LOS ALTOS
www.losaltosca.gov
LOS ALTOS
Los Altos is a bustling community, characterized by tree-lined streets and a village atmosphere. The city is seven square miles and is home to approximately 28,000 people and seven distinct commercial areas. Los Altos was incorporated as a city in 1952 to control development and annexation from neighborhood cities. Incorporating as a city enabled Los Altos to preserve its rural roots, maintain lot sizes for single family homes and establish policies for commercial development. To this day, much of the small town charm remains and many of the values the city was founded on continue to prevail.
The city’s mission, maintaining and fostering Los Altos as a great place to live and raise a family, makes it possible for residents and businesses to enjoy the charm of a small town while being in close proximity to the innovation of Silicon Valley. Los Altos provides spacious lot sizes for residents to build or purchase their dream home, exceptional schools, walkable neighborhood, parks and open space as well as friendly commercial areas that provide numerous services to the community. With all of these amenities and benefits, Los Altos is certainly an exceptional place to call home and conduct business.
City elected officials and staff are dedicated to serving the residents and businesses within Los Altos. City Council is elected by the Los Altos community and a new Mayor is elected by Council each November. City Council appoints the City Manager, who oversees the daily operation of the City organization.
The City provides basic services through property tax and sales tax revenue, plus fees for sewer and development services. The 2009-10 budget is approximately $30M. The City has launched several initiatives to address substandard conditions, to support strong retail districts and to increase the tax base. These include the following:
The Community Center Master Plan, guided by a 25-member Advisory Committee has been reviewed by the community in a comprehensive 18-month outreach effort, and by City Council. The City is now developing a financing strategy for the project. The plan accommodates the interests of many community groups and age levels, including recreation, sports, library, arts, history and theatrical interests as well as government service needs.
First Street Utility Undergrounding and Streetscape is approved and budgeted to improve First Street between West Edith Avenue and Main Street. Overhead utilities are scheduled to be undergrounded in 2010, with the streetscape beautification, including trees and wider sidewalks, to follow in early 2011.
Loyola Corners Streetscape improves vehicle circulation, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and adds special treatments to make the time-honored shopping area attractive again. The conceptual design was approved in August 2008 and the project is now in the detail design phase.
San Antonio Road Landscaping – this project landscapes the west side of N San Antonio Road with wider sidewalks, street trees, new crosswalks, and a low decorative fence covered with landscaping. The project extends along Antonio Road from Main Street to Foothill Expressway adjacent to the Downtown Triangle. Construction is anticipated in 2011.
These improvement projects show the City’s commitment Los Altos retail areas, places that are convenient for us to shop, and home to our local retailers and service providers. In addition to these capital projects, the current “Los Altos AtoZ” ad campaign, is funded jointly by the City with the Chamber of Commerce, the Los Altos Village Association and the Town of Los Altos Hills. This campaign is driven by the need to support local retailers during this tough economic crisis.
In addition, the City’s routine services are still being delivered: development services to property owners, maintenance of commercial areas, assisting groups with special events, and providing ongoing outreach to businesses and neighborhoods.
Please reach us at One North San Antonio Road, at 650 947-2700, or at www.losaltosca.gov.
BUSINESS RESOURCES
City of Los Altos
Business License
(650) 947-2618
www.losaltosca.gov
Los Altos Chamber of Commerce
(650) 948-1455
www.losaltoschamber.org
Los Altos Village Association (LAVA)
(650) 949-5282
www.downtownlosaltos.org
North Valley Job Training Consortium (NOVA)
505 W. Olive Avenue, Suite 600
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(408) 730-7232
CONNECT! Job Seeker Center
420 S. Pastoria Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
(408) 774-2365
www.novaworks.org
Small Business Administration (SBA), Cisco Systems
San Jose Entrepreneur Center
84 West Santa Clara Street, Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 494-0210
www.ecenteronline.org
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Silicon Valley
700 Empey Way, Suite 110
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 278-7400
www.bbbsilicon.org
Other Licenses and Permits
Santa Clara County Environmental Health
Health regulations and permits for food services
(408) 918-3400
State Board of Equalization
Resale permit: for selling tangible personal property
(408) 277-1231
State of California Community Care Licensing
Child daycare licensing: home daycare and daycare centers
(408) 324-2148
Federal Tax ID Number: Internal Revenue Service
(800) 829-1040
Franchise Tax Board
(800) 852-5711
State Alcohol and Beverage Control
(408) 277-1200
LOS ALTOS HILLS
www.losaltoshills.ca.gov
Los Altos Hills was incorporated in 1956 to preserve the rural atmosphere of the foothills surrounding Los Altos. Today it is one of the premier residential communities in the Bay Area.
Rising from just 200 feet above sea level to an elevation of more than 1,300 feet of rugged terrain, the town is comprised of 8.5 square miles. Population is estimated at 8,400.
The minimum lot size is set at one acre and many of the approximately 3,000 homes within the town limits include such amenities as tennis courts, stables and swimming pools. Zoning prohibits any commercial enterprises or multifamily housing projects, although secondary units are permitted on single family lots. Los Altos Hills is a general law city with a Council-Manager form of government. The five member Council is elected for a four-year term and appoints the City Manager who administers Town operations. The Town has an operating budget of $6.04 million for fiscal year 2009-2010.
The Los Altos Hills City Council meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month. The Council appoints residents to serve on the Planning Commission, Library Commission, and on these standing committees: Community Relations, Education, Emergency Communications, Environmental Design & Protection, Environmental Initiatives, Finance & Investment, History, Open Space, Parks & Recreation, Pathways and Water Conservation. The Council also appoints a Youth Commissioner, Associate Youth Commissioner and Exhibit Curator for art exhibits at the Town Hall.
The Town of Los Altos Hills’ Pathways System was designed to provide safe and convenient non-vehicular travel throughout the community. The system unites neighborhoods through a series of connecting paths which criss-cross the Town. This unique recreational asset is used by school children, walkers, runners, horseback riders and bicyclists. The paths that travel away from the roadways provide a rare glimpse into the natural beauty of the Hills.
For police protection, the Town contracts with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department. Fire Protection, suppression and safety services are provided by the Los Altos Hills County Fire District. The District contracts with the Santa Clara County Fire Department for services.
Gas and electricity are provided by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., water by Purissima Hills Water District and California Water Service Co., refuse collection and recycling by GreenWaste Recovery and telephone service by AT&T.
Updated 12.28.2009
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