CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
AGENDA
In-Person
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
PARTICIPATION: Members of the public may participate by being present at the Los Altos Council Chamber at Los Altos City Hall located at 1 N. San Antonio Rd, Los Altos, CA during the meeting.
Public comment is accepted in person at the physical meeting location, or via email to [email protected].
RULES FOR CONDUCT: Pursuant to Los Altos Municipal Code, Section 2.05.010 "Interruptions and rules for conduct": Understanding that the purpose of the city council meetings is to conduct the people's business for the benefit of all the people, in the event that any meeting of the city council is willfully interrupted by a person or group of persons so as to render the orderly conduct of the meeting impossible, the mayor, mayor pro tem, or any other member of the city council acting as the chair may order the removal of the person or persons responsible for the disruption and bar them from further attendance at the council meeting, or otherwise proceed pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.0 or any applicable penal statute or city ordinance.
REMOTE MEETING OBSERVATION: Members of the public may view the meeting via the link below, but will not be permitted to provide public comment via Zoom or telephone. Public comment will be taken in-person, and members of the public may provide written public comment by following the instructions below.
https://losaltosca-gov.zoom.us/j/81869782473?pwd=YkTrQ2Kh0NvSu90VPpQiyKQtaG0Wzp.1 Telephone: 1-669-444-9171 / Webinar ID: 818 6978 2473 / Passcode: 487273 SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS: Prior to the meeting, comments on matters listed on the agenda may be emailed to [email protected]. Emails sent to this email address are sent to/received immediately by the City Council. Emails sent directly to the City Council as a whole or individually, and not sent to [email protected] will not be included as a public comment in the Council packet.
Please note: Personal information, such as e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, home addresses, and other contact information are not required to be included with your comments. If this information is included in your written comments, they will become part of the public record. Redactions and/or edits will not be made to public comments, and the comments will be posted as they are submitted. Please do not include any information in your communication that you do not want to be made public.
1 2/13/2024 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AGENDA Page 2 of 2 Correspondence submitted in hard copy/paper format must be received by 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting to ensure distribution prior to the meeting. Comments provided in hard copy/paper format after 2:00 p.m. will be distributed the following day and included with public comment in the Council packet.
The Mayor will open public comment and will announce the length of time provided for comments during each item.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
CONFIRM QUORUM
DISCUSSION ITEM(S)
1. The City Council will meet with the following Commissions in the following order to discuss 2024 Commission work plans:
1. Financial
2. Parks, Arts, Recreation and Cultural
3. Historical
4. Planning
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. 2 Financial Commission 2023/2024 Work Plan – Updated February 5th 2024 Last reviewed 2/5/2024
Draft Financial Commission 2023/24 Work Plan
Goal Projects Assignments Frequency Target Date(s) Status Recurring Goals
#1 Investment Performance Review Investment Performance Quarterly Ended Sep 30, 2023– Nov 2023
Ended Dec 31, 2023 – Feb 2024
Ended Mar 31, 2024– Apr 2024
Ended Jun 30, 2024– Sep 2024
#2 Operating Budget Current year Mid- Year Review and Annual Budget Review for the next fiscal year Annually
FY24 Mid- Year Review – Feb 2024
FY25 Annual Budget-May 2024
#3 Financial Communication_ New
Financial System Progress
Update on the new Financial System (Tyler
Munis) Implementation process.
Quarterly or
as needed
Feb 2024
May 2024
September 2024
November 2024
#4 Annual Audit for Current Fiscal
Year (FY24)
Review the Audit planning and priorities with
auditors. Annually Audit Premeeting- May 2024 New
#5
Annual Comprehensive
Financial Report For FY23
Review draft ACFR and Internal Control with the
Auditor Annually ACFR draft- March 2024
#6 PERS Unfunded Liability Evaluate PERS Unfunded Liability; re-evaluate prepay only or investment plan Annually June 2024
#7
Five- Year Capital Improvement
and Major Maintenance Program
Budget
Review Capital Spending Annually March 2024 New
#8
Five- Year Capital Improvement
and Major Maintenance Program
Budget
Annual Budget Review for the next fiscal year
(FY25), focus on the method of project selection
and cost estimation. Annually
FY25 Project 1
ST review- April 2024
FY25 Project 2nd review- May/June
2024
3 Agenda Item 1.
Financial Commission 2023/2024 Work Plan – Updated February 5th 2024 Last reviewed 2/5/2024
#9
Community Center Debt
(commenced 6/30/21, 2.29%)
Review if payoff feasible
Full payoff: Yrs 1-5 a 102%, Yrs 6-10 at 101%,
Yrs 11 on at 100% on any pmt date
Partial payoff annually of no more than $500,000
on any pmt date, applied to end of pmt schedule
Both require 30 day notice
Annually March 2024
#10 Financial Policies Review/update City's Financial Policy (Including the Debt Policy) Annually September/ October 2024
#11 Investment Policy Review/update City's Investment Policy Annually February/March 2024
October/ November 2024 (with 3rd
Quarterly Investment Report)
#12 Cross Commission Collaboration Finance Commission responds to requests from other commissions Ad hoc As needed
Non-recurring Goals
4 Agenda Item 1.
Approved 01/16/2024
Parks Arts Recrea�on & Culture Commission
2024 Work Plan
Impact Objec�ve Deliverables Leadership Status
Community
Outreach
Con�nue increasing
community
involvement in
ac�vity and the arts
through programs
and events
Con�nue search for opportuni�es for community
involvement programs.
• Everyone is an ar�st
Partnership Grant Program – Call for Art
• Develop process/program
PR Outreach: Work with City PR support for
communica�ons outreach and Commission
charter
• Brochure
• Commission program signage
PARC representa�on at City and community
special events
• Farmers Market
• Concerts
• Family Fun Days
Expand exis�ng
public arts
“footprint”
Establish Los Altos as
a “Des�na�on” for
experiencing public
art
Walking and bike tour of business district
sculptures: Planned tours, flyer, promo�on
• Create/update sculpture walking tour map
and brochure
Call for public art (Art Without Walls)
Placing art within a reasonable distance to the
public. (Art Near Me)
Art Conserva�on
and Stewardship
Ensure a posi�ve
end-to-end
experience with our
city’s art installa�ons
including interac�on
Work with staff to enter website updated with
new sculpture informa�on.
Work with staff to manage and monitor:
• Current values of city-owned sculptures
5 Agenda Item 1.
Approved 01/16/2024
with ar�sts, staff and
community
• Placement of sculptures
• Loan sculptures insurance and extensions
• Best prac�ces of other ci�es regarding
loan program
• Proof of insurance through the life of the
art loan (check with staff on this)
Explore restora�on possibili�es for various Cityowned artworks Catalog all art in public spaces (City and private)
Mange Los Altos
Community Center
and other public
facility art programs
Implement ongoing
visual art exhibits
that enhance
community spaces
Community Center art gallery: Complete two calls
for art each year
• Winter Call for Art
• Fall Call for Art
Art for the Council Chamber entry steps: Scope
project and seek community input
Increase park and
facility use
Engagement events Work with staff on:
• Art related event(s)
• Recrea�on related event(s)
• Gather feedback on events
Assess use of current
dog parks
Compile report with observa�ons that were done
by commissioners
DEI (Diversity Equity
and Inclusion)
Apply DEI principles to everything we do
Increase
par�cipa�on in
recrea�on
programs
Mul�-cultural Work with staff and partners to plan new cultural events
Performance Be responsive to staff as they select performance ac�vi�es
Scholarship Program Work with staff to explore a scholarship program Sponsorship Work with staff to recommend a sponsorship
program for summer concerts and events
6 Agenda Item 1.
Approved 01/16/2024
Public Process
Be conduit for public
input and city
transparency
Park improvement projects and public art
purchases
Strategic Planning
Approach parks
planning in a holis�c
way
Update the City’s Parks Plan
7 Agenda Item 1.
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
2024 Work Plan
Goal Projects Assignments Target Date City Related Priority Status 1) Administer
the annual
Margaret
Thompson
Essay
Contest
Administer the
essay contest and
coordinate with
the Los Altos
History
Museum’s
Education
Committee
• Coordinate outreach to Los
Altos schools once an essay
topic is established
(Commissioner Lang)
• Receive and judge essay
entries, and determine
winners for each grade (LA
History Museum)
• Prepare the award
certificates (staff)
• Administer the Ice Cream
Social to recognize winners
(Commissioner Lang)
Implementation:
• Update the city website to
post the documents
provided from the Museum.
• Contact the sends a press
release to the Los Altos
Town Crier announcing the
contest.
• Share the Contest
information with the
Historical Commission in
January; Chair should
participate in the judge of
the contest?
• Begins in
December
each year
• Ends in May
each year
The priority is related
to the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to encourage public
knowledge,
understanding, and
appreciation of the
City's past, and foster
civic and neighborhood
pride and sense of
identity based upon the
recognition and use of
the City’s historic
resources.
The Historical
Commission
is currently
administering
the project.
8 Agenda Item 1.
Historical Commission Work Plan Page 2
Goal Projects Assignments Target Date City Related Priority Status 2) Implement
the Historic
Plaque
Program
Administer the
Historic Plaque
program and
coordinate with
the Los Altos
History Museum
• Coordinate outreach to
historic resource property
owners to solicit interest in
receiving a historic plaque
• Coordinate the ordering of
plaques for historic resource
properties
• Report to the HC for the
plaque program update of
2024.
• If there is an event, contact
the historic museum and
HC for the event details.
• Begins in
February
each year
• Ends in May
each year
The priority is related
to City Council
Resolution No. 2013-
05 and the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to encourage public
knowledge,
understanding, and
appreciation of the
City's past, and foster
civic and neighborhood
pride and sense of
identity based upon the
recognition and use of
the City's historic
resources.
The Historical
Commission
is currently
administering
the project.
• Museum the installation of
historic landmark plaques in
the City’s Historic
Landmark Orchard
3) Review
Ongoing
Efforts to
preserve the
Historic
Landmark
Apricot
Orchard
• Receive an
informational
report from the
Orchard
Commons
Committee on
the
rehabilitation of
the Historic
Landmark
Apricot
Orchard.
• Coordinate informational
reports and presentations
from the Los Altos History
Museum Orchard Commons
Commission
(Commissioner Lang)
Year-round
The priority is related
to City Council
Resolution No. 2013-
05 and the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to encourage public
knowledge,
understanding and
appreciation of the
City's past, and foster
civic and neighborhood
pride,s.
The Historical
Commission
is actively
administering
the project.
9 Agenda Item 1.
Historical Commission Work Plan Page 3
Goal Projects Assignments Target Date City Related Priority Status 4) Provide a
venue for
public
engagement
regarding the
city's heritage
by
safeguarding
historic
resources.
• Process and
evaluate
applications for
historic
landmark
designation or
the listing of a
historic resource
in the historic
resources
inventory.
• Receive and
Review
applications for
historical
alteration
permits or
advisory
review.
• Facilitate a
forum for public
discourse on the
preservation of
the City's
heritage.
• Evaluate and respond to
applications for historic
designation, as well as
applications for permits
related to historic alteration
and historic advisory
reviews. (All
Commissioners)
Year-round
The priority is related
to the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to (1) Safeguard the
heritage of the city by
providing for the
protection of
irreplaceable historic
resources representing
significant elements of
its history; and (2)
encourage public
knowledge,
understanding, and
appreciation of the
City's past, and foster
civic and neighborhood
pride and sense of
identity based upon the
recognition and use of
the City’s historic
resources.
The Historical
Commission
is actively
administering
the project.
10 Agenda Item 1.
Historical Commission Work Plan Page 4
Goal Projects Assignments Target Date City Related Priority Status 5) Administer
the annual
Historic
Preservation
Award
Review
nominations, hear
testimony, and
hold a vote to
determine the
award recipient
• Coordinate outreach by
publicizing the historic
preservation award (staff)
• Review nominations and
vote on the historic
preservation award recipient
(All Commissioners)
Implementation:
1. Update the Los Altos
Historic Preservation
Award Website including
the flyer and the nomination
form if needed.
2. Working with the assigned
commissioner and send a
notification to the Town
Crier for public interest.
The notification shall
include a link to the
nomination form.
3. Agendized to the April
Regulation HC Meeting for
the award.
4. The Proclamation should be
scheduled in a City Council
Meeting in May. Work with
the City Clerk Office to put
it on the agenda (and ensure
it will be on the agenda!)
• Begins in
February
each year
• Ends in May
each year
The priority is related
to City Council
Resolution No. 2013-
05 and the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to encourage public
knowledge,
understanding and
appreciation of the
City's past, and foster
civic and neighborhood
pride and sense of
identity based upon the
recognition and use of
the City’s historic
resources.
The Historical
Commission
is actively
administering
the project.
11 Agenda Item 1.
Historical Commission Work Plan Page 5
Goal Projects Assignments Target Date City Related Priority Status 6) Review the
ongoing staff
efforts to
ensure the
Mills Act is
advancing
the
preservation
of historic
properties in
Los Altos
Review Mills Act
agreements for
compliance.
• Review staff’s ongoing
efforts on Mills Act
compliance (Commissioner
Lang)
• Staff to provide annual
report to the Historical
Commission on October 28,
2024
• Begins in
September
each year
• Ends in
November
each year
The priority is related
to City Council
Ordinance No. 2011-
363 and the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to support the
preservation,
maintenance, and
appropriate
rehabilitation of the
City's historic
resources.
The Historical
Commission
is initiating its
administration
of the project.
7. Maintain the
City’s
Certified
Local
Government
Status
Review and
approve the
annual CLG
report that is
submitted to the
State Office of
Historic
Preservation
• Coordinate the preparation
of the Certified Local
Government (CLG) annual
report (Commission Chair)
• Historical Commission
reviews and approves CLG
annual report (All
Commissioners)
The Historical
Commission
approves the
CLG in April.
The Certified Local
Government Program
encourages the direct
participation of local
governments in the
identification,
evaluation, registration,
and preservation of
historic properties. The
priority is consistent
with Goal 6 of the
Community Design &
Historic Resource
Element of the General
Plan.
The Historical
Commission
is actively
administering
the project.
Seek historic
education
opportunities,
with a focus on
the local
community
activities and
educational
opportunities,
• Actively pursue historic
education and training
opportunities (All
Commissioners)
• Begins in
October
• Ends in
September
12 Agenda Item 1.
Historical Commission Work Plan Page 6
Goal Projects Assignments Target Date City Related Priority Status
8. Foster
Partnership
with Los
Altos History
Museum
Hold an annual
joint meeting with
the Museum
Board of
Directors
Seek
opportunities to
partner with the
Museum on
historic education
and outreach
• Coordinate the annual
joint meeting with the
Museum Board of
Directors
(Commissioner Lang)
• Actively coordinate
with the Los Altos
History Museum on
current and future
education and outreach
programs
(Commissioner Lang)
• Coordinate with the Los
Altos History Museum
the establishment of an
Apricot Orchard
Festival.
Summer each
year
The priority is related
to the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to encourage public
knowledge,
understanding and
appreciation of the.
The joint
meeting will
occur in the
fall.
9. Brochure for
Historical
Plaque
Program
Houses
Create a
Historical Plaque
Program brochure
to publicize the
program and
recipients
• Develop a brochure for the
Historical Plaque program
houses and orchard in
coordination with the Los
Altos History Museum (All
Commissioners)
• Begin in
November
• End in
January
The City priority is
related to the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to encourage public
knowledge,
understanding and
appreciation of the
City's past, and foster
civic and neighborhood
pride and sense of
identity based upon the
recognition and use of
the City's historic
resources.
Pending
13 Agenda Item 1.
Historical Commission Work Plan Page 7
Goal Projects Assignments Target Date City Related Priority Status
10. Advocate for
good
stewardship
of city-owned
historic
properties
Evaluate the
current status of
city-owned
historic
properties.
• Evaluate the current status
of city-owned historic
properties.
Ongoing - (All
Commissioners)
The priority is related
to City Council
Ordinance No. 2011-
363 and the Historic
Commission’s purpose
to support the
preservation,
maintenance, and
appropriate
rehabilitation of the
City's historic
resources.
Ongoing
14 Agenda Item 1.