Special Joint Meeting of the Town Council and Planning Commission - Study Session
Special MeetingLos Gatos, CA · September 20, 2021
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS MEETING DATE: 10/05/2021
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Minutes of the Special Joint Study Session of the Town Council and Planning
Commission
September 20, 2021
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a special meeting via Teleconference via
COVID-19 Shelter in Place Guidelines on Monday, September 20, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. to hold a
Joint Town Council and Planning Commission Study Session.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:01 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Council Members Present: Mayor Marico Sayoc, Vice Mayor Rob Rennie, Council Member Mary
Badame, Council Member Matthew Hudes, Council Member Maria Ristow. (All participating
remotely).
Absent: None
Planning Commissioners Present: Chair Kathryn Janoff, Vice Chair Kendra Burch, Commissioner
Jeffrey Barnett, Commissioner Melanie Hanssen, Commissioner Jeffrey Suzuki and
Commissioner Emily Thomas (joined at 5:44 p.m.). (All participating remotely).
Absent: Commissioner Reza Tavana.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Dashiell Leeds
- Commented in support of including plant-based diet ideas in the General Plan.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. Joint Town Council and Planning Commission Study Session regarding the Draft 2040
General Plan.
Jennifer Armer, Interim Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
Lisa Wade, Plant-Based Advocates
- Commented in support of including a plant-based education program in the General Plan.
Lee Quintana
- Commented that the General Plan is not specific enough and inquired if the Housing
Element, General Plan, and Objective Standards work could move forward together to form
a more cohesive document.
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: Minutes of the Joint Town Council and Planning Commission Study Session of
September 20, 2021
DATE: September 21, 2021
Other Business Item #1 – continued
Felix Sterling (FL)
- Requested the Town reject the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) number due to
safety and Town character concerns; inquired if the General Plan could have a time horizon
of 4 to 8 years.
Rob Moore
- Commented the General Plan can be used as a tool to bring the community together and
help overcome systemic barriers.
Deborah Parsons, Plant-Based Advocates
- Commented in support of including a plant-based education program in the General Plan.
LVM Parent
- Requested the Town reject the State assigned RHNA number due to fire safety and traffic
concerns.
DMAC (Barbara)
- Requested additional community outreach regarding the General Plan Update and the
Town reject the State assigned RHNA number due to fire safety and traffic concerns.
Jack Van Nada, Los Gatos Community Alliance
- Commented his written public comment that was submitted prior to 11 a.m. to staff was
not published in the agenda packet.
Susan Burnett
- Requested the Historic Preservation Element guidelines be amended to address any primary
structure constructed pre-1961.
Lani Harr
- Requested the Town reject the State assigned RHNA number due to fire safety and traffic
concerns.
Ying
- Commented on her experience of feeling welcome in Town; requested additional
community outreach regarding the General Plan Update; and inquired why the Town
proposed to increase the housing units beyond the State requirement.
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: Minutes of the Joint Town Council and Planning Commission Study Session of
September 20, 2021
DATE: September 21, 2021
Other Business Item #1 – continued
Lee Fagot
- Requested additional community outreach regarding the General Plan Update; commented
that the Town decrease the proposed number of housing units and amend the Draft
General Plan to allow iterations of the Housing Element be part of an 8-year review within
the 20-year plan.
Yanyi He
- Requested additional community outreach regarding the General Plan Update and the
Town reject the State assigned RHNA number due to fire safety and traffic concerns.
Vivian Tan
- Commented that increasing housing units will lower demand and the increase in housing
will not attract younger generations.
Ellen Lee
- Commented on concerns regarding increasing housing.
Janice Carter
- Requested additional community outreach regarding the General Plan Update and the
Town reject the State assigned RHNA number.
Roy Moses
- Requested additional community outreach regarding the General Plan Update and
commented on concerns regarding increasing housing.
Debbie
- Requested the Council address potential traffic increases and infrastructure concerns.
James Lyon
- Commented that 20 years for the General Plan is too long and that traffic, parking, safety
issues, land use, and housing are not adequately addressed.
Suzanne Daley
- Commented that increasing housing will change the character of the Town.
Rachel Black
- Requested additional community outreach regarding the General Plan Update and
commented on concerns regarding increasing housing.
PAGE 4 OF 4
SUBJECT: Minutes of the Joint Town Council and Planning Commission Study Session of
September 20, 2021
DATE: September 21, 2021
Other Business Item #1 – continued
Closed Public Comment.
Town Council and the Planning Commission discussed the information.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:13 p.m.
Respectfully submitted:
_____________________________________
/s/ Jenna De Long, Deputy Clerk
Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND
PLANNING COMMISSION - STUDY SESSION AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
110 EAST MAIN STREET
LOS GATOS, CA
Marico Sayoc, Mayor
Rob Rennie, Vice Mayor
Mary Badame, Council Member
Matthew Hudes, Council Member PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS
Maria Ristow, Council Member
How to participate: The Town of Los Gatos strongly encourages your active participation in the
public process, which is the cornerstone of democracy. If you wish to speak to an item on the
agenda, please follow the participation instructions on page 2 of this agenda. If you wish to speak
to an item NOT on the agenda, you may do so during the “Verbal Communications” period, by
following the participation instructions on page 2 of this agenda. The time allocated to speakers
may change to better facilitate the Town Council meeting.
Effective Proceedings: The purpose of the Town Council meeting is to conduct the business of
the community in an effective and efficient manner. For the benefit of the community, the Town
of Los Gatos asks that you follow the Town’s meeting guidelines while attending Town Council
meetings and treat everyone with respect and dignity. This is done by following meeting
guidelines set forth in State law and in the Town Code. Disruptive conduct is not tolerated,
including but not limited to: addressing the Town Council without first being recognized;
interrupting speakers, Town Council or Town staff; continuing to speak after the allotted time
has expired; failing to relinquish the podium when directed to do so; and repetitiously addressing
the same subject.
Deadlines for Public Comment and Presentations are as follows:
Persons wishing to make an audio/visual presentation on any agenda item must submit the
presentation electronically, either in person or via email, to the Clerk’s Office no later than
3:00 p.m. on the day of the Council meeting.
Persons wishing to submit written comments to be included in the materials provided to
Town Council must provide the comments as follows:
o For inclusion in the regular packet: by 11:00 a.m. the Thursday before the Council
meeting
o For inclusion in any Addendum: by 11:00 a.m. the Monday before the Council meeting
o For inclusion in any Desk Item: by 11:00 a.m. on the day of the Council Meeting
Town Council Meetings Broadcast Live on KCAT, Channel 15 (on Comcast) on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Rebroadcast of Town Council Meetings on the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
Live & Archived Council Meetings can be viewed by going to:
www.LosGatosCA.gov/TownYouTube
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, IF YOU NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING,
PLEASE CONTACT THE CLERK DEPARTMENT AT (408) 354-6834. NOTIFICATION 48 HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING WILL ENABLE THE TOWN
TO MAKE REASONABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY TO THIS MEETING [28 CFR §35.102-35.104]
Page 1 of 3
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION -
STUDY SESSION AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
4:00 PM
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 JOINT MEETING
This meeting is being conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with
State of California Executive Order N-29- 20 dated March 17, 2020, regarding the COVID-19
pandemic. The live stream of the meeting may be viewed on television and/or online at
www.losgatosca.gov/AgendasAndVideos. In accordance with Executive Order N-29- 20, the
public may only view the meeting on television and/or online and not in the Council
Chamber.
PARTICIPATION
If you are not interested in providing oral comments in real-time during the meeting, you can
view the live stream of the meeting on television (Comcast Channel 15) and/or online at
www.LosGatosCA.gov/TownYouTube.
If you are interested in providing oral comments real-time during the meeting, you must join
the Zoom webinar:
Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: click this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89871429325?pwd=SVJaRGxEZ29ZdjFHQXh6WnBoaHRpUT09
Password: 408621. You can also type in 898 7142 9325 in the “Join a Meeting” page on
the Zoom website at https://zoom.us/join.
Join by telephone: Dial: 877-336-1839. Conference code: 969184
During the meeting:
When the Chair announces the item for which you wish to speak, click the “raise hand”
feature in Zoom. If you are participating by phone on the Zoom app, press *9 on your
telephone keypad to raise your hand. If you are participating by calling in, press #2 on
your telephone keypad to raise your hand.
When called to speak, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes, or such other
time as the Chair may decide, consistent with the time limit for speakers at a Council
meeting.
If you are unable to participate in real-time, you may email to PublicComment@losgatosca.gov
the subject line “Public Comment Item #__ ” (insert the item number relevant to your
comment) or “Verbal Communications – Non Agenda Item.” Comments received by 11:00 a.m.
the day of the meeting will be reviewed and distributed before the meeting. All comments
received will become part of the record.
Page 2 of 3
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION -
STUDY SESSION AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021
4:00 PM
REMOTE LOCATION PARTICIPANTS (The following Council Members and Planning
Commissioners are listed to permit them to appear electronically or telephonically at the Joint
Town Council and Planning Commission meeting: MAYOR MARICO SAYOC, VICE MAYOR ROB
RENNIE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARY BADAME, COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEW HUDES, COUNCIL
MEMBER MARIA RISTOW, CHAIR KATHRYN JANOFF, VICE CHAIR KENDRA BURCH,
COMMISSIONER JEFFREY BARNETT, COMMISSIONER MELANIE HANSSEN, COMMISSIONER
JEFFREY SUZUKI, COMMISSIONER REZA TAVANA, COMMISSIONER EMILY THOMAS. All votes
during the teleconferencing session will be conducted by roll call vote.)
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS (Members of the public are welcome to address the Town Council
on any matter that is not listed on the agenda. To ensure all agenda items are heard and unless
additional time is authorized by the Mayor, this portion of the agenda is limited to 30 minutes
and no more than three (3) minutes per speaker. In the event additional speakers were not able
to be heard during the initial Verbal Communications portion of the agenda, an additional Verbal
Communications will be opened prior to adjournment.)
OTHER BUSINESS (Up to three minutes may be allotted to each speaker on any of the following
items.)
1. Joint Town Council and Planning Commission Study Session regarding the Draft 2040
General Plan.
ADJOURNMENT (Council policy is to adjourn no later than midnight unless a majority of Council
votes for an extension of time).
Writings related to an item on the Town Council meeting agenda distributed to members of the Council within 72
hours of the meeting are available for public inspection at the front desk of the Los Gatos Town Library, located at
100 Villa Avenue, and are also available for review on the official Town of Los Gatos website. Copies of desk items
distributed to members of the Council at the meeting are available for review in the Town Council Chambers
Note: The Town of Los Gatos has adopted the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure §1094.6; litigation challenging a
decision of the Town Council must be brought within 90 days after the decision is announced unless a shorter time is
required by State or Federal law.
Page 3 of 3
Get email alerts for Los Gatos
A daily email when new agendas and minutes are posted.