Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 6 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California
Present: Mayor Rajiv Bhateja, Vice Mayor George Tyson, Council Member Stanley Mok, Council Member Linda Swan, Council Member Kavita Tankha
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Cody Einfalt, City Attorney Steve Mattas, Public Works Director WooJae Kim, Community Development Director Jay Bradford, Finance Director Thomas Leung, and City Clerk Arika Birdsong-Miller
CALL TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.) OPEN SESSION
ROLL CALL – Mayor Rajiv Bhateja, Vice Mayor George Tyson, Council Member Stanley Mok, and Council Member Kavita Tankha were present.
Council Member Linda Swan was not present during roll call and joined the meeting at 6:15 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Recited
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Gerda Cristal, a Los Altos Hills resident, commented that she has lived on Mora Drive for over 50 years and expressed concerns regarding the interpretation and application of Town codes related to views and tree regulations in annexed areas. She stated that residents were originally assured their properties would be annexed on an “as-is” basis and that existing conditions would be respected. She indicated that differing interpretations of the codes have created confusion and stress among residents and have contributed to disputes, including a lawsuit.
2. STUDY SESSION
A. Annual Reports by the Town of Los Altos Hills Planning Commission and Standing Committees on 2025 Accomplishments and Proposed Work Plans for 2026-2027 Grace Tsang, Chair of the Environmental Design and Protection Committee, presented the 2025 Accomplishments and Proposed Work Plan for 2026-2027. She highlighted the Committee’s review of 32 site applications, work related to native plants and water conservation, and ongoing collaboration with staff on Housing Element and Objective Design Standards. She also outlined future priorities, including fire scaping efforts, updates to landscaping and planning policies, revisions to the View Ordinance, and expansion of native landscaping initiatives. No Council action was taken.
Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Anand Ranganathan, Chair of the Environmental Initiative Committee, presented the 2025 Accomplishments and Proposed Work Plan for 2026-2027. He highlighted efforts, including updates to the Reach Code to promote electrification, development of a greenhouse gas inventory, water conservation initiatives, community outreach activities, and the installation of a decarbonization kiosk. He also outlined future priorities such as expanding community outreach, tracking electrification progress through a dashboard, continuing greenhouse gas inventory reporting, collaborating with Foothill College on sustainability initiatives, and maintaining current Reach Codes. No Council action was taken.
Dave Stewart, Vice-Chair of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee, presented the 2025 Accomplishments and Proposed Work Plan for 2026-2027. He highlighted the Committee’s efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness, including reviewing wildfire hardening policies, recommending updates to the Fire Hazard Severity Map, improving mass notification systems such as AlertSCC, and supporting community emergency communication and preparedness programs. He also discussed future priorities, including hiring a full-time Emergency Manager, enhancing emergency communications infrastructure, expanding community preparedness initiatives, and continuing collaboration with other committees and emergency partners. No Council action was taken.
Allan Epstein, Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee, presented the Committee’s 2025 accomplishments and proposed work plan for 2026–2027. He highlighted the Committee’s oversight of key financial matters, including review of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the Town’s budget and mid-year budget update, reserve policies, and pension and OPEB obligations. He also discussed future priorities such as completing a cost allocation and building fee study, increasing financial transparency and automation of accounting systems, developing a five-year capital and financial outlook, and evaluating sewer processing and conveyance charges. No Council action was taken.
Carol Gottlieb, Co-Chair of the History Committee, presented the Committee’s recent accomplishments and proposed work plan for 2026–2027. She highlighted the Committee’s efforts to preserve and promote the Town’s history through community presentations, historical walks, oversight of historical articles in the Our Town publication, and collaboration on the Heritage House renovation. She also discussed future priorities, including development of a Historic Resource Ordinance, continued educational programs and historical events, participation in the 250th anniversary of the De Anza Expedition, and research efforts leading up to the Town’s 75th anniversary history project. No Council action was taken.
Anita Baldwin, Chair of the Open Space Committee, presented the Committee’s 2025 accomplishments and proposed work plan for 2026–2027. She highlighted the Committee’s work conducting site visits and providing recommendations related to open space easements, riparian habitats, invasive plants, and tree health, as well as advising the Town on Byrne Preserve improvements and creek protection efforts. She also discussed upcoming priorities, including developing open space easement Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
language for fire mitigation, hosting an educational forum on local geology and hydrology, collaborating on tree and fence ordinances, and continuing coordination with staff, regional agencies, and other committees on habitat protection and Housing Element implementation. No Council action was taken.
Jasmeen Pombra, Chair of the Parks, Recreation, and Community Events Committee, presented the Committee’s 2025 accomplishments and proposed work plan for 2026. She highlighted the successful merger of the Parks and Recreation Committee with the Community Relations Committee, the launch of new community events such as Family Game Nights and the Gnomeo event, and continued traditions including the Town Picnic, Pathways Run, Fourth of July Parade, Hoedown, and Barn Lighting. She also outlined future priorities, including enhancing major community events, supporting development of the Heritage House Café and Community Room, assisting with planning for a new pickleball court, and expanding outreach to welcome and engage new residents. No Council action was taken.
Nick Erndt, Chair of the Pathways Committee, presented the Committee’s 2025 accomplishments and proposed work plan for 2026–2027. He highlighted progress on several pathway projects, including completion of the Saddle Mountain to Stirrup Way path and ongoing work related to Magdalena Road, Summerhill Avenue, and the Middle Fork to Maple Leaf Court pathway. He also discussed future priorities, including construction of additional pathway segments along Magdalena, Altamont, and Fremont, continued coordination with Caltrans on the Old Page Mill to Christopher Lane path, and efforts to improve the pathway development process and reduce construction costs. No Council action was taken.
Birgitta Indaco, Chair of the Planning Commission, presented the Commission’s 2024–2025 accomplishments and proposed work plan for 2026–2027. She highlighted the Commission’s extensive work on Housing Element implementation, including discussions on multi-family zoning and Objective Design Standards across 23 meetings, as well as municipal code updates related to WELO, pathways, and ADUs. She also noted that the Commission conducted site development reviews for 24 properties, including variances and conditional use permits, and worked on several code interpretation issues, such as SB 9 unit allowances and grading policies for decks and balconies.
Chair Indaco further outlined upcoming priorities, including implementation of Housing Element programs such as the A-12 program for duplexes and triplexes, updates to the ADU and SB 9 ordinances, and continued work on planning initiatives such as fence regulations, light wells, color reflectivity standards, and variances for substandard lots. She also discussed longer-term strategic initiatives, including wildfire protection coordination, historic preservation, updates to the pathway map, tree and view protection ordinances, and long-range planning related to housing density solutions. No Council action was taken.
Chair Ameesh Divatia, Chair of the Technology Committee, presented the 2025 accomplishments and proposed goals for 2026–2027. He highlighted initiatives including the purchase of a mobile radar speed display device, development of an earthquake gas shutoff valve program, expansion of security partnerships with the Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Sheriff’s Office and private patrols, and resident education efforts on home and online security. He also noted progress on the Town’s broadband infrastructure project and collaboration opportunities with local academic institutions.
Looking ahead, the Committee plans to explore technology initiatives related to wildfire detection and mitigation, including sensors, cameras, and drone-based response, as well as artificial intelligence tools such as a customer service chatbot for the Town’s website and expanded technology education for residents. No Council action was taken.
Mayor Bhateja expressed appreciation on behalf of the City Council for the time, effort, and dedication of the committee members and volunteers who generously contribute their expertise and service to the Town. He thanked them for their participation and noted that the City Council would take the committees’ input into consideration as they develop the upcoming work plan.
3. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Arika Birdsong-Miller