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item_i.addendum.lg_thrives_presentation 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 406-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov TOWN OF LOS GATOS COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: 11/19/2024 ITEM NO: i ADDENDUM DATE: November 18, 2024 TO: Mayor and Town Council FROM: Chris Constantin, Town Manager SUBJECT: Los Gatos Thrives Presentation REMARKS: Attachment 1 contains public comment. Attachments Received with this Addendum: 1. Public comment From:Tom Picraux To:Council Cc:Town Manager; Katy Nomura Subject:Report - LG Thrives Community Center presentation Date:Saturday, November 16, 2024 10:21:27 AM Attachments:LG Community Center Report Draft_main only_11.15.2024.docx [EXTERNAL SENDER] Dear Mayor Badame and Council member Hudes, Moore, Rennie, and Ristow, Attached is a draft community needs report for LG Community Center Planning by LG Thrives Foundation. This report provides background for our presentation at the Nov. 19 Council meeting. Theappendix to the report is being sent in a separate email due to size. Sincerely, Tom Picraux Tom Picraux, president Los Gatos Thrives Foundation www.LosGatosThrives.org www.LGCommunityCenter.org LosGatosThrives@gmail.com ATTACHMENT 1 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 1 PRELIMINARY DRAFT Los Gatos Community Center Planning Community Needs Assessment Community Center Project Los Gatos Thrives Foundation LGCommunityCenter.org Community Center Committee Alan Feinberg (chair), Tony Alarcon, Jeff Blum, Skip Brewster, Bob Buxton, Susan Buxton, Barney Davidge, Sandy Decker, Tishrona Godfrey, Matthew Hudes, Tim Lundell, Adilene Morena, Tom Picraux, Ryan Rosenberg, Barbara Spector, Tylor Taylor Additional Support Notable additional support received from the community included Teri Hope, Ginger McDonald and Rob Moore. November 15, 2024 Los Gatos Thrives Foundation Our mission is to make Los Gatos an age-friendly community where everyone thrives. Los Gatos Thrives is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. LosGatosThrives.org LGCommunityCenter.org PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 1. Introduction 4 2. Why have a Community Center 5 3. Learning from Neighboring Community Centers 6 4. Community Survey 7 5. Community Workshops 9 6. Community Needs Priorities 11 7. Rooms and Spaces 13 8. Inventory of Existing Community Spaces and Uses 15 9. Town Commission and Council Reviews 17 10. Next Steps 18 11. Summary 20 Appendices: A) National Trends 21 B) Neighboring Community Centers Fact Sheets 23 C) Community Center Needs Survey Analysis 26 D) Community Center Dreaming Workshop Agenda 33 E) Community Needs Priority Analysis 34 F) Rooms and Spaces Detailed Considerations 36 G) Inventory of Rental Spaces in Los Gatos 38 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 3 H) Interim Community Center Needs Introduction 39 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 4 Executive summary This Community Needs Assessment is the first phase of a project by the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation. The project is being carried out in support of Los Gatos residents’ objective to create an Intergenerational Community Center. Unlike neighboring cities and towns who’ve found that a well-designed well-run community center is an essential town asset, Los Gatos is lacking a center. A modern community center facility serves as a central hub to bring the community together. While we have individuals, clubs, groups and organizations that contribute much the town, a state- of-the-art community center and the spaces and functions it provides would provide a new synergy to unlock even greater potential for our town. It is recognized that the town does not have sufficient resources to fund a community center on its own and that additional resources must be found for this objective. This report documents our Foundation’s study to learn what Los Gatos residents have said they want in a new community center. To learn about their needs, our Foundation has taken a four-pronged approach over this year: 1. SITE VISITS: We visited six new or recently refurbished community centers and three teen centers in nearby cities to learn what capabilities they have, what their most valuable community spaces are, and what experience they’ve had in creating and operating their respective centers. 2. SURVEY: We conducted a detailed survey to learn what Los Gatos community members would like to see in a center. We received responses from over 600 households, representing over 1800 citizens in town 3. FOCUS-GROUP WORKSHOPS: We held two community workshops with ~100 attendees each to discuss what we learned from other centers and from our survey. Focus- groups were used to further understand community priorities for Los Gatos. We also held a separate teen focus group to determine their needs and interests. Our objective was to gain individual first-hand perspectives on the “must have”, “nice to have”, and “not needed” spaces and functions. 4. FEEDBACK: We presented initial plans to both the Town Council and the Los Gatos Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC) in April, as well as an interim report to CHSSC in August and a draft report to Town Council in November, to obtain feedback and incorporate their perspectives. This report describes our findings of the community’s priorities for a center and an analysis of the rooms, functions, and space that result from those priorities. In addition, it summarizes the overall characteristics and requirements desired for a community center for Los Gatos. Based on the information gathered in site visits, surveys, focus groups, CHSSC feedback, and a review by the Los Gatos Town Council, a draft community design concept plan will be PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 5 completed by the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation in December 2024 for further consideration by town leaders. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 6 1. Introduction The creation of a new intergenerational community center for Los Gatos is a goal of the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation. The origins of our nonprofit foundation and its objective of creating a community center grows out of an earlier study by the Town’s Senior Services Committee (SSC). That Committee provided a Senior Services Roadmap, which was unanimously endorsed by the Town Council in February 2023 (https://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32737/Attachment-1---Senior-Services-Roadmap-Report). The first of the seven goals in the SSC Roadmap is the creation of a Los Gatos community center. Subsequently the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to support older adult programs in Los Gatos with a major goal of creating a new intergenerational community center. The purpose of this report is to document a study conducted during 2024 to learn what Los Gatos community members have said they need in a new community center and to develop a plan for a community center based on this learning. This study has been carried out by the Community Center Committee of the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation in partnership with community leaders and representatives from the Town Council, the Community Health and Senior Services Commission and other engaged town citizens and service provider stakeholders. Los Gatos Thrives recognizes it is essential that new developments maintain our key historic asset— its small-town character as a charming community where all ages thrive. Further, a new center must be designed with modern sustainability and energy efficiency considerations and be a place in which the community will be proud, and which will serve the community far into the future. Thus, it is essential in planning for a center that the first step be on understanding the needs and wishes of our local community members, i.e., what will best serve Los Gatos. To understand community needs our team has taken a four-pronged approach. First, we visited six new or recently refurbished community centers and three teen centers in nearby cities to learn: a) what capabilities they have included, b) their most valuable community spaces, and c) their experience in operating their centers. Second, we conducted a detailed survey of over 600 residents to learn what Los Gatos community members would like to see in a center. Third, we held two community workshops, each with ~100 attendees, to discuss in a focus-session format learning from other centers and our survey, and to gain first-hand perspectives on community member views on the needs of a community center for Los Gatos—the “must haves”, “nice to have”, and “not needed” spaces and functions. We also held a focus group with local teens. Fourth, we have maintained communication with the Town Council and the Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC) in presentations of our plans in April 2024, an interim report to the CHSSC in August and a presentation to the Town Council in November for further recommendations and feedback. In this report we provide a perspective on why a community center is needed for Los Gatos, learning from neighboring city community centers, an analysis of community needs priorities based on our community survey, community workshop, and discussions with PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 7 community leaders, service providers, and the CHSSC. We conclude with next steps for creating a Los Gatos Intergenerational Community Center. 2. Why have a Community Center Many towns in the bay area have a community center - but not Los Gatos. Why should Los Gatos have a community center? From our visits to neighboring cities such as Los Altos, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Morgan Hill, and Mountain View we discovered a good community center is an essential part of other towns. Every center visited was different to meets the needs of that town and we gained special understanding from each one we visited. But one thing was clear: an intergenerational community center serves to enhance existing activities and services and adds missing ones. A community center unlocks the potential of a town. Los Gatos has engaged citizens, clubs, groups and organizations that do a lot and would like to do much more, but there is something holding them back: a lack of facilities. This lack of facilities impacts all ages and groups in town: individuals and families, teens and seniors, civic groups and non-profit service providers. A center also provides a way to bring senior services to a larger group. The critical mass provided by the larger scale of a community center together with the intergenerational opportunities provides an inflection point for senior services. But to achieve this scale, one needs to serve all generations. Here are some considerations: • Space. Having great spaces for people and organizations to meet, hold classes, events, and social programs, can expand the number (and quality) of activities in our town. • Research shows community centers strengthen social connections, reduce isolation, and improve the health and well-being among those who participate. That’s not just our idea, it’s based on national studies. • Centers are a long-term town asset that can benefit multiple generations. If you build a great park, 100 years from now the community will still be using it. A community center will evolve with time but decades from now it will still be serving the community. • Community centers serve to bring the community together. We have many great activities in Los Gatos that serve to bring the community together—like Jazz on the Plazz, the Christmas Parade, Wine Walks, and so on. A well-designed center will enable activities that bring together community members of all ages. Los Gatos needs a well-designed, well-run center targeted to meet the specific needs of our community. That’s why our initial work has focused on gathering community ideas and requirements. What does Los Gatos need? One may think of a center as a hub for all stakeholders in our Town. It should represent the needs of the community and could have spaces for the PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 8 activities, programs and events for individuals and families of all ages, including a teen area and a dedicated space for seniors. It should benefit local and regional organizations including nonprofits, service clubs, and charities. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 9 3. Learning From Neighboring Community Centers The Foundation’s Community Center Committee visited six community centers in neighboring cities to learn from their experiences in creating and using a community center. The centers were selected based on having recently been built or refurbished, as well as recommendations received on the quality of their programs and facilities. In each case the committee was given a tour of the center by those people operating the facility and those who also had experience in the construction or renovation process. They presented extensive information on their operations, including the spaces and functions covered, what worked best, and what could be improved. Benefit of visits was more than seeing the spaces and functions. Valuable information was learned about different models for the role of cities and nonprofits in creating, financing, operating and governing oversight of community centers. For our Community Center Dreaming Workshop we selected the four centers visited that provided the most relevant information. These centers were the Los Altos Community Center, Mountain View Community and Senior Centers, the Morgan Hill Centennial Recreation Center, and Palo Alto’s Avenidas Center, a senior center (see Figures 1-4). Major features of centers visited included: • Large lobby with information center • Public gathering spaces with comfortable seating • Moveable window walls • Landscaped outdoor patio • Outdoor recreation options, including bocce ball and pickle ball courts • Adult day care and wellness • Generator for emergency preparedness • Security system with remote time-controlled keypad access • On-site cafe Amenities for the spaces to facilitate their functions included: • Configurable, multi-purpose activity rooms • Dedicated meeting rooms of various sizes (with whiteboards, etc.) • Counter space with ample storage cabinets and sink in meeting rooms • Banquet hall with catering kitchen • Large theater (with stage) • Lounge with comfortable seating Figure 1 Los Altos Community Center Figure 2 Morgan Hill Community Center Figure 3 Mountain View Community Center PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 10 • Specific rooms for seniors, teens, pre-school, arts & crafts, computers • Activity room with cushioned, low-impact wood floor for exercise/dancing • Reading room with fireplace • Game room with ping-pong and pool tables • Dance room with mirrored walls • Fitness center with gym equipment Built-in technology included: • Wi-fi throughout the facility • Flat screen TVs with hook-ups • Sound systems • Assisted listening devices • Specific equipment for Zoom/hybrid meetings • Build-in screen and projectors for multipurpose rooms Important additional considerations included: • Conference room for staff meetings • Staff offices with space for expansion • Plenty of storage build into rooms • Parking, including EV charging stations • Location Information for each of the four highlighted centers was gathered into fact sheets for use in the Community Center Dreaming Workshop. Focus sessions for each of the centers was then used in breakout groups to learn what community members liked most. These fact sheets are given in Appendix B. Teen Centers: In addition, we conducted site visits to the San Jose Youth Wellness Center, the Mountain View Teen Center, and the Los Altos Teen Area (a space within the Los Altos Community center). We also interviewed individuals who were involved with the former Los Gatos Teen center (which closed in 2018). 4. Community Survey To determine community needs in a center a survey was conducted targeting town residents (the survey was intended to compliment a workshop to gather additional understanding of community needs that was held on held on June 20, 2024). Towns around the country (and in the bay area) have conducted surveys as part of their community center development process; questions posed are often similar. We analyzed many surveys Figure 4 Palo Alto Avenidas Figure 5 Community Center Needs Survey Outreach Characteristics PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 11 and used the most common questions as our starting point. We then added questions of local interest. The survey was opened on May 4, 2024, and closed on June 23, 2024. Outreach was through multiple Los Gatos channels, including Los Gatos school groups, service clubs, older adult lists, the 55 Plus senior recreation program, postings, flyers and cards distribution, and other outlets. Approximately 10,000 emails were sent as part of the outreach effort. A summary of the survey respondents and demographics is given in Figures 5 and 6. We received 620 responses with 92% living in Los Gatos. The average household size was 3.1 with respondents representing a total of 1,900 people, a significant sampling of Los Gatos residents for a town with a population of only 30,000. As shown in Figure 6 the respondents age distribution closely matched that of the US Census 2020 results for Los Gatos, indicating a good sampling of the different age groups within the town. A detailed analysis of the Community Center Needs Survey including the questions asked and answers given is included in Appendix C. Respondents could indicate the level of importance of typical center spaces results were analyzed according to ranking of very important or important spaces, very important spaces by age group, comparisons between ages, and other spaces not mentioned. The top 10 spaces among all respondents were: 1. Outdoor patio seating and meeting area (82%) 2. Large community room (79%) 3. Performance space (77%) 4. Small / medium meeting and event rooms (76%) 5. Room for fitness classes (73%) 6. Teen center room (72%) 7. Full-service kitchen (71%) 8. Outdoor sports courts (70%) 9. Large lecture hall and presentation space (69%) 10. Spaces for community groups & non-profit services (69%) Overall highlights of the survey are: • Many people responded — our residents are clearly interested in this topic. • Respondent ages closely aligned with overall Los Gatos demographics. • There were clear priorities among the options presented. • Most priorities were the same among age groups but there were a few key differences between school age families (age 19-59) and older respondents. Figure 6 Respondents age distribution vs. population. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 12 • Options presented covered most things people had in mind. When asked for additional ideas, answers were scattered, but three additional uses did emerge. • Clubs and organizations are likely to use the center — 43% of respondents said they were a member of a local club or organization that might use a new center. • Parking matters, driving is how most people expect to get to the center. • 76% of respondents see a need for a new community center (only 4% saw no need and the other 20% were unsure). PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 13 Younger generation supplemental survey One demographic where our survey results were more limited was for the younger ages of 1 – 20 years old. Since including a teen room in a community center was in the top ten responses of needed spaces, we wanted to reach out to Los Gatos teens to learn directly what they would want in a center. A focus group session of about a dozen high school aged teens was held in August 2024 to add additional insights and better understand the special needs and perspectives of the Los Gatos teen community.1 The focus group learning was followed by visits and interviews with three other community teen spaces to learn what worked best to meet teen needs and engage their interests. The other centers included the Mountain View “View Teen Center”, the San Jose Downtown Youth Wellness Center, and the Los Altos teen room. Those running the teen programs emphasized the importance of the availability of a wide variety of activities, strong program leadership, and providing teens a say in the teen area design. 5. Community Workshops To gain more in-depth understanding of community perspectives, needs, and future uses of a community center two community workshops were held. There was an attendance of about 100 individuals for each event with a resulting 170 unique attendee-provided inputs. The first workshop, Los Gatos Community Center Dreaming, was held on June 20, 2024, 5 - 8 pm at the Masonic Hall. The interest in this Workshop was extremely strong with the tickets capped at 106 registrants and over 80 community members participating in all the workshop focus sessions to gain a more detailed understanding of what a community center could offer and to express their opinions on what is needed for Los Gatos. The Workshop used an interactive format with community leaders leading six focus groups, as shown in the agenda in Appendix D. The current trend of many communities having built community centers was presented first together with the ways centers support and enrich the community. Then the learning from the visits of Los Gatos Thrives members to 4 recently build or renovated community centers in the neighboring cities of Los Altos, Mountain View, Morgan Hill, and Palo Alto was reviewed. Focus group discussions were held after each center’s key features were presented and fact sheets (shown in Appendix B) were handed out. The input on what was considered most important for Los Gatos was recorded on flip charts and then reported out to the larger group with the moderator consolidating the overall views of the “must haves” and “not needed” for Los Gatos. The results of the community center needs survey were presented next, and the center spaces and functions of most interest discussed. This presentation was followed by the six break-out focus sections each discussing what they felt were the most important needs in a community center for Los Gatos. The results we captured on flip charts and consolidated by the moderator and the overall priorities were discussed with the entire group. The discussion provided a better understanding of community views on the “must haves”, “nice 1 We gratefully acknowledge Kylie Clark and Erica Weinstein for planning, organizing, and running the focus group as well as analyzing the results. We also thank the teens who participated in the focus session and subsequent community workshop. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 14 to haves”, and “not needed” spaces and functions of a center. The Workshop then concluded with a presentation of the next steps planned by the Los Gatos Thrives to document the community center needs assessment and to move forward with a community-lead effort for creating a community center for Los Gatos. Much valuable information was obtained from the Workshop and there was good consistency with the survey results. Some of the key higher-level perspectives gained from the Workshop include a desire for: • Welcoming and attractive design • Lobby that draws people in • Lots of natural light • Used as emergency center (generator, etc.) • Accessible • Adequate parking • AV/computer capabilities (where appropriate) • Devices for hearing impaired (in appropriate rooms) Figure 7 Community Workshop on October 14 at Masonic Hall The second workshop, Los Gatos Community Center Design, was held on October 14, 2024, from 5 to 7 pm at the Masonic Hall (Fig. 7). The workshop provided the opportunity to present the learning from the previous survey and workshop on the resulting center priorities and functions, as well as an analysis of the center spaces required to meet these priorities. Moderated discussion of the priories and spaces provided additional insight into the community needs. Some additional points were: • Recommend that spaces be integrated across the generations • Floor plans should allow for people to move around to encourage collaboration • Need both dedicated spaces and overlapping spaces that everyone can use • Preserve some dedicated space for teens and older adults to be with their peers • Ensure security so that everyone feels it's a safe and welcoming environment. • Include emergency response and cooling center capabilities: Two representatives from Noll & Tam Architects, the firm that designed the Los Gatos Library, provide additional insight into the process of creating a new community center. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 15 They noted that much of the work required to begin an architectural conceptual design for a community center has already been completed by Los Gatos Thrives Foundation in collaboration with the Los Gatos community and noted this work is usually done by outside consultants. In the second part of the Oct. 14th workshop was devoted to the discussion of pros and cons of four different types of sites for a community center: • Civic center • Downtown • Stand-alone elsewhere • Distributed activity locations Six small-group discussions were held on each site and the results reported out to a moderator to reach consensus. The civic center and stand-alone elsewhere sites came out as top priorities. A civic center site has the advantage of being near other town services, the high school and downtown, while a stand-alone site away from downtown could provide easier access with more space for rooms and outdoor recreation. 6. Community Needs Priorities Following the first workshop and survey, a team of community leaders met to process the results and develop an analysis of priority spaces and functions focused on Los Gatos needs. Their analysis process was based on a review of the community center survey, the Community Center Dreaming Workshop, the site visits to other centers, and the experience of the priority needs team. The resulting Community Center Priorities report is given in Appendix E and those results are summarized here. The initial prioritized list of spaces shown in Figure 8 was developed in terms of the “must have”, “nice to have” and “not needed” categories. The spaces which could be more expensive or difficult to maintain include a performance space, full-service kitchen, arts & crafts studio, computer & tech center, childcare space, snack bar/café, rock climbing wall and pool. The extent to which these spaces can be included in a future center will depend on the size of the site acquired for locating the center and the funding which can be raised. Some spaces may be incorporated with others by efficient multi-use approaches and others might be allowed for in a design as future additions. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 16 After analysis, feedback, and adjustments a final set of priority rooms and uses was identified as shown in Figure 9. The rooms provide for multiuse and overlapping uses such that visualizing the complete set provides addition insight on the interactions of center functions. Two large multipurpose rooms or a large one with an easily slidable divider were the most heavily used spaces in all centers visited as well as of high priority in Los Gatans’ responses. Such rooms provided the ability to hold presentations and lectures, hold regional workshops, host celebrations with seated meals, and hold service club events. Special features include audio and projected capabilities and an adjacent full or catering kitchen. Small and medium sized multipurpose rooms were also priority spaces for use as classes, smaller group meetings, service providers use, clubs, etc., with at least some needing remote video meeting capability. Figure 8 Initial prioritized list of spaces. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 17 Figure 9 Priority rooms and uses The dedicated rooms would meet special use requirements. Examples include a fitness/dance room, game room, older adult room, and teen room. Also required would be a room for staff office space and a maintenance/storage room. Other areas that would be nice to have include a snack bar or café, pre-school/childcare room, arts and crafts room, game room, and dedicated computer/tech space. However, some of these functions might be combined with small/medium multipurpose rooms. An area that could be used as a performance space and music/band practice is desirable, however it should have temporary seating and not permanent theatre seating to allow for multiple uses. Outdoor spaces for patios adjacent to multipurpose rooms and for meetings, performances, and events are important features. Also, there should be outdoor spaces for sports courts to the extent the site allows. A critical feature for an inviting center is a spacious lobby with living room style seating, high ceilings, large windows, and natural accents with wood and plants where people can socialize, read, play games, or just relax and hang out. This area would also contain a welcome desk where volunteers would answer questions about town needs and requirements, reserving space, upcoming activities and events, and opportunities to volunteer. A notable aspect of other modern centers visited was the extensive use of windows to provide lots of natural lighting and generous patio spaces outside most rooms large doors or sliding glass walls. These features gave a spacious feel and sense of connection to nature. Additional features such easy-to-maintain planters for green plants in the lobby area and ample use of wood features can also give a feeling of connecting with nature and could help support a design respecting the small town feel of Los Gatos. Other requirements for space, room features, and general design considerations are summarized in Figure 10. Amply parking space is needed in addition to the interior space. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 18 Adequate accessibility for people needing special accommodation must be included throughout the facility. Quiet nooks and sitting areas with comfortable seating are needed for people to have conversations and read. Storage cabinets in most rooms are very important to support multiple setups and use with minimal effort and clutter. Experience at other centers indicates that many rooms need to have sinks. Audio-visual capabilities with large screen monitors are needed in multipurpose rooms and wi-fi should be available throughout the facility. Devices for hearing impaired should also be available. The facility should be designed to serve as a community emergency center when needed with space provided for an emergency generator as budgets permit. 7. Rooms and Spaces The next step for the community center plan is to determine the space that would be required by these community needs priorities. To meet this requirement a team from the Community Center Committee together with our SJSU urban planning interns conducted an analysis of the space required for the priorities described in Fig. 9. The first step of the analysis was to develop a spreadsheet of needed space based on our learning from community workshops and surveys, the room sizes at neighboring centers, and surveying the typical size of the multipurpose and dedicated rooms and spaces in centers nationally. With this draft analysis of spaces needed, our team checked back with our contacts at several neighboring community centers to seek feedback. Based on their experience where should they have allocated more (or less) space for different functions and what spaces were most heavily used. During this time, we also extended our studies of teen centers (Mountain View, San Jose, and Los Altos) to better understand their learning for successful teen programs. Finally, we sought feedback from existing community services being provided by stakeholders Los Gatos, such as Los Gatos Saratoga Recreation and their 55 Plus program, and made further Figure 10 Other requirement for a community center PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 19 refinements in the space allocations for the functions most relevant to Los Gatos. The result of this analysis of rooms and uses is shown in Figs. 11a and 11b. The analysis of the space required for priority rooms and uses enable the size of a new community center to be estimated. The spaces in Fig. 11 are given in units of square feet and categorized by • Multipurpose spaces • Dedicated spaces requiring customized fittings • Dedicated spaces with multipurpose design • Outdoor spaces • Nice to have spaces, and • Parking. To allow for walls, halls, etc., the interior space is multiplied the factor 1.3 in these estimates. A total building footprint of about 29,000 sq. ft. results from the priority space analysis, with a similar amount of outdoor space (about 25,500 sq. ft.) to provide adjacent-to- rooms patios, performance and meeting space, and two half basketball courts and two bocce ball courts. An important result of this space analysis is that it enables an assessment of what different functions in a center require and an ability to understand how prioritization of various spaces and uses affect requirements in terms of funding and site location. Figure 11a Rooms and Spaces - Part 1 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 20 Figure 11b Rooms and Spaces - Part 2 8. Inventory of Existing Community Spaces and Uses In planning for a new community center, it is helpful to access current activities in Los Gatos that are often found in centers. Figure 12 provides a summary of these functions, spaces and locations for various organizations in Los Gatos. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 21 Figure 12 Inventory of space used by existing services The largest of these entities is the Los Gatos Saratoga Community Education and Recreation organization (LGS Rec), which occupies two town buildings in the civic center area comprising about 9400 sq. ft. of space. LGS Rec is a joint powers agency of the Los Gatos and Saratoga school boards, and they provide recreational programs for youth, adults, and seniors in Los Gatos. The senior program is known as 55 Plus Program and is operated as an agreement with the Town Council. This membership program has grown from about 200 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 22 members pre-pandemic to over 900 members currently. Many nonprofit providers come to the facilities at 208 E. Main as part of the 55 Plus Program to offer supportive services and training and examples of these are shown in section 4 of Fig. 11. The Los Gatos Library also provides a wide range of educational activities for the community and have a couple spaces which can be reserved as listed in section 5. Other major nonprofit community service programs include the Live Oak Senior Nutrition & Service Center that provides approximately 90 reduced-cost meals/day during weekdays with major support Santa Clara County. Their volunteers also collect food from local groceries that has reached the expiration date for distribution and support healthy living events for their clients. Another organization, the Los Gatos Live Oak Adult Day Services, provides weekday quality structured day program to enhance the lives of frail seniors and those with dementia to provide respite for their caregivers. This nonprofit has sites in several cities in the Santa Clara County and provides services on a sliding scale. Currently it has about 20 clients. The Town Council has recently set aside some resources to provide shared space in the town’s 208 East Main St. building in what is now being called an Interim Center for other nonprofit service providers to allow them to better meet or increase services in Los Gatos and these are listed in section 2. Los Gatos has a very active set of service clubs that organize many town community events as well as provide significant support to local nonprofit organizations (see section 3). There are many other nonprofit organizations, as well as sports and community clubs, not listed here that provide significant enrichment to the Los Gatos community. Organizations like Los Gatos Music & Arts, Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Foundation, Jewish Family Services, the History Club, the New Museum Los Gatos, and many, many more provide services and support that greatly enhance the quality of life in Los Gatos. In other cities many of these types of organizations and clubs benefit from the use of space in community centers for selected events and meetings. We anticipate that a community center would be of significant benefit to these community services. Another aspect to accessing the current spaces and uses in Los Gatos is an inventory of spaces available to rent by local organizations and individuals. Appendix G provides a table listing examples of rental spaces available in Los Gatos for such groups and individuals for hosting events. A community center could expand the available space for local and regional events, many of which might not be currently possible due to space limitations. 9. Town Commission and Council Reviews The Los Gatos Thrives Foundation presented preliminary plans for the study to the Los Gatos Town Council on April 2, 2024, and in more detail to the Los Gatos Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC) on April 25, 2024. After completing the June community workshop, survey and detailed analysis of the results the foundation again met with the CHSSC on August 22, 2024, to provide an Interim Community Center Needs Report for their review and recommendations. This interim report of the learning and PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 23 analysis of community center needs was an important step in partnering with the town in the process of developing plans for a community center. The CHSSC provides an opportunity for valuable input in assessing community needs because of their engagement with the older adult demographic and with service providers that support needs for Los Gatos community members. The CHSSC’s work on community health also provides additional insight in community needs assessment. The pre-read provided to the CHSSC consisted of an introduction (Appendix H), the needs survey analysis (Appendix C) and the needs priorities analyses (Appendix E). The commissioners encouraged Los Gatos Thrives to continue to maintain consistency with the Senior Services Roadmap recommendations (Goal 1: community center) and emphasized issues of for special attention in our planning based on their expertise. The recommendations are being followed. After presentation and commissioner recommendations the CHSSC unanimously passed the following motion: "The CHSSC heard and reviewed the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation's interim progress on its "needs report" for a new Los Gatos Community Center, appreciated the opportunity given to the CHSSC and community to provide input on that report, and encouraged the LGTF to continue its work on finalizing the Los Gatos Community Center's Needs Report." On November 19, 2024, our community center needs results will be presented to the Town Council. This meeting provides an opportunity to inform the council and larger Los Gatos community of our progress and receive their feedback and advice. As part of that presentation this draft report is being provided in advance of the meeting. 10. Next Steps 10.1 Architectural Conceptual Design This draft community needs assessment for an intergenerational Los Gatos Community Center will be finalized and issued in December 2024. This report completes the first cycle of Los Gatos community center planning. It provides the input needed by architects to take the next step in creating a preliminary community center conceptual design. Los Gatos Thrives will fund an architect firm to develop such a design concept plan with 3D visual renderings in early 2025. A design concept plan will enable the community to visualize what a community center would entail and is an important step for planning and fundraising efforts. 10.2 Site Selection A Los Gatos Thrives’ site selection team is exploring the availability of properties that would provide a viable site for a community center. The goal is to identify two property sites for consideration by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Preliminary guidance was provided by the community at the October 14th workshop through focused sessions and moderated group discussion. Two general locations were considered as most preferable. A site in the Civic Center area would have the advantages of being close to the library, town offices, high school and downtown, although the space available would likely require a multistory building with underground garage. Alternatively, an appropriate larger site away from the downtown area would have the advantages of easier accessibility during busy traffic times PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 24 and more outdoor space for patios, gatherings, and recreation. The suitability of possible sites would be discussed with the town. 10.3 Partnering with the Town The successful creation of a community center is best achieved by a partnership between the town, community, and project team through the planning, design, development, and operational phases. Sustainability, accessibility, small town look and feel, and energy efficiencies will be important considerations as the plans move forward with architects in a conceptual design phase. Partnering with the community will help ensure the new center is a place in which the community members long into the future will take pride and thrive. Town inclusion of a community center as a strategic priority would be proposed at the time of 2025 town priorities setting in January/February 2025 and would enable this partnering. Preliminary discussions regarding development of financial plans would be coordinated with the town manager. 10.4 Funding Plan A key challenge to achieving a community center will be raising the needed financial resources to build and operate the center. As a next step Los Gatos Thrives will develop a draft funding plan and form a Fundraising and Financing Committee during the first quarter of 2025. It is recognized that the town does not have sufficient resources to fund a community center on its own and that additional resources must be found. Considerations include community fundraising, grant applications, financing mechanisms, as well as seeking partnerships and regional support. In addition, consideration to the continuing resources needed for center operations must be included. Los Gatos Thrives plans to carry out fundraising on a continuing basis and to establish an endowment fund, both of which we observe to be effective strategies used by neighboring communities to help support their centers. 10.5 Ongoing Community Work The ongoing community outreach by Los Gatos Thrives will be expanded from a primary focus on community member needs this first year to the broader community of stakeholders in Los Gatos. We believe engagement with all stakeholders, including town officials, businesses, clubs, charitable groups, service providers and other organizations is essential. Advisory groups will be formed to broaden our understanding of community needs and to facilitate this engagement. Communication, awareness, and participation are essential elements in achieving a Los Gatos community center that serves all stakeholders. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 25 11. Summary To meet the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation’s objective to develop a draft conceptual plan for a new intergenerational community center for Los Gatos by December 2024, the analysis and community needs assessment documented here have been carried out. The Foundation believes it is essential that this center would accurately represent Los Gatos with its small-town character, a charming community where all ages thrive. Thus, an essential first step in planning such a center has been to understand and document the needs and wishes of our local community members and stakeholders in order to best serve all of Los Gatos. Our team has taken a four-pronged approach to understand our community’s needs: 1. We visited six new or recently refurbished community centers in nearby cities to learn what capabilities they have included and what their most valuable community spaces are, as well as to learn from their experience in operating their centers. 2. We conducted a detailed survey from over 600 respondents to learn what Los Gatos community members would like to see in a center. 3. We held two community workshops with ~100 attendees at each to discuss in focus- session formats what we learned from other centers and our community survey, to gain first-hand perspectives on what they viewed as: “must have”, “nice to have” and “not needed” in a community center for Los Gatos and to review our findings and develop this finalized community report. 4. We presented reports on our plans and progress to the Town of Los Gatos on four occasions: twice to the Community Health and Senior Services Commission (April and August 2024) and twice to the Town Council (April and November 2024), and incorporate their recommendations in this report. Based on these steps together with the study and analysis of the results this needs assessment document has been produced. We believe that this comprehensive Community Needs Report accurately reflects the needs and wishes of our community for an intergenerational community center for Los Gatos. From:Tom Picraux To:Council Cc:Town Manager; Katy Nomura Subject:Report APPENDIX - LG Thrives Community Center presentation Date:Saturday, November 16, 2024 10:23:49 AM Attachments:LG Community Center Report Draft_appendix_11.15.2024.docx [EXTERNAL SENDER] Appendix for report. Tom On Nov 16, 2024, at 10:20 AM, Tom Picraux <stpicraux@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Mayor Badame and Council member Hudes, Moore, Rennie, and Ristow, Attached is a draft community needs report for LG Community Center Planningby LG Thrives Foundation. This report provides background for our presentation at the Nov. 19 Council meeting. The appendix to the report is being sent in a separate email due to size. Sincerely,Tom Picraux Tom Picraux, president Los Gatos Thrives Foundation www.LosGatosThrives.org www.LGCommunityCenter.org LosGatosThrives@gmail.com PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 21 Los Gatos Community Center Planning – Appendices A. National Trends Trending Now: The Evolution of Community Centers Across the U.S. Prepared By: Adilene Moreno and Tishrona Godfrey Urban Planning Interns with the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation June 17, 2024 This analysis summarizes major trends in developing community centers in the United States. Nationwide, community centers are now designed with a strong intergenerational focus, aiming to connect and support community members of all ages and diverse demographics. These public venues serve as vital hubs where community members come together to socialize, engage in recreational and educational pursuits, seek counseling, and more. Diverse Uses: Community Centers as Adaptable Multi-functional Spaces Communities increasingly value community centers that serve multiple functions. This approach enhances the center's practicality and broadens its appeal across diverse groups of users. Modern community centers are designed to offer a wide range of activities and services. Many if not all of these activities and services allow different generations to interact and thrive together. • Educational Activities/Programs (Classes, Workshops, Computer Labs) • Recreational Activities/Programs (Games, Entertainment Spaces, Youth + Adult Sports, Dance Classes, Art Classes) • Wellness (Meal Programs, Gym + Fitness areas, Counseling) • Open Green Space (Gardens, Picnic Areas) • Multifunctional Spaces (Rooms, Main Halls, Stages, Commercial Kitchens) • Mentorship Programs • Volunteer Programs • Childcare Example Community Center: Midtown Community Center in Newport News, Virginia, provides facilities for fitness, sports leagues, dance classes, senior activities, and various other programs. Scalable Design: Transforming Community Centers These designs enable communities to start with a core facility and expand as their population grows or as funding becomes available. Example Community Center: Parker Fieldhouse in Parker, Colorado initially built to serve 45,000 residents, includes plans for future expansion to meet growing community needs. • Population increases • Demand for services evolves (New sports courts, expanding fitness areas, new technology, etc.) PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 22 Community Centers: Building Sustainability Through Green Design Many new centers aim for LEED certification or incorporate energy-efficient systems, solar panels, and green roofs. Example Community Center: Quail Hill Community Center incorporates solar panels, LED lighting, and native landscaping, achieving LEED Gold certification. Community Centers and Local Economic Development Community centers have the potential to boost local property values and contribute to the economic vitality of neighborhoods. They provide affordable venues for social events and community gatherings, cementing their importance as essential community hubs. How do community centers get funded? Communities increasingly leverage diverse funding sources, including public-private partnerships, grants, and community fundraising to finance their projects. Example Community Center: The Alamosa Community Center in New Mexico received funding from a blend of local government resources, a state grant, and a significant donation from a local business, totaling $8 million. How do community centers manage operational costs? Many centers incorporate revenue-generating activities such as rental spaces, fitness memberships, and host events. Example Community Center: The Davenport Community Center in Florida generates revenue through its popular event space rentals and a community-run café. Summary Community centers are evolving to integrate advanced technology and digital amenities, such as high-speed internet, digital classrooms, and spaces for virtual meetings and telehealth. Example Community Center: The Northglenn Recreation Center, Senior Center, and Theatre, inaugurated in 2021, is a cutting-edge facility showcasing how technology can be seamlessly integrated into community centers. It functions as a versatile space tailored to address the varied needs of the community. • In addition to technological advancements, community centers are increasingly pivotal in promoting health and wellness. They provide spaces for exercise, health education, and activities that combat social issues like loneliness and youth crime, offering safe environments for social interaction and after-school programs. • Moreover, modern community centers enhance community connectivity and interaction by fostering social connections through diverse services and educational opportunities. They feature inviting common areas, host community events, and offer programs that encourage resident interaction, thereby strengthening community bonds. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 23 • Furthermore, there is a growing emphasis on educational and cultural enrichment within community centers. These facilities often include spaces for classes, workshops, and cultural activities, contributing to lifelong learning opportunities and enriching the local community. B. Neighboring Community Centers Fact Sheets PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 24 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 25 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 26 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 27 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 28 C. Community Center Needs Survey Analysis PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 29 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 30 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 31 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 32 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 33 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 34 D. Community Workshop Agenda Community Center Dreaming Workshop 5:00 – 8:00 pm, June 20, 2024, Masonic Hall Agenda • Welcome, Overview, and Introductions – Tom Picraux • “Why Do We need a Community Center” – Tom Picraux • Learning From Visits to Neighboring Community Centers – Alan Feinberg Los Altos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Morgan Hill - Slide presentation and small group discussion • Consolidated Discussion of Other Centers - Tylor Taylor “What are your ‘Likes & Don’t Likes” Break for buffet dinner • Summary of Community Center Survey Results – Ryan Rosenberg • Group Discussion: “Must have / Nice to have / Not needed” - Tylor Taylor PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 35 • Moderator seeks area of agreement/disagreement • Closing and Next Steps – Matthew Hudes & Tom Picraux Wine & Dessert Social E. Community Needs Priorities Analysis PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 36 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 37 F. Rooms and Spaces Detailed Considerations For each of the rooms and spaces in a community center there are special considerations, design features, and layout details that are needed for effective implementation of the functions in those spaces. From our national surveys, visits to other centers, discussions with Los Gatos community members, and stakeholder experiences we learned many valuable points for consideration. In the tables below we present the results of these detailed considerations. While many of these points are familiar to architects, their need often came up in discussions. We believe these considerations provide important understanding and context for people involved in planning for a new community center. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 38 PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 39 G. Community Rental Spaces in Los Gatos The table below provides examples of spaces available in Los Gatos to community groups and individuals to rent for their use in hosting events. A community center could expand the available space and uses for events and possibly support new local and regional events not currently possible due to space limitations. PRELIMINARY DRAFT 11/15/2024 40 H. Interim Community Center Needs Introduction Los Gatos Community Center Community Needs Interim Report to CHSSC Los Gatos Thrives Foundation August 22, 2024 The creation of a new intergenerational Community Center for Los Gatos is a goal of the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation. The purpose of this interim report by the Foundation to the Community Health and Senior Services Commission (CHSSC) is to seek input on our study of what Los Gatos community members have said they need in a community center. We especially seek CHSSC input because the CHSSC engages with the older adult community and provides a venue for assessing the needs of this important demographic as future users of a community center. The Foundation’s study of Los Gatos community needs is being carried out in partnership with community leaders and representatives from the Town Council, the CHSSC and other leaders providing services for the community. The origins of our nonprofit foundation and its objective of creating a Community Center for all ages grows out of an earlier study by the Town’s Senior Services Committee. The Senior Services Committee provided a Senior Services Roadmap which was unanimously endorsed by the Town Council in February 2023 (https://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/32737/Attachment-1---Senior-Services- Roadmap-Report). The first of the seven goals in the Roadmap is the creation of a Los Gatos Community Center for all ages. Subsequently the Los Gatos Thrives Foundation was formed as a 501(c)(3) to support older adult programs in Los Gatos with a major goal of creating a new intergenerational Community Center. The Foundation believes it is essential that new developments in our small town of Los Gatos maintain a key historic asset—that of Los Gatos being a charming community where all ages thrive. Thus, it is essential in planning for a community center that the first step be to understand and document the needs and wishes of our local community members and stakeholders, i.e., to learn what will best serve Los Gatos. To understand community needs our team has taken a three-pronged approach. First, we visited six new or recently refurbished community centers in nearby cities to: a) learn what capabilities they have included, b) what are their most valuable community spaces, and c) to learn from their experience in operating their centers. Second, we conducted a detailed survey from over 600 respondents to learn what Los Gatos community members would like to see in a center. Third, we held a community workshop with ~100 attendees to discuss in a focus-session format what we learned from other centers and our community survey, and to gain first-hand perspectives on what they viewed as: - “must haves”, - “nice to have” and - “not needed” in a community center for Los Gatos. The objective of this Los Gatos Thrives presentation is to inform the CHSSC of the preliminary results of our study and to receive your suggestions for additions and improvements. As additional background in advance of our presentation an analysis of our Community Center Needs Survey and a Community Center Priorities analysis is attached.