15 Addendum.Revenue Ballot Measure Consultant with attachment
PREPARED BY: Katy Nomura
Assistant Town Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and 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: 10/17/2023 ITEM NO: 15 ADDENDUM
DATE: October 16, 2023
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to Execute an Agreement for Revenue Ballot
Measure Consultant Services with NBS in an Amount Not to Exceed $105,000
and Authorize an Expenditure Budget Adjustment in an Amount of $105,000
from the Available General Fund Capital/Special Projects Reserve
REMARKS:
Attachment 2 contains public comment received after 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 13, 2023, and
before 11:01 a.m. on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Attachments previously received with the October 17, 2023, Staff Report:
1. Draft Agreement with Exhibit A - Scope of Services
Attachments received with this Addendum:
2. Public comment received after 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 13, 2023, and before 11:01 a.m. on
Monday, October 16, 2023
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
From:Rob Stump
To:Maria Ristow; Mary Badame; Rob Rennie; Rob Moore; Matthew Hudes
Cc:Laurel Prevetti; Wendy Wood; Nicolle Burnham
Subject:Agenda Item 15 - Revenue Ballot Measure Consultant Services, October 17
Date:Monday, October 16, 2023 9:37:12 AM
Attachments:Agenda Item 15 - October 17 LG Town Councli.pdf
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Town Council Members,
Attached is a letter that outlines why Wildfire Preparation and Prevention should be
strongly considered as the public safety issue for a revenue ballot measure in 2024.
Simply put, if we do not provide a reliable on-going source of funding to this public
safety threat, Los Gatos will not significantly reduce the threat of wildfire.
One lesson learned from Marin County. In 2020, Measure C was passed, 70.8% yes,
resulting in the establishment a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to address the threat of
wildfire. This tax generates $19.3 million/year for wildfire programs and initiatives.
One of the key takeaways, this ballot measure was strongly supported by the public. It is my opinion that the people of Marin County understood the threat and supported
the ballot measure. Eighteen of twenty cities in Marin County passed the measure.
Two cities chose not to participate and now wish they had.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
Rob Stump
ATTACHMENT 2
October 16, 2023
Dear Town Council Members,
At your October 17 Council meeting, you will likely approve Item 15 on the agenda,
Revenue Ballot Measure Consultant Services. As the Council considers a ballot
initiative and a use or uses for generated funds, I strongly suggest that it be focused on
Wildfire preparation and prevention or on Public Safety as a broader initiative.
Why address Wildfire preparation and prevention through a new source of generated
revenue? While the Town has been successful in “winning” grant funding for fuel
reduction and vegetation management, grant funding cannot be relied upon to address
all that needs to be done. What needs to be done to save lives and property?
1. Roadside Fuel Reduction: This is an on-going need. Once through the first pass
(6-year plan, 5 miles/year), regular maintenance work needs be performed on a
6-year cycle. The Town does not have money built into its operating budget to
fund this critical on-going activity. This maintenance must be performed on
public and private roads in the WUI.
2. Weed Abatement: The Town needs to abate weeds along its owned roadside
rights-of-way. Funding must be secured to make two passes/year (31 miles of
roadway). There is currently no funding in the operating budget to fund this
critical activity. This must also be funded for both public and private roads. A
high percentage of wildfires begin within 50 feet of a roadway.
3. Evacuation Routes: There are numerous substandard width (less than 20 feet)
roadways in Los Gatos. A complete review of the roadways and major
evacuation routes throughout the WUI must be undertaken to determine needed
roadway improvements – public and private. Correction of substandard width
roadways in Los Gatos may run into the millions.
4. Emergency Communication: Installation of an Emergency Communication
system owned and operated by the Town will cost between $1.5 to $2 million.
5. Water Service: There are neighborhoods in the hillside that do not have standard
utility-supplied water service. Without this service, fire protection is more
challenging. Why? Access to hydrants may be a long distance from the source
of a fire. Readily available water will address a localized fire and reduce the
potential of it becoming a wildfire.
6. Wildland Fire Specialist and Fuels Crew: These programs will likely have a
limited life due to funding constraints. An on-going source of funding is required
to sustain them.
I will stop at this point. I think the need is clear and funding is an ongoing challenge.
While the Town has had good success securing grants for wildfire initiatives, grants are
not a guaranteed source of funding. A reliable source of revenue will enable expedited
projects and maintenance that will TRULY make Los Gatos more Wildfire resilient.
In 2020, Marin County passed Measure C (70.8% yes) and formed a Joint Powers
Authority (JPA). This tax generates $19.3 million/year for wildfire programs and
initiatives. While Los Gatos would not generate that amount of revenue per year,
borrowing against future years' tax collection is possible and would expedite critical
projects.
I am ready to assist the Town in developing the case for a Wildfire or broader Public
Safety parcel tax. Let me know how I can help you in moving this critical initiative
forward for the Town of Los Gatos.
Rob Stump
Los Gatos Hillside Resident