HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/21/2024Page 1
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California
Present: Mayor Stanley Q. Mok, Vice Mayor Lisa Schmidt, Council Member Linda Swan,
Council Member Kavita Tankha, Council Member George Tyson
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Peter Pirnejad, City Attorney Steve Mattas, City Clerk Arika
Birdsong-Miller, Deputy City Manager Cody Einfalt, Finance Director Thomas
Leung, Community Development Director Jay Bradford, and Public Works
Director WooJae Kim
1. CALL TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.)
Mayor Mok called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL
Mayor Stanley Mok, Vice Mayor Schmidt, Council Member Linda Swan, Council Member
Kavita Tankha, and Council Member Tyson were present.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- Recited
4. AGENDA REVIEW
The City Council Agenda was accepted as presented.
5. PRESENTATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
A. Reappointment to the Parks and Recreation Committee- Vice Mayor Schmidt made a motion
to reappoint Boxia Schmidt to the Parks and Recreation Committee. Council Member Swan
seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0
B. Appointment to the Pathways Committee – Council Member Swan made a motion to appoint
Nick Erndt to the Pathways Committee. Council Member Tyson seconded the motion.
Approved, Vote 5-0
C. Appointment to the Pathways Committee – Vice Mayor Schmidt made a motion to appoint
Helga Carson to the Pathways Committee. Council Member Swan seconded the motion.
Approved, Vote 5-0.
D. Vacating Appointment to the Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee – Council
Member Tankha made the motion to terminate Bill Ralston’s appointment to the Emergency
Preparedness and Response Committee. Council Member Tyson seconded the motion.
Approved, Vote 5-0.
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Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 21, 2024
E. Presentation from the Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee – Rabindra “Rob”
Singh made a presentation from the Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee
that focused on recommendations to improve Emergency Mass Notification throughout
the Town of Los Altos Hills.
This item will be a part of the January 2025 Goal-setting Meeting proposal to the City
Council.
F. Appointment to the Los Altos Hills Youth Commission – Vice Mayor Schmidt made a
motion to appoint Allen Wu, Willaim Manche, and Nyssa Kansal to the Los Altos Hills
Youth Commission. Council Member Tyson seconded the motion. Approved, Vote, 5-0.
G. Annual Presentation by the Los Altos Hills Youth Commission – Youth Commission Co-
Chairs Alan Shen and Sofia Shah provided a comprehensive overview of the events the
Youth Commission participated in over the past year and shared a preview of the exciting
events planned for the upcoming year.
6. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
1. Michael Grady, a resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke about the Housing Element.
2. Martha Bowden, a resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke about the Housing Element.
3. Gerda Cristal, a resident of Los Altos Hills, addressed the Council regarding Chapter 8 of
the Municipal Code and requested that it be updated.
4. Lanvi Evans, a resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke about the Housing Elements and a petition
that is circulating.
5. Allan Epstein, a resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke about the Housing Element and
expressed concerns that the consultants lack clear guidance.
6. Namrata, a resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke about her lack of support for the proposed
development.
7. Rajiv Bhateja, a resident of Los Altos Hills, encouraged the Council to keep the Housing
Element in place with modifications.
8. Vijay Chawla, a resident of Los Altos Hills, expressed support for distributing the housing
allotment evenly and fairly throughout the Town.
9. RK And, a resident of Los Altos Hills, spoke about the Housing Element.
10. Buvana Dayanandan, a resident of Los Altos Hills, expressed concerns about the
development of Twin Oaks.
11. Analyn Konark, a resident of Los Altos Hills, expressed concerns about the inequitable
distribution of housing at the proposed development sites.
7. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS (items provided solely for informational purposes)
A. Treasurer's Report – This item is provided solely for informational purposes.
B. Disbursement Report - This item is provided solely for informational purposes.
C. Quarterly Investment Report - This item is provided solely for informational purposes.
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3
Thursday, November 21, 2024
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Council Member Tankha made a motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the
removal of Items 8F and 8H for separate discussion and the complete removal of Item
8G from the agenda. Council Member Swan seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0.
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Mok, Schmidt, Swan, Tankha, Tyson
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
City Manager Pirnejad explained that Item 8G was a typographical error and was included
within Item 8H on the Consent Calendar.
A. Approval of City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of October 22, 2024 Approved, Vote 5-
0
B. Rejection of Claim for Damages - ANFI Subrogation Department Approved, Vote 5-0
C. Rejection of Claim for Damages - Maggie Tan Approved, Vote 5-0
D. Resolution Adopting Revised Employee Handbook including the Personnel Rules and
Regulations and Employee Classification and Compensation Plan Approved, Vote 5-0
E. Resolution Accepting the 2024 Pavement Rehabilitation and Drainage Improvement Project
Approved, Vote 5-0
F. Request for Extension of the Expiration Date for Building Permit at 12869 La Cresta Drive
REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
G. Request for Extension of the Expiration Date for Building Permit at 28008 Laura Court
REMOVED FROM AGENDA
H. Extension of the Expiration Dates for Building Permits for Various Residential Properties as
listed in the Staff Report REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR
I. Ordinance to Adopt and Waive Reading of the Town of Los Altos Hills amending Title 10
(Zoning and Site Development) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code to amend
regulations relating to application processing and standing committee review procedures in
accordance with program B-15 of the Los Altos Hills 2023-2031) Approved, Vote 5-0
J. Resolution Accepting Open Space Easement Agreement at 27340 Julietta Lane; Lands of
Cheng and Li Approved, Vote 5-0
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4
Thursday, November 21, 2024
K. Resolution Accepting Open Space Easement Agreement at 13871 Robleda Road; Lands of
Swaroop Approved, Vote 5-0
L. Resolution Accepting Dedication of Right-of-Way Easement at 13871 Robleda Road
Approved, Vote 5-0
M. Resolution Accepting Open Space Easement Agreement at 23500 Camino Hermoso Drive;
Lands of Eichner and Hokeness Approved, Vote 5-0
N. Resolution Accepting Dedication of Right-of-Way Easement at 23500 Camino Hermoso
Drive; Lands of Eichner and Hokeness Approved, Vote 5-0
ITEM 8F- Request for Extension of the Expiration Date for Building Permit at 12869 La
Cresta Drive.
Jay Bradford, Community Development Director, explained that the property owner is
requesting an extension of Building Permit BLD19-0026 at 12869 La Cresta Drive which was
originally issued on April 29, 2019. New residence construction is limited to 36 months
following issuance of the building permit if the estimated value of the project is over
$1,000,001. Since the estimated value of the project is over $1,000,001, the building permit
expired on April 29, 2022. However, in the Construction Time Limits Ordinance, an extension
of construction after the time limit is allowed since the project has not passed a final inspection
in the allotted time as described in Section 8-10.04. Although the ordinance specifies that the
extension must be granted prior to permit expiration, the applicant has submitted a request for
an extension for up to a year to complete the work. This project, similar to others in the packet,
experienced delays from COVID-19, construction, and contractor replacements.
Staff recommends granting an extension to allow for additional inspections necessary for
project closeout. Previously, the Condition of Approval #21 states, “The project is subject to
the Town’s Construction Time Limit Ordinance (Chapter 10, Title VIII of the Municipal
Code). The maximum time for completion of the new residence shall be 36 months from the
date of Building Permit issuance. Failure to complete the project in the allotted time may result
in substantial penalties and fees.” Now, with this approved permit extension, the applicant will
have a year from the City Council’s approval of this request to complete the project. Following
a year, the applicant will have to pay the final deposit bond of $50,000 for which if they exceed
the extension’s time limit, the applicant will face penalties again. In addition, they will be
required to apply for another permit extension.
Pubic Comments:
1. Rajiv Bhateja, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated that many of the extension requests are
way past the expiration date. Mr. Bhateja would like to enforce the Ordinance and allow
some grace because of COVID.
2. Allan Epstein, a Los Altos Hills resident, explained that the Town failed to implement the
Code.
Council Member Tankha inquired why we only are requesting $50,000 as a penalty when the
project is this far past the expiration date of the permit.
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Council Member Swan asked for an explanation of Town enforcement.
Jay Bradford, Community Development Director, explained that according to the Town of
Los Altos Hills Municipal Code, construction projects have strict time limits based on their
estimated value. For projects valued over $1,000,000, the allowed time is 36 months. When
this limit is exceeded, a deposit is requested for $50,000 and penalties begin to accumulate,
reaching $1,000 per day after 120 days, with a maximum penalty of $250,000.
Council Member Tyson explained that we should do better with delinquencies going forward
and leave the penalty at $50,000 for this project.
Council Member Tyson made a motion to approve the Request for Extension of the
Expiration Date for the Building Permit at 12869 La Cresta Drive as presented with the
conversion of the $50,000 final deposit to the penalty fee. Vice Mayor Schmidt seconded the
motion. Approved, Vote 5-0
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Mok, Schmidt, Swan, Tankha, Tyson
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
ITEM 8H- Extension of the Expiration Dates for Building Permits for Various Residential
Properties as listed in the Staff Report
Jay Bradford, Community Development Director, explained that the property owners for the
various projects listed below have requested time extensions for their project entitlements or
building permits due to construction delays, primarily resulting from impacts such as COVID-
19, contractor changes, or project complexity. In accordance with the Town's Construction
Time Limits Ordinance (Section 8-10.04), extensions are permissible where reasonable delays
have occurred, and work remains incomplete. Each of these projects has not passed final
inspection within the originally allotted time, but no fiscal impact is expected from the
extensions.
The individual project addresses are as follows:
1. Lands of Chelbxeiah De LLC - 27800 Via Feliz
2. Lands of Somekh Sasson - 13875 Mir Mirou Drive
3. Lands of Jaeger - 24250 Hillview Road
4. Lands of Doran - 23520 Ravensbury Avenue
5. Lands of Kagolanu and Talagadadeevi - 12857 La Cresta Drive
6. Lands of Lenz Marian - 24755 Prospect Avenue
7. Lands of Heidari - 10629 Magdalena Road
8. Lands of Klemm - 12033 Green Hills Court
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Director Bradford went on to explain that the list of projects if approved, would result in a one-
year extension from the City Council’s approval. The approved permit extension resolutions
would supersede any related conditions of approval in the planning entitlements and permitting
compliance dates.
Pubic Comments:
1. Rajiv Bhateja, a Los Altos Hills resident, explained that some of the projects listed
started as early as 2013 with others in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
2. Allan Epstein, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated that the Resolution staff is asking the
Council to approve doesn’t say anything about deposits being required. Mr. Epstein
stated that more projects like these haven’t been bought before Council.
Council Member Tyson made a motion to approve the Extension of the Expiration Dates for
Building Permits for Various Residential Properties as listed in the Staff Report, ensuring that
the $50,000 deposit is required. Mayor Mok seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 4-1.
Council Member Tankha voted in opposition to the motion.
MOTION PASSED 4-1:
AYES: Mok, Schmidt, Swan, Tyson
NOES: Tankha
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
9. ONGOING BUSINESS
A. Resolution Approving the Corporation Yard Locker Room Phase 1 Conceptual Designs and
Directing Staff to Move Forward with Completing the Final Design and Construction
Documents.
WooJae Kim, Public Works Director, explained that The Corporation Yard, located at
27400 Purissima Road next to Purissima Park, is the main operations facility for the Public
Works maintenance staff. The facility is a two-story barn style building with 4,720 square
feet of floor area. The ground level is primarily used for maintenance equipment and
materials storage. The upper-level houses two offices, a single occupancy restroom with a
shower, a street sign storage area, and general Town storage.
As adopted in the Operating and Capital Budgets for FY2024-2025 and FY2025-2026, the
Corporation Yard Locker Room is a Capital Improvement Project that would add adequate
locker room space with accessible shower/restroom facilities for the maintenance staff.
Currently, an office space on the second floor is shared as a makeshift locker room to store
crew’s safety gear and personal items. Next to the office on the second floor is the only
restroom in the building. The maintenance team is comprised of one superintendent, four
maintenance workers, and one part-time maintenance worker.
The Corporation Yard Master Plan was completed in July 2024 outlining the scope, budget,
and potential capital and maintenance projects for the next ten years. A locker room and
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 7
Thursday, November 21, 2024
additional storage space were the top two capital improvement priorities identified in the
master plan within the first two years.
Director Kim explained that in December 2023, the Town hired TDM Architect for the
Corporation Yard Locker Room design services. The agreement amount for the design
services was within the City Manager’s signing authority. Through the design process and
preliminary consultations with the Town’s Building Department, building code requirements
for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility and fire suppression system
were identified.
The budget for the Corporation Yard Locker Room approved by the City Council in the
Operating and Capital Budgets for FY2024-2025 and FY2025-2026 is $340,000. All the
proposed scope of work for the Corporation Yard Locker Room cannot be completed within
the current project budget due to accessibility and fire suppression/sprinkler system
requirements and improvements needed to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) system as part of the project. Therefore, the staff is proposing to bifurcate the
Corporation Yard Locker Room projects into two phases.
Director Kim explained Phase 1 of the Locker Room Project and stated that for accessibility
and gender-inclusive requirements, a separate single occupancy unisex restroom with a
shower is needed on the ground floor. Again, the only existing restroom and locker room
space are located on the second floor. The proposed unisex restroom on the ground floor
would fulfill the need for an accessible restroom for visitors to the Corporation Yard and the
need for a gender-inclusive locker room space for up to two staff members. An existing 122-
square-foot storage room on the first floor is proposed to be converted to a unisex restroom
with a shower. This scope of the work would be included in Phase 1 of the project. See
Attachment 2 for the Phase 1 conceptual design layout.
The additional scope proposed for Phase 1 of the locker room project is the upgrade of the
HVAC system. Currently, there is a centralized gas furnace heating system for the second
floor, which has no air conditioning. The mechanical consultant on the design team is
proposing to replace the gas furnace with the ductless mini-split heat pump system for the
second floor and the new restroom downstairs. Upgrading the gas furnace to an electric heat
pump system would meet the Town’s goal to electrify Town facilities and also provide
conditioned air for the maintenance staff.
Pubic Comments:
1. Rajiv Bhateja, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated that he likes the idea that the lockers
are accessible without the need to go through the restroom.
2. Allan Epstein, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated the projected cost for this project is
$300,000 and the building is 55 years old. Mr. Epstein questioned why Phase 1 of the
project didn’t trigger a fire protection system.
3. Carol Gottlieb, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated her concerns about the heat pump
affecting the horse's ability to move around the pathway.
Director Kim stated the heat pump shouldn’t affect the Pathways because it will be
located inside the fenced area.
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 8
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Council Member Swan made a motion to approve the Resolution Approving the
Corporation Yard Locker Room Phase 1 Conceptual Designs and Directing Staff to Move
Forward with Completing the Final Design and Construction Documents adding that the
proposed area for the restroom be usable for more than one person at a time. Council
Member Tyson seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Mok, Schmidt, Swan, Tankha, Tyson
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
B. Receive an Informational Update on the 2024 Pathway Fee Nexus Study for Consideration
and Feedback to Staff.
WooJae Kim, Public Works Director, explained that the Town enacted a pathway fee in
March 1996 through the adoption of Ordinance 381. The ordinance established a Pathway
Fund and revised requirements for dedication of pathway easements, construction of
pathways, and payment of pathway fees. The pathway fee has been increased over time based
on the increasing costs of pathway construction.
On September 19, 2019, the City Council approved amendments to the Pathways Element
of the General Plan and to the Town Municipal Code Sections 3-3.303, 9-1.1112, 10-2.606,
and 10-2.608 to adopt a new Pathway Development Impact Fees. Municipal Code
amendments were as follows:
• Section 3-3.303 amended to specify that pathway fees are to be used exclusively for the
construction of new pathways.
• Section 9-1.1112 amended to specify that pathway fees or pathway construction may be
required in conjunction with a project. In the case of a subdivision, pathway construction is
typically required with subdivision improvements. Individual site development projects will
now pay a pathway fee and pathways will be constructed as Capital Improvements projects.
This will remove the burden on homeowners to construct or install new pathway segments.
• Section 10-2.606 amended to change 'secondary dwelling unit' to 'accessory dwelling unit',
and to specify that cumulative projects that add a total of 900 square feet within a 10-year
period are required to pay a pathway fee and/or may be required to dedicate a pathway
easement. If a property owner pays a pathway fee with a project that includes an addition or
additions totaling 900 square feet or more, a pathway fee would not be required with a
subsequent project.
• Section 10-2.608 amended to change 'secondary dwelling unit' to 'accessory dwelling unit',
specify that barns for equestrian use are an eligible project, and excluding certain types of
floor area from the 900 square foot trigger (kitchens, dining rooms, entryways, foyers,
hallways, stairways and elevators).
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 9
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Director Kim stated that due to new nexus analysis requirement per Assembly Bill (AB) 602,
residential impact fees should be based on the area of development whenever possible. For
the Pathway Development Impact Fee, the Town’s pathway construction cost data from the
past two years were collected to determine an average cost per mile of pathways, which
tabulated to around $1,060,659 per mile. With a total of 85.88 miles of pathways in the Town,
the estimated pathway system cost equated to $91,089,362. That number was divided by a
total number of parcels or households in the Town (3,151 parcels) for an average pathway
cost per household of $28,908. This number is further divided by an average size of
residential development in the Town (5,269 average square footage per household based on
two-year permitting data average for projects greater than 900 square feet) to come up with
a $5.49 per square footage of development impact fee for pathways.
Below table is a general breakdown of the Pathway Development Impact Fee methodology,
which is further detailed in the 2024 Pathway Fee Nexus Study:
Proposed Cost Components Amount
Estimated Cost of Construction for 1 mile of Pathways $1,060,659
Estimated Current Pathway Miles 85.88
Total Estimated Pathway System Cost $91,089,362
Estimated Town Households 3,151
Estimated Pathway Cost per Household $28,908
Average Development Square Footage per Household 5,269
Pathway Cost per Development Square Footage $5.49
Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) would continue to be exempt from the pathway impact
fee. For properties that contributed to the pathway construction or fee in the past, the pathway
impact fee may be assessed only on the square footage of any additions above the 5,269
average square footage per household number. The legality of such a proposal would need
to be vetted through the City Attorney’s Office. With the pathway impact fee based on the
square footage of developments, below is a table reflecting how much developers can
anticipate paying in Pathway Development Impact Fee with the new fee methodology:
Proposed Pathway Impact Fee Current
Fee
Proposed Fee
Fee per Square Footage of Addition Not Applicable $5.49/sq. ft.
New Single-Family Residence (6,000 sq. ft.) $10,943 $32,940
Additions (900 sq ft, including barns) $3,826 $4,941
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 10
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The Town had collected approximately $106,000 in Pathway Development Impact Fees in
FY2022/23 and around $180,000 in FY2023/24. With the updated pathway impact fee, the
Town anticipates collecting approximately $300,000 to $350,000 per year in Pathway Funds,
which would continue to be used on primarily on new or capital pathway design and
construction project. Once a fee update is approved by Council, staff will develop on a long-
term pathways improvement plan to build more pathways annually with Pathway Fund
revenue increases.
Public Comment:
1. Allan Epstein, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated the study didn’t include multi-family
housing.
This was an information item only.
10. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE
11. NEW BUSINESS
A. Approval of the 2025 City Council Regular Meeting Schedule
Arika Miller, City Clerk, explained that historically, the City Council has reviewed and
adjusted its meeting schedule annually to account for holidays, significant events, and other
potential conflicts. This practice ensures that meetings are scheduled at times that maximize
attendance and participation by both Council Members and the public. The review also
allows for the scheduling of special meetings as needed.
In the past, the City Council has scheduled a meeting recess during one of the summer months
to avoid potential conflict with residents’ vacation plans. It has been suggested that the City
Council recess for July 2025 with the ability to call a special meeting as needed.
The proposed schedule for the year 2025 includes City Council Regular Meetings on the
third Thursday of each month, with adjustments for holidays and significant events. The
following considerations have been taken into account:
1. January 2025: Council Member Tankha has requested to reschedule the Regular January
16, 2025, to Thursday, January 30, 2025, due to family obligations.
2. June 2025: Town Hall will be closed on Thursday, June 19, 2025, in observance of
Juneteenth, the third Thursday of the month. It is recommended that the Regular Meeting for
June 19, 2025, be canceled and rescheduled.
3. July 2025: Recess with the ability to call a Special Meeting as needed.
Following the City Council's direction, the City Clerk will post and distribute the appropriate
notices.
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 11
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Public Comment:
1. Allan Epstein, a Los Altos Hills resident, asked if Council could determine a date
when the Joint City Council and Finance and Investment Committee.
Council Member Tyson moved to approve the 2025 City Council Regular Meeting
Schedule, including rescheduling the June 19, 2025, meeting to June 26, 2025, and omitting
a Regular Meeting in July. Council Member Swan seconded the motion. Approved, Vote
4-0-1. Vice Mayor Schmidt abstained from the vote.
MOTION PASSED 4-0-1:
AYES: Mok, Swan, Tankha, Tyson
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: Schmidt
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
B. Resolution Approving An Amended CHAC Joint Powers Agreement And Authorizing The
City Manager To Execute The Amended CHAC Joint Powers Agreement
Attorney Steve Mattas, asked the Council to consider adopting a Resolution approving an
Amended CHAC Joint Powers Agreement, authorizing the City Manager to execute the
Amended CHAC Joint Powers Agreement, and designating signature authority to the City
Manager for the Town to provide written consent to dissolve the JPA once its remaining
obligations are satisfied and provide notice to CHAC of the designated representative.
Council Member Swan made a motion to approve the Resolution Approving An
Amended CHAC Joint Powers Agreement And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute
The Amended CHAC Joint Powers Agreement and appoint Council Member George Tyson
to the committee. Vice Mayor Schmidt seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0.
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Mok, Schmidt, Swan, Tankha, Tyson
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
C. Amendment to the Resolution Establishing Standing Committees and Adopting General
and Special Rules Pertaining Thereto To Update The Emergency Preparedness And
Response Committee Charter.
Cody Einfalt, Deputy City Manager, explained that the EPRC’s charter approved by the
City Council currently is as follows:
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 12
Thursday, November 21, 2024
I. Advise the Town on its emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery
programs, goals, policies, plans, protocols, and priorities related to emergencies, and
make recommendations to Staff and City Council.
II. Provide guidance and support to the emergency volunteer programs and community
outreach
Currently, only residents of the Town can be appointed as full-voting members of the
Committee; however, citizens who live outside of the Town boundaries can attend the public
meetings and hold associate-level standing in the proceedings. Associate members cannot
vote and do not count to the quorum of the members meeting.
Often times the programs and policies that are discussed at EPRC meetings involve residents
of the County’s unincorporated area and residents of the Los Altos Hills County Fire District
that are not within the Town boundaries. For these reasons, the Council can consider
expanding membership of the EPRC to allow for Council appointments of non-residents to
the Committee.
At the November 5, 2024 regular meeting of the EPRC, the Committee voted unanimous to
recommend approval by the City Council to allow residents of the unincorporated area within
the LAHCFD boundary to become full, voting members of the EPRC.
Public Comment:
1. Allan Epstein, a Los Altos Hills resident, inquired about increasing the size of the
committee by 2 members.
2. Dave Stewart, a Los Altos Hills resident, stated the number of committee members
is fine the way it is because 1 member with withdraw their membership.
Council Member Tankha made a motion to approve the Amendment to the Resolution
Establishing Standing Committees and Adopting General and Special Rules Pertaining
Thereto to Update The Emergency Preparedness And Response Committee Charter.
Council Member Swan seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0.
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Mok, Schmidt, Swan, Tankha, Tyson
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
Council Member Tyson moved to extend the Regular Council Meeting beyond 10 pm. Council Member
Swan seconded the motion. Approved, Vote 5-0.
MOTION PASSED 5-0:
AYES: Mok, Schmidt, Swan, Tankha, Tyson
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 13
Thursday, November 21, 2024
RECUSE: None
ABSENT: None
12. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES, AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS ON OUTSIDE AGENCIES
1. Council Member Tyson gave an update on the Undergrounding Rule 20A project.
Council Member Tyson also alerted the Council and the community that Foothill
College is moving forward with its Magical Bridge Learning Center.
2. Vice Mayor Schmidt provided an update on the North California Library Association
and stated they have about $10 million dollars in their budget for library improvements.
Phase I of the improvement will begin next year.
13. STAFF REPORTS
A. City Attorney Steve Mattas explained that The Town of Los Altos Hills has
undertaken comprehensive community outreach and engagement regarding the
Housing Element, including hosting multiple discussions, gathering public
feedback, and addressing key concerns raised by residents. With these efforts
complete, the Council is now tasked with determining the path forward.
Specifically, the Council must decide whether to proceed with the current Housing
Element proposal, which aligns with state requirements and reflects the input
received, or to revisit and make further modifications. However, it is critical to
understand that pursuing additional changes could result in significant delays and
the potential loss of state certification for the Housing Element. This outcome could
expose the Town to compliance risks, including state intervention, loss of local
control, and potential legal or financial repercussions. The decision at hand will
determine how the Town moves forward in meeting its housing obligations while
maintaining compliance with state mandates.
B. City Clerk Arika Miller thanked the City Council for their efforts in spreading the
word about committee vacancies and reported that 14 new members have been
appointed to Town committees over the past four months. Mrs. Miller also gave a
presentation on the proposed merger of the Parks and Recreation Committee and
the Community Relations Committee. The City Council reached a consensus to
place this item on a future agenda for further consideration.
C. Community Development Director Jay Bradford explained that on November 18,
we hosted a Housing Element Forum, the third in a series of public meetings focused
on Housing Element implementation. This event provided a valuable opportunity for
our community to engage with a panel of distinguished experts in housing,
development, and policy. The forum was moderated by our City Manager, Peter
Pirnejad, and featured the following panelists:
Steve Mattas, the Town’s City Attorney
Frank Zerunyan, Councilmember, City of Rolling Hills
Randy Tsuda, CEO of Alta Housing, an affordable housing developer
Dan Wery, Principal at Michael Baker International, the Town’s housing consultant
Brady Guertin, Legislative Affairs Lobbyist for the League of California Cities
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 14
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The forum was well-attended, with nearly 70 participants. We extend our gratitude
to the panelists and community members for their active involvement.
Additionally, the department has been working diligently to return deposits held for
completed building permits. Over the past four months, we have contacted
homeowners and contractors to coordinate the return of these funds to the appropriate
parties. CDD is anticipating to start issuing these refunds within the next month.
The department is also advancing several software upgrades to our permitting system.
Once completed, these upgrades will substantially fulfill the goals outlined in the
2024-2026 Work Plan.
Lastly, we have observed an increase in code enforcement requests, resulting in a
sustained backlog in the program. We plan to evaluate the program in the coming
months to address these challenges effectively.
D. Public Works Director WooJae Kim reported the following:
El Monte Fire Station Utility Undergrounding (Rule 20A) Project
Phoenix Electric with the Town’s construction management team is progressing
well on the project. I would say we are approximately 60% complete with the joint
trench work. The contractor is currently working at the intersection of El Monte,
Elena, and Moody Road, close to the El Monte Fire Station. The joint trench work
is anticipated to be completed by January or February 2025 pending weather delays.
Once joint trench work is completed, PG&E, Comcast, and AT&T, in that order,
will be conducting their overhead conversion to underground to fully underground
all overhead lines and remove the power poles within the underground district. This
process will take another year to complete.
The Town received the first reimbursement check from PG&E for around
$1,067,000 for the Rule 20A project, while we are waiting for first reimbursement
checks from AT&T and Comcast.
Fiber Broadband Project
Council approved the grant agreement to Los Altos Hills Community Fiber in
October of this year. Community Fiber is currently working on the design plans to
submit with the encroachment permit to the Town. We are anticipating for the
encroachment permit package to be submitted early next year. Staff is planning to
have a preliminary meeting to go over the design progress sometime in December.
Staff will also be meeting with the Foothill College staff to get updates on their
fiber project under Highway 280. Staff will continue to update the Technology
Committee and Council on the progress of this project.
Heritage House Upgrade
On October 22, the Town received five bids on the Heritage House Upgrade
Project. Smelly Mel’s Plumbing, Inc. (or SMP) was deemed the lowest responsible
and responsive bidder. As authorized by the City Council at a previous meeting, the
City Manager awarded a construction contract to SMP. for $685,650, and the contract is now fully executed. Today, a pre-construction meeting was held
for the project joined by the contractor, design team, a member of the History
Committee and staff. Construction is anticipated to start next month.
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 15
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Planting at Byrne Preserve
As an offsite mitigation measure for the Matadero Creek Restoration and Bank
Stabilization Project, new plantings and horse exclusion fencing are required at the
tributary area of Moody Creek at Byrne Preserve. The Town maintenance staff
installed the split rail fence at the lower tributary area in Byrne Preserve, which
saved good money for the project. For the planting work, the Town received bids
from three contractors on October 1. On October 22, 2024, the City Council
awarded the project to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, Confluence
Restoration, Inc.
After the award of the planting project, staff received few comments from
community members concerned about coyote brushes being planted at Byrne
Preserve. Few community members commented that coyote brushes are potential
fire fuel or hazard and how they may be invasive species in nature. The Town
selected coyote brush due to limited plant species that can survive current drought
conditions, horses grazing, and wildlife habitats in the area. Staff discussed with the
project designer and Grassroots Ecology and proposed amendments to substitute
any coyote brush planting in the fenced area with other more diverse species of
planting. Outside the fenced area, once coyote brushes are more established, staff
plans to replace some of the coyote brushes near the creek channel with willows.
The pre-construction meeting with the contractor is scheduled for tomorrow. The
plants with few substitutions as discussed will be picked up from the nursery early
December and planting work will start soon after.
Storm Drain Issues
This is a message from our Maintenance staff. With the wet season here, if anyone
notices public storm drains that may need to be cleared or cleaned out, please help
report these issues through the Town’s website. On the main Town home page, one
of the rectangular tabs is noted as “Report a Problem (Non-Emergency).” You can
click the tab and report on work order issues and follow up on the status of the
work. Since this is a busy time for our maintenance staff, it may take at least couple
of days for our staff to respond.
E. Finance Director Thomas Leung explained the following:
Beth Viajar, the Town’s new Senior Accountant, started this week. She comes
from the City of Cupertino, where she was the Senior Accountant for almost ten
years.
Jocelyn Misola, who has been an Accountant with the Town for five years, was also
recently promoted to Senior Accountant. This well-deserved promotion reflects her
dedication and significant contributions, including helping maintain the Town’s
financial operations during department vacancies.
The Town will also be posting a job posting for an Accounting Technician. Filling
this vacancy will allow the department to be fully staffed and increase operational
efficiency.
The annual financial audit is progressing well. The auditors expect to send us a draft
by December 4. We aim to present the finalized ACFR to the City Council on
December 19.
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 16
Thursday, November 21, 2024
The Town's sweep account, which became operational on September 27, has
already started generating returns. In the month of October, the Town earned $10k
in dividends.
For fiscal year 2023-24, the Town ended with a $34,000 surplus, primarily due to
cost-saving measures and unfilled positions. This is a notable outcome, especially
considering that the original budget projected a $1.6 million deficit after accounting
for transfers out to other funds.
At Mid-Year, we will present any necessary budget adjustments, a comprehensive
analysis of FY 2023-24, and a long-term financial forecast.
F. City Manager Peter Pirnejad presented the following:
Informed the City Council about an exciting opportunity for the Town of Los Altos
Hills to apply for the Tranter-Leong Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship
provides grant funding to support international travel for municipal leaders to
explore innovative practices, foster global connections, and bring back ideas that
can benefit our community. If awarded, the grant would offset the travel expenses,
ensuring that there would be no financial impact on the Town’s budget. I would like
to take a small delegation with me. I believe this opportunity aligns with our values
of continuous learning and innovation, and it has the potential to bring valuable
insights to our governance and operations. At this time, I would like to move
forward with the application process. However, I want to ensure that the Council is
fully informed. If any members of the Council have concerns or would like to
discuss the matter in more detail, I am happy to bring this back for further
discussion. Otherwise, unless there are objections, I plan to proceed with the
application to secure the grant funding take advantage of this unique opportunity,
and bring back an official approval request on consent for international travel.
• City Hall will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday on Nov 28th
and 29th.
• Friendsgiving with Town Staff yesterday
• The History Committee’s publication “Our Town” and the Town Newsletter
called “The Quarterly” is also being released in the next month
UPCOMING EVENTS
Festival of Lights
Los Altos Hills is excited to join the Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade on December
1, 2024. Our Youth Commission will be pushing the Mother Goose float. The parade
kicks off at 6:00 PM at First and State, promising an evening of lights, creativity, and
local pride. We invite everyone to come out, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and
celebrate the start of the holiday season with us.
����� Time: Parade begins at 6 PM
��������������� Date: 12/1/2024
��� Location: Downtown Los Altos
Barn Lighting
Celebrate the holiday season surrounded by friends and neighbors at the Westwind
Community Barn. Share conversations over cookies, hot cider, and/or wine tasting
while kids can enjoy seasonal games, craft tables, face painting, pony rides, and a
petting zoo. Snap a photo with Santa as your little one shares their wish list. Close out
Los Altos Hills Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Page 17
Thursday, November 21, 2024
the afternoon with a community countdown to the barn lighting that will begin at 5:00
pm.
����� Time: 2-5 PM
��������������� Date: 12/7/2024
��� Location: Westwind Barn, 27210 Altamont
14. COUNCIL INITIATED ITEMS
1. Mayor Mok requested that an item be agendized to discuss the Municipal Code
regarding how to reinstate the ability to develop property if solar panels are included in
the Maximum Development Area (MDA).
15. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 10:46 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Arika Birdsong-Miller