Item 3 - Exhibit 04 - Town Council Policy Committee August 11, 2020 Minutes
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
TOWN COUNCIL
POLICY COMMITTEE
MEETING DATE: 9/22/2020
ITEM NO: 1
DRAFT
Minutes of the Town Council Policy Committee Special Meeting
August 11, 2020
The Town Council Policy Committee of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a special meeting on
Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. via teleconference.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Marcia Jensen, Barbara Spector.
Staff Present: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager; Robert Schultz, Town Attorney; Joel Paulson,
Community Development Director; Jocelyn Shoopman, Associate Planner; Holly Zappala,
Management Analyst.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Draft Minutes of July 28, 2020.
Approved.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Lee Fagot
- Commented that the Town should review its Police services and that it would be beneficial
for the Police Department to contract with professional social service workers and mental
health specialists to work with law enforcement officers in responding to calls regarding
mental health crises. He also supported additional Police training regarding racial and social
issues.
OTHER BUSINESS
2. Discuss and Provide Direction on Potential Modifications to the Hillside Development
Standards and Guidelines Regarding Visibility.
Jocelyn Shoopman, Associate Planner, was available to respond to questions.
EXHIBIT 4
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: Draft Minutes of the Regular Town Council Policy Committee Meeting of August
11, 2020
DATE: September 22, 2020
David Weissman
-Commented that when calculating the visibility of a proposed hillside home, exterior structures
such as decks and stairs, should not be included because they would not be visible from valley
floor viewing areas. He said that exterior features should only be included if they are necessary
for the visibility analysis under discussion. Additionally, he added that trees that can be
removed should also not be included in the visibility analysis.
Lee Quintana
-Agreed with David Weissman’s comments and added t hat the definition of elevation should
use simple language and be easy to understand.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to forward the following items to the Planning
Commission for further discussion and recommendation to Town Council:
1. Elevation. The Committee approved a motion to forward a recommendation for
elevation to be defined as only pertaining to the visible building elevations of the
house, not including any exterior walls or decks and other ancillary structures, for
the purposes of visibility analysis.
2. Trees. The Committee was split and approved a motion to forward the item without
a recommendation, noting the positions of each of the Committee members.
o Vice Mayor Spector recommended that existing trees and branches, subject
to clearing in Zones 2 and 3 and all trees listed in Section 29.10.0970 of the
Town Code that are proposed to remain as part of an application but that
can be removed without a permit and not require a replacement , not be
included in visibility analysis, noting she did not want to expand the
opportunity for visibility with discretionary homeowner actions.
o Mayor Jensen recommended that existing trees and branches that must be
removed due to new mandatory fire prevention standards should not be
included for the purpose of visibility analysis. Any trees that are subject to
removal, but not required for removal, should not fall into that same
category, noting that almost any trees could be removed , in which case no
trees would count as a screen.
3. Deciding Body: Development Review Committee versus Planning Commission. The
Committee was split and approved a motion to forward the item without a
recommendation, noting the positions of each of the Committee members.
o Vice Mayor Spector recommended that visible homes that meet the
allowable floor area ratio with a maximum height of 18 feet go before the
Planning Commission as the deciding body, noting that there may be other
issues that may need consideration by the Planning Commission in addition
to those referenced in the staff report.
o Mayor Jensen recommended that visible homes that meet the allowable
floor area ratio with a maximum height of 18 feet go before the Design
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: Draft Minutes of the Regular Town Council Policy Committee Meeting of August
11, 2020
DATE: September 22, 2020
Review Committee as the deciding body, noting that it is a public hearing and
subject to appeal to the Planning Commission, and would reduce the cost to
the applicant.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m.
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true
and correct copy of the minutes of the
August 11, 2020 meeting as approved by the
Town Council Policy Committee.
Holly Zappala, Management Analyst
PAGE 4 OF 4
SUBJECT: Draft Minutes of the Regular Town Council Policy Committee Meeting of August
11, 2020
DATE: September 22, 2020