The Los Altos City Council Nov. 10 voted 4-1 to allocate $55,000 to facilitate visioning workshops on downtown development early next year. Councilman David Casas cast the dissenting vote.

“My concern is cost, so I cannot support this,” Casas said. “I understand the passion and I’m not opposed to high density, but is this where we put the funding?”

According to the staff report, two workshops would be scheduled with residents in late January and early February to address the downtown triangle. Staff will provide extensive outreach to a cross-section of residents, including seniors, families with children, long-term residents and downtown stakeholders. Focusing on their vision of downtown, the discussion would address increased density and taller buildings and gauge the community’s interest in downtown’s growth.

Residents and business owners who were present at the council meeting supported the workshops and felt the expense was justified.

“Council should endorse this with no limitations,” said Bill Maston, architect and member of the Downtown Development Committee. “Let everyone dream and come back with their visions of downtown.”

“Downtown needs a vision for the next 20 years,” said Ted Kokernak, investment real estate broker and committee member. “This is an opportunity for the city and residents to come together.”

In addition to the cost, councilmembers registered other concerns.

“I’m very much opposed to this,” said Councilman Ron Packard. “Low density is our signature.”

Los Altos is different from neighboring cities and should not be compared with them, Packard said, adding that the Downtown Development Committee and the city council should support an increase in the downtown retail base, not look to increase density. The community might be overreacting due to the current “economic storm,” and it all depends on how this issue has been presented to the public, he said.

“We will not be presenting any position in these workshops,” said Pamela Anderson Brulé, president of Anderson Brulé Architects. “It’s up to community members to discuss this and have a dialog.”

Mayor Megan Satterlee and Councilman Lou Becker also expressed reservations over the spending but agreed that the workshops are necessary to reach and gain input from all segments of the community.

“This enables us to think bigger,” Satterlee said. “I think it’s critical to get input from Los Altos residents about what they want in their downtown.”

Councilmembers amended the motion to include Councilwoman Val Carpenter, Downtown Development Committee chairwoman, and Packard coordinating with city staff on scheduling three technical and planning meetings, substitute the two development committee meetings with two city council study sessions and report the results of the workshops directly to the city council, not the Downtown Development Committee.

Packard voted yes after the council approved the amendment.

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