Reuse of the VenueMEETING DATE: 02/17/15
ITEM NO:
cos ciao COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT l
DATE: FEBRUARY 12, 2015
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG CARSON, TOWN MANAGER,
ON BEHALF OF THE YOUTH COMMISSION
SUBJECT: REUSE OF THE VENUE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The -Youth Commission recommends:
1. Allowing the Youth Commission to solicit teen - focused proposals for the re -use of the
Venue from Los Gatos High School and other interested community organizations; and
2. Allowing the Youth Commission to review the submitted proposals and make
recommendations to the Town Council.
BACKGROUND:
The Venue is a Town -owned property located adjacent to Los Gatos High School. Its history
and use are described in the attached staff report from the October 21, 2014 Town Council
Meeting (Attachment 2). The Youth Commission, as directed by Town Council at the October
21, 2014 meeting, conducted a teen -need survey to identify after school needs for teens in the
community. The survey included questions relating to how the library is being used, where teens
are going after school, interest in a possible teen center, what the most important elements of a
teen center would be, and the busiest days and times at which teens would use a possible teen
center. Additionally, the Youth Commission analyzed the survey data and conducted a public
brainstorming session at the January 13, 2015 Youth Commission meeting. Public notices were
posted for this meeting, and potentially interested participants and stakeholders were noticed as
well, including the Los Gatos High School, Youth Park, service clubs, CASA, KCAT, and
others. Six members of the public attended this brainstorming session.
At the start of the academic year, the Youth Commission established an ad hoc committee to
focus on the Venue and after school teen service needs. This ad hoc committee developed and
distributed the survey. More than 300 teens responded to the survey (see survey results,
Attachment 1). The vast majority were high school students. After analyzing the data, the
committee found that the Los Gatos Library seems to be meeting a middle ground for teen needs.
Reviewed by:
ibwn Manager own Attorney
NAM GR \Adm. WorkFilm\2015 Comcil ReponsTeb. 17\021115_YCReuse Nmue.doc
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: REUSE OF THE VENUE
FEBRUARY 12, 2015
BACKGROUND (cont'd):
The needs and gap areas identified from the survey results indicated that teens wanted a more
structured space and a less structured space than the Los Gatos Library for teens to go to after
school. A more structured place would be a quiet, classroom type of space. A less structured
space would allow for students to be loud and active. Most Youth Commissioners agreed that
this was more of a want than a need.
On October 21, 2014, the Town Council directed the Youth Commission to consider possible re-
use of the Venue and to provide recommendations to Council by February 2015. During the
January 13, 2015 Youth Commission meeting, the Commission voted upon whether or not the
Venue building is needed for a teen center based upon the results of the survey. Eleven
Commissioners felt that the Venue is not necessary for a teen center based upon the survey
results, whereas three Commissioners felt that the Venue is needed.
At the February 10, 2015 Youth Commission meeting, there was unanimous support for
conducting a Request for Proposal process for the re -use of the Venue space that would still
focus on teen services, but not require that it be re -used as a teen center.
DISCUSSION:
Past Council direction has considered the use of the Town's property at 4 New York Avenue in
relation to the best interests of Los Gatos teens.
The Los Gatos Youth Commission has adopted the provision of teen services and operation of a
teen center as a priority for this academic year. The appointed five - member sub - committee has
met five times to learn the history of A Place for Teens, the growth of teen use of the new
library, how teen centers operate in other communities, create a survey, analyze survey results,
host a public brainstorming session, and consider the best ways to meet teen preferences in Los
Gatos.
During the course of this work, several local agencies have expressed interest in working with
the Youth Commission on a teen center or hosting teen - centered events as part of an effort to
increase the options offered to teens as well as discussing uses for the Venue building. These
agencies include the Youth Park, CASA, KCAT, various service clubs, LGS Recreation, and the
Los Gatos High School.
This agenda item is provided for the Council to establish intentions and a process for considering
re -use of the Town's property at 4 New York Avenue.
Based on Council discussion and action, staff will prepare a work plan and timeline to meet the
Council's direction.
ALTERNATIVES:
Besides approving the process recommendations outlined above, the Council could choose to:
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: REUSE OF THE VENUE
FEBRUARY 12, 2015
ALTERNATIVES (cont'd):
A. Direct the Youth Commission to work with the high school to have the school library
stay open later after school to meet the more structured need identified through the
survey.
B. Direct the Youth Commission to work with the Los Gatos /Saratoga Recreation
Department and other local agencies to test both more structured and less structured
spaces /activities with pilot programs such as tutoring clubs /drop -in tutoring help,
food/catering from local restaurants and food trucks, and cooking classes where students
could eat the food they make.
C. Retain a portion of the Venue property that would include enough space for a skate park
for teens. This was mentioned in the survey several times and at the Youth Commission
meeting on January 13, 2015. It was discussed that this should be a self-funded entity.
D. Use the Venue as a snack bar or cafe. It was discussed at the Youth Commission meeting
on January 13, 2015 that this should be run by a local restaurant or business.
CONCLUSION:
The Youth Commission has determined that the Los Gatos Library currently meets most of the
needs of the community's teens, although the Commission has identified a couple of ideas that
would be helpful to teens after school. Such solutions can be met through the addition of more
structured and unstructured areas and activities. These activities could be hosted by local
agencies and in multi-use facilities, although some of the property at 4 New York Avenue,
known as the Venue, could still serve a recreational purpose for teens as a skate park and/or a
cafe.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The Council's discussion of this matter is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further
action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
It is likely that any lease or sale of all or part of 4 New York Avenue for teen services will not
provide any additional Town resources to meet other operating or capital needs of the Town.
However, it is also expected that any reuse of 4 New York Avenue could be conditioned on not
requiring any ongoing financial or operating support from the Town.
Attachments:
1. Teen Center Survey Results
2. Reuse of Venue Staff Report from October 21, 2014 Council meeting
Distribution:
Youth Commission
Los Gatos High School
Los Gatos — Saratoga Recreation and Education
Los Gatos Youth Park
CASA
KCAT
Service Clubs
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