28 Staff Report - Public Input on General Plan UpdateCOUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: September 2, 1999
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE: 9/07/99
ITEM NO. Z$
CONSIDER REPORT ON WAYS TO OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT ON GENERAL PLAN
UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider report on ways to obtain public input on the General Plan Update and direct staff accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
There has been some criticism levied that there has been insufficient noticing and involvement of the public in the
General Plan Update process. A "formal" public participation program has been in place and has been implemented over
the past two years. The process has included the creation and regular meetings of the General Plan Task Force I and I1.
The meetings were held in the Neighborhood Center and were open to the public. In addition, the General Plan
Committee has discussed the General Plan at its regularly scheduled meetings which are also advertised and open to the
public.
A "grassroots" group called the Neighborhood Alliance has been formed to discuss alternatives to achieve more public
participation in the process. The Alliance met on August 10 with approximately 100 attendees. This new informal
process has been kicked -off with a bang! Attached is correspondence pertaining to that meeting, a second meeting
scheduled for September 8 and notes taken at the meeting. This "informal" process seems to be working especially when
meeting notes are distributed to Town staffto be considered in the General Plan Update process. Many of the comments
are familiar in that they were expressed during the past two years at the Task Force and other meetings.
DISCUSSION:
Staff has been directed to provide ways to increase the public's involvement "outside" the formal process. It needs to
be noted that any involvement of Town staff (e.g. facilitation of meetings, note -taking, presentations, etc.) gives the
impression that the process has become "formalized." Therefore, staff suggests that the work begun by the
Neighborhood Alliance be expanded to include some or all of the following meetings. Per the attached letter from the
Town Manager, distribution of printed materials and reservation of meeting rooms would be made available. However,
for the process to function as informal and outside the existing update process, the Neighborhood Alliance would be
responsible for facilitation and summary notes of meetings.
PREPARED BY: PAUL L. CURTIS
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Reviewed by: ()k, Attorney
Revised: 9/2/99 2:49 PM
Reformatted: 7/14/99
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
September 2, 1999
Town Hall Meeting: A well advertised meeting inviting anyone and everyone to attend and discuss the General Plan
Update process and the plan's direction. This meeting should be for input only with limited opportunity for responses.
Community Workshop(s): This would be a town -wide follow-up to the Town Hall meeting where answers to
questions, a more formalized summary of objectives presented at the Town Hall meeting and possibly the start of a
summary report for presentation to the Town would be accomplished.
Community Open Houses and Neighborhood Teas: An alternative to the town -wide meetings would be to follow
the same process as Town Hall meetings and Community Workshops but at the neighborhood level. Neighborhood
leaders or representatives from each of the neighborhood meetings could then meet, compare notes and formulate a
single representative report for presentation to the Town.
Farmers' Market Booth: The Sunday Farmers' Market would provide an opportunity to display the General Plan
Update information board, answer questions and distribute information including dates of upcoming meetings, both of
the Neighborhood Alliance and of the Town's General Plan Committee, Planning Commission and Town Council.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
PLC:mdc
N:1DEVICITPART
Town Council Minutes September 7, 1999
Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California
UNIVERSITY 565-573/SANTA CRUZ N 536/CAMPO DI BOCCE/RESOLUTION 1999-142/CONT.
Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council adopt Resolution 1999-142
entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS GRANTING IN PART AN APPEAL
OF A PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION TO DENY MODIFICATION OF A
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT CONCERNING OUTSIDE SEATS AND HOURS OF
OPERATION AND A VARIANCE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SEATS PERMITTED BY
PROVIDING OFF -SITE PARKING OF A PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE LN ZONE: AND
GRANTING APPEAL OF DECISION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DENYING
CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS FOR ALTERNATIVE USE OF PARKING FOR CAMPO DI
BOCCE ON PROPERTIES ZONED LM AND C-1. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. Attaway
absent.
PLANNING COMMISSION/MEETINGS WITH APPLICANTS/PUBLIC HEARINGS (26.20)
Council consensus to acknowledge that this policy is to control more of the technical items being
discussed and to keep the public meetings focused on the overall larger decisions. That Council
direct the Town Attorney to prepare a resolution amending the current policy.
PARKING STRUCTURE FUNDING/PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY REPORT (27.40)
Council consensus to accept and file the Public Opinion Survey report regarding parking garage
funding.
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE/PUBLIC INPUT (28.47)
Council consensus to accept and file the report on ways to obtain public input on the General
Plan Update. A grass roots neighborhood meeting is best if the intention is to gather public
input and participation. Community wide meetings tend to be too big for full participation.
RENTAL DISPUTE PROGRAM/RESOLUTION 1999-143/ORDINANCE INTRODUCTION (29.44)
The Town Clerk read the Title of the Proposed Ordinance.
Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mr. Pirzynski, to waive the reading of the Proposed
Ordinance. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. Attaway absent.
Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mr. Pirzynski, that Council introduce Proposed Ordinance
entitled, ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING THE LOS GATOS
TOWN CODE - CHAPTER 14.80, RENTAL AND OTHER TENANT/LANDLORD DISPUTES
(SECTIONS 14.80.045 - 14.80.240.) Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. Attaway absent.
Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mr. Pirzynski, that Council adopt Resolution 1999-143
entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ADOPTING REVISED RENTAL
DISPUTE RESOLUTION REGULATIONS AND RESCINDING RESOLUTION 1998-48,
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ADOPTING
REVISED RENTAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION REGULATIONS AND RESCINDING
RESOLUTION 1989-210. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. Attaway absent.
TC: D 11: MM090799
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