Council Meeting

TOWN OF LOS GATOS MEETING DATE: 12/01/2020 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NO: 3 Minutes of the Town Council Meeting November 17, 2020 The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting via Teleconference via COVID-19 Shelter in Place Guidelines on November 17, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:02 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Marcia Jensen, Vice Mayor Barbara Spector, Council Member Rob Rennie, Council Member Marico Sayoc. (All participating remotely). Absent: None BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS The Town Council appointed applicants for the vacant positions on Town Boards, Commissions, and Committees.  Arts and Culture Commission o Richard Capatoso was not appointed. o Jeffrey Janoff was not appointed. o Michael Miller was appointed to a 3-year term. o Pamela Murphy was appointed to a 2-year term. o Heidi Owens was not appointed. o Ellis Weeker was re-appointed for a 3-year term.  Building Board of Appeals o Charles Holcomb was appointed to a 4-year term.  Community Health and Senior Services Commission o Richard Konrad was appointed to a 3-year term.  Complete Streets and Transportation Committee o Doug Brent withdrew his application and did not interview. o Bill Ehlers was re-appointed to a 3-year term. o Cheryl Ryan did not interview and was not appointed. o Gillian Verga was re-appointed to a 3-year term. 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov PAGE 2 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of November 17, 2020 DATE: November 24, 2020 Appointments - continued  General Plan Committee o Gerard Abraham was not appointed. o Joseph Mannina was appointed to a 4-year term. o Heidi Owens was not appointed. o Steve Piasecki was appointed to a 3-year term.  Historic Preservation Committee o Barry Cheskin was appointed to a 4-year term. o Timothy Lundell was appointed to a 2-year term. o Jeffrey Siegel was not appointed.  Library Board o Susan Buxton was appointed to a 2-year term. o Richard Capatoso was appointed to a 3-year term. o Sabiha Chunawala was re-appointed to a 3-year term. o David Read did not interview and was not appointed. o Cheryl Ryan did not interview and was not appointed.  Parks Commission o Adriana Alves was appointed for a 2-year term. o Richard Capatoso was not appointed. o Alicia Shah did not interview and was not appointed.  Personnel Board o Steven Bakota was appointed to a 5-year term.  Planning Commission o Gerard Abraham was not appointed. o Kathryn Janoff was re-appointed to a 4-year term. o Anil Patel was not appointed. o Jeffrey Siegel was not appointed. COUNCIL/TOWN MANAGER REPORTS Council Matters - Council Member Rennie stated he attended Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Governance and Audit Committee and Board meetings, Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCEA) Board and Risk Oversight Committee meetings, Emergency Operating Area Council meeting, and the Santa Clara County Cities Association Selection Committee meeting with Council Member Sayoc. PAGE 3 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of November 17, 2020 DATE: November 24, 2020 Council Matters - continued - Vice Mayor Spector stated she attended the West Valley Clean Water Authority (WVCWA) Board meeting, West Valley Solid Waste Authority (WVSW) Board meeting, and two meetings of the Town’s Wildfire Ad Hoc Committee. - Council Member Sayoc stated she attended the Santa Clara County Cities Association Selection Committee with Council Member Rennie and the League of California Cities (LOCC) meeting. - Mayor Jensen stated she attended the two meetings of the Town’s Wildfire Ad Hoc Committee, General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) meetings, and a VTA Policy Advisory Committee meeting. Manager Matters - Announced free COVID-19 testing will be held on Monday November 30, 2020 at the Adult Recreation Center. Walk-ins welcome and appointments are strongly encouraged. - Announced that the tree in Plaza Park will be lit after Thanksgiving and that the Town is installing the Chamber’s light exhibits for the holidays. No tree lighting ceremony will be held due to COVID-19. CLOSED SESSION REPORT - Robert Shultz, Town Attorney, stated Council met in closed session as duly noted on the agenda and that there is no reportable action. CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION) 1. Approve Draft Minutes of the November 3, 2020 Town Council Meeting. 2. Receive the First Quarter Investment Report (July through September 2020) for Fiscal Year 2020/21.) 3. Authorize the Town Manager to execute a First Amendment Agreement for Consultant Services with Walter Levison for Arborist services. 4. Authorize the Town Manager to Execute Agreements for Environmental Consultant Services with EMC Planning Group, Inc. and Raney Planning and Management, Inc. 5. Authorize the Town Manager to Execute an Agreement with Hello Housing for Administration of the Town’s Below Market Price Affordable Housing Program. Item #3 was pulled by David Weissman. MOTION: Motion by Council Member Sayoc to approve Consent Items 1, 2, 4, and 5. Seconded by Council Member Rennie. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. PAGE 4 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of November 17, 2020 DATE: November 24, 2020 VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS Alex Hult - Thanked the Town for responding to COVID-19 with the parklet program; commented in support of prioritizing the local business community through the winter months. Jeff Suzuki - Commented in support of independent Police oversight, a hiring freeze of sworn officers and a freeze of additional discretionary spending of the Police Department. Ali Miano - Commented in support of independent Police oversight, a hiring freeze of sworn officers, a freeze of additional discretionary spending of the Police Department, and additional public transportation to the Town including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). Lynel Gardner - Read correspondence from Barak Obama, commented in support of a hiring freeze of sworn officers and a freeze of additional discretionary spending of the Police Department. Russ - Commented in support of BART and diversity within the Town. Catherine Somers - Thanked the Town for responding to COVID-19 with the parklet program and suggested the Town consider the formation of a task force to continue to address COVID-19 concerns. Matt Hemis - Inquired what the next steps are for Police reform; commented in support of independent oversight, a hiring freeze of sworn officers, and a freeze of additional discretionary spending of the Police Department; and requested the Town consider utilizing Police Department funding to train Officers in de-escalation techniques. Alicia Spargo (Cinema Stereo) - Commented in support of independent oversight, a hiring freeze of sworn officers, and a freeze of additional discretionary spending of the Police Department; and requested the Town consider utilizing Police Department funding to train Officers in de-escalation techniques and that the Town consider additional avenues to assist the business community during the winter months. Kareem Syed - Commented in support of additional oversight of Police funds, community engagement Officers, and a task force to continue to address COVID-19 concerns. - PAGE 5 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of November 17, 2020 DATE: November 24, 2020 OTHER BUSINESS 3. Authorize the Town Manager to execute a First Amendment Agreement for Consultant Services with Walter Levison for Arborist services. Joel Paulson, Community Development Director, presented the staff report. Opened public comment. David Weissman - Commented in opposition of the first amendment agreement, unless staff revises the consulting arborists report guidelines with uniform standards. Closed public comment. Council discussed the item. MOTION: Motion by Mayor Jensen to authorize the Town Manager to execute a first amendment agreement for consultant services with Walter Levison for arborist services for arborist services as contained in Attachment 1 of the staff report. Seconded by Council Member Rennie. VOTE: Motion passed 3/1. Vice Mayor Spector voting no. 6. Adopt A Resolution Designating the Use of Vehicle Miles Traveled as the Metric for Conducting Transportation Analyses Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and Establishing the Thresholds of Significance to Comply with California Senate Bill 743. RESOLUTION 2020-045 Ying Smith, Transportation and Mobility Manager, presented the staff report with Dan Rubins, Consultant. Opened public comment. No one spoke. Closed public comment. Council discussed the item. PAGE 6 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of November 17, 2020 DATE: November 24, 2020 Other Business Item #6 - continued MOTION: Motion by Council Member Sayoc to adopt a resolution designating the use of vehicle miles traveled as the metric for conducting transportation analyses pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and establishing the thresholds of significance to comply with California Senate Bill 743 as contained in attachment 1, understanding future policies should be directed toward further VMT reductions. Seconded by Vice Mayor Spector. VOTE: Motion passed unanimously. 7. Provide Direction for the Land Use and Community Design Elements of the General Plan. Jennifer Armer, Senior Planner, presented the staff report. Opened public comment. No one spoke. Closed public comment. Council discussed the item and provided individual comments not necessarily representing consensus on the following:  The General Plan should encourage production of Missing Middle housing, especially when it can provide housing for middle and lower income households.  The production of Missing Middle housing should be focused in areas that are within walking distance to commercial uses, such as the Opportunity Areas/Community Place Districts.  The massing and design of Missing Middle housing should be compatible with existing neighborhoods.  The General Plan should include policies that support low, very low, and extremely low income housing, possibly through increased minimum densities or smaller units.  If the Town can plan for the number of housing units required by the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) without increasing the allowed density in Low Density Residential areas, that would be preferred.  If the Town can plan for the number of housing units required by RHNA without changing the downtown/central business district, that would be preferred.  The Elements need to do a better job of telling the story of how the 2040 General Plan reflects the Preferred Alternative and the adopted vision. The existing charts and maps are not enough. What exhibits could tell this story so the reader can understand it at a glance? PAGE 7 OF 7 SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of November 17, 2020 DATE: November 24, 2020 Other Business Item #7 - continued The Town Council did express consensus on two items:  All references to the Los Gatos Boulevard Plan and other obsolete policies should be eliminated.  The 2040 General Plan should be forward looking as Los Gatos implements policies and actions to reduce Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) and facilitates housing production for all income levels in the right places. In other words, the Council is not expecting the 2040 Plan to be the same as the 2020 Plan. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:43 p.m. Submitted by: _____________________________________ /s/ Jenna De Long, Deputy Clerk