By Katie Hawks

Town Crier Editorial Intern

Residents propose referendum, law suit and council recall

Los Altos Hills

The leader of a Los Altos Hills resident group opposed to council-approved designs for a new town hall said last week he and his group will do whatever it takes to thwart construction.

Mark Brier of the group LAH Outrage said residents are talking with lawyers about the possibility of a referendum to reverse last month’s council action, along with possible litigation. He also left open the possibility of initiating a recall of council members.

Brier and his group support a new town hall, but one at half the cost, size and height of the one in current plans. The council last month approved a town hall exceeding more than 7,000 square feet with a 35-foot bell tower and a cost ranging between $3.5 million and $5 million.

“Fifty town residents met at my house last night (July 29), and they have vowed to do everything in their power (money, petitions, time, media contacts) to make one option survive the increasingly public debate: half the cost, half the height, or no new town hall,” he said.

Brier said the council should accept their plan and take credit for it, or the group will move forward to reverse the council’s decision.

LAH Outrage members also plan on sending out a townwide mailing, listing their points in an “even-handed” way to inform all of Los Altos Hills residents of the design plan and the councils recent decisions.

Councilwoman Toni Casey said the council also plans to send out a letter explaining its controversial decision.

“Unfortunately, the facts of our new town hall are not known and the council is taking action on that by sending out a letter with all the facts in the very near future,” she wrote in an e-mail to a concerned resident. “Come to town hall and review the renderings and the story poles. I believe upon close examination, you will find that our new town hall is going to be a wonderful community asset.”