M 10-20-03-Study Transcript-Downtown Streetscape and Street Reconstruction ProjectsTOWN OF LOS GATOS
JOINT TOWN COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY STUDY SESSION
DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE AND STREET RECONSTRUCTION
October 20, 2003/Meeting Minutes
TOWN COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos met at the Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m., Monday,
October 20, 2003 for a Study Session regarding the Downtown Streetscape and Street Reconstruction
Project.
COUNCIL ATTENDANCE
Present:Sandy Decker, Mayor; Steve Glickman, Vice Mayor; Diane McNutt, Council Member;
Joe Pirzynski, Council Member; Mike Wasserman, Council Member.
STUDY SESSION DISCUSSION ON THE DOWNTOWN
STREETSCAPE AND STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Parks and Public Works Department Director, John Curtis, and Kevin Rohani, Town Engineer,
presented the progress of the Streetscape Project and alternative completion schedules. Staff also
indicated that previous meetings held with downtown merchants indicated merchants seek a time-out,
or reprieve, of construction activities to bring their customer base back to town. Three additional
possible schedules were developed based on the construction needs and merchants request.
Of the three options, staff recommended Option D, with most of the work being completed in 2005
and 2006. The Option D schedule is to complete the utility underground improvements on Santa Cruz
Avenue from January to March of 2004, (specifically sewer line re-line work that is conducted at each
manhole), with a break in all downtown construction activity from March 2004 to March 2005. Main
Street sidewalk improvements would be during March through May, 2005, followed by Santa Cruz
Avenue paving from June through August 2005. Main Street resurfacing would be completed the
following year, from July through August of 2006.
Council Members asked staff to clarify various construction related issues, including: schedules;
lamppost installation; PG&E work; sewer line work: costs, night work, encroachment issues, life span
of new lines; risks of not paving; traffic lane closures; impacts from other projects-such as Reservoir
Road and Gateway Project; impacts if Streets cape project was undertaken on multiple, different
streets at same time (such as on both Main and Santa Cruz); bond time frame requirements;
resurfacing of Santa Cruz over 2-year period rather than one; engineering studies conducted on Santa
Cruz - methodology used and outcome; traffic circulation strategies for Santa Cruz Avenue when
closed by section; access available to get to businesses and to let visitors know businesses are open.
Staff clarified project details and impacts.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
The Mayor then opened the meeting to public comments, asking merchants to also indicate how they
feel about Option D. The following is a summary of the comments received:
Kurt Lemons of Upstream Flyfishing (N. Santa Cruz Ave.): Merchants faced with reduction of
customers, who refuse to come to downtown. Merchants need time to recover, need a year to get
customers back, and during that time to plan for events during future construction. Suggested
revisiting the use of a Business Improvement District. Supports Option D.
Adrienne of Adrienne's (N. Santa Cruz Ave.): Submitted a petition with over 100 signatures from
merchants and began another petition signed by residents: both petitions request construction to stop.
Stated she obtained signatures because most people don't come to meetings. Of all who signed the
petition, only 2 wanted to get the work over ASAP. Thinks the economy, war and other things cannot
be controlled, and this is the one thing that can be controlled. Big box stores waiting to come in.
(example of change in Burlingame) Wants to keep town's uniqueness & charm. Has been in business
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here 20 years.
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Town Council Minutes October 20, 2003
Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California
PUBLIC COMMENT CONTINUED:
Cathy Young, InnerJourney (N. Santa Cruz Ave.): Agrees with previous comments. Two years in
current location. Town under construction since she came to town. Customers ask when will
construction end. Moved business here due to uniqueness of town, many customers say "this is too
much" and "I don't shop downtown anymore."
Bill Boutfeld, Vintages (N. Santa Cruz Ave.): Thanks the Public Works Department for listening:
Grays Lane improvements took longer than six weeks; concerned about the schedule. Also, no way to
move traffic around Grays Lane. Requests more discussion concerning Business Improvement District
before moving that forward. Not just economy slowing business- difficult to find parking. Supports
Option D.
Bill Wilson, BowWowzer (N. Santa Cruz Ave.): Requested. Resurfacing Santa Cruz Ave in 2 phases
to get it done. Is concerned about shutting whole Town down. Main to Elm would be closed more than
one week. Santa Cruz Avenue will be closed for whole summer during paving. Concern about parking
tickets- people come to shop at their leisure, no place to park and are outraged at being ticketed for
parking. Customers have left for Santana Row. Supports Option D.
Carol Hargett, Twenty9 East Main and Dolce Spazio, (East Main and N. Santa Cruz Ave.): Will be
impacted on both sides of Town. Does not want to see Business Improvement District reinstituted,
thinks other things can be done. Supports Option D.
Susan Sedte, Romantiques (University Ave.): Agrees with Option D. Suggests having a merchant
committee to meet with Town. Also suggests extending parking time especially when parking lots
empty.
Ginger Rowe, Time Out Clothing (N. Santa Cruz Ave.): Appreciates being heard. Construction
activities impact all businesses, even if on nearby street or sidewalk. Traffic flow is affected.
Whenever traffic is thrown off, it really affects business. Asks if construction hours can be extended,
how it affects schedule. A 4AM start is an issue for residents- extend the work schedule so overall
project is completed in a shorter time. Supports Option D.
Teri Hope, LG Coffee Raosting Co. (W. Main St.): Original response to streetscape construction
schedule was to get work completed asap. Very concerned about the town's businesses. Suggests to
take time off, postpone construction and find ways to build up the town's image. Supports Option D.
COUNCIL COMMENTS:
Council Members responded to public input with various suggestions:
Council member McNutt: Form a merchant committee to provide time to recuperate and re-
energize, to approach future downtown construction in more positive way; and to enlist help of
merchants to find way to make 2005 construction positive;
Vice Mayor Glickman: Issue of shutting town down, versus getting job done quickly -sequencing or
overlap of work;
Council member Pirzynski: To envision Oct 20,2007- a year after all work completed; with or
without Streetscape Project, Santa Cruz Avenue needs to be paved;
Council member Wasserman: Asks staff to find ways to be less invasive, defer paving now but put
funds toward repainting crosswalks and brightening things up in downtown, have golfcart shuttle
during closure;
Mayor Decker: Merchants, staff and Council in favor of Option D.
COUNCIL CONSIDERATIONS:
Asked staff to work on the implementation of Option D
Ms. Figone, Town Manager recommended Council form an ad hoc working group to work with staff
in a policy advisory capacity on planning for the next phases of the Downtown Streetscape and Street
Reconstruction Project and on related communications and outreach efforts. Council Members
McNutt and Wasserman appointed by the Town Council to be Council Liaisons.
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Town Council Minutes October 20, 2003
Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California
Meeting Adjourned at 6:55PM.Attest:
Marian V. Cosgrove, Town Clerk
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