Lisa McLain League News, Los Altos City Council, Observer Reports

Los Altos City Council Meeting November 2017

Notes for Los Altos City Council   November 2017

November 14, 2017

The City Council approved $416,000 to expand and upgrade the kitchen at Grant Park, especially for use by the Senior Center. Santa Clara County Health Services required the upgrade of old unsafe facilities in order to prepare food.

The Los Altos Public Arts Commission engaged Designing Local to develop a detailed Public Art Master Plan for Los Altos, funded by CIP Project monies. Amanda Golden, Managing Principal of the organization, presented the recommendations after extensive community engagement at workshops, pop-up tables at Fine Arts in the Park, stakeholder conversations, and on-line surveys. The plan lays out five chapters of information and recommendations, including place-based strategies for art and priority actions.

The plan stresses common values for Los Altos residents, such as, showcasing a variety of kinds of art, preserving and highlighting the natural beauty of the town environs, and honoring the historic roots of the city. Four public speakers were impressed with the plan, although all but one had problems, mostly over costs. City Council members felt the plan was too costly, especially hiring a part-time Cultural Arts Manager, and setting aside 1.5-2% in public municipal property development and at least 1% in private property development for art works on the site. While council members liked the division of the plan into short, medium, and long-term priorities, they directed the Public Arts Commission to evaluate the elements of the plan which can move forward and present again at a future meeting.

November 28, 2017

After a study session, the city council approved continuation of further action to another meeting on Children’s Corner’s revised lease proposal to occupy space at the rebuilt Hillview Civic Center.

Council members felt the budget for rebuilding the Civic Center had not been finalized and so the proposal couldn’t be evaluated.

After the presentation by Jennifer Quinn, Project Manager, City Council approved $125,000 to support the July-August Downtown Green Five-year Plan on Third Street between State and Main. Comments pro and con from the public concerned parking, need for outreach to merchants, and business deliveries. Solutions to afternoon heat were to provide shade and more shaded seating and (perhaps) misting.

The City Council granted the appeal and approved the administrative office use permit application to allow administrative office use of a vacant tenant space at 400 Main Street. The Heisling-Simons Foundation, a philanthropy to advance sustainable solutions to climate change and clean energy, wishes to lease the space. They have agreed to allow public use of their conference rooms. The property is intended for retail, restaurants, and services, but has remained unoccupied for 2 or more years. The city staff recommended granting the appeal in spite of comments from the public about previous denials of use of tenant space on appeal.

Last, Christopher Diaz, City Attorney, presented the details and the City Council adopted an Urgency Ordinance to establish a moratorium in all Los Altos zoning districts for any creation or expansion of commercial cannabis use. The Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), passed in November 2016, goes into effect in January 2018. The city plan is similar to the ban on any type of medical marijuana business when the Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA) went into effect. The new Urgency Ordinance will be in effect for 45 days. It will allow the City Council to review in January 2018 and make changes before preparing the permanent ordinance to submit to the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. This ordinance does not affect personal use and cultivation of six plants per family inside the residence or in an accessory structure on the property.

— Claire Noonan, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Mountain View City Council, Observer Reports

Mountain View City Council Meeting November 2017

938 and 954 Villa Street: Proposal to Relocate the Weilheimer House

On November 28th, the Council provided additional input on a proposal to remove two historic buildings in the downtown area and replace them with a four-story office building and ground-floor restaurant. Despite significant public support for preserving the Weilheimer House (currently occupied by the restaurant Chez TJ) in place, the Council voted 4-3 to allow the House to be relocated to nearby 1012 West Dana Street, currently the site of a four vacant housing units. The vote allows the developer, The Minkoff Group, to proceed with the redevelopment proposal. The Weilheimer House will become private property and be restored to its original use – as a single-family home.

The Council also provided early feedback on the design of the new building and on parking requirements. A majority did not support retaining and incorporating the façade of the Tied House building into the new development. Additionally, the Council directed staff to use the Downtown Precise Plan parking requirement calculations for the project. Under the Precise Plan requirements, the developer would need to provide 27 more parking spaces than they would otherwise have to under an older, conflicting agreement that the City made with the property owner in 1988. Under that agreement, the property owner agreed to pay the City $243,000 in lieu of providing 27 parking spaces. The agreement stipulated that the In-Lieu Fee payment reduces any future parking requirement on this site by 27 parking spaces. However, the parameters of this agreement were never incorporated into the Downtown Precise Plan.

Affordable Housing Strategy & Modifications to the Below-Market-Rate (BMR) Program

Also on November 28th, the Council confirmed the direction provided during a September 12th study session on affordable housing. The Council affirmed an investment strategy for affordable housing funds, which will be used to construct housing for low-income people and permanent supportive housing for homeless individuals; a strategy to provide housing for the “missing middle” (middle-income families); and a strategy to provide additional opportunities for homeownership.

Additionally, the Council directed staff to immediately modify the City’s Below-Market-Rate (BMR) Affordable Program. The BMR Program requires that 10% of units in market-rate residential development be affordable to low-income people. The City’s BMR Program went into effect in 1999, but a state appellate court decision (Palmer v. The City of Los Angeles, often referred to as the “Palmer decision”) rendered the Program unenforceable, and it was suspended in 2009. However, earlier this year, Governor Brown signed AB 1505 (called the “Palmer Fix”) into law. AB 1505 allows cities to enforce inclusionary housing ordinances, like Mountain View’s BMR Program.

Council approved a two-step modification of the BMR Program. First, the affordable housing requirement will be increased from 10% to 15% of both rental and ownership units in new residential developments. The Program will also allow developers to propose an “alternative mitigation” in lieu of providing units. This could include dedicating land for a future affordable housing project, paying a fee, or some other option. Second, City staff will begin a longer-term comprehensive update of the Program.

The Council noted that residential projects in the pipeline will be significantly affected by this update. Council directed staff to identify a reasonable threshold for exempting projects that are close to project approval.

— Lucas Ramirez, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Mountain View Whisman School District, Observer Reports

Mountain View Whisman School District Meeting October 2017

MVWSD Board Meeting, October 5th and 19th, 2017

2016-17 California Assessment Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) Report

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System is a collection of tests based on California’s state adopted content standards. Since the 2014-2015 school year, MVWSD students have taken CAASPP tests in grades 3-8 for English Language Arts and mathematics and in grades 5 and 8 for science. Test scores for the 2016-2017 school year were recently released.

In 2016-2017, the District’s average score in English Language Arts remained flat compared to the previous year – 66% of students met or exceeded the standards tested. In mathematics, the District saw a 2% increase in overall scores with 62% of students meeting or exceeding the standards tested.

The District outperformed the state in all areas and outperformed the county in all areas except with English Language Learners, who lagged behind by 3% in mathematics and 4% in English Language Arts. Scores at some individual schools dipped, but Castro’s English Language Arts scores increased from 39% in 2015-2016 to 45% and in mathematics from 32% the previous year to 41%.

School sites are using the CAASPP results to develop school site plans to address student learning that will be presented to the Board in November. Individual school data and comparisons across subgroups can be found in the CAASPP Board Report.

Response to Instruction Update

Response to Instruction (RTI) is a three tiered framework used by the District to provide academic intervention and/or enrichment based on individual student needs. Students receive targeted instruction in small groups or one on one. RTI was first piloted at Castro in 2015-2016. Castro staff focused on improving literacy, and literacy scores at the school have increased each year since. In 2016-2017, the pilot was expanded to include Bubb, Monta Loma, Theuerkauf, and Landels. For the 2017-2018 school year RTI is being implemented at all school sites, but each school site is allowed to tailor the program to meet their students’ needs. With 1 additional teacher per 300 students, the program will cost $1.6 million this school year.

Workforce Housing Proposal and Study

Dr. Rudolph and the Trustees discussed different approaches to address the high cost of housing for teachers in MVWSD. Teacher salaries range from $60-114 thousand in the District, and the average cost of a single family home in Mountain View is around $1.5 million.

A multi-pronged approach from the District might include building housing, working with outside partners, and looking at teacher compensation. The Santa Clara Unified School District built below market rate apartments available to teachers and staff to rent for up to 7 years with an eye toward allowing tenants to save toward a down payment while renting. MVWSD is also exploring next steps with Landed, a company that provides teachers with half of their down payment up to $120 thousand. The District is currently doing a compensation study and will discuss those results in the future.

English Learner Update

English Language Learners (ELLs) make up 24% of the District’s students as of October 2017. The District Quality Review carried out in 2015-2016 found that “The provision for English Language Learners across the District is ineffective, inconsistent, and, in many cases, counterproductive.” In response, the Board previously set a goal to revise the District’s English Language Learners program so that 80% of students reach English language competency within 6 years. The District plans to do so by 1) implementing the Sheltered Instructional Observation Protocol (SIOP), an instructional model targeting English Language Learners across the curriculum, in 2017-2018, and 2) implementing an evidenced based early learning language acquisition program for K-3.

The District researched five different programs to provide targeted support for English Language Learners in K-3: Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL), Accelerated English Program, Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach (CALLA), Sheltered Instruction Observational Protocol (SIOP), and Guided Language Acquisition and Design (GLAD). Based on cost and the overlap with existing programs, District staff recommended that the District further consider GLAD, continue implementing and evaluating SIOP, and possibly develop it’s own program drawing on elements from the different programs researched.

Enrollment Priorities Task Force

The Enrollment Priorities Task Force (EPTF) members were selected and had their first meeting on October 24th. The meetings are not filmed, but the District will provide regular updates to the community and the Board. More information about the EPTF is included in the September LWV report.

— Devon Conley, Observer

Lisa McLain Foothill-De Anza Community College District, League News, Observer Reports

Foothill-De Anza Community College Trustee Meeting October 2017

Foothill-De Anza Trustees 2017

October 2:  De Anza President Brian Murphy told the trustees that the Flint 4-level parking structured been successfully upgraded to 2010 earthquake standards just in time for the beginning of fall quarter.  It parks about 2000 cars, so the athletic fields being used for parking for the last 15 months are back to being athletic fields.  The trustees today approved four final change orders totaling $0.91 million, bringing the final cost to about $27 million.   The state of California, Measure-C bonds, and FHDA’s own bonds each paid about one third.

   The trustees also authorized an additional $266,746 to Noll and Tam Architects for parking and circulation at Foothill College, expanding lots 5 and 6.

— Terry Terman, Observer

Lisa McLain League News

Civil Discourse Committee Meeting October 2017

Civil Discourse Committee October, 2017 Report

Civil Discourse is now a Santa Clara County Committee – and Has a New Civil Discourse Tool

Our Cupertino-Sunnyvale Committee has been approved by the Santa Clara County Council as a County Committee – giving us more exposure for public announcements for our events. With a broader platform to share our work within the County, we can more easily announce our events within the Bay Area – and reach a wider audience. Being part of the County LWV means we can use County communication tools to share our message, meetings and trainings.


The group met on October 22nd to learn the Focused Conversation Method (a Technology of Participation tool for participative gatherings) with members of Los Altos Mountain View and Cupertino-Sunnyvale Leagues and a Cupertino Rotary member. Based on theories developed to encourage community conversations and participation, we learned about the method and practiced it with several conversations. Our practice topics included:

  • The Longterm Success of an NGO
  • How to deal with the Trump takedowns
  • Walking the dog when Mom is away
  • The impact of mobile residents on a community
  • How to get Puerto Rico the help it needs


We now have a new way to talk with each other and with groups that encourages participative communication – and a model conversation to use at family Thanksgiving get-togethers for a non-controversial dialog!

We will be facilitating a “Bridging the Divide” workshop for the San Mateo County Leagues on October 24 (like the one Martha Cox did for Santa Clara County Leagues) and look forward to continuing outreach for the Bay Area.

Our next meeting will be Sunday, December 10, 2017, when we will work on our 2018 action plan. We invite you to join us at 10277 Vista Knoll Blvd, Cupertino. Please contact communications@lwvcs.org to RSVP.

Lisa McLain League News

Select Committee on Higher Education November 2017

Ellen Wheeler and Eleanor Yick attended the November 1, 2017 meeting of the Select Committee on Higher Education convened by Assemblymember Marc Berman. The purpose of the meeting was to update California’s Master Plan for Higher Education. The committee heard from experts and members of the public regarding multiple issues involving higher education and the needs of today’s students and society. San Jose State University President Dr. Mary A. Papazian opened the meeting. One striking statistic offered by researchers is that for every 1,000 9th graders in California only 305 of them will graduate from college.

Both Ellen and Eleanor were part of the prior LWVC study on Public Higher Education in California. They prepared a paper copy of the study results for each member of this select committee and gave them to an aide to Marc Berman for distribution. Some audience members also requested copies of the study following the public comments made by Eleanor.

Lisa McLain League News, Mountain View City Council, Observer Reports

Mountain View City Council Meeting October 2017

Sanctuary City and Anti-Registry Policy Considerations

On October 24th, the Mountain View City Council adopted policy language pertaining to the City’s role in federal immigration law and to the potential creation of a Muslim registry. Specifically, the language states that the City does not use “resources to create, implement, provide investigation or information for enforcement, or otherwise assist or support any government program requiring the registration of individuals, creation of a database of individuals, and/or detention relocation or internment of individuals on the basis of religion, national origin, or ethnicity.” Further, the Council adopted language stipulating that it is neither the City’s mission nor role to enforce federal immigration laws, and that the City’s law enforcement will not arrest any person on the basis of any civil immigration laws.

The Council had originally directed staff to explore Sanctuary City and “anti-registry” policies during the goal-setting process, but after Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 31 (the California Religious Freedom Act) and Senate Bill 54 (the California Values Act), staff recommended no further action, as these laws essentially implemented these policies at the state level. During the meeting, there was significant public support for stronger measures, including for model Sanctuary City and “anti-registry” ordinances. The Council accepted some, but not all, of the actions proposed. Accepted actions include, prohibiting conditioning of City benefits and services on immigration status (unless required by law), removing immigration status from City applications and forms, and allowing for the presentation of an identity document by the individual’s nation of origin when a driver’s license or identification card is an acceptable form of evidence of identification.

The Council agreed with the Police Department that existing City law enforcement policies pertaining to immigration law sufficiently protect members of the immigrant community in the City. The Council was not comfortable eliminating the discretion of law enforcement to contact the federal government in certain, rare instances when current law enforcement policy allows such contact.

Los Altos School District – Transfer of Development Rights

In a study session on October 3rd, the Council provided additional direction on a program that could potentially allow the Los Altos School District to more easily acquire land in the San Antonio area for a tenth school site. The “transfer of development rights” (TDR) process provides a funding source to support development of a public school by allowing private property owners to purchase and utilize the development rights of the potential school site at another property. The sale of these development rights reduces the land acquisition cost for the school district.

To enhance the viability and attractiveness of the program, the Council supported allowing the conversion of residential floor area to office floor area through the transfer, waiving public benefit contribution requirements for the floor area transferred, and allowing the transfer of floor area outside of the San Antonio area. Additionally, the Council supported a contribution of $6 million per acre, up to $23 million, of Park Land Dedication funds to the Los Altos School District to assist with the purchase of open space, with the understanding that the City will have access to the open space or recreational facilities constructed on the new school site.

Magical Bridge Foundation – All-Inclusive Playground

The Magical Bridge Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by the community members who coordinated and successfully created the Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto, an “all-inclusive” playground accessible to everyone, regardless of disability or age. All-inclusive playgrounds go “beyond ADA requirements by utilizing designs and equipment that help address physical, mental, and development needs.” On October 3rd, the City Council directed staff to execute a contract with the Foundation and to apply for up to $2 million in matching grant funding from the Santa Clara County All-Inclusive Playground Grant Program. Under the agreement, the Magical Bridge Foundation will assist the City with the design of the playground as well as with fundraising. The Council selected Rengstorff Park as the preliminary site for the all-inclusive playground.

Automated Guideway Transit Study Update

Over the past two years, the City has been studying the feasibility of an off-street “Automated Guideway Transit” (AGT) system that would connect the jobs-rich North Bayshore area with the Downtown Transit Center. Four transportation technologies have been studied:

  1. Aerial Cable Transportation – systems that carry passengers in cabins suspended by cables. Examples include gondolas and aerial trams.
  2. Automated People Movers – automated rubber-tired or steel-wheeled transit systems featuring large capacity vehicles operating on a fixed guideway. Examples include monorails and Maglevs.
  3. Automated Transit Network (ATN) – these include Personal Rapid Transit and Group Rapid Transit systems. They provide point-to-point service and can bypass other stations to get to the passenger’s destination.
  4. Autonomous Transit – driverless vehicles capable of integration with mixed-flow (non-exclusive right of way) traffic.

On October 17th, the Council provided direction to focus on the newer, emerging technologies – Automated Transit Network and Autonomous Transit. Although less mature, City staff recommended these technologies because they potentially could provide the greatest passenger experience, serving anticipated travel demand between North Bayshore and Downtown, and they allow for greater flexibility in expanding the system to serve other areas of the City. Council further directed exploration of at-grade elements, which means that Autonomous Transit technologies could have lower infrastructure impacts on the City if current infrastructure can be utilized (rather than utilize an entirely new aerial or dedicated off-street structure). The study is projected to be finalized in 2018, when Council will be provided proposed next steps.

— Lucas Ramirez, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Observer Reports, Rental Housing Committee

Housing Committee Update October 2017

News from the Mountain View Rental Housing Committee

Background:

On November 8, 2016, the residents of the City of Mountain View voted to adopt Measure V, also known as the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act (CSFRA), to stabilize rents and to provide just cause eviction protections for certain rental units in Mountain View.

Effective December23, 2016 rent levels and rent increases for covered rental units built before February 1, 1995 must comply with the CSFRA.  As of this writing, single family homes, condominiums, duplexes, and mobile homes are not covered by the CSFRA.

For more background go to the Mountain View website:

http://www.mountainview.gov/council/rental_housing_committee/default.asp

Rental Housing Committee Meeting 10/23/2017

Unfinished Business

Rental Housing Committee Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Budget and Rental Housing Fee

With the adoption of Measure V, a new program with dedicated resources was created in the City of Mountain View which requires independent funding for its operation.  The Rental Housing Committee (RHC) must establish a budget for implementing the provisions of the CSFRA and the staffing to accomplish this.

On October 9, 2017 the RHC confirmed a budget which was a ‘best estimate’ proposed by the City staff in the amount of $2,590,915 which included these items: staffing, general operating costs, 3rd party professional services, an IT system and a one-time reimbursement of the City’s advanced funding.

To fund this budget, the landlords of roughly 16,788 Mountain View rental units will initially be charge $155 per unit per year.

The City recommended that this Budget and Rental Housing Fee be approved.  With much discussion between all members of the RHC, Legal Staff and City Staff, eventually the RHC approved this budget.

Public Hearing

The public was not at all happy with this decision and once this budget and rental fee was adopted by the RHC the line was quickly forming to speak their 3 minutes directly to the committee with their opinions:

Budget much too large, salaries for staff are excessive, RHF is too high and who should actually pay this fee varied from 100% Renters to a 50-50% shared split Renters-Landlords etc., etc.

Upon hearing these very passionate opinions the committee did recommend that they continue this discussion at the next meeting.

New Business

Rental Housing Committee Meeting Schedule

Schedule as presented was adopted.

— Tamara Lewis, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Mountain View Los Altos High School District, Observer Reports

Mountain View – Los Altos High School District (MVLA) Meetings October 2017

Mountain View – Los Altos High School District (MVLA)

October 9 and 23, 2017

Consulting firm, TBWB Strategies, presented the results of a public opinion poll on a possible bond measure to upgrade school facilities.  They conducted 611 interviews of likely voters in a June election.  Support for a bond measure is well above the required 55% to pass, and is not affected by the dollar amount of the bond.  MVLA currently has the lowest tax rate of any school district in the county.  They recommend putting the school construction bond measure on the June 2018 ballot.

Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) presented the Facilities Masters Plan, including on both campuses: new two-story classroom buildings to accommodate expected increased enrollment; new student services buildings; new auxiliary gyms; library and cafeteria improvements; and needed repairs and improvements.  Also included is a new building for Freestyle Academy and needed repairs to Alta Vista, Adult Education and District office buildings.  The rough cost estimates are: LAHS $108M to $119 M, MVHS $121M to $133M, and Freestyle Academy $20M to $22.5M. The total estimated cost, including the repairs to other buildings, contingencies, and expenses is $270M to $295M.The Board requested a prioritization of elements of the plan in order to perhaps leave some things out to reduce the cost. The QKA presentation is available at:

mvla.net/files/user/519/file/Draft%20MVLA%20Facilities%20Master%20Plan%2010_23_17.pdfT

The Board approved a contract with California School Boards Association (CSBA) for their Agenda Online service which provides a web-based application and hosting service that enables the district to create board meeting agendas, attach or link to supporting documents, record minutes, and publish it all on the web.  The service will meet the requirements of a new law that says agendas must be searchable.

The Board approved a limited number (net 78) of intra-district transfers from LAHS to MVHS for 2018-2019, available in an open enrollment period to incoming 9th graders, because LAHS has reached its maximum facility capacity.

The board heard presentations on the Computer Science and Engineering Departments from MVHS and LAHS, a Progress Report for the 2016 Special Education Study, the PEAK (Pathways, Exposure, Academic connection and Knowledge) program for AVID students (a collaboration with MVLA Scholars), and the AP Success Project at LAHS (working with the Stanford University Center to Support Excellence in Teaching).

—  Sally Ahnger, Observer

Lisa McLain League News, Los Altos City Council, Observer Reports

Los Altos City Council Meetings October 2017

Notes for Los Altos City Council-October 2017

October 10, 2017

The City Council adopted the ordinance for Density Bonus Regulations and the ordinance for Commercial Transit Zone amendments which had taken up much discussion time in the September city council meetings. In addition, City Council authorized and adopted under the consent calendar, notice of completion of the illuminated crosswalk replacements, the Covington Road bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and the annual pathway rehabilitation project.

The main discussion concerned the lease renewal proposal from Children’s Corner which has leased rooms in the Hillview Community Center since 1981. The current lease is up in September 2018, and Chris Jordan, City Manager, has recommended that the council not agree to the proposed terms for a new lease.

Parents of pre-K children filled the chambers to support the terms for renewal of the contract. Speakers for Children’s Corner discussed its options: negotiate with the city for space, find a new location, or go out of business.

The City Council’s Financial Commission asks both Children’s Corner and the council to consider the exclusive use of public space for the pre-school vs. maximum use of the public land; the risk of long term contract with a private entity; and the problem of transparency in the process of selecting tenants. Also at the September 26 study session before the council meeting, 3000 additional square feet for the new Hillview Community Center and $2 million had been approved. With this information the City Council asked staff to renegotiate with Children’s Corner a lease to include a monetary contribution from Children’s Corner to build the space and the lease to be included as part of a 10-year financial plan discussion.

October 24, 2017

The City Council discussed a citizen’s proposal for amendments to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. They requested additional information from staff and the City Attorney before further decision. Item was continued to a future meeting date.

The City Council considered an elevator tower height waiver for the project at 4880 El Camino included in the affordable housing design. Looking at reports from the Planning and Transportation Commission, the problem was disagreement among members about the building heights in the neighborhood and extending the original project height for disability access to the rooftop deck structure open space. The council considered and adopted a waiver allowing elevator height to 16 feet eight inches above the structure’s rooftop.

The Council appointed Council Member Jean Mordo and Council Member Lynette Lee Eng as alternate to the Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on South Flow Arrivals to San Francisco International Airport to focus on aircraft noise. They authorized the City Manager to work with neighboring cities to hire a consultant to assist in this effort. Also, Council authorized the City Manager to retain the services of an expert consultant to assist the city in evaluating the situation with aircraft noise related to SFO arrivals.

— Claire Noonan, Observer