This is what and where the $85M Measure A project would occur … massed along Hillview Ave. Andersen Brûlée prepared this “final” site plan in March 2015 as Los Altos City Council geared up for marketing Los Altos Measure A. But City Council says it is just one vision, not THE plan … which will only be finally determined after the bond passes. So the ballot includes no site plans or site plan language.
Non-committal Site Plan – “We’ll fix that post-election”
Although the City paid the Andersen Brûlée architect for a “preferred” plan for the 8 acre Hillview site — namely for a “final” site layout and cost estimate for a 55,000 square foot building, a pool facility, relocated sports fields and underground parking — the City Council later explicitly swore that is not THE plan. Instead, they say the plan is fluid and will be finalized with the community and neighbors later. [In fact, the council would have preferred to not have any plan called “final,” but the City had a contract for architect services which included a “final” plan.]
These days it is common for bond consultants like Tramutola LLC to advise local governments and school districts to be very vague and not have a plan when raising bond money. The rationale is that being specific creates more things to object to and creates more No votes.
You can view the videos of City Council Study Sessions with Mr. Tramutola, May 27 and June 23, 2015. The City Council is not alone in using Mr. Tramutola. Per his advice, Los Altos School District did the same “let’s be vague” trick with their 2014 Measure N. The Los Altos School Board of Trustees are still sitting on their $150M blank check from Measure N, as they still have no plan they dare to show publicly. They probably are backpedalling till after the City Measure A election.
For more on bond elections: http://californiapolicycenter.org/tag/with-campaign-donations-bond-underwriters-also-secure-contracts/
