Candidate for
Member, City Council; Town of Los Altos Hills

Where Emily Stands on Town Issues

On Pathway Management

Los Altos Hills has a unique pathway system, which is a major attraction and asset of our town. Emily strongly supports the alongside-the-road pathway system, but believes that a much improved maintenance program should be implemented. However, she feels that additional requests for off-road pathway easement dedications, which may be invasive to residents' privacy and compromise safety, should not be mandatory. Current off-road paths and off-road path easements that are not active, should be reviewed.

On Technology Infrastructure

Emily recognizes that Los Altos Hills residents are entrepreneurial and technologically savvy and is committed to devoting energy and resources to assure that residents receive the latest technological advancements in communications.

On Building Fees

Los Altos Hills charges a much higher building permit fee than comparable neighboring communities. Emily wants to reduce the fees to the actual costs the city incurs to administer the building permits.

On Updating the General Plan

Los Altos Hills has currently formed a committee to update the Land Use Element of the General Plan. This element deals with all major home development, ordinances and policies. Emily strongly supports the upcoming town-wide survey, which will be designed to gain residents' input so that the majority opinion will be reflected in the General Plan update.

On Drainage Problems

After serving on the Planning Commission for eight years, Emily recognizes a major unsolved problem, the town's drainage system. The increase in runoff water is outgrowing the existing drainage pipes, thus causing erosion and mudslides on existing drainage ditches. Currently these ditches are not well maintained either by the city or the homeowners. She will work to create comprehensive neighborhood plans, rather than the existing band-aid solutions of ineffective piecemeal approaches.

On The Role of the Planning Commission

Emily believes the role of the Planning Commission should be to study, review and then make recommendations to the City Council on town-wide planning and infrastructure issues. She also believes that the Planning Commission should continue to review resident applications that are complicated and do not meet the criteria for fast-track. She is a staunch advocate of the fast-track process for new homes and remodels, which meet town ordinances and have no substantive neighborhood opposition, thus eliminating the need for review by the Planning Commission.

On Efficient and Fair Government

Emily strongly supports preserving and enforcing the town's existing development ordinances. She is committed to improving neighborhood harmony by removing subjectivity from the planning process and administering our ordinances with fairness and consistency to all residents. She believes this will bring people together by reducing conflict and creating friendlier neighborhoods.

Vote For The Future Millennium

Emily's vision is to ensure that our countrified lifestyle and serenity will be preserved for future generations. She is dedicated and committed to carrying out this vision, to make Los Altos Hills an even more desirable community in the years to come.