City Manager Weekly Update - September 23, 2016
Assistant City Manager
National Preparedness Month Contest
Santa Clara Valley Water District is conducting a social media contest and campaign for National Preparedness Month. The contest encourages residents in Santa Clara County to prepare in advance of the winter flood season by creating emergency supply kits. By uploading a photo or video with a description of your kit and tagging the Santa Clara Valley Water District, you can be eligible to win a prize – an emergency radio with weather alert and built-in smart phone charger. Full contest details can be found here.
Get Ready… The Great California ShakeOut is Coming in October
Millions of people worldwide will practice how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:20 a.m. on October 20 during Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, which began in California in 2008. Preparation and education is critical for individuals to be able to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes– wherever you live, work or travel. ShakeOut is also a major activity of America's PrepareAthon! The City of Los Altos staff, Santa Clara County Fire Department emergency coordinators and resident volunteers will conduct the annual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) drill on October 10, 2016.
Aircraft Noise Upcoming Meetings
The Select Committee on South Bay Arrivals is now in working-group mode and is meeting with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to discuss options and to formulate recommendations to local members of Congress. Councilmember Jean Mordo is an alternate member of the Select Committee and has been in attendance at both the public and working group meetings. The Committee’s next meeting is on September 29, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the City of Palo Alto Council Chambers. The meeting is open to the public but because it is a working meeting of the Select Committee, the public will not be invited to speak. The SFO Community Roundtable meeting is October 5, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Millbrae City Hall, Chetcuit Room, 621 Magnolia Avenue.
City Clerk
City Council Open Office Hours
Come out and enjoy the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival and be sure to stop by the Los Altos Police Department booth, which is where City Council Open Office Hours will be hosted on Saturday, October 1, 2016 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The booth will be located on Second Street by the classic car show. 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. All are welcome.
Community Development
Residential Condominium Project at 4846/4856 El Camino Real
Staff has received a preliminary project review application for a residential condominium project at 4846/4856 El Camino Real, the current site of Mohr Clocks. This 35 unit project includes affordable housing units and seeks some exceptions to the site development standards, notably the height limit. This project will be scheduled for consideration by the Planning and Transportation Commission at a workshop in the near future so early feedback can be provided to the applicant/developer.
Public Hearing on Downtown Buildings Committee Recommendations
Following two discussions at the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC), the recommendations of the Downtown Buildings Committee (DBC) will be reviewed at a public hearing at the October 6, 2016 PTC meeting. DBC recommendations include a reduction in height limits for the CD and CD/R3 Zone Districts, modifications to roof structure classifications, height and coverage limits, amendment to the Design Review Findings, and addition of “penthouse” and “tower” definitions. A recommendation will then be developed and presented to the City Council at a future date.
Planning Review and Training
Staff in the Planning Division will be taking time next week for some training and an evaluation of processes and procedures in an effort to identify ways to enhance the consideration and review of development applications. This will provide all staff within the planning division the chance to share ideas and provide input on things that are working well and items that need to be adjusted or modified so that they work better.
Police
On Monday, September 19, 2016, a big rig carrying construction debris toppled over on southbound Interstate 280 in the late afternoon. The accident occurred between the Magdalena and Foothill Expressway exits, effectively blocking all lanes of traffic for hours while cleanup ensued. In an effort to get around the backup, commuters diverted onto City streets causing additional backups on major roadways in the area including Foothill Expressway and El Camino Real. Our public safety partners, Santa Clara County Fire Department, alerted the City to the accident and growing roadway congestion.
The Police Department utilized Nixle alerts as well as its Facebook and Twitter accounts to quickly notify residents of the accident before peak evening commutes began. We have received many thanks from community members for proactively sharing this information and we encourage you to connect with us to be sure you’re in-the-know in the future. You can register for email and/or text alerts from our Nixle account at Nixle.com or by texting your zip code to 888-777. For a list of all City social media channels, click here.
Public Works
Reminder: Fremont Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Feasibility Study Open House September 28
Join us for a community meeting/open house to learn more about and provide feedback on the Fremont Avenue Pedestrian Bridge Feasibility Study. The City is assessing the condition of the existing pedestrian bridge and the feasibility/cost of rehabilitating or replacing the roughly 40 year-old structure. Representatives from the City and the project team will be available to answer questions and discuss ideas. The Open House will be held on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Grant Park Community Center, Multipurpose Room, 1575 Holt Avenue, Los Altos.
Loucks Avenue Speed Humps
Residents of Loucks Avenue matriculated through the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program process, ultimately deciding to install two-speed humps on Loucks Avenue between Mercedes Avenue and Los Altos Avenue. Preliminary work will begin today, Friday, September 23, and speed hump construction will be completed the week of September 26, 2016. Signing and striping will be completed afterward.
Annual Concrete Repair
The City’s Annual Concrete Repair project is still underway. This week, the contractor continued work in the University Avenue/Orange Avenue area on demolition and replacement of sidewalk. The primary focus of this annual project is to replace of damaged sidewalks that are potential public safety hazards caused by broken or uplifted sidewalks.
Annual Street Improvement Project
The City’s Annual Street Improvement Project continues, with the following streets scheduled to receive repair and maintenance work next week:
- Southbound on Miramonte Avenue (Portland Avenue to Fremont Avenue)
- Middleton Avenue (Austin Avenue to Morton Avenue)
- Cedar Place (Redwood Drive to Deodara Drive)
- Fir Lane (West End to East End)
- Aspen Drive (Arboretum Drive to Beechwood Lane)
- Aspen Way (Arboretum Drive to End)
- Deodara Drive (360 S Wimbledon Place to Beechwood Lane)
- Vineyard Court (End to Vineyard Drive)
- Portland Avenue (Miramonte Avenue to Grant Avenue)
- Northbound on Miramonte Avenue (Portland Avenue to Fremont Avenue)
- Colleen Drive (Newcastle Drive to Hollidale Court)
- Helen Court (Newcastle Drive to End)
- St. Mark Court (Woodview Tr to End)
- Margarita Court (Los Altos Avenue to Via Del Pozo)
- Lerida Avenue (San Luis Avenue to Benvenue Avenue)
- Russell Avenue (Covington Avenue to End)
- Miramonte Avenue (Portland Avenue to Eastwood Drive and the intersection at Covington)
- Fremont Avenue (999 Fremont to Permanente Creek)
- Pinecrest Drive (Arboretum Drive to Beechwood Lane)
- Beechwood Lane (Deodara Drive to End)
- Foothill Crossing (Homestead Rd to Trader Joe’s driveway)
- Arboretum Drive (Foothill Expressway to Fir Lane)
- Deodara Drive (Beechwood Lane to End)
- Catalina Way (Catalina Court to Jordan Avenue)
- Coronado Avenue (End to Cherry Avenue)
- Beverly Lane (End to Almond Avenue)
- Thames Lane (Kingswood Way to Templebar Way)
- Nela Lane (End to E. Portola Avenue)
Downtown Capital Improvement Projects
First Street Utility Undergrounding Project
PG&E and its subcontractor, Accubore, continue work on the aerial to underground utility conversion project on First Street. 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. Construction crews installed large electrical utility vaults on Whitney and on First Street this week. Each vault weighs over 17,000 lbs. and requires a special crane for installation. Construction crews also installed new electrical, phone and cable conduits on First Street from Parking Plaza 1 to Whitney Street and on Whitney Street from First Street to the mid-block alleyway. Work is expected to resume on the First Street entrances of Parking Plaza 1 next week.
Parking Plaza Driveway Approach Improvement Project
The Parking Plaza Driveway Approach Improvement Project is substantially complete and the upgraded driveway approaches in Parking 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 are now open. The contractor will be onsite periodically next week to complete punch list items.
Recreation & Community Services
Activity Registration
Several adult and youth classes start next week including but not limited to: art, soccer, hikes and music. Check out all our classes that start up in the next few weeks by clicking below. Come FALL for our fun!
- View activities by week
- Fall Activity Guide
Volunteers
If you have time and interest in giving back to your community, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator to learn more about current volunteer opportunities. Call (650) 947-2848 for more information.
Youth & Teens
There is still space available in the Fabulous 4s and Kinder Prep classes in the Tiny Tots Preschool Program! Please contact Candace Avina at (650) 947-2890 or cavina@losaltosca.gov to get more information or to schedule a tour. Take advantage of this opportunity to register your little one in this fun and enriching program! Please note that the participant should be of age by September 1, 2016.
The Underground Teen Center hours for the school year are Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Teens 11-17 years can enjoy these FREE drop-in times to utilize our Wi-Fi or play video games, air hockey, shuffleboard and ping pong.
The popular LAYC Dance memberships are available for all 7th & 8th graders who live in Los Altos and will be sold at Egan Jr. High School on September 29, 2016. Memberships can also be purchased at the Hillview Community Center during business hours which are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The next LAYC Dance is scheduled for October 7, 2016.
Remember to save the date for the Los Altos Youth Theater’s production of Snow White and the Prince! Performances will be October 14 – 30, 2016. For more information, click here!
Special Events
Get ready for our 53rd Annual Halloween Window Painting Contest! This event is open to youth in grades 4 – 12. For all the details, click here.
