Attachment 3 - Public CommentATTACHMENT 3
From: Sara Walker
Sent: Friday, August 6, 2021 12:40 PM
To: PublicComment <PublicComment@losgatosca.gov>
Subject: Water equity Bachman park water off compare to civic center and other parks
According to Matt Morley 1/3 if Bachman park has been given no water since June 9,2021. 1/3
gets50% reduction, 1/3 gets 15% reduction. 1/3 of this park is nearly or already unretrievably
dead and will require new sub soil and reseeding if not watered immediately to a reasonable
reduction like 15% or 85% of 2019 level. 2/3 of the park is getting 50-100% reduction far
beyond the mandated 15 % reduction. Even Mr Morley admits that all of city hall lawn is getting
only a 15percent reduction. No change has taken place since the council requested equitable
distribution of water to our parks
Photos below prove my point MORLEY needs GUIDANCE. We citizens live here and pay for
parks and revisions with our taxes. If the council requires him to exceed SJ Water mandate 15%
put it in writing and make it across the board 30 percent all sections equally. No parts at zero
Sent from my iPhone
From: Sara Walker
Date: August 3, 2021 at 5:44:03 PM PDT
To: publiccomment@losgatosca.gov
Subject: Bachman park water off compare to civic center and other parks
Today Bachman park below your killing it! Just seeded. Not equitable to this group of citizen
and park users compared with city hall and other parks.
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Bachman upper 1/3 dead above no water!
Civic center yesterday
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Civic center yesterday
Town plaza
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Riconda neighbor park yesterday
Blossom hill yesterday
Sent from my iPhone
ATTACHMENT 3
From: Donald Rocha <DRocha@valleywater.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 11:28 AM
Subject: Water Conservation (Item 13), in response to Santa Clara County’s drought conditions
Dear Mayor and City Council:
On behalf of Valley Water, I would like to express my appreciation to the Town of Los Gatos for
including on today’s Town Council agenda the subject, “Water Conservation” (Item 13), in
response to Santa Clara County’s drought conditions.
On June 23, 2021, you received electronic communication from the Santa Clara Valley Water
District (Valley Water) that included a signed letter from our Chair of the Board of Directors, as
well as an expanded list of recommended water use prohibitions that were outlined in the
previously adopted Valley Water resolution. Valley Water’s goal is a uniform, comprehensive
approach to water conservation across the County, and to also help promote actions residents
can take to be proactive in saving water and money.
Increased conservation is necessary to protect local water supplies and guard against
groundwater overdraft, subsidence, and dry domestic wells—especially if the drought extends
into next year—and we are grateful for the Town Council’s leadership and decisive action in
underscoring the seriousness of our region’s water supply condition. Today’s Council actions
and ongoing work by Town staff will help ensure we can all timely respond to the extreme
drought conditions to meet local needs and address the current and anticipated water
shortages.
While we do not know how long this drought will last, we do know that the time for action is
now, and we are prepared to assist you with community engagement on this important topic.
Valley Water stands ready to support continued efforts to work with you and other cities to
achieve reduction in water use across the County. Please know our Board of Directors very
much appreciates your leadership and quick action, and we thank you for your consideration of
these matters of critical importance.
Sincerely,
Don
Donald Rocha
Deputy Administrative Officer
Office of Government Relations
Valley Water
ATTACHMENT 3
From: SaraW
Sent: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 3:58 PM
Subject: Fwd: Urgent ActIon Required to Save Bachman Park
Once again the Town of Los Gatos Parks Management has turned off the water completely to
1/3 Bachman park @ Ellenwood end. This area now looks like straw and mud. This green space
has become more heavily used during Covid. The town is providing 1/2 water to the mid
section of the park and more to the playground end which is green. Over 100 residents of the
area fought to restore water equitably to this park in 2015 drought and petitioned council. We
got the water turned on enough to prevent death of the lawn. We need to do it
again. According to Jim Harbin Parks director all parks are now cut 15% which seems
reasonable on the surface. However, this week Civic Center is an even lush green as is Town
Plaza. Blossom Hill and La Rinconda are primarily green overall. Our view is we need to keep
equal watering throughout the neighborhood parks in a manner to keep it all alive, so the
public can use them now and when rains return to lawns will come back. Perhaps they could
cut cut time of water equally 15% over each section (1,2,3) or rotate weeks of
water. Perhaps the City Hall lawn water should be cut 100% and move toward drought
tolerant plants before sacrificing our neighborhood parks which citizens use and are key to the
town reputation. In 2018, we the town spent over $1 Million dollars on Bachman for new
cement paths/light. and reseeding . The lawn was the highest priority of the citizens as
expressed by petition. The Park department wanted and planted 4 oaks in the lawn currently
receiving no water(Mr. Harbin says they may have to bring in water and water manually.) The
city council is meeting at 7 p.m. including a Drought ordinance agenda Item 13 which is posted
on website: losgatosca.gov . Send your comments immediately
to publiccomment@losgatos.gov and they will be distributed to the mayor and city council
today and included in the record. Citizens can participate and comment by zoom click on
the agenda on losgatosca.gov for specific directions to use zoom or phone (blue). You may also
wish to comment directly to the town council members or town manager and Park director
Jim Harbin and Matt Morely Park and Public works director
From: Lee Fagot
Sent: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 10:53 PM
Subject: Conflict with Town and San Jose Water Co.
Madam Mayor and Council members,
Very positive and productive Council meeting tonight. Lots of good discussion and council
approvals of well balanced proposals on the town’s agenda.
There was one item that I tried to speak to, but had some computer link problems so missed
the time line. Specifically, item 13, Water Conservation.
The Council approved tonight to target 15% reduction in water usage thru Town, which is good
move:
+ including a 15 minute limit per station per day of watering, but no more than 3 days per
week between 5pm and 9am.
+ It did allow home car washing provided a shut off nozzle was attached to the hose to reduce
water run off while the spigot was open.
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I believe these two provisions, noted above, are in conflict with the directive we received
directly from San Jose Water, the Town’s supplier with effect from July 9, 2021.
See the copy of their provisions, below, which indicated no home car washing and only two
days per week of home lawn/garden watering, also with 15 minute max timing.
"This past week, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency due
to extreme drought conditions and is calling on all residents and businesses in the county’s
unincorporated areas to immediately begin conserving water.
San Jose Water has now taken similar actions that echo the seriousness of the threats posed
by the extreme drought.
“"During every drought, our customers have done extraordinarily well saving water to meet
our local emergency conditions. We ask them again to put conservation at the forefront so
we can meet the 15% goal,”" said Andy Gere, SJW’s President and Chief Operating Officer.
Beginning Friday, July 9, San Jose Water, which covers 230,000 customers, is implementing
the following restrictions:
Limits Watering to Two Days per Week: Watering or irrigating of lawns, landscape or
other vegetated areas with potable water is limited to two days per week. Irrigation
will be allowed Mondays and Thursdays for odd numbered and numberless addresses,
and will be allowed on Tuesdays and Fridays for even numbered addresses.
Limits Timing and Length of Watering: Watering or irrigating of outside plants, lawn,
landscape, and turf areas with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a
watering device that is not continuously attended, is limited to no more than 15
minutes of watering per day per station, with no watering between 10:00 a.m. and
8:00 p.m.
Limits Filling Decorative Fountains or Ornamental Lakes or Ponds: Prohibition of the
use of potable water for filling or re-filling decorative fountains, ornamental lakes or
ponds more than one foot, except when fountains or ponds/lakes are drained for
repairs, and except to the extent needed to sustain aquatic life in ponds/lakes,
provided that such animals are of significant value and have been actively managed
within the water feature prior to declaration of a supply shortage level.
Limits Washing Vehicles: Washing of vehicles, except at a commercial car washing
facility that utilizes recycled water or re-circulating water system to capture or reuse
water.
Limit Use of Potable Water for Washing Buildings: Also structures, sidewalks,
walkways, driveways, patios, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced, non-porous areas,
except to protect the health and safety of the public.”
Please advise which guidance is in effect for Los Gatos now???
Thanks, and again, really appreciate the work you all are doing to keep our Town moving
forward in such a positive way.
Lee Fagot