Assistant City Manager

Hillview Community Center Project Task Force
Thanks to the community for attending the Task Force (TF) meeting Thursday evening and for expressing their ideas, hopes and enthusiasm for the new to-be-built Hillview Community Center (Center). The TF meetings provide the community opportunities to come hear and speak on ideas, needs and benefits of a new Center.

Selection of the architect firm to design the Center was a topic discussed. 3 members of the TF were on the selection committee along with City staff. The committee discussed the selection process and commented on the very high-caliber group of architects that applied for the design of the Center. The selected architect team will be at the next TF meeting on Tuesday, July 25th and will be introduced to the TF and community. The team will start the dialogue on the process that will lead to the design of the new Center. 

Members of the Task Force also discussed their visits to the recommended community centers in the area. Discussion included observations around use of outdoor light and views from the rooms, size and use of hallways and lobby areas, flexible room space vs dedicated space, adjacency to other facilities, importance of social gathering areas, use of the centers on the weekend and a wide variety of look and feel characteristics of the building architecture.

The TF engaged in a robust discussion to establish goals, objectives and guiding principles to organize its work and frame its comments to the design architect team. This discussion will continue at the July 25th meeting and be the framework for future meetings. The TF will meet in a Study Session with Council on September 26, 2017, 6-7 pm in Community Chambers. Los Altos residents are welcome and encouraged to attend meetings of the TF and to express their vision of the new Center that will serve the community for current and future generations. For more information or to contact the TF, click here.

Economic Development

Downtown Green
The Downtown Green has finally arrived! A variety of summer festivities is already planned so be sure to mark your calendars and make plans to enjoy some fun activities coming your way including:

July 15 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (7:30 p.m.)
Join us on the Downtown Green for the unveiling of our summer pop-up park. Let the summer festivities begin!

July 15th Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (8:00 - 10:00 p.m.)

July 17th Vinyl on the Green (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
Why keep your favorite songs to yourself? Come downtown on Mondays for the Vinyl on the Green, and bring your LPs, albums, picnic gear

July 18th The Underground (6:00 - 8:00 p.m)
Come rock out to local bands, play ping pong and enjoy a place to hang out in Downtown Los Altos

July 19th Community Supper (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
Break bread with friends and neighbors in a communal outdoor dining experience. Bring your own dinner or buy from a local restaurant.

July 20th Kid’s Day at the Farmer’s Market (5:00 - 7:00 p.m.)
Puppet Show and Kid’s Cooking Class

July 22nd Art House Cinema: Duck Soup (8:00 - 9:30 p.m.)

For more information, visit www.downtowngreen2017.com, like us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram @DowntownGreen2017.  

Police

Police
Los Altos Police were happy to participate once again in the 38th Annual Arts & Wine Festival hosted downtown last weekend. This great community event provides an opportunity for our Officers to engage with the public and get to know our residents in a fun and casual setting. To add some excitement to our booth this year, we brought a patrol vehicle and motorcycle out to allow the public to get a firsthand view of some of our state of the art equipment. Thanks to all who stopped by to say hello!

Phone Scam Alert
Los Altos Police issued a Nixle alert earlier this week to notify residents of a potential phone scam occurring over the past several days. Unknown suspects are calling residents, utilizing a presumed “spoofing device,” which masquerades as a legitimate call by indicating “ Los Altos PD (650) 947-2770” on the recipients Caller ID display. The callers identify themselves as police officers and suggest the recipient’s name is associated with an identity theft crime. While there have been no reports of anyone falling for this hoax and providing personal identifying information, nor has there been any reported financial loss, it is important to be aware of these calls. 

Please be advised:

• Los Altos Police do not call residents to solicit money
• Even if the caller gives you a recognizable name of one of our Officers, do not believe them if they are asking for personal or financial information
  
• If you receive one of these calls, hang up
• When in doubt about the legitimacy of a phone call from a police officer, you are encouraged to call the Police Department at (650) 947-2770 to verify identity

Public Works

Transportation Projects Construction Update
Illuminated Lighted Crosswalk: This project will replace three non-functioning in-pavement illuminated crosswalk systems at Almond Avenue and Forway Court, Grant Road and Morton Avenue, and Springer Road and Rose Avenue.Construction is approximately 80% complete and the project is anticipated to be completed by the end of July. 

Covington Road Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvement Project: This project will provide ADA compliant ramps, sidewalks, curbs/gutters, signs, and striping along Covington Road between Miramonte Avenue and Eastwood Drive. Construction is approximately 80% complete and the project is anticipated to be complete by mid-August.

W. Edith Avenue and University Avenue Crosswalk Improvement Project: These improvements include a new continental crosswalk, enhanced electronic crosswalk device, new curb ramps, a new concrete bulb-out and minor striping. Students accessing Gardner Bullis Elementary School will benefit from these improvements. Construction is currently underway. Demolition and grading were completed this week and the installation of the illuminated lighted crosswalk is scheduled for the next couple weeks.

University Avenue Crosswalk Improvements at Lincoln Avenue and Grant Road: The project includes installation of a raised crosswalk with a rapid flashing beacon warning system at the intersection of University and Lincoln Avenue as well as a curb ramp and crosswalk improvements at the intersection of Burke Road. Construction is underway. The contractor completed saw cutting this week and will continue demolition and grading next week. 

Annual Pathway Rehabilitation Project: This year’s project will include rehabilitation of pathways at three locations: Hawthorne Avenue and San Martin Place, S. Clark Avenue and Benvenue Avenue, and Fallen Leaf Lane Pathway. The contractor mobilized this week and started working on Fallen Leaf Lane. The construction duration for this project is approximately four weeks.

City Hall Roof Replacement Complete
The contractor finished work this week on the installation of the new asphalt shingles on the City Hall roof. Overall, work included demolition of the existing wood shake, preparation of the substructure, installation of an underlayment and new shingles. The project will be taken to City Council for acceptance on August 22, 2017.

Hillview Community Center Redevelopment – Architect Selection
An architect selection committee, consisting of City staff and members of the Hillview Community Center Task Force, met this week to conduct interviews for the Hillview Community Center architect. Following a long day of presentations from 4 short-listed firms and subsequent Q&A interviews, the selection committee debriefed and narrowed down the competition to one proposed firm. City staff will be engaging with the selected firm for negotiations and announcing the selected firm in the coming days. An agreement with the firm is expected to be recommended for award by City Council on August 22nd.

City Surveying Services – Request for Proposals
The Engineering division received proposals this week for City Surveying services from 4 proposing firms. The selected firms will assist the City on an as-needed basis by reviewing and ensuring maps, legal descriptions, and plans prepared for private developments are technically correct and in compliance with the California Subdivision Map Act. The City surveyor will also assist in providing research of maps when questions of ownership or easements arise and can provide topographic surveys as needed.

Fats, Oils, and Grease
When fat, oil or grease is poured down the kitchen sink or other drains, it sticks to the inside of the pipes located under your house and in the lateral that runs out to the street. Over time, these deposits will build up, eventually clogging your sewer line. The use of soaps and detergents, that claim to dissolve grease, will not stop the grease from re-depositing inside the sewer lines.

Putting fat, oils or grease down the garbage disposal will not prevent pipes from becoming clogged, as garbage disposals only shred food particles into smaller pieces. These bits and pieces of food from the garbage disposal can combine with the grease to cause the sewer line to clog sooner. If the drain lines in your house clog, it can be expensive and messy to have the clog removed.

Here are three simple things you can do to drastically reduce the amount of fat, oil and grease that goes down the drain.

• Pour grease and fat into a container and let it cool and solidify, then place it in the tras
• Scrape grease and food scraps into the trash before washing your dishes in the sin
• Never pour fat, oil, or grease down the drain or garbage disposal

Supporting Downtown Green
This week, the Street Crews worked closely with Engineering and other City departments to support the Downtown Green - a temporary park space located on Third Street between Main and State Streets. The temporary park is scheduled to start this weekend and will last for the months of July and August. This project and the associated street closure affects two sections of the Parking Plaza downtown. As Third Street is going to be closed to traffic from Main Street to State Street, the Central Parking Plaza will have a temporary turn around for vehicle circulation. The Streets Crews removed signage and wheel stops, installed temporary ramps and provided large planters for this fun summer event in downtown.

Hillview Task Force Meetings
The Hillview Community Center Project Task Force will next meet on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Neutra House, 7:00 p.m. A study session with City Council is scheduled for September 26, 2017 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. All are invited to attend meetings of the Task Force to stay up-to-date on the Hillview Community Center project or share their thoughts with the Task Force members. To be notified of meetings and other Task Force related news, be sure to sign up for the Hillview Community Center update email list at www.losaltosca.gov/enotify. 

Register Your Neighborhood National Night Out Event
Los Altos Police are looking forward to another great National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, 2017! Turn on your porch lights, lock your doors and join neighbors and Los Altos Police for a night of fun and community building. Register your neighborhood National Night Out event by Friday, July 21, 2017 so Los Altos Police can make plans to stop by. More information and registration information is available online.

City Council Open Office Hours
The Los Altos City Council will host Open Office Hours on:

Thursday, July 20, 2017
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Grant Park Community Center, Room 3
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.