City Manager Weekly Update
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Fourth of July Office Closure
City Hall and Recreation & Community Services buildings will be closed on Wednesday, July 4
th in observance of Independence Day. Regular business hours will resume on Thursday, July 5
th at 8:00 a.m.
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Congratulations to Los Altos’ Disaster Service Workers
Forty-five emergency preparedness volunteers were sworn in as Disaster Service Workers (DSW) by Los Altos Police Captain Scott McCrossin on Saturday, June 23, 2018. Volunteers included both amateur radio operators from the Los Altos Amateur Radio Emergency Service (LAARES) and members of the Los Altos Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
Amateur radio operators (hams) hold a license with the FCC and fund their own equipment. They regularly train on emergency ham radio communications procedures and are ready to provide emergency communication services in times of need. CERTS have completed a 21-hour training course covering topics such as fire safety, first aid, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Each participate in periodic training during the year, with an annual drill to practice their skills.
Saturday’s ceremony recognized the commitment of these volunteers to our community and officially established them as DSWs under the Los Altos Disaster Council. DSW volunteers are ready to help themselves and their neighbors in the aftermath of a major disaster when first responders may not be immediately available. To learn more about the Los Altos Amateur Radio Emergency Service, visit
www.laares.info/. Those interested in joining the Los Altos CERT are encouraged to register for the next upcoming training which begins September 11
th. To learn more or to register, visit
losaltoscert18.eventbrite.com.
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North County Library Authority Update
On Tuesday, June 26, City Council received an update on the North County Library Authority (NCLA) Library Redevelopment Task Force. The NCLA Board is exploring potential redevelopment of the Main Library using non-City of Los Altos funds. The Task Force is currently in the process of surveying the community regarding a potential revenue measure. The results of the survey will be presented at the July 11, 2018
NCLA meeting. To view the discussion at Tuesday’s Council meeting,
click here. (see Agenda Item #8)
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Accessory Structure and Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations
At its meeting on Tuesday, City Council introduced the new accessory structure and accessory dwelling unit regulations, also known as ADU’s. Each of these regulations was reviewed by the Planning Commission, which recommended that they be adopted. The accessory structure regulations amend the recently adopted rules and provide for an 800-square foot limit on the size of the structures, while the ADU regulations provide a comprehensive set of standards for this type of housing unit. The proposed ADU regulations include standards that have been adopted by the State of California, which is trying to promote this type of housing as one way to address housing needs across the State.
Los Altos Community Center Environmental Review Published
The Environmental Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the new Los Altos Community Center is now available for public review. The document is available at the Planning Counter at City Hall or on the City’s Community Center
project webpage. The public review and comment period runs through Wednesday, July 18 at 5:00 p.m. A public hearing before the Planning Commission to review the IS/MND is scheduled Thursday, August 2, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Updated City Fee Schedule
On May 22,
2018, the City Council adopted an updated fee schedule for Fiscal Year 2018-19 that included a three-percent increase to most City fees. The updated fee schedule is set to go into effect on July 22, 2018. A copy of the updated Fee Schedule can be viewed
online.
New Multi-Family Development Proposed at 5150 El Camino Real
This past Tuesday, City Council held a joint study session with the Planning Commission to review and provide early feedback on a proposed 196-unit multi-family residential project at 5150 El Camino Real. The project is proposing 30 Below Market Rate (BMR) units and developers are seeking a density bonus and three development incentives (increased height, reduced parking stall width and minor front yard setback encroachments). The staff report and project materials can be viewed
here. The Council and Commissioners provided the applicant with a variety of comments to consider and address as the project design is further developed. The next step for the project is a pre-application study session with the Planning Commission to review and discuss architectural and site design. This study session is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, August 16, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.
No Planning Commission Meeting on July 5, 2018
There will be no Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, July 5, 2017. The Commission will take up its review of development applications and regulatory documents at its next regularly scheduled meeting of July 19, 2018.
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Leave the Fireworks to the Pros
Fireworks are not only dangerous, they are illegal in Santa Clara County, even those categorized as Safe and Sane. Although some of us grew up with these types of fireworks, they are the biggest contributor to burn injuries to children and possession or use of them is a misdemeanor offense. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is from a distance, so please plan to attend an outdoor
public display conducted by specially trained professionals.
If you observe fireworks being used in your neighborhood or other areas within the City, contact our 24-hour Police non-emergency line at (650) 947-2770. Please do not dial 9-1-1 unless you are experiencing an emergency.
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Community Center Update
The Complete Streets Commission (CSC) reviewed plans for the new Los Altos Community Center at its meeting on June 27, 2018 with City staff and the design team of Noll & Tam Architects and Planners in attendance. The CSC serves as a conduit for community input and provides opportunities for community engagement. An introduction of the project team and overview of the traffic analysis, circulation, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and environmental review were presented by Planning Services Manager Zachary Dahl. The issues of safe mobility for all users including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users were discussed for the Community Center during the evening meeting with the design team responding to questions posed by Committee members.
A recommendation to the City Council by the Complete Streets Commission for acceptance of the design as related to Complete Streets will be forwarded along with recommendations for 1) reconfiguration of the pedestrian connection to the library to minimize parking space relocation; 2) review the loading zone at the main entry to ensure that U-turns cannot be made; 3) re-evaluate the bike rack design; 4) continue public outreach; and 5) consider sightlines and a wider pathway around the Community Center.
The next public engagement opportunity is an
Open House
scheduled for July 10, 2018 at the Los Altos Youth Center (LAYC) from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Join us for a walk-through exhibit of the Community Center project update. An overview of the design development phase reviewing the site, landscape, demo plans, environmental sustainability, interior and exterior elevations and the material characteristics of the Community Center will be available. City and design staff will be on hand to answer questions at this creative and exciting Open House event. For additional information, contact Project Manager Theresa Yee at
tyee@losaltosca.gov.
The regularly scheduled City Council meeting will occur directly following the Open House at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Meeting Chambers at Los Altos City Hall (1 N San Antonio Road). An update on the Community Center Design Development is included on the agenda.
Northwest Santa Clara County Recycled Water Strategic Plan Workshop
Engineering staff attended a workshop this week hosted by the City of Palo Alto with other agencies in the northwest county region. The workshop was the 4
th in a series with stakeholders of the Regional Water Quality Control plant with the objective of guiding an overall strategy of developing a Recycled Water Strategic Plan. Stakeholders evaluated various alternatives for expanding the use of recycled water, three of which would result in future expansion of infrastructure into Los Altos.
Police Station HVAC Upgrades
The Los Altos Police Station was built in 1967 and many components in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) are near the end of their useful life. A
Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on June 21, 2018 to evaluate the existing system components and to create design documents for contractor bidding that would replace or upgrade the HVAC system to a good working condition. The general system is a constant air volume system with an air-cooled chiller and Ajax boiler and services a 24-hour demand 7-days a week. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for July 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the lobby of the Los Altos Police Station. Proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. on July 31, 2018.
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Recreation & Community Services
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Summer Concerts
Our fourth Summer Concert will be held on Thursday, July 12
th at 6:30 p.m. at Grant Park (1575 Holt Avenue). Come join us for a wonderful summer night of music provided by the Big City Swing Committee.
Glorious 4th
The City would like to invite you to the annual
Glorious 4th
event that will be taking place on Wednesday, July 04, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. This event will be taking place at Shoup Park. There will be plenty of food, music, kid’s games and more!
Senior Programs
Hillview Location
Coffee on the Patio: Join us on Friday, July 6
th for Coffee on the Patio at the Hillview Community Center Senior Program at 9:00 a.m. In addition, the movie
Trumbo will be shown at 1:00 p.m. Please check-in with Senior Center Staff for more details.
Grant Park Location
Senior Commission Meeting: The next Senior Commission Meeting will take place at the Grant Park Community Center (1575 Holt Avenue) on Monday, July 2
nd at 3:30 p.m. in Room 1.
Advanced Care Planning Workshop: This 3-day workshop includes videos, discussions and help with completion of a legally binding directive. Sessions will be held July 9, 16 and 23 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Grant Park Community Center in Room 4.
New!
Yoga Class:
This new weekly offering will begin on July 11
th and will be held each Wednesday in Room 3 at 1:15 p.m.
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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.
Upcoming Open Office Hours
Friday, July 6, 2018
3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Hillview Community Center, Room 2
Thursday, July 19, 2018
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Grant Park Community Center, Room 3
Sunday, August 5, 2018
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Hillview Community Center, Room 2
Sunday, August 19, 2018
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Downtown Green
Third Street, Between Main and State Streets (Downtown)
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City of Los Altos | (650) 947-2700 | www.losaltosca.gov
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