08 Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Monica Renn
Economic Vitality Manager
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: 04/07/2020 ITEM NO: 8
DATE: March 31, 2020
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Direct the Town Manager to implement a temporary public parklet on a
portion of Grays Lane to promote community vitality and continue to gather
information on possible options for the future downtown streetscape
improvements.
RECOMMENDATION:
Direct the Town Manager to implement a temporary public parklet on a portion of Grays Lane
to promote community vitality and continue to gather information on possible options for the
future downtown streetscape improvements.
BACKGROUND:
During the summer of 2019 the Town implemented a pilot program on North Santa Cruz
Avenue that included a variety of elements including angled parking, one-way traffic patterns,
and community parklets. The parklets provided the feeling of wider sidewalks and offered
community members a place to gather and connect while shopping, dining, and walking
through downtown. Of the elements implemented during the pilot, the parklets were the most
well-received for encouraging placemaking. Many community members appreciated the
opportunity to gather in various locations along North Santa Cruz Avenue.
In addition to the North Santa Cruz Avenue pilot, the Council also adopted a pilot parklet
program that offered businesses the opportunity to enter into a public-private partnership to
convert a street parking space(s) into curbside seating for restaurant guests during business
hours and a public space when the restaurant is closed. To date, four public-private parklets
are either under construction or completed.
PAGE 2 OF 4 SUBJECT: Temporary Public Parklet on Grays Lane DATE: March 31, 2020
DISCUSSION:
As conversations evolve around the parklets, and as the Town Council moves forward with its
discussion on the future of the downtown streetscape, staff believes adding a temporary public
parklet to downtown could enhance community vitality and provide the opportunity for further
information gathering on how the community uses public spaces. The Chamber of Commerce
presented a similar idea to staff in January of 2020 based on its conversations with local
businesses and community stakeholders; however, the Chamber did not have the funding or
capacity to construct and maintain the space. As a result, Town staff from multiple
Departments met to consider some of the options and developed the recommendation
contained in this report.
The Grays Lane space could be utilized as a “pop-up” park space as well as a space to support
community events through the Town’s special event permit process. Placemaking continues to
be a necessity for shopping and dining districts as more goods become available online, a public
parklet would also support downtown placemaking. In addition, as the Town navigates the
unprecedented events caused by the COVID-19 crisis, and plans for a return to normalcy
following the shelter-in-place order, providing an open, outdoor gathering space should
encourage the community to reconnect and visit downtown.
Using information gathered from experiences and feedback during the one-way pilot program
last year, and looking at placement options throughout downtown, staff recommends the
following for a temporary public parklet:
Location- As pictured below, the proposed location is on Grays Lane, on the one-way portion
west of the driveway for the private and muni parking lots. This would require through traffic
from University Avenue to use either Royce Street or Elm Street to circulate, while still
providing access to the one private and two muni parking lots located off of Grays Lane. This
location requires the least amount of traffic detours and parking stall removal as compared to
other side streets in downtown.
PAGE 3 OF 4 SUBJECT: Temporary Public Parklet on Grays Lane DATE: March 31, 2020
DISCUSSION (continued):
Timing and Duration- While the timing and duration can remain fluid, staff is recommending
that the parklet be implemented in May, or as early as allowable based on staff workload and
the shelter in place order by the County and State governments. Following implementation,
staff recommends planning to keep the parklet in place through the fall of 2020, with the
flexibility to alter or remove it at any point if deemed appropriate by the Council.
Construction of the Parklets- To construct the parklet, staff recommends using boulders placed
at each end of the parklet to allow continued pedestrian access via the sidewalk, and
pedestrian access between the boulders into the parklet. The use of boulders provides a strong
concrete like barrier from cars on the road, in a more aesthetic manner than the k-rail which
was previously used and often not well received by the community. The asphalt would be
coated with a lighter shade to reduce the heat absorbed and radiated during the summer heat.
Furniture- Staff recommends using only Adirondack chairs with umbrellas. In an effort to
reduce the costs and frequency associated with cleaning the parklet, staff has not included
tables in the recommendation. The goal is not to create a dining experience, rather a pop-up
park setting. Extra Town trash and recycling receptacles could be added in the parklet as
needed.
Programming- It is recommended that the piano and extra-large chess set the Town already
owns be placed in the space to provide impromptu entertainment for the community. Both
were elements the community reported enjoying from the prior pilot program.
Maintenance- Based on the recommendation in this staff report, staff believes the parklet
would need to be cleaned twice a week including debris removal, spot cleaning, and
reorganization of the furniture.
Signage- Detour and placemaking signage would be installed.
Costs- Staff estimates the total cost to put the parklet in place and maintain it through the fall
at $15,000. Equipment remaining from last year could be repurposed for this year, including
chairs, piano, and chess set with augmentations for additional elements like umbrellas. The
greatest expense will be in the asphalt coating, estimated at $10,000. Staff considers this is a
necessary expense to reduce the heat and make the space attractive. The proposed approach
allows Parks and Public Works to absorb the maintenance costs.
PAGE 4 OF 4 SUBJECT: Temporary Public Parklet on Grays Lane DATE: March 31, 2020
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that Council considers implementing a temporary parklet on Grays Lane for
the summer and fall of 2020. The costs associated with the construction and maintenance
would be managed by the Town. Should third parties wish to utilize the space for events, staff
recommends this be allowed subject to the provisions and fees associated with the special
event permit process.
Providing physical options that cannot be experienced virtually create interest and vitality
associated with placemaking and encourage the community to connect with one another and
local businesses.
COORDINATION:
This report was prepared with collaboration between the Town Manager’s Office, Town
Attorney’s Office, Community Development Department, Parks and Public Works Department,
and Police Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost associated with the implementation of a public parklet are estimated at $15,000 for
the duration of the summer/fall of 2020 and can be absorbed in the existing Operating Budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.