LAR REACH CODES 2022 SURVEY
YOUR VOICES WERE HEARD!
427 Los Altans took the LAR 2022 Reach Code Survey. The response was overwhelmingly rejected banning gas appliances. After seeing the results of the LAR Survey, the Environmental Commission backed off from requiring electric appliances in some remodels (<50% remodel) and requiring the replacement of broken/end of life gas appliances with electric ones. And importantly, the Commission dropped the idea of requiring homeowners to replace gas appliances including HVAC with electric appliances before selling their home. Stay tuned for the final Reach Codes as adopted by Council in 2022.
LAR COVID-19 Survey a Win for Residents!
The results of the LAR COVID-19 survey are in. You can see the results at the bottom of the COVID-19 page on the LAR website. This page can be accessed by clicking on the COVID-19 tab at the top of our Home page, or by clicking this link. We have posted the survey results on the website. We also shared them with the City Council and Chris Jordan, City Manager. In our letter we suggested that the City expand its communication with residents during this crisis by sending postcards listing the important resources available to provide assistance and to provide phone numbers so that residents can reach someone in person for help. This can be especially helpful for seniors and others who may not be used to finding important information on the internet.
Here are the Wins for residents:
· Mayor Jan Pepper instructed the City Manager to send postcards to all residents to let them know about the valuable resources available through the City, especially benefiting those with limited access to the list posted City’s website. The Council agreed to send out postcards with phone numbers, one for the Community in general and one dedicated for use by Seniors.
· Council Member Lynette Lee Eng organized a webinar by Police Chief Andy Galea entitled “Chat with the Chief” on April 24, 2020. It was an opportunity for the community to ask questions and make suggestions as well as hear from Chief Galea about what is being done in our City to make it safe during the Shelter in place is taking place. Our survey results showed that one of the most cited concerns was not feeling safe in your home and concern about an increase in crime.
· In addition to mailing postcards with phone numbers, the City added phone numbers to their Covid-19 Resource list on their website in order to provide residents with the option of calling for assistance during these difficult times.
The biggest Win of all is that a large number of Los Altos residents took the survey! It is through this teamwork that we can make our City the best it can be.
Thank you for your participation and for letting others know LAR is here for them.
Sincerely Yours,
Team LAR
Resident Concerns Result in Urgency Ordinance by City Council
A number of Los Altos residents raised their concerns about unrestricted installation of 5G wireless transmitters to the City Council in a July 9th Study Session. Among other concerned residents, Carey Lai raised a number of issues including devaluation of property, aesthetic concerns, noise, lack of proper notice and potential health risks. He and his group created a petition which eventually garnered 1000+ signatures. These residents asked the City Council to enact an ordinance that would restrict the deployment of 5G wireless transmitters in neighborhoods, next to schools and parks and other areas where people, especially vulnerable children and the elderly, may be continually exposed to the resulting RF radiation. The City Council enacted an urgency ordinance and two accompanying resolutions at the August 5th Special Meeting. The City Council listened to residents’ concerns and acted accordingly. That’s a real win for Los Altos residents!!
Open Government
The Los Altos city council voted on amendments to city policy to increase transparency in city government processes, including some of the examples below. We appreciate the efforts by Anita Enander and Jan Pepper to lead this effort.
Doubling to 1000' from 500' the distance mailers will go out for local projects or developments requiring notification.
Public notifications will now also go out for pre-application study session design reviews.
Adding a provision for the process to remove a Commissioner for disciplinary action.
Publishing which council members request special meetings.
Council member questions submitted to staff between council meetings and staff answers will be shared with the public.
Land use public hearings process is more clearly outlined, including ability to have multiple speakers cede their time to one speaker for the group.
Los Altos Heritage Orchard
The efforts of caring Los Altos residents and neighbors over the decades have come to fruition in the Los Altos Heritage Orchard. There’s been a lot of improvements over the last few years from maintenance to new trees, and now it finally has an official sign!
Message from Robin Chapman:
I'm writing this to say a special thanks to each one of you who joined in the celebration of the new Los Altos Heritage Orchard sign on Friday evening. In this busy world, the investment of time is a powerful thing. Your efforts, your love, your letters, your support and your persistence helped save this lovely, Historic Landmark and made the celebration of its new sign possible.
We hoped we would get a crowd of twenty or thirty people. In the end, the crowd was so large we had trouble counting it. With the names on the sign-in sheet; the number of friends we know were there; and the faces (and tops of heads) we can spot in the photo, we have settled on a count of 79. That has to set a record for a sign unveiling in Los Altos!
There is still much work ahead. But, for a few minutes, we took time out to commemorate one of the most unique Landmarks in all of California. To each of you who were there and to those we know were there in spirit, I'm sending what we think is our best photo. It was taken by resident Roger Heyder who climbed atop my kitchen ladder amid all the fun and snapped this for posterity. Enjoy it and--like the spirit of the Orchard that once captured the imagination of Frank Lloyd Wright--feel free to pass it on.
With heartfelt thanks, Robin Chapman
New City Web Page Tracking New Developments
This newly created web page will keep you up to date on the status of all new housing and office-complex developments in Los Altos. You can track new projects from filing of an application through construction. Click on links provided for each project to find design plans, commission reports, project reports and other information about each project. https://www.losaltosca.gov/communitydevelopment/page/new-development