Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
Monday, August 10, 2026 at 4:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California,
Present: Mayor Rajiv Bhateja, Vice Mayor Linda Swan, Council Member Stanley Mok, Council Member Kavita Tankha, and Council Member George Tyson
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Cody Einfalt, City Clerk Arika Birdsong-Miller, and Assistant Town Attorney John Baker
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Bhateja called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 4:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Rajiv Bhateja, Vice Mayor Linda Swan, Councilmember Stanley Mok, Councilmember Kavita Tankha, and Councilmember George Tyson
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Bhateja led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Bhateja opened public comment for matters within the subject matter of the Special Meeting.
There were no members of the public wishing to speak in person or via Zoom.
Mayor Bhateja closed public comment.
2. NEW BUSINESS
A. Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit Payment to the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff for Additional Law Enforcement Services Received During Fiscal Year 2025-26 in the Amount of $61,776 and Appropriating Funds from the Unreserved General Fund for Law Enforcement Services
City Manager Einfalt presented the item and explained that the Town received an invoice from the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff for $61,776 in additional law enforcement Approved September 17, 2026
services provided during Fiscal Year 2025-26. The amount exceeded the City Manager's signing authority and required City Council authorization.
City Manager Einfalt explained that the Town makes monthly payments throughout the fiscal year based on anticipated service hours. Following the close of the fiscal year, the Sheriff's Office reconciles the estimated hours against the actual hours provided.
Historically, the Town has often received a reimbursement following reconciliation; however, during Fiscal Year 2025-26, actual service hours exceeded the amount anticipated.
City Manager Einfalt reported that the Town had anticipated approximately 8,053 hours of service. Actual service levels were higher, including a significant increase in general law enforcement service hours. November experienced particularly high usage associated in part with a significant fraud/identity theft investigation.
The City Council discussed the lack of timely information from the Sheriff's Office regarding service utilization and the anticipated overage. City Manager Einfalt stated that he had repeatedly requested usage information during the fiscal year but did not receive an update until approximately eight days before the end of the fiscal year. He advised that improved reporting requirements, including regular reports regarding hours and expenditures, are being pursued as part of negotiations for a new law enforcement services agreement.
The City Council discussed the causes of increased service hours, including increased calls for service, residential vacation patrol checks, false alarms, investigative services, and other Sheriff responses. City Manager Einfalt noted that the number of vacation patrol requests had increased substantially and that residents may currently request vacation patrol checks from both the Sheriff's Office and the Town's private security provider, PalAmerican Security.
The Council discussed whether certain lower-priority services could be handled more costeffectively by PalAmerican Security or another resource rather than by Sheriff's deputies.
The Council also discussed the Town's reduced budget for supplemental overtime during Fiscal Year 2025-26 and the relationship of that reduction to the year-end overage.
Councilmembers expressed concern that the Sheriff's Office had previously indicated that the Town would be notified if service levels were approaching or exceeding the budgeted amount. The Council discussed whether the Town should negotiate a reduction in the invoice because timely notice of the overage had not been provided.
Mayor Bhateja asked Town Attorney Bakker whether the Town could seek to negotiate the amount. Town Attorney Bakker stated that the existing agreement would need to be reviewed but discussed options available to the Town, including paying the invoice while seeking a subsequent adjustment or negotiating the amount prior to full payment.
Mayor Bhateja opened public comment.
Jim Waschura commented on the increase in general law enforcement service hours, the amount of traffic enforcement received compared with the amount budgeted, the Sheriff's Office's tracking of service hours, and the potential for residents to pay for discretionary vacation patrol services.
City Manager Einfalt clarified that the overage was attributable to increased service usage throughout the year and not solely to the November fraud investigation. The Council also clarified that reduced use of dedicated motorcycle traffic enforcement had been a conscious policy decision, with some traffic enforcement hours redirected to general patrol services.
John O'Connell, speaking via Zoom, commented on neighborhood watch programs and suggested that routine Sheriff vacation patrol checks could be treated as an optional service paid for by residents requesting the service, while law enforcement response to actual suspicious activity should continue to be provided as a public safety service.
Mayor Bhateja closed public comment.
The Council further discussed the significant reduction in residential burglaries and the difficulties experienced in obtaining detailed cost and service information from the Sheriff's Office.
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED: Councilmember Tyson moved to approve the resolution authorizing payment of the $61,776 invoice and appropriating the necessary funds. Mayor Bhateja seconded the motion with a modification, accepted by Councilmember Tyson, directing staff to also request a reduction in the amount from the County based on the Sheriff's Office's failure to provide advance notice of the service overage.
AYES: Mayor Bhateja, Councilmembers Mok, Tankha, and Tyson NOES: Vice Mayor Swan
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
MOTION PASSED 4-1.
Vice Mayor Swan stated that she preferred that the Town pay a portion of the invoice and negotiate the remaining amount, rather than paying the invoice in full before seeking an adjustment.
3. Receive Update on Negotiations of the Law Enforcement Agreement with the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff and Direction Regarding the Town's Law Enforcement Strategy
City Manager Einfalt provided an update regarding negotiations for a new law enforcement services agreement with the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff.
City Manager Einfalt reviewed the history of the existing agreement, explaining that the Town entered into a ten-year agreement in 2014. Following its expiration, the agreement was extended for two years through June 30, 2026, while the parties negotiated a replacement agreement. Because negotiations remained unresolved, the agreement was subsequently extended for an additional 12 weeks through September 30, 2026.
City Manager Einfalt reviewed significant provisions under discussion for the proposed agreement, including:
• A five-year agreement term;
• A one-year termination provision;
• Transition to a full-cost-recovery model;
• Elimination of the annual cap on rate increases;
• Changes to the allocation of overhead costs;
• Changes to how investigative and records-management costs are allocated; • Reporting and transparency requirements;
• Indemnification provisions; and
• Outstanding information and exhibits that had not yet been provided by the County.
Town Attorney Bakker discussed ongoing legal negotiations with the County and the other contract cities, including Cupertino and Saratoga. He reviewed issues related to indemnification and the allocation of County overhead costs and discussed Government Code provisions relevant to determining costs chargeable to contract cities.
The Council discussed concerns regarding the methodology used by the County to allocate investigative services, records management, County communications, crime laboratory services, and other overhead expenses. Councilmembers emphasized the need for greater transparency regarding the formulas used to calculate the Town's share of those costs.
City Manager Einfalt stated that staff was seeking contract language requiring the Sheriff's Office to provide regular and timely information regarding service levels, expenditures, and other data necessary for the Town to monitor the agreement.
City Manager Einfalt advised that County staff had identified August 31, 2026, as a target date for completion of documents in advance of the September 15, 2026, Board of Supervisors meeting and the September 30 expiration of the current extension.
Short-Term Law Enforcement Strategy
City Manager Einfalt requested Council feedback regarding further evaluation of a Community Services Officer (CSO) position.
He explained that a CSO would be a non-sworn Town employee who could respond to lower-level calls for service that do not require a sworn law enforcement officer, including noise complaints, minor traffic matters, traffic control, parking concerns, pathway issues, code enforcement matters, and residential patrol checks.
City Manager Einfalt reported that a CSO could potentially be dispatched through County Communications, unlike the Town's private security contractor. He estimated the fully burdened annual cost of a CSO at slightly under $150,000 and stated that the position could potentially reduce the Town's reliance on more costly Sheriff's deputies for lowerpriority calls.
The Council discussed potential responsibilities, operating hours, staffing coverage, integration with the Town's private security services, and potential cost savings associated with a CSO.
There was general Council support for staff to further analyze the CSO concept and return to the City Council with additional information.
Long-Term Law Enforcement Strategy
City Manager Einfalt also requested Council feedback regarding participation with the City of Cupertino in a comprehensive law enforcement services study.
The study would evaluate alternatives including:
• Continuing the Town's current contracting model with the Sheriff's Office; • Alternative contractual models with the Sheriff's Office; • Establishing a municipal police department;
• Contracting or partnering with a neighboring jurisdiction; and • Establishing a regional Joint Powers Authority or other regional law enforcement model.
City Manager Einfalt stated that participation in the study would not commit the Town to changing its current law enforcement provider but would provide information regarding available alternatives and associated costs.
The estimated cost of the Town's participation was discussed. City Manager Einfalt stated that the final cost allocation between Los Altos Hills and Cupertino was still being developed and that staff would seek an allocation reflecting the differences in size and service needs between the two jurisdictions.
Councilmembers expressed support for obtaining comprehensive data before making long-term decisions regarding law enforcement services.
Mayor Bhateja discussed the County's proposed overhead allocations and compared the proposed Santa Clara County charges with law enforcement contracting models in other jurisdictions. He expressed concern that proposed overhead charges were disproportionately high relative to direct policing costs and encouraged continued analysis and negotiation regarding the County's cost-allocation methodology.
The Council also discussed the draft Vasquez assessment and requested that the analysis more fully address Los Altos Hills and Saratoga, rather than focusing primarily on Cupertino, particularly because the jurisdictions shared in the cost of the assessment.
City Manager Einfalt summarized that he had received Council support to:
1. Continue negotiations regarding the proposed Sheriff's law enforcement services agreement and seek greater transparency concerning costs and reporting;
2. Conduct a more detailed analysis of establishing a Community Services Officer position and return to the Council with additional information; and
3. Proceed with further evaluation of the comprehensive law enforcement services study examining long-term alternatives.
No formal action was required or taken on this item.
Mayor Bhateja opened public comment.
Jim Waschura encouraged the Council and staff to review the Vasquez assessment closely, particularly the cost-allocation methodology and Government Code considerations, and supported obtaining comprehensive data before making decisions.
Allan Epstein commented on effective service hours and the impact of staffing assumptions on costs. He discussed cost-allocation methodologies and encouraged the Town to carefully evaluate whether investigative, records-management, and overhead allocations accurately reflect the Town's actual use of those services. He emphasized the importance of including strong transparency and timely reporting requirements in the new agreement.
City Manager Einfalt reiterated that specific reporting and transparency requirements were a significant component of the Town's ongoing negotiations.
Mayor Bhateja closed public comment.
Councilmember Mok requested additional data explaining the significant differences between the overhead percentages proposed by Santa Clara County and those charged under comparable law enforcement agreements in other jurisdictions.
The Council discussed the Town's negotiating position, the need to continue pushing for additional information and more favorable terms, and the importance of ensuring continuity of law enforcement services while negotiations continue.
4. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Bhateja adjourned the Special City Council Meeting at approximately 5:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Arika Miller
City Clerk