City Manager Weekly Update - October 21, 2016
Assistant City Manager
Aircraft Noise Upcoming Meetings to Include City Council Discussion
Due to wide interest and communications from residents on the aircraft noise topic and its effects on residents in Los Altos, Council has included an aircraft noise discussion on the October 25, 2016 City Council agenda. The agenda topic reads as follows: Discuss and consider sending a letter to the Santa Clara County Select Committee on Aircraft Noise regarding Los Altos’ interest in noise mitigation solutions. In addition to the Council meeting, October and November will culminate with a final report and recommendations from the Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals. The Select Committee has issued its draft recommendations. The public is invited to attend a meeting next Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at Palo Alto City Hall and the Select Committee will hear public comment on the draft recommendations. This draft is intended to be used as a starting point for the Committee’s discussion, as the Committee has discretion to use or reject any of the recommendations or the entire document. The Select Committee has working meetings scheduled for November 3 and November 17, 2016 when the recommendations are expected to be finalized.
Home Energy Efficiency Success
The October 18th Home Energy Efficiency Workshop presented by Santa Clara County Office of Sustainability, Energy Upgrade California and in partnership with the Los Altos Environmental Commission was attended by 95 citizens of which 80% were Los Altos residents. When asked why they came, the biggest percentage of the audience was attracted to the rebate program. The program is easy and speedy. Call a Home Upgrade Advisor, get an assessment, pick a contractor and the contractor takes care of the work and the rebates. If your house is drafty, has hot or cold rooms, or has high energy bills, then you should call an advisor. The advisor is not a building contractor but will work to ensure the needs and interests of the homeowner are understood by the contractor. The rebate program has had over 4000 projects and has a very high satisfaction rate. The initial assessment can cost as much as $500 but there is a rebate for that if you proceed with an upgrade. The program is funded through 2017, and rebates up to $6800 are available. Call 1-866-878-6008 to get started.
Bay Area Energy Upgrade California® Home Upgrade provides assistance and incentives for home improvement projects that can reduce energy use and make homes more comfortable. This statewide program is managed locally by utilities and regional energy networks and directed by the California Public Utilities Commission in collaboration with the California Energy Commission. Funding comes from utility customers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Incentives are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are effective until funding is expended or the program is discontinued.
City Clerk
Council Open Office Hours
The next City Council Open Office Hours will be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Veterans Community Plaza located at the corner of State and Main Streets in Downtown Los Altos. One City Council member will be available to the public for a two-hour period to answer questions, receive input and discuss topics of interest to community members. No appointments are necessary and all are welcome.
Artistic Bike Rack Design Competition
The public is invited to submit entries into the City’s second Artistic Bicycle Rack Design Competition. Entries should be submitted to the City no later than November 21, 2016. For more information, click here.
Community Development
Terraces Project Nears Completion
The Terraces Project, a continuing care retirement community located at 373 Pine Avenue is nearing completion. Building Inspection staff has been visiting the site frequently of late to conduct inspections as the project enters its final phases. The project is also nearing the point at which Planning staff will be meeting with representatives of the Terraces and conducting inspections plus reviewing the project for compliance with the conditions that are required before finals on the building permits can be granted.
Loyola Corners Circulation Study
Engineering Division and Planning Division staff are reviewing the proposal received for the Loyola Corners Circulation study. This study will provide traffic pattern base points and an evaluation of the circulation components contained in the Loyola Corners Specific Plan update. The data obtained here will also provide the information needed to conduct the necessary environmental analysis required for this project.
Planning Application Activity Highest in Ten Years
There were 800 planning applications received in FY 2015/16. This total includes all the various types of permits such as design review, variance, conditional use permit, and tree removal permits. This is the highest level of planning activity in the past 10 years and it reflects the inspection request volume that the Building Inspectors have been working with the past several months.
Police
RSVP for Pumpkin Carving with a Cop
We hope you will bring your family (and pumpkins) for an afternoon of fun with the Los Altos Police Department! Pumpkin Carving with a Cop will be held next Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Los Altos Youth Center, 1 N San Antonio Road. Officers will be carving pumpkins alongside fellow jack o’ lantern enthusiasts during this free family-friendly event. We will also be available to answer questions and address concerns from community members. Carving tools and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP at lapd-pumpkins.eventbrite.com.
Police Escort Los Altos High School Homecoming Parade Participants
The Los Altos Police Department not only secured the route for today’s annual Los Altos High School Homecoming Parade in Downtown Los Altos, we joined the fun! Traffic Officers were invited once again to join the procession at the beginning of the parade march. It is our great pleasure to ensure the safety of parade participants each year.
Public Works
Bulky Item Pickup
Did you know that once every 6 months, at no charge, residents of single-family homes can schedule the collection of up to 4 cubic yards of garbage and 3 large items? Prior to your scheduled cleanup day, two 4’x4’x4’ bags will be delivered. Each bag will hold up to 2 cubic yards of garbage. Commonly disposed of items include: books, magazines, toys, clothing, exercise equipment, housewares, and treated wood and yard trimmings. Next to the bags, you may put out up to three bulky items. Using a special flatbed truck, Mission Trail will return on your next service day to remove the bags and bulky items. Contact Mission Trails Waste Systems to schedule your cleanup at (650) 473-1400 or missiontrail.com.
W. Edith Avenue and University Avenue Crosswalk Improvement
In Spring 2016, the City Council approved a pedestrian safety improvement project at the intersection of W. Edith Avenue and University Avenue. This project is one of several school route related projects approved by Council over the next three years. The project will improve and add new curb ramps, a new continental crosswalk and enhanced electronic pedestrian crossing devices. Safety improvements to this location serves Gardner Bullis Elementary School for those walking or biking from east of W. Edith Avenue along University Avenue. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission is scheduled to review project design on October 26, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Meeting Chambers at City Hall.
Annual Concrete Repair
The primary focus of this annual project is on the replacement of damaged sidewalks that are potential safety hazards caused from broken or uplifted sidewalks. This week the contractor completed the contracted scope of the project. Engineering staff is reviewing additional locations to be performed. Additional work would be completed in 2-3 weeks.
Annual Striping Project
The City conducts an annual striping project which includes streets that have received recent resurfacing or slurry seals, as well as, addressing faded or new striping needs around Los Altos. The City’s contractor will begin work in the southern end of Los Altos and work toward the northern section of the city. A map of the striping locations can be viewed online. Striping is scheduled to begin this week and be complete at the end of October.
Recreation & Community Services
Los Altos Youth Theater
Los Altos Youth Theatre's presentation of Snow White and the Prince is now showing! Join us this Friday or Saturday, October 21 or 22 at 7:30 p.m. or Sunday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the Bus Barn Theater located adjacent to the Hillview Community Center. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youth and seniors. Youth who attend in a fairytale costume will receive a treat after the performance! For more information and to purchase tickets please see our city website!
Special Events
Visit Downtown Los Altos and view the Spooktacular window shop painting designs by our 53rd Annual Halloween Window Painting contestants! All designs will be completed by Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Judging will occur on Sunday, October 23. Winners will be honored at a City Council Meeting in November.
Have fun making a Gingerbread House with family and friends and then bring it to share with the Los Altos Community at our Annual Gingerbread House Exhibit! The exhibit will be held November 28 through December 6, 2016 at the Hillview Community Center, Room 2. Applications and guidelines are available online and in the Recreation & Community Services Front Office, 97 Hillview Avenue. Registration will close when the exhibit is full or by November 18, 2016, whichever comes first. This is a FREE event that is open to all ages!
Supporting Documents
location_of_street_segments.pdf (221 KB) 