08 Staff Report.Howes Play Lot Budget Adjustment
PREPARED BY: Stefanie Hockemeyer
Sr. Administrative Analyst
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director, and Parks and
Public Works Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/16/2024
DATE: April 11, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize Revenue and Expenditure Budget Adjustments in the Amount of
$15,615.98 to Recognize Excess Insurance Reimbursement for Damage to
Howes Play Lot Structure
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize revenue and expenditure budget adjustments in the amount of $15,615.98 to
recognize excess insurance reimbursement for damage to Howes Play Lot structure.
BACKGROUND:
Howes Play Lot is a neighborhood park situated between Thomas Drive and Howes Drive. The
park is highly used by neighborhood families and school children as a stopping point between
school and home travels. The park is equipped with a lighted pathway, large trees, benches,
and play equipment. The play equipment consists of a tot swing, a tot slide, and youth
playscape (intended for ages 5 to 12).
As a result of March 2023 storms, tree damage occurred throughout the Town including two
large Stone Pine trees that fell on the play structure at Howes Play Lot, destroying 70 percent of
the equipment. Following the storms, Town contractors removed the fallen trees. Inspection
revealed that the tot slide and swings were not damaged, but the youth play lot was a complete
loss and could not be salvaged.
On June 9, 2023, staff received a quote from Ross Recreation Equipment, Inc. for the
replacement of the youth lot equipment, in an amount of $121,678. Staff then submitted a
claim to the Town’s insurance carrier for reimbursement of costs related to the storm damage
repairs at the Play lot.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Authorize Revenue and Expenditure Budget Adjustments to Recognize Excess Insurance Reimbursement for Damage to Howes Play Lot Structure DATE: April 11, 2024
BACKGROUND (continued):
At the August 15, 2023 Town Council meeting, staff received authorization to execute a
Purchase and Service agreement with Ross Recreation, Inc. to replace the play structure
equipment. The value of the purchase order was $121,678 and the Town Council approval
included an expenditure budget adjustment in the amount of $121,678 to use the funds. The
insurance claim was still pending at that time, but staff requested to move forward because
there was an estimated 27-week lead time for delivery of the playground equipment.
The play structure was successfully installed at Howes Play Lot.
DISCUSSION:
The insurance claim that staff submitted was approved and the reimbursement amount
received was $137,293.98, which is $15,615.98 more than the anticipated amount that staff
had reported in the August 15, 2023 staff report.
Staff is requesting that Council authorize an additional revenue and expenditure budget
adjustment to recognize the excess insurance reimbursement of $15,615.98, which will allow
staff to utilize those funds before the end of the fiscal year to pay for additional repairs at
Howes Play Lot.
CONCLUSION:
Authorize revenue and expenditure budget adjustments in the amount of $15,615.98 to
recognize excess insurance reimbursement for damage to Howes Play Lot structure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the revenue and expenditure budget adjustments in the amount of $15,615.98 will
be in the Operating Budget for program 5301 (Parks) for additional repairs at Howes Play Lot.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.