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City Hall Connection
March 23, 2022
News and Information from the City of Mountain View
Police Investigation Into Traffic Fatality Ongoing
The Mountain View Police Department continues to investigate last week’s fatal traffic collision that claimed the life of 13-year-old George “Andre” Oseida. An update on the investigation is expected within the next two weeks.

The teenager was riding his bicycle to Graham Middle School when he collided with a transport truck at the intersection of El Camino Real and Grant Road on the morning of Thursday, March 17.

The driver involved in the collision remained on scene and was very cooperative with officers. Speed, drugs or alcohol are not factors in the collision.

For more details, view the Police Department news release.
Community Concerns over Road Safety
Following last week’s tragic incident, the City of Mountain View has received feedback from many community members regarding their road safety concerns, especially for bicyclists.

The fatal collision occurred on El Camino Real, which is a State highway and operated by Caltrans.

The City is actively working with Caltrans on their design plans for repaving El Camino Real in 2023. The plans will include extensive bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including bike lanes.

For more information, visit MountainView.gov/ElCamino.
Virtual Community Meeting on Vision Zero Action Plan
The City of Mountain View is already taking steps to improve road safety.

For more than a year now, the City has been developing the Vision Zero Action Plan and Local Road Safety Plan. These plans will provide a framework for identifying, analyzing and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on City roads.

The public is invited to attend the Thursday, March 24 community meeting about the Vision Zero and road safety plans. The meeting will take place virtually via Zoom and run from 5-6:30 p.m.

At Thursday’s meeting, City staff will:
  • Provide an overview of the most common types of crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in Mountain View based on six years of collision history analysis.
  • Present the list of proven safety countermeasures/road improvements that best address each type of crash.
  • Obtain input on the proposed criteria to be used to establish the highest priority locations for safety improvements.
  • Review other strategies to improve safety, such as education, enforcement and engagement.

For additional details about Thursday’s community meeting, including Zoom login information, go to MountainView.gov/VisionZero.
Apply for Rent Relief through March 31
Apply now at HousingIsKey.com for rental assistance if you have been impacted by COVID-19. The application deadline for this State initiative is Thursday, March 31.

If you need a little help to apply or have other questions and concerns, visit the City of Mountain View’s Housing and Eviction Help Center for assistance.

The Center is open on Thursdays from 1–5 p.m. (walk-ins) in the Mountain View Public Library’s 1st Floor Program Room and by appointment only 6-8 p.m. at 298 Escuela Ave.

Get more information at Mountainview.gov/EvictionHelpCenter.
Castro Street Cleaning Underway
The City is in the process of conducting a deep clean of the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of Castro Street. This effort includes pressure washing the street, breezeways and sidewalks, repairing city signs, repositioning bollards, tree trimming, and street and sidewalk maintenance.

On Monday, March 21, the City began a per-block maintenance and cleaning schedule that will start on Mondays at 2 p.m. and end on Wednesdays at 8 a.m.
  • 300 block: March 21-23
  • 200 block: March 28-30
  • 100 block: April 4-6

Outdoor dining will be removed for the block during cleaning but will return once the process is complete for that block.

The 100 to 300 blocks of Castro Street are currently open to pedestrians and closed to motor vehicles and buses through Jan. 3, 2023.

For more details, visit the Castro Street Closure webpage.
Council Neighborhoods Committee
2022 Neighborhood Grant Program
The Council Neighborhoods Committee (CNC) has announced that the 2022 Neighborhood Grant Application Cycle is now open.

Neighborhood groups are invited to apply at the Neighborhood Grant Program webpage.

This year’s deadline for grant applications is Monday, April 18 by 5 p.m.

These grants provide up to $2,500 to help groups carry out programs and activities designed to facilitate engagement and enhance neighborhood conditions.

Neighborhood group representatives can register for the Virtual Grant Application Preparation Event on Tuesday, April 5 where the CNC will review the grant application, best grant submission practices, and answer questions. Register for the webinar.

If you have been thinking about starting a new group, bringing your neighborhood residents together, or improving your neighborhood, you are invited to apply for this opportunity.
Water Conservation News
Pledge to Save Water!
The Mayor and the City of Mountain View are excited to participate in the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation.

Join us by making a pledge to save water! It takes one minute to make a free pledge online. Additionally, all pledges are entered for a chance to win dozens of great prizes.

Register your pledge between April 1-30 and learn more at MyWaterPledge.com.
Drought Update
Although Mountain View experienced a wet and cool December, the beginning of 2022 has been unseasonably warm and dry.

Our water suppliers expect the current drought to last into the spring and summer.

Please continue to save water by limiting irrigation usage and fixing leaks.

Learn about your home water usage with the online WaterInsight Portal. Through the portal, view your water use history including average gallons per day, seasonal variations and annual usage trends. The portal offers leak detection instructions, leak alert notifications and water-saving tips that are custom to your water usage. Log in today with your utility account number and zip code.
Next Week: 2022 City Annual Update
Hosted by the City of Mountain View and the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, the City Annual Update is a way to learn about the projects happening in our city from Mayor Lucas Ramirez and City Manager Kimbra McCarthy.

"The View Ahead" will take place on Thursday, March 31 at Michael's at Shoreline. Tickets are on sale now (breakfast will be provided).

For more information, visit MountainView.gov/CityAnnualUpdate.
Upcoming Community Services and Activities
Spring Tours are Back at Deer Hollow Farm
Deer Hollow Farm will host spring tours on Saturday, March 26 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with the Farm’s sheep, cows, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks and rabbits while exploring the barnyard, orchard and garden.

Admission is $7 per person; free for children under one.

All proceeds from this co-sponsored event with the Friends of Deer Hollow Farm will go towards providing the care and feed for the livestock.
OnStage at MVCPA
March 26 | Peninsula Youth Theatre presents Stories on Stage: The Wishing Chair | Tickets
March 26 | Community School of Music and Arts presents Taylor Eigsti - Imagine Our Future | Tickets
March 27 | Quadre - The Voice of Four Horns presents Nature Calling Harmony | Tickets (and a special autism/sensory friendly performance here)
April 3 | Pocket Opera’s The Merry Widow | Tickets
April 6 – May 1 | TheatreWorks presents August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean | Tickets
COVID-19 Briefing
Santa Clara County Stays the Course
On Thursday, March 17, County of Santa Clara Public Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody announced that despite a recent uptick in COVID-19 infections due to BA.2 or “stealth Omicron" in the county, no new public health restrictions will return for now.

In the meantime, she recommends the public has at-home tests and masks readily available. Dr. Cody also encourages others to get vaccinated and boosted if they haven’t done so yet.

For local COVID-19 updates, visit MountainView.gov/COVID.
Santa Clara County COVID-19 Dashboard Pause Continues
COVID-19 County dashboards continue to be paused until numbers are reconciled with State databases. Once they are synched, information will be available at covid19.sccgov.org/dashboards.
Free COVID-19 Vaccinations
As of March 12, the total cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccinations administered at the Mountain View Community Center is 132,364.

The County-operated vaccination site at the Mountain View Community Center currently operates Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Appointments can be made through the County’s website at sccFreeVax.org.
Local Testing
Free COVID-19 testing will return to the Mountain View Community Center on Monday, March 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments may be scheduled beginning seven days before each date at sccFreeTest.org.
Upcoming Meetings & Events
For a complete list and more information, visit MountainView.gov/Events.
March 24 | Eviction Help Center | 1–5 p.m. | Library
March 24 | Vision Zero Action Plan and Local Road Safety Community Meeting | 5 p.m. | online
March 24 | Public Safety Advisory Board | 7 p.m. | online
March 28 | Rental Housing Committee Meeting | 7 p.m. | online
March 29 | Eviction Protection Help Center | 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Library
March 30 | Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee | 6:30 p.m. | online
March 30 | Junior Leader Information Night | 6:30 p.m. | The View Teen Center
March 31 | Eviction Help Center | 1–5 p.m. | Library
April 4 | Youth Advisory Committee | 4:30 p.m. | online
April 5 | Downtown Committee | 10 a.m. | online
April 6 | Development Review Committee | 2 p.m. | online
April 6 | Visual Arts Committee | 6 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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