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Published on 09/22/1999 All articles from this issue

LAH council names new city manager

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By Leslie K. Martin / Town Crier Staff Writer

Los Altos Hills welcomed a new city manager and discussed house colors at last Thursday's council meeting.

And councilmembers seemed to surprise themselves with three unanimous votes.

Mayor Elayne Dauber called the appointment of Mark Miller as city manager, an "exuberant, enthusiastic, unanimous approval," and there were smiles all around for Miller, who started his first day Monday. Miller has worked in public service in the city of Larkspur, and most recently as the general manager of the Tamalpais Community Services District.

"From the very first interview, every member of the city council was impressed with Mark Miller," Dauber said Friday. "His public works background, hillside experience, and enthusiastic, outgoing personality made him a perfect candidate for our city manager position."

In other action, the council denied a request for a lot-line adjustment on the LeFevre property at Eshner Court, which would create an irregular "string bean" configuration between two lots. The decision went against staff recommendations, but fulfilled requests from neighbors for consistent property development.

The council also agreed to expand the colors of the town's color board. The board was meant as a guideline for new homeowners.

Initial selections comprised mostly earth tones. These were chosen in an effort to make Los Altos Hills blend visually and uniformly into nature's color palette. But the initial intent of the color chart has been misinterpreted, some councilmembers said.

"We have taken the color board as an absolute. We need to remind the planning commission and ourselves what the original intent was," said Councilmember Steve Finn.

The council agreed to a motion that directed Planning Director Curtis Williams to provide a full palette of colors at the next council meeting, for further discussion.