Staff Report.Social Norms MOU
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Interim Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/18/2022 ITEM NO: 7
DATE: October 3, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District and Los Gatos Union
School District to Participate in a Community Norms Effort at a Cost Not to
Exceed $16,800
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to enter into an Memorandum of Understanding with the Los
Gatos Saratoga Union High School District and Los Gatos Union School District to participate in
a community norms effort at a cost not to exceed $16,800.
BACKGROUND:
In 2021, staff at Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District (LGSUHSD) requested that the
Town Council update its Social Host Ordinance to enhance the enforcement provisions and
create stronger accountability for the parents at whose homes or properties the parties may be
occurring. LGSUHSD presented data to the Town Council about the use of alcohol by students
and the impacts of this use. After the presentation, the Council directed the preparation of an
updated Ordinance to address the items identified by LGSUHSD.
The Youth Commission participated in the creation of the stronger regulations in coordination
with the Town Attorney. In May 2022, the Town Council adopted amendments to the Social
Host Ordinance to strengthen its provisions regarding the use of alcohol and other controlled
substances by youth at parties. The new regulations have higher fines for violations and stricter
accountability for parents.
Since adoption, the Youth Commission and Police Department have been doing outreach to
enhance awareness of the new regulations.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with LGSUHSD and LGUSD for a Community Norms Effort DATE: October 3, 2022
DISCUSSION:
LGSUHSD has done other research and learned that the substance-related decisions of both
youth and adults are greatly affected by their perceptions of the behaviors of their peers.
LGSUHSD has determined that a Positive Community Norms (PCN) framework is best suited to
take the work of the Town, the school districts, and the public to the next level. PCN works on
several levels at once, involving students, parents, teachers, and the entire community. PCN
helps close the gap between perceptions of substance use and what is actually true. The
Montana Institute (TMI) is the consultant who will lead this PCN project.
This project is a partnership between the LGSUHSD, the Los Gatos Union School District
(LGUSD), and the Town of Los Gatos. Costs for this project will be shared as follows: LGSUHSD -
$28,000; LGUSD-$11,200; and the Town of Los Gatos-$16,800. Attachment 1 contains the
Memorandum of Understanding that was approved by the LGSUHSD Board on September 27,
2022.
CONCLUSION:
The Town’s participation in the community norms effort would benefit Los Gatos families by
helping to address the use of substances and provide tools to reduce alcohol and substance use
within the community.
COORDINATION:
The preparation of this report was coordinated with the Town Attorney and Finance
Department. LGSUHSD took the lead in preparing the MOU with input from the Town and
LGUSD.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost for the Town to participate in this effort is $16,800 which can be funded through the
Non-Departmental portion of the adopted Operating Budget. The Town’s share of the cost is
30% of the total cost.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Memorandum of Understanding