Residents press council for stronger code‑enforcement tools after years‑long disputes

Los Altos Hills — Residents who described years‑long disputes over illegal grading, unpermitted structures and a pickleball court urged the Town Council on May 14 to give staff the legal and financial tools needed to enforce the municipal code and repair damaged open space.

Staff described a code‑enforcement operation that has been working through case backlogs and transitional staffing; some complex cases (work without permits, grading) are taking one to three years or longer to resolve. The town has increased code‑enforcement hours and retained a code‑enforcement attorney to pursue more aggressive remedies, but staff said the municipal code currently lacks several enforcement mechanisms used elsewhere — for example, civil citations, updated nuisance/abatement procedures and clearer authority to recover town costs from violators.

Multiple residents cited specific, longstanding problems: illegal excavation affecting riparian areas and an alleged unpermitted concrete pad and bridges visible from neighbors’ properties; another speaker described a neighbor’s unpermitted, adjacent pickleball court that went unaddressed for more than a year despite repeated complaints. Residents asked the council to provide a consistent, equitable, and enforceable process so that compliance is not dependent on who is involved.

Councilmembers discussed the difference between charging for staff time (cost‑recovery for inspections/response) and imposing fines or civil penalties as a deterrent. Several members emphasized fairness and consistency, and asked staff to return with a detailed program: proposed fines/citations, fee schedules to recoup town costs, how to coordinate with county and state agencies for riparian or environmental violations, and options for inspection warrants and civil remedies. Staff agreed to prepare a formal recommendation for a future council meeting.