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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 15, 2022
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California
This meeting was conducted virtually pursuant to the provisions of Assembly Bill 361 and
Government Code Section 54953(e) related to conducting public meetings during the COVID-19
pandemic. Mayor Tyson called the City Council Regular Meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.)
A. Roll Call
Present: Mayor George Tyson, Vice Mayor Linda Swan, Councilmember Stanley Q. Mok,
Councilmember Lisa Schmidt, Councilmember Kavita Tankha
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Peter Pirnejad, Assistant City Attorney Ali Wolf, Planning and
Building Director Sofia Mangalam, Public Works Director Oscar Antillon,
Administrative Services Director Sarina Revillar, Management Analyst II Cody
Einfalt, City Clerk Deborah Padovan
B. Pledge of Allegiance
1. AGENDA REVIEW
There were no changes to the agenda. Mayor Tyson addressed the burglaries in Town
and said steps have been taken in terms of additional deputies. There will be a
neighborhood watch leader meeting to address the burglaries on October 4th. He also
recognized that today begins National Hispanic Heritage Month.
2. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
A. Presentation by Jonathan Reichental, Ph.D on the Town’s IT 3-5 Year Strategic Plan
Dr. Jonathan Reinchental provided a summary of the work that was done on the
town’s IT 3-5 year strategic plan. Within the core infrastructure, he suggests a
comprehensive disaster recovery plan for redundancy purposes. He also focused on
cybersecurity capabilities to be developed in this current fiscal year. Additionally, he
suggested redesigning and improving the town’s website with input from committees
and Councilmembers, improving back-office features, better navigation, better search
capability, online forms and e-signatures. In FY 2023-24, he suggested improved
planning and permitting tools. The report was received. No action was taken.
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B. Presentation by Torie Dye on Westwind Community Barn
Torie Dye, Concessionaire, Westwind Barn, provided an overview of the
happenings at Westwind Barn. She highlighted resident engagement and
prioritization, including summer camps, boarding programs, capital improvement
projects. The Council received the report. No action was taken.
C. Presentation by Adin Miller on Establishing a Legacy Giving Fund in Los Altos Hills
with the Los Altos/Mountain View Community Foundation
Adin Miller, Executive Director of the Los Altos/Mountain View Community
Foundation, said that the foundation was created in 1991 to create a more vibrant
and equitable community for all. They accelerate civic participation, drive
community connection and impact and partner for social good. They focus on donor
support and engagement, managed programs and nonprofit growth and
investments. They received the challenge of providing options for local residents to
support Town priorities. They recommend restricting funds by purpose. Council
asked questions of Mr. Miller and received his responses. No action was taken.
3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
There were no public comment speakers.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Tankha moved to adopt the
Consent Calendar. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mok.
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Tyson, Swan, Mok, Schmidt, Tankha
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
A. Approval of Special City Council Meeting Minutes – August 18, 2022
B. Approval of Regular City Council Meeting Minutes – August 18, 2022
C. Approval of Special City Council Meeting Minutes – August 19, 2022
D. Review of Disbursements for August 1-31, 2022 $1,236,576.38
E. Motion to Re-Authorize Remote Teleconference Meetings of the Town of Los Altos
Hills, Including the Planning Commission and Committees, due to the Imminent
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Risks to the Health and Safety of Attendees and Making Related Findings Pursuant to
AB 361 (Staff: S. Mattas)
F. Proclamation Declaring September as Emergency Preparedness Month (Staff: D.
Padovan)
G. Adoption of Ordinance 602 (Second Reading) Authorizing an Amendment to the
Contract Between the Town and the Board of Administration of the California Public
Employees’ Retirement System (Staff: S. Revillar) - Motion to Waive Reading and
Adopt the Ordinance
H. Resolution 82-22 Awarding a Contract for the Town Hall Renovation Project to
Replace the Existing Carpet, Paint Interior Walls, and Remodel new Finance Room
(Staff: O. Antillon)
I. Resolution 83-22 Accepting Town Hall Addition – Phase 1 Project (Staff: O.
Antillon)
J. Resolution 84-22 Accepting the East Sunset Road Widening Project (Staff: O.
Antillon)
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
► City Council Ex Parte Contacts Policy Disclosure
A. Resolution 85-22 Amending the Outdoor Lighting Policy to Include Temporary
Construction Lighting and Revisions to Tree Lighting (Staff: S. Mangalam)
Ex Parte: None
Mayor Tyson opened the Public Hearing.
Planning Director Sofia Mangalam presented the staff report.
Public Comment
Rashi Sharma, Los Altos Hills, said she is a local high school student and is
promoting responsible lighting processes.
Vijay Chawla, Los Altos Hills, said she helped draft the outdoor lighting policy that
was adopted earlier this year. She expressed concerns about lighting in construction
sites.
Mayor Tyson closed the Public Hearing.
Council discussion ensued.
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MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Tankha moved to adopt
Resolution 85-22 Amending the Outdoor Lighting Policy to Include Temporary
Construction Lighting and Revisions to Tree Lighting. The motion was seconded by
Vice Mayor Swan.
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Tyson, Swan, Mok, Schmidt, Tankha
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Introduction of Ordinance 603 (First Reading) Amending Title 2, Chapter 6 of the
Los Altos Hills Municipal Code Adding Conflict of Interest Designations (Staff: D.
Padovan)
City Clerk Deborah Padovan presented the staff report.
Council discussion ensued.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Schmidt moved to waive
reading and introduce (first reading) Ordinance 603 Amending Title 2, Chapter 6 of
the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code Adding Conflict of Interest Designations. The
motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Swan.
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Tyson, Swan, Mok, Schmidt, Tankha
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
7. STAFF REPORTS
A. City Attorney
No report.
B. City Clerk
City Clerk Padovan reported: The Council Chambers will be used as a vote center
from October 29 - November 8, 2022. Staff may request a virtual City Council
meeting in November due to some reorganizing inside of Town Hall. An Art
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Reception is planned for this Sunday, September 18th. She explained the process for
being a voting delegate at the League of California Cities and that the resolution to be
a voting delegate will be on the agenda next year prior to the conference. Finally, she
explained that the delegates voted to refer a resolution to the League’s Housing,
Community and Economic Development, and Environmental Quality Policy
Committees supporting a ballot measure to strengthen local planning authority for
further study.
C. Planning Director
Planning Director Mangalam announced that a virtual special joint City
Council/Planning Commission will be held on October 3, 2022, to discuss the
housing element
D. Administrative Services Director
Administrative Services Director Revillar reported on the annual audit currently in
progress. She also reported that Eaton and Associates provided their 100-day review
at the Technology Committee on September 14th. She expressed that Eaton has been
doing a great job and we are happy to partner with them.
E. Public Works Director
Public Works Director Antillon said that he submitted the application for the
project at Matadero Creek to the Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board and
hopefully will have a permit for next year. Staff completed another two sections of
pathways. He announced that he is leaving the town as he accepted a position in the
Seattle area. The Council acknowledged all his accomplishments and said he would
be missed.
F. City Manager
City Manager Pirnejad advised as that we enter October, we are revising the town’s
employee handbook and replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
A Broadband Listening Session will be held on October 5th at 6 pm.
Due to the rise in residential burglaries, a Neighborhood Watch Leader meeting is
being held on Oct 4th at 6:00 pm. If anyone wants to form a neighborhood watch
group in your community, please contact Management Analyst II Cody Einfalt.
The City Manager will be attending the ICMA Conference in Columbus, Ohio
September 17th-21st to bring back the latest innovations in local government and
network with other city leaders to see how we might learn and share from each
other.
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He will also be attending every committee meeting beginning in September and
continuing through the month of October to prepare the committees for their 2023
goals by reviewing their 2022 goals and how they aligned to the Council goals. We
will provide a status as well as share the process for setting their 2023 Goals.
Existing Town Hall renovation will require that staff move their offices in the coming
months. We will attempt to reduce the impact to our residents and customers.
He expressed his thanks to Public Works Director Antillon for his hard work and
excellent efforts and commitments.
Mayor Tyson explained the process for the City Manager’s review. A facilitator has been
hired to interview Council, staff, and stakeholders to come up with an overall response.
Council recess at 8:00 pm
Council reconvened to open session at 8:06 pm
8. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND
COUNCILMEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES
A. Report by the Undergrounding Subcommittee (Mayor Tyson)
Mayor Tyson had nothing to report from PG&E. The CPUC has a new
representative and Mayor Tyson has made contact with him. No action was taken.
B. Report from the Council Ad Hoc Committee Focusing on Broadband
(Councilmembers Mok and Tankha)
Councilmember Mok said that the consultants that the town has hired has been
extraordinary. He feels comfortable with where we are with technology. He advised
that there will be a listening session on October 5th. No action was taken.
C. Report from Legacy Giving Ad Hoc Committee on Next Steps Related to Legacy
Giving (Councilmembers Mok and Tankha)
Councilmember Tankha said she and Councilmember Mok were an ad hoc
committee tasked with identifying a mechanism for receiving funds from the
residents of the either as a one-time gift or as part of legacy giving. They looked at
forming a town 501c3 but determined that it was best to work with the Los Altos
Community Foundation.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Tankha moved to sunset
the Legacy Giving Ad Hoc Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilmember
Mok.
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MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Tyson, Swan, Mok, Schmidt, Tankha
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
DIRECTION: Place the topic on the 2023 goal-setting session agenda to do further
prioritization and get some feedback from the community.
D. Status Reports from All Councilmembers on Subcommittee and Outside Agencies
Activities
Councilmember Schmidt said that the Emergency Preparedness and Response
Committee voted to update the charter and that will be brought to the Council next
month.
Vice Mayor Swan reported on the League of California Cities annual
conference. She said the mayor from the Town of Paradise had a breakout session
about lessons learned and rebuilding the town after the fires in 2018. She also said
that the History Committee is putting on their annual presentation in October 2023 –
“Tales of Former Mayors.”
Mayor Tyson said the executive director of CHAC has announced her
retirement. They will be searching for a new director. Reporting on activities by
SVCE, a warning went out and within one hour the usage dropped so they were able
to avoid an outage during the heatwave last week.
9. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
A. Request by the Technology Committee that the Town Procure Speed Detection
Devices to Collect Data Regarding the Average Speeds on Roads that are known to
have Speeders on them (Councilmember Mok)
Councilmember Mok presented the topic.
Council discussion ensued.
There was consensus to have the Technology Committee potentially add this as one
of their goals for 2023.
B. Request by the Technology Committee that the Planning Department to Require that
Residents Install an Earthquake Shutoff Valve and Incentivize Existing Residents to
Install a Valve (Councilmember Mok)
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Councilmember Mok presented the report. There was consensus to have the
Technology Committee potentially add this as one of their goals for 2023.
C. Request to Direct Staff to Appropriate Funding and Resources in the Implementation
of GHG Inventory, Home Assessments, and Rebates for Electrification as Part of the
Adopted Goals of the Climate Action Plan (Councilmember Mok)
Councilmember Mok presented the report. He requested that this item be placed on
the City Council agenda for October to select a vendor for these assessments.
Public Comment
Anand Ranganathan, Los Altos Hills, reminded the council on what was agreed to
in the climate action plan. He asked that all climate action plan actions be budgeted
so that the items can go on consent. all climate action plan items should be a priority.
Vrinda Bhandarkar, Los Altos Hills, said lets do the minimum possible and
approve these climate action plan items.
No action was taken. The item will be placed on the Consent Calendar in October.
D. Request to Consider Proposed Energy Reach Code additions as part of the 2023
Green Building Code (Councilmember Mok)
Councilmember Mok presented the item and requested that the current ordinance be
amended. The current reach codes expires in 2022. The intent is to renew the reach
codes that we currently have and add three additional items.
Public Comment
Anand Ranganathan, Los Altos Hills, we are continuing to exempt the
cooktop. The dryer and the oven may be electric. The EIC had a long discussion
about remodels, and they do need to be put into the reach codes. They do ask that the
Council put this as a priority next year.
Vrinda Bhandarkar, Los Altos Hills, the EIC was very conscious of the fact that
there are not affordable options for outdoor electrification.
Staff will return in October with a first reading for adopting reach codes.
10. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
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Respectfully submitted,
Deborah L. Padovan
Deborah Padovan
City Clerk
The minutes of the September 15, 2022, regular City Council meeting were approved as
presented at the October 20, 2022, regular City Council meeting.