M 05-22-95TOWN OF LOS GATOS
CALIFORNIA
TOWN COUNCIL/PARKING AUTHORITY
May 22, 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 7:35 p.m., Monday, May 22, 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 noted that Council had not met in Closed Session prior to this evening's
meeting.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Budget and Assessment Districts:
Jo Bartlett, 166 Oak Hill Way, asked for an explanation of the assessment districts. These
districts are maintenance areas within developments and subdivisions which the Town
maintains and assesses the residents in the developments for the cost of that maintenance.
HILLBROOK/BENEFIT ZONE/RESOLUTION 1995-56
LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT #1 (01.14)
Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1995-
56 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS OF ITS INTENTION TO LEVY
AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995-1996 IN LANDSCAPING AND
LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT #1--HILLBROOK BENEFIT ZONE, AND TO SET
PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENTS. Carried
unanimously.
GEMINI COURT/BENEFIT ZONE/RESOLUTION 1995-57
LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT #2 (02.14)
Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1995-
57 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS OF ITS INTENTION TO LEVY
AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995-1996 IN LANDSCAPING AND
LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT #2--GEMINI COURT BENEFIT ZONE, AND TO SET
PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERING THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENTS. Carried
unanimously.
May 22, 1995
Los Gatos, California
BLACKWELL DRIVE/BENEFIT ZONE/RESOLUTION 1995-58
LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT #1 (03.14)
Motion by Mrs. Lubeck, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council adopt Resolution 1995-
58 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS OF ITS INTENTION TO LEVY
AND COLLECT ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995-1996 IN LANDSCAPING AND
LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT #1--BLACKWELL DRIVE BENEFIT ZONE, AND TO
SET PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED
ASSESSMENTS. Carried unanimously.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Property Maintenance:
Dave Katra, 239 Belgatos Road, asked what steps the Town takes to take care of
maintenance issues within a neighborhood, specifically citing a school in the BelGatos
district.
PUBLIC HEARING
1995-96 OPERATING BUDGET
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 Funding.
MANAGER'S PRESENTATION OF 1995-96 BUDGET
David Knapp, Town Manager, addressed the formation of this year's budget with the
following comments: revenues are up about .5% over last year; expenditures are down
1.3% from last year; compared to last year the current budget is composed of the following
budget cuts: closing the library on Friday; closing the library the week before Christmas;
code compliance officer to half time; ANET officer cut (police narcotics unit); one motor
cycle officer cut; reduction in tree trimming; community grants reduced 10%; reduced
economic development program in the Downtown Association; Capital improvements
remain insufficient; elimination of 3&3/4 positions; 4% increase in salaries (this adjustment
is the first in three years.)
The following people from the audience spoke to this issue:
Sue Ellen Sterling, 21900 Mt. Road, representing the Downtown Association, requested
funding from July to December of 1995.
Sandy Eddy, 95 Church Street, spoke of marketing and the work that has gone into the
downtown beautification program and the need to maintain the momentum of this work.
Dot Perry, 161 Prospect Ave., opposed the 2% on the utility tax, and requested that the
May 22, 1995
Los Gatos, California
issue come to the people for a vote. She requested downsizing.
Rebbecca Maiten, 136 Belvue Drive, spoke to save the park rangers.
Jo Bartlett, 166 Oak Hill Way, commented on the county pockets and islands within Los
Gatos and noted that they should be annexed to help support the community that surrounds
them.
David McKay, 205 Bacigalupi Drive, spoke in favor of the Town's park ranger program and
requested an increase in that program.
Dave Katra, 239 Belgatos Road, supported the park ranger program but requested
additional patrolling in the area because of the vandalism of teenagers and speeding
motorists.
No one else from the audience addressed this issue.
May 22, 1995
Los Gatos, California
COUNCIL REVIEW OF BUDGET AND SEPARATE COMMENT
The following departments' proposed budgets were individually reviewed by Council and did
not cause additional comment: Town Council; Town Treasurer; Town Clerk; Town
Manager; Town Attorney (favorable comment made on the great reduction in outside
counsel expenditures;) Election; General Town Administration (Council requested footnotes
on some items and explanation on performance indicators and program descriptions;)
Planning Department; Building and Engineering Services; The Police Department
discussion included sources of funding and the reasons for prioritizing several programs.
(The school programs were discussed, the volunteer program and neighborhood watch.)
The Library discussion reviewed funding and client use of the facilities. (Council did not want
to close the Library on Fridays;) Parks, Forestry and Maintenance Services discussion led to
support of the athletic fields' maintenance. Council requested that Capital Improvement
figures be separate from the General Fund accounting; Community Services;
Redevelopment Agency (discussion on setting assessment rates); Special Funds.
The following person from the audience spoke:
Jo Bartlett, 166 Oak Hill Way, commented on garbage rates and the recycling of yard
waste. She felt that the Town could reduce rates by negotiating for a portion of the compost
sales.
No one else from the audience addressed this issue.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Mayor O'Laughlin prefers to see the Library stay open on Fridays but does not mind if it
closes the week before Christmas. He is also interested in finding a way to support the
Downtown Association for at least a portion of the year.
Mrs. Benjamin is concerned about the overall educational benefit to the community that the
Library provides and does not want to see a Friday closure. She also noted that if the
streets go without repair again this year they will cost that much more in the following year.
Mrs. Lubeck agreed with the majority of comments but pointed out to Council that it had
made a policy several years ago that if someone put something back into the budget they
had to come up with an acceptable means of financing that proposal.
Mr. Blanton spoke in favor of moving the code compliance function to the community
services officer program.
Bud Lortz noted that an intern was now performing this function and more experienced
personnel had to take time to assist this person.
Mr. Attaway spoke to the need of a qualified code compliance person due to the
technicalities of enforcing the Town Code. He would like to see our services remain the
same but realizes that we must make some severe cuts or look for alternative solutions to
balance the budget.
May 22, 1995
Los Gatos, California
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Lubeck, to adjourn this evening's meeting at
9:30 p.m. to the reconvening of the Budget Hearing by Council at 7:30 p.m., May 23, 1995.
Carried unanimously.
ATTEST:
Marian V. Cosgrove, Town Clerk