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34 Staff Report - Restoration of Plaza Park FountainMEETING DATE: 6/4/01 ITEM NO. COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT DATE: MAY 31, 2001 TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL FROM: TOWN MANAGE SUBJECT: RESTORATION OF PLAZA PARK FOUNTAIN RECOMMENDATION: Authorize staff to proceed with minimal repairs to Plaza Park Fountain. BACKGROUND: a `f At the May 7 meeting, the Town Council discussed alternative ways to restore or secure the Fountain. There was brief dialogue about filling the Fountain with sand or gravel or ascertaining what it would take to make it operable as a fountain again. The Town Council asked that this item be brought back to Council as soon as possible. DISCUSSION: After discussing this with staff and the consultant who is doing the specific design for renovating the park, we do believe that for not to exceed $2,500, the fountain could be operable within four to five working days. Also, when a new fountain is installed, some of this work will still be of value as long as any new fountain goes in, basically, the same location. Most importantly, the fountain will be cleaner and safer if it is operating. i v � PREPARED BY: LES WHITE Interim Director of Parks and Public Works Reviewed by: Q , Attorney Clerk �C� Finance Community Development Revised: 5/31/01 4:59 pm Reformatted: 7/14/99 PAGE 2 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL SUBJECT: RESTORATION OF PLAZA PARK FOUNTAIN May 31, 2001 CONCLUSION: In view of the minimal expenditure, the value of having this fountain operating during Town events and the improved safety and sanitary conditions from having the fountain operating The Town Council should authorize staff to proceed immediately with this work. ENVIRONMENTAL AS SESSMENT: Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required. FISCAL IMPACT: Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Parks and Public Works current operating budget to cover the cost of this project. Attachments: N/A Distribution: Tim Boyer, Acting Superintendent of Parks Town Council Minutes June 4, 2001 Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California GRASSROOTS NETWORK/LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITTES/RESOLUTION 2001-65 (33.28) Motion by Mr. Glickman, seconded by Mrs. Decker, to direct the Town Manager to cast the ballot on behalf of the Town. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mr. Blanton abstained. Motion by Mr. Glickman, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council adopt Resolution 2001-65 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS SUPPORTING THE GRASSROOTS NETWORK PROPOSED BY THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Carried by a vote of 3 ayes. Mr. Blanton abstained. Mrs. Decker voted no, noting that there would be 86 cities represented by 3 representatives, and she did not believe that our voice would be heard. She noted the larger cities involved and suggested that one representative should be delegated to the smaller cities concerns and issues. TOWN PLAZA RENOVATION PROJECT/FOUNTAIN RESTORATION (34.33) Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council authorize staff to proceed with minimal repairs to Plaza Park Fountain. Carried unanimously. 3% at 50/RETIREMENT BENEFITS/POLICE OFFICERS/URGENCY ORDINANCE 2086 (3 5.06&29) Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council waive the reading of the Proposed Urgency Ordinance. Carried unanimously. The Town Clerk read the Title of the Proposed Ordinance. Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council introduce and adopt Urgency Ordinance 2086 entitled, URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AND THE BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM. Carried unanimously. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS (36.28) There were no reports given this evening. TOWN MANAGER REPORTS (37.28) There were no reports given this evening. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Decker, to adjourn this evening's meeting at 10:48 p.m. Carried unanimously. ATTEST: Marian V. Cosgrove Town Clerk TC:DI3:MM060401 10 Town Council Minutes May 7, 2001 Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California Town support these efforts with doing traffic spot checks. MARCHMONT DRIVE/HILLBROOK SCHOOL/CONT. Speakers continued: Jolie Houston, Berliner Cohen, spoke of the reviews that address the cup. And asked for approval. Sarah Bayne, 300 Marchmont Drive, Director of Hillbrook School, answered questions concerning an Art Show that overlapped on weekends. She noted that after this approval is given the school will have its gates locked on weekends. Ray Davis, resident, spoke against the new cap of 165, and requested that the word "final" be included in the master plan. Spoke of sighting distance from the Elliot's driveway. Patti Elliot, 269 Marchmont Drive, noted that the current numbers which were given, only give the neighborhood a 7 car relief The Town's traffic checks should be given at no specific times. Van pooling should be added to the resolution. 150 cars is reasonable and should be reconsidered. No one else from the audience addressed the issue. Mr. Attaway asked that the school and staffkeep in mind that Council wants to see continued efforts in reducing the traffic count. He would prefer the school work toward a cap of 150 cars and to realize that the 165 cap was a definite maximum Motion by Mr. Glickman, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council modify Item #12 of the CUP to read, "Traffic counts are at the applicants expense. The Town shall conduct traffic counts at the Marchmont Drive of Hillbrook School twice a year during appropriate months chosen by the staff." Carried unanimously. Mr. Glickman noted that all the responsibility to make the traffic counts diminish rests with Hillbrook School. Mayor Pirzynski affirmed that the parties should not be in an adversarial position but in a cooperative mode of working together toward traffic calming in the neighborhood. He stated that the quality of life for the neighbors will be enhanced through the efforts of the school to continue to support its car pool program in a rigorous fashion and to look for alternative mitigating measures to reduce the neighborhood's traffic, such as van pooling for students and staff. This cooperation should lead to rebuilding a sense of community among the parties. Bud Lortz, Community Development Director, reaffirmed that the six month review for the traffic count would be addressed at the Planning Commission Motion by Mr. Glickman, seconded by Mrs. Decker, that Council adopt Resolution 2001- 48 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS DENYING APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION TO APPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A MASTER PLAN OF HILLBROOK SCHOOL AND TO APPROVE AN ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION TO DEMOLISH AN EXISTING CLASSROOM BUILDING ON PROPERTY ZONED HR-1, with amendment to Item # 12 as reflected in prior action. Carried unanimously. TOWN PLAZA RENOVATION PROJECT/RESOLUTIONS 2001-49/2001-3RD (16.33) Speakers and Council Comments: Les White, Interim Public Works Director, discussed the Town Plaza Park Plans, noting that the bathrooms would remain optional at the Plaza; that there was sufficient funding for the fountain design plans; that there was no funding for construction of the bathrooms; and Council could decide after further consideration if it would like to include public facilities. Mr. Blanton spoke in favor of incorporating rest room facilities in the park due to a shortage of public facilities in the downtown area. 6 Town Council Minutes May 7, 2001 Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California TOWN PLAZA RENOVATION PROJECT/CONT. (Item 16 continued) Speakers and Council Comments continued: Mrs. Decker would like the rest room issue studied further as other interested parties have kept that from occurring over the years for various reasons which may no longer be viable considerations at this time. She also brought up the issue of the fountain and safety concerns associated with its depth and design. She asked what the time line was for completion of the new fountain and if the Town needed to keep the existing fountain in operation during this time. Mr. White noted that the fountain would remain empty for about a year before the new one is operational. This is due to the high cost of electrical repair. Staff will review the safety issues involving this fountain and consider filling in the structure until the new one is ready to be built. Mr. Pirzynski asked that consideration for user friendly, low risk water facilities that children can enjoy themselves at be explored. Mr. Attaway asked that the present fountain be treated as we did the fire truck in Oak Meadow. He noted that he has never seen a claim involving Plaza fountain and he does not want to deprive the community of there fountain this summer while waiting for the new construction. Mr. Glickman requested acceleration of the project for safety reasons. Mr. White reported that staff would return to Council with various options concerning the treatment of the existing fountain. Ray Davis, resident, spoke of the hazards of using recycled water in a public fountain and the health concerns associated with young children playing in this type of environment. Lewis Hernandez, 180 Calle Margarita, asked for bathrooms and baby changers for people with children in the park or at least a place to wash your hands. A sterile bathroom in the park for transients would be appreciated. Shirley Henderson, Antiquarium on Main, asked that Council please leave the fountain until after the Music in the Plaza Program. Asked that this fountain be recharged but that Town move forward on the new fountain. Ms Figone, Town Manager, noted that the safety issues involving the fountain would be reviewed and a report would return to Council. The subject of bathrooms would be deferred at this time but might return to Council for consideration in the future. Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mrs. Decker, that Town Council/Redevelopment Agency adopt joint Resolution 2001-49/2001-3RD entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE TOWN PLAZA PROJECT. (Mesiti-Miller Engineering). Carried unanimously. DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFICATION/RESOLUTIONS 2001-50/2001-4RD (17.31) Les White, Interim Public Works Director, noted that the 4 way stop at Bachman and Santa Cruz had been removed from the plans by Council in February when the plans had been approved. Traffic reports had shown that this configuration would cause grid lock in the downtown. Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Glickman, that Town Council/Redevelopment Agency adopt joint Resolution 2001-50/2001-4RD entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SANTA CRUZ AVENUE/BACHMAN AVENUE INTERSECTION AND GRAYS LANE IMPROVEMENTS. (Mesiti-Miller Engineering). Carried unanimously. 7 TOWN OF Los GATOS Civic CENTER 110 E. MAIN STREET P.O. Box 949 Los GATOS, CA 95031 June 4, 2001 Mark Mesiti-Miller Mesiti-Miller Engineering, Inc. 224 Walnut Avenue, Suite B Santa Cruz. CA 95060 Subject: Town Plaza Renovation - Project No. 01-07 Dear Mark: I am returning to you one fully executed copy of the Consulting Services Agreement between the Town and Mesiti-Miller Engineering, Inc. for the subject project. The original of the agreement is on file with the Town Clerk, and is referenced as AGR:01.063. Again, many thanks for your assistance in putting this agreement together. Shortly. you will receive a Purchase Order directly from the Town's Finance Department for the not -to -exceed amount specified in the agreement. The Purchase Order represents your authorization to invoice the Town for services performed under the agreement. Additionally, I am enclosing a copy of the proposed schedule for completing the design work in connection with this project. Please review the schedule and let me know if you have any questions or concerns about it. Please also consider this letter as confirmation of my prior authorization to proceed with work under the agreement effective May 8. I look forward to tomorrow evening's first session with the project working group and. as always. to completing another successful project with your firm. Let me know if you have any questions concerning this letter. Sincerely, Larry I. Perlin Interim Town Engineer cc: Town Clerk April 11, 2001 Town of Los Gatos — Town Council 110 E. Main St. Los Gatos CA 95031 TOWN OF LOS GATOS OFFICE OF TOWN CLERK RE: Newly installed but hazardous diagonal parking on the west side of the Los Gatos Post Office on South Santa Cruz Ave. As a resident and taxpayer in Los Gatos since 1964, I am writing in full support of the letter by Alice Durkin on page 12 in the Los Gatos Weekly — Times of April 4, 2001, entitled, "Diagonal stripes at post office are dangerous". This diagonal parking arrangement presents the town and its citizens a new major and unneeded legal liability problem and lawsuits waiting to happen! I agree with the observations by Alice Durkin; plus I would like to add another observation to hers concerning the dangerous legal liability issue. I drive to the Post Office and typically park along Broadway in the one way street on the north side of the Post Office or drop mail in the boxes where Montebello Way and Broadway join, and then exit from Broadway onto South Santa Cruz Ave. or continue across on Broadway. The new diagonal parking at the front of the Post Office (on the east side of South Santa Cruz Ave.) further obscures the already limited visibility for all cars (both on Broadway — on the north side of the Post Office — and north bound on South Santa Cruz Ave.) attempting to exit from Broadway onto South Santa Cruz Ave. in either direction or across to continue on Broadway. Because SUVs and other large vehicles park in these newly created diagonal parking spaces, pedestrians attempting to cross South Santa Cruz Ave. at that intersection cannot see the oncoming traffic nor can they be seen by drivers in vehicles coming north on South Santa Cruz Ave. until the pedestrian is some 15 feet into the cross walk. (Of course, many drivers of northbound vehicles on South Santa Cruz Ave. are traveling at speeds far over the speed limit which makes the situation worse!) Similarly, the driver of a vehicle on Broadway looking onto South Santa Cruz Ave. at the intersection cannot see the oncoming vehicles or be seen from the south if stopped behind the restraining line. I determined that the driver would have to be located some 15 feet or a car length into the intersection and over the restraining line in order to be visible and to see the oncoming traffic northbound on South Santa Cruz Ave. I suggest that an investigation of the California Motor Vehicle Code for the applicable rules on these matters would be appropriate. Finally, as I recall, over the years there have been several serious, if not fatal, pedestrian accidents involving cars northbound on South Santa Cruz Ave. and pedestrians in the cross walk attempting to cross South Santa Cruz Ave at the intersection of South Santa Cruz Ave. and Broadway. I ask you to order the removal of the diagonal parking on the west side of the Post Office on South Santa Cruz and return it to parallel parking. The parallel parking, which was there originally, creates visibility problems of its own, but nothing as severe as the newly installed hazardous diagonal parking. Bradl . Wyatt 18400 Overlook Rd. #5 Los Gatos CA 95030-5850 408-354-5124 wvatt@attglobal.net Hardcopy delivered to Town Council offices Copy — Los Gatos Weekly - Times