City Council Plans to Consolidate Commissions

The Los Altos City Council took a step toward consolidating the Planning Commission, Traffic Commission, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, voting Nov. 8 to create an ad hoc committee to begin discussions with the three bodies in January.

The idea, which other cities have done, would be to create a single body that would do the work of the three, to increase efficiency and avoid having decisions pass through numerous boards, each evaluating a part of development proposals.

City Manager Doug Schmitz had presented four possible plans, two of which included eliminating the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee as a free-standing body.

Council member Megan Satterlee raised concerns that a single Planning Commission could have a large, possibly unmanageable, workload if the three bodies were consolidated. She also suggested that the quality of review may decline due to the increase of work, and she was concerned that the significant amount of work on bicycle and pedestrian matters could be lost.

Satterlee moved to create an ad hoc committee to consult with the three bodies, rather than opt for any of the four plans presented. The motion passed unanimously.

The council voted to hire a consultant at the cost of $25,000 to revise the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP), which, after 11 years, has not worked as originally envisioned. Three NMTPs have been implemented during that time, according to the staff report. The consultant would evaluate and improve the NTMP process as a staff-driven program that would be more responsive and less cumbersome.

The Council also voted to approve:

• The Climate Action Plan Professional Services Agreement, which sets standards for buildings plans, and hire PMC consultants.
• Purchase of North County Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Radio Channel
• 280 Second Street Use Permit, Variance and Design Application
• Lincoln Park Zoning Map Amendment