INFORMATION BY AND FOR THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS

March 27 - 31, 2023

WEEK 13

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City Manager’s Note

Hello Neighbors,

Welcome to the Beta Version of our new and improved Weekly Newsletter.

The City Managers Weekly Report has been rebranded and repurposed for a quicker easier reading experience. We heard from you, and we took that input to improve how we share information. Our new weekly report, appropriately called the “Weekly,” is built on a new platform (Constant Contact) and is divided into five easy to read sections. The first section is the “City Manager’s Note.” This section is intended to give you a quick overview of the week in a quick and simple format intended to scratch the surface and give you a flavor of the week.

The second section called, “Top News the Week” is intended to give you the top stories, activities, updates, and insights in and around Los Altos Hills. This section will dive a bit deeper and give you a little more information in areas of interest with a hyperlink or two if you want more information. We will strive to keep this to no more than 5 short updates.

The third section called, “Fresh this week” includes four hyperlinks. Three of those hyperlinks include the sheriff’s weekly report, the Public Works weekly report, and the Community Development (i.e. planning and building) weekly report. All three of those reports will be created specifically for the week of the newsletter and organized in a simple to navigate file system with hyperlinks. You will find an Adobe PDF document that aligns to the week number of the Weekly. The last hyperlink link to all of our Job opportunities in CalOpps, just in case you know someone that might be interest in joining our fabulous team.

The next section is simply a link in the shape of a calendar icon that takes you to our Town Calendar with a complete list of all the events, meetings, activities, and important dates that might interest you. Simply click the icon and it will take you to where we keep all our Town activities in a simple to navigate calendar.

The last section is a list of all our Social Media sites for your viewing pleasure.

We hope you enjoy this new and improved format and look forward to getting you timely, easy to follow and concise updates that will help you stay informed, engaged, and involved. We will be refining this so if you have any suggestions, let us know.

See you around Town!

Peter

By the way! Did you hear we just printed a new Pathways Map? Come by Town Hall and get your copy today.

1. Public Safety Update

Did you know, there have been 65 residential burglaries in the last 14 months? The Town Council authorized the use of private security patrols as a temporary prevention-oriented measure. Genesis Private Security is now working on developing the duty schedule for adding the prevention-oriented presence in our community. We expect them to start working within the next 3 weeks. Staff is also looking more closely at the ALPR system to see how we can make it more effective.

Crime prevention tip of the week: Burglars striking Los Altos Hills residents have often broken glass to gain entry. Some alarm systems are not activated by broken glass and in a few cases, alarms have been activated as the burglar left the home (with valuables). Consider installing sensors to your alarm system which trigger upon glass breakage (either physical or audible detection). Further, there are security films which can be added to glass which makes it much more difficult to break.

2. Housing Element

On March 17, 2023, the Town received the second HCD’s comment letter, which stated additional changes were needed prior to HCD determining the Housing Element as substantially compliant. The Town has taken HCD’s feedback seriously and the Town is coordinating with stakeholders and preparing further changes to ensure our revised Housing Element is compliant with state housing element law. We recognize that there is still work to be done, but we are committed to doing everything we can to re-adopt and resubmit the revised Housing Element as soon as possible to meet the May 31, 2023, deadline. We have held April 10th for a special City Council meeting in the hopes we will have made enough progress for the City Council to consider re-adoption. Please stay tuned.

3. LEAD Panel - "Embracing Evolving Expectations in Government"

On Wednesday, March 29th the City's of Mountain View, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills were represented by an Assistant or City Manager and a councilmember to participate in a panel discussion titled, "Embracing Evolving Expectations in Government." The session, geared toward leadership program students, was aimed to help explain how elected officials and the city manager's office interact, and how cities run, as well as help them understand how to best advocate for their interests in a way that is effective for everyone. I want to thank all the students from LEAD as well as our esteemed panelists. From left to right Hon. Lucas Ramirez and Asst. CM Arn Andrews from Mnt. View; CM Gabriel England and Hon. Sally Meadows from Los Altos; IdaRose Sylvester from LAMVCF; and CM Peter Pirnejad and our very own Hon. George Tyson.

4. Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Distracted driving has become a deadly epidemic on our roads. While drivers texting behind the wheel tops what seems like an endless list of distractions, other risky actions include talking (whether it be on the phone or to others in the car), setting your navigation, adjusting what you’re listening to, eating or drinking, applying makeup, and more. By driving distracted, you’re robbing yourself of seconds that you may need to avoid a close call or deadly crash.

In 2020, distracted driving resulted in 3,142 traffic fatalities. April, which is national “Distracted Driving Awareness Month”, is a good time to regroup and take responsibility for the choices we make when we’re on the road. Follow these safety tips for a safe ride every time.

• Need to send a text? Pull over and park your car in a safe location. Only then is it safe to send or read a text. 
• Designate your passenger as your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages
• Do not scroll through apps, including social medial, while driving. Cell phone use can be habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Put the cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until you arrive at your location.
• California law requires “hands free” usage of personal devices while operating a motor vehicle. Holding your phone in your hand, but not having it to your ear while taking that call or attending a meeting is still a violation of state law. This includes while you are stopped at a traffic signal, stop sign, or stuck in traffic. Remember, it’s “hands free”. Not “ears free”.



Additionally the County is hosting a press conference on April 5th at 10 a.m. at the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office at 55 Younger Avenue in San Jose.

For more information click HERE

5. Broadband Feasibility and Wireless Telecommunication Facility Ordinance

The Town staff in collaboration with the Government Technology Group is reviewing the first draft of the Strategic Broadband Feasibility Study. Once the draft is ready for public consumption we will bring it to the Broadband AdHoc Committee and invite members of the AdHoc and community to comment on the draft before finalizing it and bringing to the City Council. We are targeting the AdHoc Committee in the next month and council thereafter. The Wireless Telecommunication Facility ordinance is on a similar track. We are working directly with the Broadband AdHoc Committee before taking a recommendation to the Planning Commission on April 25th.

Sheriff's Report

Planning and Building

Job Opportunities

Public Works

Click the Icon above for the Town calendar.

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