Staff Report.FINAL
PREPARED BY: Robert Schultz
Town Attorney
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, 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: 05/07/2018
ITEM NO: 11
DATE: APRIL 30, 2019
TO: TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT SCHULTZ, TOWN ATTORNEY
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
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept public comment and then move for the introduction and first reading of an Ordinance,
by title only, amending Chapter 28, Article IV, of the Los Gatos Town Code Entitled Horse Drawn
Vehicles.
BACKGROUND:
The Town Attorney’s Office has been conducting a comprehensive review of the Town’s
Municipal Code provisions. Chapter 28, Article IV, Section 28.40.070 of the Los Gatos Town
Code entitled Horse Drawn Vehicles has not been revised in many years and revisions are
necessary to streamline the process to allow for an applicant to obtain a permit without
Council’s approval if there is a deviation from the existing operating regulations.
DISCUSSION:
The Town’s Horse Drawn Vehicles Ordinance 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 Chamber’s application included operating requests that did not comply with our
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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
APRIL 30, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\05-07-19\Horse Drawn Carriages\Staff Report.docx
DISCUSSION (Continued):
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.
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 proposed amendments to the Town Code would update the Horse Drawn Vehicle
Ordinance to allow the Town Manager to approve operating requests that do not comply with
our current Code.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that Council move for the introduction and first reading of an Ordinance, by
title only, amending Chapter 28, Article IV of the Los Gatos Town Code Entitled Horse Drawn
Vehicles.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
It has been determined that there is no possibility that this project will have a significant impact
on the environment; therefore, the project is not subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (Section 15061 (b)(3)).
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated with the Town Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with the approval of these amendments.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Red-Lined Draft Ordinance
2. Draft Final Ordinance