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First Term Highlights
Celebrating Volunteerism
As Mayor of Los Altos in 2008, I celebrated volunteerism by recognizing over 30 people and organizations that share their time and talents with our community. Volunteers are the heart of our community and make Los Altos the wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family that it is. Thank you all for everything that you do.
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I believe that local elected officials should be accessible. Over the past ten years I have met with hundreds of residents and other stakeholders in our community to understand their issues. As Mayor I held several public meetings in both South and North Los Altos to provide opportunities for residents to share their views with city council members and to ask questions in a more informal setting.
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City Staff Changes
In 2007, our city manager and police chief retired and public works director resigned. The City Council appointed Councilman Lou Becker and me to manage the search for a new City Manager, and Doug Schmitz started in September 2007. Doug's initiatives have significantly enhanced our city. Doug hired Police Chief Tuck Younis and other senior staff members; realigned key staff responsibilities; fostered a new level of communication among the city council, the city staff and the community; and directed the addition of the trees, flowers and other cosmetic improvements that have noticeably improved the appearance of San Antonio Road and downtown. Under his leadership the City has developed streetscape plans for First Street between Main and West Edith, the intersections of Main and State with Second and Third Streets, San Antonio Road between West Edith and First Street, and Loyola Corners.
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City Finances
The financial position of the City of Los Altos continues to be sound. We have carefully managed our expenditures over the years, and have in place a balanced budget with no cuts in services or staff, substantial increases in reserves, and a significant investment in infrastructure projects.
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Public Safety and Traffic Calming
Public safety and traffic calming are the #1 concern of City residents and therefore are a top priority for me.
We successfully negotiated multi-year contracts with the Los Altos Peace Officers Association and the Santa Clara County Fire Department without any loss of personnel or disruption of services.
Pedestrian crosswalk warning light systems have been installed at six intersections along San Antonio Road. Raised crosswalks with flashing lights are also now in place near many of our schools.
Development of a Bicycle Transportation Plan is budgeted in this fiscal year.
The City Council authorized hiring a traffic consultant to assist the staff with expediting Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) applications so that permanent traffic calming solutions can be installed on our residential streets. Speed humps have been added to the NTMP traffic calming toolbox. We are also working at the State level to address the infamous 85th percentile rule that in effect sets speed limits that can be enforced by radar based on the speeds of the fastest drivers. A Collector Street Traffic Calming Master Plan is being developed.
We have received additional Safe Routes to Schools grants totaling nearly $1 million since the project on El Monte near Almond School was completed several years ago, bringing the total amount of grant monies invested in traffic calming in our community to $2.3 million.
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Downtown
The first two downtown zoning committees, chaired by Mayor Pro Tem Ron Packard, worked diligently to review the zoning regulations for the downtown triangle. Updated ordinances have been approved by the City Council and are now in effect.
The building renaissance on First Street that began with the redevelopment of the Ramsey property on the corner of West Edith is continuing. A 48-unit, 4-story residential condominium project on the old Post Office site was recently approved. An option-to-purchase agreement was signed for a retail/office building on the city-owned property at First and Main Streets.
The City will be undergrounding utilities along First Street. Also, the City has developed streetscape plans for First Street between Main and West Edith, for the intersections of Main and State with Second and Third Streets, and for San Antonio Road between West Edith and First Street.
Construction of the new Packard Foundation corporate office has begun. A new hotel on the vacant lot at Main and San Antonio Road was recently approved.
The Downtown Development Committee, comprised of 12 community leaders and staff members appointed by the City Council, and on which I served as Chair and Councilman Lou Becker served as Vice Chair, accomplished the following tasks during a two-year public process:
- created Downtown Design Guidelines now in use
- clarified the zoning for the OAD/CRS zone
- simplified the zoning on First Street, including eliminating the Commercial Services (CS) zone, extending the Commercial Retail Sales (CRS) zone from Main Street through the Draegers and Safeway properties, and creating a new CD/R3 zone at the north and south ends of First Street to allow retail, office or residential uses on the ground floor and buildings up to 45 feet in height
- reduced the office parking ratio per thousand square feet from 4 to 3.3
- increased the building height from 40 to 45 feet in the Commercial Downtown (CD) zone and eliminated references to the allowable number of stories
- rezoned 5 parcels along the south parking plazas from Commercial Retail Sales (CRS) to Commercial Downtown (CD) while requiring that existing retail space of 5,000 square feet or more remain retail
- developed the Downtown Parking Plazas Opportunity Study, for which an Environmental Impact Review focused on traffic impacts is currently underway
These substantive changes, in combination with the City streetscape projects, have already begun to encourage redevelopment in the north and south areas of the downtown triangle while preserving Main Street's cherished appeal. Adding office space, a hotel, and housing downtown will bring the additional foot traffic necessary to support our existing restaurants, shops and services and to attract additional retailers and restaurants.
Short-term, the number of empty storefronts downtown is of concern to everyone, and will be until there are no vacancies. Encouragingly, several long-standing businesses have recently been sold to new owners and remain open, while new retailers and restaurants continue to choose to locate in Los Altos.
The City staff and Council are committed to keeping downtown inviting to merchants and customers. The City provides pro bono or subsidized staff services for many downtown events organized by the Los Altos Village Association and other community groups, and has provided funding for additional sidewalk cleaning and seasonal flower displays. Increasing the time limits in the public parking plazas and the recent "From A to Z, you'll find it in Los Altos" marketing campaign to encourage people to eat, shop and patronize services in all of our commercial districts are other examples of the City's proactive support for our business community.
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The City hired an architectural firm to design a master plan for the 18-acre community center site bounded by San Antonio Road and Hillview Avenue. A master plan advisory committee, co-chaired by Councilman Lou Becker and Mayor David Casas, worked closely with the city and the design firm in this process.
The Community Center Master Plan has been finalized and approved by the City Council. Designed in four phases, it includes a new police station, recreation center, city hall, community swim facility, soccer field, regulation baseball field, library, and performing arts center, with both surface and underground parking. The History House, the History Museum and the Neutra House remain in their current locations. A new apricot orchard will be planted next to the History Museum to honor Los Altos' agricultural heritage.
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Loyola Corners
A specific plan for historic Loyola Corners was developed some years ago. The City has developed a streetscape plan for Loyola Corners in an effort to enhance its appearance and attract new business energy to this neighborhood, with a particular emphasis on traffic circulation, bicyclist and pedestrian safety. Santa Clara County has allocated funds for work on the bridge across Foothill Expressway at Fremont.
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Park Renovations
The City has completed an ambitious project funded through a major grant replacing all of the aging and non-ADA compliant playground equipment in our City parks. The new equipment meets current ADA requirements and was designed by the Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission in partnership with the City Recreation Department staff.
A plan to upgrade Rosita Park to add a third tennis court, playground, public restrooms, a concession stand, a par course, paths and street improvements has been approved and is scheduled to begin shortly. A Parks Master Plan for all City parks is being developed. The City recently acquired parkland to connect Shoup Park and Redwood Grove along Adobe Creek; a public process to determine any improvements to this property will begin soon.
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Green Initiatives
The Los Altos City Council has taken important steps to make our community more environmentally sustainable. Several years ago, Council passed a green building ordinance that is now in effect and has recently won an award. As Mayor, I signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement with the unanimous support of all Councilmembers. While I was Mayor, Council funded the City's participation in a regional program to measure municipal greenhouse gas emissions. The City's new waste management contract incorporates many environmentally-friendly practices.
On a personal note, my husband and I have just installed solar panels on our home to reduce our energy consumption.
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Best Practices from Industry
As a former Silicon Valley executive, I work with my colleagues on the City Council to bring best practices from industry to City government, including annual written performance reviews and salary adjustments based on merit for City staff, appointment of residents representative of the community to City commissions and committees, personalized business cards for all commissioners, and a PowerPoint presentation for the annual commission and committee training session.
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Honoring My Campaign Promises
As I promised during my 2005 campaign, I continue to work to:
- Manage city finances conservatively, with balanced budgets and sufficient emergency reserves
- Maintain the character of our residential neighborhoods
- Improve public safety and calm traffic
- Support community resources like a public swim facility
- Promote vibrant business districts with convenient parking
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Current Council Assignments
In addition to serving on the Los Altos City Council itself, each year the Mayor assigns Council members a number of additional responsibilities in our community and our region. I'm currently serving as the Council's representative to the following organizations:
- Council Personnel Committee (with Councilman Lou Becker)
- Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Business Roundtable
- Santa Clara County Cities Association Board of Directors (alternate to Mayor Casas)
- Santa Clara County Cities Association Selection Committee (alternate to Mayor Casas)
At the State level, I'm also the League of California Cities Peninsula Division representative on their Housing, Community, and Economic Development policy committee, and previously served a 2-year term on their Community Services policy committee.
Previous Council Assignments
- Downtown Development Committee Chair (with Vice Chair Lou Becker) (2008-2010)
- Santa Clara County Housing and Community Development Advisory Committee (2009)
- Stevens Creek Trail Feasibility Study Task Force and Joint Cities Working Team (2006-2009)
- Los Altos Sister Cities (2006-2008)
- Los Altos/Los Altos Hills Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards Committee (2008)
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- Los Altos Village Association Board of Directors (2008-present)
- Los Altos Chamber of Commerce (2003-present)
- Rotary Club of Los Altos (2003-present)
- Membership Committee
- Scholarship Committee
- Fine Art in the Park neighborhood liaison
- Fine Art in the Park Mayors' Choice awards program chair
- Los Altos Community Picnic Planning Committee (2002-2009)
- Los Altos Community Foundation Founder (2005)
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