City Manager Weekly Update - July 15, 2016
Community Center
This week, Recreation and Community Services Director Manny Hernandez and the Interim City Manager met with members of the Community Center Alliance (CCA), a local community group. The meeting focused primarily on the process the City is using as we move forward with planning for a new Hillview Community Center. The CCA is very interested in continuing to be active participants in the process and have suggested that they would be willing to volunteer to assist in surveying the community.
Assistant City Manager
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCE) Will Provide 100% Carbon Free Energy to Los Altos Customers
In February 2016, the City became a member of Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCE) with the goal of establishing a Community Choice Energy (CCE) partnership to provide cleaner energy to residential and commercial users in Los Altos. Mayor Jeannie Bruins was appointed as a Director on the SVCE Board. At its meeting on July 13, 2016, the SVCE Board of Directors unanimously voted to authorize procurement of an energy mix that will supply users with 100% carbon free electricity. This is a notable decision because the utility users within the SVCE service area will be 100% carbon free, thus lowering the amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from energy usage and more quickly achieving the reduction goals stated in their local Climate Action Plans and in the state climate initiatives.
The purchase of 100% carbon free energy is currently underway by SVCE staff. The first phase of the roll-out to customers is scheduled in April 2017. All residential and commercial customers will be automatically receiving the newly purchased 100% carbon free electricity, below PG&E rates, once the roll-out phases are completed. The clean energy will be delivered by PG&E distribution lines and service. SVCE will contract for the purchase and supply of clean energy which will be distributed through the PG&E system.
The Weekly Updates will continue to provide news and announcement of actions by the SVCE Board of Directors. You will continue to be informed about this exciting progress to provide clean energy to Los Altos and, in turn, support the City’s Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to ensure climate protection.
For additional information, visit:
Requirement for Watering Lawns During the Drought
While California Water Service (Cal Water), the City’s water retailer, awaits approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to move from Stage 2 to Sage 1 of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, please continue to abide by the existing watering schedule set by Cal Water - see schedule below for permitted days for outdoor irrigation. Outdoor irrigation may not take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
- Even Street Addresses: Tuesday and Friday
- Odd Street Addresses: Monday and Thursday
- No Street Addresses: Monday and Thursday
For more information regarding watering schedules and exemptions, visit calwater.com.
Aircraft Noise Update
The Select Committee appointed to meet with the communities affected by aircraft nose has concluded its public meetings. The Select Committee will now convene working meetings to discuss the community input that was gathered and develop a response to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Northern California Initiative Feasibility Study.
The working meetings of the Select Committee are scheduled for Friday, July 15 and 22, 2016 at the City of Palo Alto Council Chambers from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The meetings are open to the public, but because it is a working meeting of the Select Committee, the public will not be invited to speak.
City Clerk
2016 City Council Election
The nomination period for the 2016 City Council Election will open on Monday, July 18, 2016. Individuals interested in running for one of three seats should contact the City Clerk’s Office at (650) 947-2720. Individuals must be a registered voter of Los Altos to be eligible to run for City Council. For additional information regarding elections in Los Altos, click here.
City Council Open Office Hours
The City Council is continuing to hold Open Office Hours throughout the summer months. The next two opportunities will be Sunday, July 24 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Los Altos Main Library and Wednesday, August 3 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Grant Park Community Center, Room 1. One City Councilmember will be in attendance at each session to meet and discuss topics of interest with community members.
Community Plaza Renamed Veterans Community Plaza
The City recently sought input from residents regarding a proposal from a community group to rename Community Plaza, located at the corner of Main and State Streets in downtown Los Altos. The City Council discussed this topic at its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 12, 2016. Ultimately, Council approved the renaming of Community Plaza to Veterans Community Plaza. The City Council supported working with community members and groups to enhance events and activities that may take place in the Plaza in the future. To view the City Council discussion and meeting materials regarding this topic, click here. Thank you to all who provided input on this topic.
Community Development
Projects in the Development Pipeline
As of yesterday, seven permit applications for new single-family dwellings have been submitted to the Building Division. These projects and the construction documents that support them have been through the Planning process and the work that goes into the building of these homes is nearing a start. In addition to these houses, there are other projects across the City that are at various stages in the construction and approval process. Those interested in finding out about projects that are in the development pipeline can use the following link to a page on the City’s website that provides information about some of the projects that are under construction or under consideration: Development Projects
A Change to the Los Altos Border
The owners of six properties on Jardin Drive, which are currently located in Mountain View, are having their annexation, pre-land use, and pre-zoning designations considered by the Planning and Transportation Commission next Thursday, July 21, 2016 (see staff report). The request is a result of a discovery that sewer service to these properties was being provided by Los Altos, even though the sites are in the City of Mountain View. Annexation to Los Altos will create a more logical boundary between the cities of Los Altos and Mountain View and, it is hoped, provide for more timely emergency responses. The Planning and Transportation Commission’s recommendation will be considered by the City Council at a future meeting and if approved by the City Council, moved forward to the Local Agency Formation Commission, which regulates changes to a City’s boundaries.
Code Amendments
Next Thursday, July 21, 2016, the Planning and Transportation Commission will consider a series of code amendments and develop recommendations to the City Council on those amendments. One of the amendments provides for the expiration of a permit application. At present, an application for a permit does not expire and can remain an active application indefinitely. These types of applications are typically those that are deemed incomplete and for which additional information is requested of an applicant so the project can be properly evaluated, both by staff and decision makers. Applications that linger too long can, if activated by submittal of requested information, be at odds with prevailing policies, laws, and community opinions of appropriate development. These situations can hamper good planning efforts and result in extended reviews. These situations can be corrected if applications remain current and in-line with the policies and laws in place at the time the project is considered.
Police
Residential Burglaries
We continue to see a number of residential burglaries occurring in Los Altos as our counterparts in surrounding jurisdictions struggle with the same problem. We’ve found that among the most popular ways burglars are gaining entry into Los Altos homes is through unlocked doors and windows. Be sure to secure your home when leaving, even if for a short time. Also, one of the best ways to protect your neighborhood is to IMMEDIATELY call us at (650) 947-2770 to report any suspicious persons or vehicles observed in your neighborhood. By doing exactly this, neighbors have contributed to the capture and arrest of residential burglars in the past. When calling to report suspicious persons or vehicles, please provide as much detail as possible, such as:
- Vehicles: License plate numbers, vehicle makes and models, colors and anything distinguishing about the vehicle (i.e. damage, bumper stickers, roof racks, replaced body panels, etc).
- Persons: Number of subjects, race, age, physical size, speech accent or style, clothing, accessories (bags, packs, etc).
Los Altos Emergency Preparedness Funds
Local emergency preparedness volunteers (BATs, CERTs, and HAM radio operators) have been working with the Police Department and Assistant City Manager J. Logan to apply Community Emergency Preparedness funds toward a valuable project. Aimed at further enhancing the City’s level of preparedness in the event of an emergency, community stakeholders worked closely with City officials and determined the City would benefit from establishing a cache of emergency supplies which could be utilized in the event of a public emergency. That challenge developed into the need to secure a location and a large storage unit to house supplies. Ultimately, the City secured an undisclosed location where a suitable storage unit was later installed. Last week, dedicated volunteers feverishly worked to inventory, organize and shelve the supplies to ensure accessibility when needed. Congratulations to all who worked on this great project and a special thanks to Los Altos PREPARE.
Register for FREE Emergency Preparedness Training with Santa Clara County Fire on Saturday, July 23
The City of Los Altos is pleased to offer complimentary Personal Emergency Preparedness (PEP) courses to Los Altos residents. The next training is scheduled for Saturday, July 23, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Hillview Community Center. This free course, taught by Santa Clara County Fire Department personnel, is extremely engaging and is designed to teach residents how to be self-sufficient in the event of an emergency until relief is available. Topics covered in this training include basic preparedness skills and supplies, workplace and home safety, what to do when your phones don’t work and more. For more information or to register for upcoming trainings, contact Santa Clara County Fire Department at (408) 378-4010 or email communityoutreach@sccfd.org.
Public Works
Downtown Capital Improvement Projects
First Street Utility Undergrounding Project
PG&E and its subcontractor, Accubore, have begun work on the First Street Utility Undergrounding Project. This project will underground all overhead utility lines (PG&E, AT&T, and Cablecom) and remove utility poles on First Street from Parking Plaza 1 (behind First and Main Sports Lounge) to San Antonio Road. Construction work will occur Monday through Friday and is scheduled to conclude mid-September, 2016. Additional cable and wire work, which is anticipated to be less impactful, will follow and the project is expected to be completed in its entirety by the end of October, 2016. The project will be constructed in three sections, Plaza 1 to Whitney Street; Whitney Street to Lyell Street and Lyell Street to San Antonio Road. Although traffic flow will be maintained throughout the project, parking restrictions and traffic controls will be in place in the section where active construction is occurring.
Parking Plaza Approach Project
The City Council approved the Parking Plaza Driveway Approach Improvement Project at its July 12, 2016 meeting. The project will upgrade driveway approaches in 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. Currently, wheelchair users have to cross the driveway at a cross slope which exceeds ADA standards. The scope of work will include the removal and replacement of sidewalks, curb and gutters, and a small portion of the adjoining Parking Plaza to create an ADA path of travel in these locations. The other Parking Plazas in the downtown have been surveyed and are in compliance with ADA standards. Work is expected to begin in early August and be completed by early September. Actual construction dates will be confirmed with the City’s contractor, Wattis Construction Company, and provided here in a future City Manager Weekly Update.
Parking Plaza 3 Drive Aisle Improvement Project
Dalian Construction has been awarded the contract for the Parking Plaza 3 Drive Aisle Improvement Project. The project will include removal and replacement of the sidewalks, curbs and gutters in the section of the Plaza from the north Sana Antonio Road entrance to approximately the crosswalk adjacent to Hillview Avenue (behind the Italian Delicatessen). The project will improve pedestrian access and eliminate stormwater runoff in these areas. Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, July 25, 2016 and be completed by Friday, August 26, 2016. Construction is scheduled Monday through Friday. Access to Plaza 3 from San Antonio Road and some parking in this Plaza will be temporarily impacted as a result of the required work. Alternative access routes and parking is encouraged during the duration of the project.
Sewer Project - 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 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., completed replacement of the second and final segment on Fremont Avenue, including trench backfill and temporary pavement restoration, and began work on Country Club Drive.
Community Rating System
Engineering staff are kicking off preparations for the City’s 5-year cycle community visit by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The visit is scheduled for August and is intended to assist the City to remain in good standing with National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Community Rating System and maintain the City’s Class-8 rating, which results in a 10% reduction in flood insurance rates citywide. Properties located within Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA’s) are required to purchase flood insurance in they have a federally backed mortgage.
PG&E Gas Main Improvements
In order to better serve the growing community, PG&E will be performing gas main work on Grant Road between Richardson Drive and Fremont Avenue. The project will increase pipe diameter and complete a looped system to provide better and more reliable service. The project will begin the week of July 25, 2016 with preliminary utility markings being completed next week. The work will take approximately 10-12 weeks to complete. Work hours within Grant Road, which require traffic control, will be limited from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to help minimize impacts to traffic.
Recreation & Community Services
Los Altos Youth Theatre Presents Disney’s Peter Pan Jr.
Opening night is tonight and tickets are still available! Fly away to Neverland with Peter and the Darling children in Disney's adaptation of their beloved animated film. This version includes several fairies and mermaids and is sure to entertain the whole family. Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. at the Bus Barn Theater located at 97 Hillview Ave, Los Altos 94022. Ticket information is available online.
Summer Concert
Our sixth Summer Concert will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2016 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Hillview Park. Come out to enjoy the music of The Sun Kings! Bring your family and friends, pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the sounds of this Beatles tribute band!
Senior Programs
The Los Altos Senior Program will host a “Fun at the Beach” Barbecue on Friday, July 22, 2016 at the Hillview Community Center Room 10 Patio. Join us for some barbecue tri-tip, green salad, watermelon and root beer floats! The cost is $6 for Senior Program members and $8 for all others. Entertainment will be provided.
The Los Altos Dispute Resolution Services will present their offerings on Wednesday, July 20, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Grant Park Community Center Multipurpose Room located at 1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022. All are welcome!
Coffee, Conversation and Cards at Grant Lounge located at 1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos, CA 94022 will be held from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on July 25 and August 1, 2016. The Monday Grant Lounge will return to normal operating hours of 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on August 8, 2016.
Reminder: Active Senior Program members are eligible to bring in devices and meet one-on-one with volunteer John Cardoza who will help them understand the basic concepts of the device. Seniors should be ready with questions to make the most out of the session. Appointments are scheduled on Mondays for thirty minutes beginning at 1:00pm. Please call (650) 947-2797 for an appointment.
Youth & Teen Programs
Our popular Redwood Grove Nature Camp and Camp Shoup day camps continue! Camps are offered through August 19 and space is filling quickly. Currently, we still have space in our Combo Camp for those that would like to attend both Redwood Grove and Camp Shoup! Sign up at losaltosca.gov/recreation.
Camp Jelly Bean is in full swing! This fun summer camp is open to ages 3-5. It is held from 9:00 a.m. - 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!
- ABC Dinosaur: July 25 – 29
- Pirates & Princesses: August 1 – 5
- Astronauts & Rockettes: August 8 - 12
