1bDRAFT Town Council Meeting 516/13
Item # 1 �.
MINUTES OF THE TOWN COUNCIL /SUCCESSOR AGENCY MEETING
APRIL 22, 2013
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Special Meeting in the Town
Council Chambers on Monday, April 22, 2013 at 7:00 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION — 6:15 P.M.
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (Government Code Section
54956.8)
Properties: 4 New York Avenue, APN: 529 -27 -024; New York Avenue ROW;
Brooklyn Avenue ROW; Chicago Avenue ROW; High School Court ROW
Negotiating parties: Town of Los Gatos (Negotiator: Greg Larson, Town
Manager); Los Gatos- Saratoga Union High School District (Negotiators: Bob
Mistele and Tom Woodruff)
Under negotiation: Price and terms of potential sale or payment of lease
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL / PENDING LITIGATION (Government Code
Section 54956.9 [a])
Sara Cole v. Town of Los Gatos, Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No.
108CV1 09033
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Barbara Spector, Vice Mayor Steve Leonardis, Council Member Marcia
Jensen, Council Member Diane McNutt, and Council Member Joe Pirzynski.
Absent: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Spector led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Judith Propp, Town Attorney
- Commented that Council met in Closed Session and took no reportable action.
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VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
- There were no verbal communications for this meeting.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Planned Development Application PD -11 -006. Negative Declaration ND -11 -008.
Architecture and Site Application S -12 -098. Project Location: 219 Bean Avenue.
Property Owner: Roman Catholic Bishop of San Jose. Applicant: Jeffrey T. Berg,
AIA /Steinberg Architects.
a. Consider a request to adopt the Negative Declaration ND -11 -008 and adopt the
Mitigation Monitoring Plan.
b. Consider a request to approve Planned Development Application PD -11 -006 to
rezone from R -1 D and C -2 to R -1 D:PD to allow for the construction of a new Jr.
high school, modify existing school operations, and continue church services and
activities
C. Consider a request to approve Architecture and Site application S -12 -098 for the
construction of a new Jr. high school.
Council Comments
Vice Mayor Leonardis recused himself because he recently sold property within 500
feet of the project property.
Council Member McNutt disclosed her personal connections with St. Mary's Parish.
Jennifer Savage, Associate Planner, presented the staff report.
Council Questions
- Questioned whether it is advisable to include a separate letter as part of the CUP.
- Requested clarification regarding the Conditional Use Permit wording as it relates to
hours of operation, special events, and number of staff.
- Commented that it is advisable to avoid listing special events in the CUP.
Ms. Savage
- Commented that a letter is part of the Planned Development, so the record can
show a history of uses.
- Commented that there is one event that is a special event and that a special event
is identified in part by the presence of a larger crowd of people.
- Commented that "employees" are counted based on a number of bodies and not by
another measure, such as hours worked.
Cage 2
Item #1 — Continued
Council Questions — Continued
- Questioned whether there could be a reporting requirement for the school to the
Town Council.
- Questioned the Planned Development compliance mechanism and whether a report
would be made to staff or a public body.
Ms. Savage
- Commented that a performance standard for reporting could happen, but is not
currently in place.
Mr. Larson
Commented that a planned development report could come before the Planning
Commission every year.
Commented that Council will discuss the CUP enforcement system during the
budget hearing.
Council Questions — Continued
- Questioned whether the community benefit is required or voluntary
- Commented that the Planning Commission wanted softening of east wall but
deferred design to applicant and staff.
- Questioned whether the project is in the parking district and whether there are
public spaces or are reserved for St. Mary's.
Ms. Savage
- Commented that there is a difference in the number of traffic trips created, which
requires an increased community benefit.
- Commented that the elevation presented to the Planning Commission had no brick
and only stucco siding.
- Commented that 59 Victory Lane is in the parking assessment district, with one
parking site and six parking credits; the parking space is not part of the public
parking lot; the property continues to contribute to the parking district.
Mr. Berg, Applicant
- Described the proposed project and encouraged Council to support it.
Council Questions
- Council confirmed that the number of employees is 53 and there are no plans to add
staff.
Ms. Larson, Principal
- Commented that there are 9 full time teachers and 19 part time staff and no
changes to the number of staff is planned because there is a maximum of 35
students per class and 315 total students.
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Item #1 — Continued
Rev. Rodoni
- Commented that there will be changes in Parish staff.
Mr. Mendes
- Expressed support for the proposed project.
Ms. Hogan
- Expressed concern about increased construction traffic and requested to be included
in future meetings.
Mr. Stahl
- Encouraged the Town Council to study carefully the parking issue.
Ms. Despars
- Expressed support for the proposed project.
Mr. Imwalle
- Expressed support for the proposed project.
Mr. Davidge
- Expressed concern about the parking situation.
Ms. Scott
- Expressed concern about the proposed project, especially about the proposed wall
between her property and the school.
Mr. Cummings
- Expressed concern about the proposed project.
Mr. Farwell
- Expressed support for the proposed project.
Mr. Berg
- Commented that the contractor will work with neighbors prior to and during
construction
- Commented that story poles were visible and stated there will be limited effect on
view corridors
- Commented that the proposed wall was recommended by an environmental expert
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Item #1 — Continued
Council Questions
- Clarified with the applicant that there are no problems with keeping neighbors
informed about the construction process and other issues as they arise.
Closed the public hearing
Council Discussion
- Questioned whether staff has any input on the parking issue and noticing
requirements for this project.
- Requested clarification regarding the mitigation monitoring plan.
Ms. Savage
- Commented that St. Mary's is in the parking assessment district and has parking
credits.
- Commented that 30 Tait Avenue was on the noticing list.
- Commented that noise mitigation component requires a wood fence with no holes,
but if a wood fence is not acceptable to neighbor then alternatives could be
explored.
Mr. Larson
- Commented that the parking requirements would not be voided even after the
termination of the parking assessment district.
- Commented that staff met with the Chamber and discussed a new parking
assessment district.
Ms. Propp
- Commented that the initial study addressed noise issues at the property line.
- Commented that generally once environmental conditions have been established
and there is an adopted mitigated negative declaration and a mitigation monitoring
plan, changes are not made; however, the parties could work together but there
must be a solid barrier.
- Suggested alternative language regarding the noise mitigation plan.
Council Discussion
Commented that the potential noise increase is a 1 decibel increase and that the
noise issue should not hold up the project.
Commented that the Planning Commission did a commendable job on this project.
Mayor Spector directed Mazarin Vakharia, Clerk Administrator, to read the title of the
proposed ordinance.
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Item #1 — Continued
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Joe Pirzynski to accept the Planning
Commission's findings and recommendations in the form of
meeting minutes (Attachment 11) and adopt the Mitigated Negative
Declaration (Attachment 1) and Mitigation Monitoring Plan
(Attachment 4) and to insert the change regarding other alternative
material approved by a noise consultant to reduce the potential
noise impacts to meet the requirements of the mitigation monitoring
plan.
Seconded by Council Member Diane McNutt.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Joe Pirzynski to waive the reading of
the proposed ordinance
Seconded by Council Member Diane McNutt.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Joe Pirzynski to make the required
findings (Attachment 3) and adopt the Planned Development
Ordinance (Attachment 5) approving the Planned Development
application PD -11 -006 with modifications as recommended by the
Planning Commission. The following items are included in the
motion as contained in the staff report:
- noise alternative for fencing - item #37
- revised Junior High elevation on page 3 item 4
- correct typographical errors under items 76 and 94
- the condition regarding employees is limited to 53 individuals
- at least annually shall submit a report providing the number of
students and church and school staff to the Town of Los Gatos.
Seconded by Council Member Diane McNutt.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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Item #1 — Continued
The following Council discussion occurred prior to the vote:
- Commented that annual reporting is not unprecedented and it is not burdensome to
have a public hearing on how construction went and how school is doing because it
is important for people to be heard
- Commented that counts and reports to go to staff
- Questioned what would happen if numbers submitted in the planned development
are exceeded.
Mr. Larson
- Commented that staff would take enforcement actions if numbers are exceeded.
- Suggested adding language to the motion, such as "Any non - conformance to these
established standards in this Planned Development" shall be presented to the
Planning Commission for direction."
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Joe Pirzynski to introduce to the
ordinance to effectuate the zone change.
Seconded by Mayor Barbara Spector.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Joe Pirzynski to accept the Planning
Commission's findings and recommendations in the form of
meeting minutes (Attachment 11) and adopt the Mitigated Negative
Declaration (Attachment 1) and Mitigation Monitoring Plan
(Attachment 4).
Seconded by Council Member Diane McNutt.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Joe Pirzynski to make the required
findings (Attachment 3) and approve the Architecture and Site
application S -12 -098 with modifications as recommended by the
Planning Commission and with recommended conditions of
approval (Attachment 8).
Seconded by Council Member Diane McNutt.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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OTHER BUSINESS
2. Verbal presentation on Attorney - Client relationship and communication
Judith Propp, Town Attorney, presented the staff report
Council Questions
- Questioned if client is the council majority, then how do you determine the majority
when you are providing legal advice.
- Presented hypothetical situations and asked for guidance about the attorney- client
privilege in those situations
- Expressed concern about the possibility that too much documentation is labeled
privileged when it is not.
- Questioned the relationship between the attorney - client privilege and closed session
categories.
- Questioned what happens to communication when it is submitted to one Council
member and whether all Council Members receive the same information.
- Council discussed the process regarding the dissemination of information among
Council Members and among Council, staff, and the public.
Ms. Propp
- Commented that the Town is the Town Attorney's client and the Town acts through
the Council majority.
- Commented that specific applications of the attorney - client privilege would depend
on the facts of each case.
- Commented that only documentation that is necessary to be privileged will be so
labeled.
- Commented that Council can go into closed session for personnel, pending
litigation, and to consider certain real property transactions, but that the attorney -
client privilege can apply to broader categories.
Mr. Larson
- Commented that there is a need for staff to be forwarded emails when a member of
the public emails all Council but staff is not copied and that a process for this should
be established.
- Commented that generally all Council members are given the same information,
and information is made part of the public record if it relates to an agenda item.
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ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Attest:
Mazarin Vakharia, Clerk Administrator
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