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October 31-November 4, 2022

Week 44
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City Manager

First Firewise Community
Firewise Steering Committee (from left to right): Michael Grady, Martha Bowden, Anna Smith, and Dru Anderson

Congratulations to Our First Firewise Community

The Los Altos Hills Saddle Mountain Neighborhood has recently achieved the status of becoming a nationally recognized Firewise USA® Community! 

Firewise teaches communities how to adapt to living in wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action to prevent losses. If you would like to learn more please check out the video and articles linked.

WWCB
Saturday's evacuation tour

This Saturday, Tour LAH's Latest Evacuation Route


On November 5, 2022, join the Los Altos Hills County Fire District for a tour of a new evacuation route
  • Join us as at Westwind Community Barn to tour the Altamont Road Evacuation Route.
  • RSVP for the tour! CLICK HERE 
    Westwind Barn on November Nov 5, 2022 - 1:00 to 2:30 pm
summit
Left to right: Cody Einfalt, Victoria Bebee, Ann Hepenstal

Public Safety Preparedness Summit

This week from Nov. 1-3, Management Analyst Cody Einfalt, Emergency Services Manager CERT/Teen CERT Program Manager Victoria Bebee, and Emergency Management Consultant Ann Hepenstal attended the 2022 Bay Area Urban Areas Safety Initiative (UASI) Public Safety Preparedness Summit in San Francisco. The team learned about best practices in the emergency management field,  specifically innovative approaches for sending out emergency notifications to the public. 

Public Art Sculpture Installed in Town Hall Roundabout
Installed Public Art Sculpture
Photo credit: Robyn Aber

Public Art

The new art sculpture has been installed in the Town Hall roundabout. Please join us for a dedication ceremony and light refreshments on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 5:00 pm at Town Hall.

Upcoming City Council Items

The Council will consider adopting leaf blower regulations for the Town of Los Altos Hills at the November 17, 2022, City Council meeting. The agenda and staff report will be available for review on November 10, 2022.

Town Hall Renovations

Please excuse the Dust and Public Counter Hour Disruptions while we renovate Town Hall. Town Hall staff will temporarily move into the Council Chambers beginning November 9 through the week of December 5, 2022. Some staff will be working from home during this time period, but will be available be phone and email. Please save the date of January 4, 2023 for the grand reopening of Town Hall.

Town Hall Closed Veterans Day

Town Hall is closed on Friday, November 11, 2022. The City Manager's Weekly Report will be delivered on Thursday, November 10.

Goal Setting

City Manager Pirnejad has been attending commission/committee meetings to help them prepare for the upcoming Council goal setting session scheduled for January 25, 2023.

Past Brown Act Meetings:
November 1: Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee 6:00 pm
November 1: Youth Commission 7:00 pm
November 1: Site Development Public Hearing 10:00 am
November 3: Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Library Commission 6:30 pm
November 3: Planning Commission 6:00 pm

Upcoming Brown Act Meetings and Events
November 7: Senior Commission Meeting 3:30 pm
November 7: Finance and Investment Committee Meeting - 4:00 pm
November 8: Environmental Design & Protection Committee - 5:45 pm
November 9: Open Space Committee Meeting - Cancelled
November 9: Technology Committee Meeting - Cancelled
November 9: Dedication of the New Public Art Sculpture - 5:00 pm
November 10: SOD Blitz Survey Results Webinar - 6:00 pm
November 11: Veterans Day Holiday - Town Hall Closed

*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

Last and Next Week's Non-Brown Act Ad Hoc Meetings

There were no ad hoc committee meetings last week and no meetings scheduled for next week.

Regional Updates

Santa Clara LAFCO’s Countywide Fire Service Review is currently underway.  It involves a comprehensive review of fire service and emergency medical service (EMS) provision in Santa Clara County.  Los Altos Hills County Fire District and the Santa Clara County Central Fire Protection District (CCFD) are two of the districts the review is studying.  Community workshops on the Draft Report will be in the January – February timeframe while the LAFCO public hearing on Draft Report is scheduled for early April.  For more information click here 


Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District wants to hear from you. Midpen has been implementing strategies to better manage parking, congestion, and promote greener modes of travel to the Rancho San Antonio Preserve.  They are now exploring the feasibility of a shuttle program and ride hail program at Rancho San Antonio.  Your feedback will help to inform the design of these programs.  You can help by taking a quick 10-minute online survey.

Planning and Building 


Planning Permits*
Applied: 14
Approved: 2

Building Permits*
Applied: 24
Issued: 15

Inspections*
Building: 62

Code Enforcement Cases*
Open: 1
Closed:1
*October 28 - November 3, 2022


Site Development Public Hearing 

On November 1, 2022, planning staff held a public hearing to review the following item:
  • 24151 Dawnridge Drive – File #SD22-0050 – Lands of Wu-Hsiao
Site Development Permit for landscape screening and fencing for an approved new residence. The project was approved with conditions.

Planning Commission Public Hearing

On November 3, 2022, Planning Commission held a public hearing to review the following three (3) items:
  • 28010 Natoma Road – File #SD22-0094 – Lands of Gieseler
Site Development Permit to convert an existing 896 square-foot accessory structure into a 1,218 square-foot habitable single-family residence and construction of two 200 square-foot carports. The project was approved with conditions.

  • 26405 Ascension Drive – File #SD21-0102– Lands of Petterson
Site Development Permit for a new 4,979 square-foot two story residence with a detached 3-car garage and related hardscape improvements; and a request for grading policy exception for the rear deck and patio. The project was approved with conditions.
  • 27600 Altamont Road – File #TM22-0004 – Lands of Auqui
A request for a tentative map to create a two-lot subdivision of an existing 2.20 gross acre parcel. The subdivision of the 2.20 gross acre parcel into two lots will result in 1.010 net acres (Parcel A) an d1.073 net acres (Parcel B). The Planning Commission made a recommendation to the City Council for approval.


Other Updates

Don’t miss out on filling the sign-up form for Home Electrification Assessments. We have a limited number of home assessments this first round.  However, if you’re interested in a home electrification assessment, please sign up here. 

Note:  Sign-ups via the link will open on Monday, November 7, 2022, and close as soon we reach the limit of home assessments. If we have more residents, then we will create a waiting list.

Public Works 


CIP Projects


Prop 68 Contract Award & Schedule Concession Stand Building at Purissima Park 

The contractor replaced the existing roof shingles with new roof shingles before the rain started. The contractor has also identified some rotted roof rafters that must be replaced. 


Town Hall Renovation

The construction schedule for the Town Hall interior renovation has been finalized to start on 11/10, and complete on 12/9.  The contractor was onsite on Thursday, 10/27, to paint the conference room.  A 20-ft conex box has been delivered and is currently located in the Town Hall’s parking lot. The box will be used as a temporary storage place for existing furniture removed from Town Hall.


Adobe Creek Sanitary Sewer Study
Staff communicated with Fryer & Laureta, Inc. early this week, and was informed that they were in the process of scheduling their surveyor crew to collect additional survey data for existing manholes on Moody Road.  The new survey data will allow them to conduct a feasibility study of a sewer bypass option on Rhus Ridge Road, and incorporate the findings into their final report.

Pathway Projects


Briones Way Pathway

Town sent notices to homeowners for construction of the Briones Way Pathway, beginning in mid-November.


Edgerton Path

Staff has value engineered the pathway design to reduce the length of retaining walls and the number of wood posts. The pathway profile elevations have been modified to reduce the removal of dirt and ground materials.

Summerhill Pathway

Staff is looking to contact surveyors to gather additional topography surveys needed to begin the pathway and to survey additional trees. 

Permits Issued:


Encroachment Permits: 7
Sewer Permits Issued: 0


Maintenance:


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

PW Maintenance Crew

  • Maintenance staff began an online seminar covering green and regenerative landscaping principles
  • Storm drain and ditch clearing throughout town
  • Dog park water feature area repairs
  • New neighborhood watch signs in Summerhill Rd area
  • Replacing lights at Town Hall
  • Second interviews for Maintenance Worker
Dog park water features area repairs
Dog park water features area repairs
Storm drain and ditch clearing
Storm drain and ditch clearing
After storm drain cleaning
After storm drain cleaning

Finance, Human Resources, IT Services


Accounts Payable/Budget/Payroll/Receivables
  • Issued 35 payroll checks in the amount of 91,674.
  • Received $345,564 in cash receipts and/or electronic funds transfer (EFT).
Human Resources 

Open Recruitment
Maintenance Seasonal Help in Public Works - Recruitment open until filled.
Maintenance Worker I - Interviews are in process.
Deputy Building Official/Plan Examiner - Recruitment open until filled.
Public Works Director - Recruitment open until filled.
Veterans Day Celebration Flyer
Veterans Day Celebration 

Community Services


Community Events & Activities.
Sign up for the Parks and Recreation mailing list here. 

Veterans Day Celebration
Friday, November 11 from 2-4 pm in Veteran's Plaza in Los Altos
Join the City of Los Altos and Town of Los Altos Hills  for snacks and entertainment, and to hear testimonials from local veterans. We are encouraging our residents to give back to the veteran community. There was a planning meeting held this week. 

Barn Lighting
Sunday, December 4 from 2-5 pm at Westwind Community Barn
Spend the afternoon in the fresh air at Westwind Community Barn, sampling cookies and hot cider and/or wine tasting while kids participate in seasonal games, craft tables, face painting, pony rides and a petting zoo. Santa will be available for last minute holiday wish lists and photos. A community countdown to light up the Barn will begin at 5:00 pm.  

Caroling in the Hills 
Tuesday, December 20 from 7:30-9 pm at Town Hall 
Join with your neighbors in bringing fun holiday cheer to the neighborhoods.    Drinks and treats will be provided to warm our voices up before heading out on pathways.  Carolers should wear warm clothes and bring a flashlight.  In case of inclement weather caroling will be held at Town Hall only.  For more information, please contact Scott Vanderlip at 650 793-0475 or email at scott@inet-sciences.com.

TEDxLosAltosHills
The Town of Los Altos Hills is hosting our very first TEDx event on January 28, 2023. Speakers will be announced this month. To purchase tickets, and for more information visit tedxlosaltoshills.com. 

Sheriff's Weekly Report 


Visit the link to view the Sheriff's weekly report for October 24-30, 2022. 
The Sheriff’s weekly report is always for the week prior to the City Manager’s report


Safe Driving in the Changing Weather


As we move toward the end of the year, the weather is beginning to change, and we are all set to move our clocks back an hour this upcoming weekend.  Soon, rain will begin to fall and the temperatures will drop.  This, combined with the longer periods of darkness, can present additional hazards on the roadway while driving.  The Sheriff’s West Valley Division wanted to take a minute to provide a few safe driving tips for the upcoming fall and winter months.
  • Wait until weather improves before embarking on your drive.
  • Double check your car’s equipment, including tires, lights, wipers, and fluid levels.
  • Turn on your headlights.  State law requires headlights to be on when driving in the rain. 
  • Use your windshield wipers.
  • Avoid heavy braking and simply let off the gas if you begin to hydroplane.
  • Watch out for and avoid standing water.  A driver can lose control of their vehicle in as little as 3-inches of water.
  • Ventilate your car to avoid window fogging.
  • And most importantly, SLOW DOWN!
With fresh rain, oils left on the roadway by passing vehicles resurface and make roads extremely slick.  Reports of traffic accidents tend to increase near the end of the year, with weather definitely being a contributing factor.  Please drive safe and keep these simple tips in mind when out and about.
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