Approved September 17, 2026
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Special Meeting Minutes
Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 5:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California
Present: Mayor Rajiv Bhateja, Vice Mayor Linda Swan, Council Member Stanley Mok, and Council Member George Tyson
Absent: Council Member Kavita Tankha*
Staff: City Manager Cody Einfalt and City Clerk Arika Birdsong-Miller CALL TO ORDER (5:00 P.M.)
Mayor Bhateja called the meeting to order at 5:03 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Rajiv Bhateja, Vice Mayor Linda Swan, Council Member Stanley Mok, Council, and Council Member George Tyson were present.
*Council Member Kavita Tankha participated remotely during the Closed Session portion of the meeting pursuant to applicable provisions of the Brown Act due to illness.
1. PUBLIC COMMENT (Public Comment is Limited to Items which are the Subject of the Special Meeting)
Mayor Bhateja opened public comment on matters within the subject matter of the Special Meeting. There being no members of the public wishing to speak, Mayor Bhateja closed public comment.
2. NEW BUSINESS
A. Consideration of Sending a Letter in Opposition to Assembly Bill 1751 (Mayor Bhateja) City Manager Cody Einfalt provided a brief overview of Assembly Bill 1751 and explained that the proposed letter of opposition was based on concerns regarding the bill's ministerial approval requirements for townhouse developments and the need to consider the Town's unique topography, infrastructure, and emergency access requirements.
Mayor Bhateja clarified that he wanted to ensure the letter did not give the impression that the Town was opposed to multifamily housing or increasing its housing stock. Staff confirmed that the Town’s concern was not with multifamily housing or increased housing development, but rather with requiring ministerial approval without adequate consideration of the Town’s unique topography and emergency access needs.
Mayor Bhateja further asked whether the letter specifically expressed the Town’s support for increasing housing. Staff confirmed that it did, and Mayor Bhateja indicated that this addressed his concern.
Los Altos Hills Special City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 Thursday, August 20, 2026
Vice Mayor Swan made a motion to authorize sending the letter in opposition to Assembly Bill 1751. Council Member Mok seconded the motion. MOTION CARRIED 4-0-1 AYES: Mayor Bhateja, Vice Mayor Swan, Council Members Mok and Tyson NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Tankha
ABSTAIN: None
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING:
A. CLOSED SESSION - Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4))
Initiation of Litigation: One Case
*Council Member Kavita Tankha joined the meeting remotely for the Closed Session portion of the meeting due to illness.
Mayor Bhateja adjourned to Closed Session at 5:07 P.M.
4. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Arika Birdsong-Miller