City Manager Weekly Update - April 28, 2017
On Tuesday, April 25, 2017, the City Council approved the creation of a Capital Improvement Project for the design and construction of a new Community Center. The Council approved a project budget of $25 million, which is currently available in City reserves, to fund the project. Staff will next begin the selection process for a qualified architect. To ensure the community has ample opportunity to engage in the Community Center planning process, the Council also Adopted Resolution No. 2017-15 establishing the Hillview Community Center Project Task Force. The Project Task Force will focus on gathering public input to inform a recommendation which they will present to the City Council at a future date.
City Clerk
Hillview Community Center Project Task Force Recruitment
The City is now accepting applications for the newly formed Hillview Community Center Project Task Force. The mission of the Task Force is to hold public meetings to gather community input and provide a recommendation to the City Council on the interior space allocation and exterior design and layout of the future Hillview Community Center. Members of the Task Force will be appointed to a temporary term for the duration of planning of the Hillview Community Center project. There are 11 positions available for Council appointment. Applications are due Friday, May 12, 2017 and interviews are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, 2017. It is anticipated the Task Force will meet at least monthly through the rest of 2017. For more information, please call (650) 947-2720.
Assistant City Manager
Community Emergency Preparedness Volunteers Receive Award
Congratulations to emergency preparedness steering committee members, Sherie Dodsworth, Jim Clark and Harry Guy who were awarded the prestigious Phyllis Semple Volunteer Award at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. The Phyllis Semple Award recognizes individuals who are outstanding in their dedication to the volunteer program across all city departments. The nominees provide extraordinary service or support that exemplifies the City’s values.
Sherie Dodsworth, Jim Clark and Harry Guy were nominated for their collective efforts to enhance a flourishing partnership in community emergency preparedness between the City of Los Altos, Santa Clara County Fire Department, and the community of Los Altos. Jim Clark, Sherie Dodsworth and Harry Guy have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the City of Los Altos to ensure a program that engages volunteers who train for and will respond in a disaster or emergency event. Each has passionately given of their time and effort working with City staff to increase participation in grass-roots volunteer programs such as Los Altos Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Los Altos Amateur Radio Emergency Services (LAARES), and neighborhood Block Action Teams (BATs). Throughout 2016, all three of these amazing volunteers worked tirelessly to organize community members to attend BAT trainings and “Inspiration Sessions;” acted as liaisons to Santa Clara County Fire Department personnel for new CERT academies and hosted a neighborhood “packet party” to practice setting up Emergency Information Reporting Sites (affectionately known as “EIRS”) in preparation for actual emergencies.
The sustained efforts of Sherie, Jim and Harry increased interest and participation in emergency preparedness activities throughout the Los Altos community. Together, they developed and participated in a steering committee for a new program, Los Altos Community Emergency Preparedness Program (LACEPP), to utilize funds committed by the City to purchase emergency supplies and equipment. Last October, the collective efforts of these three individuals organized a group of community volunteers to conduct exercises, simultaneously as City staff was conducting its annual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) drill with Santa Clara County Fire Department. In May 2016, the nominees, as leadership members of Los Altos CERT, were awarded the Collaborating Agencies Disaster Relief Effort (CADRE) “Excellence in Preparedness Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Preparedness and Whole Community Resiliency” at a regional CADRE conference.
The Public Safety and Executive Departments certainly look forward to continuing this partnership to inspire others in the community in a continuous endeavor toward improved community emergency preparedness and service to the citizens of Los Altos. As a local government agency, it cannot be done alone but in partnership with the volunteers and community leaders of Los Altos. Jim Clark, Sherie Dodsworth and Harry Guy represent the finest spirit of community volunteerism. The trio was honored during the volunteer awards reception and presented with gratitude and plaques inscribed with their names. Council members, staff, volunteers and the community attended the reception.
Community Development
Downtown Visioning Process
Staff met with the Public Arts Commission and provided its members with an overview of the Downtown Vision process, future workshops and ways they could participate in the process. The Commissioners asked staff to return in the future with updates. The next Downtown Vision Workshop will be held Thursday, May 4, 2017 at the Downtown Farmers’ Market on State Street between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Please join us to provide input on what makes Downtown Los Altos great, share ideas for how it could be improved, and hear about the many ways to stay involved. Two additional Pop-up Workshops are currently scheduled for May 17, 2017.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations
Staff is finalizing the draft amendments to the accessory dwelling unit regulations in preparation for their consideration by the City Council at its meeting on May 9, 2017. The changes include a reduction in the minimum lot size that is required to establish the accessory dwelling unit.
Housing Fee Nexus Study
With its review of the Housing Nexus Study complete, the recommendations by the Planning and Transportation Commission on affordable housing fees will be taken to the City Council for consideration at their May 9, 2017 meeting. If adopted, these fees would be collected from commercial and larger residential projects and used to support and provide affordable housing.
Public Works
Annual Creek Cleanup
This week, members of the City’s Engineering and Municipal Services divisions conducted the second creek cleanup for fiscal year 2016-2017 in Stevens Creek, which included removal and categorization of litter. Following cleanup and analysis of litter from this week’s effort, staff are happy to report that no plastic bags and only small pieces of Styrofoam containers were found. Countywide efforts in 2013 and 2014 to pass reusable bag ordinances and bans on both polystyrene foam containers and plastic bags has resulted in reduced findings of such materials in our local watersheds.
First Street Utility Undergrounding Project
PG&E and its subcontractor, Mission Contractors began the sidewalk and pavement restoration work on First Street between Main and Lylle Streets today. The work will involve the removal and replacement of the temporary asphalt patching currently in place. The work is scheduled to be completed by May 19, 2017. On-street parking located adjacent to the sidewalk replacement zones will be unavailable while this work is underway. Partial road closures with directional traffic control measures will be in place as needed. First Street merchants are receiving project notification today by the contractor. Please be sure to heed 'No Parking' signs.
PG&E and AT&T – Joint Trench Relocation Project
Underground Construction Company (PG&E’s subcontractor) has been trenching and installing conduit as part of the utility relocation efforts. Next week, the contractor will begin pavement restoration in the area. Detours will continue to be in place during work hours (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) until May 10, 2017. Following pavement restoration, the utility companies will begin pulling cabling through the newly installed conduits. This work is anticipated to continue into mid-July and will not require detours.
Bid - On-Call Sanitary Sewer Spot Repairs and CCTV Inspection Services
Engineering opened bids this week for the on-call sanitary sewer spot repairs and CCTV inspection services. This project allows the City to have a contractor ready and available for on-call repairs to the City’s sanitary sewer system and to perform CCTV inspection services to investigate blockages or needed repairs.
Reminders
City Council Open Office Hours
The Los Altos City Council will host Open Office Hours on the following dates and times:
Monday, May 1, 2017
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hillview Community Center, Room 2
97 Hillview Avenue, Los Altos
Thursday, May 18, 2017
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 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.
Complimentary Emergency Preparedness Training Available May 4, 2017
The next complimentary Personal Emergency Preparedness (PEP) training is scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Hillview Community Center. Taught by Santa Clara County Fire Department personnel, this engaging course is designed to teach residents how to be self-sufficient in the event of an emergency until relief is available. Topics covered 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.
Youth Commission Now Accepting Applications
The City is now accepting applications to serve on the Youth Commission. Applicants must be City of Los Altos residents and currently in grades six to eleven. Members are appointed to two-year terms. Five positions expiring in June 2019 are now available with two incumbents eligible for reappointment. Applications are due by Friday, May 5, 2017. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 11, 2017.
Bike to Work Day
The San Francisco Bay Area’s 23rd annual Bike to Work Day will take place on Thursday, May 11, 2017 with all nine Bay Area counties participating in the celebration. The event is part of National Bike Month. The City of Los Altos Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission will once again coordinate an energizer station for tired, hungry and thirsty riders. The station will be located at the northwest corner of Foothill Expressway and Burke Road. Riders can stop by anytime between 6:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. for complimentary water, coffee and other goodies. For more information about Bike to Work Day, including a comprehensive list of refresher stations, visit bikesiliconvalley.org.
