Note: The following is a speech by departing Los Altos city Councilmember Lynette Lee Eng at the Dec. 10 council meeting.
It is with immense gratitude and a full heart that I stand before you today. As I reflect on my eight years of service to this remarkable community as a council member and as Los Altos’ first female Asian mayor/council member, I am deeply humbled by the trust and support you have given me. Serving this city has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I could not have done it without the unwavering encouragement of my family and the residents of Los Altos.
Over these years, a lot has been accomplished, thanks to the collaboration and dedication of the council members I had the pleasure to serve with. Together, we achieved significant milestones, including the completion of a new community center, successfully navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and hiring a strong city manager whose leadership has been instrumental in stabilizing our city’s budget. Additionally, we have successfully recruited two exceptional female police chiefs who have brought stability and strength to our law enforcement department, ensuring our police department is well-positioned to serve this community with integrity and professionalism.
Transparency, public engagement and the preservation of historic resources are core values that define Los Altos. They are priorities that I know matter deeply to this community, and they are essential to fostering trust, inclusivity and a sense of belonging. Your voices, your history and your active participation are what make Los Altos not just a place to live, but a home we all cherish.
One area that requires our continued focus is ensuring the completion of critical public safety facilities, particularly the new police station. For too long, this essential project has been delayed and overshadowed by other initiatives that, while valuable, do not hold the same level of urgency or impact on the safety and well-being of our residents. It is vital that we remain steadfast in our commitment to this project, ensuring that funds are allocated responsibly and priorities are aligned with the core needs of our community.
I hope that the council will revisit the use of hybrid meetings to allow greater public participation, ensuring that every individual has an opportunity to contribute to our shared vision for Los Altos. It’s critical that we continue to prioritize senior services while also advocating for the needs of our preschool-aged children – investing in the future while honoring the past.
To my fellow residents and city staff, thank you for your shared passion, goals, and commitment to making Los Altos a better place to live, work and gather. Your dedication inspires me every day, and it has been a privilege to serve alongside you in this journey.
As I look to the future, I have every confidence in the strength of this community. I know that the seeds we have planted together will continue to grow and thrive, much like our historic apricot orchard – a living testament to the care, resilience and vision of those who came before us.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you – for your trust, your partnership and for the honor of serving this exceptional city. Let’s continue to build the Los Altos we all envision, together.
Lee Eng is a former Los Altos mayor and council member.
