Community Center Architectural & Landscape Characteristics Survey

The Hillview Community Center Project Task Force is formulating a recommendation for City Council on the building character of the new Community Center, which is intended to provide multi-generational space for all Los Altos residents to learn, play and gather. The City is also interested in learning more about the architectural and landscape design preferences of the greater community. Community members are invited to review a series of architectural and landscape images and rank those they believe to be the best fit for a Los Altos Community Center building within the Civic Center campus. The deadline to complete the survey is Monday, November 13, 2017 at midnight. Click here for survey

City Clerk

Nomination Deadline Extended for Volunteer Awards

The Joint Los Altos and Los Altos Hills Volunteer Service Awards Committee has extended the nomination deadline for the 35 ^th annual Volunteer Service Awards. The deadline to submit your nomination is now November 3, 2017. Applications and instructions are available at jointvolunteerawards.com or can be picked up at Los Altos City Hall or Los Altos Hills Town Hall. Awardees will be recognized at a luncheon on Friday, December 8, 2017 at the Crown Plaza Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto. Registration is required to attend the awards luncheon; make your table reservation online.

Community Development

Planning Commission to Hold Workshop on Mixed Use Proposal at 389 First Street

The Planning Commission will be conducting a study session to obtain early input on the architectural and site design for the redevelopment of 389 First Street. The property owner is proposing a new 24,000 square foot, three story mixed-use building consisting of 10 residential units (one offered as an affordable unit), 2,900 square feet of commercial office space at the first story, and one level of underground parking. After the Planning Commission study session, the project will go through the formal review and approval process with the Complete Streets Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council.  

Planning for Housing & El Camino Real Corridor

At its meeting this week, the City Council requested that an outline or plan of a process that evaluates and prioritizes the actions and steps needed to develop a comprehensive land use program for the El Camino Real corridor and blueprint to produce affordable housing City-wide.

The outline or plan for the El Camino Real corridor and the production of affordable housing will be developed and brought back for Council consideration in the context of its other priorities. Council noted the need to identify changes to the general plan, zoning code, or other regulatory documents and policies to achieve an appropriate planning program such as but not limited to:

The outline or plan will also need to consider all recently adopted State Laws concerning development and housing. In addition, an economic and constraints analysis, along with an evaluation of implications of changes to site development and density standards on the built environment need to be incorporated into the final program to ensure that future actions result in economically feasible projects.

It was also noted that a specific or precise plan for the El Camino Real corridor could be the best program to guide future change or development along the corridor. Finally, it was acknowledged that the appropriate level of CEQA review will be necessary prior to taking an action on future plans, policies, or regulations.

Implementation of New Permit Tracking Software Underway

The City has begun work to implement a new permit tracking software system to serve the Planning, Building, Public Works, Finance and Code Enforcement departments. The TRAKiT system will provide a modern, centralized permitting system for the City that will significantly expand online services, provide staff with additional tools to manage their workflow and improve the City’s processing and review of applications and issuance of permits. In addition to the technical capabilities of the TRAKiT electronic permit tracking system, the vendor has a very strong local presence, with over 40 jurisdictions in the greater Bay Area currently using TRAKiT. The implementation is anticipated to take 12 months, with a target to have the system go-live in October 2018. 

Police

Pumpkin Carving with a Cop is this Saturday

Community members are invited to bring their pumpkins for an afternoon of fun with Los Altos Police Officers! We will host our 2 ^nd Annual Pumpkin Carving with a Cop event on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Hillview Community Center, Multipurpose Room, 97 Hillview Avenue.

We will be carving pumpkins alongside fellow jack o’ lantern enthusiasts while answering questions during this fun, FREE, family-friendly event. Participants are asked to bring their own pumpkins. We’ll provide carving tools and refreshments.

We hope to see you there!

Public Works

Annual Creek Cleanup

This week, members of the City’s Engineering and Municipal Services divisions conducted the first creek cleanup for fiscal year 2017/18 in Permanente Creek, which included removal and categorization of litter.  Countywide efforts in 2013 and 2014 to pass reusable bag ordinances and bans on both polystyrene foam container and plastic bags has resulted in reduced findings of such materials in our local watersheds.

Redwood Grove Tree Maintenance Project

The tree maintenance project in Redwood Grove began on Monday, October 23, 2017. The project is in progress and will last around two weeks. Work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. Twenty-four trees identified as dead or dying will be removed or top pruned. Wood that is felled will be milled onsite; this process may be noisy. The project area is clearly marked and closed to the public. The public is asked to observe signs indicating areas inaccessible during the scheduled work and exercise extreme caution in the area, as work will take place overhead.

Maintenance Updates

This week the Park Crews assisted contractors working on the Redwood Grove Tree Maintenance Project. They also performed general maintenance in downtown and placed an order for 10,000 bulbs for planting throughout the City in spring. The Street Crews continued to clean storm drains and outfalls in preparation of the rainy season and performed pressure washing in Downtown. The Facilities Crews performed yearly inspection of the Downtown power outlets for the upcoming holidays, assisted contractors in the City Hall HVAC project and the City facilities cabling project, and performed routine facility maintenance. The Sewer Crews performed route sewer maintenance work.

Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) Corrosion Rehabilitation Project

The City’s contractor, Insituform Technologies, LLC, began performing sewer main repairs consisting of lining two 30-inch sanitary sewer mains located in Covington Road (between Seena Avenue and Golden Way, and between Russel Avenue and Covington Court) and expects to complete work, including removal of bypass lines, by the end of next week. 

City-wide Street Improvement Projects

Phase two of the city-wide street improvement project is currently underway. This week the contractor completed micro surfacing treatment on all streets included in the project this year. Street striping work will follow, which may require lane closures. Crews will maintain through access and minimize traffic impacts as much as possible, however, residents are encouraged to be mindful of the work schedule and route to avoid the area and unnecessary delays. If you have any questions about the project or would like to view a schedule of work, please contact the City of Los Altos Engineering Division at (650) 947-2780, or check the project webpage.

Reminders

Halloween Movie Night at Grant Park

The Los Altos Parks & Recreation Commission is pleased to present Twas 3 Nights Before Halloween Movie Night. This event will take place on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at Grant Park, 1575 Holt Avenue. The following movies will be shown:

Bring a chair, blanket, or jacket and join us for this family-friendly Halloween double feature. For more information, email mhernandez@losaltosca.gov. 

Public Meetings: Downtown Green

The Los Altos City Council will consider the 2018 Downtown Green Project on November 28, 2017. There will be two public meetings in advance for residents, business and property owners to view the Downtown Green’s design and details, consider the project and provide feedback. Please join us at the Los Altos Youth Center on Thursday, November 2 at 5:30 p.m. or Wednesday, November 8 at 12:00 p.m. You may also share your thoughts about the Downtown Green via our Open City Hall survey.

Orchard Soil Amendment Work

The City is planning to begin soil amendment work in the Civic Center orchard in late October. Organic fertilizer will be applied to keep the orchard in good health and prepare for new trees to be planted in the spring. Due to the application of fertilizer, a strong odor is anticipated. While the odor will be unpleasant, it is not harmful to humans or pets. We ask for your patience and understanding as we tend to the health of the orchard. Questions about the planned work can be directed to Parks Maintenance Supervisor Chris Costanzo at (650) 947-2895 or ccostanzo@losaltosca.gov . 

Los Altos Youth Theatre

The Los Altos Youth Theatre is pleased to present Seussical Jr. performed in the Bus Barn Theater, 97 Hillview Avenue on October 27, 28, and November 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. A matinee showing will also take place on Sunday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m. Order your tickets online or drop by the box office Wednesday through Friday between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.  Seussical Jr. transports audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and he must also guard an abandoned egg that's been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant!

City Council Open Office Hours

The Los Altos City Council will host Open Office Hours on the following dates and times:

Sunday, November 12, 2017

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Hillview Community Center, Room 2

97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos

Monday, November 20, 2017

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Grant Park (Room 3)

1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos

Thursday, December 7, 2017

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Hillview Community Center, Room 2

97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Los Altos Main Library, Orchard Room

13 S. San Antonio Road, 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.