01 Staff Report - 2007 Town Council Retreat~rtj N 0 MEETING DATE: 04-02-07
ITEM NO:
SOS ca o5 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: MARCH 27, 2007
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: 2007 TOWN COUNCIL RETREAT
APPROVE MEETING MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 9 AND 10, 2007 TOWN
COUNCIL RETREAT
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the meeting minutes from the Town Council Retreat held March 9 and 10, 2007.
BACKGROUND:
The Town Council held a Council Retreat on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, 2007 to discuss
issues of strategic importance to the effective governance of the Town, including 2007-08 goals and
priorities, the 2010 General Plan update, and issues related to the downtown, development and revenue
challenge.
DISCUSSION:
Attachment 1 provides the summary of the Council Retreat, including the meeting minutes and the
summary notes (Exhibit A). Staff is seeking Council approval of the meeting minutes, including the
summary notes.
The summary notes present the observations and directions reflecting the general consensus of the Town
Council. Direction given at the retreat includes:
■ Revise the goal and priority projects matrix to reflect the Council discussion. The revised matrix
is included as Attachment 2. Detailed work plans, with milestones and measurable objectives,
for the priority projects will be developed as the projects proceed.
PREPARED BY
PAMELA S. JACOBS
ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER
NAMC,R\PJacobs\Council Retreat\2007 Retreat StaffReport.doc
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager
Clerk Administrator Finance
own Attorney
nunity Development
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: 2007 TOWN COUNCIL RETREAT
MARCH 27, 2007
■ Provide background information regarding youth and senior services, and public facilities
(including recreation) available in Town. It is anticipated that this inventory will be completed
as a precursor to the General Plan update, with the timing for the inventory identified in the work
plan for the update.
■ Develop a work plan and timeline for the 2010 General Plan Update per Council's comments.
The work plan and timeline will be brought to Council by Fall, 2007.
■ Update the Community Development Department work plan to reflect Council's comments on
recurring issues. The update will be completed internally.
■ Schedule a joint study session with the Planning Commission to review the downtown parking
district program and the issue of parking credits. This study session will be scheduled by Winter,
2008.
■ Explore the following issues and actions in regards to downtown and townwide economic
vitality: linear footage information regarding downtown retail establishments; a facade loan
program; the gateway projects; and engaging local CEOs and corporate leaders in identifying
business prospects for the Town. These actions will occur as part of the Town's ongoing work
work plans in the areas of economic vitality and Capital Improvement Program development.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with approving the minutes and summary notes; however,
actions will have fiscal impacts that will be discussed at the time they are brought forward for Council
review and approval.
Attachments:
1. Town of Los Gatos, Town Council Retreat, March 9 and 10, 2007 Meeting Minutes and Exhibit
A, 2007 Town Council Retreat Summary Notes
2. FY 2007-08 Strategic Goals and Priority Projects Matrix
DRAFT
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
TOWN COUNCIL RETREAT
March 9 and 10, 2007
Meeting Minutes
TOWN COUNCIL RETREAT
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos met at the Los Gatos Lodge, Friday, March 9, 2007
at 4:00 p.m. for a Council Retreat.
COUNCIL ATTENDANCE
Present:
Joe Pirzynski, Mayor
Barbara Spector, Vice Mayor
Steve Glickman, Council Member
Diane McNutt, Council Member
Mike Wasserman, Council Member
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007 SESSION
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Greene
■ Supported the concept of Council retreats.
■ Requested improvements to Town development review process.
Mr. Davis
■ Questioned the timing of posting the retreat agenda.
■ Commented regarding Town reserves.
■ Commented against the Council's decision on the Placer Oaks project.
COUNCIL RETREAT DISCUSSION
Mayor Pirzynski opened the meeting with his vision for the Retreat.
Shawn Spano, consultant to the Town, presented the purpose, agenda and format of the Friday
session of the Council Retreat.
Debra Figone, Town Manager, set the context for the discussion. Pamela Jacobs, Assistant
Town Manager, provided an overview of the suggested 2007 goals and priorities. Council
engaged in a discussion about the goals and priorities.
Exhibit A, attached to these minutes provides summary notes from the Friday session
ATTACHMENT 1
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pirzynski adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m. to Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.
at the Los Gatos Lodge.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2007 SESSION
VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Mr. Davis
■ Commented regarding the sale of Town land in Vasona Park and the potential for soccer
fields.
■ Commented regarding the development of large houses on the hillsides.
COUNCIL RETREAT DISCUSSION
Shawn Spano presented the purpose, agenda and format of the Saturday session of the Council
Retreat.
Debra Figone set the context for the discussion on the 2010 General Plan update. Bud Lortz,
Director of Community Development, provided an overview of the last General Plan update.
Council discussed the role of the General Plan in decision-making, how the General Plan reflects
the community's values and the scope of the General Plan update. Exhibit A, attached to these
minutes provides summary notes from the 2010 General Plan update session.
Debra Figone set the context for the discussion on recurring issues. Bud Lortz provided an
overview of the Community Development Department work plan and the recurring issues
affecting downtown Los Gatos Council discussed the status of the recurring issues and the need
for further action. Steve Conway, Director of Finance, provided an overview of the Town's
revenue sources. Council discussed the vulnerabilities associated with the Town's reliance on
sales tax and on one sales tax generator. Due to time constraints, Council did not discuss the
issue of neighborhood compatibility. Exhibit A, attached to these minutes provides summary
notes from the Recurring Issues session.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pirzynski adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.
Attest:
Jackie D. Rose
Clerk Administrator
Los Gatos Town Council Retreat
Summary Notes
March 9 -10, 2007
2007 - 08 Goals and Priorities
Council affirmed the six goals as meaningful reflections of the Town's values and
priorities.
■ Community Character
■ Good Governance
■ Fiscal Stability
■ Public Infrastructure
■ Civic Enrichment
■ Public Safety
Council made the following observations about the goals and the Administrative Work
Plan:
■ The goals will vary in importance from year to year based on social and
economic conditions that are present at the time.
■ Public safety, public infrastructure, and fiscal stability are key priority areas at the
present time.
■ The number of special projects and major projects currently underway is
extensive and impressive.
Council suggested the following actions be taken in response to the major projects
identified under each of the six goal areas:
■ Develop outcome-oriented action statements and performance objectives for the
priority. Include milestones where possible and appropriate.
■ Under Public Safety, include addressing police facility needs as a priority project.
■ Under Public Safety, include implementing Los Gatos Prepared as a priority
project.
• Under Public Infrastructure, address ongoing maintenance of streets, sidewalks,
and retaining walls. Make these a funding priority; identify funding sources.
■ Under Fiscal Stability, make it a priority to seek long-term fiscal stability through
diversification and providing full-service goods and services.
• Under Civic Enrichment, include a priority project to determine the action plan for
a new library.
• Under Community Character, the General Plan Update to be discussed on
Saturday is a priority.
■ Under Good Governance, the expansion of eGov services is a priority.
■ Revise Attachment 3 to reflect the above priorities and include the other major
projects as major projects on the Administrative Work Plan.
• Identify the youth and senior services that the Town is currently providing to
determine if there are gaps that should be priority projects. Recognize that these
services are probably distributed across several goal areas. (Refer to General
Plan discussion for recommended timing.)
EXHIBIT A
2010 General Plan Update
Council affirmed the value of the General Plan as useful to their work in setting policy
and making decisions. Council also agreed that the General Plan reflects the
community's values and is a dynamic document that can be interpreted differently over
time.
Council agreed that 2010 update process should be streamlined and scaled back from
the previous update, which was both extensive and thorough. Specifically, Council
agreed to pursue a two-track process in undertaking the update, preceded by a
community-visioning process and background reports on particular areas. Follow-up
discussion is needed to determine the sequencing of these activities:
■ The "kick-off' event might be a community-visioning process, consisting of one or
more public forums that are carefully designed and facilitated to engage and
inspire the public and produce quality input without creating unrealistic
expectations.
■ Council requested that staff provide background on youth services, senior
services, and public facilities, including recreation, in preparation for the update.
These reports should include an assessment of what services are currently being
provided, gaps in service delivery, and the financial dimensions of the services.
■ Track 1: Council will undertake a review of the current General Plan to assess
areas that need be changed and to make recommendations about revisions,
answering questions such as: What parts are outdated (e.g., the conservation
element)? What parts have already been completed (e.g., Vasona Light Rail and
Route 85)? What new issues and areas need to be included? Council might also
choose to direct the Planning Commission and staff to undertake a similar review
and assessment.
■ Track 2: In addition to the community-visioning process, additional public input
processes will be conducted. These may include neighborhood meetings,
Council meetings, and Commission and Board meetings.
■ Staff will develop a recommended work plan and timeline for Council's
consideration.
Recurring Issues
Council discussed five recurring issues related to downtown and the long-term revenue
challenge facing the Town. The purpose was to determine the extent to which policies
and actions related to these issues should be revised or clarified. Note: Due to time
constraints, development issues related to neighborhood compatibility were postponed
for a later time.
Downtown Issues
Council reflected on their visions for the downtown, which included: downtown being the
jewel of Los Gatos; more residents visiting the downtown regularly; the downtown being
physically beautiful; having a good balance of independent businesses and national
chains; more of the national chains locating on the north end of Santa Cruz Blvd.;
having notable gateways on the north and south ends; and increased economic vitality
on the east side of the Main St. bridge. Issues and opportunities to explore suggested
by Council included:
■ Efforts to encourage economic vitality on the north end of Santa Cruz Blvd. and
on the east side of the Main St. bridge.
■ Potential for a fagade loan program to provide an incentive for investment in the
north end of Santa Cruz Blvd.
■ Revisiting the gateway projects to determine opportunities for moving forward.
■ Determination of linear footage of retail independents and national chains in the
Downtown; exploration of adding "leasable area" on business license
applications and renewals.
Recurring Downtown Issues
■ Formula Retail: No change to the Formula Retail Ordinance; remove from list.
■ Conversion of retail space to restaurants: No change to existing policy; take off
work plan list. No other action requested.
■ Wine tasting, wine bar establishments, expansion from wine and beer to full
alcohol: No change to existing policy; take off list. Council requested that staff
inform them when applications are submitted and how the policy is applied in
these particular cases.
■ Entertainment policy. No change to existing policy; stays on list as a low priority.
■ Parking and parking credits: Council requests a joint study session with Planning
Commission to review issue and policy. Stays on list.
Long-Term Revenue Challenge
■ Council discussed the budget implications of losing Netflix, agreeing that while
this would result in a significant reduction, the Town would work to adapt to the
loss.
■ Council encouraged staff to continue to program only a portion of the Netflix
sales tax receipts for ongoing services.
■ Council reiterated the priority discussed the day before regarding seeking long-
term fiscal stability through diversification of the Town's revenue base.
■ Council endorsed the steps that staff is currently taking to diversify the revenue
base, attract revenue-producing businesses to Town, and assist developers in
taking actions that benefit the Town financially. These steps include tracking
vacancies, branding and raising levels of awareness, networking with individuals
and companies in the Research and Development sector, and developing a local
corporate client list.
■ Council suggested that CEOs and other corporate leaders who live in Town may
be valuable contacts for identifying potential business prospects for location in
Town.
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