City Manager Weekly Update |
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Virtual City Offices Closed Friday
Los Altos City Hall, the Maintenance Services Center and Recreation & Community Services front office will be closed virtually on Friday, August 21, 2020 as part of the Defined 9/80 Schedule. A complete list of our virtual public counter and administrative office hours, as well as a schedule of Friday closures, are available on the City’s website at www.losaltosca.gov/hours.
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Local Wildfire Updates
Santa Clara County Fire Department (SCCFD) and Cal Fire continue to closely monitor the fires burning in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties known as the CZU Lightning Complex, as well as fires burning in eastern Santa Clara County, known as the SCU Lightning Complex. SCCFD has staffed several additional fire engines and will continue to proactively staff for the near future.
The CZU Lightning Complex is a dynamic incident, however there are currently no evacuations and no threat to residents in the SCCFD service area, which includes Los Altos. All residents should remain aware, informed, and ready to evacuate. Residents should register for emergency alerts at alertscc.com, visit sccfd.org/rsg for wildfire preparation information, and follow @calfireSCU and @CAL_FIRE.
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Shop and Dine at Open Streets Los Altos
In Los Altos, we pride ourselves on creating a safe atmosphere to shop and dine. Join us every Thursday to Sunday through September, as sections of Main and State Streets will be open to outdoor dining, retail displays, and socially distant strolling. Face masks are required while enjoying public spaces. We’ve missed you.
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Community Health Awareness Council Town Hall
This has been a year like no other—uncertainties abound, new routines have been started, and our ways of both thinking and operating have been challenged. As our schools are preparing to start the school year in virtual learning mode, many parents have questions about how to support their children in a way that ensures that they thrive academically, reinforces resiliency, and facilitates the mental health and well-being of the entire family. Join us for a talk by Dr. Starace followed by a panel discussion comprised of mental health professionals on Sunday, August 30 from 3:30 to 5. They will provide answers to your questions and tips and resources to help families cope during these challenging times. This event is open to all community members including parents, families, educators, and community leaders, but any and all who feel strongly about our children’s mental health and the well-being of families are welcome to join. Click here for the link to the event, visit chacmv.org for more information, and email your questions in advance to njeans@chacmv.org.
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Reach Code Questions
The Reach Codes will be on the City Council's Agenda this September. We understand that there are still many questions surrounding the issue of an all-electric mandate. we want to encourage residents to visit our webpage to get their questions answered. Whether it is to ask a question or to learn more, you can find all the information you need. If you want to learn more, click here: Reach Codes Webpage
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Preventing Litter
Nearly 80 percent of the litter found in our creeks and the Bay is washed, blown or dumped there from land! One piece of litter can end up miles from where it is thrown on a suburban street, polluting our creeks and causing a threat to wildlife. Tips to prevent litter:
- Always throw away disposable masks and gloves in the trash.
- Clean leaves and trash out of your rain and street gutters.
- Bring a bag for trash when picnicking, hiking, or camping.
- Dispose of pet waste in the garbage.
- Keep a trash bag in the car. Collect all trash and dispose of it properly.
- Tie plastic bags in a knot before disposing of them in the trash so they don’t fly out of the bin or the garbage truck. Plastic bags cannot be recycled in residential bins.
- When hauling materials by truck, enclose your loads or cover with a tarp to prevent anything from falling or blowing off the back.
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Contact the Santa Clara County Household Hazardous Waste Program to learn about the proper disposal of common household products
Visit the Watershed Watch website for more ideas on how you can make a difference for wildlife and water quality in local creeks, the Bay, and the Ocean.
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History Museum Celebrates Women’s Suffrage with Outdoor Exhibit
One hundred years ago, women fought for, and won, the right to vote. Los Altos History Museum celebrates this milestone with an outdoor exhibit entitled “Rise Up! The Fight for Women’s Suffrage,” on display beginning August 20. Originally slated as a larger exhibition in the main gallery of the Museum, a mini-version of “Rise Up!” will be mounted on the wraparound porch of the J. Gilbert Smith House. Set up as a self-guided tour, visitors may safely browse the large panels of historic photographs and text at any time, while practicing social distancing with others. When Santa Clara County allows the Museum to reopen, the outdoor exhibit will be consolidated with the main exhibition. To learn about upcoming programs and online events, visit the website at losaltoshistory.org and sign up to be on the Museum’s mailing list.
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Los Altos Celebrates 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage
The 18th of August marks the 100th anniversary of the constitution amendment that allowed women to vote. Starting with Wyoming, women suffrage supporters waged a state-by-state campaign to slowly gain support for the amendment. They were finally successful on August 18th in 1920 when Tennessee was the last of the 36 states necessary to ratify the amendment. The City of Los Altos is proud to support the women’s suffrage movement and provide more opportunities for women’s voices in politics. “The woman’s suffrage movement gave women a voice and allowed them to fully participate in politics” said Mayor Jan Pepper, “By celebrating the 100th anniversary, we celebrate the brave women who fought for this right. Let’s honor those women by all of us exercising our right to vote.” We wanted to give a thank you to everyone who has fought and continues to fight for women’s suffrage.
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Have You Filled Out the Census?
You still have through the end of September to do so. 1 in 6 Los Altos residents haven’t filled out the Census. While we have one of the highest response rates in the county at 84.2%, we know we can do better! So spread the word and make sure everyone is counted. Ensure that you are counted and complete the census by visiting www.2020census.gov/en.html.
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Civil Grand Jury Openings Have Been Relaunched
The Grand Jury serves as citizen overwatch group for the Judicial branch of the government. If you are a resident in the county, have 25 hours a week, and want to serve as an impartial, fair juror then you should apply. The Count will be accepting applications until September 25, 2020. If you want to learn more or apply, click here: Civil Grand Jury Webpage
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Tai Chi for Health
A new online class is now available through the Adult 50+ Program! This popular class, taught by Kathleen McCarty, is designed to increase mobility and stability. These classes will run from August 5 to August 26. There are two different days that the class is offered on:
- Mondays, 10:30am – 11:30 am, $41 members/$49 Non-members
- Wednesdays, 10:30am – 11:30am, $55 members/$65 Non-members
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Adult 50+ Program
Senior Connection Hotline
Recreation and Community Services staff are ready to assist seniors (50+) of the Los Altos and Los Altos Hills communities with COVID-19 updates as well as referrals, resources, and information about what services are available while being safe at home.
Staff is available Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 1:00PM. Call (650) 947-2797 to get connected.
Community Connection Hotline
Recreation and Community Services staff are ready to assist members of the Los Altos and Los Altos Hills communities with Covid-19 updates as well as referrals, resources, and information about what services are available while being safe at home. Staff is available Monday through Friday from 8:00AM – 5:00PM. Call (650) 947-2790 to get connected.
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Fall Emergency Preparedness Events
Ham Cram: amateur radio study session and licensing event, Sept 26 at Grant Park – if Covid-19 conditions permit
Red Cross Blood Drive: Friday Oct 2 and Saturday Oct 3, LAYC
National Night Out: Tuesday Oct 6, 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Neighbors throughout Los Altos are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the “National Night Out” crime prevention event. Get more information and register your neighborhood, by clicking here.
Jamboree on the Air: amateur radio exploration activities for kids and youth, Oct 17 at LAYC- if Covid-19 conditions permit
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City Seeks Volunteers to Support COVID-19 Test Site
The City of Los Altos will host a County “pop-up” COVID-19 testing site at the Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N. San Antonio Road, on September 10. Would you be able to help with line management and other administrative tasks to support the testing staff? Please visit https://bit.ly/LAYCtesting to volunteer for a shift—or more! Volunteers are needed from 8:30AM to 5:00PM to greet people as they arrive for their appointments, and to help manage the line to get people through as efficiently as possible.
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City of Los Altos | (650) 947-2700 | www.losaltosca.gov |
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