September 12-16, 2022

Week 37
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Hybrid Community Fiber Discussion 10/5 at 6 pm

City Manager

Community Discussion on Fiber

The Town has engaged a Broadband Consultant, Government Technology Group, LLC, to complete a Strategic Broadband Feasibility Study for Los Altos Hills. One part of their study includes outreach to residents to gauge their current internet connectivity and their thoughts on how the Town can improve the availability of fiber internet. All residents are welcome to participate in the Community Discussion on Fiber on October 5 at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format, where residents can join in person at the Council Chambers or online via Zoom. A postcard is on its way to all residents in Town to advertise the event.

Battery Backup Energy Storage System (BESS)

This week the Town issued the building permit for the BESS project to Syserco. Contractors will soon begin to prepare the site for foundation work in the upcoming week.

Stanford-Related Development

On September 15th Santa Clara County’s Housing, Land Use, Environment, and Transportation Committee received an update on the Stanford Community Plan Update status. Click here to review the Staff Report.

Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) Program

Los Altos Hills residents are able to register from October 18 through November 29, 2022, for a grant of up to $3,000 to be used toward a code-compliant seismic retrofit to help make their houses more resistant to earthquake damage. This grant comes from the Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program. To learn more information, review this flyer.

City Council Meeting

The City Council held a regular Council meeting Thursday, September 15, 2022 The recap can be found here.

Past Brown Act Meetings:
September 12: Public Art Committee 5:00 p.m.
September 12: LA/LAH Joint Community Volunteer Awards Committee 7:00 pm
September 13: Environmental Design and Protection Committee 5:45 pm
September 14: Open Space Committee 9:00 am
September 14: Technology Committee 5:00 pm
September 15: City Council Regular Meeting 6:00 pm Recap

Upcoming Brown Act Meetings and Events
September 17: Brush and Yard Trimming Clean Up 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
September 18: Artist's Reception 2:00 - 5:00 pm
September 19: Parks and Recreation Committee 6:00 pm
September 20: Site Development/Fast Track - Cancelled
September 20: Coffee with the Sheriff 2:00 pm
September 20: History Committee 3:30 pm
September 20: Youth Commission 7:00 pm
September 22: Environmental Initiatives Committee 6:30 pm
September 24: Drive Thru Shred Event 8:00-11:00 am

*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 Week's Non-Brown Act Ad Hoc Meetings
None

Next Week's Non-Brown Act Ad Hoc Meetings

None

Regional Updates

County Rescinds Health Orders, Urges Continued Vigilance Against COVID-19
This week the Santa Clara County Public Health Officer rescinded the few remaining local public health orders related to COVID-19. The announcement also urged continued vigilance against COVID-19, noting the community should get vaccinated and boosted if it’s been at least two months since your previous shot, continue wearing face coverings indoors and around other people, and regardless of vaccination status, continue to test immediately and avoid others if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

Planning and Building

Planning Permits*
Applied: 10
Approved: 0

Building Permits*
Applied: 25
Issued: 16

Inspections*
Building: 58

Code Enforcement Cases*
Open: 2
Closed: 2
*September 9-15, 2022

City Council Public Hearing
On September 15, 2022, City Council held a public hearing to review the proposed amendments to the Outdoor Lighting Policy to Include Temporary Construction Lighting and Revisions to Tree Lighting. The City Council approved the proposed amendments.

Other updates:
Planning Director Sofia Mangalam attended an event on SB9 by the Terner Center for Housing Innovation and the Association of Bay Area Governments on September 13, 2022. The agenda included a discussion on Innovative Zoning, Land Use Approaches from the Bay Area and Beyond, Strategies to Receive Credit for Missing Middle Housing for Housing Element Submissions, and so on.

Corp Yard Site Improvements

Public Works

Personnel
Our new assistant engineer, Astha Khanal, started on 9/12/22.

CIP Projects

2022 Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvement Project
Construction started on 9/12 and will be complete by the end of October 2022. For the areas of work please follow this link.

Corp Yard Site Improvements
The work is complete, and the contractor has demobilized from the job site. The improvements will drain site runoff into the two retention basins onsite. The filtration process will remove pollutants and allow the discharge of clean water offsite. See the photo below.

Prop 68 Concession Building Permit
The staff has notified the contractor that the building permit has been approved and requested the contractor submit a construction schedule.

Adobe Creek Sanitary Sewer Study
Staff had a Team meeting with Freyer & Laureta, Inc. on Friday, 9/2, with the intent to finalize the Basis of Design Report. Staff requested the consultant to include a feasibility study for a new sewer bypass on Rhus Ridge Road and Moody Road to address capacity deficiencies on Adobe Lane as identified in the Wastewater Collection System Master Plan (March 2018) for the Adobe Creek Sanitary Sewer network. On Monday, 9/12, Freyer & Laureta submitted a cost proposal to the Town to include the scope of a new sewer bypass.

Sewer root foaming 2022
This work is complete. Root foaming kills protruded roots in sewers and prevents roots from growing in sewers for at least two years.

Pathways

Page Mill Road Crosswalk at Foothills Park
Staff received one proposal for design services and waiting for an additional proposal.

South Fork Lane to Natoma Oaks Subdivision off-road path
Public Works Crew completed the native path on 9/15/2022.

Barley Hill Road to I-280 off-road path
Public Works Crew completed the native path on 9/15/2022.

Encroachment Permits: 2
Sewer Permits Issued: 1

Maintenance

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

Routine Maintenance

Responded to traffic signal out on El Monte Rd. Set up temporary stop signs until the issue was resolved with Bear Electric
ROW brushing and tree trimming
Stinkwort removal on Stirrup Way
Removed and repaved broken collar around a manhole on Fremont Rd
Brush and a clear path on Natoma Oaks Rd, Barley Hill
Purissima Park: trash pickup, turf mowing, and riding arena dragging

Corp Yard Improvements

Traffic Signal Out

Pavement Rehab

Finance, Human Resources, IT Services

Accounts Payable/Budget/Payroll/Receivables

Processed 51 invoices in the amount of $269,690.
Received $44,229 in cash receipts and/or electronic funds transfer (EFT).

Human Resources Open Recruitment
Maintenance Seasonal Help in Public Works. Recruitment is open until filled.
Accounting Technician. Recruitment is open until filled.
Deputy Building Official/Plan Examiner. Recruitment is open until filled.

IT Services
Eaton & Associates presented their first 100 days to the Technology Committee. We are very impressed with Eaton on how much work they have completed in getting the IT infrastructure up to par, and the Tech Committee was very impressed. Their presentation can be viewed here.

Drive Thru Shred Event 9/24 8-11 am at Town Hall

Community Services

Community Events & Activities.
This week's mailer can be viewed here.
Want more? Sign up for the Parks and Recreation mailing list here.

Drive Thru Shred Event
Saturday, September 24, 8-11am at Town Hall
Mark your calendar for the next Shred Event at Town Hall!

Touch a Truck
Saturday, October 1, 9-11 am at Town Hall Parking Lot
Do you know a kid (of any age) who loves trucks? This is their chance to learn hands-on how they work and take pictures with trucks that service the Town of Los Altos Hills. Trucks attending: Town of Los Altos Hills Public Works, Santa Clara County Fire, Santa Clara County Sheriff, and GreenWaste Recovery, and Palo Altos Animal Services!

Completed Events:

Hoedown
Thank you to those who attend the Hoedown at Westwind Community Barn this past Saturday. It was well attended and a lot of fun for all. Alice S. shared beautiful photos from the event here.

Floral Pop-Up Photo Frame In Partnership with Hidden Villa
This Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 the Town hosted our third successful partnership with Hidden Villa. Black Mountain and Altamont Roads.

COVID Testing
The County of Santa Clara in partnership with the Town of Los Altos Hills hosted a COVID Testing Center at the Council Chambers on September 13 from 9:30 am - 4:00 pm.

Pop-Up Floral Frame Partnership with Hidden Villa took place last weekend

Sheriff's Weekly Report

Visit the link to view the Sheriff's weekly report for September 5-11, 2022.
The Sheriff’s weekly report is always for the week prior to the City Manager’s report

Mail Theft Prevention Tips:

To help prevent theft of your mail before you can retrieve it from the mailbox, consider the following:

Protect your mail receptacle by using locking boxes or other secure mailbox ideas.
Consider installing surveillance cameras at your residence and ensure they capture the area surround the mailbox.
Sign up to receive “Informed Delivery” email alerts from the USPS as to what mail items you should be receiving during daily delivery.
Try not to leave mail deliveries in the mailbox any longer than needed and stop mail delivery service when out of town.

If you believe you have been the victim of mail theft, please call the Sheriff’s Office to make a theft report, as well as notify the three main credit bureaus to monitor you credit for potential identity theft attempts.