May 9, 2023
The City Council added bicycle parking regulations to the Los Altos Municipal Code. The city needs upgraded short-term bicycle parking at educational facilities and commercial locations. In addition, the City does not have long-term codified regulations for bicycle lockers in private development projects. The recently adopted 6th Cycle Housing Element 2023-2031 requires streamlining the development review process for multi-family housing projects to adopt standards for bicycles, pedestrians, parking, traffic, and public transportation by May 2023.
The City Council approved a one-year pilot program to purchase and install 15 Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras. ALPR cameras capture an image of a vehicle, the vehicle’s license plate, and geospatial location where the image was captured.
Jeff Rosen, SCC District Attorney and Los Altos resident, spoke to support the one-year pilot study, noting that ALPR cameras are a robust oversight system currently being used extensively in Santa Clara County. Los Altos is one of the few remaining SCC cities not using ALPR technology.
The Los Altos goal is to increase arrest rates for all crimes, but for purposes of the pilot program, the focus is on crimes involving stolen vehicles, burglary, and catalytic converter thefts. Public comments noted disquiet about individual privacy, little current evidence of success for ALPR systems, the need for statistics on arrests, and unease about possible disparate use of ALPR in the community.
The City Council supports California AB 838 - California Water Affordability and Infrastructure Transparency Act of 2023. In California 21% of water rates are unaffordable and the state needs improved water infrastructure to ensure that residents have access to clean and safe water. AB 838 requires, starting January 1, 2025, that the State Water Resources Control Board oversees improved regulations on drinking water rates and efforts to replace aging infrastructure.
May 23, 2023
The City Council authorized an amended Los Altos Youth Center (LAYC) conversion design agreement between the City of Los Altos and CO+ED Architecture for additional services through FY 24/25. The agreement will provide design, bid support, construction documents, and construction administration for converting the Los Altos Youth Center to offices. Conversion is necessary because Los Altos City Hall staff have outgrown the office space in its current quarters at City Hall for the city manager’s office, Public Works department, Development Services department, Human Resources, IT, Finance, and city administrative staff.
The City Council approved a change in the deadline for non-profits to submit yearly funding applications from December 31 to April 30 each year. Support for the applications comes from the general fund and some from the public arts commission funds. Public comments noted that the non-profits enrich community lives. Other comments said that supported organizations should reflect essential government services. The recipient non-profit and civic organizations were Community Services Agency, Women SV, Los Altos History Museum, and Los Altos Chamber of Commerce. The council directed staff to incorporate funding into the budget for FY23-24.
Claire Noonan, Observer