Desk Item 2007 Town Council RetreatMEETING DATE: 03-09-07
03-10-07
COUNCIL RETREAT
DESK ITEM
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: MARCH 9, 2007
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: 2007 TOWN COUNCIL RETREAT
Attached is additional background material for the 2007 Town Council Retreat. This material should be
added to Attachment 6.
Attachments:
Downtown Issues
Community Development Department Work Plan Priorities
PREPARED BY: PAMELA S. JACOBS
ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney
Clerk Administrator Finance Community Development
Los Gatos Town Council Retreat —March 10, 2007
Downtown Issues
To assist the Council in their discussion on issues in the Downtown area, staff has compiled the
following information on the applications over the past three years and the composition of uses in
Downtown.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS IN C-2 ZONE-3/04 to 3/07:
• Formula Retail Businesses: 5
• Personal Service Businesses: 8
• New Alcohol -serving Establishments: 3
• Change/Intensification of Alcohol Service: 5
• Entertainment (without alcohol service): 3
• New Restaurants: 0 (does not include Powell's)
• Expansion of Restaurant: 1
USES IN C-2 ZONE:
Ground Floor Uses''y
Use
Number
Percentage
Personal Service
60
19%
Restaurants
53
16%
Office
71
22%
Retail
137
43%
Total
321
There are currently 18 formula retail stores in the C-2 zone. This represents 13% of retail uses in
Downtown. These numbers are based on the current definition of a formula retail business
(seven other locations). The original definition included business with more than one location;
therefore, the percentage of formula retailers was higher.
N:1MGR\PJacobs\Council Retreat107 Retreat downtown activity.doc
Los Gatos Town Council Retreat —March 10, 2007
Community Development Department Work Plan Priorities
As the Council is aware, one of the topics on Saturday's Town Council Retreat is the work plan
priorities for the Community Development Department. CDD maintains a list of projects in
which Council, Planning Commission, or General Plan Committee have authorized or expressed
an interest. To assist in this discussion, the project list has been provided below.
The projects are listed roughly in order of priority from staff's perspective. Project that are
currently in process are shown in red. The estimated timeline for each project is shown in
parenthesis and will vary according to the approved scope of the project.
Policy Development Projects:
1. Residential Design Standards (6 months remaining)
2. Implement Water Resources Protection Collaborative standards (2-3 months remaining)
3. North 40 Specific Plan (12-24 months remaining)
4. Housing Element (2 years)
5. General Plan update (2-3 years)
a. Recreation/Parks Element
6. Evaluate HR Zone and HDS&G provision on slope density and minimum lot size (6
months)
7. Evaluate formula retail ordinance (6 months)
8. Definition of Restaurant (3-6 months)
9. Transfer of Parking Credits (6 months)
10. Entertainment Ordinance (12 months)
11. News rack Ordinance (12 months)
12. Santa Cruz Avenue, North of Highway 9 Strategy (could be combined with General Plan
update) (undefined)
13. Zoning Code amendments w/ policy implications (12-18 months)
14. Tattoo and Body Art regulations (6 months)
Administrative Projects:
1. Purchase of Verizon building (3-4 months)
2. E-Government upgrades to permit system (3 months)
3. County purchase of Town parkland in Vasona Park (2-3 months)
4. Planning Commissioner training program (ongoing)
Town Council Retreat —March 10, 2007
CDD Work Plan Priorities
Page 2
5. Civic Center Master Plan —Parking Study (2 months)
6. Dittos Lane (6-9 months)
7. Affordable housing strategy (undefined)
8. Monitor Community Bus Service (ongoing)
9. Ridership fees for Community Bus System (undefined)
As Council reviews these projects, it should be kept in mind that roughly 95% of CDD staff time,
including management, is spent on non -discretionary matters --primarily planning and building
permit activity, public information, and administrative duties. The Department will need to
retain consultants to assist staff with larger, more complicated projects (such as the General Plan)
and contract planner assistance may be needed to backfill staff time spent on these projects.
An additional, and perhaps larger, concern is the demand for management leadership and
oversight created by these projects. CDD can bolster staff resources through consultants and
contractors; however, it is much more difficult to add management -level resources that will have
knowledge of the Town's values and policies. This is especially true until Bud returns to full-
time status.
C:\Documents and Settings\User\Desktop\cdd projects memo 030707.doc
Los Gatos Town Council Retreat —March 10, 2007
Community Development Department Work Plan Priorities
As the Council is aware, one of the topics on Saturday's Town Council Retreat is the work plan
priorities for the Community Development Department. CDD maintains a list of projects in
which Council, Planning Commission, or General Plan Committee have authorized or expressed
an interest. To assist in this discussion, the project list has been provided below.
The projects are listed roughly in order of priority from staff's perspective. Project that are
currently in process are shown in red. The estimated timeline for each project is shown in
parenthesis and will vary according to the approved scope of the project.
Policy Development Projects:
1. Residential Design Standards (6 months remaining)
2. Implement Water Resources Protection Collaborative standards (2-3 months remaining)
3. North 40 Specific Plan (12-24 months remaining)
4. Housing Element (2 years)
5. General Plan update (2-3 years)
a. Recreation/Parks Element
6. Evaluate HR Zone and HDS&G provision on slope density and minimum lot size (6
months)
7. Evaluate formula retail ordinance (6 months)
8. Definition of Restaurant (3-6 months)
9. Transfer of Parking Credits (6 months)
10. Entertainment Ordinance (12 months)
11. News rack Ordinance (12 months)
12. Santa Cruz Avenue, North of Highway 9 Strategy (could be combined with General Plan
update) (undefined)
13. Zoning Code amendments w/ policy implications (12-18 months)
14. Tattoo and Body Art regulations (6 months)
Administrative Projects:
1. Purchase of Verizon building (3-4 months)
2. E-Government upgrades to permit system (3 months)
3. County purchase of Town parkland in Vasona Park (2-3 months)
4. Planning Commissioner training program (ongoing)