06 Staff Report.Veg Mgmt
PREPARED BY: Nicolle Burnham
Parks and Public Works Director
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: 2/20/2024 ITEM NO: 6
DATE: February 15, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Approve the Report Entitled “Vegetation Management Plan for the Town of
Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, California” Dated June 2021
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the report entitled “Vegetation Management Plan for the Town of Los Gatos, Santa
Clara County, California” dated June 2021.
BACKGROUND:
On June 2, 2020 Town Council authorized an agreement for SWCA Environmental Consultants
(SWCA) to develop a Vegetation Management Plan for Town roadsides and open spaces. At
that meeting, the Council directed staff to expedite the roadside vegetation management plan
to allow for work to begin as soon as possible.
On September 1, 2020 Town Council approved the Roadside Vegetation Management Plan.
DISCUSSION:
Following approval of the roadside plan in September 2020 SWCA continued work on the
overall “Vegetation Management Plan for the Town of Los Gatos, Santa Clara County,
California” (the Plan). Due to the length of the plan (564 pages), a copy is located on the Town
website1. The Plan sets standards for clear roadway width and height, as well as understory
growth management along 31.09 miles of roadways and within 193.91 acres of open space
located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone of the Town.
1 https://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/36713/Los-Gatos-Veg-Mgmt-Plan_20210616
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Approve the Report Entitled “Vegetation Management Plan for the Town of Los Gatos, Santa Clara County, California” Dated June 2021 DATE: February 15, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
The document was prepared in accordance with the California Board of Forestry and Fire
Protection’s California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP). The CalVTP specifies approved
methods of vegetation treatment and environmental protection methods.
Staff used the Plan to support applications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Town secured two grants, one for roadside and one for
open space. The Town secured a third federal grant through the United States Forest Service to
support additional roadside work. Staff is working to execute the vegetation management
contemplated in the report and for which funding has been received. Having Town Council
approval of the Plan supports the execution of the work program and management of the
grants.
CONCLUSION:
The approval of the Plan assures compliance with our federal funding programs and provides
Town Council with the opportunity to review the proposed work.
COORDINATION:
This memorandum has been coordinated with the Town Manager’s Office, Finance
Department, and the Community Development Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The approval of this plan does not result in a fiscal impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
All effects of the proposed project (a) have been covered in the CalVTP Program Environmental
Impact Report, and (b) all applicable Standard Project Requirements and mitigation measures
identified in the CalVTP PEIR will be implemented. The proposed project is, therefore, within
the scope of the CalVTP PEIR. No Additional CEQA documentation is required.