Staff Report
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY
PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 05/07/2019
ITEM NO: 13
DATE: MAY 2, 2019
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: PPW JOB NUMBER 813-0234 – ONE-WAY DOWNTOWN STREET PILOT
PROJECT (NORTH SANTA CRUZ AVENUE BETWEEN BACHMAN AVENUE
AND ELM STREET)
A. APPROVE THE PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ONE-WAY
DOWNTOWN STREET PILOT PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE THE TOWN
MANAGER TO ADVERTISE THE PROJECT FOR BID; AND
B. AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A
CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$175,088, INCLUDING CONTINGENCIES; AND
C. AUTHORIZE STAFF TO EXECUTE POTENTIAL CHANGE ORDERS IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE CONTRACT
AWARD AMOUNT; AND
D. AUTHORIZE A BUDGET ADJUSTMENT TO THE PROJECT OF $108,686
FROM AVAILABLE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATED RESERVES (GFAR)
FUND BALANCE.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council:
1. Approve the plans and specifications for the One-Way Downtown Street Pilot Project (North
Santa Cruz Avenue between Bachman Avenue and Elm Street); and
2. Authorize the Town Manager to award and execute a Construction Agreement in an
amount not to exceed $175,088 including contingencies; and
3. Authorize staff to execute potential change orders in an amount not to exceed fifteen
percent of the contract award; and
4. Authorize a budget adjustment to the project of $108,686 from available General Fund
Appropriated Reserves (GFAR) fund balance.
PAGE 2 OF 5
SUBJECT: PPW JOB NUMBER 813-0234 – ONE-WAY DOWNTOWN STREET PILOT PROJECT
(NORTH SANTA CRUZ AVENUE BETWEEN BACHMAN AVENUE AND ELM
STREET)
DATE: MAY 2, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\05-07-19\One-Way Traffic Conversion\Staff Report.docx MM
BACKGROUND:
During the development of the Town Council’s 2018/2020 Strategic Priorities, the Council
expressed an interest in a One-Way Street Pilot Project for the downtown. The pilot was
envisioned as a way of illustrating what a reinvented downtown streetscape could look like for
Santa Cruz Avenue generally between Main Street and Highway 9 . In addition, it would offer
residents and businesses the opportunity to experience one-way traffic, wider sidewalks,
bicycle amenities, diagonal parking, and a move towards a more active and pedestrian friendly
downtown. The pilot experience would also inform the possibility of future permanent changes
to the downtown.
The Town’s adopted FY 2018/19-2022/23 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget
designates funding of $130,000 for a one-way street pilot program in the downtown. At the
January 15, 2019 Town Council meeting, Council reviewed several options for the one-way pilot
and approved the option for conversion of North Santa Cruz Avenue to one-way southbound
from Bachman Avenue to Elm Street with a striped southbound Class II bicycle lane. This
selection had an estimated increase in costs of $58,408 above the current budget and that
future budget actions would be taken by the Town Council. Staff was directed to proceed with
the design.
The plans and specifications for the project have been completed and are available for review
on the PPW capital improvement webpage at www.losgatosca.gov/108/Capital-Improvement-
Program.
DISCUSSION:
The One-Way Downtown Street Pilot Project provides striping and signage changes to facilitate
a safe and temporary conversion of North Santa Cruz Avenue to one-way southbound from
Bachman Avenue to Elm Street. The design allows for on-street parking along both sides of the
street, including 45-degree angle parking along the east side. This parking change will result in
an additional three on-street parking stalls above the current parking count, even with the
proposed parklet areas that are discussed later in this report (see Attachment 1).
The project will remove the existing striping and signage along this stretch of North San ta Cruz
Avenue and replace it with new temporary striping and signage that supports the one-way
traffic flow. The pilot project is intended to be in place for four months and during this time,
staff will document the effectiveness of the one-way pilot to provide a more pedestrian and
bicycle friendly downtown. This review will generate information on the feasibility of placing
permanent improvements to achieve greater bicycle and pedestrian access, wider sidewalks,
and casual gathering places.
PAGE 3 OF 5
SUBJECT: PPW JOB NUMBER 813-0234 – ONE-WAY DOWNTOWN STREET PILOT PROJECT
(NORTH SANTA CRUZ AVENUE BETWEEN BACHMAN AVENUE AND ELM
STREET)
DATE: MAY 2, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\05-07-19\One-Way Traffic Conversion\Staff Report.docx MM
DISCUSSION (continued):
At the end of the four-month pilot period, the striping and signage will be removed, a slurry
seal applied to the pilot section of North Santa Cruz Avenue and the original striping and
signage restored. The pilot project is scheduled to begin the second week of July and be
removed at the end of October.
The engineer’s estimate for this portion of the implementation and removal of the One -Way
Downtown Street Pilot Project is $175,088.
Along with the one-way street realignment, the project will include the installation of seven
simplified parklets along North Santa Cruz Avenue, extending beyond the one-way section of
street. These temporary parklets will include colorful chairs and tables to encourage informal
gathering. The parklets will be protected with K-Rail, which will be vinyl wrapped, similar to the
utility box program, to make them more attractive. The parklets will help to demonstrate the
impact of wider sidewalks on placemaking in the downtown. These temporary parklets would
be in place for the same four-month period, completely accessible to the general public.
Nearby businesses wishing to utilize a portion of a temporary parklet would be able to do so
through an encroachment permit process for short periods of time. Businesses wishing to take
advantage of the multi-year parklet pilot will be able to do so by installing their own through
the Town’s Parklet Pilot Program.
The cost estimate for the parklets portion of the project is $50,597.
Community Outreach
The Town has created a webpage for the summer under the theme Experience Los Gatos. The
webpage provides information and links to all of the activities happening in the Downtown over
the summer. The website address is www.losgatosca.gov/ExperienceLG. In addition to the
website, the Town will conduct the following outreach efforts:
• Issue a press release regarding the pilot project;
• Notify navigation apps of the change;
• Advertise the project on social media;
• Stage changeable message board signs in the downtown;
• Provide special outreach to downtown businesses in partnership with the Los Gatos
Chamber of Commerce;
• Inform the neighborhoods through Nextdoor;
• Release an online survey to gather input; and
• Post signage at the parklets with a QR code for the survey and additional info.
PAGE 4 OF 5
SUBJECT: PPW JOB NUMBER 813-0234 – ONE-WAY DOWNTOWN STREET PILOT PROJECT
(NORTH SANTA CRUZ AVENUE BETWEEN BACHMAN AVENUE AND ELM
STREET)
DATE: MAY 2, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\05-07-19\One-Way Traffic Conversion\Staff Report.docx MM
DISCUSSION (continued):
A transition period will be needed for the public to adjust to the changes on North Santa Cruz
Avenue and staff fully expects some traffic challenges as people adjust to the change . Staff
recommends leaving the pilot project in place for the full four-month period to allow for this
adjustment to take place and to provide a full understanding of the impacts to the public and
downtown businesses.
CONCLUSION:
Approval of the recommendations will allow this project to move forward for bidding and
award.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding of $130,000 is budgeted in the FY 2018/19 Capital Improvement Program Budget. The
fiscal table below identifies an additional budget request of $108,686 from GFAR. At the
January 15, 2019 Council meeting, staff had informed the Council of an anticipated need of
$58,408 based on the selection of the one-way option. Further review of construction costs
and the cost of the temporary parklets have resulted in a need for an additional $48,882, for a
total of $108,686.
One-Way Downtown Street Pilot
Project 813-0234
Budget Costs
GFAR $ 130,000
FY 2018/19 Budget Adjustment $ 108, 686
Total Budget $ 238,686
Hexagon Transportation $ 13,000
K Rail Rental $ 20,000
K Rail Wrapping $ 27,237
Table & Chairs $ 3,360
Project Construction $ 152,251
Contingency (15%) $ 22,838
Total Expenditures $ 238,686
Balance $ -
PAGE 5 OF 5
SUBJECT: PPW JOB NUMBER 813-0234 – ONE-WAY DOWNTOWN STREET PILOT PROJECT
(NORTH SANTA CRUZ AVENUE BETWEEN BACHMAN AVENUE AND ELM
STREET)
DATE: MAY 2, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\05-07-19\One-Way Traffic Conversion\Staff Report.docx MM
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is a project as defined under CEQA but is Categorically Exempt (Section 15301c). A Notice
of Exemption will not be filed.
Attachment:
1. Design for the One-Way Street Pilot