City Manager Weekly Update
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Popular Annual Financial Report
The City of Los Altos is excited to announce the completion of our first Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). The PAFR is designed to provide Los Altos residents, officials and others a short summary of key facts, data, analysis and issues on our City's fiscal condition and challenges in an easy to read format. For additional detail, please see our
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) established the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Awards Program to encourage and assist state and local governments to extract information from their comprehensive annual financial report. The goal being to produce high quality popular annual financial reports designed to be readily accessible and easily understandable to the general public. The GFOA PAFR award recognizes individual governments that are successful in achieving that goal. Less than 15 Bay area cities and municipalities have prepared and received the award for the PAFR. Los Altos hopes to achieve this honor. The PAFR is available online at
losaltosca.gov/PAFR and a hard copy was mailed to all residents and businesses within the City of Los Altos.
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Silicon Valley Clean Energy Appoints New CEO
The Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Board of Directors has appointed Girish Balachandran as the new Chief Executive Officer to lead the Community Choice Agency serving a majority of Santa Clara communities. Balachandran previously served as the General Manager of Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) and has more than 28 years of experience in California utilities. The SVCE Board found Balachandran through an extensive and competitive search process and is excited to have found a candidate with considerable experience and a matched passion for SVCE’s mission of providing carbon-free electricity at competitive costs. Mr. Balachandran will begin his new role as SVCE CEO in February 2018
Environmental Commission Vice Chair Appointed to Silicon Valley Clean Energy Customer Program Advisory Group
The Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Board of Directors commissioned a committee of community members to gather community input throughout the customer program goal-setting and design process. The Customer Program Advisory Group (CPAG), made up of residents from within the SVCE service territory will serve as a conduit for community input and review of prospective residential customer programs. CPAG, through quantitative analysis will prioritize and recommend candidate programs; consider residential customer program recommendations; consider residential customer program recommendations; and communicate and promote Board-adopted programs. Los Altos will be represented on the CPAG by Environmental Commissioner Vice Chair Don Weiden. Vice Chair Weiden is a civil engineer and has served on the Environmental Commission since February 2015. He is also a member of the Sierra Club and GreenTown Los Altos. Mr. Weiden brings both breadth and depth of information and experience to the CPAG and will provide thoughtful feedback on behalf of the Los Altos community.
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Hillview Community Center Project Task Force Provides Final Report to City Council
The Hillview Community Center Project Task Force (TF) successfully provided its final report to City Council on December 12, 2017, fulfilling its mission to provide recommendations on the new community center’s interior space allocation, layout, and exterior building design. The TF recommendation for the new community center conceptual building design was presented by Noll & Tam Architects. The TF also summarized its Project Goals/Objectives/Principles/Future Considerations in a document that was included in the staff report to Council.
The TF also recommended continued utilization of some TF members to work with architects and staff to complete the Conceptual Design phase to provide continuity and assist with the Design Development phase. After robust discussion, the City Council received the TF recommendation. Noll & Tam architects will take into consideration Council’s discussion and prepare adjustments to the drawings and other presentation documents to crystallize the design concepts, along with a statement of probable project costs.
The features and design attributes proposed by the TF promise to create a welcoming community center that is multigenerational, flexible, innovative, sustainable and representative of the greater Los Altos community. Click
here to view the complete agenda report. To view the City Council meeting and presentation, click
here.
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Planning Applications Continue to Come in at a High Rate
Last week we reported that November was a busy month for the Planning Division, with over 30 significant planning applications submitted. The first couple of weeks in December are proving just as busy with over twelve development applications being submitted in a one week period. And, the counter schedule has also been busy – which is a strong indicator of more development applications on the horizon. The beginning of 2018 will be a very busy one for staff in the Community Development Department
Downtown Vision Community Questionnaire Deadline
This Sunday, December 17, 2017 is the deadline to participate in the Downtown Vision Community Questionnaire and provide feedback on the Future Scenarios before the consultant team further develops them. We encourage everyone to visit
losaltosca.gov/OpenCityHall and participate in the Downtown Visioning process. The four future Downtown scenarios are available for review on the project website,
losaltosca.gov/DowntownVision.
Videos of the November 29 Community Workshop presentations on the Future Scenarios for the Downtown are also available on the project website. The presentations in the videos provide the information and thinking that went into the development of the 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.
New Associate Planner to Begin on Monday
On Monday, December 18, Sunny Chao will start her career with the City of Los Altos as its newest Associate Planner. Prior to coming to Los Altos, Sunny served the City of Menlo Park as an Assistant Planner. She brings a broad range of planning experience and skills that will prove beneficial as she begins working on design review applications and some of the City’s planning initiatives like the Downtown Vision project. Staff of the Community Development Department are looking forward to her start and will be providing an orientation and training on the unique aspects of the Los Altos zoning code so she has can begin assisting all those that have submitted or are planning to submit development applications.
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Minimize Risk of Vehicle Burglaries this Holiday Season
We understand it’s a busy time of year and as you’re out doing holiday shopping, please remember that vehicle burglaries are often crimes of opportunity that may have been easily prevented. Remember to:
- ALWAYS lock your vehicle. While Los Altos is a safe community, we are not immune to these types of incidents. Locking your vehicle is an easy way to prevent someone from accessing your vehicle and potentially taking items from it.
- Don’t leave anything of value in your vehicle, especially not in plain sight. A phone charger or some loose change may be all that is needed to tempt that burglar to break into your car.
- If you are out shopping or have valuables with you that you absolutely must leave in the car, lock them in your trunk prior to leaving. Be aware of your surroundings as you are doing this to make sure no one is watching you place these items there, but at least they will be out of sight and secured before you get to your next location.
If you see anyone looking into vehicles or acting suspicious, report it immediately to the police department by calling our 24/7 non-emergency line at (650) 947-2770.
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Prevent Sanitary Sewer Backups this Holiday Season
The holidays often bring people together to celebrate with food, family and friends. It’s no coincidence that the holidays are also the time of year when we see an increase in sewer backups caused by fats, oils and grease entering the sanitary sewer system. Improper disposal of fats, oils and grease, also referred to as FOG, can cause inconvenient, messy and costly sewer overflows.
You can help prevent a sewer calamity this holiday season by properly disposing of fats, oils and grease:
- Never pour cooking oils or grease into your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet or any other household or outdoor drain.
- Collect fats, oils and grease in a container to cool and harden. When the container is full, cover it tightly and place it in a bag to prevent leakage, then dispose of it in the garbage.
- Minimize the use of kitchen sink garbage disposals. Ground food particles and grease may still clog pipes and affect the downstream sewer system, causing sewer backups for your neighbors down the street.
- Scrape or use paper towels to wipe food scraps or grease from pots, pans and plates into the garbage before washing them in the sink or dishwasher.
- Place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of solid waste. Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket for garbage; disposable diapers and personal hygiene products do not belong in the sewer system.
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Leaf Pickup
There are approximately 12,000 trees lining the streets of Los Altos, adding to the rural character enjoyed by residents. Leaf drop from street trees is collected by the City’s street sweepers, however, when leaves are piled in the streets, the sweeper is unable to collect them properly. Please help the City by not piling leaves at the edge of the street. Leaves that drop in the front or back yards should be collected and disposed of in your green waste (organics) cart provided by Mission Trail Waste Systems (MTWS). For more information about residential services provided by MTWS please visit
missiontrail.com
Maintenance Updates
It has been a productive week for our maintenance crews. The crews participated in a well-executed chain saw training this week involving classroom study and hands-on practice. This is a good introduction for new hires and refresher training for existing crew members in preparation for the rainy season. The Street Crew continued to allocate significant resources for heavy leaf pick-up in areas where the leaf piles were too large for street sweeper to collect. The Park Crew continued to place holiday tree lights in downtown and performed general maintenance at various parks and along major streets. The Sewer Crew completed December sewer cleaning ahead of schedule and is working on root foaming. In addition to routine building maintenance, the Facility Crew worked with the Northern California Fire Protection Services to repair fire sprinkler systems in various City buildings as part of the 5-year Fire System Inspection.
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Recreation & Community Services
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Senior Program Updates
Hillview Location
Free activity! Hand massage has an updated schedule of Tuesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on a first come first serve basis in Room 10 of the Hillview Community Center, located at 97 Hillview Avenue.
Need help with your laptop, tablet or cellphone devices? Come join the Inter-Generational Tech-Tutor Workshop run by local high school students scheduled for January 17, and February 21, 2018. For more information contact the Senior Center at (650) 947-2797.
Matter of Balance will be back in the new year! Start date will be January 29,2018 until March 26, 2018 every Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It will be held in Room 12 at the Hillview Senior Program, 97 Hillview Avenue.
Mini Trip
: Join us on a whimsical adventure to The Walt Disney Family Museum on Thursday February 22, 2018. The museum features the life and legacy of Walt Disney shown through interactive galleries that include early drawings and animation. Cost for members is $35.00 and non-members is $45.00. Price includes entrance fee, transportation, and gratuity. Space is limited, please sign-up early. For more information contact the Senior Center at (650) 947-2797.
Grant Park Location
Wednesday, December 11
12:45 p.m. - Book Club with Betsy
12:45 p.m. - Meditation with Honorable Hwansan Sunim
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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 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 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.
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City of Los Altos | (650) 947-2700 | www.losaltosca.gov
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