Holiday Closure Information

City Hall & Recreation Office Closure

City Hall will be closed on Monday, December 25 and Tuesday, December 26, 2017 in observance of the Christmas Holiday. Offices will also be closed on Monday, January 1, 2018 in observance of New Year’s Day.

City Hall Reduced Hours

City Hall will observe reduced holiday hours and will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 27 to Friday, December 29, 2017. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

Senior Program Holiday Hours

The Los Altos Senior Center at Hillview and Grant Park will be closed December 25, 2017 through January 1, 2018. Recreation programs for the City of Los Altos will be closed December 25 & 26, 2017. Holiday Office Hours will be observed December 27 – 29, 2017; office hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

City Clerk

Welcome New Mayor & Vice Mayor

On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, City Council members held their annual reorganization meeting and elected Jean Mordo as Mayor and Lynette Lee Eng as Vice Mayor. Each will serve 1 year in their respective positions. Congratulations to Mayor Mordo and Vice Mayor Lee Eng! Many thanks to outgoing Mayor Mary Prochnow for her steadfast leadership over the past year.

2017 Joint Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Community Volunteer Service Award

Los Altos resident Sherie Dodsworth was recognized for her outstanding volunteer service at the Joint Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Community Volunteer Service Award luncheon this afternoon, December 8, 2017. Sherie dedicated more than five years to building community emergency preparedness and spends countless hours coordinating the Los Altos Block Action Team (BAT) and Los Altos PREPARES activities and participation. Sherie has passionately given of her time and effort in working with City of Los Altos staff and Police, Santa Clara County Fire, and other volunteer and community agencies to better prepare the entire community to respond to a disaster.

In addition to her emergency preparedness efforts, this award recipient is an extraordinary volunteer for the Los Altos Community Foundation (LACF), serving on the board for nine years, co-chairing for three, and serving as Treasurer for two. She also works with LACF’s Center for Age Friendly Excellence program to help train BAT leaders on how to recognize and help isolated seniors. Sherie is a true embodiment of grassroots service and the idea of “neighbors helping neighbors.” The enthusiasm and commitment of dedicated and selfless volunteers like Sherie better enable the City of Los Altos to provide services to the community and respond in an emergency. It is with great pride, joy, and gratitude that the City of Los Altos and the Los Altos Community Foundation recognize Sherie Dodsworth for the Joint Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Community Volunteer Service Award.

Hillview Community Center Project Update

City Council will receive the recommendations of the Hillview Community Center Project Task Force (Task Force) at its meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2017. Task Force recommendations include interior space allocation, exterior design, and site layout as set forth in the proposed Community Center building design Concept C1 presented by architects Noll & Tam, with certain adaptations made by the Task Force at its public meeting on November 30, 2017. To review meeting materials, click here (see Item 7).

To be notified of project updates, please subscribe to the Hillview Community Center email list at losaltosca.gov/enotify.

Community Development

Spike in Planning Applications

November was a busy month for the Planning Division with over thirty significant planning applications submitted. This includes residential design review applications for seventeen one-story projects and six two-story projects, which is double the volume for an average month in 2017, and more than enough to keep our staff of four planners quite busy. To ensure we keep these applications moving through the review and approval process, we are looking forward to a new Associate Planner, Sunny Chao, joining our team later this month.

Safeway Revised Delivery Hours Request Withdrawn

An application by Safeway (located at Rancho Shopping Center) to amend delivery hours has been withdrawn. The City received a letter withdrawing the application a few days prior to the Planning Commission meeting scheduled for December 7, 2017. In correspondence with the City, representatives of Safeway noted they intend to comply with the days and hours for delivery of product to the receiving bays on the back side of the store. These hours are a condition of approval for the use permit granted to the former Andronico’s Grocery Store, but remain even though Safeway has acquired this property.

Videos on Future Scenarios for Downtown

Presentations made at the Downtown Vision Community Workshop held on November 29, 2017 were recorded and the videos are now available on the project webpage at losaltosca.gov/DowntownVision.

The presentations in the videos provide the information and thinking that went into the development of four future Downtown scenarios. These scenarios are a tool that provide a peak at how Downtown Los Altos might evolve and appear in the future depending on different levels or intensity of land use policies and the development that could result from these land use policies. The four future Downtown scenarios are also available on the project webpage and the Community has an opportunity to comment on these scenarios through an online questionnaire available on Open City Hall through Sunday, December 17, 2017.

Police

Holiday Tree Lighting

Chief Andy Galea played Santa’s helper at the Los Altos Village Association’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony held Friday, December 1, 2017. Chief Galea had the honor of assisting Santa with the lighting of the tree in Veterans Community Plaza. Community members enjoyed caroling, hot cider and visits with Santa at this festive annual event.

Public Works

Sewer Bid – Sewer System Repair Program

Engineering issued a bid this week for the Sewer System Repair Program. The project includes the rehabilitation of six sanitary sewer segments. Three of the six segments are located in residential streets (Annette Lane between Holt Avenue and the end of the cul-de-sac; Eleanor Avenue between Hillview Avenue and E. Edith Avenue) and are to be replaced with pipe reaming methods.  Pipe reaming is a trenchless technology that is used to replace existing pipes. The three remaining segments are located in the South Plaza parking lot in downtown Los Altos and will be replaced by open trench method. Bids are due no later than 2:00 p.m. on January 23, 2018 and work is expected to occur in the spring or early summer.

Request for Proposals – Fremont Pedestrian Bridge Rehabilitation

Engineering issued a request for proposals (RFP) this week to select an engineering firm to design the replacement the existing wooden bridge at Permanente Creek. The selected designer will proceed in accordance with the “Rehabilitation versus Replacement Feasibility” completed last year which identified rehabilitation as the preferred method of construction.

Stormwater Site Visits – Trash Load Reduction

Engineering and Maintenance staff met with staff from the City of Mountain View and EOA Inc. to field review curb inlet trash capture devices. In order to meet the requirements of the City’s Municipal Regional Permit (MRP) and related trash load reductions to local creeks, the City is considering installing such devices in high load areas, such as the El Camino Real corridor.

Reminders

2018 Fun Run

The annual Fun Run will be held on New Year’s Day in Downtown Los Altos. This Los Altos tradition is FUN, non-competitive and FREE and includes a 5K (3.1 mile) walk, run or roll (strollers or wheelchairs). Participate in the “run” or cheer on your family and friends - it’s a great way to welcome 2018. Registration will take place the day of. All ages are welcome. This event will start at 9:00 a.m. at the corner of State and Main Street.

Holiday Luncheon

The Los Altos Senior Center will be hosting a Holiday Luncheon on Friday, December 15, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. at the Hillview Community Center. There will be a delectable meal prepared by our Lunch Bunch Volunteers, an Ugly Sweater competition and a raffle hosted by the Legacies of Los Altos group. For more information please call (650) 947-2797.

City Council Open Office Hours

The final City Council Open Office Hours of the year will be held on Wednesday, December 20, 2017

from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Los Altos Main Library, Orchard Room located at 13 S. San Antonio Road. One City Council member will be available to the public to answer questions, receive input and discuss topics of interest with community members. Everyone is welcome.