Staff Report.Minutes
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/01/2022 ITEM NO: 2
DRAFT
Minutes of the Town Council
October 18, 2022
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting in-person and utilizing
teleconferencing means on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:01 P.M.
ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Rob Rennie, Vice Mayor Maria Ristow, Council Member Mary Badame, Council
Member Matthew Hudes, Council Member Marico Sayoc.
Absent: None
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pravin Balasingham led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney, stated Council met as duly noted on the October 13 and 18,
2022 Closed Session agendas and stated there is no reportable action.
COUNCIL / MANAGER MATTERS
Council Matters
- Council Member Sayoc stated she attended the West Valley Community College Roots
Pantry Grand Opening and attended the Cities Association Board meeting on behalf of the
Mayor.
- Council Member Badame stated she attended the Finance Commission meeting as an
observer; chaired the Conceptual Development Advisory Committee meeting which was
continued November 9 due to a lack of quorum; attended the West Valley Solid Waste
Management Authority Board meeting and the West Valley Clean Water Authority Board
meeting; met with Alan Feinberg the creator of “Discover LOST Gatos” the historical walking
tours, and a KCAT Board Member to discuss various issues in Town.
- Vice Mayor Ristow stated she attended the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Foundation
Recognition Luncheon, the Police Academy, the First Fridays Senior Service Committee
event at the Palms for community members 55 and older, the Finance Committee meeting
as an observer, the Complete Streets and Transportation Committee meeting as an
observer, and met with residents on various topics.
- Council Member Hudes stated he attended the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Foundation
Recognition Luncheon, the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Emergency Communication Leadership
meetings “HAM Cram” class and Community Emergency Response Team exercises, the
Senior Service Roadmap Sub-Committee meetings, and the Finance Commission meeting.
PAGE 2 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of October 18, 2022 DATE: October 25, 2022
Council Matters – continued
- Mayor Rennie stated he attended the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Technology
Implementation Steering Committee meeting, the Stationary Source Committee meeting,
and the Board meeting; attended the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCEA) Finance
Committee meeting, the SVCEA Risk Oversight Committee meeting, and Board meeting;
attended the Valley Transportation Authority Board and Policy Advisory Committee
meetings; and the Finance Commission meeting.
Manager Matters
- Announced that Board, Commission, and Committee recruitment is underway, applications
are due on December 2, at 4:00 p.m. and more information can be found on the Clerk
webpage.
- Announced a Housing Element Advisory Board Committee meeting will be held on
Thursday, October 20th via teleconference.
- Announced free COVID-19 testing will take place on October 27, 2022 at the Adult
Recreation Center and appointments will be available beginning Thursday, October 20.
- Announced ballot boxes are now outside of Town Hall and the Library.
CONSENT ITEMS 1. Approve Draft Minutes of the October 4, 2022 Special Town Council Meeting.
2. Approve Draft Minutes of the October 4, 2022 Town Council Meeting.
3. Approve Draft Minutes of the October 13, 2022 Closed Session Town Council Meeting.
4. Adopt a Resolution Reaffirming Resolution 2021-044 and Making Findings Pursuant to
Government Code Section 54953, as Amended by Assembly Bill 361, and, Due to Health and
Safety Concerns for the Public, Authorizing the Use of Hybrid Meetings for the Town Council
and the Continued Use of Virtual Meetings for Boards and Commissions While Town Staff
Makes the Necessary Arrangements to Transition to Hybrid Meetings for All Town Boards,
Commissions, and Committees. RESOLUTION 2022-065
5. Adopt an Extension to June 30, 2023 to the Town’s Economic Recovery Resolution to Allow
for the Continued Support of the Town’s Economic Recovery Efforts, including the
Completion of the Construction and Implementation of the Semi-Permanent Parklet
Program. RESOLUTION 2022-066
6. Adopt a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the Town Manager to Execute the Project
Specific Maintenance Agreement for Los Gatos Creek Trail with the California Department
of Transportation. RESOLUTION 2022-067
7. Authorize the Town Manager to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Los
Gatos Saratoga Union High School District and Los Gatos Union School District to Participate
in a Community Norms Effort at a Cost Not to Exceed $16,800.
8. Receive Independent Accountants’ Report on Agreed-Upon Procedures on Measure G
Revenues and Expenditures for the Period March 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021.
PAGE 3 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of October 18, 2022 DATE: October 25, 2022
Consent Items – continued
9. Storm Drainage System Repair at 62 Ellenwood Avenue (CIP No. 816-0420):
a. Reject All Bids Received and Opened on October 10, 2022 for the Project; and
b. Authorize the Town Manager to Re- Bid the Project with Changes that May Reduce
Project Cost.
Opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Closed public comment.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Ristow to approve items 1-9. Seconded by Council Member
Badame.
VOTE: Motion passes unanimously.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Christopher Bajorer
- Requested the Town adopt a rigorous process for validating the residency of an applicant
who requests to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit or split a lot.
Tom Picraux, Senior Service Committee Chair
- Commented on the Senior Service Roadmap Sub-Committee progress.
John Shepardson
- Commented on the Albright settlement funds, and suggested the Town make better use of
the Finance Commission, hire an outside consultant to review the budget, have the Santa
Clara County Sheriff make a proposal to provide police services to the Town, and possibly
submit a parcel tax ballot measure to help fund police services.
OTHER BUSINESS 10. Receive an Annual Report Regarding the Independent Police Auditor Function.
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney, provided the staff report.
Opened public comment.
No one spoke.
Closed public comment.
Council discussed the item and received the report.
PAGE 4 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of October 18, 2022 DATE: October 25, 2022
11. Discuss the Housing Element Process and the Next Steps for the Referendum of the 2040
General Plan Land Use and Community Design Elements, and Provide Direction on the
Preferred Approach for the Referendum.
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney, and Joel Paulson, Community Development Director,
provided the staff report.
Opened public comment.
Ronald Meyer
- Inquired where the 2040 General Plan can be accessed and commented in support of
Option B in the staff report to place the measure on the ballot at the November 2024
General Municipal Election.
Richard Kananen
- Commented on the Housing Element, opposed rezoning to higher density, and supports
restoring the land use goal to preserve, promote and protect the existing small town
character and quality of life in Los Gatos.
Diane Pleasant
- Commented on the small town character of the Town and requested the Council consider
adding the word “small” back into the verbiage of the 2040 General Plan.
Rob Stump
- Commented on the referendum and spoke in support of the option to rescind and replace
the Land Use and Community Design Elements of the 2040 General Plan.
Rick Van Hoesen
- Commented on the referendum and stated support for Option C to rescind and replace the
Elements as listed in the staff report.
Barbara Dodson
- Commented on the General Plan, did not support placing the referendum on a ballot, and
supports the option to rescind and replace.
Markene Smith
- Commented on concerns with the housing numbers and affordable housing, requested the
Council consider adding transit solutions and energy efficiency, requested the phrase
“preserve, promote and protect the existing small town character and quality of life” be
added back into the Plan, and supported the rescind and replace option.
PAGE 5 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of October 18, 2022 DATE: October 25, 2022
Other Business item #11 – continued
Kathryn Morgan
- Commented on concerns with water, housing, traffic, and parking, and requested a
guaranteed percentage of affordable housing.
Sutton Roley
- Commented on concerns with housing numbers being higher that the State mandated
number and would like to revisit the General Plan every eight years in line with the Reginal
Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) cycle to make any necessary amendments.
Lee Quintana
- Commented on the difference between increasing density in a General Plan designation and
upzoning in the Zoning Code. She also explained that the Zoning Code may limit what might
be possible within a General Plan land use designation.
Lee Fagot
- Commented on concerns with too much housing, the impacts of traffic, parking, water use,
and electricity, and would like Council to commit to preserve, promote and protect the
existing small town character and quality of life in Los Gatos.
Catherine Somers, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
- Commented in support of the 2040 Community Design Element and requested Council
consider implementing workforce housing and additional transportation solutions.
Ken Arendt
- Commented on concerns with the increased housing numbers, availability of affordable
housing, stated he would not want to go through an expensive ballot measure and would
like to preserve the small-town character.
Younggang “Jason” Xu
- Commented on the small town character.
Melanie Hanssen
- Commented in support of option C in the staff report and commented on the Design
Element.
Bill Kraus
- Commented that the housing number buffer should be reduced from 15% to 3 to 5% and
recommended adding the goal of preserving the small town character back into the 2040
General Plan.
PAGE 6 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of October 18, 2022 DATE: October 25, 2022
Other Business item #11 – continued
Ian Land
- Commented on moderating growth, stated concerns with pressures on infrastructure, and
spoke about rescinding and replacing the elements and voting on the proposed amended
elements in 2024.
Kevin Ma
- Commented on the need for housing and discussed compliance issues with the Housing
Element.
John Shepardson
- Commented on concerns with the possible number of units, the draw on the Town’s
resources, and supports keeping the small town character language and include Justice,
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) in the 2040 General Plan.
Randi Chen
- Commented that not all parcels are eligible for upzoning due to other constraints and Town
Codes; stated that the 12,000 housing unit number is unrealistic; and said that requiring
different types of housing can enhance the small town character.
Joanne Rodgers
- Commented in support of Option C and opposed adding 12,000 units.
Jake Wilde
- Commented the Town has a need for additional housing given the job housing ratio.
Closed public comment.
Recess 9:16 p.m.
Reconvene 9:27 p.m.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Hudes to reconsider the Land use and Community
Design elements after adoption of the 2040 Housing Element, no later than the time
frame for the 2024 election. Seconded by Council Member Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
PAGE 7 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of October 18, 2022 DATE: October 25, 2022
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
_____________________________________
Jenna De Long, Deputy Clerk