Verbal Communications Received After 11 amFrom:Yuki torrey
To:PublicComment
Subject:Verbal Communications - Non Agenda Item
Date:Tuesday, August 4, 2020 12:31:01 AM
Hello I am Yuki Torrey and I graduated from Los Gatos High School in 2018 and am
currently a University student. I am contacting you to see if the Town Council has a plan to address sending on Law enforcement and having a community discussion about Law
Enforcement in our Town.
I recently learned that 37% of the general fund goes to LGMSPD, and I am contacting you to urge to take action to defund from the police department and take action to invest in
community solutions to combat racism in our community. We need to implement community solutions ( and I do not mean community policing) to keep BIPOC in our community safe, and
37% of the general fund going to law enforcement is unacceptable. There have been efforts in Los Angeles and other cities to shift funds to invest in community and solutions that will
create safety and not continue the cycle of criminalization of marginalized people.
Thank you for your time and consideration.Yuki Torrey
August 4, 2020
Dear Madam Mayor, Council members and Town Staff,
Thank you for working for us thru this tough time with so many challenges. We
appreciate your commitment.
Regarding Public Comment on items NOT on today’s Council Meeting Agenda:
While the Town has been able to manage police services so that there is good
response times, lower than average for the County crime rates, and good overall
community engagement between police and citizens. I also recognize that 78%
of our officers have completed crisis training (2017/18 Santa Clara Grand Jury
Report), and the Town has recently provided additional funding for such training,
many citizens support such further training, not just for crisis, but to deal with
racial and social issues that are now manifesting in Town. Such issues are
festering in various neighborhoods and social confrontations are increasing, both
in numbers and severity that could lead to violence. Additionally, growing data
shows mental and emotional instability increasingly leads to escalating physical
conflicts and threats that lead to harm and later police involvement.
Further, there could be significant benefit, both in quality of service, emotional
and social outcome and cost reduction, it the Town also contracted for
professional social service providers to work with first responders to assist such
calls when at the time of notice such responders were deployed. This could
reduce aggressive confrontations, the possibility of further escalation (as shown
in other communities) of short and long term consequences for all parties
involved.
Perhaps further contracting with other surrounding municipalities or the county
(as we do for fire services) could be a good part of such a remedy.
Please agenda this for further research, discussion and action based on
resources needed to provide such care to our folks. Additionally, as sworn
officers retire/depart our PD, this could be a way of replacing with such well
qualified social workers who could also be engaged with our fire services
emergency responders.
Thank you for your consideration of this issue and I believe there is a good
number of folks in our Town who would like to help with any further research as
needed to determine the best methods going forward.
Take care,
Lee Fagot
From: Rob Moore
Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 2:22 AM
To: Town Manager <Manager@losgatosca.gov>; Council <Council@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Public Comment Town Council 8/4
Dear Mayor and Town Council,
My name is Rob Moore and I am a resident of Los Gatos and a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement.
As you know, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and so many unnamed others have been killed because of our country’s systematically racist criminal justice system. In our town, we have heard the outcries from so many members of our community and seen injustice in front of us every day. Our town has a history of racism that affects our black and brown neighbors every day. As the elected representatives of our town, we have trusted you with our votes to right this wrong. In the multiple, peaceful demonstrations we have seen in our town, thousands of organizers and protesters have called for Los Gatos to take steps towards making our town a more accepting place for all.
In light of all of this, I ask that in today’s review of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, you reallocate some of the funds currently directed toward the police department to other programs and alternative forms of policing, such as community policing, community development, affordable housing, and/ or a specific diversity, equity, and inclusion line item. As mentioned by Los Gatos residents involved in coordinating demonstrations, our town allocates significantly more funding to our police department than our neighboring towns like Saratoga.
I believe this is a small request to begin to address the massive inequities and systems of oppression that have been perpetuated by centuries of governmental inaction. Though this will not fix the problem, it will move our town in a positive direction and demonstrate a tangible commitment to addressing systematic racism.
Thank you for all you do for the Town of Los Gatos and for your consideration.
Yours in service,
Rob Moore
From:Kira Barsten
To:PublicComment
Subject:Verbal Communications – Non Agenda Item
Date:Tuesday, August 4, 2020 10:23:26 AM
Hello Mayor and Council Members,
I am writing to you to emphasize the importance of revisiting the Town's budget in light of
our nation's reckoning with racial inequities.
I would like to see the Town Council genuinely discuss opportunities to reallocate funding
and resources from the LGMSPD into professional social workers who can deal with non-
violent incidents (youth intervention, mental health resources, etc.). We ask police to do too
much, and this is not a efficient use of resources.
I also would like to see more discussion around the use of funds, as well as Town policies,
to promote and support more affordable housing efforts. Los Gatos is economically and
racially segregated in effect due to 1) a racist and discriminatory past, but now 2) very
expensive housing. This is also relevant to your pandemic response, as many folks losing
their jobs will struggle to afford housing. Furthermore, this is a matter of sustainability; the
more expensive it is to live in Los Gatos, the more people will have to drive to work in our
town rather than live here.
Please revisit the budget and direct staff to develop ACTION plans for addressing these
concerns.
Thank you,
Kira Barsten
Resident
From:Sarah Hollingsworth
To:PublicComment
Subject:Verbal Communications - Non Agenda Item for August 4, 2020 Council Meeting
Date:Tuesday, August 4, 2020 4:16:50 PM
Hello Councilmembers,
I am so pleased to know that several councilmembers have expressed support of the Black
Lives Matter Movement. By saying this, I know that many of you are committed to workingtoward a more equitable future for ourselves and the legacy we leave for our children. It is
time to take anti-racist action by dismantling the structures of white supremacy on which thiscountry and our cities and towns were built.
As it stands, there are not effective strategies implemented to support our marginalized
residents. It is imperative that we divest from police and invest in community-led services thatare trained and funded to help our community thrive. Such services are needed regarding
homelessness, mental health, domestic violence, at-risk youth, and veteran services, just toname a few.
This information is not new, and plans to implement these services are already available from
organizations that have done the research. It is a matter of having those same BIPOC at thetable to help make these decisions. Our country was intentionally built with oppressive
structures in place, but it is possible to re-imagine an equitable and just society.
Speaker, producer, and best-selling author, Austin Channing Brown encourages us saying,"What if instead of longing for ease, we were made for more - made to advocate, made to dig
in, made to speak out, made for complexity, made for this moment? What if we believed sodeeply in our own capacity to rise to this occasion that getting to work wasn’t a tiring chore,
but a life-giving opportunity to invest in something larger than ourselves?"
Thank you, Sarah Hollingsworth
<she/her>
From: Eden Manseau
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2020 1:41 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Public Comment Item #Verbal Communications – Non Agenda Item
Hello,
As Los Gatos residents residing at 208 Kimble Ave. in the Friendly Hill neighborhood, we are concerned
about the current high volume of traffic traversing both Reservoir Road, Kimble Ave, Cleland Ave and
College Ave. Not only has the Sister’s Court development brought an influx of residential, construction,
service and delivery traffic, there is also the issue of shift workers from the Novitiate using Reservoir
Road to arrive on time for work. In addition to increased car traffic, there is also increased pedestrian
traffic on streets that are steep, narrow and without sidewalks in our neighborhood. We understand
that a Developer is planning to install multiple rental units that may further add to the already
increasing traffic. Has a traffic impact study been required of the developer? If not, can the Town
consider implementing this requirement?
Thank you for your consideration,
Eden & Rex Manseau
From: Susan Kankel
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2020 2:41 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: 200 Prospect Avenue
Council,
The new owner and developer of 200 Prospect is installing a major rental project in the Friendly Hill
neighborhood of Los Gatos, which is zoned for single residential use. They have applied for minimal
building permits related to updating a bathroom and kitchen but no other renovations. We neighbors
have watched them gut and rebuild the cabins, previously not up to current code, pouring new
driveways and hardscape surrounding the existing pool. The entire project has escaped typical Town
oversight and with it, associated revenue. Further, there has been almost no communication to the
surrounding neighbors. The nuns used the property as an organization representing a single residence
for a few Sisters. As recently as yesterday the developer confirmed there plans to develop the
property for use with at least 14 separate rental units. This includes renting both of the houses, 3 of the
non-conforming cabins which sit on or inches from neighboring property lines, and the 9 room former
“dormitory building”, used for occasional guests. What is the basis for the town allowing this use? Is
the developer relying on a temporary use permit? Or, did the developer apply for a new permit? We
are requesting the Town hold the Developer to requirements for change of use under R-1-20 zoning or
at least hold a hearing on the matter.
Susan Kankel
Reservoir Road
From: Lani Harr
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2020 3:31 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Public Comment Item #Verbal Communications – Non Agenda Item
Our family has lived in Los Gatos for 11 years, 9 of which have been as homeowners at 83 Reservoir
Road. We are deeply concerned about the proposed development plan at 200 Prospect that would allow
for multiple (14) rental units at that property. Not only could this development impact the value of our
homes, but by bringing multiple renters to this property there will be additional vehicle traffic adding to
what is already an unsafe street for our children and neighbors to walk/bike. We are asking the Town
Council and staff to review this matter and rule against allowing the owners of 200 Prospect to rent
individual structures on the property to separate parties.
Sincerely,
Lani and Patrick Harr
83 Reservoir Road
Los Gatos, CA 95030
408-656-1727
From: Rajesh Natarajan
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2020 4:06 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: “Public Comment Item #Verbal Communications – Non Agenda Item?
Would like to discuss plan with 200 prospect ave. today at the meeting
thanks
Nat Natarajan
From: Essie Asher
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2020 4:26 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: Kevin F Asher <kfasher@gmail.com>; Essie Asher <essie.asher@gmail.com>; julie smith
<smithannejulie@gmail.com>
Subject: Public Comment Item #verbal communications -non agenda item
Dear Mayor of Los Gatos
We have resided at 90 Reservoir Road, Los Gatos for the last ten years. Unfortunately family
conflicts are keeping us from participating in today’s important town council meeting. We are
writing in connection with our deep concerns regarding the rental plans for 200 Prospect. Our
understanding is that this property is zoned for single residential use R-1-20; however, the
current developing plans call for multiple rental units. Such a project is inconsistent with the
area’s zoning, neighborhood design and betterment of our community. We are requesting a
full vetting of any development for this property that conflicts with R-1-20.
Our concerns lie with the safety of neighbors walking in the area and the impairment of the
value our property from a multi-unit rental development in this location. The streets of the area
were not planned for this type of development and it appears to have inappropriately
bypassed Los Gatos' long disciplined permitting process. There are concerns over the existing
infrastructure compliance with local ordinance, fire risk from the aging buildings, and additional
noise.
The safety related to the high volume of traffic in the area is a significant risk to pedestrians on
the area roads. One example being the intersection at the foot of Reservoir road which is
already a treacherous and hazardous intersection. The area streets have no sideways but there
is significant foot and bike traffic for children heading to school and neighbors headed to town
that would be threatened by increased traffic stemming from 14 additional rental units
Allowing a multi-rental unit development in the midst of an area for which the surrounding
infrastructure was designed for single family homes would be a void of the city officials
responsibilities. We request that you promptly ceases all activity at 200 prospect until the
development has considered the concerns of the neighborhood and completed a
comprehensive assessment by the city permit process.
Kevin and Essie Asher
From: bette cruikshank <ohbette@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2020 4:36 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Cc: ICE Kirk <kirk.cruikshank@gmail.com>; smithjulieanne@aol.com
Subject: Public Comment Item # Verbal Communications-Non Agenda Item
We share the many concerns of our neighbors regarding the rental properties being built at 200
Prospect that appear to violate the zoning for our neighborhood.
Bette and Kirk Cruikshank
121 Kimble Ave, Los Gatos