City Manager Weekly Update - November 18, 2016

City Clerk

Artistic Bike Rack Design Competition Deadline is Monday
The deadline to submit an entry in the City’s Artistic Bicycle Rack Design Competition is Monday, November 21, 2016. This community art project seeks to add distinctive public art to City streets and provide an opportunity for the community to think creatively and imaginatively about public streetscapes. All submissions will be considered from age 8 and up. For more information, click here.  

Community Development

Planning and Transportation Commission Reviews Past Projects
At its meeting this week, the Planning and Transportation Commission reviewed a number of projects that they either approved or recommended approval of to the City Council. They were walked through a slide presentation that included photos of these projects as they have been constructed. The Commission requested that this conversation be scheduled as well for their next meeting in December so that they can go to the various sites again and review them with a more critical eye in an effort to enhance their project evaluation skills and apply those enhanced skills to their review of projects as they come forward in the future.

Studies to Provide Guidance to Loyola Corners Specific Plan Amendments
This past Tuesday, the City Council received an update on efforts to modify the Loyola Corners Specific Plan. Two studies of the Loyola Corners area are currently being conducted by consultants, these are for an economic analysis and a circulation evaluation. Key elements of the Specific Plan hinge on the results of these studies as they will provide background information and data needed to support the policies and goals of this guiding document. Once these studies are complete – updates to the Specific Plan draft will be made and a joint public workshop with the City Council and Planning and Transportation Commission will be scheduled, which will give these two bodies and the community an opportunity to comment and provide input on the plan. 

Downtown Vision Outreach Strategy
With concurrence of the City Council – staff and the Downtown Vision consultant team are completing the list of groups and persons to contact for guidance on how best to engage the community as the Los Altos Downtown Vision effort moves forward. Broad community input and support for the outreach and community engagement effort will be crucial in the development of a Vision for the Downtown that shows and explains how this City wants its downtown to look and feel in the future. 

Police

Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Award Ceremony
Los Altos Police Officer Eric Bardwell was among the honored guested at an awards dinner hosted last week by Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers. The group awards selected law enforcement personnel from various local agencies for demonstrating exemplary police work during the past year. Officer Bardwell has been a consistent and proactive member of our team since joining the department two and a half years ago. Officer Bardwell also recently received an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for leading the department in DUI arrests. One of Officer Bardwell’s most notable arrests occurred when he was conducting a vacation house check and came upon a suspicious vehicle. His investigation ultimately led to finding an explosive device inside the vehicle. Officer Bardwell’s prior military experience as a Bomb Technician was a key point in his decision to contact the bomb squad in order to appropriately collect and dispose of the device. Thanks to Officer Bardwell’s keen observation skills and proactive approach to policing, our community continues to flourish as one of the safest in the nation.     

Prevent Sanitary Sewer Backups this Holiday Season
The holidays often bring people together to celebrate with food, family and friends. It’s no coincidence that the holidays are also the time of year when we see an increase in sewer backups caused by fats, oils and grease entering the sanitary sewer system. Improper disposal of fats, oils and grease, also referred to as FOG, can cause inconvenient, messy and costly sewer overflows.

You can help prevent a sewer calamity this holiday season by properly disposing of fats, oils and grease:

• Never pour cooking oils or grease into your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet or any other household or outdoor drain.
• Collect fats, oils and grease in a container to cool and harden. When the container is full, cover it tightly and place it in a bag to prevent leakage, then dispose of it in the garbage.
• Minimize the use of kitchen sink garbage disposals. Ground food particles and grease may still clog pipes and affect the downstream sewer system, causing sewer backups for your neighbors down the street.
• Scrape or use paper towels to wipe food scraps or grease from pots, pans and plates into the garbage before washing them in the sink or dishwasher.
• Place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of solid waste. Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket for garbage; disposable diapers and personal hygiene products do not belong in the sewer system.

For more information on preventing sewer backups, click here.

If you experience a sanitary sewer backup, call the City of Los Altos Maintenance Division at (650) 947-2875 between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For holiday, weekend and after hour calls, contact the Police Department’s business line at (650) 947-2770. Staff is available day and night to check the main sewer line. If it is clear and flowing, but a blockage is in the lateral, the property owner will need to call a plumber to clear the line.