City Manager Weekly Update - August 5, 2016

Community Development

Approved Construction Hours
Those who are thinking of adding on to their home or have a construction project going on in their neighborhood frequently call with questions regarding when construction can take place in their neighborhood. Following are the approved construction days/hours in Los Altos:

Residential construction hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Commercial construction hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Construction is not permitted on Sunday or City observed holidays including: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Is it the Floor Area or Lot Coverage that Matters?
A frequent question at the Planning counter is what the difference between floor area and lot coverage is. Floor area is the space enclosed by the walls on each floor of a building. It is measured to the outside edge of the exterior walls and includes halls, stairways, service and mechanical equipment rooms, interior courts, garages, carports and enclosed accessory structures. It does not include basements.

Lot coverage is the area of a site that is covered by the footprint of all structures, both open and enclosed, that are over six feet in height. A building footprint is measured to the outside edge of exterior walls and/or supports and includes covered porches, gazebos and trellises.

Limits on the floor area are typically useful in the guidance of massing of a structure on a lot and whether a building, given its size or mass, is appropriate for a neighborhood. Lot coverage on the other hand is a tool used to provide the open space on a site and make sure that there is adequate landscaping and opportunities for rain water to percolate into the soil; thereby, increasing the recharge of underlying aquifers. Each is important in the review of applications for development and especially in evaluating a project for its appropriateness in a neighborhood. The percentages for floor area and lot coverage change by the zoning district, so be sure to check with Planning staff in the Community Development Department for guidance on what the percentages are for your property. 

Public Works

City Hall Lobby ADA Improvements
City Hall visitors with disabilities will have a new experience on their next trip to City Hall. This week, new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant improvements were installed in the City Hall front lobby. Improvements include a new counter, benches and other furniture to enhance the City Hall visitor experience.

Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities Working Team Meeting
On August 9, 2016, a meeting will be held by the Stevens Creek Trail Joint Cities working team to review the outcomes by the Los Altos, Cupertino, Mountain View and Sunnyvale City Council meetings regarding the Stevens Creek Feasibility Study, working team recommendations, as well as next steps. The meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Sunnyvale City Hall, West Conference Room, 456 W. Olive Avenue.

School Route Projects - Consultant Selection
The University Avenue and Lincoln Avenue raised crosswalk and the El Monte Avenue Sidewalk Gap Closure aims to improve routes to school and safety for school aged children. Staff reviewed four proposals for design services including construction administration support. TJKM Transportation Consultants was selected to complete this work. A draft design services contract and determination of project kick-off meeting will be drafted and discussed next week.

Road Maintenance Capital Improvement Projects
A combined pre-construction meeting was held between the contractors for the Annual Road Resurfacing, Street Striping, and Slurry Seal Projects. These projects help preserve the structural integrity and extend the useful life of the asphalt road surface. In late July, residents in the project areas were notified by mail regarding the upcoming road maintenance work. The contractor will send another notice to residents of the impending work 48 hours in advance of work commencing. The work is schedule to begin on September 24, 2016.

Downtown Capital Improvement Projects

First Street Utility Undergrounding Project
This week PG&E, AT&T and CableCom continued work to transfer existing utility facilities to the new temporary pole installed in Parking Plaza 1 as part of the First Street Utility Undergrounding Project. The temporary pole will enable the removal of sidewalk anchors which currently block pedestrian sidewalk access adjacent to the Parking Plaza. The pole and its anchor will be removed at the end of the project.

Parking Plaza 3 Driveway & Drive Aisle Improvement Project
Demolition of the sidewalk nearest to buildings located along the drive isle in Plaza 3 started Wednesday, August 3, 2016 and it is anticipated to be completed by the end of the day today, August 5. The contractor will be preparing the subgrade and form for the concrete pour that is scheduled to take place next week. The San Antonio Road entrance to Parking Plaza 3 located at the rear of Enchanté Boutique Hotel will remain open during the sidewalk demolition. The project is scheduled to be completed by Friday, August 26, 2016. Construction is scheduled Monday through Friday and through access and parking will be temporarily impacted as a result of the required work. Alternative access routes and parking is encouraged during the duration of the project.

Parking Plaza Driveway Approach Project
The Parking Plaza Driveway Approach Improvement Project is now tentatively scheduled to begin construction work on Monday, August 22, 2016. Construction is anticipated to be complete by September 16, 2016. This project will upgrade driveway approaches in Parking Plaza 1 (along First Street) and Plaza 10 (along West Edith Avenue) to create Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant sidewalks across the driveway approaches.

Check out the Senior Program Planter Boxes in the back of Hillview Park and Community Center! Volunteers have planted and maintain squash, beans, eggplant, pumpkins and tomatoes. Thank you to the volunteers who make the Senior Program Planter Boxes possible.

Commissions
The Parks and Recreation Commission’s next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 10, 2016. It will be held at the Grant Community Center, Room 3 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting packet will be posted on the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting webpage.

Youth & Teen 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. Space is currently available in our Combo Camp for those who would like to attend both Redwood Grove and Camp Shoup. Sign up at losaltosrecreation.org.