Hello! My name is Emily Cheng.

By Emily Cheng

I have a proven record of balancing concerns of neighbors with residents' property rights. I have worked well with my fellow Planning Commissioners, members of the City Council, the staff and most importantly you the residents.

Hello! My name is Emily Cheng. I have some exciting news for you if you haven't already heard. I am running for the Los Altos Hills City Council! I have been your Planning Commissioner for the past eight years and served as Chair in 1998-99. I have a proven track record of balancing concerns of neighbors with residents' property rights. I have worked well with my fellow Planning Commissioners, members of the City Council, the staff and most importantly you the residents. Over the last eight years, I have been fair, sensitive, and have handled projects with common sense and reason. I would be honored to have your vote on March 7.

As your Council member, I will be firmly committed to assuring that our Town agenda will be grounded in our 1955 articles of incorporation (the Green sheets) and that this agenda will represent the voice of the majority of residents. In our Green sheets, the reasons for incorporation were simple: "...to remain a residential community with a minimum acre zoning, quiet, reasonably rural, and with limited government ..."

With my election, I will work to achieve the following:

Continue to improve the fast-track process. I have totally supported the fast-track ordinance adopted by three members of the City Council, Toni Casey, Steve Finn and Bob Johnson. (Elayne Dauber and Bill Siegel voted no). However, the effectiveness of the fast-track process has been limited because a majority of Council members have not given clear direction to staff or the Planning Commission regarding the still present subjectivity, which causes frustration and uncertainty among residents. Personal opinions with no architectural expertise are still dictating design features on new homes and major remodels. I would like to change this. I believe our ordinances should be clear, objective, easily understood, and administered equally to all residents.

Work to enhance our pathway system. Los Altos Hills has a unique pathway system, which is a major asset to our Town; however, we can do much more to improve and maintain the system of paths alongside the road. The Town can do this by allocating our resources more efficiently with a better maintenance program and by accepting path-in-lieu fees instead of wasting money constructing small pieces of unconnected paths that are not used. We should identify neighborhoods and streets that need paths alongside the road, prioritize these needs, and develop an implementation program. In addition, I also support a revised off-the-road pathway policy, which does not mandate involuntary pathway dedications. And I believe that current off-road paths and pathway easements that are not active should be reviewed by the City Council to make sure that neighbors' safety and privacy are not compromised.

Strive to improve communication between residents and Town government. I know most of you are very busy in your lives, running companies, raising families or perhaps traveling, but my experience on the Planning Commission showed me that you still care a great deal about our Town. Therefore, I will advocate that a town-wide survey be sent to every registered voter so that my vote as a City Council member to update the general plan will reflect the majority opinion. In addition, I want to make sure that you are notified by town-wide mailings when important issues come before the Council so that you may participate by attending the meeting, mailing a letter or sending us an e-mail or fax.

I have enclosed a fact sheet regarding myself as well as my initial list of endorsements. It would be an honor and a privilege for me to add your name to my supporters; I have enclosed a self-addressed envelope for your convenience.

Your thoughts and ideas are important to me. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any concerns or issues that you may have.

Warm regards,

Emily Cheng