Assistant City Manager

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

Today, at 10:18 a.m., City staff joined over 19.5 million people worldwide participating in the Great ShakeOut earthquake drill .

This national event invites everyone, everywhere to practice earthquake safety. Participants practice the recommended Drop, Cover, and Hold On action, which official rescue teams, emergency preparedness experts, and others recommend as the best way, in most situations, to protect yourself during earthquake shaking.

Those interested in additional earthquake preparedness tips are encouraged to visit  http://bit.ly/earthquakeprepare.

City Clerk

City Council Open Office Hours Tomorrow

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.

Friday, October 19, 2018

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

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

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

Grant Park Community Center, Room 3

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos

Community Development

Planning Commission Reviews New Housing Proposal

At its meeting tonight, Thursday, October 18, the Planning Commission will hold a study session to consider a pre-application design review for a new five-story, multiple-family development application at 4350 El Camino Real. The Commission is expected to provide the applicants with constructive feedback and guidance, but no formal actions. The next steps for the project include a formal design review application submittal, staff review for completeness, environmental review and public meetings before the Complete Streets Commission and Planning Commission. After these steps have been completed, the City Council will review the project and take a final action. 

New Planning Commissioners

The City’s two newest Planning Commissioners will take their seat at tonight’s Planning Commission meeting and begin their service among the group of citizens that review and make recommendations on development applications and land use regulations in Los Altos. The two new Planning Commissioners have backgrounds in architecture and land use and have been given an orientation on the practices and procedures of the Commission. Each is eager and ready to start their duties on this City Commission.

Economic Resource Evaluated

The City’s Economic Development Coordinator visited the NOVA Job Center at the Sunnyvale Civic Center to learn more about this federally-funded organization. NOVA provides businesses with recruiting services and job-seeking individuals with potential employers. Economic Development is evaluating ways to integrate their various resources into the business community of Los Altos.

Change to Planning Division’s Weekly Staff Meeting

The weekly staff meeting for the Planning Division has been moved from Monday at 1:30 p.m. to Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. This shift is intended to align with the Building Division’s weekly staff meeting and improve planning staff availability at the front counter. 

Police

Downtown Traffic Alert: Homecoming Parade

The Los Altos High School Homecoming Parade is scheduled to take place Friday, October 19 on Main Street in Downtown Los Altos. Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between First Street and N San Antonio Road from noon to 2:30 p.m. ‘No Parking’ signs have been posted along the parade route and vehicles parked in violation of these signs are subject to tow.

Foothill Expressway will be closed intermittently while students and floats cross from their staging area on University Avenue to Main Street beginning around 1:00 p.m. The intersection at First and Main Streets will remain closed until all the floats safely cross. All streets will reopen to vehicular traffic by 2:30 p.m.

Public Works

Marymeade Park Tennis Courts

Grab you racket and tennis balls and head out to Marymeade Park. The three tennis courts have been resurfaced and are ready for play!

Sewer Improvements - Structural Reach Replacement

This week, the City’s contractor, completed the sewer pipe replacement project on San Antonio Road. This segment, located on the civic center campus, runs between the Library and City Hall to a manhole in the street on San Antonio Road near the intersection of West Edith Avenue and Main Street. The use of pipe reaming, a trenchless method, on the San Antonio Road segment significantly reduced the construction impacts to the orchard and adjacent civic facilities.

 

Sewer Summit Seminar

Staff from the Engineering Division and Maintenance Service Center attended a one-day training seminar this week related to operation and maintenance of sanitary sewer systems. The training offered sessions on worker safety, engineering management, regulatory compliance and operation and maintenance, all key components to successfully managing one of the City’s largest and most valuable assets.

Recreation & Community Services

Halloween Movie in the Park This Saturday!

The Los Altos Parks & Recreation Commission is pleased to present “Twas A Week Before Halloween Movie Night.” This free event will take place this Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Grant Park located at 1575 Holt Avenue. The following movies will be shown on an outdoor screen:

Bring a chair, blanket, or jacket and join us for this fun, family-friendly Halloween double feature.

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 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, 2018 to Thursday, December 6, 2018.

 

Hillview Senior Program

Wednesday, October 24: Beginning Mah-Jongg will take place at the Hillview Community Center Senior Program Room 11 at 9:30 a.m. Now accepting new members for this fun game of skill and luck. Members: $37.00, Non-members: $44.00

Grant Senior Program

Wednesday, October 24: Tom Winant from the Moffett Museum will be coming to speak in Room 4 starting at 12:30 p.m.

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

Reminders

City Hall Closed Friday, October 19

Los Altos City Hall will be closed on Friday, October 19 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. 

Pumpkin Carving with a Cop

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 27 and join Los Altos Police for our 3 ^rd annual Pumpkin Carving with a Cop! This year’s event will be held at the Los Altos Youth Center from 3 to 5 p.m. Los Altos Police Officers will be carving pumpkins alongside fellow jack o’ lantern enthusiasts during this fun, FREE, family-friendly event. Participants are asked to bring their own pumpkins and to RSVP. We will provide carving tools, snacks and refreshments. We hope to see you there!

Halloween Window Painting

Downtown Los Altos will soon be decked out in spooky, silly and creative Halloween window paintings! Local students in grades 4-12 participating in the City’s 55 ^th Annual Halloween Window Painting Contest will be painting storefront windows in downtown Los Altos on Thursday, October 18 ^th, Friday, October 19 ^th and Saturday, October 20 ^th. Parks and Recreation Commissioners will select the contest winners on Sunday, October 21 ^st. Good luck to all the talented artists! Also, special thanks go out to the Los Altos Village Association and each of the stores and restaurants that are participating this year. We truly appreciate the support of our local business owners who help keep this holiday tradition alive in Los Altos!