08 Attachment 6 - Public Comment Received Between 1101 a.m. January 14 2021 and 1101 a.m. January 15 2021From: Sue Farwell
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 3:03 PM
To: Monica Renn <mrenn@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Re: Community & Economic Vitality Discussion: January 19 at 7 p.m.
Monica,
Please include the letter below into your presentation to the Council of the 1/19/21 meeting.
Thanks,
Sue
Esteemed Council Members,
I am writing to you today to implore you to move forward to help all our Los Gatos businesses survive
these drastic closures and limited business openings during the enforced SIP. I believe our council
should be a strong voice for our business community, you should be “bending the ear” of our Board of
County Supervisors, the Health Director and ultimately our Governor to open outdoor dining and hair
salons as well as championing our retail stores.
I will address the parklet program and the Grant monies proposed. I am a big believer and supporter of
the parklets; I know more permanent parklets will only enrich our Town’s viability, survivability and
ambience. The last motion approved by the Town only allows Grant money to those businesses that
haven’t provided for ADA access to the temporary parklets, and Grant money to those businesses that
haven’t built permeant parklets.
This is incredibly wrong and unfair to those business that have spent money to be sure their temporary
parklet complied to ADA access standards and those business that have spent upwards of $90,000 for
permanent parklets. The Council should allow all businesses the same access and the same amount of
funds for the parklets, regardless of their status as ADA compliant or permanent. Those monies for the
permanent parklets already completed can be used to insure the construction of a safe canopy for
inclement weather that is fire rated to allow for the placement of propane heaters. The money given
should be equal for all, not just for those business that did nothing to insure safe access to the
temporary parklets, that’s rewarding bad behavior.
The next issue is the future for new business. The council has done a great job of streamlining the
planning side of opening a new business, but the building side of the equation is woeful at best. It can
take months and months to get thru the building permitting phase and this can be devastating to a new
business. The Council must act to expedite the building departments review of plans and approvals. By
sending out all the plan check reviews instead of an in-house review the process is incredibly slow. The
Council must review this procedure and develop a more efficient or expedited building permit process.
The other issue for the future are the fees charged by the Town. A business license waiver is a small but
tangible benefit for existing businesses. If the Council is serious about having an immediate impact in
revitalizing our Town’s shuttered and vacant buildings as more businesses fail due to the mandated SIP
by California, then it is critical to reduce all the fees charged or planning and building permits. Cutting
these fees drastically and expediting the process for new business is significant and essential.
ATTACHMENT 6
I appeal to you tonight to approve all Grant monies for temporary and permanent parklets to be
available to all businesses, eliminate all business license fees for 2021, look at reducing the permitting
fees on new business and create a committee to address the building department permitting process.
Thank you,
Sue Farwell
On Jan 12, 2021, at 2:50 PM, Monica Renn <mrenn@losgatosca.gov> wrote:
Good afternoon Los Gatos Business Community- Happy New Year, I hope this email finds you in good
health!
I’m connecting today to let you know that we are returning to the Town Council this coming Tuesday,
January 19, 2021 at 7 p.m. via Zoom to continue our discussions on economic recovery, community
vitality, and a semi-permanent parklet program. The Town continues to be committed to the health,
safety, and recovery of Los Gatos and is seeking ways to support our entire community, including you,
our valued businesses
I’m seeking your input and ideas on tangible items or initiatives that the Council could consider that
offer additional business and community support as we weather the pandemic and look towards
recovery.
Currently, the staff report includes discussions around continued rent forgiveness for Town-owned
properties, consideration for business license modifications for specific business sectors unable to
operate due to the public health order, a semi-permanent parklet incentive program including grants to
assist with the build-out of parklets, and a timeline for the temporary krail parklets.
If you have thoughts on these, other economic recovery, or community vitality initiatives, please
email them to me directly.
• Comments received before 11 a.m. on Thursday, 1/14 will be included with the original staff
report for the Council.
• Comments received between 11:01 a.m. on Thursday, 1/14 and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 1/19 will be
provided for the Town Council as a part of a written addendum or desk item.
• As always, we welcome you to join the conversation via Zoom at the Town Council meeting on
Tuesday 1/19 at 7 p.m. where comments may be provided verbally. The zoom link will be
available with the staff report that comes out this Thursday evening.
Thank you for your continued collaboration and resiliency. We have an incredible business community in
Los Gatos and I remain optimistic for our future. I have tried to reach as many business stakeholders as
possible with this email, however please feel free to share with other businesses so that we may reach
as much of our community as possible.
Kindly,
Monica Renn
Economic Vitality Manager
Town of Los Gatos