town II exhibit. Local artists displayed works representing various historical sites throughout Los Altos. The City has loaned several of the paintings and will display the artworks in the Community Meeting Chambers at City Hall for the next six to nine months.

Home Energy Upgrade Workshop

Join the County of Santa Clara and City of Los Altos for a free informational workshop for homeowners to learn more about the benefits of an energy upgrade and how to qualify to receive rebates for making energy saving improvements. Single-family homeowners can be eligible for incentives up to $5,500 with the Energy Upgrade California® Home Upgrade program.

Eligible improvements include:

Homeowners will also learn about finance options for energy and water efficiency home projects and be able to meet participating contractors. To learn more, please plan to attend this free workshop on Wednesday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact a Home Upgrade Advisor at (866) 878-6008 or visit  BayRENresidential.org.

Community Development

Permit Tracking Software Upgrade - Coming Soon

Installation of Community Development’s new permit tracking software, TRAKiT, will be happening at the beginning of December. In the week leading up to the go-live date on Monday, December 10 ^th, staff will be receiving training and the existing permit system will be going offline, so please be advised that the public counter will have limited hours. A more detailed schedule with hours of availability will be provided as soon as it is available. Thank you in advance for your patience as we modernize and upgrade our systems to better support the Department and the community.

Planning Commission Meeting Canceled

The regularly scheduled Planning Commission Meeting on Thursday, November 15, 2018 has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 6, 2018.  

Design Review Commission Meeting Canceled

The regularly scheduled Design Review Commission Meeting on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 has been canceled. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 5, 2018.  

Police

Poor Air Quality

The Bay Area Air Quality District has issued a Spare the Air Alert due to heavy smoke blowing into the Bay Area from the Camp Fire burning in Butte County. The Spare the Air alert is issued through Monday, November 12, 2018. 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

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.

Los Altos Avenue Paving

This week, the City’s contractor, Interstate Grading and Paving began preparations for paving along Los Altos Avenue. Work included crack sealing, removal of striping, repairing failed sections and edge grinding the roadway surface. Next week, the contractor will begin paving operations with work beginning at Santa Rita School on Monday, November 12 ^th. The goal is to complete this section of paving while Santa Rita School is closed for Veterans Day.

First Street Resurfacing

Next week, street resurfacing work will be performed on First Street in downtown. Work will take place between Plaza North and Shasta Street, and near the intersection of First Street and W. Edith Avenue. Work will occur on Tuesday (grinding), Wednesday (paving) and Thursday (utility adjustments). Temporary closures will occur at various times/locations on Tuesday and Wednesday, however, local access to businesses/residents will remain accessible throughout the day for most locations. Safeway patrons are encouraged to access the store via the entrance at First and State Street. Drivers are advised to avoid the work area between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as feasible.

Sewer Improvements - Structural Reach Replacement

The City’s contractor, EPS Inc., plans to complete a sanitary sewer pipe replacement project at the easement located near Barley Hill Road this week. This sewer segment runs east of Barley Hill Road through an easement that is located south of Voorhees Drive and north of Hilltop Drive. Last week, the contractor finished replacement of the sewer line in the easement ending on Springer Road. Next week, EPS will start working on the replacement of a sewer pipe along an easement near Mimosa Court. 

Fall Leaves

As cooler weather reaches the Bay Area, the dense tree canopy in Los Altos begins dropping a large amount of leaves. Beginning this month, the City’s street sweeping contractor will increase sweeping to two times per month. Many residents sweep their fallen leaves into piles for collection, however, the sweeper cannot handle larges piles of leaves and the occasional unseen branch or other refuse underneath. Piles of leaves can also cause stormwater back-ups, even in mild rain, as leaves are easily carried into storm drains where they can block water flow. Please help us keep the streets clean by disposing of leaf piles in your green waste tote or simply leave leaves where they fall for the sweeper to pick up. Also, be sure to remove your garbage and recycling bins from the street on your scheduled street sweeping days. To view a map of the street sweeping routes and schedule, click here.

Recreation & Community Services

Kinder Prep Learns to Vote

On Tuesday, November 6, children in the Kinder Prep program exercised their voting spirit. Staff from the program, Bela and Sarah, conducted a vote to decide if the lunch and play students would eat lunch on the soccer field or picnic benches. Soccer field won 6-5. Children filled out their own ballots and put them in the ballot box. They then got a sticker to show they voted!

Senior Program Tree Lighting

The Los Altos Senior Program at Hillview Community Center will host its 2 ^nd Annual Tree Lighting on Tuesday, December 4 ^th from 5 - 7p.m. This year, we’ve added a new addition – Cookies with Santa! This event will be held in the Hillview Senior Center 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!

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.” Prizes Galore!

Grant Park Senior Program

Wednesday, November 7: Los Altos Police Chief Andy Galea will be coming to speak about understanding ordinances and provide crime updates and crime prevention tips. This activity will take place at 12:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room.

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

Annual Gingerbread House Exhibit

Gingerbread meet gum drops, lollipops and candy galore - get ready for all the fun that is in store! It’s the Gingerbread House Exhibit that’s coming to town. Join the masses in applying to show your creation. Applications are due by Tuesday, November 13 and may be found online or picked up at the Recreation Office located at Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Avenue. The Gingerbread House Exhibit will be held Tuesday, November 27 to Thursday, December 6 at the Hillview Community Center.

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