Desk Item. Item #4 Bingo Ordinance
PREPARED BY: Wendy Wood
Town Clerk
Reviewed by: Town Manager and Town Attorney
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/04/2023 ITEM NO: 4 DESK ITEM
DATE: April 4, 2023
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney
SUBJECT: Adopt Ordinance 2339 Titled “An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town
of Los Gatos Amending Chapter 3, “Amusements,” of the Town Code
Regarding Bingo Award Amount Amending Section 3.50.015 of the Town
Code to Increase the Maximum Bingo Award to $500”
REMARKS:
A Council Member had several questions (bold face type) and staff’s responses are provided
below.
1. Does the ordinance differ from the Saratoga ordinance? If so, in what way and why?
Saratoga:
• Permit term is three years and can be renewed for successive 3-year periods.
• Bingo not permitted in commercial zones.
• Bingo not permitted between midnight and 9 a.m.
• City requires annual report to Town including dates and locations of games, amount of
proceeds from each event, amount of total proceeds for the year, and how the proceeds
were used.
• City can conduct audits.
• No cap on maximum prize. (State law provides that local jurisdictions can set cap up to
$500 maximum.)
Los Gatos:
• Permit term is one year, and a new permit required annually.
• Bingo is permitted only on property rented or owned by the non-profit.
• Bingo is not permitted between midnight and 10 a.m.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Town Code Amendment Regarding Bingo Award Amount DATE: March 28, 2023
REMARKS (continued):
• Town can do a criminal history check on permit applicant.
• Sets $500 cap on maximum prize.
2. Why does the Town’s bingo ordinance differ from Saratoga’s?
Staff would speculate that the ordinances are different because each entity set up their
program in a way that works for them.
When representatives from KCAT made their original request, they did not know that the Town
had a bingo ordinance. Staff contacted KCAT to find out what changes they were seeking to the
Town’s bingo ordinance, and they said they wanted an increase of the cash prize to the $500
maximum allowed by state law.
Attachment Transmitted with Staff Report:
1. Ordinance 2339 Bingo Ordinance