RA 03-17-97 JTTOWN OF LOS GATOS1
CALIFORNIA
JOINT TOWN COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
March 17, 1997
Minutes
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/TOWN COUNCIL
The Redevelopment Agency/Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos met in the Council
Chambers of Town Hall, 110 E. Main St., at 8:36 p.m. Monday, March 17, 1997, in regular
session.
ROLL CALL
Present:Randy Attaway, Steven Blanton, Jan Hutchins
Linda Lubeck, and Chairman/Mayor Joanne Benjamin.
Absent:None.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/RATIFICATION/FEBRUARY-MARCH 1997 (01.V)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that the Agency ratify the
accompanying check register for accounts payable invoices paid on February 27, and
March 7, 1997, in the amount of $3,681.49. Carried unanimously.
PAYROLL RATIFICATION/FEBRUARY (02.V)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that the Agency ratify the check
register in the amount of $6,737.28 for the payroll of February 9, 1997 through February 22,
1997 paid on February 28, 1997. Carried unanimously.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Parking Lot at Old Town:
Maggie Creighton, 142 Tait Ave., representing the Residents and Merchants Committee
for New Parking, reported that the committee has been converting the pledges and placing
the donations into the account that the Town has set up for this project. The process is
proceeding well, donations are still being collected, and the committee is just $20,000 short
of its commitment. March 29th a fund raiser will be held involving several downtown
merchants who will be giving half the proceeds of certain purchases to this project.
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JOINT BUSINESS COUNCIL/AGENCY
JOINT COUNCIL/AGENCY MINUTES OF MARCH 3, 1997 (03.V)
Motion by Mr. Hutchins, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that the Joint Council/Agency
Minutes of March 3, 1997, be approved as submitted. Carried unanimously.
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Los Gatos, California
PLAZA MASTER PLAN/CONSIDERATION (04.23)
The following person from the audience spoke to this issue:
John Spaur, 1184 Longfellow, Campbell, spoke regarding the bell tower in the Town
Plaza. The fire bell will be 100 years old in 1999, and so represents a segment of the
history of Los Gatos. He would like to work on the operation of the bell and consult others
on how to keep it operational, but he finds it impossible to motivate others if the bell is not
to be included in the new master plan. He noted that the previous owner, Andy Kenyon,
may have an agreement to have it returned to him if it is moved from its present location.
No one else from the audience addressed this issue.
Paul Rodrigues reviewed the plan that has been drawn up with the changes and input
from Council, staff and public. He had not been asked to consider the bell, but he is open
to doing so. He spoke of different parking concepts, and of the lawn coverage for the
plaza.
Council comments:
Mr. Attaway reiterated past Council consensus of simple design, lots of open space, no
additional buildings or objects to crowd the park and take away from its simplicity. The
committee thought at the time that removing the bell tower would support those values. He
requested ample opportunity be provided for public input prior to Council's decision on the
Plaza plans.
Mrs. Benjamin is not in favor of pursuing this project before the streets, sidewalks and
curbs, and street trees are attended to in the rest of the Town. Council is not going to fund
this project at this time, and she would like to see it shelved for the future, or at such time
as the town has money for it.
Mr. Blanton would like to see this project completed so as to enhance the economic
vitality of the downtown. Would like to actively pursue the plan if funds are identified to do
so.
Mr. Hutchins would like to wait for the budget hearings to identify the funding.
Mr. Attaway is in favor of new landscaping, new lawn, new irrigation, and new lights
which are all needed at this time. Other major changes could wait.
Mrs. Lubeck would like to see the plan adopted so that there would be a direction to follow
when the funds are identified for the project.
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Los Gatos, California
Council directed: resolution to be drawn up accepting the draft Plaza Master Plan;
reconsider leaving the bell tower in the plan; announce plan's acceptance and ask that an
article be written by the Weekly; return to Council for review on Other Joint Business, May
5, 1997.
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Los Gatos, California
OLD TOWN/OWNER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT/TOWN OF LOS GATOS (05.47)
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY/RESIDENTS AND MERCHANTS COMMITTEE FOR PARKING
The following people from the audience spoke to this issue:
Maggie Creighton, 142 Tait Ave., speaking of paid parking, said that there was a
consensus of those working on this parking lot to charge within this parking lot only if
additional funds were going to be needed to pay for the lot. There is no agreement for paid
parking in any other lot in Town.
Rex Morton, 51 University Ave., Suite I, spoke of long range plans from the Parking
Commission. He noted that the citizens group that is to be formed will be gathering input
from the outskirts of Town also. Parking in the long term will be addressed and a
consensus from other segments of the Town will be sought. A reasonable balance will be
the goal when all information has been weighed.
No one else from the audience addressed this issue.
Alternative funding sources for paying for this lot were mentioned and staff believes that the
Strategic Planning Parking Committee for New Parking and the Parking Commission will be
making recommendations and reporting to Council by April 7, 1997. The issue of paid
parking should be one of their top priority issues to resolve.
Council Consensus: 1) April 7, 1997 there should be a draft agreement from the contract
negotiations to review; 2) Pledges will be converted to donations and deposited into the
parking lot account; 3) Staff will report on how the financing mechanism will work; 4) The
analysis of the actual costs should be determined.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that the Council/Agency adjourn this
evening's Joint Meeting at 9:37 p.m. to a Study Session to discuss the structuring for public
participation in the General Plan Update Task Force and the ideas for formation of that task
force. Carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
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March 17, 1997
Los Gatos, California
Marian V. Cosgrove
Town Clerk
Secretary to the Redevelopment Agency
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