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Published on 06/26/1995 All articles from this issue

Police, library get help despite proposed no-frills budget

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

In spite of what Los Altos City Finance Director Sherry Lambach described to the City Council June 13 as status quo budgets proposed for the city for fiscal 1995-96 and 1996-97, city residents may benefit from some new programs in the months ahead.

Despite a budget with no new services and no new revenues except from potential fee increases, Los Altos police and the local libraries will be providing increased services.

The Los Altos Police Department has two new officers patrolling the area. One, with the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, works at a variety of tasks, one of which is undercover, said Lucy Carlton, Los Altos police chief. Funding for this position comes from the Department of Motor Vehicles, through the county, and looks like it is in place to the year 2000.

The second new police position is a bicycle pedestrian safety officer. The money for this program came from a grant from the El Camino Hospital District to help reduce bicycle accidents in the city. Funding is for one year with an option to renew, Carlton said.

"Because the city resources have shrunk, we need to be more creative, write grants and seek outside funding to support community programs," Carlton said.

The library, funded by the county, is also expanding its services. The Measure A parcel tax, which passed last November, will provide funds for the library to stay open more hours, said library commissioner Susan Heintzelman at the council meeting.

Carol Tefft, head librarian for the Los Altos Community Library, said that beginning July 1 the main library will be open an additional 16 hours per week: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays; three hours later on Friday, until 9 p.m.; and two more hours on Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.

The budget, called the service and financial plan, for fiscal years 1995-96 and 1996-97 will be discussed at a public forum study session June 26 at the Hillview Community Center in room A at 7 p.m.

The City Council is scheduled to act on the budget Tuesday at their 7:30 p.m. meeting at the Los Altos City hall, 1 N. San Antonio Road, in Los Altos.

At that time, a balanced budget will be adopted, Lambach said.