Los Altos City Council members May 13 allocated approximately $38,000 of the $130,420 requested from six nonprofit groups.
Council members used criteria that funding directly benefited Los Altos residents in some way. But they also denied funds considered redundant because the city already supported in areas where funding was requested.
This occurred with requests from American Legion Post 558 and Arts Los Altos. The American Legion asked for $6,000 in funds based on their Legion Hall on First Street being a place to gather for emergencies. But Councilmember Jonathan Weinberg noted the city was already partnering with the nonprofit Resilient Los Altos for emergency preparedness. The veterans group also requested money to help the support Little League and Girls and Boys State programs, but Weinberg and the council felt the funding requests were not appropriate.
With regard to Arts Los Altos, council members felt the nonprofit’s $55,000 request for an interactive, LED-lit art project in Veterans Community Plaza was for art in a public space, and therefore urged working with the city’s Parks, Arts Recreation and Cultural Commission (PARC). Arts Los Altos has been centering on public art at privately-owned spaces in downtown Los Altos.
“I’m supportive of this, but I don’t think it’s right (for funding),” said Councilmember Larry Lang. “I just think it would be irresponsible for us to say yes to this much money – without the people we’ve charged to assist us in making those decisions (the PARC commission) having a chance to look at it.”
“We’re faced with something that’s completely outside of the process that we’ve set up for you to work together,” added Councilmember Sally Meadows.
The council limited an $11,000 request from the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation to $5,500, to put on a nonprofit symposium. The foundation was looking to fund a Local Impact Summit in support of the LAMVCF’s 19 projects, such as GreenTown Los Altos. Executive director Crysta Krames described the summit as providing a forum, “not just for (program) members, but for all residents who are eager to engage, learn and lead.”
Council members ultimately decided to a little more than match a $5,000 contribution LAMVCF received from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
The only council split decision came on a $5,000 proposal from United Methodist Church of Los Altos to fund Compassion Week. The council voted in favor, 3-2, with Councilmembers Weinberg and Meadows opposed.
Held every October, Compassion Week mobilizes volunteers to participate in service projects across Los Altos and nearby communities.
The council also unanimously approved a $27,920 request from the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which is looking establish a new Los Altos-Los Altos Hills Leadership program. The program, a partnership with the community foundation and the city of Los Altos, offers residents an introduction to community involvement to support future Los Altos leaders.
A bid for $25,000 from Sacramento-based Special Operations Funding Kids was denied for lack of a motion.
Sherwood plan
The council and city staff cleaned up zoning at last week’s council meeting that had restricted homeowners in the Sherwood Triangle area from rebuilding on properties.
Council members approved three ordinances, including one that scrapped a 1999 Sherwood Gateway Specific Plan that had “subjective criteria and is mostly unenforceable,” according to Nick Zornes, assistant city manager.
The city essentially combined CN (Commercial Neighborhood) and CT (Commercial Thoroughfare) zoning into CT zoning for the entire 42-parcel area. Sherwood, a combination of small businesses, restaurants and small, older houses, is bordered by San Antonio Road, El Camino Real, and Sherwood Avenue.
The new zoning changes front and side setbacks from zero to 10 feet in the front to five feet (interior side) and 10 feet (exterior) for the side. Height limit was set at 5 stories and 55 feet for residential, 60 feet and five stories for mixed-use projects, and four stories and 45 feet for commercial use. There is no maximum density with the approved zoning.
