What to Expect at Tuesday Night's Los Altos City Council Meeting: Day Care Public Hearing & More

The Los Altos City Council is poised to take several actions Tuesday night.

One issue, in particular, is expected to draw residents interested in a public hearing concerning the permit of a large family day care home on a cul-de-sac in south Los Altos. The council will reconsider its earlier decision to deny its conditional use permit for the home on 1250 Heritage Court.

In addition, the council has on its consent calendar the following votes:

- Banning smoking and littering of related paraphernalia in city parks and recreation areas

- Issuing a Request for Proposal for a new traffic roundabout at the busy intersection for Fremont Avenue and Fallen Leaf Lane

- Establishing a standing senior commission, following the completion of business of the one-year temporary commission. The commission's major work, a community questionnaire and analysis was completed in early summer and is available on the city's website.

- Rezoning the South Plaza parking lots to "Commercial Downtown"  category

- Receive an update on the proposed Civic Center Master Plan

The large family day care home permit request has a history going back to March. Irina Mamochina is appealing the City Council's June 14 decision that would require her to cease offering large family daycare services.

Several letters and emails have been received commenting on different aspects of the traffic impact and measures taken to address pick-up and drop-off.

Small family daycare, for a maximum of eight children, is still permitted without a conditional use permit from the city.

City staff noted that the Planning Commission on March 17 recommended 4-2, approval of the permit, following a public hearing. Concerns were raised about traffic impact on the cul-de-sac, the staff report noted.

Subsequent to that decision, however, the city Planning Department became aware of citations stemming from unannounced visits by the state department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing. The state allows a maxiumum of 12 children below school age on a site, regardless of any city zoning. Nineteen children were observed on March 29. After three subsequent visits, the state has noted that the home is in state compliance, the city staff memo said.