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Published on 04/21/1999 All articles from this issue

News Briefs

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Residential burglary in unincorporated area

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's department confirmed last week that there was a recent daytime residential burglary in the 400 block of Valley View Drive. This neighborhood is in an unincorporated area of Los Altos, between Foothill Expressway and Magdalena Avenue.

The burglar entered through an unlocked door in the rear of the residence, said Sgt. John Hirokawa, in the Sheriff's office. The burglar took jewelry, snorkel equipment, CDs and video games.

Hirokawa said this has been the only property crime in the area of Valley View, Outlook and Knoll drives and Valley View Court since January 1.

A few years ago there was a series of daytime burglaries in the Country Club Drive area, south of Magdalena from this break-in.

Sheriff deputies win competition

Santa Clara County Sheriff deputies Ron Karrle and Kim Morgenthaler won all four categories at the recent Pacific Grove police motorcycle competition.

Karrle and Morgenthaler work traffic enforcement in Cupertino and Saratoga, said Sgt. John Hirokawa of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office.

"I know those guys and they're both awesome riders," said Sgt. Tom Connelly, of the Los Altos Police Department.

Los Altos did not enter their two motorcycle riders. "Our teams are so new," said Los Altos Police Capt. Cliff Balch. "We wouldn't participate until we've had more time out on the road."

Another competition is coming up Aug. 3. "We might participate in that," Connelly said.

City in second search for finance director

After not finding a finalist following its first search for a director of finance, Los Altos is now in the midst of a second search, said city manager Phil Rose.

"We're in the final stages of recruitment," he said. For the finalists in the first search, commuting and relocating surfaced as issues, he said.

"It used to be if you got the job you took the job," Rose said. "Now you're seeing more and more candidates going through the process and then taking it seriously, with the wife saying, 'I don't really want to move,'" he said.

But "going out twice is not that abnormal," he said.

The previous finance director, Sherry Lambach, 54, died of a heart attack at her desk last July. The city hired an interim finance director for extra help during the city's current budget process.The job pays up to $96,000. The city's fiscal year begins July 1.

City invites public to name that park

The city of Los Altos welcomes public input for names for two parks that are currently being developed.

One site, the 5.5-acre former St. William school at 401 Rosita Avenue, will include 4 acres of turf and landscaping.

The second site, a three-quarter-acre corner at Edith Avenue and San Antonio Road, will include walkways, grass, large trees and seating areas.

Park names are limited to three words, with the last word being "park." All submissions must be in writing, with a brief statement of why the proposed name should be selected. Names of persons may be accepted.

Send submissions to Bob Rayl, Los Altos Recreation Director, Los Altos Recreation Department, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos, 94022.

Deadline is May 14. For more information, call Rayl, 941-0950, ext. 306.

Design guideline task force final meeting

After nearly a year of meetings, the city of Los Altos residential design guidelines task force meets tonight for possibly its last meeting.

Two issues led to the creation of the task force - defining consistent character neighborhoods and when a two-story house remodel is OK.

"The committee is in agreement on a small set of things," said vice chairwoman Cindy Sidaris. "But we don't create a solution for what the council wants us to solve."

On some things the task force has reached a consensus: "It's not feasible to encourage CC&Rs as a way to limit two-stories," Sidaris said.

But there is not consensus as to a "one-story overlay zone. And there's not consensus about what is a consistent character neighborhood."

At tonight's 5:30 meeting in Room 2 at the Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos, the task force will be reviewing a draft of recommendations, said city Planning Director Larry Tong.

- Joanne Griffith Domingue