While some of us are beginning 2006 attempting to fulfill New Year’s resolutions, we’d like to offer a resolution for leaders in our communities of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills: Make 2006 a year of action.
From Bullis Charter School to the Rosita pools, there are plenty of unresolved issues that await solutions this year. Here are some examples:
Rosita: The issue of building a new community pool or pools seems to go around and around with no end in sight. We hope 2006 sees some resolution – either go forward with plans at the end of Rosita Avenue or make the decision to end the process. Last we heard back in October, the city hired a private contractor to analyze the financial and operational impacts of one or two pools, or the original plan that also called for a small wading pool. The consultant was to have presented findings to council by the end of this month. Let’s make 2006 the year we seal the deal.
Downtown hotel: In May, the council passed a resolution allowing the city to sell or lease city-owned property at First and Main streets for building the long-talked-about boutique hotel. This seemed to meet developers’ desires to pursue buying the property outright from the city. However, we’ve heard little since. It will take some reasonable effort from both sides for this transaction to be completed in 2006 so that the hotel can be built, a move that could bring $500,000 per year of new money to the city.
Bullis site: The Bullis Charter School shouldn’t be expected to occupy temporary classrooms at Egan Junior High School forever. The school doesn’t want it and neither do surrounding residents who want to see the camp schools go away. We support the idea of the charter school operating at the Bullis-Purissima site with a newly opened Los Altos School District elementary school. Some might argue this is too much for a relatively small location and that major financial and logistical questions remain. But we hope 2006 is a year in which Bullis Charter can move to greener pastures, so to speak.
Westwind Barn: We expect the Los Altos Hills City Council to take a strong leadership role in 2006 to coordinate needed facilities improvements at this historic town institution. The good news is, the money is available through state park bonds. Unfortunately, infighting over control of barn operations threatens to undermine progress. We hope 2006 brings resolutions to these conflicts.
