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Published on 03/23/1998 All articles from this issue

News Briefs

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New police K-9 coming Monday

By next Monday Los Altos will have its new police K-9. The dog is staying in Pleasanton with its trainer until its new handler is ready to receive him.

Garry, an 18-month-old German shepherd, "is calm, collected and beautiful," said Los Altos Police Chief Lucy Carlton. "He prances. He walks like a prince."

Los Altos Police Officer John Korges will be the new K-9 handler for Garry, which is pronounced Jerry.

Korges, the father of two, is moving this weekend into a home with a larger yard. Carlton said Korges is a "sterling young man," and that K-9s thrive in a "family environment."

The first Los Altos K-9, Disco, retired recently when his partner, Craig Penley, resigned from the force. The city allowed Penley to buy Disco so Penley and his dog could stay together.

Los Altos residents choose disposal days

Beginning today, residents in the city of Los Altos may choose their own two disposal day pickups. Previously, the contract with the Los Altos Garbage Company allowed for one disposal day per year on a spring Saturday selected by the garbage company.

Now residents may convert the one fixed disposal day to two days of their choosing. Customers may call the garbage company and let the company know when they need the pickup, said Bruce Bane, Los Altos director of public works.

This service is in addition to a customer's regular trash pickup. This new option will allow customers two disposal day pickups of their choosing or two yard waste/wood waste recycling pickups, or one of each.

The size that may be picked up is to be no more than 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet and weigh no more than 50 pounds.

Also, small amounts of dirt, rock, concrete, asphalt, brick and tile can be accepted. These heavy materials must be boxed and cannot be more than 250 pounds and must be no more than 50 pounds per container, Bane said.

Communication continues: Council, PC, city staff

Communication continues to improve as folks follow through on ideas begun during the city conflict resolution and team building sessions held November and December.

Last Wednesday Los Altos Mayor Kris Casto, Planning Director Larry Tong, interim city manager Bill Zaner and Planning Commission chairman-elect Jeff Warmoth met for the first of quarterly get-togethers agreed to at the fall conflict resolution process.

"We will meet and talk about issues," Casto said. "It's related to communications, and it's working. We're talking."

A current topic is how to proceed with reviewing the city's design guidelines, under recent fire for ambiguities regarding consistent neighborhoods and second-story additions.

Another new process that is working, Casto said, is that the planning department is sending memos, that used to go just to the city council, to the planning commissioners, also. "It's helpful and gives a heads-up," she said.

- Joanne Griffith Domingue