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M 01-26-98TOWN OF LOS GATOS CALIFORNIA TOWN COUNCIL/PARKING AUTHORITY January 26, 1998 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, January 26, 1998, in regular session. ROLL CALL Present:Randy Attaway, Joanne Benjamin, Steven Blanton, Jan Hutchins, and Mayor Linda Lubeck. Absent:None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Given by all in attendance. PRESENTATIONS TO THE GENERAL PLAN TASK FORCE (XX.20) Mayor Lubeck announced that the Town was extremely pleased to be acknowledging the work, time and commitment that this committee has given to its assignment. The Task Force members were present to accept the presentations. The following people served on this project: Mary E. Allari, Elizabeth Asadi, Linda Asbury, Ludwik Bednarz, Jack Bonno, Paul Bruno, Michael Burke, Peggy Dallas, Bernadette Frager, Lois Hanson, Shirley Henderson, George Kohl, Peter Larko, Sam Laub, Louie Leu, Peggy Marcucci, Suzanne Muller, Norwood Nedom, Mark Niver, Greg Presedo-Floyd, William Quigley, Steve Rehder, Joanne Rodgers, Judith Rogers, David Sandberg, Mark Weiner, Emmie Young, Sean Young and Jim Creighton. VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS PG&E Substation: Aggie and Rick Potter, 144 Newel Ave., representing the homeowners in the location of the proposed PG&E substation. She noted CPUC General Order 131-D which requires that PG&E consult with the Town regarding location of the substation. She asked that sites B-F-K-L-M-N-O, identified on the submitted map, be considered by the Town for this relocation. Pat Power, 2101 Webster Street, Oakland, noted the PG&E study of alternative sites concluded in December of 1997. He asked that the six feasible sites that were identified by PG&E be considered by the Town and that the relocation of transmission lines be examined also. He asked that Council choose among those sites by stating a preference. The PUC has preempted the Town's decision but the Town can advise the PUC about land use matters in its own jurisdiction. The Council's decision could be persuasive and possibly conclusive. The General Plan presents a perfect setting to consider a substation and its location within the Town. At the same time a request to move the power lines can be made to coincide with the placement of the substation. Mr. Power also offered his own time to meet with Council Members along with an electrical engineer and consultant to make an educated choice among these designated sites or more creatively apportioned sites. He said that when Council makes its decision the PUC can be informed and have the opportunity to consult with the Town as is required by the General Order. The neighborhood has requested that Council consider this subject on February 17th so that the Town's conclusions can be forwarded to the PUC. The PUC will be holding a public hearing in Los Gatos on March 23rd and an evidentiary hearing in San Francisco on April 6th. Mr. Power offered to make himself available to answer any questions Council or staff may have that he has the answers for. TC:D10:MM012698 Town Council Minutes January 26, 1998 Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California GENERAL PLAN TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT/RESOLUTION 1998-8 (01.47) Mayor Lubeck stated that this was the time and place duly noted to consider the General Plan Task Force Final Report and Resolution accepting this report. Council will also discuss the next steps for the General plan Update. The following people from the audience spoke to this issue: Paul Bruno, 200 Bella Vista Ave., presented the General Plan Task Force Report in an audio visual explanation to Council, staff and the audience. He addressed thirteen most pressing issues identified by the task force as issues that could be adgendized and solutions sought for implementation, and refinement in the objectives considered. Issues have been identified but not the methods for implementation of solutions. These are 13 noncontroversial issues which relate to enforcement or implementation of existing goals and policies: 1.)Develop strategy to address the long-range issues for comprehensive study. 2.)How can the town more successfully enforce existing goals, policies and ordinances. 3.)How should the Town actively preserve its overall character, history and neighborhood identities. 4.)How should the Town preserve the integrity of its existing residential zones? 5.)How should vehicular circulation throughout the Town be improved? 6.)How should the Town promote visual aesthetics, especially in relation to the hillsides? 7.)How can the Town ensure that new projects conform with policies and ordinances? 8.)How should the plans be updated/revised to reflect current conditions? 9.)How can quality public facilities and schools best be maintained? 10.)How should the Town promote and protect its commercial zones? 11.)How can the Town provide and promote constructive recreational activities for youth? 12.)How should existing buildings and uses be required to conform with policies and ordinances? 13.)How can the Town provide access to facilities for elderly/disabled citizens? The following list of issues are most likely to be resolved through further comprehensive study: 1.)Should the Town consider adopting a low growth policy? 2.)Should the Town actively create,acquire, preserve, and/or maintain open spaces? 3.)Should a downtown parking program be established to address current and future parking issues? 4.)Should the Town maintain the small shop/merchant orientation of its commercial zones? 5.)Should development be restricted to the capacity of existing roads and utilities? 6.)Should the Town encourage housing opportunities for low-to-moderate incomes? 7.)Should the Town actively preserve and maintain its natural environment (topography and flora/ fauna)? 8.)Should circulation throughout the Town be improved to accommodate new development? 9.)Should development (and associated increase in traffic) be restricted to promote "green" causes (i.e. restriction of air emissions, noise, fuel use, erosion, herbicides/pesticides)? 10.)Should new residential development be clustered to preserve open space? 11.)Should the cost of providing services to new hillside development be borne by existing taxpayers? 12.)Should commercial activities be allowed in residential zones? TC:D10:MM012698 Town Council Minutes January 26, 1998 Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California GENERAL PLAN TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT CONTINUED 13.)Should the Town allow further development in the Hillsides area? 14.)Should commercial activities be geared towards serving Town residents or for attracting visitors? 15.)Should hillside streets be designed to serve local residents exclusively? 16.)Should alternate modes of transportation be developed/encouraged? Speakers continued: Mike Abkin, 122 El Oliver, commended the Task Force on its report and encouraged Council to continue the process involving the community in seeking solutions to the issues. Leadership development and community building are important results of this process. He believes that a facilitated process will work most constructively. Suzanne Muller, 135 Charles St., questioned the wisdom of forming a larger group to be used in the decision making process. Council responded with the idea that the larger number would be used for information gathering and brain storming. She spoke of "Open Doors" as being attractive and well designed for an affordable housing project. Clustered hillside homes were considered unesthetic and unnatural looking growing off the hillsides, rather than blending in harmoniously with the environment. Peggy Dallas, 17681 Foster Road, she is concerned with the fire issues in the hillsides, adequate water supply and narrow roads. Joanne Rodgers, 15287 Top of the Hill Court, noted that "Open Doors" affordable housing was attractive and the high density project worked in that location. Clustering in the hillside is not natural and looks offensive. Asked that Council continue to use the Task Force during the solution finding process. Mike Burke, 16769 Hicks Road, noted that he did not agree with the clustering in the hillside policy; that there was a great need to address fire safety in the hillsides, including water accessibility and narrow roads; and that the concept of affordable housing should not automatically be grouped with high density projects. He does not approve of high density unaffordable housing. Ludwik Bednarz, 311 De Soto Dr., Vice President of Los Gatos Soccer, spoke of the need to include the consideration of playing fields in the General Plan. Shirley Henderson, 98 West Main Street, she was most concerned with the issue of small businesses in Town and the need for a mix of business. She also spoke of having a place for skateboarders in Town. Bernadette Frager, 714 Bicknell Road, spoke of the need for public facilities to be included in the General Plan such as schools, libraries, and athletic fields. Linda Asbury, 530 University Ave., believes that the General Plan should give more thought to business issues and does not think the decision making procedure will be enhanced with an additional 75 appointments. David Sandberg, 228 Camino del Cerro, spoke of Los Gatos Boulevard and the need to consider the business districts more carefully in the General Plan. Mike Abkin, 122 El Oliver, spoke of the expansion of the present constitution of the Task Force and the need to identify the additional elements and their needs within the Town. Lee Quintana, 5 Palm Ave, would like to see the Task Force enlarged and expanded to include members of existing Town Boards and Commissions. TC:D10:MM012698 Town Council Minutes January 26, 1998 Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California GENERAL PLAN TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT CONTINUED Speakers continued: Rachel Dixon, 244 Cerro Chico, believes that the group could function if it was expanded and more inclusive. Surveys, newsletters and community forums would help assess the needs of the community and provide answers for the many individual neighborhoods incorporated in Los Gatos. Gail Brady, 16387 Engelwood, noted that the speeding issue on Town streets had not been addressed in the listed issues submitted by the Task Force and she believes it is a very important part of the General Plan circulation and traffic considerations. Peggy Dallas, 17681 Foster Road, spoke of the large Task Force size that worked well for information gathering, but she believes the decision making process would work better with a smaller group rather than an expansion of the committee. Mary Lyle Rempple, West Valley Open Doors, spoke of affordable housing needs and the well designed "Open Doors" project on Parr Ave. No one else from the audience addressed this issue. Motion by Mr. Hutchins, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council adopt Resolution 1998-8 entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ACCEPTING THE LOS GATOS GENERAL PLAN TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT. Carried unanimously. Final Comments from Dani Hamilton, consultant for the Task Force project. The technical data that was not covered during the preliminary issue search will now be gathered and made available to the committee at its next stage of solution finding. Traffic figures, land use, population surveys, and other hard facts will be the next tools to work with by the members. She noted that the alternatives A and C in the staff report were not meant to be stand alone items but to be rolled in with the other options. Forums and open discussions can become very exhausting and do not lend themselves to decision making or facilitation. A position of seeking resolutions would be aided by keeping the Task Force at a manageable number of members and establishing a disciplined method of solution finding. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Lubeck adjourned this evening's meeting at 9:15 p.m. ATTEST: Marian V. Cosgrove Town Clerk TC:D10:MM012698