City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: February 10, 2026
Prepared By: Melissa Thurman
Approved By: Gabe Engeland
Subject: Receive Report - Update on Senate Bill 707
COUNCIL PRIORITY AREA
General Government
RECOMMENDATION
Receive report on Senate Bill (SB) 707
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
None.
FISCAL IMPACT
While there is no immediate fiscal impact associated with receiving this report, future costs may be incurred to comply with the remote participation requirements in SB707, including potential upgrades to technology, software, and equipment.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
None.
BACKGROUND
The Ralph M. Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950, et al., governs open meetings of local legislative bodies in California and establishes requirements for public access and participation. Traditionally, the Brown Act required the public to attend meetings in person to provide public comments, and there were guidelines allowing legislative body members to use teleconferencing.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency legislation was passed to expand remote meeting access for the legislative body and members of the public. Toward the end of the pandemic, as the emergency legislation began to expire, new bills were introduced to amend the traditional Brown Act and continue allowing remote participation in public meetings. SB707 (Durazo) was built using some traditional Brown Act provisions and included components of the emergency legislation enacted during the pandemic, with increased measures to allow remote public participation to assist members of the public who may be unable to attend meetings in person.
ANALYSIS
DISCUSSION
Key provisions of SB707 in relation to public participation include:
• Remote Public Participation - All public agencies in California are required to provide an opportunity for members of the public to participate remotely and to allow for public comment to be accepted over teleconference or other electronic means. • Equal Opportunity for Public Comments - Members of the public who provide public comment over teleconference or other electronic means must be granted the same time allowance as those issuing public comment in-person.
Agencies must begin offering remote public participation no later than July 1, 2026. Prior to this date, the remote participation allowance remains discretionary. Currently, the City of Los Altos provides live public access to City Council and City Commission meetings via Zoom and/or YouTube, allowing members of the public to observe meetings remotely but not to provide verbal public comment. Members of the public are permitted to provide public comment either verbally in person during the meeting or by email in written form. In 2025, the City Council discontinued allowing remote public comments via Zoom due to significant increases in disruptive incidents nationwide, most notably known as "Zoom-bombings". These incidents raised concerns about meeting security, orderly conduct, and the well-being of members of the public, including staff and City Council and Commissioners who would be most at risk from these audio disruptions.
Although the city discontinued remote public comment via Zoom, it still uses Zoom for meeting observation and internal meeting management. Pursuant to SB707, the City will be required to allow remote public comments by July 1, 2026, and plans to do so while continuing to use Zoom.
As the use of outside software and technology poses a risk of potential outages and other issues beyond staff control, SB707 also requires eligible legislative bodies to adopt a written policy regarding the disruption of telephonic or internet services during a public meeting. This policy must address the following requirements:
• Recessing the Meeting - In the event of a disruption to telephone or internet services/software, the body must recess the meeting for at least one hour in an attempt to restore service.
• Good Faith Effort - The policy must outline the steps staff or the legislative body will take to attempt to restore service.
• Reconvening - The policy must detail procedures for reconvening the meeting if a disruption is resolved, and procedures for continuing or canceling a meeting if the disruption is unable to be resolved after one hour has passed.
Staff intends to bring the disruption policy for adoption in June 2026, with remote public participation allowed by July 1, 2026, for all City Council and Commission meetings, in compliance with SB707.
ATTACHMENTS
None
City Council Staff Report
Meeting Date: February 10, 2026
Prepared By: Anthony Carnesecca
Approved By: Gabe Engeland
Subject: Update on Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Contract
COUNCIL PRIORITY AREA
Business Communities
RECOMMENDATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This report is exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State Guidelines implementing the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970.
FISCAL IMPACT
PREVIOUS COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
May 23, 2023, September 12, 2023, October 14, 2025, October 28, 2025, & November 18, 2025
BACKGROUND
At the May 23, 2023 City Council meeting, City Council directed City staff to draft a contract with the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $67,500 annually for five years.
City staff worked with the Chamber of Commerce to draft a contract that will execute specific objectives and achieve accomplishments regarding tourism and visitor attraction on an annual basis.
At the September 12, 2023 City Council meeting, City Council unanimously directed the City Manager to sign a contract with the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $67,500 annually for five years as previously directed during the budget process, which was intended to be for Tourism and Visitor Attraction services that support visitor attraction efforts of the City and will increase the amount of visitors supporting our local economy.
Per the staff report from September 12, 2023, the City of Los Altos and Los Altos Chamber of Commerce entered into an agreement, which is attached to this staff report, requiring certain items to be completed on a fiscal year basis.
The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce successfully completed these tasks in fulfillment of their obligations for Fiscal Year 23-24.
In Fiscal Year 24-25, the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce was able to successfully operate the
Visitors Center, but was unable to complete the tasks outlined relating to the Los Altos Magazine due to extenuating circumstances.
At the October 14, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to return with a review of the contract with the Chamber of Commerce.
At the October 28, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to return to a future meeting with a contract amendment to remove all portions pertaining to the Los Altos Magazine for FY25-26, FY26-27, and FY27-28.
At the November 18, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously approved Amendment No. 1 to the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce contract, which removed all portions pertaining to the Los Altos Magazine for FY25-26, FY26-27, and FY27-28 and allowed the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce to complete the Los Altos Magazine from FY24-25 as soon as possible with an end date of December 31, 2025. This amendment has been attached to this staff report.
ANALYSIS
DISCUSSION
The Los Altos Chamber of Commerce staff provided an update on the Los Altos Magazine portion of their contract that was required to be completed by December 31, 2025. The contract requires the following items to be completed:
• Printing 20,000 copies of the full-color, high-quality destination guide: Los Altos Magazine
• Distribution of 16,000 Los Altos Magazines to households in Los Altos and neighboring communities
• Distribution of 4,000 Los Altos Magazines for local pickup at hotels, coffee shops • Creation of a digital copy of the Los Altos Magazine for electronic use Their staff indicated that the FY24-25 Los Altos Magazine was delivered to their offices in Los Altos by late December prior to the deadline, distributed copies locally at popular designated sites in each business district, and created the digital copy available on their website.
The residential delivery to households in Los Altos and neighboring communities was postponed due to the incredibly rainy winter storm system, and not delivered by December 31, 2025, as required under the contract.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Attachment 1 – Original Contract
2. Attachment 2 – Contract Amendment No. 1
4891-2835-2891v3
JH\27916001
Submitted for review by:
Department: City Managers Office By: Anthony Carnesecca Date: November 19, 2025 Project Name Tourism and Visitor Attraction Services for Los Altos Project Number N/A
Consultant Los Altos Chamber of Commerce
Contract/
Amendment Date
Contract/
Amendment ($) Exhibits Content
Original
Contract 7/1/23 $337,500 A Scope of Services & Fee Schedule Amendment
No. 1 11/1/25 ($160,500) N/A Revised Scope of Services & Fee Schedule
Contract/
Amendment
Amount to Date $177,000
AMENDMENT No. 1
TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA
AND
LOS ALTOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FOR
TOURISM AND VISITOR ATTRACTION SERVICES FOR LOS ALTOS
THIS AMENDMENT No. 1, made and entered into as of the 19th day of November 2025, TO THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT made and entered into on July 1, 2023, by and between CITY OF LOS ALTOS, a California municipal corporation, hereinafter referred to as "CITY," and LOS ALTOS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, hereinafter referred to as "CHAMBER."
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2023, CITY and CHAMBER entered into an agreement (“Agreement”) for Tourism and Visitor Attraction Services, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A, and
WHEREAS, CHAMBER was unable to fulfill their obligations to provide the Los Altos Magazine elements of their Scope of Services for FY24-25; and WHEREAS, on October 14, 2025, the City Council directed City staff to return with a review of the existing agreement with the CHAMBER; and
WHEREAS, on October 28, 2025, the City Council directed City staff to return with an amendment to the agreement that would allow the CHAMBER to provide the Los Altos Magazine elements of their Scope of Services for FY24-25 at the earliest possible date and remove these elements from the Scope of Services moving forward for the remaining three years of the contract, including FY25-26; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2025, the City Council approved an amendment to the agreement that would allow the CHAMBER to provide the Los Altos Magazine elements of their Scope of Services for FY24-25 by December 31, 2025, and remove these elements from the Scope of Services moving forward for the remaining three years of the contract, including FY25-26; and In consideration of the covenants, conditions and promises hereinafter contained, to be kept and performed by the parties hereto, CITY and CHAMBER hereby agree that the following sections of the aforesaid Agreement dated July 1, 2023, are amended to read as follows:
1. Section 1, SCOPE OF SERVICES, of the Agreement is hereby amended to remove the existing Scope of Services from the original contract as outlined in Exhibit A and replace with the following sentence:
“CHAMBER shall complete their required work for the Los Altos Magazine as outlined in the original contract for FY24-25 at the earliest possible date, no later than December 31, 2025.
For the remining three years of the contract in FY25-26, FY26-27, and FY27-28, CHAMBER shall provide the operation of the Visitors Center at the office located at 321 University Avenue.
Prominently located at the intersection of Foothill Expressway & Main Street. Supporting tourism by providing information and answering questions for both residents and visitors to our community both in person, by phone, and by email. Maintaining a community calendar of events to aid the community in scheduling events and festivals.”
2. Section 4, COMPENSATION, of the Agreement is amended to remove all existing language in Section 4 COMPENSATION from the original contract and replace with the following sentence:
“For the remining three years of the contract in FY25-26, FY26-27, and FY27-28, CHAMBER’s total compensation, including reimbursed expenses, for the services set forth in the Amendment shall not exceed $14,000 annually.”
3. All other terms of the original Agreement dated July 1, 2023 which are not in conflict with the provisions of this First Amendment, shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect. In case of a conflict in the terms of the Agreement and this First Amendment, the provisions of this First Amendment shall control.
This Agreement may be executed electronically.
CITY OF LOS ALTOS:
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT
By: ____________________________________
Anthony Carnesecca, Assistant to the City Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM
By: ____________________________________
Jolie Houston, City Attorney
AGREED
By: ____________________________________ Date:
Gabriel Engeland, City Manager
Gabriel Engeland (Dec 9, 2025 19:08:26 PST) Dec 9, 2025 Page 326 of 344 CHAMBER:
By: ____________________________________ Date:
Kim Mosley, President & CEO
Dec 9, 2025 Page 327 of 344
Exhibit A
Original Agreement
Chamber of Commerce Agreement Amendment
1 Packet
Final Audit Report 2026-01-05
Created: 2025-12-03
By: Anthony Carnesecca ([email protected])
Status: Signed
Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAJ4ofxe7sRd09fiaC8ZKoSDk96qgEGCYy "Chamber of Commerce Agreement Amendment 1 Packet" Histo ry
Document created by Anthony Carnesecca ([email protected]) 2025-12-03 - 11:11:06 PM GMT- IP address: 12.154.204.50 Document emailed to Kim Mosley ([email protected]) for signature 2025-12-03 - 11:12:26 PM GMT
Email viewed by Kim Mosley ([email protected])
2025-12-04 - 6:15:05 AM GMT- IP address: 146.75.154.1
Document e-signed by Kim Mosley ([email protected]) Signature Date: 2025-12-10 - 1:18:05 AM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 76.103.141.162 Document emailed to Anthony Carnesecca ([email protected]) for signature 2025-12-10 - 1:18:07 AM GMT
Email viewed by Anthony Carnesecca ([email protected]) 2025-12-10 - 1:18:50 AM GMT- IP address: 12.154.204.50
Document e-signed by Anthony Carnesecca ([email protected]) Signature Date: 2025-12-10 - 1:19:11 AM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 12.154.204.50 Document emailed to Gabriel Engeland ([email protected]) for signature 2025-12-10 - 1:19:13 AM GMT
Email viewed by Gabriel Engeland ([email protected]) 2025-12-10 - 3:07:35 AM GMT- IP address: 12.154.204.50
Document e-signed by Gabriel Engeland ([email protected]) Signature Date: 2025-12-10 - 3:08:26 AM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 12.154.204.50
Document emailed to [email protected] for signature 2025-12-10 - 3:08:27 AM GMT
New document URL requested by Anthony Carnesecca ([email protected]) 2026-01-05 - 9:54:52 PM GMT- IP address: 12.154.204.50
Email viewed by [email protected]
2026-01-05 - 10:41:46 PM GMT- IP address: 68.121.158.241 Signer [email protected] entered name at signing as jolie houston 2026-01-05 - 10:45:33 PM GMT- IP address: 68.121.158.241 Document e-signed by jolie houston ([email protected]) Signature Date: 2026-01-05 - 10:45:35 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 68.121.158.241 Agreement completed.
2026-01-05 - 10:45:35 PM GMT
City of Los Altos 2026 Tentative Council Agenda Calendar All items and dates are tentative and subject to change unless a specific date has been noticed for a legally required Public Hearing.
Items may be added or removed from the shown date at any time and for any reason prior to the publication of the agenda.
February 24, 2026
Study Session – 5:00 p.m. – Downtown Park
Special Meeting – 6:00 p.m. Joint Meetings with Commissions Regular Meeting – 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT:
• Adoption of Council Norms
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
• Weed Abatement Appeals
• 4846 El Camino Real – Modification to Below-Market-Rate Unit Mix DISCUSSION ITEMS:
• Council Priority Setting and Future Agenda Item Review • Council Vacancy Discussion
City of Los Altos 2026 Tentative Council Agenda Calendar All items and dates are tentative and subject to change unless a specific date has been noticed for a legally required Public Hearing.
Items may be added or removed from the shown date at any time and for any reason prior to the publication of the agenda.
March 10, 2026
Special Meeting – 6:00 p.m. Joint Meetings with Commissions Regular Meeting – 7:00 p.m.
CONSENT:
• Housing Element Annual Progress Report
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
• Council Vacancy Discussion
The remaining 2026 City Council agenda calendar items are pending and will be published at a later date.
PROGRAM SUB PROJECT INITIATION DATE HEU COMPLETION DATE STATUS Program 2.D: Encourage and streamline Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Budget & Hire Planning
Technician December 31, 2022 COMPLETED
Program 2.D: Encourage and streamline Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Amend ADU Ordinance
based upon HCD's letter 6 months or less COMPLETED
Program 6.G: Housing mobility
Allow more than one
JADU (at least two per
site)
with ADU Ordinance
Update COMPLETED
Program 3.H: Amend design review process and
requirements.
Eliminate 3rd Party
Architectural Review February 28, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 3.H: Amend design review process and
requirements.
Dismiss Design Review
Commission February 28, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 3.L: Eliminate the requirement of story poles. March 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 2.E: Conduct annual ADU rental income surveys.
Budget & Hire Housing
Program 4.J: Facilitate alternate modes of transportation for Manager March 31, 2023 COMPLETED residents.
Adopt VMT Policy &
Transportation Demand June 30, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 2.D: Encourage and streamline Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
RFP-Permit Ready ADU
Plans July 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 1.H: Facilitate housing on City-owned sites. Financial Analysis July 1, 2023 December 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 3.D: Evaluate and adjust impact fees. August 1, 2023 December 31, 2024 COMPLETED Program 1.H: Facilitate housing on City-owned sites. Release RFP December 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 6.C: Target housing development in highest
resource areas. Initial Outreach September 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 6.D: Promote Housing Choice (Section 8) rental
assistance program. September 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 2.A: Continue to implement and enhance
inclusionary housing requirements. December 31, 2023 ONGOING Program 2.B: Establish an affordable housing in-lieu fee and commercial linkage fee. Housing in-lieu fee. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 2.F: Water and Sewer Service Providers. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 3.B: Modify building height in mixed-use zoning districts. Downtown Districts December 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 3.E: Ensure that the density bonus ordinance
remains consistent with State law. December 31, 2023 ONGOING
Program 3.H: Amend design review process and
requirements. Code Amendments December 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 3.K: Standardize multimodal transportation
requirements.
Bicycle Storage and
Charging Regulations December 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 3.K: Standardize multimodal transportation
requirements.
Remove CSC Review of
Housing Developments December 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 4.C: Allow Low Barrier Navigation Centers
consistent with AB 101. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 4.D: Allow transitional and supportive housing
consistent with State law. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 4.E: Allow employee/farmworker housing
consistent with State law. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 4.F: Reasonably accommodate disabled persons’
housing needs. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 6.B: Maintain and expand an inventory of affordable housing funding sources. Prepare Inventory. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED Program 6.E: Prepare and distribute anti-displacement
information. December 31, 2023 COMPLETED
Program 1.A: Rezone for RHNA shortfall. January 31, 2024 COMPLETED Program 1.G: Rezone housing sites from previous Housing Elements. January 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 3.G: Amend Conditional Use Permits findings
applicable to housing developments. March 31, 2024 COMPLETED Program 3.I: Allow residential care facilities consistent with State law. January 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 3.J: Explicitly allow manufactured homes consistent with State law. January 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 3.F: Reduce Conditional Use Permit requirement for residential mixed-use and
multi-family. September 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 1.B: Facilitate higher density housing in the
Commercial Thoroughfare (CT) District. January 31, 2024 COMPLETED Program 1.C: Allow housing in the Office Administrative (OA) District. January 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 1.E: Update the Loyola Corners Specific Plan. January 31, 2024 COMPLETED Program 2.D: Encourage and streamline Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Adopt-Permit Ready ADU
Plans December 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 3.A: Prepare a Downtown parking plan and update citywide parking requirements. Downtown Parking Plan December 31, 2024 COMPLETED Program 3.A: Prepare a Downtown parking plan and update citywide parking requirements.
Comprehensive Parking
Ordinance Update December 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 3.B: Modify building height in mixed-use zoning districts.
Commercial
Neighborhood (CN)
District December 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 3.C: Remove floor-to-area ratio (FAR) restriction at Rancho Shopping Center and
Woodland Plaza. December 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 3.M: Modify parking requirements for emergency
shelters consistent with State
law. December 31, 2024 COMPLETED
Program 2.B: Establish an affordable housing in-lieu fee and commercial linkage fee. Commercial linkage fee. December 31, 2025 COMPLETED Program 1.D: Allow housing on certain Public and
Community Facilities District sites and
facilitate housing on religious institution properties. December 31, 2025 IN-PROGRESS Program 6.G: Housing mobility
Allow housing on all
religious sites within the
City December 31, 2025 IN-PROGRESS
Program 1.F: Rezone Village Court parcel. December 31, 2025 COMPLETED Program 4.H: Provide additional density bonuses and
incentives for housing that accommodates special needs
groups. December 31, 2025 IN-PROGRESS
Program 4.I: Allow senior housing with extended care
facilities in multi-family and mixed-use zoning districts. December 31, 2025 IN-PROGRESS Program 1.I: Incentivize Downtown lot consolidation. July 31, 2026 Program 4.G: Assist seniors to maintain and rehabilitate their homes. July 31, 2026 ONGOING
Program 6.C: Target housing development in highest
resource areas. Follow-up Outreach September 31, 2026
Program 1.H: Facilitate housing on City-owned sites. Entitlement Review December 31, 2026 Program 3.N: Modify standards in the R3 zoning districts. December 31, 2026 COMPLETED Program 4.J: Facilitate alternate modes of transportation for residents.
Capital Improvement
Project for above head
pedestrian crossing
signals on San Antonio
Road near Downtown Los
Altos December 31, 2027
Program 5.F: Incentivize the creation of play areas for multifamily housing projects. December 31, 2027 Program 1.K: Participate in regional housing needs planning efforts. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 1.L: General Plan amendments. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 1.M: SB 9 implementation. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 1.N: Facilitate and monitor pipeline housing
projects. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 2.C: Assist in securing funding for affordable
housing projects. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 2.D: Encourage and streamline Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Ongoing ONGOING
Program 2.E: Conduct annual ADU rental income surveys. Annual Survey Annually ONGOING Program 4.A: Support efforts to fund homeless services. Ongoing ONGOING Program 4.B: Continue to participate in local and regional forums for homelessness,
supportive, and transitional housing. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 5.A: Monitor condominium conversions. Ongoing ONGOING Program 5.B: Continue to administer the City’s affordable housing programs. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 5.C: Restrict commercial uses from displacing
residential neighborhoods. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 5.D: Implement voluntary code inspection program. Ongoing ONGOING Program 5.E: Help secure funding for housing rehabilitation and assistance programs. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 6.A: Assist residents with housing discrimination and landlord-tenant
complaints. Ongoing ONGOING
Program 6.B: Maintain and expand an inventory of affordable housing funding sources.
Inform, Evaluate
Apply/Submit Ongoing ONGOING
Program 6.F: Affirmatively market physically accessible units. Ongoing ONGOING Program 7.A: Promote energy and water conservation and
greenhouse gas reduction
through education and awareness campaigns. Ongoing ONGOING Program 7.B: Monitor and implement thresholds and
statutory requirements of climate change legislation. Ongoing ONGOING