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Published on 09/29/1999 All articles from this issue

Cleanup coming for city's north entry - Los Altos council approves landscaping plan

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Special to the Town Crier

Soon the dead ivy, broken glass and construction debris in the city-owned triangle at El Camino Real and San Antonio Road will be just a memory.

At its Sept. 14 meeting, the Los Altos City Council, with a push from Mayor Lou Becker, asked the city staff to prepare landscaping plans with drought-tolerant, colorful plants for this north entry to the city.

Now the corner is "giving the image of neglect," Becker said. "We should go in and show we care about the city."

Once the city replaces the landscaping that was there before, "it will book 100 percent better," said City Manager Phil Rose.

Many consider that corner to be the north gateway to the city. For the past few years, the granite block with a Los Altos sign that faces El Camino Real was cracked in half and held together with ropes.

"It took years to get it fixed, and it was very unsightly," Becker said. Around the base of the granite block, weeds grew out of ivy littered with trash.

"An image of our city is formed," Becker said, as people drive past the corner, "and it is not up to par. The maintenance is not good, and the landscaping is worn out."

Recently the city repaired the block. In the process, many sprinkler heads were broken. Last week two orange cones marked holes next to the granite stone. Debris, including paper cups, zip-lock baggies and a beef-jerky wrapper shared space with the ivy.

The corner "certainly needs help," said Councilman Francis La Poll, "but it should go through the budget process."

Becker didn't want to delay.

"It's some of the most valuable real estate around," he said. "I'd like to push forward."

Councilman King Lear asked to wait until after the election to make a decision about the corner.

"We've repaired the block, we're repairing the irrigation and restoring the ivy," said Bruce Bane, director of public works. "Should we stop?" he asked the council.

The council agreed to go forward with "nothing grand," but with plants offering "more color, low maintenance and drought tolerant."

The banner that hangs above the granite block invites visitors to "celebrate Los Altos."

With the banner, "the idea of the corner can be special," said Councilwoman Kris Casto.