City Manager Weekly Update - May 26, 2017
Assistant City Manager
New Community Gardens Announced by Mayor During Girl Scout Demonstration Garden Awards
Mayor Prochnow announced plans for two community gardens following a Special Presentation to City Council by Girl Scout Alyssa Robins on May 23, 2017 regarding the newly installed drought tolerant demonstration garden located at the Woodland Library.
Mayor Prochnow stated, “behind the Girl Scout demonstration garden is a barren spot of land that would make a perfect location for a community garden to flourish. The City will be preparing this spot for community gardening. In addition, Grant Park also has a location for a community garden that would be a natural extension for the senior program. City Community gardens will encourage residents’ engagement, recreation, leisure and place-making.”
On behalf of Council, Mayor Prochnow recognized sponsors and volunteers with Certificates of Appreciation. Sponsors who provided resources, budget and expertise to Alyssa and her Girl Scout Gold Award project include California Water Service, Bay Maples Wild California Gardens, volunteers from GreenTown Los Altos, and the City of Los Altos. In addition, volunteer students from Homestead High School and Girl Scout Troop 60321 assisted in the project, as did staff from the Woodland Library.
Water Update: Irrigation Day Restrictions Eliminated
For most of California, the Governor declared the drought to be over. Effective May 23, 2017, California Water Service (Cal Water) announced the elimination of irrigation day restrictions. However, time-of-day restrictions remain in effect as do the State’s prohibited uses of water. Cal Water and the City strongly encourage water users to conserve and to use water wisely. Cal Water bills will continue to show voluntary conservation targets to help customers set water-saving goals each month.
City Resolution 2015-15 recommends City of Los Altos residents, businesses, and water users adopt the following water conservation measures: 1. Lawn, Landscape, Vegetated Watering Time Restrictions – watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape and/or other vegetated area with potable water may not take place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The purpose of time restrictions is to avoid watering during the heat and high evaporation conditions of the day.
The time restriction provisions above do not apply to landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two (2) gallons of water per hour and to microspray irrigation on lawns, landscaping and trees. This provision also does not apply to watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
Water users are encouraged to check the Cal Water website for details and updates.
City Clerk
Hillview Community Center Project Task Force
On May 23, 2017, the City Council appointed the following individuals to serve on the ad hoc Hillview Community Center Project Task Force: Maria Bautista, Philip Chou, Brian Cilker, Claudia Coleman, Katherine Cushing, Stuart Eckmann, Stuart Klein, Cathy Lazarus, Barbara Loebner, Susan Mensinger, and Dennis Young. The Council also appointed Claudia Coleman to serve as the Chair. The role of the Task Force is to hold public meetings to gather community input and provide a recommendation to City Council on the interior space allocation and exterior design and layout of the Hillview Community Center.
Youth Commission Appointments
On May 23, 2017, the City Council appointed five individuals to serve on the City’s Youth Commission. Reappointed to the Commission were Vikram Bharati and Anooshkha Shetty. New to the Commission are Neysah Galatin, Brianna McKean and Wenbo Xu.
Public Art Master Plan
Efforts on the development of the City’s Public Art Master Plan continue to move forward. Two community workshops were held this week and both involved good discussions among participants on the role of art in a community. Community members are encouraged to participate in a questionnaire to provide input into the development of the Plan.
Community Development
Environmental Consulting Services – Request for Qualifications
The Community Development Department issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) last week seeking qualified environmental consulting firms to provide the City with environmental (CEQA) consulting services. The Department intends to select one or two firms to be the City’s qualified consultant(s) to provide staff with assistance in the preparation of initial studies and environmental assessments on an as-needed, project-by-project basis. Statements of Qualifications from interested firms are due June 9, 2017.
Density Bonus Ordinance
At its meeting next Thursday, June 1, 2017, the Planning and Transportation Commission will take its first look at the draft Density Bonus regulations. Density Bonus rules allow for additional market rate housing units if a project provides affordable units as part of the project. In addition, developers can request exceptions to site development standards found in the zoning code. The draft ordinance includes limits on the extent of the exceptions, which are intended to guide projects in a manner that makes them compatible with the neighborhood within which they are proposed.
Downtown Vision
The Consulting team is putting the final touches on a community wide survey that will provide another opportunity to weigh in on the vision for Downtown Los Altos. Stay tuned for more details. Interested parties are encouraged to sign up for project updates by subscribing to the Downtown Vision email list at losaltosca.gov/enotify.
Police
Los Altos Pet Parade
The 70th Annual Los Altos Kiwanis Pet Parade took place on Saturday, May 20, 2017. Officers enjoyed watching hundreds of kids and families, along with their variety of pets, participate in this fun event. Officer Miguel Wong, pictured here with Sergeant Katie Krauss and parade participants, experienced his first Pet Parade as a new member of the police force. Chief Andy Galea rode in style in a vintage car, accompanied by Piper the Yorkie. Overall, a wonderful day was had by all!
Crime Prevention Talk
On May 24, 2017, Community Service Officer Amanda Pitman and Detective Jessica Vernon conducted a Crime Prevention presentation at United Methodist Church. The approximately 20 women in attendance learned about home safety, reporting crimes, Neighborhood Watch, common scams, and identity theft. If you would like to partner with Los Altos Police to organize a similar event, please contact our Crime Prevention Division at (650) 947-2776.
Public Works
Household Hazardous Waste Event Results
Last month, the City of Los Altos and Santa Clara County hosted a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection event in Los Altos. Over the course of the day, almost 23,000 pounds of waste were collected from 360 participants. Thank you to everyone who participated for doing their part to properly dispose of HHW. Improper disposal of such waste releases harmful contaminates in local landfills, pollutes the Bay and increases risk to public health and safety. For more information, visit the HHW website.
Bid Opening – University Avenue Crosswalk Improvements
This week, the Engineering Division received bids for the University Avenue Crosswalk Improvements project. The project proposes to install a raised crosswalk with a rapid flashing beacon warning system at the intersection of University and Lincoln Avenue as well as a curb ramp and crosswalk improvements at the intersection of Burke Road. Engineering staff anticipates bringing the project to City Council in June for award.
Grant Park Parking Lot Survey
Engineering staff visited the Grant Park Senior Program on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 to conduct an onsite opinion survey regarding options for the Center’s parking lot. Feedback that was shared with us will be considered as future parking lot improvements are designed.
PG&E Gas Line Extension Project at Grant Road and Fremont Avenue
PG&E is currently working on a gas line extension project at Grant Road and Fremont Avenue and will be performing welding to the gas transmission lines for the next few weeks. The work will require lane closures on Grant Road. Due to the nature of welding and working with gas transmission lines, PG&E must complete certain steps and safety checks in a specific order from start to finish within a specific work day. These steps are time intensive and require a series of PG&E and third party inspectors checking key steps in the process; these actions cannot be broken into smaller steps nor spread across multiple work days. As a result, extended working hours will be required on specific days. PG&E will work until 8:00 pm on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 and Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Traffic control measures and personnel will be in place to assist drivers at all times and notification letter will be sent to the residents within a 500-foot radius by PG&E.
Reminders
City Council Open Office Hours
The Los Altos City Council will host Open Office Hours on the following dates and times:
Sunday, June 11, 2017
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Shoup Park
400 University Avenue, Los Altos
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Grant Park Community Center, Room 3
1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos
Friday, July 7, 2017
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hillview Community Center, Room 2
97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos
Thursday, July 20, 2017
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Grant Park Community Center, Room 3
1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos
One City Council member will be available to the public for these two-hour periods to answer questions, receive input and discuss topics of interest with community members. Everyone is welcome.
