January 2-6, 2023

Week 1
HAPPY NEW YEAR
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Break in the Rain = Rainbow

Storm Response Recap and Updates

This week the Town experienced a significant wind and rainstorm. The State of California, the County of Santa Clara, and the Town of Los Altos Hills declared a state of emergency, which facilitated a focused and effective response to the storm. The Town activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Wednesday, January 4, at 1:00 pm and Public Works teams were busy all-day Wednesday into Thursday morning responding to issues, including downed trees, blocked drains, failed pumps, and more.

The Town’s Public Works Crew discovered a sinkhole on Friday, January 6th morning on Page Mill Road north of Paseo Del Robles Lane. The southbound lane on Page Mill Road is closed. Expect delays and reduce your speed. There is one way traffic on Page Mill Road. Traffic control is in place until we review and resolve the issues.

How did your household fare in the storm? Are you ready for the next round of wind and rain? The National Weather Service expects more storms this weekend.

The Town sent out several messages to residents with information on preparing for the storm, staying safe, and reporting incidents—did you receive them? Get notifications from the Town via AlertSCC, Twitter, Facebook, and Nextdoor. Sign up to receive emergency notifications here and be sure to follow the Town on social media. For a list of messages that were sent, please click here.
If your household relies on electrical medical equipment, make a plan now for backup power.
Charge up your electric vehicles ahead of the storm, charge your battery packs and phones, and fill automobile gas tanks.
Have a Go Bag for each household member, including pets.
Make an emergency communications plan for your household.
The saturated ground elevates risks of mudslides and falling trees. Monitor conditions at your home and evacuate your home if you feel unsafe. (If no danger arises, your household had a good evacuation practice.)
Know at least Two Ways Out of your neighborhood. Find your home on community.zonehaven.com and review your evacuation routes.

Flood Preparedness

The Santa Clara Valley Water District shared this annual mailer to residents and businesses in the FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA) in Santa Clara County. It is intended to reach residents and property owners living near creeks and rivers at potential risk of flooding and explains how Valley Water works with communities to reduce flood risks. Please use it as your reference guide on how to prepare for a flood.

Upcoming Class on Emergency Preparedness and Response

This week’s storms remind us how important it is to take responsibility for our own safety, to help our neighbors, and to prepare for disasters. Take the opportunity to learn emergency preparedness skills and how to help your household and neighbors in an emergency event when the Santa Clara County Fire Department hosts the next training session for Community Emergency Response Team. Participants will learn disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, fire suppression, light search and rescue, and terrorism awareness. This series of classes will run January 25-March 25, with online classes on Wednesday evenings plus Saturday in-person “skills days” on March 11^th and March 25^th. Get the details and register at https://Jan2023HybridCERT.eventbrite.com

Ribbon Cutting of Town Hall Grand Reopening

Grand Reopening of Town Hall
Held Wednesday, January 4 at 9:00 -10:00 am

The grand reopening celebrated a renovation to Town hall and revised office hours. Our new and improved office hours at M-Th 9-4 (Closed 12-1).

Past Events and Brown Act Meetings:

January 1, 2023: New Year's Day Hike/Walk 1:00 pm
January 2: Finance and Investment Committee - Cancelled
January 2: Senior Commission - Cancelled
January 3: Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee - Cancelled
January 3: Youth Commission 7:00-8:00 pm
January 4: Grand Reopening of Town Hall 9:00-10:00 am
January 5:Planning Commission - Cancelled
January 5: Library Commission 6:30 pm

Upcoming Events and Brown Act Meetings :

January 9: Senior Commission Special Meeting 3:30 pm
January 9: Public Art Committee Regular Meeting - Cancelled
January 10: Emergency Preparedness & Response Committee Special Meeting 5:00 pm
January 11: Open Space Committee Regular Meeting 9:00 am
January 11: City Council Special Meeting 4:00 pm
January 11: Technology Committee - Cancelled

Planning and Building

Planning Permits*
Applied: 2
Approved: 0

Building Permits*
Applied: 9
Issued: 2

Inspections*
Building: 18

Code Enforcement Cases*
Open: 2
Closed: 1
*January 3-5, 2023

Other updates:

On January 4, 2023Senior Planner, Elaine Ling attended Santa Clara County Planning Collaborative (SCCAPO) monthly meeting, organized by the City of Palo Alto. Jurisdictions exchanged the comments and status of the Housing Element adoption.

Public Works

Storm Events

Town received numerous calls largely due to fallen trees and limbs. Public Works maintenance group work past 3:00 a.m. taking calls from Santa Clara County Communications, clearing streets, remove fallen trees, and to address power outage at the O’Keefe Pump Station. The maintenance staff came back to work by 6:30 a.m. the same day to continue addressing fallen trees and clearing roadway. Our primary priority are our roads and critical infrastructure. Today, Friday 1/6 we had a street sweeper sweep all of our main arterials to ensure we are prepared for the next wave of storm events through the next week. ?

Pathways

Edgerton Pathway

Staff is currently finalizing bid package to submit to the City Council Meeting for Edgerton Pathway.

Encroachment Permits Issued: 0

Sewer Permits Issued: 0

Maintenance

After hours or weekend callouts: 8

Fallen trees/major limbs down: Multiple

Storm Response. Limbs down, trees down, drainage, etc.

Finance, Human Resources, IT Services

Accounts Payable/Budget/Payroll/Receivables

Received $136,275 in cash receipts and/or electronic funds transfer (EFT).
Processed 133 invoices with a liability of $527,630.

Human Resources Open Recruitment

Open Recruitment:

Maintenance Seasonal Help in Public Works - Recruitment open until filled.

Chief Building Official - Recruitment open until filled.

New Year's Day Hike

Community Services

New Year's Day Hike/Walk
There was a break in the rain and a sunny afternoon for the Pathways Committee New Year's Day Hike on Sunday, January 1 at 1:00 pm, which started at Gardner Bullis School. There were three routes and was well attended. Thank you, Pathways Committee for keeping up the tradition.

Edith and Purissima Park

Due to weather conditions both parks remain closed.

Upcoming Events/Activities:
Senior Scam Stoppers at Town Hall
Wednesday, January 11 11:00-Noon
The Contractors State will be teaming up with our own Santa Clara County Sheriff to deliver pertinent information to keep our residents safe and scam-free! For more information about Senior Scam Stoppers visit here. RSVP requested here.

Tech for Seniors
Saturday January 14 from 9-Noon:
The Los Altos Hills Youth Commission will hold their intergenerational event. Sign up today here.

TEDxLosAltosHills

The Town of Los Altos Hills is hosting out very first TEDx event on January 28, 2023. The speakers have been announced. Tickets are sold out. For more information visit: www.tedxlosaltoshills.com.

Sheriff's Weekly Report

Visit the link to view the Sheriff's weekly report for December 26, 2022-January 1, 2023 The Sheriff’s weekly report is always for the week prior to the City Manager’s report.

Flock Safety ALPR

On December 28, 2022, Deputies responded to a Flock ALPR hit of a stolen vehicle in the area of Arastradero Road and Page Mill Road. Deputies responded and located the stolen vehicle and attempted to make a vehicle enforcement stop.

This vehicle had previously led deputies in a pursuit after a residential burglary in Cupertino earlier that same day. Deputies were forced to terminate the pursuit on southbound highway 280, after the suspect started driving in a dangerous manner.

The suspect was apprehended later that day by Campbell Police Department. Sheriff’s Detectives were able to charge the suspect for the earlier pursuit. This individual was committing a string of burglaries and quite possibly casing other houses in the Los Altos Hills area when deputies attempted to stop him.