01 Staff Report - Study Session MinutesDRAFT Council/Agency Meeting 03/05/07
Item # i
MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
FEBRUARY 12, 2007 .
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Regular Meeting on
Monday, February 12, 2007 at 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Joe Pirzynski, Vice Mayor Barbara Spector, Council Member
Steve Gickman, Council Member Diane McNutt, and Council Member Mike
Wasserman.
Absent: None.
Council Member Steve Glickman was present via a conference call during
tonight's Study Session.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
CONFERENCE WITH REAL NEGOTIATOR
(Government Code Section 54956.8)
Property: 15900 Los Gatos Boulevard (Verizon)
Negotiating parties: Town of Los Gatos (Negotiator: Debra Figone, Town
Manager)
Owner's Representative, Jeff Hardy, CB Richard Ellis Under negotiation: Price
and terms of payment
Mr. Korb stated direction was given and no action was taken.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Davis
■ Commented regarding the building of oversized homes in Los Gatos.
PRESENTATION - CIVIC CENTER/LIBRARY MASTER PLAN
Study Session and direction on the vision, conceptual costs, funding sources,.
and phasing options for the Civic Center/Library Master Plan.
Mayor Joe Pirzynski
■ 'Commented regarding tonight's study session on the vision of the Civic
Center/Library Master Plan (CCMP).
Presentation Continued
Debra Figone, Town Manager
■ Commented regarding:
o The great work produced by staff and the consulting team.
o The history of the CCMP dating from the early 1980s.
o Why planning for the future is valuable.
o The elements of the CCMP to-date.
o The key principles shaping the CCMP.
o That space estimates are based on the services desired by the
community and technical analyses, and that the targeted square
footage represent basic space needs.
Pamela Anderson-Brule, Brule Architects
■ Commented regarding the vision for the Civic Center site, including:
o A police facility on the west side of the site, with 'a parking garage
(one level underground).
o 'A library/community center on the east side, with an underground
parking garage.
o A one-floor library with views to Pageant Park.
o The realignment of Fiesta Way to the eastern edge of the site.
o Renovations to the existing Town Hall with a one stop shop
Community Development Center.
o The extensive amount of green spaces.
o Public assembly spaces and conference spaces
o Protection of the majority of significant trees on the site.
■ Commented on a phased vision for the Civic Center site, allowing phased
build-out of the CCMP through a separate two-story Library and separate
two-story Community Center.
Ms. Figone
■ Commented on the highlights of the conceptual cost model to implement
the CCMP, including:
o Estimates based on concepts, not actual buildings.
o The high cost of underground parking.
o The parking analysis which is still being developed.
o Escalation over time will increase cost estimates.
o The cost for furniture, fixtures and equipment not included in the
conceptual cost model.
■ Commented regarding potential financing sources for the CCMP, including
reserve accounts, capital campaigns/fundraising, property sales, joint
partnerships, Redevelopment Agency bonds, or General Obligation
bonds.
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Presentation Continued
Pamela Jacobs, Assistant Town Manager
■ Commented regarding a public opinion poll conducted to obtain
benchmark information about-voters opinions related to public facilities
and potential support for a bond measure, including:
o Voters feel positively about Town services
o 61 % had not heard anything about the CCMP
o Support for a bond measure fell below 2/3 majority needed
o Support for a new library was slightly higher than support for other
facilities.
o Public outreach and education is needed before undertaking a
bond measure.
o The Library should be a central focus of any potential bond
measure.
Ms. Figone
■ Commented regarding deficiencies pertaining to the facilities of the current
Civic Center.
■ Suggested Council feedback relating to the site vision and phasing and
financing options for the proposed CCMP.
■ Commented regarding direction and next steps for the Civic Center/Master
plan.
Council Comments
■ Clarification regarding the vision for the Civic Center site.
Ms. Anderson-Brule
■ Clarified the elements in the site vision, the phasing possible, and the
uses of the existing pods.
Council Comments
■ Questioned if the garage on the west side and the library could be built
without affecting the existing facilities.
■ Clarification regarding the phasing option relating to Fiesta Way.
■ Questioned,the use of the existing buildings for administrative services.
■ Questioned the option of adding new buildings versus utilizing the existing
buildings.
■ Questioned the cost impacts to property taxes for the residents.
■ Questioned the funding options if the project were phased.
Ms. Figone
■ Commented on the costs associated with bonds relating to property taxes
on assessed values.
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Public Comment
Mr. Davis
■ Commented on supporting an off-site police facility.
■ Commented that he feels that the Town is built out, and there is no need
for a new Civic Center.
Ms. Baum
■ Commented regarding the critical needs for the library.
■ Commented regarding the green spaces, and the areas for community
gatherings.
■ Commented that the library has outgrown the current space and would
benefit with a larger space to accommodate all the needs of the
community who use the library.
Ms. Olsen
■ Suggested extending the bond measure to the residents in the county
pockets.
■ Questioned if the green space in the proposed plan is smaller than the
current green space.
Ms. Figone
Commented on the options for bonds reaching to the unincorporated
areas.
■ Clarified that the green space is larger in the site vision than current green
space.
Closed Public Comment
Council Discussion
■ Commented regarding the preservation of the current structure.
■ Commented regarding the deficient library and police facilities.
■ Commented regarding more green areas and parking in the proposed
plan.
■ Commented regarding phasing the project to accomplish what can be
done.
■ Commented that the option to move police off-site is worth pursuing.
■ Commented that the plan has had significant community input.
■ Commented that the vision for the CCMP is a sensible plan.
■ Commented that the library should be the first phase.
Commented that the police facility should be the first phase.
■ Commented that the facilities should be pursued concurrently.
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Presentation Continued
Council Discussion - Continued
■ Would like to see more creative options to meet the needs of parking.
■ Would like to explore an off-site police facility.
■ Commented regarding lower parking demand if the police department is
located off-site.
■ Commented that downtown merchants may be concerned if a new garage
is built at the Civic Center.
■ Suggested expanding the library after the police department has moved
off-site.
■ Commented regarding the higher costs for adding on or retrofitting existing
Town Hall for the library relative to building a new facility.
■ Commented regarding the lack of support from the community relating to a
bond measure in the initial public opinion poll.
■ Commented regarding the 70% support in the public poll relating to the
need for a new police facility.
■ Commented regarding the 70% support in the public poll relating to the
need for a new Library.
■ Suggested supporting these needs with Redevelopment Agency bonding
and the "pay as you go" option.
■ Commented .regarding the community support needed to fund a new
Library.
■ Commented regarding the vision for the CCMP as a very appropriate look
into the future.
■ Supports the idea of phasing and community education relating to the next
steps for the CCMP.
■ Supports the idea of a bond measure to fund facilities rather than using
Town reserves.
■ Commented regarding Council majority to move forward to the next
steps with the direction given tonight.
ADJOURNMENT
Attest:
Jackie D. Rose, Clerk Administrator
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