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Published on 06/01/1998 All articles from this issue

LAH council tackles graffiti, election reform at last week's meeting

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By Carol Tiegs / Town Crier Staff Writer

The Los Altos Hills Town Council directed City Attorney Sandy Sloan to draft a graffiti ordinance.

By consensus, the council at its June 3 meeting asked Sloan to draft a "simple" ordinance similar to Menlo Park's. Such an ordinance would prohibit placement of graffiti on any publicly or privately owned building or structure. It would also require property owners to remove graffiti visible from the street or other public or private property.

Property owners could elect to have staff or volunteers clean up graffiti or receive a $250 reimbursement for cleaning it themselves.

Public Works Manager Jim Rasp told the council he recently sent five letters to town property owners requesting clean up of graffiti visible from Interstate 280 and other public roads. Three of the cases have been resolved.

According to Mayor pro tem Bob Johnson, a stretch of fencing along Stonebrook Drive visible from I-280 is particularly attractive to graffiti artists.

In other action, resident Ralph Vetterlein, representing a volunteer committee of concerned individuals, presented council with a written request for election reform legislation.

"Let's not spend time recapping our past errors or try to establish fault and blame," Vetterlein said during the June 3 meeting. "Rather, let's devote time and effort constructively towards finding solutions for the voters of Los Altos Hills.

The committee recommended a voluntary spending limit of $4,000, and a $100 limit on individual or group contributions.

The council agreed to place election reform on its June 17 agenda. Sloan explained that it takes a minimum of 45 days from first reading before a new ordinance can take effect. Filing dates for the Nov. 3 election run from July 13 to Aug. 7. Sloan said an emergency ordinance could be enacted by a four-fifths vote of the council.

Councilman Sid Hubbard, who has announced he will not seek reelection, asked the volunteer committee to reconsider a recommendation that all fund raising cease two weeks before the election. "The last two weeks are often when people are most charged up about the election," he said.

Hubbard and Johnson both expressed concern that the time limit on fund raising would hamper candidates who needed to counter misleading last-minute mailings by their opposition.

Committee recommendations included publishing the names of all contributors of $50 or more in the Town Crier. The council suggested $100 would be a better figure. Councilman Bill Siegel asked the group to give more consideration to who would pay for publication of that list of names. He also sought clarification of the powers of the independent auditor recommended by the committee to oversee campaign filings.

The council held an afternoon work session June 3 to review goals and objectives and the proposed 1998-99 budget.

Total budgeted operating expenses for fiscal year 1998-99 are $3.9 million, a 2.2 percent increase over the town's current adjusted budget. This includes an average 6 percent increase in the town's compensation plan, the result of a 1998 compensation study recommendation.

City Manager Jeff Peterson said that while planning permits are still high, "they are decreasing from the peak." That means declines in revenue from planning and building permits, altering the town's revenue mix.

"Property taxes are not projected to comprise a full 26 percent of governmental revenues," according to the proposed budget. "Developmental revenues will total 22.8 percent of this revenue. In fact, property tax assessments for 1998-99 will be 10.7 percent higher than last year for Los Altos Hills."

According to Peterson, a $1 million increase in revenues and expenses over the 1997-98 budget reflects a change in accounting and cash flow with Los Altos Garbage Company. Previously, the garbage company handled all fee collections and paid the town for its expenses. Beginning this fiscal year the firm will send all receipts to Los Altos Hills, which will then reimburse the garbage company.

The budget, to be approved at the June 17 council meeting, contains funding for a new computer that will allow public access to the town's parcel database system.

Goals and objectives for fiscal year 1998-99 place greater focus on larger scale planning projects, Peterson said. Policy issue objectives include working with local fire and water districts to finalize the assessment of town water systems and their ability to adequately provide fire flows. Staff will also update the town's investment policy and procedures.

Code maintenance-related objectives include updating the General Plan, review of the Master Pathway Plan. Staff will work to ensure that the council's intent on site development approvals is met through continued amendments to the zoning and site development ordinances.