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FORMER LIBRARY RE -USE PROPOSAL
The summary information requested on this form is required. If you require more
room for any response, please attach additional sheets. You may also attach any
additional information you would like the Town to consider.
Name of Organization Friends of Los Gatos Library
Contact Dale Hill/ Carol Hamilton Signature - � . \
(Print Name)
Phone 408- 356 -7679 Email Address dale.s.hill @verizon.net
Address 150 Robin Way, Los Gatos 95032
Title of Proposed Use of Space:
Community (meeting) Room
Square Feet Requested:
3168- Adult section of old library
Description of Proposed Use and Activities: The Friends propose a Community Room to be
used by multiple civic organizations on a reservation basis. It could be managed as
an annex to the new library or by another Town office.
Days /Hours of Operation:
9 a.m. to 10 p.m., as needed. Expected use would be heaviest in the evenings.
Number of Daily StaffNolunteers: vari abl e
Number of Daily Visitors: Variable, depending on group reserving
Estimated Number of Parking Spaces Needed: Variable, depending on group reserving.
Heaviest use likely in the evenings.
Tenant and Capital Improvements: Describe modifications and /or improvements
needed for proposed use:
Mini - kitchen: sink, refrigerator, coffee urn, microwave, counter
Chair and table storage
Screen for projected images
Public address system - hand -held microphone desirable
Possibly a room divider (foldable type)
Access to ADA remodeled bathroom
Special Requirements: Identify any other special requirements:
Costs and Funding:
Estimated capital improvement costs: Not equipped to estimate
Estimated annual operating costs: Somewhat offset by charges for use
Estimated annual maintenance costs: N equipped to estimate - utiliti and janitorial
Funding source(s) for above:
Occupancy:
Town
Where is this use currently located? Srattprpri Heavy demand for Saratoga I i brary's
When would your organization be ready to occupy the space? Upon completion
Guiding Principles:
Please discuss how your use of this space meets the Guiding Principles (attached):
Consistency of a Community Room with Guiding Principles:
1. A Community Room will supply a feature which has been lacking in Los Gatos for many
years. To foster a sense of community, there needs to be a place for organizations to gather in
assembly. If more space and more funding had been available, a community room would have
been incorporated into our new library. In accepting that this was not feasible, it was understood
that the former library main floor would lend itself to such a purpose.
2. Use as a Community Room would take the pressure off of requests by the Friends of the
Library and other civic organizations for the use of the Council Chamber and lobby. It would
provide the Town with space for events such as the annual Volunteer Recognition reception.
Much of the use would be for evening meetings when parking is most available.
3. Other than the need to remodel the children's bathroom, the space meets ADA requirements.
An automatic door could be installed on the entrance which now lacks one, for people who park
in the library parking area.
A mini- kitchen would need to be created, probably at the west end in order to access water from
the staff break room on the floor below. Attached, however, are sketches of a possible mini -
kitchen utilizing the plumbing from the bathroom in the children's area.
A sliding or folding divider could be installed to create two areas, depending on the size of the
expected attendance. This would have to be anchored at one of the brick pillars between the
windows.
For community groups (other than Town or Library) a nominal charge would be set to cover
custodial costs. It is important that it be a cost - recovery charge and not a revenue - producer for the
Town. (Example: the charge at the Saratoga Library is $20. The charges at Campbell Community
Center vary by the room reserved, but are in excess of $100)
4. Community partnerships:
Some events might be co- sponsored by multiple organizations.
A community room would be compatible and perhaps symbiotic with the use of the
children's area as the Friends' book store.
5. Installing a movable dividing wall would create two meeting rooms.
A mini - kitchen area would be needed, requiring bringing water up from the downstairs staff break
room or utilizing the plumbing from the children's area bathroom. Equipment required would
consist of a sink, coffee urn, refrigerator, microwave and counter.
Other needs:
Storage for chairs and folding tables.
Public address system
Screen for projected images.
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FORMER LIBRARY RE -USE PROPOSAL
NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The Museums of Los Gatos
CONTACT: John Agg, executive director
PHONE: (408) 395.7386
(650) 823.2943
SIGNATUR
E -MAIL: ed@museumsoflosgatos.org
MAIL: 4 Tait Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
TITLE OF PROPOSED USE SPACE: Arts & Cultural Center of Los Gatos
SQUARE FEET REQUESTED: 11,900 useable square feet
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED USE AND ACTIVITIES:
We envision a vibrant Arts & Cultural Center that attracts residents of all ages and that
serves as a cultural and community beacon for those visiting the great Town of Los Gatos.
Inhabiting the former library space would benefit the vitality and continuation of The Mu-
seums' mission as well as provide direct benefit to community groups, by furnishing space
and administrative leadership to collaborative parties.
SAMPLES OF OUR ACTIVITIES:
Interactive art and history exhibitions (experience Ming Quong exhibition stories
http: / /www.youtube.com /user /TheMuseumsOfLosGatos).
Expansion of our youth education and "Explorer!" programs (check out our website and
related images at www.museumsoflosgatos.org).
LIVE, site - specific performances (see Museum's 2011 interactive dance performance with
internationally acclaimed featured artist Claudia Borgna http: / /www.youtube.com /user /The-
MuseumsOfLosGatos).
Building upon our popular public lecture series, inFOCUS, to include even more celebrat-
ed and internationally renowned authors, artists, historians, philosophers and other ex-
perts (see artist Kenney Mencher's take on life and film noir http: / /www.youtube.com /user/
TheMuseumsOfLosGatos).
»Continued collaborations with our area arts, history and cultural partners, including our
friends at Montalvo, San Jose Museum of Art, History San Jose, Santa Cruz Museum of Art &
History, Campbell History Museum, Los Altos History Museum, Oakland Museum of California,
and The Triton Art Museum.
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FORMER LIBRARY RE -USE PROPOSAL
NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The Museums of Los Gatos
DAYS /HOURS OF OPERATION: Our current operating hours are 11am - 5pm Wednesday
thru Sunday. Our goal would be to mirror the schedule of the New Los Gatos Public Library
and nearby institutions, with the occasional evening reception and lecture.
NUMBER OF STAFF: 10, plus volunteers, interns, docents and an active Board of Directors.
NUMBER OF ESTIMATED DAILY VISITORS: Estimated range is 50 -100 per day (majority of
visitor activity occurs evenings and weekends).
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES NEEDED: We currently have 9 useable parking
spaces at The Art Museum on Tait, with some street parking available. There are approxi-
mately 12 useable parking spaces at The History Museum on Church Street.
Our estimated number of parking spaces needed does not exceed the spaces in the park-
ing lot to the west of the former library building.
TENANT AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: DESCRIBE MODIFICATIONS AND /OR IMPROVE-
MENTS NEEDED FOR PROPOSED USE: We understand that the Town will be responsible
for bringing the former library to current code requirements. Once the facility meets code
and the maintenance issues identified in the Town's guidelines are addressed, then we
could occupy the facility with minor modifications "as is." It is anticipated that there may
be a need to provide certain modifications to the kitchen facility and wall partitioning. As
we see it, improvements will be guided by the Town with the Arts & Cultural Center serving
as managers and stewards of the space.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: IDENTIFY ANY OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Occasional, as permitted, use of the courtyard's fountain area for plein air /open air events.
Potential rotating display of sculptures at four main entrances to upstairs space (including
the two entrances to the former children's library area and the two entrances to the main
former library areas).
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FORMER LIBRARY RE -USE PROPOSAL
NAME OF ORGANIZATION: The Museums of Los Gatos
COSTS AND FUNDING /ESTIMATED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT COSTS /ESTIMATED ANNUAL
MAINTENANCE COSTS /FUNDING SOURCES FOR ABOVE: We, the Los Gatos Museums As-
sociation, have occupied two contiguous Town -owned facilities under lease for decades
and assume that similar lease terms would continue at the new facility, allowing us to op-
erate under one roof in a central locale.
Pending approval, The Los Gatos Museums Association is prepared to present greater de-
tails, re: full occupancy, incorporating our needs as the new Arts & Cultural Center of Los
Gatos.
OCCUPANCY:
WHERE IS THIS USE CURRENTLY LOCATED? Art Museum at 4 Tait Avenue and History Mu-
seum at 75 Church Street, in Los Gatos.
WHEN WOULD YOUR ORGANIZATION BE READY TO OCCUPY THE SPACE? Immediately.
PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR PROPOSAL YOU
WOULD LIKE THE TOWN TO CONSIDER.
Kindly see the attached "Arts & Cultural Center of Los Gatos Plan" for your consideration.
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- - -. .ART • HISTORY
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Table of Conten
Our Path to the Future: A Letter
from our Executive Director 4
Making the Case for an
Arts & Cultural Center of Los Gatos 6
Our Path to the Future: A Letter
from our Executive Director
1 htay 2012
Dear Town of Los Gatos Council Members and Friends of The Museums of Los Gatos,
The Museums of Los Gatos are proud to serve the people of Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte
Sereno and the Greater Bay Area. We've been around for you since 1965 and are one of the
oldest and most - established cultural resources in the area. The Museums of Los Gatos are
even more relevant today. The economic pressures in California and across America have
threatened to divert many of our traditional funding streams, leaving students as well as their
teachers, parents and elders without proper access to art, art history, dance, music, and his-
torical connectivity and technology. We, however, have made a pledge to continue to be a
steadfast voice for artistic, historical and cultural life.
Housed in two separate buildings' - The Art Museum at 4 Tait Avenue and The History Mu-
seum at 75 Church Street- we serve as hosts to more than 1,500 Bay Area kindergarten
through 8th grade students (a substantial number of whom are Title 1 schools) as part of our
Museum Explorer! programming. We bring in a number of talented and well -known experts
from universities throughout the West through the year as part of our Art:inFOCUS Lecture
Series. We also partner with The Youth Science Institute and Vasona Park during the sum-
mer months. Our Family Art Days are becoming increasingly popular, and on view now until
July 15th is our History Museum exhibition about the Ming Quong Home in Los Gatos, part of
a network of homes for Chinese girls throughout San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and Los
Gatos during most of the 20th century.
The Museums of Los Gatos are a success because we are the conduit to our communities'
cultural life and awareness. But we, in so many ways, have outgrown the confines of our
present buildings and Town - leased grounds. Put simply, we need more space for our over-
growing lecture series. We need more room for exhibits and for student artists, our young
Museum Explorers, and our wise docents and educators. We need room to create, to build,
to stretch, to paint, to see, to make music, to dance, to teach, to learn, to G- R -O -W.
The Museums Gallery at 24 N. Santa Cruz is an independent partnership that was
formed in 2009. The Gallery is host to 60+ artists who show their work, demonstrate
their techniques and sell to the public. 4
Our vision is to put our resources, our people, our time, our energy and commitment, and
with the Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Greater Bay Area communities' support, be
the conduit to create a true and viable Arts & Cultural Center that can more efficiently and
effectively keep our communities' cultural flame alive.
The time really is now.
For those who do not know me, this is my first year as executive director of The Museums
of Los Gatos. My background is actually in Finance and Operations, wherein I have been the
founder of three technology companies, involving large -scale computers, computing systems
and the semi - conductor industries. I have in the past enjoyed working with numerous ven-
ture capital firms, and upon leaving the technological field] acquired and operated a series
of art galleries in the Bay Area. This activity, coupled with my 10 years on The Museums of
Los Gatos' Board of Directors, has afforded me a ring -side seat to how The Museums have
grown, but also to view quite candidly the hunger for what we do and what we can do more
of for our fellow citizens and society given the opportunity to expand.
The building and the furnishing of the new Los Gatos Public Library is a treasure for current
citizens and generations to come. We believe the former library building should also hold a
vision for the future, a connection to knowledge and to the arts, history and culture for ev-
eryone.
Kindly review this and the other materials provided in our proposal. We hope you can envi-
sion the amazing potential of an Arts & Cultural Center of Los Gatos. And we hope you can
see us, our well - established organization and base as conduits to making this vision a reality.
Thank you most sincerely for your time and for your consideration of this rather important
and ultimately quite doable and exceedingly forward - thinking endeavor that shall have a
positive and potentially life- changing influence on the citizens of this amazing Town and so
many, many others for generations to come.
John C. Agg
Executive Director
The Museums of Los Gatos
Tel: 408.395.7386
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Why an Arts & Cultural Center?
The former Los Gatos Public Library
Building at 110 East Main Street would
be the ideal location for an Arts & Cul-
tural Center, incorporating The Museums
of Los Gatos and constituencies as-
signed by the Town of Los Gatos and the
Museums organization.
The Museums of Los Gatos has renegoti-
ated the existing leases for two Town -
owned properties at 75 Church Street in
the old Forbes Mill and at 4 Tait Avenue
in Los Gatos, which now expire Decem-
ber 31, 2012. These two buildings could
be opened to alternative site possibilities
by the Town. And so, Museum represen-
tatives have identified a timely opportu-
nity to present a vision for the vacated
library facility: An Arts & Cultural Center
of Los Gatos.
For example, we envision a space where
youth and senior citizens can naturally
interact with one another. We envision
a space wherein meeting rooms are em-
ployed for asundry groups and collabora-
tive partners, and the entire community
participates in a vibrant realm that com-
plements the surrounding Town facilities
and offerings.
Our proposal integrates an additional
space for a center that would serve as a
multi - purpose lounge and meeting area
for both youth and seniors. The Muse-
ums currently receive much of its vol-
unteer support from senior citizens and
youth and can provide a mutually benefi-
cial relationship for both sets. We also
propose allocating and enlivening meet-
ing spaces for community use.
We are on the precipice of change. The
Museums of Los Gatos have been here
for you since 1965, with the itch for more
and the growing pains of desired bigger -
ness, more meaningful -ness, and greater
community enrichment -ness.
Inhabiting the former library space
would greatly enhance and expand the
vitality and continuation of The Muse-
ums' mission as well as provide direct
benefit to community groups, by fur-
nishing space and administrative leader-
ship to collaborative parties.
We recognize that there may be com-
peting demands for the approximately
11,900 square feet and we are open and
willing to work with these parties to pro-
vide a collaborative plan that accommo-
dates the best interests of the majority of
demands. A collaborative proposal such
as this one provides for effective space
management and a clear utilization plan
for the former library.
V
philosophically, the current
"Museums of Los Gatos" actually are
cultural centers with no central location.
The lack of an easily accessible,
centralized location, with adequate
parking, lighting and ambiance has been
a hindrance and a detriment to The
Museums of Los Gatos for decades.
The Museums of Los Gatos are fiscally
responsible, with an endowment of
more than $1.4 million. We have an
incredibly hard - working and diligent
Board of Directors, an ever - growing fan
base, plus award - winning and
educational programming encompassing
the visual, oral, dance and musical arts as
well as historical and cultural relevancy.
Our management team and staff are
exceptional.
This is a plan we believe the community
and our hundreds of members,
supporters, volunteers and collaborative
partners will whole - heartedly embrace.
The time really is now.
The time really is now.
Our Story:
The Museums of
Los Gatos
Los Gatos offered just about every-
thing in 1965. Everything but a museum,
thought Dr. Ethel Dana. Dr. Dana reso-
lutely believed that her seven children
could not grow up in a community that
lacked a museum. So she did something
about it, creating Los Gatos' first mu-
seum in the town's historic firehouse,
located at 4 Tait Avenue. In 1982 the mu-
seum expanded to the Forbes Mill, at 75
Church Street, where the town's history is
now chronicled. With a mission to en-
hance community life through the preser-
vation and exhibition of our histories, The
History Museum showcases artifacts from
Los Gatos' past, including exhibitions
about the two great fires that shaped the
town's business district, the produce in-
dustry, the Southern Pacific Line Railroad
and more. Nationally recognized artists
from the Greater Bay Area and beyond
showcase their work in The Art Museums'
three Tait Avenue galleries several times
a year on a frequently rotating basis. Our
partnerships with established cultural
centers help us push new boundaries,
continually challenging and inspiring our
own community.
The Arts & Cultural
Center:
A Practical Reality
The creation of a Cultural Center for
the Town of Los Gatos would define a
hub, a go -to destination for visitors and
community members to discover and
participate in Los Gatos' artistic, intel-
lectual and educational offerings. Geo-
graphically, the centrality of the new Los
Gatos Public Library, the Neighborhood
and Rec Centers, Los Gatos High School,
KCAT -TV studios, and the proposed new
Arts & Cultural Center space holds maxi-
mum potential for cross collaboration
between entities and increased visitor
activity. The related cultural focus of the
aforementioned groups creates a natural
tie and web of support for all.
The Museums presence would add to
the beauty and ambience of the Town
by utilizing the former library setting's
lawns and surrounding open space,
which lend themselves to potential and
permitted open air displays during the
summer months that can be tied to
other community events.
;16'J
A consolidation of the Museums' efforts
into one central facility will allow for
more efficient utilization of staff re-
sources and improved communications.
Exhibit docent activity could be better
resourced and managed and more effec-
tively dovetailed with efforts to engage
both seniors and youths in the commu-
nity space. The access challenges for
our disabled and aged members, guests,
participants and visitors would also be
reduced.
our opportunities for more substantial
income sources whilst also transforming
the current Museums of Los Gatos into a
true cultural anchor for our community,
its present and future.
In an effort to illustrate how the space
might be collaboratively utilized, The
Museums have arrived at a proposed
rationale to divide the space for the
benefit of all:
UPPER LEVEL:
The Museums currently require expand-
ed space to accommodate increasingly
larger audiences for receptions, lectures
and for students' use. Although the
Museums have been diligent in the care
and upkeep of both of our Town - leased
properties - at 4 Tait Avenue and 75
Church Street - there are challenges with
these structures, HVAC and related build-
ing issues that will need to be addressed
should these particular facilities continue
to be occupied by the Museums.
The Museums of Los Gatos, a 501(C)3
non - profit organization, subsists on vari-
ous sources of revenue generated from
loyal supporters, fundraisers, member-
ship dues, grants, sponsorships and an
annual campaign. The organization also
receives interest from a $1.4 million gen-
eral fund. A more centrally located and
expanded facility - an Arts & Cultural
Center of Los Gatos - within the Civic
Center complex would greatly improve
Exhibitions in Art, History,
» 4750 sq /ft
Dance &Cultural fare
LOWER LEVEL:
» 2660 Community Space:
Meeting Rooms & Kitchen
» 1530 Common Areas,
Restrooms
» 1640 Administrative & Auxiliary
Space
,)1320 Collections Storage
TOTAL: 11,900 sq /ft
In total, approximately
11,900 sq /ft of vital
Arts & Cultural space!
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surrounding communities."
- John Agg_ mi lcPi imc riirar +nr
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opportunity.to expand on The Arts & Cultural Center
own, and the advantages of The Museums' entities _be_in =
..aeaaraohicafly united.
Director - -