02 Staff Report.Minutes
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/20/2024 ITEM NO: 2
DRAFT
Minutes of the Town Council Meeting
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting in-person and utilizing
teleconferencing means on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Mary Badame, Vice Mayor Matthew Hudes, Council Member Rob Moore,
Council Member Rob Rennie, Council Member Maria Ristow.
Absent: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Badame led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney, stated the Town Council met in closed session to discuss
labor negations pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6 and anticipated litigation
pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(e)(1), and there was no reportable action.
COUNCIL/TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
Council Matters
- Council Member Ristow stated she attended a Housing Element Advisory Board meeting;
met with Girl Scout Troup 60879 to discuss leadership; attended a Council Policy
Committee meeting, the League of California Cities New Mayor and Council Member
Academy, and a Cal Cities Peninsula Division Legislative Address; volunteered at the Los
Gatos-Almaden Pollinator Garden; attended a Midpeninsula Newt Project Bicyclist
Stakeholder meeting; met with stakeholders on topics such as the Housing Element and the
Rail to Trail pathway project; met with Jim Foley regarding the Chamber of Commerce
priorities; and addressed severe weather concerns.
- Council Member Moore addressed severe weather concerns; acknowledged CERT Member
Mark Wang for providing generators to residents during severe weather; attended an
Interim Community Center community meeting and the Los Gatos History Club open
house; met with Senator Josh Becker regarding affordable housing; attended a Cal Cities
Peninsula Division Legislative Address; listened to Vice President Kamla Harris, Senators
Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier
Becerra; held his first Council Member Happy Hour; attended a Democracy Tent meeting;
concluded his time as Assistant Coach of the Leigh Wrestling Team; attended the Housing
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Element Advisory Board meeting, and a Cities Association Legislative Action Committee
meeting; and announced his Council Member Community Coffee on Friday.
- Council Member Rennie stated he met with the Finance Commission Chair; attended a
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCEA) Risk Oversight Committee meeting; met with
Jim Foley to discuss the Post Office building and the Tait and Forbes Mill leases; met with
neighbors near the proposed Lynn Avenue Path and Pinehurst Community Garden; and
met with architect Jay Plett regarding Senate Bill (SB) 9.
- Vice Mayor Hudes stated he attended the Cities Association Board of Directors meeting;
met with the Finance Commission Chair; met with Chamber of Commerce Director; met
with the Initiatives and Publicity Committee of the Older Adults Thrive Foundation; toured
the Mountain View Senior Center; attended Older Adults Thrive Foundation meetings, the
League of California Cities New Mayor and Council Members Academy; met with
Community Health and Senior Services Commission Chair Eleanor Yick; met with the
developers of the Los Gatos Meadows; and met with Jim Foley.
- Vice Mayor Badame stated she toured the Mountain View Community Center; attended
the League of California Cities New Mayors and Council Members Academy; met with Jim
Foley of the Chamber of Commerce to discuss beach traffic; met with Nancy Rollett
(Executive Director of Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation) to discuss the Senior Services
Program; met with the Executive Director of the West Valley Solid Waste Management
Authority; attended a West Valley Clean Water Authority Board meeting, a West Valley
Solid Waste Management Authority Board meeting, and attended the Rotary Club Crab
Festival and auction at St. Luke’s Church.
Manager Matters - Announced Board, Commission, and Committee applications are open, and applications are
due by March 4. Opportunities include seats on the Planning Commission; Parks and
Sustainability Commission; General Plan Committee; Personnel Board; and the Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Commission seat for a Los Gatos business owner who is also a
resident.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF FINANCE COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
Vice Mayor Hudes announced Joe Rodgers as his appointment to the Finance Commission.
Council Member Moore announced Dr. Ashby Monk as his appointment to the Finance
Commission.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve Closed Session Minutes of the January 16, 2024 Town Council Meeting.
2. Approve Minutes of the January 16, 2024 Town Council Meeting.
3. Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a Notice of Completion and Certificate of
Acceptance for Specified Improvements Completed by SummerHill N40 LLC for the North 40
Phase 1 Development at Lark Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard and Authorize the Town
Clerk to Submit for Recordation.
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4. Adopt a Resolution Remanding Decision to Deny a Fence Height Exception Request at 124
Garden Hill Drive for the Construction of a Six-Foot Tall Fence Located Within the Required
Front Yard Setback, Street Side Yard Setback, and Corner Sight Triangle on Property Zoned
R-1:8 to the Planning Commission for Further Consideration. APN 424-23-084. Fence
Height Exception Application FHE-23-005. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures and Section
15301: Existing Facilities. Property Owner: Rushikesh Kulkarni. Applicant/Appellant: Martin
Lettunich. Project Planner: Ryan Safty. RESOLUTION 2024-006
5. Authorize $10,000 from the County of Santa Clara County Grant for Unhoused Los Gatos
Residents to Be Used for the Hotel Program.
Mayor Badame opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Badame closed public comment.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to approve consent items 1-5. Seconded by
Council Member Moore.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS Lynley
- Commented in opposition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts.
OTHER BUSINESS 6. Review and Discuss the Proposed Revisions to the Draft Revised 2023-2031 Housing
Element. Location: Town-Wide. General Plan Amendment Application GP-22-003.
Jocelyn Shoopman, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Mayor Badame opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Badame closed public comment.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Rennie to leave the language as proposed and not
change “a variety of neighborhoods” to “Town-wide.” Seconded by Council
Member Ristow.
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Council discussed the motion.
Council Member Rennie withdrew the motion.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Hudes to bundle the steps to increase housing mobility
similar to Los Altos in the Town’s Housing Element, modify Program J language from
“in all neighborhoods” to “in a variety of neighborhoods,” and replace the language
in the current draft [of the Housing Element] in the paragraph that starts with
“Zoning for small muti-unit housing” with language similar to Los Altos, which is
“Rezoning - modify zoning to allow residential or increased residential intensity
and/or density of residential throughout Los Gatos. This includes zoning
amendments already completed along higher intensity corridors with access to
transit and other opportunities (North 40, Los Gatos Boulevard, Highway 9, and
Winchester Boulevard) and for sites within lower-density neighborhoods herein, Oka
Lane, Lark Avenue, Union Avenue, Downtown Area). See Program AZ which has been
implemented.
Recess 8:20 p.m.
Reconvene 8:28 p.m.
After the recess, the Vice Mayor’s written motion was distributed to each Council Member and
projected in the Chambers for the public to see.
MOTION: Written motion submitted by Vice Mayor Hudes: Programs J and AY Rezoning -
Modify zoning to allow residential or increased residential intensity and/or density in
a variety of neighborhoods. This includes zoning amendments already completed
along higher intensity corridors with access to transit and other opportunities (North
40, Los Gatos Boulevard, Highway 9, and Winchester Boulevard) and for sites within
lower-density neighborhoods (Oka Lane, Lark Avenue Area, Union Avenue,
Downtown Area). See Program AZ which has been implemented. Seconded by
Mayor Badame.
VOTE: Motion failed 2-2-1. Council Members Ristow and Council Member Moore voted
no. Council Member Rennie abstained.
After further discussion Vice Mayor Hudes made a request to submit a written motion.
Recess 8:48 p.m.
Reconvene 8:58 p.m.
After the recess, the Vice Mayor’s written motion was distributed to each Council Member and
projected in the Chambers for the public to see.
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MOTION: Written to replace the language in the paragraph starting with “Zoning – for multi-
unit housing” (which was provided by the HEAB) and replace it with the following
language: “Zoning – Modify the Zoning Code to facilitate small multi-unit housing in
certain low and medium density designations. This includes creating mixed
residential neighborhoods through new and innovative housing types that meet the
changing needs of Los Gatos households and expand housing choices in a variety of
neighborhoods. Housing types include but are not limited to single dwelling units,
multi-family dwelling units, accessory dwelling units, small and micro units, use of
prefabricated homes, and cluster/cottage housing. This zoning will occur in a variety
of areas throughout town but not in areas that are very high fire hazard severity
zone, adjacent to homes in our historic inventory (currently pre-1941) home, in
hillside residential zones, within 500 feet of an evacuation route and are more than
1/2 mile of a currently established public transit stop.
Town Attorney Whelan clarified her understanding of the intent of the motion is that all of the
places listed be excluded from areas that would be rezoned and if that were the case, the
language would state within 500 feet of an evacuation route or more than a half mile from a
currently established public transit stop.
Vice Mayor Hudes confirmed that was his intention and accepted the clarification of his motion.
Seconded by Mayor Badame.
AMENDMENT: Amendment by Vice Mayor Hudes to modify his motion to say, “within half mile
of a transit stop.” Seconder Mayor Badame accepted the amendment.
VOTE: Motion passed 3-2. Council Member Ristow and Council Member Moore voted no.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Hudes to direct staff to apply this language in a consistent
way throughout the document including program J and program AY. Seconded by
Mayor Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed 3-2. Council Member Ristow and Council Member Moore voted no.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Hudes to move the objective from 50 to 150 [units] for the
combined actions of California Department of Housing and Community
Development (HCD) suggested in their letter. Seconded by Council Member Ristow.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to direct staff and the consultant to work
through the language, get feedback from legal counsel and the Housing consultant,
do their best to get feedback from HCD on latest changes, and report back to the
Council at the next meeting. Seconded by Council Member Moore.
Council Member Ristow clarified the intent of the motion is that the work would be reviewed
by Council and there would not be another review by the Housing Element Advisory Board
(HEAB).
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
7. Adopt a Resolution to Set a Date for Consideration of the Reorganization of an Uninhabited
Area Designated as Blackberry Hill Road No. 06, Approximately 2.1 Acres on Property Pre-
Zoned HR-2½. APN 532-25-011. Annexation Application AN23-001. Project Location: 15405
Blackberry Hill Road. Property Owner/Applicant: Maurice Brewster. RESOLUTION 2024-007
Jennifer Armer, Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Badame opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Badame closed public comment.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Rennie to adopt a resolution to set a date for
consideration of the reorganization of an uninhabited area designated as Blackberry
Hill Road No. 06, approximately 2.1 acres on located at 1545 Blackberry Hill Road
APN 532-25-011. Seconded by Vice Mayor Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
8. Receive Report and Provide Input on Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program.
Jim Harbin, Parks Superintendent, presented the staff report.
Mayor Badame opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Badame closed public comment.
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Council discussed the item and provided direction regarding prioritizing native and drought
tolerant trees.
9. Receive a Status Report on Capital Improvement Projects and Provide Direction for the
Fiscal Year 2024/25 – 2028/29 Priorities.
Nicolle Burnham, Parks and Public Works Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Badame opened public comment.
Bill
- Commented on increasing capacity and accessibility for pickleball, stated concerns with the
court upkeep, and sound mitigation.
Liz
- Commented on the need for additional pickleball courts and stated concerns with the
upkeep of the courts.
Leeann
- Commented on Creekside Park project and stated concern with using artificial turf.
Cynthia
- Commented on Creekside Park turf replacement project and stated concerns with using
artificial turf.
Nicole
- Commented on concerns with the use of artificial turf.
Pamela
- Commented on the Creekside Sports Park, requested the Town consider replacing turf with
natural drought tolerant grass, and stated concerns with artificial turf.
Aiden
- Commented on reducing light pollution and concerns with artificial turf.
Mayor Badame closed public comment.
Council discussed the item and provided preliminary direction on CIP priorities.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Moore to extend the meeting to 12:15 a.m. Seconded
by Mayor Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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Council discussed the item and provided preliminary direction on Capital Improvement Projects
priorities.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 12:06 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
_____________________________________
Jenna De Long, Deputy Town Clerk