City Manager Weekly Update - June 24, 2016
Financial Commission
The Financial Commission met Monday, June 20, 2016 and discussed the City’s investment policy and concerns raised by the City Council at its April 26, 2016 meeting regarding the balance of risk vs. return on investment. The Commission chose to appoint a subcommittee to meet with the City’s investment advisor. Following that, the subcommittee will formulate possible changes to the investment policy and bring it back to the Commission at its August meeting for discussion/consideration by the full Commission. The Investment Policy would then be forwarded back to the City Council.
Community Grants
Assistant to the City Manager/City Clerk Jon Maginot and the Interim City Manager met with representatives of the Los Altos Community Foundation to discuss the City Council’s direction regarding the creation of a community grant program and the assistance the Foundation could possibly provide with such an endeavor. Staff plans to present a few possible ideas for administering such a program to the Council on July 12, 2016.
Assistant City Manager
Aircraft noise update
The Select Committee will convene its final community meeting on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. Councilmember Jean Mordo is an alternate member to the Select Committee and continues to participate in the community meetings. The local noise groups that include Sky Posse Los Altos presented its report to a Palo Alto neighborhood meeting this week and stated its analysis of aircraft at the Menlo Waypoint. The report is available here.
At the conclusion of the community meeting, the Select Committee will convene Working Meetings to discuss the community input that was gathered during the three community meetings and to develop a response to the FAA Northern California Initiative Feasibility Study. The working meetings of the Select Committee are schedule on Friday July 15 and 22, 2016 at the City of Palo Alto Council Chambers, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The City Manager’s Weekly Updates will continue to provide information on the proceedings of the aircraft noise issue.
State of the Cities Event
The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its annual Perspective: State of the Cities event featuring presentations from Los Altos Mayor Jeannie Bruins and Los Altos Hills Mayor John Harpootlian. The event also included presentation of the 2016 Walter and Marie Singer Award to recipients Karen and Tom Smith. City, Town and community members attended the annual event to recognize the Singer award recipients and always look forward to the perspectives presented by each of the Mayors.
Administrative Services
Director Recruitment
Ralph Anderson & Associates was selected to assist the City with the recruitment of an Administrative Services Director. The City sent out 7 requests for proposals and received 5 from companies around the country. Staff identified an internal 3-person committee to assist with reviewing the proposals and selecting a firm. Gary Peterson, Senior Consultant at Ralph Anderson & Associates, will head the search with input from City personnel. He brings extensive experience in local government and executive search to the City’s effort.
Additional Positions Open for Recruitment
The City is currently recruiting for the following positions:
Assistant Civil Engineer
Closes: 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 25, 2016
Construction Inspector
Closes: 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 25, 2016
Recreation Coordinator (Senior Programs)
Closes: 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 25, 2016
City Clerk
Renaming Community Plaza
Last week, the City announced a new topic on Open City Hall, Los Altos’ online forum for civic engagement. The topic poses the question ‘Do you support the renaming of Community Plaza to Veterans Plaza to honor veterans?’ Those interested in providing feedback on this topic are encouraged to visit Open City Hall by July 11, 2016, as the City Council is anticipated to discuss the item at its July 12, 2016 regular meeting.
Community Development
Affordable Housing Units Available
Two new below market rate (BMR) housing units are for sale at 86 Third Street, part of the recently completed mixed use project at this site. These units provide affordable home ownership opportunities in the heart of Los Altos - within easy walking distance of all the amenities the Downtown has to offer. Anyone interested in learning more about qualifying for these two BMR units and the selection process should visit our Affordable Housing webpage and contact Palo Alto Housing with any additional questions at (650) 321-9709 or pah.community.
New Building Code Updates on the Horizon
The California Building Standards Code, Title 24 serves as the basis for the design and construction of buildings in California. Improved safety, sustainability, maintaining consistency, new technology and construction methods, and reliability are paramount to the development of building codes. These Codes are adopted from time to time by the City Council, with some modifications specific to the City, and serve as the Los Altos Building Codes. California’s building codes are published in their entirety every three (3) years. Intervening Code Adoption Cycles produce updates to the codes half-way (18 months) into each three year period, and the codes are currently in the process of being reviewed and adopted at the State level. Amendments to California’s building standards are subject to a lengthy and transparent public participation process throughout each code adoption cycle. Once adopted at the State level, they are available for consideration and adoption by Cities, and Los Altos will be considering these updates in the fall of 2016.
Police
Los Altos Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Police Chief Tuck Younis and Captain Scott McCrossin attended a Los Altos Amateur Radio Emergency Service (LAARES) event this past Saturday. The purpose of the event was to allow local emergency service volunteers an opportunity to practice set up, take down, and scenarios utilizing recently constructed Emergency Information Reporting Sites (EIRS). Should a large scale emergency occur within the city, EIRS will be set up at pre-designated locations where they will work in conjunction with Block Action Teams (BATs) and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to assist with communications between Los Altos neighborhoods and the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). By all accounts, the event was a great success! The EIRS will prove to be a valuable asset to the City in the event of a large scale disaster.
For more information about these community groups, visit:
National Night Out Celebration
On Tuesday, August 2, 2016, Los Altos Police will be participating in the 33rd Annual National Night Out. This national campaign is designed to raise crime prevention awareness, strengthen neighborhood unity and develop partnerships between Police and the community. Residents are encouraged to participate by turning on their porch lights from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and getting out to meet their neighbors. When residents on a block know each other, the neighborhood and the community is safer and stronger. The number of Los Altos neighborhoods celebrating National Night Out grows each year with many celebrating this event with block parties, pot lucks, barbecues or ice cream socials. Register your neighborhood event by Friday, July 22, 2016 and Los Altos Police will be sure to stop by for a visit!
Public Works
Capital Project Webpage
The City Council recently approved the five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and appropriated funding for Fiscal Year 2016/17. Nine new projects received funding in this upcoming fiscal year. The CIP webpage has been updated to include the new projects: City Projects
Repair Maintenance Problem Areas
The Repair Maintenance Problem Areas Project began Thursday June 23, 2016 and is the first of two sewer projects that will be under construction starting this summer. This project consists of replacing nine existing 6-inch and 8-inch sewer mains with 8-inch sewer mains using the open cut construction method. The work will be performed within the public right-of-ways on Fremont Avenue, Country Club Drive and Frontero Avenue. This week, the contractor, Cratus Inc., performed the pre-construction video inspections of the nine sewer segments. The replacement of the first sewer segment is estimated to take approximately one to two weeks on Fremont Avenue between Dolores Avenue and Springer Avenue. Two-way traffic will be maintained on Fremont Avenue.
Parking Plaza Driveway Approach Project
Engineering received and opened two bids for the Parking Plaza Driveway Approach Project. This project will make improvements to bring driveways in Plaza North and Plaza South in Downtown Los Altos up to current City standards. The project is making use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that benefit Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access barrier removal projects. Council award of this project is scheduled for July 12, 2016.
Annual Street Resurfacing Project
Engineering received and opened bids for the Annual Street Resurfacing Project this week. The project will provide cape seal treatment to approximately 7 miles of street segments throughout the City. The project is consistent with the City’s Pavement Management Program which is designed to maintain and extend the useful life of the City’s street network. Council award of this project is also scheduled for July 12, 2016.
Intersection Bicycle Loop Project
The construction of the Intersection Bicycle Loop Project has been completed and project closeout is underway. All intersections are in normal operation and there is no change in signal timing.
Foothill Expressway Improvements
The Foothill Expressway Improvements Project will modify lane and intersection configuration on Foothill Expressway between El Monte Avenue and San Antonio Road to reduce congestion in this area. The County of Santa Clara will be the project lead, as the improvements will take place in their right-of-way. The City has funded the design of the project with plans for VTA and/or County of Santa Clara to fund the construction costs. The City is currently working with the County to develop a Request for Proposal for the design of this project. The design is expected to be complete in early summer 2017 with construction to follow pending funding availability.
Park Maintenance
Park Maintenance Crews refurbished the landscape at Shoup Park extension, built and installed new benches at bus barn and worked with PG&E to remove 7 larger infected pine trees in Shoup Park.
Sewer Rates - Annual Report and Charges
The annual report and preliminary parcel listing for the 2016/17 Fiscal Year are available for review at City Hall. The report and charges will implement a 6% increase to charges in accordance with a 5-year rate study adopted in 2013. Sewer charges fund the City’s operation and maintenance expenses, wastewater treatment costs from the Palo Alto Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, and capital improvement projects.
Recreation & Community Services
Youth Programs
Our popular Redwood Grove Nature Camp and Camp Shoup day camps continue! Camps are offered through August 19, 2016 and space is filling quickly. Currently, we still have space in our Combo Camp for those who would like to attend both Redwood Grove and Camp Shoup. Sign up online today!
Camp Jelly Bean is in full swing! This fun summer camp is open to ages 3-5 and is held from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the San Antonio Club. Each week has a fun and whimsical theme that carries over to the many fun activities that are planned. Space is still available so come and join us for some fun!
- Welcome to Whoville: June 27 – July 1
- ABC Dinosaur: July 25 – 29
- Pirates & Princesses: August 1 – 5
- Astronauts & Rockettes: August 8 - 12
Summer Concerts
Our second Summer Concert will take place this Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hillview Park. Come join us for a wonderful summer night of music provided by the Peninsula Symphony. Bring your family, pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the classical sounds of this local symphony!
Our third Summer Concert will take place on Thursday, June 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Grant Park. Get ready to have some fun with the legendary party band Big Bang Beat! Bring your family and friends, pack a picnic dinner and groove to the sounds of this fun and funky band!
