A well-intentioned proposal last summer by Los Altos Councilman King Lear spurred a $5,000 investment by the city in a restaurant guide intended to lure traffic to Los Altos’ 50-plus eateries. But three-quarters of the 20,000 copies of the guide have yet to be distributed.

Close to 15,000 copies of the guide sit in boxes at the city’s Municipal Service Center warehouse.

There are no definite plans for passing them out. However, city officials said they may still attempt to distribute the remaining guides to Los Altos businesses and residents.

Randall Hull, a Los Altos planning commissioner and graphic artist who designed the brochures, said there have been talks to continue disseminating the brochures.

The attractive color brochure, initially shared with downtown businesses last fall, listed the restaurants by specialty including street address and phone number.

At least two factors created the backlog of brochures, according to Hull.

He noted the city probably had too many copies printed because it got a “good deal” from a printer, and Abby Veeser left her post as the city’s economic development coordinator. That left no one to administer the distribution of the guides.

Several restaurant closures and openings have taken place since the initial printing.

Despite distribution issues, there has been discussion of a new, updated dining guide, according to Hull. He said he would work on a new guide.

“It’s something we need to continue,” said Ted Garrett, executive director of the Los Altos Village Association, the

wdowntown merchants group. “We need to put them in the hands of the residents.”

Julie Rose, executive director of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, echoed Garrett’s comment, adding “It’s still a very valuable guide,” she said. “We didn’t have a clear distribution plan.”

Lear did not respond to a Town Crier e-mail seeking comment.