Staff Report.Balzer Field Phil Knopf Recognition
PREPARED BY: Jim Harbin
Superintendent
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director, and Interim
Parks and Public Works Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/19/2022 ITEM NO: 9
DATE: April 8, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Approve the Phil Knopf Minors Baseball Complex Naming Addition to Balzer
Field Signage
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Phil Knopf Minors Baseball Complex naming addition to Balzer Field signage.
BACKGROUND:
Balzer Field is a baseball field primarily used by Los Gatos Little League (LGLL) located on Miles
Avenue just east of the Los Gatos Creek Trail. The signage for Balzer Field resides behind center
field on the backside of the scoreboard that has been in place for several years and has reached
the end of its serviceable life.
In March of 2014, Los Gatos Little League recognized Phil Knopf for 35 years of volunteer
service in the League and was presented with a bronze plaque by Santa Clara County Supervisor
Mike Wasserman and Los Gatos Mayor Steve Leonardis.
DISCUSSION:
In February of 2022, Parks and Public Works (PPW) staff received a letter (Attachment 1) from
Los Gatos Little League requesting permission to replace the scoreboard and signage at Balzer
Field and to amend the signage to say “Phil Knopf Minors Baseball Complex at Balzer Field” as a
tribute to Phil Knopf’s long-standing service to LGLL. Additionally, the League has requested
PPW to install the bronze plaque on the Balzer Field snack shack building.
On April 4th, 2022, LGLL Director Ryan Bertsch brought the request before the Parks
Commission and was well received, passing unanimously.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Phil Knopf Minors Baseball Complex Naming Addition DATE: April 8, 2022
CONCLUSION:
Per the Naming Town-Owned Facilities Policy (Attachment 2) the LGLL has demonstrated a
connection between the individual they seek to honor and the facility to be named. As such,
staff recommends approving the Phil Knopf Minors Baseball Complex Naming Addition to Balzer
Field.
FISCAL IMPACT:
LGLL will bear all costs for the scoreboard and signage materials and installation. The Parks and
Public Works Department will install the bronze plaque on the snack shack building using
existing funds in the Operating Budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Los Gatos Little League Letter
2. Town Policy for Naming Town-Owned Facilities