City Hall Connection
September 15, 2021
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News and Information from the City of Mountain View
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Next Steps for Enacting Mobile Home Rent Stabilization |
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On Tuesday, Sept. 14, the City Council introduced a Mobile Home Rent Stabilization Ordinance that is modeled on the protections found in the Community Stabilization and Fair Rent Act with some modifications.
The ordinance would apply to all mobile home parks in Mountain View and cover all mobile home spaces rent and mobile home renters as well. The base rent date, also referred to as the rent rollback date, is March 16, 2021, the date the Council directed City staff to develop the ordinance. The ordinance also limits rent increases upon the sale of a mobile home to the Consumer Price Index rate.
The Council also directed staff to bring back several actions to them as follows:
- Develop urgency eviction protections, which protect mobile home tenants from displacement until the ordinance takes effect on Oct. 28.
- Develop a memorandum of understanding between the City of Mountain View and mobile home park owners with stakeholder outreach, which may be used as an exemption to the ordinance if at least 80% of mobile home residents in a park agree to sign it.
- Amend the Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance to include protections for mobile home residents.
- Include a right to return for mobile home residents whose homes are taken off and then returned to the housing market.
Next steps include a second reading of the ordinance for adoption at the Sept. 28 Council meeting and consideration of an urgency ordinance enacting temporary eviction protections also on Sept. 28. The other items will take time to complete and will likely be brought back for the Council’s consideration in the first or second quarter of 2022, but could take longer depending on various factors.
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Online Public Records Portal Debuts |
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The City has enhanced the public’s access to public records through a new web portal that recently launched.
Mountain View’s online public records portal, available at CityofMountainViewCA.NextRequest.com, provides a central location for requesting public records for all City documents through an online form.
In addition, the searchable archive will contain California Public Records Act requests starting from Friday, Sept. 10 and will expand as the City receives future requests.
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Latest Edition of The View on the Way
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This issue features details about the City’s phased reopening plans, the successfully run vaccination site at the Mountain View Community Center, efforts underway for a Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program, major housing initiatives, flood preparedness tips, sustainability progress and much more. The print version has begun arriving in residential and business mailboxes.
The publication is produced twice a year – one edition for fall/winter and the other for spring/summer. View past editions by visiting MountainView.gov/TheView. |
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New Housing Video Explains Major Initiatives Underway in Mountain View |
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The City is working on three major housing initiatives: the R3 Zoning District Update, the Housing Displacement Response Strategy and the Housing Element Update. These initiatives aim to address our community’s housing needs.
Community feedback is essential in defining priorities for housing programs, development and services. To help, a new video has been produced to give an overview of the three housing initiatives and how they all work together. Watch the video on the City’s YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/aXoepiF62KY.
Upcoming Housing Feedback Events:
- Sept. 23 | Community Workshop for Housing Element Update
- October/November 2021 and January-March 2022| Neighborhood Workshops for R3 Update
- November/December 2021 | Stakeholder Meetings for Displacement Response Strategy
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County Vector Control District to Spray for West Nile |
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The County of Santa Clara Vector Control District detected positive West Nile virus mosquitoes in a section of Mountain View and Palo Alto.
The Vector Control District will conduct a ground mosquito control treatment Friday, Sept. 17 to reduce the mosquito population in that area and the risk of West Nile virus human cases. The treatment area is within the 94043, 94303 and 94306 ZIP Codes. The spraying will start at around 10 p.m. and last for about three hours.
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282 More Reasons to Bike in Mountain View |
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Additional bicycle parking is a common request in the City’s “Ask Mountain View” system. In response, the City applied for and was awarded Santa Clara County Transportation Fund for Clean Air funds to purchase and install 141 bicycle racks on City-owned properties throughout Mountain View. The Class 2 inverted U-rack will accommodate two bicycles each, providing a total of 282 new public bicycle parking spaces.
The new racks will be installed at:
- Mountain View City Hall
- Police/Fire Administration Building
- The View Teen Center
- Shoreline Amphitheatre
- Multiple City parks
- Areas near Central Expressway, Rengstorff Avenue, Middlefield Road and Farley Street
The additional racks will help encourage greater bicycle use for trips that otherwise would have been made by driving. Installation is currently underway and expected to be completed by the end of this month.
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Mayor for a Day Contest Underway |
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Do you have a future mayor in your household? Your child could soon find out what being the mayor of Mountain View is all about (at least, for one day in October). The new Mayor for a Day contest is currently accepting short essay submissions from elementary and middle school-aged students about what Mountain View might be like if they were mayor for a day. The essay is limited to 500 words maximum with only one submission per student.
For more details, including contest rules and how to submit your entry, visit MountainView.gov/MayorforaDay. All entries are due by Friday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. |
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Library Returns to Regular Hours |
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As of Tuesday, Sept. 7, the Mountain View Public Library returned to regular operating hours. The library building, located at 585 Franklin St., will be open to the public:
- Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday, 1–5 p.m.
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Bean Scene and MVCPA Ticket Office Reopened |
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Although The Bean Scene Cafe at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts has been open in a limited capacity for special events and Concerts on the Plaza, it is now reopened with regular hours. Masks will be required for entry and outdoor dining is encouraged.
The MVCPA Ticket Office also started regular staffing on Wednesday, Sept. 8 to allow the public to walk up for tickets and information. New hours will be in effect until further notice, which are Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., and one hour before any ticketed performance. The ticket office will be closed Sundays through Tuesdays.
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Council Advisory Body Applications Due Sept. 30 |
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Mountain View’s City Council has an amazing group of volunteers who serve on advisory bodies. Currently, there are openings on the following board, commissions and committees:
- Downtown Committee
- Environmental Planning Commission
- Human Relations Commission
- Library Board of Trustees
- Parks and Recreation Commission
- Performing Arts Committee
- Senior Advisory Committee
Mountain View residents are encouraged to consider applying to serve on an advisory body. But don't delay - applications are due by Thursday, Sept. 30. Members are appointed by the City Council.
Please note that advisory body meetings will continue to be virtual at least through the end of September 2021.
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Weekly Fall Storytimes in Pioneer Park |
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The Mountain View Public Library will present in-person outdoor storytimes in Pioneer Park at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays through Oct. 12. Bring a blanket and join the children’s librarians as they read stories, sing songs and lead rhymes. No advanced registration is required. Find out more. |
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Movies in the Park Return for October |
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Save the date to fall back in time and join us for an exciting two-night Movies Series in the Park in October. Movies will be held at Rengstorff Park and begin at 7 p.m. or dark. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show.
- Friday, Oct. 1 - Karate Kid, 1984 (PG)
- Saturday, Oct. 2 - Jurassic Park, 1993 (PG-13)
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Last Chance for Experiencing Plaza Concert Series This Year |
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The final Concerts on the Plaza event of 2021 will be held on Friday, Sept. 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Civic Center Plaza, 500 Castro St. Performing will be Dolce Musica, an Americana band with a wide variety of music. In addition to great family-friendly music, the Bean Scene will open with select food items and beer/wine available for purchase. |
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Community Center Vaccination Site Returns |
In partnership with the County of Santa Clara, the Mountain View Community Center is once again serving as a vaccination site during the following times:
- Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
- Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
COVID-19 vaccine appointments can be made through the County’s website at sccFreeVax.org.
Walk-ins for free COVID-19 vaccines are also welcome at this County Health System-operated vaccination clinic at the Community Center.
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COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Requirement for City Employees |
The City of Mountain View will now require COVID-19 vaccinations for employees as part of its COVID-19 Workplace Prevention and Safety Policy. The new policy requires all employees to have completed vaccinations by Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. Starting Monday, Sept. 13, weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated employees will also be required until two weeks after the employee’s last vaccination. Exemptions are allowed for employees with qualified medical conditions and religious reasons.
This policy does not affect members of the public who remain required to wear masks indoors in Santa Clara County under the local public health order. |
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COVID-19 Vaccinations Available at El Camino Health |
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Free COVID-19 vaccines are available through the El Camino Hospital Mountain View Outpatient Pharmacy at 2500 Grant Road in Mountain View. Appointments are highly recommended and can be scheduled here. Walk-ins will also be accepted Monday to Friday from 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. |
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Upcoming Local Free Testing Opportunities |
The City of Mountain View is partnering with the County of Santa Clara to offer COVID-19 testing in our community. Testing will be by appointment (drop-in as available) on Monday, Sept. 27 at the Mountain View Community Center – Redwood Hall, located at 201 S Rengstorff Ave.
To make an appointment, visit https://scl.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment. Once all appointments are filled, this location will no longer appear for scheduling on the website. This testing site is not designed to test individuals with symptoms of COVID-19. Individuals with symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for evaluation and testing.
Remember, to find the most convenient testing site for you, visit SCCFreeTest.org. |
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Upcoming Meetings & Events |
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- Sept. 17 | Concerts on the Plaza | 6 p.m.| Civic Center Plaza
- Sept. 18 | 3rd Annual Harvest History Festival | 9 a.m. | Heritage Park (771 N. Rengstorff Ave.)
- Sept. 18 | Rengstorff House Returns: Drop-in Tours | 12:30 p.m. | register online
- Sept. 20 | Youth Advisory Committee | 4:30 p.m. | The View Teen Center (263 Escuela Ave.)
- Sept. 20 | Rental Housing Committee | 5 p.m. | online
- Sept. 20 | Board of Library Trustees Meeting | 7 p.m. | online
- Sept. 22 | Administrative Zoning Public Hearing | 4 p.m. | online
- Sept. 23 | Housing Element Update: Community Workshop | 6:30 p.m. | webinar
- Sept. 24 | Deer Hollow Farm School Year Docent Open House | 10 a.m. | Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve - Deer Hollow Farm
- Sept. 25 | Family Fun in the Garden at Rengstorff House | 10 a.m. | register online
- Sept. 28 | City Council Meeting | 5 p.m.| online
- Sept. 29 | Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee| 6:30 p.m. | online
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AskMV at Your Service
Available 24/7, Ask Mountain View is an easy way to send your questions, concerns and compliments directly to City staff who can help you. Download the app or submit a request online at MountainView.gov/AskMV.
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Subscribe to City Hall Connection: sign up online or text "City Hall News" to 22828.
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