Staff Report
PREPARED BY: ROBERT SCHULTZ
Town Attorney
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, and Community Development Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
TOWN COUNCIL REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/21/2019
ITEM NO: 4
DATE: MAY 16, 2019
TO: TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT SCHULTZ, TOWN ATTORNEY
SUBJECT: ADOPT AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING CHAPTER
28, ARTICLE IV, OF THE LOS GATOS TOWN CODE ENTITLED HORSE DRAWN
VEHICLES
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt ordinance that was introduced at the Town Council meeting of May 7, 2019, amending
Chapter 28, Article IV, of the Los Gatos Town Code entitled Horse Drawn Vehicles.
BACKGROUND:
At its May 7, 2019 meeting, the Town Council voted 5-0 to approve amending the Town Code,
Chapter 28, Article IV, of the Los Gatos Town Code entitled Horse Drawn Vehicles. The purpose
for the amendments is to streamline the process to allow for an applicant to obtain a permit
without Council’s approval if there is a deviation from the operating regulations.
DISCUSSION:
The Town’s Horse Drawn Vehicles was adopted in 1968 and establishes specific parameters for
the operation of horse-drawn carriages in Town. The only Horse Drawn Vehicles permit issued
each year is to the Chamber of Commerce for its Holiday Carriage Rides. Last year, the
Chambers’ application included operating requests that did not comply with our current Code.
Therefore, a Council hearing was required for the approval of the following operating requests:
1. Allow for a carriage that carries 6 passengers.
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING
CHAPTER 28, ARTICLE IV, OF THE LOS GATOS TOWN CODE ENTITLED HORSE DRAWN
VEHICLES
DATE: MAY 16, 2019
DISCUSSION (Continued):
2. Operate Carriage Rides on a route that extends beyond the area defined in the Code.
3. Operate during the hours defined by the Code as peak commute hours.
4. Operate a loading zone in an alternative location.
The attached amendments to Town Code will update the Horse Drawn Vehicle Ordinance to
allow the Town Manager to approve operating requests that did not comply with our current
Code.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that Council adopt an Ordinance amending Chapter 28, Article IV of the Los
Gatos Town Code Entitled Horse Drawn Vehicles.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The action is not a project defined under CEQA and no further action is required.
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated through the Town Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with the approval of these amendments.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Ordinance amending Chapter 28, Article IV of the Los Gatos Town Code Entitled Horse
Drawn Vehicles.