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Published on 09/21/1998 All articles from this issue

News Briefs

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Planning commission Sherwood session

The Los Altos Planning Commission will meet at a study session to review the draft of the Sherwood Gateway Specific Plan at 7 p.m. Thursday in the city council chambers.

One item of discussion will be the housing density question. The plan recommends a density of seven homes per acre; the city's general plan designates the north Los Altos area as 38 per acre; staff recommended 20 per acre.

No action will be taken at the session.

City seeks new finance director

Friday is the closing date for applicants to apply for finance director of the city of Los Altos.

The job will pay up to $96,000, depending upon experience. Job qualifications include a "leadership approach that is truly participatory" and a style that "inspires as well as delegates," according to the recruitment brochure.

The finance director reports directly to the city manager. Screening and interviewing will be during October. The city expects to name the new director by Oct. 30.

Layne Long, assistant to the city manager, is coordinating the search. The previous finance director, Sherry Lambach, died of a heart attack in July.

Council endorses school bond measure

The Los Altos City Council voted unanimously at its Sept. 22 meeting to endorse the Los Altos School District Measure H bond issue.

The $94.7 million bond will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. This will provide for renovation and repairs at the district's nine schools. The cost to property owners will be $54 per year for each $100,000 of assessed valuation (not market value.)

Council sessions: day workers, public works

The Los Altos City Council members agreed at their Sept. 22 meeting to schedule study sessions to discuss the day laborer issue and the final report of the service review of the department of public works.

Day workers continue to wait for employers on city street corners. Council members requested there be representatives from INS and from the IRS at the study session.

At the Sept. 22 meeting, the council received the final report for the service review of the department of public works. The council will discuss the review in late October to mid-November. The format will be that of a study session, but it will be noticed as a special meeting so that the council may take action, said Carol Scharz, city clerk.

401 Rosita field work

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the Los Altos City Council approved a timeline for developing playing fields at the city-owned land at 401 Rosita Ave. that should have fields ready for play by fall of 1999.

Last April the council approved a plan for having fields ready by spring of 1999.

"However, scheduling conflicts with our consultant Jay Beals and the survey company delayed the project several months," said Bruce Bane, public works director, and Bob Rayl, recreation director, in a staff report.

Cost to develop 3.9 acres is $480,000.

A drawback to authorizing the consultant to begin work Oct. 1 is that current discussion with the school district could affect how the fields at 401 Rosita are developed, Bane and Rayl said. Should there be a change in plans, some or all of the consultant's work, costing $20,000 to $35,000, could be unusable, they said.

The current project includes demolishing the existing convent house, classrooms, installing new turf and irrigation.

- Joanne Griffith Domingue