CITY COUNCIL STUDY
SESSION
AGENDA
6:00 PM - Tuesday, May 23, 2023
via Videoconference and In Person
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Public testimony will be taken at the direction of the Mayor, and members of the public may only comment during times allotted for public comments.
AGENDA
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
1 5/23/2023 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AGENDA Page 2 of 2
DISCUSSION ITEM(S)
1. Results of the Updated Community Priorities Survey
2. Receive presentation on management of the Los Altos Heritage Orchard No written materials provided for this item.
ADJOURNMENT
SPECIAL NOTICES TO THE PUBLIC
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Altos will make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk 72 hours prior to the meeting at (650) 947-2610.
Agendas Staff Reports and some associated documents for City Council items may be viewed on the Internet at http://www.losaltosca.gov/citycouncil/online/index.html. Council Meetings are televised live and rebroadcast on Cable Channel 26.
On occasion the City Council may consider agenda items out of order. 2 Reviewed By:
City Manager City Attorney
GE
Finance Director
JH JF
AGENDA REPORT SUMMARY
Meeting Date: May 23, 2023
Subject Results of the Updated Community Priorities Survey Approved by: Gabriel Engeland, City Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Godbe Research Presentation of Survey Results
Initiated by:
City Council
Previous Council Consideration:
The City Council formed a Neighborhood Public Safety Facility Subcommittee and has had various meetings associated with this topic.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact in receiving this report.
Environmental Review:
Not applicable.
Summary:
The City engaged its longtime polling professional Godbe Research to conduct an updated community priorities survey to evaluate resident opinions on the performance of the City, perception on quality of life, and a funding solution to support public safety services and facilities.
Results indicated residents are very happy with the performance of the City (75%), are satisfied with quality of life (87%), but were split on supporting a potential ballot measure to support public safety services and facilities where support ranged from 45.8% to 50.2% in favor, within the margin of error for the survey for a 50% +1 requirement measure, and far below the 66.67% required for a special purpose measure. As a special purpose requirement measure is far below the threshold of viability, and the city has not come to agreement on whether or not the State’s actions and national fiscal climate warrant a declaration of Fiscal Emergency, staff recommends the City Council decline placing a ballot measure at an upcoming election for voter consideration. Residents or other interested parties have the option of qualifying a public safety tax at a future election with a simple majority requirement, but this option is not open to government.
3 Agenda Item 1.
Subject: Results of the Updated Community Priorities Survey May 23, 2023 Page 2
Discussion:
The City engaged long-time poling professional Godbe Research to conduct an updated community priorities survey to evaluate resident opinions on the performance of the City, quality of life, constituent priorities, and a potential funding solutions to address public safety services and facilities. Surveys were completed in March and April of 2023 and included a survey instrument of 21 minutes and was offered in both internet and telephone formats. 407 interviews were completed to achieve results that were statistically valid.
The following services were top of mind for residents in the survey:
Upgrading Fire Stations to accommodate modern firefighting and life-saving emergency medical equipment;
Updating police/ fire stations to ensure operations during an emergency/rapid emergency response time; and
Providing a police mental health response team for non-violent 911 calls, including suicide prevention, homelessness, and substance abuse
Providing a modern and earthquake safe emergency dispatch center to ensure communications between police, fire, and paramedics remain operational in a disaster.
The thematic elements below tracked closely with the servicesthat scored the highest in the survey, which were centered on emergency response, neighborhood safety, and local control:
Emergency 911 response times: For victims of heart attacks, strokes, accidents and other emergencies, seconds can be the difference between life and death. …[We must]…help ensure fast emergency response times.
Emergency Communications: [We must]… update and maintain police facilities and technology so we can maintain 9-1-1 dispatch, crime fighting and investigation services, keep neighborhoods safe, and ensure operations during an emergency Updates for Emergency Operations: Los Altos fire stations have not had adequate updates. …[and need additional funding to]…ensure that they are operational during earthquakes, wildfires, and storms.
Local Control for Local Needs: Los Altos [must have] control over local funds for local needs - allowing Los Altos to be self-reliant and requiring that our tax dollars be spent for Los Altos residents. No funds can be taken by Sacramento. 4 Agenda Item 1.
Subject: Results of the Updated Community Priorities Survey May 23, 2023 Page 3
The ballot question recommended by Godbe research should the city elect to move forward:
To improve public safety services/ facilities, such as:
• upgrading fire stations/ life-saving medical equipment; • ensuring operations during emergencies/ rapid response; • providing response team for non-violent 911 calls;
• ensuring earthquake safe dispatch center can remain operational in a disaster; • maintaining neighborhood police patrols;
shall the City of Los Altos measure be adopted adjusting the existing utility users tax to a 7% rate, until ended by voters, providing an additional $3,100,000 annually, that cannot be taken by Sacramento, including oversight? For comparison, the ballot question as tested in the survey was:
To improve public safety services/ facilities, such as:
• updating fire stations to ensure operations during an emergency; • maintaining neighborhood police patrols;
• providing safe/ secure police facilities;
• meeting seismic standards at police/ fire stations; and • ensuring police operations back-up power during storms; shall the City of Los Altos measure be adopted adjusting the existing utility users tax to a 7 percent rate, until ended by voters, providing an additional $3.1 million dollars annually, that cannot be taken by Sacramento, including oversight? The potential measure was also tested with a Parcel Tax mechanism, which and similarly started and stayed within a 50%+1 margin of error after information was shared, but was more volatile in response to factual information. Neither option tested above the margin of error for a 2/3 majority that would be required for the City to place a special tax on an election. The 50%+1 threshold would only be presented as an option for the City if a general purpose measure was placed on a regularly scheduled municipal election ballot. A general, non-special tax was not tested and should not be considered.
Residents or other interested parties maintain the ability to qualify a special tax for a ballot measure on an election at the 50%+1 threshold.
5 Agenda Item 1.
Subject: Results of the Updated Community Priorities Survey May 23, 2023 Page 4
Additional information on ballot measures and description of the types of taxes can be found at:
www.losaltosca.gov/electioninfo
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends the City Council receive the presentation and report from Godbe Research on the results of the commissioned survey.
6 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
City of Los Altos:
Highlights of Community Priorities and Potential Revenue Measure Feasibility Survey
April 2023
7 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Overview and Research Objectives
The City of Los Altos commissioned Godbe Research to conduct a survey of local voters with the following research objectives:
➢ Gauge the public’s satisfaction with the quality of life, as well as perceptions of the City’s provision of services and effective management of taxpayer funds;
➢ Gauge opinion on the future direction of the economy; ➢ Assess hypothetical support for a parcel tax measure or UUT measure to improve public safety services and facilities with funding that cannot be taken by the State;
➢ Identify respondent priorities;
➢ Test the influence of informational and critical statements on potential support; and
➢ Identify demographic and/or voter behavioral characteristics to validate the representativeness of the sample.
8 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Methodology Overview
➢ Data Collection Landline (39), cell (64), text to online (286), and email to online (18) interviewing
➢ Universe 19,473 likely November 2024 voters
➢ Fielding Dates March 22 through March 30, 2023
➢ Interview Length 21 minutes
➢ Sample Size n=407
➢ Margin of Error ± 4.81% Likely November 2024 voters
(March 2024 subset ± 5.46%)
The data have been weighted to reflect the actual population characteristics of likely voters in the City of Los Altos in terms of their gender, age, and political party type. 9 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Key Findings
10 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Satisfaction With Overall Quality of
Life in the City
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
March 2022
(Likely Nov 2022)
March 2023
(Likely Nov 2024)
51.8%
40.9%
38.6%
45.7%
7.7%
9.3%
1.4%
2.9%
0.5%
1.2%
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA
86.6%
90.4%
11 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Satisfaction With Provision of City
Services
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
March 2022
(Likely Nov 2022)
March 2023
(Likely Nov 2024)
31.0%
26.4%
50.2%
48.2%
12.5%
14.8%
3.9%
5.5%
2.3%
5.0%
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA
74.6%
81.2%
12 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Opinion on Future Direction of
Economy
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
March 2022
(Likely Nov 2022)
March 2023
(Likely Nov 2024)
30.6%
26.5%
37.7%
36.5%
26.9%
30.4%
4.8%
6.6%
Better About the same Worse DK/NA 13
Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Satisfaction With the City’s Spending
of Public Funds
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
March 2022
(Likely Nov 2022)
March 2023
(Likely Nov 2024)
12.2%
13.0%
43.8%
41.3%
17.0%
21.2%
10.4%
10.6%
16.6%
13.8%
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Somewhat dissatisfied Very dissatisfied DK/NA
54.3%
56.0%
14 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Respondent Priorities
15 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Respondent Priorities I
Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores:
“Much More Likely” = +2, “Somewhat More Likely” = +1, “No Effect” = 0, “Somewhat Less Likely” = -1, and “Much Less Likely” = -2.
Somewhat
More Likely
Somewhat
Less Likely
Much Less
Likely
-2 -1 0 1 2
F. Repair failing fire station roofs, and HVAC and electrical systems
E. Maintain fire protection services
P. Provide technology to prevent burglaries
J. Provide a modern and earthquake safe emergency
dispatch center to ensure communications between…
K. Upgrade police and fire stations to ensure rapid
emergency response times
I. Provide a police mental health response team for nonviolent 911 calls, including suicide prevention,… A. Update fire stations to ensure operations during an
emergency
L. Upgrade fire stations to accommodate modern firefighting and life-saving emergency medical equipment
0.67 0.73
0.73 0.76
0.78 0.81
0.81 0.82
Much More
Likely
Tier 1
63.2%
57.0%
16 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Respondent Priorities II
Somewhat
More Likely
Somewhat
Less Likely
Much Less
Likely
-2 -1 0 1 2
C. Provide safe and secure police facilities
M. Provide adequate space at the police station to safely detain criminals, who are often violent, and keep them… O. Upgrade the police station to accommodate modern
equipment to maintain public safety and investigate…
N. Provide modern facilities to attract and retain the best fire-fighters and police officers to Los Altos
G. Meet seismic safety standards at the police and fire stations
H. Update aging facilities at the police station including removing asbestos and reducing fire danger
D. Maintain crime prevention and investigation programs B. Maintain neighborhood police patrols
0.30 0.35
0.51 0.54
0.57 0.58
0.61 0.64
Much More
Likely
Tier 2
57.9%
38.0%
44.6%
Tier 3
54.7%
49.8%
T-1 cont’d
Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores:
“Much More Likely” = +2, “Somewhat More Likely” = +1, “No Effect” = 0, “Somewhat Less Likely” = -1, and “Much Less Likely” = -2. 17 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Interest in Funding Solutions
18 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Initial Hypothetical Support for Parcel Measure
Ballot Question Reviewed By City Attorney
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Likely
March
2024
Likely
November
2024
12.7%
14.0%
35.9%
36.2%
26.1%
25.3%
15.5%
16.8%
9.8%
7.7%
Definitely Yes Probably Yes Probably No Definitely No DK/NA
50.2%
To improve critical public safety
services/ facilities, such as:
• updating fire stations to ensure
operations during an
emergency;
• maintaining neighborhood
police patrols;
• providing safe/ secure police
facilities;
• meeting seismic safety
standards at the police/ fire
stations; and
• ensuring back-up power for
police operations during
storms/ shutdowns;
shall the City of Los Altos
measure be adopted establishing
a $275 parcel tax, until ended by
voters, providing an additional
$3.1 million dollars annually, that
cannot be taken by Sacramento,
including citizen oversight?
48.6%
19 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Initial Hypothetical Support for UUT Measure
Ballot Question Reviewed By City Attorney
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Likely
March
2024
Likely
November
2024
13.1%
13.0%
34.2%
32.8%
21.6%
20.3%
19.6%
20.2%
11.5%
13.7%
Definitely Yes Probably Yes Probably No Definitely No DK/NA
45.8%
To improve public safety services/
facilities, such as:
• updating fire stations to ensure
operations during an
emergency;
• maintaining neighborhood
police patrols;
• providing safe/ secure police
facilities;
• meeting seismic standards at
police/ fire stations; and
• ensuring police operations
back-up power during storms;
shall the City of Los Altos
measure be adopted adjusting the
existing utility users tax to a 7
percent rate, until ended by
voters, providing an additional
$3.1 million dollars annually, that
cannot be taken by Sacramento,
including oversight?
47.3%
20 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Impact of Information
21 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Informational Statements I
Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores:
“Much More Likely” = +2, “Somewhat More Likely” = +1, and “No Effect” = 0. 0 1 2
M. The measure will repair and update facilities that were built more than 60 years ago, and only had minimal
maintenance
G. This measure will continue the high standards in Los Altos for fiscal accountability and transparency by
requiring that any money generated must be spent only…
E. The measure will give Los Altos control over local
funds for local needs - allowing Los Altos to be self-reliant and requiring that our tax dollars are spent for Los Altos… K. The measure will update and maintain police facilities and technology so we can maintain 9-1-1 dispatch, crime fighting and investigation services, keep neighborhoods… D. None of the money raised by the measure would be
used for City administrator salaries
B. Los Altos fire stations have not had adequate updates.
This measure will ensure that they are operational during earthquakes, wildfires and storms
J. For victims of heart attacks, strokes, accidents and other emergencies, seconds can be the difference
between life and death. This measure will help ensure…
0.89 0.91
0.91 0.91
0.94 1.00
1.05 No Effect Somewhat
More Likely
Much More
Likely
66.1%
62.5%
Tier 1
Sample B
22 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Informational Statements II
0 1 2
N. The measure will streamline the utility ordinance and ensure that it is applied fairly across all categories
C. The measure will help maintain the quality of life and distinctive character of Los Altos
L. The measure will help improve public safety by
providing a modern police station for critical police
operations
H. Safe neighborhoods help protect our property values
I. The measure will help Los Altos be self-reliant during difficult times
A. This measure is needed to maintain current levels of public safety and police services, including neighborhood patrols, crime prevention and investigation programs,…
F. This measure includes independent financial audits,
and yearly reports to the community to ensure the funds are spent responsibly for community priorities
0.59 0.62
0.65 0.72
0.76 0.83
0.85 No Effect Somewhat
More Likely
Much More
Likely
56.6%
36.2%
Tier 2
55.1%
44.6%
41.9%
T-1 cont’d Tier 3
Sample B
Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores:
“Much More Likely” = +2, “Somewhat More Likely” = +1, and “No Effect” = 0. 23 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Critical Statements
0 1 2
D. The measure will just drive businesses and the jobs
they provide out of Los Altos
H. The voters passed a hotel tax in 2018, we do not need another tax
A. If our tax dollars weren't going to high salaries,
benefits, and pensions for public employees, we would…
C. Given inflation on groceries, gas, and household
necessities, and increasing interest rates, we can't…
E. The City just spent $38 million dollars on a new
community center. If the City had spent the money on…
B. The average resident is already paying extra taxes to the County and school district, now they want to…
G. The City is increasing the sewer tax by 15 percent, we can't afford this measure on top of already higher…
F. The measure is a forever tax that will never end
0.58 0.63
0.68 0.81
0.82 0.89
0.89 1.07
No Effect Somewhat
More Likely
Much More
Likely
Tier 1
62.6%
35.4%
54.2%
38.5%
Tier 2
50.4%
T-3
Note: The above rating questions have been abbreviated for charting purposes, and responses were recoded to calculate mean scores:
“Much More Likely” = +2, “Somewhat More Likely” = +1, and “No Effect” = 0. 24 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Informed Hypothetical Support for Parcel
Measure
Sample A
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Likely
March
2024
Initial
Likely
March
2024
Final
Likely
November
2024
Initial
Likely
November
2024
Final
12.7%
17.3%
14.0%
17.5%
35.9%
30.8%
36.2%
29.0%
26.1%
21.8%
25.3%
23.4%
15.5%
18.8%
16.8%
19.0%
9.8%
11.3%
7.7%
11.1%
Definitely Yes Probably Yes Probably No Definitely No DK/NA
50.2%
To improve critical public safety
services/ facilities, such as:
• updating fire stations to ensure
operations during an
emergency;
• maintaining neighborhood
police patrols;
• providing safe/ secure police
facilities;
• meeting seismic safety
standards at the police/ fire
stations; and
• ensuring back-up power for
police operations during
storms/ shutdowns;
shall the City of Los Altos
measure be adopted establishing
a $275 parcel tax, until ended by
voters, providing an additional
$3.1 million dollars annually, that
cannot be taken by Sacramento,
including citizen oversight?
48.6%
46.5%
48.1%
25 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
Informed Hypothetical Support for
UUT Measure
Sample B
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Likely
March
2024
Initial
Likely
March
2024
Final
Likely
November
2024
Initial
Likely
November
2024
Final
13.1%
12.1%
13.0%
12.1%
34.2%
36.9%
32.8%
37.6%
21.6%
21.4%
20.3%
19.2%
19.6%
20.5%
20.2%
21.6%
11.5%
9.1%
13.7%
9.5%
Definitely Yes Probably Yes Probably No Definitely No DK/NA
45.8%
To improve public safety services/
facilities, such as:
• updating fire stations to ensure
operations during an
emergency;
• maintaining neighborhood
police patrols;
• providing safe/ secure police
facilities;
• meeting seismic standards at
police/ fire stations; and
• ensuring police operations
back-up power during storms;
shall the City of Los Altos
measure be adopted adjusting the
existing utility users tax to a 7
percent rate, until ended by
voters, providing an additional
$3.1 million dollars annually, that
cannot be taken by Sacramento,
including oversight?
47.3%
49.7%
49.0%
26 Agenda Item 1.
April 2023
www.godberesearch.com
California and Corporate Offices
1220 Howard Avenue, Suite 250
Burlingame, CA 94010
Nevada Office
59 Damonte Ranch Parkway, Suite B309
Reno, NV 89521
27 Agenda Item 1.
PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE
The following is public correspondence received by the City Clerk’s Office after the posting of the original agenda. Individual contact information has been redacted for privacy. This may not be a comprehensive collection of the public correspondence, but staff makes its best effort to include all correspondence received to date.
To send correspondence to the City Council, on matters listed on the agenda please email [email protected]
28 Agenda Item 2.
From: Bill Hough
To: Public Comment; City Council
Subject: [External Sender]Public Comment, Study Session, May 23,, 2023 Date: Saturday, May 20, 2023 9:21:09 AM
It is no surprise that a tax increase to fund a new police station would not get enough "yes" votes to pass.
Residents are getting mixed messages from City Hall. Pleading poverty, the city wants a new police station while it doubles the sewer tax. At the same time, they plan is to spend public money on a new theater that should be privately funded.
Why not scrap funding for the theater and redirect that money to the new police station? Bill Hough
Overtaxed resident
29 Agenda Item 2.
From: Debbie Crouse
To: Public Comment
Cc: Tanya Momi
Subject: Heritage Orchard Restoration and maintenance
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023 12:13:00 PM
Hello,
I’m putting a word in to support maintenance and restoration of the Los Altos Heritage Orchard. My requests are two-fold:
1) Make it an immediate priority to remove weeds. It’s a bit of an embarrassment to the community while care for the orchard is debated.
2) Assign care for the orchard to The Los Altos History Museum and eliminate this gap in care. They have an excellent track record for caring for the History House and Agricultural Exhibit and have plans established for arranging for care of the orchard.
I support an overall plan of maintaining the orchard as a green space and place of SV history.
Best,
Debbie Crouse
1273 Windimer Dr.
30 Agenda Item 2.
From: carol little
To: City Council; Public Comment
Subject: Historic Orchard Study Session Tuesday, May 23, 2023 06:00 PM Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023 9:19:40 PM
Dear City Council,
This is a public comment regarding our historic orchard. For many years, I have admired the Saratoga Heritage Orchard. It is always green and healthy looking. It is my hope that our Los Altos will do due diligence in looking for the right service to manage our orchard.
Please have our city Manager reach out Saratoga to find out what maintenance service they use and consider hiring the same service for our orchard. By hiring an experienced orchard maintenance service, Los Altos will save time and money.
I have included the information provided to the public on the Saratoga City website. They do a lovely job laying out exactly precise details regarding their orchard.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Teresa Morris
From https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https://www.saratoga.ca.us/489/HeritageOrchard___.YXAzOmxvc2FsdG9zY2E6YTpvOjFmN2RlODNiMDEyNDI3YjJmMTg3Y2M4YzcyYTNlNjg5OjY6NWFmYjo1NGFmN2QwNDdmOWUwYjlmYzk2Y2FlNDJhZDc2ZGE0N2ExMTE4Yjc2NDc1OGZhZTgzMjYwNjc1YmZhNzRkYjNjOnQ6VA Heritage Orchard
2023 Community Harvest
Harvest opportunities will be announced based on orchard conditions. Saratoga residents can learn about these opportunities by completing the Community Harvest Interest Form. After completing the Community Harvest Interest Form, Saratoga residents will be notified by email at least 24 hours in advance of Community Harvest opportunities. This email will include instructions on how to participate.
Residents can also become a Village Harvest volunteer to pick fruit from local orchards that will be donated to local food banks at www.villageharvest.org Fruit may only be collected as part of City-sanctioned harvest events or activities. Registration is required. Harvest dates and times are subject to change.
View photos from the 2021 Community Harvest
View photos from the 2022 Community Harvest
Village Harvest
In addition to the Community Harvest, City has collaborated with Village Harvest to collect fruit from the Heritage Orchard to be donated to local food banks. In 2020, community members volunteered with Village Harvest to gather more than 6,000 pounds of fruit that was donated. Village Harvest is a nonprofit volunteer organization that works to provide food for people in need, promote sustainable use of urban resources, and preserve agricultural heritage and skills.
Visit the Village Harvest website to learn more about how you can volunteer to be part of this effort.
About the Orchard
Saratoga began as a frontier town and an industrial settlement before becoming an agricultural hub with many fruit orchards and vineyards. Saratoga’s bountiful fruit harvests made it a popular trading post. Glen Una was one of the largest prune ranches in the area, and the Blossom Festival started as a result of agricultural influences. Saratoga, and the valley as a whole, transformed its identity once again and Saratoga became a residential community.
The Heritage Orchard was designated as a City park in 1984 in recognition of the City's agricultural heritage. It was designated as a Heritage Landmark by the City in 1988. The Heritage Orchard is now one of the few remaining orchards in the Bay Area. It includes plum, apricot, and cherry trees. In 2020, the City Council adopted the Heritage Orchard Master Plan, which was developed by the Heritage Preservation Commission.
Orchard Maintenance
The City works with an orchard maintenance contractor for the care of the Heritage Orchard. Some of the common maintenance practices are noted below by season.
Winter
Perform pest management following integrated pest management practices Prune cherries and plums
Plant new trees
Manage understory
Spring
Perform pest management
Thin the crop to prevent limb breakage and to size up the fruit Mow
Summer
Harvest cherries, apricots, and prune plums
Prune apricots
Mow
Fall
Manage cover crop/understory
Mow
Integrated Pest Management
The Heritage Orchard is maintained using integrated pest management principles. Integrated pest management focuses on the prevention of pests through a combination of ecosystem-based techniques, such as habitat manipulation and other natural options. Fungicide and insecticide are only used in the Heritage Orchard if necessary. Additionally, only organic (OMRI approved) products are used when spraying is needed. Examples of integrated pest management practices include the planting of native, flowering shrubs that provide a habitat for predatory insects and birds that eat orchard pests.
Heritage Orchard Cover Crop
Various plants can be found below the canopy of the trees in the Heritage Orchard. The space below the tree canopy is also referred to as the understory. These plants in the understory are a cover crop that has been intentionally planted to support the health of the Heritage Orchard. The use of cover crops in orchards is very common, dating back to the Roman Empire. Cover crops eliminate the need for annual discing, prevent soil erosion, regulate moisture, attract pollinators, and provide natural weed and pest management. Additionally, the cover crop helps feeds nutrients into the soil, encouraging a healthy microbiology in the soil that helps the Heritage Orchard trees stay healthy and withstand stress throughout the year. https://url.avanan.click/v2/___https://www.saratoga.ca.us/489/HeritageOrchard___.YXAzOmxvc2FsdG9zY2E6YTpvOjFmN2RlODNiMDEyNDI3YjJmMTg3Y2M4YzcyYTNlNjg5OjY6ODc2OTplMTE0ZDQ5ZDBiMDZiMTJhNDFkMTUyMTRiMmExOWY1YjVhNzhhMjdkZmQ2NTkwYzc0YzAwY2RkMmZkNGViNDY5OnQ6VA 31 Agenda Item 2.
From: Tom Stevens
To: Public Comment
Cc: Jane Packard; Nancy Stevens; Mary Popek; Anne Roberts Subject: Orchard Restoration
Date: Monday, May 22, 2023 8:36:45 AM
My wife and I would like to show our support for the Orchard Restoration project headed by Jane Packard.
We believe that the orchard is a significant community asset that needs restoration and preservation. We are fortunate to
have the leadership of Jane Packard and all of us should be willing to provide her the support she needs.
Thank you,
Tom & Nancy Stevens
32 Agenda Item 2.
From: Pat Marriot
To: Public Comment
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT ORCHARD STUDY SESSION MAY 23, 2023 Date: Monday, May 22, 2023 9:21:52 AM
Council Members:
I strongly support restoration and care of our Heritage Orchard. It often looks unkempt, full of weeds, which is a shame because it’s at the entry point to our Downtown and Civic Center. I’d like to see it fully planted and cared for so we can be proud of preserving a small bit of the Valley of Heart’s Delight.
With all the growth in the Bay Area, with all the new projects under the Housing Element, we should be grateful for this last plot of apricots.
Sincerely,
Pat Marriott
33 Agenda Item 2.
From: Couture, Terri
To: Public Comment
Subject: study session ; Los Altos orchard May 23
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023 8:59:10 AM
Dear Council members
I support restoration of the Los Altos Heritage Orchard. With its excellent track record in caring for the History House and Agricultural Exhibit, the Los Altos History Museum is well suited to take the lead on arranging for orchard care.
The trees are a vital part of our history, not to mention all the healthy contributions trees give to our mental and physical health. thank you Terri Couture & Fred Tuerk
*Wire Fraud is Real*. Before wiring any money, call the intended recipient at a number you know is valid to confirm the instructions. Additionally, please note that the sender does not have authority to bind a party to a real estate contract via written or verbal communication. 34 Agenda Item 2.
PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE
The following is public correspondence received by the City Clerk’s Office after the posting of the original agenda. Individual contact information has been redacted for privacy. This may not be a comprehensive collection of the public correspondence, but staff makes its best effort to include all correspondence received to date.
To send correspondence to the City Council, on matters listed on the agenda please email [email protected]
35 Agenda Item 2.
From: [email protected]
To: Public Comment
Subject: Heritage Orchard Restoration
Date: Monday, May 22, 2023 6:57:49 PM
To Whom It May Concern -
I am writing to offer my support for the restoration of the Los Altos Heritage Orchard. The Los Altos History Museum has an excellent track record in caring for and managing the Paul Smith History House and the Agricultural Exhibit. As such, it is well suited to take the lead on the continued care of the Los Altos Heritage Orchard, Sincerely,
Lori Tuttle
Los Altos History Museum Volunteer (20+ years).
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36 Agenda Item 2.