July 11-15, 2022

City Manager

Water Conservation Meeting
This week Town staff hosted a meeting with Cal Water Service and Purissima Water District. With the ongoing drought, the Town has begun a conversation with the two water districts to discuss what role staff can play in water conservation efforts. Staff would like to remind residents to continue to save water whenever possible and to reach out to their water company to learn more about the various programs available to help.
 
Meeting to Discuss Telecom Ordinance
Staff met with the Town’s Legal Counsel and the Town’s broadband consultant, Government Technology Group, this week to discuss possible changes to the Town’s existing Telecommunications Facility Ordinance. The ordinance was adopted on December 4, 2019 in response to proposals for small cell (5G) towers in Town. Staff is exploring changes to the ordinance that would allow for broadband internet to be exempt. Click here to read the ordinance
 
Meeting with the Fire Department
In response to the few fire incidents that have happened over the past few weeks, Town management staff held a meeting with the Fire Department to understand how they can establish better communication during these events. Town staff has assembled an efficient Public Information Officer (PIO) team that oversees outgoing messages from the Town.  

Town Community Surveys

The Town has now completed two surveys. Stay tuned for a third survey in the works. To review results or register to take the Next Town Survey visit here. 

Community Facilities Needs Assessment 

Get Involved - Join a Town Committee

There are still openings on Town Committees. To view a list of openings, please click here.  Appointments will be made at the August 18, 2022 regular City Council meeting. To be considered, please submit an application no later than Thursday, August 11, 2022.  Have questions about what committee would be best for you? Please contact the City Clerk by phone 650-947-2513 or email. 

Past Brown Act Meetings and Events
July 11: Senior Commission - 3:30 pm. 
July 11:  Finance and Investment Committee Special Meeting - 4:00 p.m.
July 11:  Public Art Committee - Cancelled
July 12:  COVID Testing 
July 12:  Environmental and Design Protection Regular Meeting - 5:45 p.m.
July 13:  Open Space Committee Regular Meeting - 9:00 a.m.
July 13:  Technology Committee Regular Meeting - 5:00 p.m.
July 16:  Monthly Brush and Yard Trimming Drop off - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Upcoming Brown Act Meetings and Events
July 18: City Council Special Meeting - 4:00 p.m. 
July 18: Parks and Recreation Committee - 5:30 pm
July 19: Fast Track/Site Development Public Hearing -10:00 a.m. 
July 19: Coffee with the Sheriff - 2:00 p.m. 
July 19: History Committee - 3:30 p.m.
July 20: Community Conversation About Indoor and Outdoor Space Needs - 7:00 p.m.
July 21: City Council Meeting -  Cancelled
July 21: Planning Commission Special Meeting - 6:00 p.m. 
July 23: Neighborhood Clean up Day - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

*Agendas will be posted a minimum of 72 hours in advance 

For a complete list of and more information, visit www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/calendar

Past Non-Brown Act Ad Hoc Meetings

Ad Hoc Meeting for Westwind Community Barn Concessionaire Agreement occured on 
Monday, July 11 at 11:00 am 

This was the first meeting to set the foundation, timeline, and purpose of this group - contract negotiations. Attendees  included representatives from the Parks and Recreation Committee: Kejun “Ben” Xu, Finance and Investment Committee: Kjell Karlsson and Allan Epstein, and Open Space Committee: Kit Gordon along with Town staff and Concessionaire Torie Dye. The next meeting will be held in August and finances will be on the agenda.  

Upcoming Non-Brown Act Ad Hoc Meetings

Regional Updates

Los Altos Hills County Fire District (LAHCFD)

2023 Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury Annual Recruitment

Planning and Building 

Planning Permits*
Applied:  5
Approved: 0

Building Permits*
Applied: 21
Issued:  8

Inspections*
Building: 53

Code Enforcement Cases*
Open: 2
Closed: 2
*July 8-July 14, 2022

Public Hearings on Development Projects

Site Development / Fast Track Public Hearing 

Public Works 

Engineering

Page Mill Road Tree Survey
Consultant to provide draft report to Town next week.

CIP Projects

East Sunset Drive roadway widening

Contractor is installing concrete laggings retaining wall and will complete by early next week. They will start construct road subbase and asphalt concrete pavement section to widen the road on the week of July 11. Staff anticipates the project complete by end of July 2022.

2022 Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvement Project

The construction contract for this project was advertised on the Los Altos Crier on July 6.  Staff also posted the contract documents on the Town website and notified Builders Exchange and qualified contractors. Bid opening on July 27, 2022, at 2 PM.  

Town Hall Addition

Going to Council in August to close project.

Corp Yard Site Improvements

Contract drawings have been finalized, and staff has reached out to several contractors requesting bids.  This project falls under the 60,000 to 200,000 threshold and the acquisition plan is based on the Town Bidding procedures 2-4.04 (section b-1) and Public Contract Code section 22032

Correction to last week report, the project only requires a Site Development public hearing, not planning commission. This has been scheduled for July 19.

EVSE Town Hall

The Electrical contractor has made the cut-over for the existing ChargePoint charging station in the Town Hall parking lot on July 8, 2022, and increased charging capacity by 100% with two separate 40-amp circuits.  The charging station now draws power from the electrical room in the Town Hall building and relies on renewable energy generated by the Town’s solar panels on the rooftop and in the Native Garden.  By increasing demand for power in the electrical room, this allows the Town to take full advantage of free solar energy and reduces back feeding excess solar energy to the power grid.  In addition, by switching the power feed away from the Park & Rec building, this will reduce the overall energy bills for the Town, as the electric rates are higher for the Park & Rec building than the Town Hall.

Prop 68 contract award and schedule - Concession Stand at Purissima Park

Contract awarded on May 25, Engineering has drafted a response to address individual comments provided in the second review, and provided design changes as required.

Sewer CIP 2022

Engineering staff has identified twenty critical locations that require immediate attention to prevent sanitary sewer overflow.  At eight of these locations, root blockages in the sewer main pipes are over 90%.  Staff has prepared a work scope and reached out to a contractor to remove tree roots and clear blockages in sewer mains at these locations. 

Sewer root foaming 2022

Staff completed a comprehensive review of sewer maintenance reports for the past four years and identified over 20,000 linear feet of sewer mains for root foaming this year.  Roof foaming will stun the growth of protruding roots at sewer joints and reduce the risk of sanitary sewer overflows.

Pathway Projects
2022-23 Pathway Projects
Staff started work on the new approved pathway projects for 2022-23.

Summer Hill Pathway
Staff have selected a designer for this project and will go to Council for approval in August.

Edgerton path
Awarded Lea & Braze design contract to complete Issue for Bid set. Kick off meeting was conducted this week.

Fremont to Redwood Grove Pathway
Los Altos and Los Altos Hills City Managers are discussing the path forward on this project

Page Mill Road Crosswalk at Foothills Park
Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills City Managers are discussing how to move forward on this project

Encroachment Permits Issued: 0
Sewer Permits Issued: 2

Maintenance

After hours or weekend callouts:  0
Fallen trees/major limbs down: 0

Routine Maintenance 

• Right of way mowing and brushing on Moody Rd, El Monte Rd, and Magdalena Road, and Bob Stutz Path. 
• Removed broken asphalt pathway and replaced with fines to on Fremont Rd near Palo Hills Ln
• Sewer Overflow response on Page Mill Rd
• Small limb down on Page Mill Rd blocking traffic removed
• Purissima Park: mowing, field dragging, arena dragging, and trash pickup. 

Sheriff's Weekly Report 

Visit the link to view the Sheriff's weekly report for July 4-10. 2022.
The Sheriff’s weekly report is always for the week prior to the City Manager’s report