August 22, 2023
City Council signed a new contract with the Los Altos History Museum (LAHM) of $120,000 annually for the next five years. The contract states that the City will take full responsibility for all costs associated with owning and maintaining the structure of the building. LAHM will continue to use other funding sources to manage the gardening services and maintenance repairs by using staff, volunteers, and outside cleaning services. The costs are provided at a lower rate than could be provided with City staff time.
The Council revised travel expense guidelines for themselves. They focused on an equitable, transparent, and accountable policy for attendance at meetings, seminars, trainings, or conferences. The policy guidelines were passed unanimously.
Council members will complete a travel authorization request form with information regarding meeting details, justification, and trip expenses. The form will be due at least 60 days prior to closure of registration for the meeting. Members will present a report at a council meeting after the trip. Pursuant to CA AB1887 the guidelines prohibit conference travel to states with discriminatory laws. Reimbursement paperwork should be submitted to the city no later than 60 days after the conference ends and fall in the same fiscal year that the conference was held.
Public comment discussed provisions of general business practices that require manager approval before travel expenses are granted. The policy automatically approves attendance at the California Cities annual conference, as well as a statewide conference for new mayors and new council members.
Los Altos must add regulations related to protected classes of individuals before the Housing Elements are approved for 2023-31 six-year cycle. These elements were not included in Housing Element Cycle 5. The regulations, as part of the Municipal Code, will allow for easier access and understanding by stakeholders:
- allow low barrier navigation centers* consistent with CA AB101
- allow transitional and supportive housing consistent with State law
- provide affordable employee housing near work sites consistent with State law
- reasonably accommodate disabled persons’ housing needs.
The four regulations added to the housing element include specific action steps the City will take, including a specific timeframe for implementation, identifying the agencies or officials responsible, describing the city’s specific role, and identifying specific, measurable outcomes. Further discussion and adoption is tentatively scheduled for September 12, 2023.
* A low barrier (easy to access), temporary, service-enriched shelter helps homeless individuals and families quickly obtain permanent housing.
Claire Noonan, Observer