01 Desk Item with attachments - Item #1
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: 06/08/2020
ITEM NO: 1
DESK ITEM
DATE: June 8, 2020
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Los Gatos Community Vitality and Economic Recovery Initiative
a. Provide Direction to Staff on Parklet Barrier Options for the Town’s
Community Vitality and Economic Recovery Initiative.
b. Authorize the Town Manager to purchase the necessary resources to
implement the program up to $750,000.
Remarks:
Attachment 1 contains the proposed parklet layout for the interim using k-rail. Should the
Town Council move forward with planters or extended use of k-rail, it is Staff intent to expand
the parklet areas and cluster curbside/quick turn parking spaces as directed by the Town
Council at their May 26, 2020 Meeting.
Attachment 2 contains public comment received between 11:01 a.m. Thursday, May 21, 2020
and 11:01 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
Attachment distributed with this Desk Item:
1. Proposed parklet layout with k-rail
2. Public Comments received between 11:01 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2020 and 11:01 a.m.
Monday, June 8, 2020.
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ATTACHMENT 1
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
Lynn Kennedy
P.O. Box 2143
Los Gatos, CA 95031
June 8, 2020
Los Gatos Town Council
110 E. Main Street
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Re: June 8 Meeting, agenda item #1, Los Gatos Community Vitality and Economic Recovery Initiative
Dear Mayor and Council Members:
Congratulations to you and staff for moving quickly to help town businesses in light of the ongoing need
for social distancing, etc. While I wish very much that staff’s proposed map of downtown parking,
parklets, pickup spots, etc. had been part of the council packet for review, I applaud the concept of
keeping street parking where desired by businesses (or where parklets don’t make sense) and expanding
parklets to commercial streets not mentioned in June 2 Council meeting. I ask that you consider the
following when providing further guidance to staff:
•These new parklets are TEMPORARY; does it really make sense to invest in expensive planters?
o Could the town provide more/better help to business with this money?
o What will happen to these planters in the fall when parklets are dismantled?
o Parklets should be dismantled before Thanksgiving to make way for parking for holiday
shopping and (hopefully) indoor dining
•Could the town provide rented trees in very large pots or boxes to provide both ambience and
shade in parklets?
•When reviewing the map of proposed parklets, please consider how much outdoor space is
already available to a restaurant on or around its location; if there is already a significant
amount of space for outdoor seating it may not need to be augmented
o As staff notes, parklets can be expanded if needed, so if there are questionable areas on
the map (especially areas not mentioned during June 2 meeting) please consider time
for further review
o The total amount of parking repurposed for parklets should not exceed the total
approved at the June 2 meeting
o If a business in Old Town wants parklets, then Old Town must open both of its parking
lots during business hours (perhaps 8am-midnight)
•Please ensure that businesses do not block sidewalks, traffic lanes or bike lanes. Tables, signs
and other objects should be carefully placed (and the less A-frame signs in narrow spaces the
better!)
•Please continue to work with businesses to share the use of private parking lots when those
businesses are closed
Sincerely,
ATTACHMENT 2
From:
To:
Glenn Harmatz
PublicComment
Subject:Athletic Performance at 55 W. Main St.
Date:Sunday, June 7, 2020 7:32:22 PM
I am interested in getting a Parking spot in front of my store at
Athletic Performance, 55 W. Main St., Los Gatos, for the curbside
Pick-up. I just want to sign-up for this program.
1) When will this go into affect?
2) How do we get a sign for our parking spot in front of our store?
3) How long will it be in affect?
4) If our neighbor is out of business, can we get two spots if we
anticipate a lot of business.
On a side note and another question:
Since the Los Gatos Creek Trails are so crowded now with walkers,
runners, bikers crossing each other, my question is:
Is there someway, the Town can help Los Gatos High School get the
High School Track to open for jogging, so the trail will be less
crowded and will be actually safer since all walkers and joggers will
be going one way.
The Track is actually a community track, since community donations
put in that track surface.
Thanks,
Willie Harmatz
Los Gatos High School
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Jim Foley
Monica Renn
Thoughts for Council Meeting tonight
Monday, June 8, 2020 10:50 AM
From: Jim Foley
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 10:50 AM
To: Monica Renn
Cc: Catherine Somers; Randi Chen; David MacGregor-Scholes; Kevin Youkilis; Sue Farwell; Andrea
Romano
Subject: Thoughts for Council Meeting tonight
Hi Monica,
We reached out to the restaurants and merchants and the response has largely been that many of
them need extra space and are fine with k-rail. We understand the k-rail last year was heavily
criticized, but these are different circumstances. The Chamber can assist getting the message out
through their typical outlets that these are an urgent and temporary solution. The businesses that
need the space should simply coordinate with PPW, and PPW should help expedite the placement of
the k-rail immediately. To the extent the businesses would eb allowed to decorate or paint the k-rail,
we think that would help too.
Further, we do not support spending any funds on more permanent planters at any time down the
road. By that time, we are expecting to be closer to normal operations and it would be a total waste
of Town funds. Anyone looking for a more permanent solution should go through the original parklet
pilot program. Maybe it would be wise to make that program more permanent in nature. The
emergency funds can be reallocated back to the downtown/streetscape project later in the year.
As for marketing and outreach, as I mentioned in my last follow up email, I don’t think we want to
spend time/money on that effort at this time. Things are opening up quickly and we want to monitor
that over the next couple of weeks before revisiting if a marketing and outreach campaign is
necessary.
Please pass along to Town Staff and Council for the meeting tonight.
Thank you,
Jim Foley
Owner | 408.813.7490
From: Donna Novi <thepastariaandmarket@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 11:34 AM
To: Laurel Prevetti <LPrevetti@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: Monica Renn <mrenn@losgatosca.gov>; Arn Andrews <aandrews@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Re: This week's pickle
Thank you, Laurel! I know this in my heart and I do believe in the system. It has just really been
rough this last week. 'Every man for himself' goes against my nature, so it's been a little hard
contemplating each move out here in the New Wild West.
But. We will take anything that involves 2 tables or more if it helps us survive!
Thank you again, you are always kind, informative and supportive,
Donna
On Mon, Jun 8, 2020, 11:23 AM Laurel Prevetti <LPrevetti@losgatosca.gov> wrote:
Good morning,
Thank you so much for reaching out. As one of our beloved businesses, we care about your
success. Thank you for all that you do!
We are happy to include your email below as part of the Desk Item to Council so they can read
your words. Don’t worry about typos. We understand the urgency to communicate, thank you.
The meeting tonight is on Zoom and you are welcome to join us. Here is the link to the meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/92477811327 and type in the password: 138091. The Mayor will recognize
everyone who wants to speak and will ask you to click the raise hand button so she knows you
want to do so. Please be sure you have an updated version of Zoom for the best participation,
thank you.
I understand that Monica is working with you on your outdoor dining needs. Please let us know if
there is anything more we can do for you.
Take good care and our best wishes,
Laurel
From: Donna Novi
Sent: Monday, June 8, 2020 11:00 AM
To: Laurel Prevetti ; Arn Andrews Subject: This week's pickle
Hello Laurel and Arn,
For some reason I cannot send an email from the Town's site using my laptop, and lucky you, I
happen to have both of your e-mails, haha!
If possible, could you send to the right spot for me, for tonight's meeting? If not, I understand.
I know things often get a little worse before they get better, but this weekend finally put me over
the edge.
At The Pastaria, after 24 years in town, we find ourselves in a holding pattern. Under normal
circumstances we would just be patient, but we just don't have that luxury right now. I am hoping
that tonight's meeting will result in something solid that we can begin to plan around.
I agree, I would much rather have the same planters that are being used in the parklets. We
received a bid for a parklet on March 13th. (We were not privileged enough to have a generous
landowner foot the bill for one of these amazing parklets.) As we were weighing out whether or not
we could afford to spend 80 thousand dollars on what we were told could be temporary
(about 18 months), at which time we would possibly have to tear it out at our expense, or roll the
dice and hope they would get to stay, Covid-19 SIP occured. Spending money on a gamble was off
the table.
We have managed to keep plugging up the holes in our sinking boat, managed to keep 8 employees
working and have even paid our rent in full for April and May, about to pay June, late. Our set up in
the new location is narrow, and does not allow 6 foot distancing across, so we need to stagger,
which nets about 6 or 7 tables in the dining room. Our old location had 11 tables, plus 2 outdoor
tables, for about 1/3 of the rent, so you can imagine the situation we have gotten ourselves into.
I agree, K rail is not the best or prettiest way to go, but for The Pastaria and a few of us on N. Santa
Cruz, specifically North,Hanna's spot, we need something to help us have a couple of outdoor tables
to survive in this current climate. We will take whatever crumbs are available if it nets a few tables
more.
Sorry for the typos, I am hastily typing to get this in on time.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding,
Donna Novi
The Pastaria