City Manager Weekly Update - January 27, 2017
Assistant City Manager
Spare the Air, Cool the Climate Open House
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) announced the release of Spare the Air, Cool the Climate, A Blueprint for Clean Air and Climate Protection (2017 Draft Plan). This Draft Plan identifies 85 strategies for the District and Bay Area to pursue to reduce air pollution and protect public health and the global climate.
The public is invited to share their comments about this regional climate plan and its vision during an Open House at various locations in the Bay Area. The public will have the opportunity to interact with BAAQMD staff, view displays and presentations and enjoy light refreshments. This is an opportunity for citizens to be heard and provide comments before the Draft Plan goes to the BAAQMD Board for adoption. The public comment period ends on March 9, 2017.
Bay Area Open House Schedule
Cupertino
Monday, January 30, 2017 - 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Quinlan Community Center
10185 N Stelling Road
San Jose
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 - 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Room 225
150 East San Fernando Street
Additional Open Houses are scheduled in Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Oakland and more. For Open House information, contact Christy Riviere at criviere@baaqmd.gov, (415) 749-4925, or Dave Burch at dburch@baaqmd.gov, (415) 749-4641.
Save the Date: Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Community Meetings
Starting in April, residents and business in Los Altos will be getting 100% carbon-free electricity as part of their automatic enrollment in Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE). Those interested in learning more are encouraged to attend an upcoming Community Meeting.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 – 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Grant Park Community Center, Multipurpose Room
1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 – 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Los Altos Main Library, Orchard Room
13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos
Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is a new non-profit, public agency, formed in spring 2016 by twelve South Bay communities, including Los Altos, to source clean electricity on our behalf at costs below PG&E’s comparative generation rates. PG&E is still an essential partner as they will continue to deliver electricity over existing power lines, maintain the lines, send bills and provide customer service.
Enrollment in SVCE is automatic to residents and businesses in Los Altos and will take place over a six-month period, in three phases – April, July and October 2017. You will know when you’re enrolled when you receive notices in the mail; the first wave of notices was sent just this week. You can expect to receive two notices before enrollment, and two after.
Customers with existing PG&E accounts are automatically enrolled in SVCE’s GreenStart electric generation service, which offers 50% renewable energy and is 100% carbon-free. For a small premium, residents and businesses may also choose to upgrade to GreenPrime to receive 100% renewable and 100% carbon-free power. Customers may also opt out to remain with PG&E generation service. Solar customers will receive additional information from SVCE regarding its Net Energy Metering (NEM) Program.
At its meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, the City Council approved upgrading the City’s electric service to GreenPrime. This means the City will soon run on 100% renewable and 100% carbon-free power.
How does SVCE power reduce carbon emissions?
Currently, electricity used to power homes and businesses creates about a quarter of our region’s emissions. Using more renewable energy is an easy, economical way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve our carbon footprint. It’s the single most effective way to accomplish the Los Altos communities’ climate action goals.
For more information, please visit SVCleanEnergy.org or call (844) 474-SVCE.
City Clerk
Apply for a Los Altos Commission
The City Council invites Los Altos residents to apply for appointment to open seats on the Historical, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Transportation, and Senior Commissions as well as the Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards Committee. Each Commission and Committee contributes knowledge and expertise that helps guide and inform decisions made by the City Council. Applications are due by Friday, February 17, 2017. For more information and application materials, click here.
Community Development
Planning and Transportation Commission to Consider CT Zoning Code Amendments
At its meeting on Thursday, February 2, 2017, the Planning and Transportation Commission will consider proposed amendments to the CT zone district regulations. The draft regulations reflect amendments to setback requirements, open space requirements, standards for mechanical parking systems, standards for on-site areas to accommodate delivery, service, and refuse vehicle, standards for rooftop uses, a menu of incentives for projects incorporating a public benefit and a potential clarification to the boundaries of the CT Zone District. The recommendation of the Planning and Transportation Commission will move forward to the City Council for consideration at a future meeting. At present, there is a moratorium on the submittal of development applications for projects within the CT Zone district. The suggested amendments to the CT zoned district regulations are intended to address community concerns regarding recent projects along the El Camino Real corridor.
Downtown Vision Team Developing Community Outreach Plan
Based on feedback received from discussions with a number of community members, the Downtown Vision consultant team is developing the Community Outreach Plan that will be taken to the City Council for consideration. Staff is expecting an administrative draft of the Community Outreach plan within the next few days and has a meeting scheduled with the consultant team to finalize the components of the plan. The goal is to obtain as much input as possible and have a vision for the Downtown that reflects the Community’s desires for the future of their City.
Downtown Business Owner Survey
The economic consultant for the Downtown Vision effort is putting the final touches on a survey that will be sent to Downtown business owners in an information gathering effort. The survey responses will provide the consultant with information that will assist in the economic analysis for Downtown Los Altos. The survey is expected to be sent out in the next week or so.
Parking
At its meeting on Tuesday, the City Council reviewed the Parking Consultant’s analysis of the recommendations by the former Ad Hoc City-wide Parking Committee. Staff is now developing a plan to bring parking recommendations forward to the Planning and Transportation Commission based on the feedback provided by Council. The recommendations will require the crafting of ordinances, resolutions, and policy guidance documents to implement.
Police
See Something, Say Something
Oftentimes, we rush through our everyday lives and take for granted routine moments—getting the mail, picking up the kids at school, or emptying the trash. It is during these routine tasks that we may see something that doesn’t seem quite right….maybe it is a vehicle circling the block, or parked in an unusual location. It may be an open side gate or garage door on a neighbor’s home that is normally closed. These instances may make you take a second glance, or maybe they raise the hairs on the back of your neck. Do not discount your instincts! The Los Altos Police Department is encouraging you to report this suspicious or unusual behavior as soon as possible. It may be nothing, but it could be crucial information for our officers to locate individuals engaged in criminal activity. We are partners, and we need your eyes to extend the reach of our department in your neighborhoods. This week, our officers were able to arrest home burglary suspects thanks to numerous citizens who called to report unusual activity in their area.
Reporting Suspicious Activity
When reporting suspicious activity, be prepared to describe specifically what you observed, including:
- Who or what you saw (vehicle color, type, license plate if possible, physical description of subject including clothing);
- When you saw it;
- Where it occurred; and
- Why it's suspicious.
If there is an emergency, call 9-1-1, otherwise, call our 24/7 non-emergency line at (650) 947-2770.
Public Works
Montclaire Elementary School Walkabout
Representatives from the Montclaire Parent Teacher Organization (MPTO), interested parents and City Staff participated in a walkabout in the Montclaire Elementary School area. The walkabout provided an opportunity for the school community representatives to express some of the challenges traveling to and from the school in real-time. This is the second walkabout City staff has participated in. Staff and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission will work with the school community to identify short and long-term solutions.
Stormwater Funding Initiative – Public Outreach, Polling and Financial Engineering
The City has received and is evaluating proposals from qualified firms to assist in the development of a viable public financing mechanism for citywide stormwater management activities and capital needs as identified in the City’s Stormwater Master Plan. The City is seeking technical assistance to evaluate available funding options for stormwater quality programs and capital needs, gauge public support, provide public outreach and education, and if supported, pursue implementation of the preferred funding mechanism to meet stormwater program needs.
Lincoln Park Utility Underground District
At the January 24, 2017 meeting, City Council approved the formation of an underground utility district encompassing both sides of University and Lincoln Avenue between West Edith Avenue and approximately Sherman Street. The second reading and adoption of the ordinance is scheduled for February 14, 2017. Design work for the project is expected to commence in 2019, with construction work following in 2020. For more information about this topic, click here.
Maintenance Update
Taking advantage of the dry weather, Maintenance crews were busy working on storm clean-up this week. Additionally, Facilities crews repaired the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station at South Plaza and the Parks crews refurbished pathways in Village Park and installed public art and a doggie bag station at Rosita and Grant Park. Sewer crews continued planned sewer mainline cleaning and the Street crew repaired damaged or missing street signs.
Call Before You Dig 811
811 is the phone number you call before digging to protect yourself and others from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines. There are millions of miles of buried utilities beneath the surface of the earth that are vital to everyday living like water, electricity and natural gas.
811 is the federally designated call before you dig number that helps homeowners and professionals avoid damaging these vital utilities. When you make the free call to 811 a few days before you dig, you'll help prevent unintended consequences such as injury to you or your family, damage to your property, utility service outages to the entire neighborhood and potential fines and repair costs.
Economic Development
Business Workshop: Secondhand Smoke & Tobacco-Free Environment
The City will be hosting a free Business Workshop titled Secondhand Smoke & Tobacco-Free Environment on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Los Altos Library. This workshop is intended to help educate restaurant owners about secondhand smoke as it relates to outdoor dining. Presenters from Breathe California will discuss ways restaurant owners can mitigate the impact of secondhand smoking to patrons. The workshop will also cover information on recently passed Prop 64 and how current and new smoking regulations pertain to e-cigarettes, vapes, etc. For more information, contact Jennifer Quinn, Economic Development Manager at (650) 947-2620 or jquinn@losaltosca.gov.
