Foundation faces lease hike

Members of Los Altos Community Foundation may soon have to pay significantly more money to run operations out of their 183 Hillview Ave. property.

A lease in effect since 1997 with property owners, the California Water Service Company, is set to expire this month. Cal Water had been charging $1,200 a year with a pledge from foundation members that money would be raised to acquire the land.

In a Sept. 15 letter, Shawn L. Heffner, Cal Water director of corporate development, offered foundation officials two market-rate options: a 10-year lease with two 5-year options, starting at $5,000 a month; or payments, beginning at $7,700 a month, for 30- or 40-year terms to purchase the property.

Heffner said foundation officials were “surprised” at the letter. He added that Cal Water still wants to help the foundation work out a solution.

“We can’t continue to do this (charge below market rate) indefinitely,” Heffner said. “This impacts our ratepayers.”

Roy Lave, executive director of the Community Foundation, could not be reached for comment Monday.

Minor car accident

Oct.10, 10:01 a.m, 1000 block of Covington Road: Someone ran his or her car into a structure.

Car racing

Oct. 10, 4:47 p.m., N. San Antonio Road and El Camino Real: Drivers were racing each other.

Car theft

Oct. 12, 5:02 a.m., 500 block of Orange Avenue: Someone broke into a car.

Identity theft

Oct. 12, 11:27 a.m., 40 block of Doud Drive: An identity theft was reported.

- Megan Ma