November 14-18, 2022

Week 46
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City Manager

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council is managing the project to update the County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) with support from partners including CAL FIRE, Santa Clara County Fire, County of Santa Clara Office of Emergency Management, and others. Town staff has been invited to sit on the technical advisory team to help update the plan. Read the full press release here

There will be community meetings for the public to provide comments on the CWPP. The next meeting for Los Altos Hill’s District is:

District 5, Supervisor Simitian
December 1, 2022, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Saratoga Community Center,
19655 Allendale Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070

Los Altos Hills County Fire District Strategic Plan

The Los Altos Hills County Fire District is inviting residents of the Town to participate in updates to their 5-year strategic plan. This document will help plan the District’s vision and programs planned for the Town. The District is having a community meeting, in-person at the information below. See Postcard that will be mailed to residents here.

December 1, 2022, 7:00pm-8:00pm
Gardner Bullis Elementary School, Multi-purpose Room

Broadband Survey
A postcard was mailed to every resident advertising the broadband survey that Government Technology Group, LLC is conducting for the Town. Please complete this survey by the first week or December. We ask every participant take the survey and speed test from their home computer, not cell phone. The data collected in this survey will help the Town understand where broadband infrastructure is needed most in the Town and possibly allow the Town to apply for grants. To complete the survey, Click Here.

NEW Standing Committee Resolution and Code of Conduct Update Webpage
Staff is working to create a webpage where the community can weigh in on the proposed updates to the standing committee resolution and code of conduct. The goal is to get this webpage up and running by the end of the month.

Free QWEL Course Available
The California Water Service is sponsoring an evening Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper training in December 2022, and the training is open to residents of Los Altos Hills. Registrations just opened. See more on this link.

City Council Meeting Recap

The City Council held their regular meeting on Thursday, November 17. A recap of the meeting can be found here.

Past Brown Act Meetings:
November 14: Public Art Committee Regular Meeting - Cancelled
November 15: History Committee Special Meeting - 1:15 pm
November 15: History Committee Regular Meeting - 3:00 pm
November 16: Technology Committee Special Meeting - 5:00 pm
November 17: Senior Friendly Pathway Walks - 10:00 am
November 17: City Council Regular Meeting - 6:00 pm

Upcoming Brown Act Meetings and Events:

November 21: Parks and Recreation Committee Regular Meeting - Cancelled
November 21: Joint Volunteer Awards Committee Special Meeting - 7:00 pm
November 22: Community Relations Committee Regular Meeting - 7:00 pm
November 24: Environmental Initiatives Committee Regular Meeting - Cancelled

Regional Updates

California Public Utilities Commission

On November 10, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) issued a proposal to modernize the Net Energy Metering (“NEM”) solar tariff to promote solar and battery storage, grid reliability, and control electricity costs for all Californians. The update launches the solar industry into the future so that it can support the modern grid by incentivizing solar paired with battery storage and the adoption of electric vehicles, heat pump water heaters, and other electrification appliances while making rates more affordable for Californians. For more information, please click here.

The proposal will be on the CPUC’s Dec. 15, 2022 Voting Meeting agenda. The public can comment on the proposal and view documents related to the proceeding at this link.

Planning and Building

Planning Permits*
Applied: 1
Approved: 2

Building Permits*
Applied: 13
Issued: 10

Inspections*
Building: 42

Code Enforcement Cases*
Open: 0
Closed:1
*November 11-17, 2022

Site Development Public Hearing

On November 15, 2022, planning staff held a public hearing to review the following two (2) items:

27474 Sunrise Farm Road – File #SD22-0043 – Lands of Ziegler - Site Development Permit for landscape screening for an approved new residence. The project was approved with conditions.
26481 Purissima Road – File #SD22-0059 – Lands of DCV Enterprise Partners LLC - Site Development Permit for a new 3,496 square-foot sport court, 6,250 square-foot artificial turf field, hardscape improvements, and retaining walls. The project was approved with conditions.

City Council Public Hearing

On November 17, 2022, City Council held a public hearing to review the following two (2) items:

Appeal of Planning Commission’s Denial of Appeal for Conditions of Approval for a Landscape Screening Site Development Approval for a new Residence at 24490 Amigos Court (SD22-0018) to Modify Conditions #2, #3, and #4 for a 36-inch box size minimum for all Screening Trees and eight (8) 36-inch box Canyon Live Oaks along the Northern Property line. The appeal was denied.
Resolution of the City Council Making CEQA Exemption and Approving a Tentative Map to Create a Two-Lot Subdivision of An Existing 2.20 Gross Acre Parcel Located at 27600 Altamont Road (APN 182-028-026). The project was approved with conditions.

Public Works

Grading Moratorium
Grading Moratorium in effect from Oct. 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023. Construction inspections throughout the Town in effect throughout the Town for ongoing construction projects.

CIP Projects

Town Hall Renovation
The renovation project continues to be on schedule and will take three weeks to complete. The contractor mobilized onsite on November 10th and the anticipated completion date is still December 2.

2022 Sanitary Sewer Repair and Replacement Project

Staff has identified and evaluated 40 sanitary sewer segments with structural defects for consideration in the 2022 CIP. Of the 40 segments, staff has narrowed down the list to 17 segments. The tentative schedule for the 2022 CIP is to request the Council’s permission to advertise the project in December, advertise the project in January, open bids in February, award in March, and begin construction in April.

Adobe Creek Sanitary Sewer Study
The survey crew from Freyer & Laureta (F&L) were onsite on November 17 to collect additional survey data of the existing sewer manholes on Moody Road and Rhus Ridge Road. F&L anticipates finalizing the sewer study report with the Rhus Ridge Road sewer bypass option three weeks following the topo survey. We will make the study public shortly thereafter.

Pathway Projects

Briones Way Pathway
Town sent notices to homeowners for construction of the Briones Way pathway. The project is scheduled to begin in late Winter, with completion in early Spring.

Saddle Court Pathway

Grant of Pathway (Trail) easement document is complete. The City Council adopted the two resolutions at the November 17, 2022 City Council meeting. 1) Vacating of existing Trail Easement; 2) Accepting new Pathway (Trail) easement.

Permits Issued:

Encroachment Permits: 0
Sewer Permits Issued: 0

Maintenance:

After hours or weekend callouts: 1
Fallen trees/major limbs down: 2

PW Maintenance Crew

0 after hour/weekend callouts this week
0 fallen trees/major limbs down for the week
ROW blowing and storm drain cleaning throughout town
Mowed Purissima Park
Off haul spoils from storm drain cleaning
Repair asphalt crack on La Loma RD
SSO response on Dezahara Way

Town Hall Renovation Work

Repairing asphalt on La Loma

Off haul spoils from storm drain cleaning

Finance, Human Resources, IT Services

Accounts Payable/Budget/Payroll/Receivables

Received $835,813 in cash receipts and/or electronic funds transfer (EFT).
Processed 33 checks with a liability of $91,673.

Los Altos Hills received the GFOA Budget Award for FY2022-23 in addition to receiving a Special Recognition for the Budget Process. The Final Audit for FY2021-22 was completed without any findings.

Human Resources

Open Recruitment
Maintenance Seasonal Help in Public Works - Recruitment open until filled.
Deputy Building Official/Plan Examiner - Recruitment open until filled.

Welcome new employee Michael Nakamura who is our new Accounting Technician and will be responsible for Accounts Payable.

Vector Control Presentation

Community Services

Santa Clara County Vector Control District

On Wednesday, Santa Clara County Vector Control District Community Outreach partnered with Parks and Recreation to share services that the Vector Control District provides to the region. The presentation included an overview of common vectors such as rodents, mosquitoes, ticks, and other local wildlife by a vector control expert. Residents can access the video recording here.

Monthly Senior-Friendly Pathways Walk

The November edition of the senior-friendly pathways walk was held on Thursday. The next iteration of the walk will be held December 29th. Interested participants can learn more and sign here.

Spring Summer Activity Guide Proposals
Parks and Recreation has begun soliciting activity proposals for the 2023 Spring-Summer activity season. Interested providers are encouraged to contact Parks and Recreation to learn more or visit losaltoshills.ca.gov/proposalform.

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

Barn Lighting
Sunday, December 4 from 2-5 pm at Westwind Community Barn
Banners were installed this week around Town. 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 November 7-13, 2022.
The Sheriff’s weekly report is always for the week prior to the City Manager’s report

Keeping Holiday Deliveries Safe

As we quickly move toward the holiday season, the Sheriff’s Office wanted to pass along a few tips to make sure all your holiday packages safely make it to those they are intended. Below are our top 5 package theft prevention tips:

Have a neighbor or relative accept the parcel if you can’t be home when delivery is expected.
Have a package delivered to your workplace.
Utilize shipping lockers as offered by some companies.
Provide delivery instructions to have the parcel hidden in a location that is out of sight.
Request the shipper hold the package at their facility for you to pick up when convenient.

With the convenience of being able to conduct so much of our shopping on-line comes the possibility of a package being left unattended on our front porch. Please consider some of these suggestions to help keep your deliveries safe from those looking to take your holiday gifts before you have a chance to give them to your loved ones.