Council Taps Land Trust Alliance as Williamson Act Rewrite Draws Pushback
City Council • Los Altos HillsOctober 15, 2026
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Los Altos Hills is rewriting the rules behind 17 decades-old Williamson Act contracts, which give some landowners steep property tax breaks. On Oct. 15, 2026, the City Council voted 4-0 to have its ad hoc committee consult the Land Trust Alliance instead of hiring a second law firm. Residents warned the year-end target is too fast. In a five-hour meeting with Councilmember Kavita Tankha absent, the council also braced for a strong El Niño, narrowed its city attorney search and approved a civilian patrol officer.
- Williamson Act review advances: the ad hoc committee will study neighboring contracts and consult the Land Trust Alliance, approved 4-0
- El Niño prep: creek surveys, drain clearing and sandbag stations, plus a possible $800 tree-permit fee waiver
- Construction time limits revised 4-0: the $50,000 deposit moves to permit expiration
- City attorney search: four finalists advance; citizens panel approved 3-1
- Civilian community service officer approved 4-0, with one private security shift cut
The basics: The Williamson Act, California's Land Conservation Act of 1965, lowers property taxes for owners who keep land in agricultural or open-space use under long-term contracts.
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