Special to the Town Crier
The Los Altos City Council approved the city's 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 budgets at its regular meeting June 22. Balanced budget totals are $21.86 million and $21.48 million, respectively.
The council also considered the report of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which consists of 29 community members assigned to comment on the budget.
In a June 15 memo, the Blue Ribbon Committee approved the general content of the budget.
The committee recommended that the city pay all utilities and replacement costs for a soon-to-be-built History House Education Center without a cap, which the budget, as submitted, contained.
The committee's second recommendation to the council was that the budget include more than $25,000 for a housing-element update consultant. The council decided to allocate money later if needed, said City Manager Phil Rose.
The committee also said the cost of the general plan, which includes the housing element, should not be funded solely by current developers, recommending use of general-fund money to supplement the cost.
The council estimated that fees on current development will provide 33 percent of the cost.
Money from the general fund will make up the rest.
The committee also made general recommendations about revenue sources and planning. A June 22 memo said Los Altos should "establish an open and forward looking planning process for the development of ... properties ... rather than addressing their development on a reactionary basis."
The committee pointed out that Los Altos contains many opportunities for revenue from land use.
The committee suggested Los Altos clarify ambiguous rules for building and use permits.