By Ordinance interfering with 'happiness'
Open letter to the mayor and council members:
It seems at every level of government we have politicians who are hellbent on chipping away at their fellow citizens’ inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Let’s call them chippers. Well it seems we have our very own chippers right here in Los Altos. I refer of course to the onerous consideration of ordinance 02.408. C’mon guys, this is America, not communist China.
Consider this: My beautiful RV is 6 inches over the proposed limit of 8 feet tall. Do you all know how much 8 feet is ? It is the same as your typical room in your typical home. C’mon guys. My neighbor doesn’t mind nor do I care about his beautiful boat parked in his drive from time to time, so why should you?
If the city forces me to get rid of my RV, isn’t that a form of taking? Will the city compensate me to the tune of $40K+? I can tell you this, there isn’t enough dough in the city’s bank to compensate my wife and me for for the loss of liberty and the pursuit of happiness. C’mon, guys. let’s put some common sense into this
And to think I voted for all you folks. C’mon, don’t let us down.
B.A. DragonyLos Altos
Why still the talk about a theater?
It dumbfounds me that the powers to be in our fair city are still discussing a movie theater for downtown. There are already numerous movie theaters within a 15-minute drive of downtown such as Palo Alto Square, Century on Shoreline and downtown Palo Alto. The idea of a 12,000-square-foot box, completely out of scale with the other downtown structures is ludicrous!
Do the idiots running this town realize how many people and cars would descend on our little downtown area to attend a six-screen theater? With each theater holding approximately 150 seats, you do the math. This would be seven evenings a week plus matinees on weekends. Even with an underground parking garage, where would all those cars enter or exit? People wanting to go north on San Antonio would have to make a left turn exiting across four lanes of traffic. People leaving via Third Street would find themselves horribly backed up on a narrow downtown street with numerous stop signs. Palo Alto Square and Century are in commercial zones, a good distance back from major four-lane routes with tons of parking spaces, thus allowing for adequate entry, egress and parking. The Bandera parking lot theater proposal pales by comparison and should not be pursued further.
John HubicsakLos Altos
County parcel tax for schools supported
I would gladly pay the countywide tax to benefit Santa Clara schools as proposed by Colleen Wilcox, Santa Clara County superintendent of schools. I moved to Los Altos three years ago because of the excellent schools, only to learn that my children’s school district, Cupertino Union School District, has the lowest state funding (33 out of 33) in the county, and ranks 984 out of 988 school districts in California. Cupertino Coalition has been trying for 20 years to equalize state funding for the district.
I think we need to try other ideas and welcome Ms. Wilcox’s suggestion. A county specific tax for education makes sense for districts like CUSD, which encompasses six cities: Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Los Altos, Saratoga, and Santa Clara.
Cupertino Union School District is currently trying to settle a teacher contract impasse, exacerbated in large part because it doesn’t have enough money. Like all other districts in the county, it also needs facilities improvements and more funding for enrichment programs.
Chris Chang WeeksLos Altos
Disappointed over town hall, Westwind
My husband and I would like to express our great disappointment with two recent council decisions and/or discussions regarding Wetwind Barn and the design of Town Hall.
Westwind Barn is the only facility where children and adults can develop an activity that relates to our natural outdoor beauty and horses.
This is part of the heritage of our town. Selling community properties for a short-term profit is extremely damaging to the community over the long term. These assets are truly not replaceable and add invaluable charm and utility to our community
We agree that Los Altos Hills needs a new town hall, in fact my husband was part of a team selected by the council to develop criteria and solicit proposals for a new structure.
This effort was brought to an abrupt end with the seating of the new council.
The cost estimate about two years ago was in the neighborhood of $3 to $3.5 million.
I am requesting that townspeople be directly involved with the decision making on such an important project. Present more than one design to the citizens who will be funding the project.
The proposed town hall will be twice the earlier estimate and include some functions which are questionable for a city hall (catering facility). The exterior design is one which I dare say would not pass the planning commission if it were for a residence.
The materials of construction also appear to be selected without regard to cost. My last issue is with regard to the size of the facility.
Some increase in size is necessary, however. Los Altos Hills is now a stable community. We are out of development land and there is no need for anything over 130 percent of the current size.
Anne and Lewis ThroopLos Altos Hills
More concern over Westwind
I am dismayed to learn that the Los Altos Hills City Council considers the Westwind Barn property on Altamont Road underutilized and is interested in selling it, possibly to a developer.
Apart from its value as undeveloped community property, the Westwind Barn has also been the location, since 1978, of a program of horseback riding for handicapped children.
My daughter, who has numerous disabilities and medical problems, has been riding at Westwind Barn for almost two years
Originally recommended by her physical therapist to stretch her tight hip and leg muscles and improve her sense of balance, the weekly horseback riding has proved to do even more for her than the physical benefits. It is recreation and an opportunity to socialize.
It is a chance for children of varying disabilities to have some fun.
There are not many recreation programs that handicapped children can participate in, but with the help of a team of dedicated volunteers at Westwind Barn, this is one activity my daughter loves.
Even though sitting astride a horse is actually uncomfortable for her, she looks forward to the weekly riding and feels safe on horseback, despite her epilepsy, because there is a volunteer leading her horse and one walking along on either side of her.
I am certain I speak for all the participants in the Riding for the Handicapped program when I say the Westwind Riding Institute has been providing a rare and wonderful experience for disabled children, one that should continue and not be jeopardized by the sale of the land, because the land is not “underutilized.”
This is truly a manifestation of community spirit and pride and a valuable asset of the Los Altos Hill community.
Shaila Sadrozinski Palo Alto
Fight 700 percent rent increase for Purissima Hills Water District
To the citizens and customers/owners of the Purissima Hills Water District:
The rent for the Purissima Hills District office site on Los Altos Hills property will be raised 700 percent, according to word from Los Altos Hills city manager Maureen Cunningham on May 17.
The cost of a new building on this space will be approximately $300,000, in part to conform to the exterior appearance of the proposed new City Hall building.
Will this raise the water rates? YES! Is this fair? NO!
The background information on a sad story follows:
(A) By deed dated 1956 this land was donated by the Fowle family for “Public Purposes.”
(B) By agreement in 1962 the council gave permission to the District to construct an office building. Terms: Rent to be free water to the city site, with the District to construct a building at District cost.
(C) Subsequent councils amended this after many tense discussions. Present terms are now $500+/month, but City pays for water. City has not paid a penny for maintenance of the District building.
(D) The City plans to demolish the building, with no recompense to the District. Purissima Water District is a public, non-profit, government authorized entity-our living purpose is to supply the citizens of Los Altos Hills with the best water, and the best service at the lowest possible cost.
The Purissima Water District has more pressing problems then flghting with City Hall on rents, space and buildings-for example:
(1) District water usage is 30% over allotment.
(2) The Hetch Hetchy system is in dire need of repair.
(3) The District needs an alternate supply of water at a reasonable cost and of good quality. Purissima Customer/Owners need to help the Board of Directors solve these problems.
Maurice R. Johnson,Director,
Purissima Hills Water District
