CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
AGENDA
In-Person
FEBRUARY 27, 2024
5:00 P.M.
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/88171041722?pwd=NRvxRwzAAwejhzi05EsfxPw7PHpb9d.1 Telephone: 1-669-444-9171 / Webinar ID: 881 7104 1722 / Passcode: 699977 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 1 2/27/2024 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION AGENDA Page 2 of 2 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.
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:
a. Senior
b. Environmental Commission
c. Complete Streets Commission
d. Library
2. Written Public Comments
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 Senior Commission Updated February 5, 2024
SENIOR COMMISSION
2023-24 Work Plan
(October 2023 to September 2024)
Goal Projects Ad-Hoc Assignments Target Date Status
Recertify Los Altos as
an Age Friendly city
• AARP Age
Friendly Survey
outreach
• Present AARP Age Friendly Survey to the
multi-cultural group
Ad-Hoc subcommittee: Dixit
• Present AARP Age Friendly Survey to Adult
50+ lunch program (Community Center and
Grant)
Ad-Hoc subcommittee: O’Reilly & Nagao
• Present AARP Age Friendly Survey to Los
Altos Rotary
Ad-Hoc subcommittee: Basiji
January 2024
January 2024
February 2024
Completed
Completed
Completed
• Participate in Age
Friendly Task
Force
• Work with Center for Age Friendly Excellence
(CAFÉ) representatives to assist and support
outreach and research
Ad-Hoc subcommittee: Buchholz, Cohen, O’Reilly
December 2024
• Assist with Age
Friendly data
collection/analysis
• Note taking for
Age-Friendly focus
groups
• Senior Commission will provide support to
CAFÉ by attending the focus groups and taking
notes
Spring/Summer
2024
3 Agenda Item 1.
Senior Commission Updated February 5, 2024
Outdoor Spaces
and Buildings
• Grant Park
Community Center
Transportation
Improve Senior
Transportation options
• Host a workshop
connecting
Adult 50+ to
transportation
options
• Explore
resources and
options
Housing
Social Participation
• Collaborate with
Adult 50+ staff to
increase
participation in
programs and
activities
• Meet with Recreation Coordinator to understand
what programs and services are being offered,
and determine recommended areas of
improvement
Ad-hoc subcommittee: Nagao, Olson
March 2024
• Support and
enhance
community
connections
Respect and
Social Inclusion
4 Agenda Item 1.
Senior Commission Updated February 5, 2024
Civic Participation and
Employment
Communication and
Information
• Improve outreach
• Determine ways to
reach isolated
seniors
Community Support and
Health Care Services
• Educate and connect
seniors to resources
to allow them to age
in place
5 Agenda Item 1.
Environmental Commission
2024 Work Plan
Project Goal Tasks Target Date Assignments Status
Dark Skies/Bird Safety
(CAAP Item 2.1)
Increase residen�al and
commercial building energy
efficiency, reduce light
pollu�on, and protect
wildlife.
Provide staff with guidance on
ligh�ng and bird safety
guidelines/ordinance.
Mid 2024 Hecht, Lu In Progress
Single Use Plas�cs
Ordinance
(CAAP Item 3.1B)
Reduce waste and increase
landfill diversion by
elimina�ng non-essen�al
single-use plas�cs.
Provide staff with guidance on
policy recommenda�ons for the
ordinance and assist with
community outreach.
Mid 2024 TBD In Progress
Accelerate Building
Electrifica�on
(CAAP Item 2.1)
Reduce GHG emissions
coming from residen�al
and commercial buildings.
Work with staff to research and
develop decarb programs. Assist
staff with outreach/educa�on.
Ongoing TBD Not Started
EV Fair
(CAAP Item 1.4A)
Reduce air pollu�on
through educa�on and
awareness of EV resources
and incen�ve programs.
Atend planning mee�ngs, table
at event, provide feedback, and
assist with public outreach.
March 2024
(Yearly Event) TBD In Progress
Adapta�on/Resilience
(CAAP Item 7.1, 7.2,
8.1)
Integrate adapta�on into
emergency preparedness
and response to ensure
public safety during
extreme weather events.
Develop a plan to address
community climate adapta�on
and safety.
Pending
comple�on of
projects #1-3
TBD On Hold
6 Agenda Item 1.
COMPLETE STREETS COMMISSION
CITY OF LOS ALTOS
2024 WORK PLAN
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
(TRANSPORTATION DIVISION)
7 Agenda Item 1.
COMPLETE STREETS
COMMISSION GOAL
To align its goals with the City
Council’s Strategic Goals for 2024:
Safe Routes to School
Annual Street Resurfacing
Implement the CIty’s policies as
expressed in the Complete Streets
Master Plan to improve circulation,
safety, and efficiencies, with an
emphasis on improving Safe
Routes to Schools.
8 Agenda Item 1.
GOALS
Complete Streets are
planned, designed, and
operated for safe mobility
for all users...
CATEGORY COMPLETE STREETS GOAL STATEMENT
Activity
Increase the share of people walking, biking, and riding transit to work to 10% by 2030 and 20% by 2040.
Increase the share of students walking and biking to school by 10% by 2030.
Safety
Reduce the number of collisions in the community involving people walking, biking, and/or driving by 50% by 2030.
Work to eliminate all collisions resulting in severe and fatal injuries by 2030.
Reduce before and after traffic speeds and cut-through rates on projects aimed to address those issues.
Connectivity
Implement at least 10 high-priority projects by 2030.
Decrease the number of gaps in pedestrian and bicycle networks by 50% by 2030.
Climate
Change
Reduce the number of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) per capita to meet the goals of the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Community
Input
Ensure all projects include pre- and post- engagement and evaluation with community members by 2022.
Increase opportunities for community members to share additional feedback and insights on methods for improvement. Implement a feedback process by 2022.
Evaluation
Collect and publish multimodal transportation counts on arterials once every five years.
Ensure all City sponsored transportation projects include before and after multimodal transportation counts by 2025.
SOURCE: LOS ALTOS COMPLETE STREETS MASTER PLAN: AN ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FRAMEWORK_V9, 2022 9 Agenda Item 1.
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION’S
PERFORMANCE IN 2023
Reorganization of the department and division.
Award of On-Call contract for Transportation Engineering Services.
Three (3) new hires for the department.
Evaluation of Jardin Dr completed construction and determination to develop an improved design with extensive community engagement.
Three (3) concept plans prepared for review and comments - sent to Santa Clara Fire Department for review (end of December 2023).
Damaged lighted crosswalk at San Antonio Rd and Loucks Ave was replaced with a fully operational, double sided LED, audible system.
Field inspection and evaluation of all Los Altos lighted crosswalk systems to determine locations in need of immediate improvements.
Response and improvements to outstanding resident complaints.
Response and meetings with schools seeking traffic operations improvements.
Review of permit applications in queue and preparation of response letters to applicants.
Review of funded projects, additional funding needs, and determination of projects the department can focus on and deliver in 2024.
Preparation of the 2024 Work Plan and staff assignments.
DEPARTMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
NEW STAFF (OCTOBER-DECEMBER)
PREVIOUS STAFF
San Antonio Ave Improvements Project
Safe Routes to School - Encouragement & Education
10 Agenda Item 1.
2024 WORK PLAN
PROJECT NAME BRIEF DESCRIPTION
San Antonio Road
Improvements
Advertise RFP in Q4 of FY 2023-2024
Jardin Drive Road
Improvements
Outreach, redesign, and construct
Safe Routes to School Evaluate plans and engage with schools Annual Street Resurfacing Street resurfacing on select streets Annual Street Striping Street striping on select streets Annual Street Slurry Seal Slurry or micro seal select streets Annual Traffic Sign
Replacement
MUTCD compliant signs to replace existing traffic signs Maintenance of Crosswalk
Systems
Maintain non-operational systems at uncontrolled
crosswalks not a part of grant funded projects
Fremont Ave Pedestrian
Bridge Rehabilitation
Rehab existing bridge for various issues
Intersection Access Barrier
Removal
Removal of barriers to provide ADA access to the Hetch
Hetchy Trail
El Camino Real Improvements
Pavement rehabilitation, ADA improvements, and new
bike lanes installation
11 Agenda Item 1.
ALMOND ELEMENTARY
COVINGTON ELEMENTARY
GARDNER BULLIS ELEMENTARY
LOYOLA ELEMENTARY
OAK AVENUE ELEMENTARY
SANTA RITA ELEMENTARY
SPRINGER ELEMENTARY
BLACH MIDDLE SCHOOL
EGAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
MONTCLAIRE ELEMENTARY
STEVENS CREEK ELEMENTARY
WEST VALLEY ELEMENTARY
CUPERTINO MIDDLE SCHOOL
KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL
HOMESTEAD HIGH SCHOOL
LOS ALTOS HIGH SCHOOL
MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
Safe Routes to School refers to a variety of multi-disciplinary programs aimed at both increasing the number of students walking and bicycling to school and reducing the number of vehicle trips associated with school travel on a national or statewide level. Our list of schools are:
12 Agenda Item 1.
NOVEMBER 2023
RECEIVED INITIAL FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AT CSC MEETING (11/29/2023) JANUARY 2024
DESIGN CONCEPTS WERE SHARED AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING (1/25/2024), RECEIVED FEEDBACK, AND PRESENTED TO CSC (1/31/2024)
FEBRUARY 2024
NEW DESIGN CONCEPTS WILL BE SHARED AT THE SPECIAL CSC MEETING (2/22/2024)
PREPARED IN CONSIDERATION OF THE INPUT RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND CSC CSC RECOMMENDATION OF FINAL DESIGN (2/28/2024)
MARCH 2024
PRESENT CSC RECOMMENDED FINAL DESIGN TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL (3/12/2024)
APRIL 2024
PREPARE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND BID PACKAGE TO PUT CITY PAVEMENT
PROJECT OUT TO BID
MAY 2024
GO TO CITY COUNCIL TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND EXECUTE
AGREEMENT WITH AWARDED CONTRACTOR
(5/14/2024)
JUNE 2024
CONSTRUCTION BEGINS AFTER (6/6/2024 – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL) FOR JARDIN DRIVE
AND OTHER PAVEMENT REHAB STREETS
AUGUST 2024
REDESIGNED JARDIN DR. OPENS TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL (8/12/2024)
UPDATE ON JARDIN DRIVE
REDESIGN TIMELINE
13 Agenda Item 1.
AIM ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS, INC.
www.aimeci.com
(925) 495-1234
5424 Sunol Blvd, Ste 10-256,
Pleasanton, CA 94566
CITY OF LOS ALTOS
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
&
AIM ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS
PREPARED BY
14 Agenda Item 1.
Goal Projects Priority Source Status
Improvements to main library building (Existing Ad-Hoc Subcommittee)* 1st Phase Complete Improvements to main library parking lot In Progress
Improve
services Research new services, programs, and events for library* Powers and
Duties In Progress
Explore targeted outreach to seniors, youth, and general public (Future Ad-Hoc Subcommittee)* In Progress Improve the Commission's presence Beginning
Host community events at library In Progress
Attend meetings for external community organizations In Progress Identify liaisons for all external community organizations Completed *Aligns with County Library Strategic Plan
2024 Los Altos Library Commission Work Plan
Increase
awareness
Enhance
partnerships
Powers and
Duties
Powers and
Duties
Improve
infrastructure
City Council -
Asset
Management
15 Agenda Item 1.
1 Melissa Thurman
From: Safe Routes DTLA <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2024 7:05 PM
To: Public Comment
Cc: Aida Fairman; Art Williams; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Council Study Session on Feb 27, 2024, Item 1(c) Complete Streets Commission February 25, 2024
Los Altos City Council Members and Complete Streets Commissioners City of Los Altos
Los Altos, CA 94022
Dear Honorable City Council Members and Complete Street Commissioners; As you prepare to discuss the Complete Streets Commission Work Plan for 2024, we urge you to include what we see as two missing components that are critical in achieving the Complete Streets Commission's Activity, Safety, and Community Input goals:
1. Utilizing provisions of AB43 to reduce vehicle speed limits within business activity districts and safety corridors.
2. Engaging with the County of Santa Clara’s Bike/Ped study of Foothill Expressway, Waiting to act will increase the likelihood that our community will experience another death similar to what happened last week to Marie Elise Jabon, a 38 year old Los Altos resident who was tragically killed by a car as she was cycling on Foothill Expressway. While last week’s incident wasn’t within the jurisdiction of the City of Los Altos, you still have the ability to strongly advocate for and influence safety improvements made by the County of Santa Clara, and you most certainly have the authority to make near-term safety improvements within the City’s jurisdiction. We are asking the City of Los Altos to more proactively protect the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other multimodal users of our streets with immediacy and urgency. 16 Agenda Item 2.
2 To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Accidents over an
11 year period in Los Altos involving a bicyclist or pedestrian.
UC Berkeley Transportation and Injury Mapping System
#1 Utilize Provisions of AB43 to Reduce Vehicle Speed Limits Within Business Activity Districts and Safety Corridors
The fastest, easiest, and most cost effective way to improve multi-model traffic safety in Los Altos is to reduce the speed limits within the busiest safety corridors and business activity districts, prioritizing San Antonio Road, W Edith Ave, and Foothill Expressway. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, vehicle speed plays a central, powerful role in the safety of pedestrian and bicyclists. Slower speeds save lives. Under the recently passed AB43, the City of Los Altos and the County of Santa Clara now have the power to lower speed limits on city streets, especially in safety corridors, areas that generate a high concentration of pedestrians and bicyclists, and in business activity districts. Many SF Bay Area cities, including Menlo Park are already ahead of Los Altos in taking advantage of AB43.
To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.
Safe Routes to Downtown Los Altos has been advocating for safer roadways, intersections, and access to Downtown Los Altos for almost two years. While the typical study, design, and build process for a street project 17 Agenda Item 2.
3 can take a handful of years, we implore the Council and Complete Streets Commission to also consider nearterm changes that can dramatically improve street safety in our community.
San Antonio Road
In a memo drafted by City of Los Altos staff for the Complete Streets Commission in 2022, the City of Los Altos communicated the new opportunity to reduce the 35MPH speed limit on North San Antonio Road, a road where we’ve already experienced at least one pedestrian fatality. We are distressed that no reduction of speed has been implemented and this improvement has not even been proposed as part of the 2024 Work Plan. “AB43 allows for lower posted speeds on streets contiguous to a business activity district, following a 30-day warning period. This would allow for lower speeds along N San Antonio Rd adjacent to Downtown.” (Complete Streets Agenda 8/31/2022)
Foothill Expressway
Foothill Expressway runs parallel to Downtown Los Altos, and also serves vulnerable pedestrian and cycling traffic. We are asking the City to request that the County implement AB43 on Foothill Expressway and reduce the speed limit adjacent to the Los Altos downtown triangle. The goal should be to reduce fatalities and accidents rather than to “improve transit times” on Foothill Expressway. For every 5 MPH reduction in speed, travel time for one mile would be increased by 15 seconds. How many seconds is a life worth? “AB43 allows further 5-MPH increment reductions below past calculated speed zones taking into consideration vulnerable pedestrian groups as a heavily weighted factor when recommending speed zones. A 30-day warning period is required prior to issuance of citations when lower speed limits” (Complete Streets Agenda 8/31/2022)
#2 Engage with the County of Santa Clara’s Bike/Ped Study of Foothill Expressway The safety challenges for multimodal transportation on and crossing Foothill Expressway go far beyond the reduction of vehicle speed limits. We are fortunate that the County of Santa Clara recognizes the need for improvements along the entire Foothill Expressway and Junipero Serra corridor. As the first step towards making improvements, the County has secured funding for a Bicycle/Pedestrian study of this corridor, which runs the entire length of Los Altos.
In order for the study to accurately reflect the needs of Los Altos and to best serve the interests of our community, the City of Los Altos will need to be engaged in this study, from the RFP phase, through data collection, and then by providing feedback on the draft report. In the coming years, there will be a design study and then building plans. Ultimately, this project will make a significant impact on the Los Altos community.
Positive impacts on our community will only result from the city’s engagement during the life of this study and the followup from its conclusions. Our request is that engagement in the Foothill Expressway Bike/Ped Multimodal study be included in the Complete Streets Commission Work Plan for 2024.
We hope you will agree that it is not acceptable that people are nearly injured, injured, or killed on our streets.
We must value life over speed. Foothill Expressway and North San Antonio Road can be examples of how to create safe spaces for pedestrians, cyclists, and other multi-modal transit. We urge Council and the CSC to act within your power to reduce speeds on these roadways and to prioritize moving the San Antonio Road and Foothill Expressway projects forwards by all means available.
In summary, we implore you to include the following items in the 2024 Complete Streets Commission Work Plan:
Utilize provisions of AB43 by reducing vehicle speed limits within Business Activity Districts and Safety Corridors with Special Attention to San Antonio Road, W Edith Ave, and Foothill Expressway. 18 Agenda Item 2.
4 Engage with the County of Santa Clara’s Bike/Ped Study of Foothill Expressway.
Sincerely,
Jill Woodford, Jennifer Denebeim, and Harry Guy
19 Agenda Item 2.