121724
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Minutes of the Town Council Meeting
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
7:00 P.M.
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting in-person and via
teleconference.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:01 P.M. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Matthew Hudes, Vice Mayor Rob Moore, Council Member Mary Badame,
Council Member Rob Rennie, Council Member Maria Ristow.
Absent: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Girl Scouts Sophia, Audrey, and Nishka led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to
participate.
PRESENTATIONS i. AARP provided a Presentation to the Town of Los Gatos on Acceptance into the AARP
Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve Closed Session Minutes of the December 3, 2024 Town Council Meeting.
2. Approve the Minutes of the December 3, 2024 Town Council Meeting.
3. Adopt An Ordinance to Repeal Town Code Sections 6.120.060, 6.120.070, and 6.120.080
(All Electric Construction Requirements). ORDINANCE 2365
Ordinance Title: An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos Repealing
Section 6.120.060, “All Electric Construction Definitions,” Section 6.120.070, “Residential
All Electric Construction,” and Section 6.120.080, “Nonresidential All Electric Construction”
of the Town Code.
4. Adopt an Ordinance Amending Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code
Regarding State Mandated Density Bonuses, Pursuant to Implementation Program R of the
2023-2031 Housing Element. Adoption of this Ordinance is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA,
Section 15061(b)(3) in That It Can be Seen with Certainty That It Will Not Impact the
Environment, Because the Town is Already Subject to Government Code Sections 65915
and Following. Town Code Amendment Application A-24-005. Project Location: Town
Wide. Applicant: Town of Los Gatos. ORDINANCE 2366
Ordinance Title: An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos Amending
Chapter 29, “Zoning,” of the Town Code to Update the Town's Density Bonus Ordinance to
Reflect Changes Made in State Law.
PAGE 2 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
5. Adopt an Ordinance Amending Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code to Add
Low Barrier Navigation Centers as a By-Right Use in Mixed-Use and Nonresidential Zones,
Pursuant to Implementation Program AD of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. Adoption of
this Ordinance is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA, Section 15061(b)(3) in That It Can be Seen with
Certainty That It Will Not Impact the Environment, Because the Town is Already Subject to
Government Code Sections 65660 - 65668. Town Code Amendment Application A-24-006.
Project Location: Town Wide. Applicant: Town of Los Gatos. ORDINANCE 2367
Ordinance Title: An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos to Add
Division 11, “Low Barrier Navigation Centers,” to Article I, “General” of Chapter 29, “Zoning
Regulations,” of the Town Code.
6. Adopt a Replacement Units Ordinance Pursuant to Implementation Program AU of the
2023-2031 Housing Element. Adoption of this Ordinance is Exempt Pursuant to CEQA,
Section 15061(b)(3) in That It Can be Seen with Certainty That It Will Not Impact the
Environment, Because the Town is Already Subject to State Law. Town Code Amendment
Application A-24-007. Project Location: Town Wide. Applicant: Town of Los Gatos.
ORDINANCE 2368
Ordinance Title: An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos Amending
Chapter 29, “Zoning,” of the Town Code, to Add Division 12, “Replacement Housing Units,”
to Article I, “General.”
7. Consider the Following Actions for the Property Location: 653 Blossom Hill Road. APN 529-
65-002. Property Owner: Natalie Ladd. RESOLUTION 2024-053
a. Adopt a Resolution Approving a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Re-Purchase of
an Affordable Housing Unit Subject to an Existing Below Market Price (BMP) First Right
of Refusal Option; and
b. Authorize the Town Manager to Negotiate and Execute all Agreements and Documents
Necessary and Appropriate to Effectuate the Preservation of the Affordable Housing
Unit; and
c. Authorize an Expenditure Budget Adjustment in the Amount of $476,154 from
Available BMP Housing In-Lieu Fee Fund to Purchase, Make Any Necessary Repairs, and
Pay Any Past Due Fees and Taxes of the Property Prior to Resale; and
d. Authorize a Revenue Budget Adjustment in the Amount of $476,154 to Redeposit the
Sales Proceeds to the BMP Fund after Reselling the Unit.
8. Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a Five-Year Agreement for Services with Buringrud
& Reyes Electric Inc. for Maintenance of Downtown Decorative Tree Lighting for a Total
Agreement Amount Not to Exceed $304,425.
9. Adopt a Resolution to Designate the Traffic Seargent or Police Department Staff Member
as Designated by the Chief of Police to the Board of Directors of the Los Gatos-Monte
Sereno Safe Routes to School Organization. RESOLUTION 2024-054
10. Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a Use Agreement with California Farmers’ Markets
Association for Farmers’ Market Operation Services for a Three-Year Term with Two Three-
Year Options to Extend the Term.
11. Adopt Council Committee Appointments Effective January 1, 2025.
PAGE 3 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
12. Approve a Side Letter that Amends the Town Employees Association (TEA) Salary Schedule
to Establish a New Classification Title and Salary Range for Project Analyst I/II.
13. Receive the Monthly Financial and Investment Report for October 2024.
14. Receive Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024,
and Adopt a Resolution Confirming June 30, 2024 Fund Balances in Accordance with Fiscal
Year 2023/24 Final Audit and Town Council General Fund Reserve Policy. RESOLUTION
2024-055
15. Adopt the Town of Los Gatos Community Wildfire Protection Plan (Annex 9 of the
Countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan).
16. Receive a Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 Status Report on Receipt and Use of Development
Impact Fees.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
Carin Yamamoto
- Requested clarification on items 3, 4, 5, and 6, and commented concerns on item 15.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to approve consent items one through sixteen.
Seconded by Vice Mayor Moore.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Michael Kane
- Commented on a newspaper article, Senate Bill 54, a Town Resolution from 2017
(Resolution 2017-024), and on item 22.
Lynley Hogan
- Congratulated Mayor Hudes and commented on America’s 250th anniversary.
Gus Who
- Congratulated Mayor Hudes and Vice Mayor Moore; commented on concerns with policies
and recent events; and acknowledged Council Member Mayor Badame’s service as Mayor.
Tom Picraux, Los Gatos Thrives Foundation President
- Commended the Town for joining the AARP Age-Friendly Network.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
17. Conduct a Public Hearing for Appeal of Administrative Citation VL-19-362 (16660 Cypress
Way) for Violations of the Los Gatos Town Code Related to Grading and Building and Adopt
a Resolution Upholding the Administrative Citation and Imposing Costs According to Proof.
PAGE 4 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney, stated this item has been rescheduled to January 21, 2025.
18. Consider an Appeal of a Planning Commission Decision to Approve an Architecture and Site
Application for Construction of a Single-Family Residence and Site Improvements Requiring
a Grading Permit on Vacant Property Zoned R-1:8. Located at 15411 National Avenue. APN
424-12-140. Architecture and Site Application S-23-033. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15303: New Construction. Property Owners: Vyankatesh and
Ramya Muddada. Applicant: Jose Rama. Appellant: Hellen Martinez. Project Planner: Erin
Walters.
Erin Walters, Senior Planner, presented the staff report.
Christian Urricariet and Hellen Martinez, Appellants
- Provided a presentation for the appeal.
Vyankatesh and Ramya Muddada, Property Owner/Applicant
- Provided a presentation of the proposed project.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
Venicat Vuppunutula
- Commented on concerns with privacy and massing.
Dearath
- Commented on concerns with privacy and massing.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Vyankatesh and Ramya Muddada, Property Owners, and Jose Rama, Applicant
- Provided closing comments and answered Council questions.
Christian Urricariet and Hellen Martinez, Appellants
- Provided closing comments.
Council provided disclosures that each member has visited the site of the proposed project.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Badame To provide direction to staff to prepare a
resolution to grant the appeal and remand the application back to the Planning
Commission with specific direction, that direction being: reduce the square footage
of the residence to an amount not exceeding the largest in the immediate
neighborhood, reduce the square footage of the garage to an amount not to exceed
PAGE 5 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
the largest in the immediate neighborhood, adopt the remaining two
recommendations of the Town architect which is number one and number five
[which is to] provide an under the eave entry in lieu of the proposed stone tower
and provide projecting trim at the second-floor line around all sides of the home.
The neighbors shall mutually agree upon the number, and location, and species of
the privacy trees; work with the neighbors and Town staff to minimize and relocate
windows to mitigate privacy impacts to the neighbors; and use obscure glass to
address privacy at impacted locations. Seconded by Vice Mayor Moore.
Council Member Badame withdrew the motion.
After discussion, the following motion was made:
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Badame to provide direction to staff to prepare a
resolution granting the appeal and remanding the application back to the Planning
Commission with specific direction: reduce second floor massing, the number and
location and species of the privacy trees shall be mutually agreed upon by the
neighbors, work with the neighbors and Town staff to minimize and relocate
windows to mitigate privacy impacts to the neighbors, and use of obscured glass to
address privacy at impacted locations. Include the findings as just stated [the
decision was not supported by substantial evidence in the record, the residential
design guidelines were not met, staff’s recommendation of denial, and
Commissioner Barnett’s quoting of section 2.1 of the residential design guidelines].
Seconded by Vice Mayor Moore.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-1. Council Member Ristow voted no.
Mayor Hudes called a recess at 9:22 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 9:34 p.m.
OTHER BUSINESS
19. Introduce an Ordinance Amending Section 06.20.020 (Buildings and Building Regulations)
to Add the Definition of Qualifying Alterations; and Consider Introducing an Ordinance
Establishing Air Quality and NOx Emissions Regulations.
Ordinance Titles: An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos Adding a
Section 06.20.020, “Qualifying Alterations,” to Article II, “Administration Of Codes,” of
Chapter 6, “Buildings And Building Regulations,” of the Town Code to Add a Definition for
“Qualifying Alterations”; and An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos
Adding Article V, “Air Quality” to Chapter 13, “Health and Safety” of the Town Code to
Establish Air Quality and NOx Emissions Regulations, and Amending Section 29.20.720,
“Administration And Enforcement” to Add the Implementation of the Air Quality
Ordinance, and Amending Section 29.20.720 to Add Implementation to Duties of the
Building Official.
PAGE 6 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney, presented the staff report.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to introduce an ordinance amending section
06.20.020 (Buildings and Building Regulations) to add the definition of qualifying
alterations in Attachment 1. Seconded by Council Member Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
After discussion, the following motion was made:
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Rennie to continue this item and look at what other
cities are doing. Seconded by Council Member Ristow.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
20. Discuss Options for a New Annual Town Event for Fall 2025 and Provide Direction.
Monica Renn, Economic Vitality Manager, presented the staff report.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Council discussed the item and provided direction to staff to return to the Council with a
breakdown of staff resources for the different events; look at a scale of both Sunday and
Saturday as options; options for an event at Town Plaza Park alongside the Farmer’s Market
and as a standalone event, options to include the costs of staff time, road closures, and non-
road closures; provide a better estimate on the number of attendees.
21. Approve a Third Amendment to the Employment Agreement Between the Town of Los
Gatos and the Town Attorney and Authorize the Mayor to Execute the Amendment;
Modify the Management Salary Schedule; and Authorize a Budget Adjustment in the
Amount of $22,017.61 from Available General Fund Capital/Special Projects Reserve.
PAGE 7 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
Cheryl Parkman, Human Resources Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Badame to approve a Third Amendment to the
Employment Agreement between the Town of Los Gatos and the Town Attorney and
authorize the Mayor to execute the amendment; modify the Management Salary
Schedule; and authorize a budget adjustment in the amount of $22,017.61 from
available General Fund Capital/Special Projects Reserve. Seconded by Vice Mayor
Moore.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
22. Approve the Proposed Modifications to Town Council Policy 2-11 “Commission
Appointments, Residency, and Attendance Requirements, and Establishing a Quorum” as
Recommended by the Council Policy Committee. POLICY 2-11
Wendy Wood, Town Clerk, presented the staff report.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Moore to approve the proposed modifications to Town
Council Policy 2-11 “Commission Appointments, Residency, and Attendance
Requirements, and Establishing a Quorum” as recommended by the Council Policy
Committee with the amendment of striking immediate family and the definition of
immediate family, and replacing it with family member or loved one. Seconded by
Council Member Rennie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 8 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
COUNCIL/TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
Council Matters
- Council Member Rennie stated he attended a Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board
meeting; met with John Callen from El Camino Hospital District; attended the Los Gatos in
Lights event, the Children’s Holiday/Christmas Parade, the Santa Clara County Cities
Association Holiday Gathering; met with incoming Saratoga Mayor; attended a Finance
Commission meeting, a Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCEA) Holiday Mixer and
Panel Discussion, a SVCEA Board meeting; and met with a prospective Planning
Commissioner.
- Vice Mayor Moore stated he attended the Los Gatos in Lights event, the Children’s
Holiday/Christmas Parade, the Santa Clara County Cities Association Holiday event; held his
monthly Council Member Community Coffee; attended the swearing-in of new
Assemblymember Patric Ahrens, a West Valley Sanitation District Board meeting and
Holiday Luncheon; met with community members, John Callen from El Camino Hospital
District, a Los Gatos student, and a business owner.
- Council Member Ristow stated she attended the Tomorrow’s City/County Manager Forum,
the Los Gatos in Lights event, the Children’s Holiday/Christmas Parade, the Santa Clara
County Cities Association Holiday event; attended a Wreaths Across America event; met
with residents and Council Members form Saratoga, Monte Sereno, and Cupertino.
- Council Member Badame stated she attended the West Valley Mayors and Managers
monthly meeting; met with the Executive Director of the West Valley Solid Waste
Management Authority, the Town Manager and Parks and Public Works Director Nicolle
Burnham; participated in a Ribbon Cutting for the 25th Anniversary of the Spa of Los Gatos, a
Ribbon Cutting for La Vie MD Med Spa; participated in the Los Gatos in Lights event,
Children’s Christmas Parade; met with John Callen from El Camino Hospital District;
attended a Ribbon Cutting for Santa’s Workshop.
- Mayor Hudes stated he participated in all of the holiday events that were mentioned, a
Finance Commission meeting, a Ribbon Cutting at Santa’s Workshop; observed the
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission meeting; attended a Wreaths Across
America event; met with Assembly Member Gail Pellerin; commented on Commission
appointments.
Town Manager Matters
- Announced the season of events has been completed; commended staff, volunteers, and
partners for the Los Gatos in Lights and Christmas/Holiday Parade.
- Announced Town Administrative Offices will be closed from December 24 – January 1.
- Announced the Library will be closed December 23-25, December 30- January 1.
- Announced Police and Emergency Response will be operating 24 hours a day.
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney, stated the Town Council met in closed session to discuss an
appointee performance evaluation and anticipated litigation and there is no reportable action.
The appointee performance evaluation will be continued to a date uncertain in January.
PAGE 9 OF 9 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of December 17, 2024 DATE: December 17, 2024
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 11:14 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
_____________________________________
Jenna De Long, Deputy Town Clerk