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M 06-12-95TOWN OF LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA TOWN COUNCIL/PARKING AUTHORITY June 12, 1995 Minutes TOWN COUNCIL The Town Council/Parking Authority of the Town of Los Gatos met in the Council Chambers of the Town Hall, 110 East Main Street, at 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 12, 1995, in regular session. ROLL CALL Present:Randy Attaway, Joanne Benjamin, Steven Blanton, Linda Lubeck and Mayor Patrick O'Laughlin. Absent:None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Given by all in attendance. CLOSED SESSION Mayor O'Laughlin stated that the Council had not met in Closed Session this evening. TREASURER'S REPORT (01.V) Informational report submitted by the Treasurer to the Council as of March 31, 1995, was received and filed. 9510 PROJECT/ROBERTS ROAD PAVING AND SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION PLANS & SPECS/AWARD OF CONTRACT/COLLISHAW CONST/RESOLUTION 1995-68 (02.35) Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council adopt Resolution 1995-68 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS APPROVING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS, AWARDING CONTRACT TO LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, AND AUTHORIZING TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENT WITH COLLISHAW CONSTRUCTION FOR PROJECT 9510-ROBERTS ROAD PAVING AND SIDEWALK. Carried unanimously. STORM DAMAGE/MARCH-APRIL 1995/FEMA-1046 DR-CA/RESOLUTION 1995-69 (03.37) OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council adopt Resolution 1995-69 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TC:D7:MM061295 TO FILE AN APPLICATION WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. Carried unanimously. TC:D7:MM061295 June 12, 1995 Los Gatos, California HEARING PRELIMINARY 1995-96/OPERATING BUDGET/CDBG FUNDS (04.06) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS Mayor O'Laughlin stated that this was the time and place duly noted for public hearing to consider Preliminary 1995-96 Operating Budget including the use of Community Development Block Grant Funds. Town Manager, David Knapp, gave an overview of the reductions that could be made in the budget due to reduced revenues of $485,000. The suggested reductions in services and staff were: Closing the Library the week before Christmas; Reduce the code Compliance Officer to half time; Eliminate the ANET officer; Eliminate on e motorcycle officer; Reduce the tree trimming contract to an as needed basis; Cut back 10% in Community Grants Program; Close the Library on Fridays. These suggestions were addressed in this evening's staff report with some additional suggestions. Utility users tax and parking fees were two areas mentioned whereby revenues could be raised to offset the General Fund short fall. Both options would raise a proportionate amount each year. Council Comments: Mrs. Benjamin requested that staff analyze the suggested budget cuts for liability issues. If they may tend to raise liability costs they will not be wise cuts. Mr. Blanton requested further information on the parking programs of other cities for the August meeting. Mayor O'Laughlin requested that the Parking Commission report to Council in August regarding various options concerning parking meters or attendant gated parking. The following people from the audience spoke to this issue: Barbra Toren, 15933 Orange Blossom Drive, Executive Director of Downtown Association, spoke of self funding of the organization within a six month time frame. A marketing plan is underway. Music in the Plaza is a major summer tradition. Spoke of a 1-800 number for general information regarding the downtown. Sandy Decker, 207 Belmont Ave, spoke of the ambiance of the Town, and the planning that is needed to preserve the years of work already in place. Asked for additional staffing in the Planning Department and noted the reduction in staff that has taken place in that department since the budget cuts. Support of the utility users tax was expressed and parking attendant at Lot 4. Laura Nachison, 115 Ann Arbor, spoke of the lack of staffing in the Planning Department and requested no additional cuts in that department. She supported the utility tax. Elizabeth Smith, 17551 Vineland, Monte Sereno, told of the work being done on the Boulevard Community Alliance, and the need for support of the Boulevard plan and of the vision for that section of Town. She supported the utility users tax for the needed funding on projects already initiated by the Planning Department. Sue Ellen Sterling, 21900 Summit Road, spoke of the Downtown Beautification Program and the need to establish and work with the Newsrack Committee. She supported the utility users tax as a means to fund this planning concern. TC:D7:MM061295 June 12, 1995 Los Gatos, California HEARING CONTINUED OPERATING BUDGET CONT. Speakers continued: Steve Boersma, 2173 Rosswood Drive, San Jose, representing the Boulevard Alliance, spoke of the need for additional Planning Department staff so as to work with the community concerning Los Gatos Boulevard plans. The utility tax is the suggested method for funding this project. Mark Brodsky, 17306 Grosvenor Court, Monte Sereno, suggested that Council take the step for the utility tax as a method of funding the planning of the Los Gatos Boulevard concepts. Noted that these improvements and beautifications will raise additional sales tax revenues and increase the value of the neighboring residential areas. Donald Peck, Oak Knoll Drive, Monte Sereno, representing the Los Gatos Boulevard Alliance, supported the utility tax, and parking meters. Frank Treseader, 408 Bella Vista, spoke for the Museum Association, and requested the proposed funding for the association. Mary Kloet, 229 Wilder, supports the utility tax as an answer to the sewer and street problems downtown. She requested the utility tax to support the infrastructure of the Town. She is strongly in favor of taking the question of the utility users tax to the vote of the people. No one else from the audience addressed this issue. Motion by Mr. Attaway, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council close the public hearing. Carried unanimously. Council Comments: Mr. Blanton favored an election if Council moves forward with the Utility Users Tax. He noted he favors freezing one position in Planning, cutting the second motorcycle, having Code Compliance handled by a Community Service Officer, reducing to a half time Arborist, and not funding the Downtown Association. He would allocate the additional $2,300 in CDBG funds to the Museum Association. Mrs. Lubeck favored the use of reserves for one time expenses, requesting staff to identify the additional $9,000. There appears to be more than enough rolling forward from last year so that there would be no need to have further cuts or additional repositioning of staff such as the CSO's assigned the Code Enforcement duties. She would like a Senior Planner added back to staff and supports the $2,135 CDBG funds allocation to the Museum Association. Mayor O'Laughlin strongly supports the need for a Senior Planner replacement in the Planning Department particularly since Old Town will be undergoing renovation and the encouragement of the Los Gatos Boulevard Community Association is essential. The Town needs wherewithal to keep the vision alive on the Boulevard. Mr. Attaway voiced the need to invest in the economic future of our Town and the necessity to find a vehicle to do that. The suggestions have been parking meters, parking attendants, utility users tax, and staying with the budget. At this time he supports the use of one time funds carried over from last year but does not want to use the fund balance for economic uncertainty. TC:D7:MM061295 June 12, 1995 Los Gatos, California HEARINGS CONTINUED OPERATING BUDGET CONT. Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council approve the use of the funds rolled over from last year's budget to fund the $40,000 for the Downtown Association, and the $21,600 in Capital Purchases. Staff to make some $9,000 cuts somewhere and that the $2,135 remainder in the CDBG funds be allocated to the Museum Association. Investing in our economic future is of primary importance especially the need to help the Boulevard Alliance with the vision for that area and the priority to support the Planning Department. Many special projects are slowing or stalled because of lack of trained personnel to work on plans and sufficient staff to carry through on the projects. Carried unanimously. Mayor O'Laughlin requested that staff write to the Downtown Association and inform them about the Association's budget allocation and the Council's anticipation that as of January 1996 the Association will have become self-funding. COUNCIL COMMITTEES Mrs. Benjamin noted that the Santa Clara County Cities Association had their meeting last week and she noted the theme of the evening was regional cooperation, such as the animal control program, Transit Assist and street sweeping with Monte Sereno. As the county has their short fall of $34,000,000 the Town of Los Gatos will be feeling the impact of this revenue deficit as the county will be unable to maintain its former service levels. Mr. Knapp noted that the County does funding for non profits which will be loosing funds. Non- profits are a very efficient way to deliver services to those in need. Both the private and public sectors charge much more to deliver those services. Mr. Attaway reported that West Valley Sanitation District is doing a sewer upgrade on University Ave. A newly hired company will be inserting a sleeve inside the existing pipes. A bond for full replacement of sewers and street repair will be carried in event of project failure. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Lubeck, that this evening's meeting be adjourned at 8:46 a.m. Carried unanimously. ATTEST: Marian V. Cosgrove Town Clerk TC:D7:MM061295