Special Meeting of the Town Council
Special MeetingLos Gatos, CA · May 26, 2020
Minutes
TOWN OF LOS GATOS MEETING DATE: 06/16/2020
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Minutes of the Town Council Special Meeting
May 26, 2020
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a special meeting via Teleconference,
due to COVID-19 Shelter in Place guidelines on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Marcia Jensen (remote participant), Vice Mayor Barbara Spector (remote
participant), Council Member Rob Rennie (remote participant), Council Member Marico Sayoc
(remote participant).
Absent: None
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Paulette Altmaier, Chamber of Commerce
- Read an open letter to Dr. Cody which challenged the directives of the Santa Clara
County Public Health Order in support of businesses and revitalizing the economy.
Heidi Owens
- Requested the Zoom Teleconference meeting links and password be put on meeting
agendas moving forward.
Silvana Casale
- Agreed with a previous speaker regarding the letter to Dr. Cody, expressed concern that
the Shelter-In-Place Order is a detriment to children’s health, and requested that the
Town convene a committee to discuss this.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. Consider Options and Provide Direction to Staff on Next Steps for Economic Recovery and
Community Vitality Opportunities.
Monica Renn, Economic Vitality Manager, presented the staff report.
Opened Public Comment.
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
PAGE 2 OF 5
SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Special Meeting of May 26, 2020
DATE: May 29, 2020
Item #1 continued-
Randi Chen, Chamber of Commerce
- Offered support to the businesses of Los Gatos, and requested that Council reallocate
funds to reopen the Town businesses and partner with the Chamber of Commerce to
support local businesses.
Jim Foley, Los Gatos Food and Wine Group
- Requested the Council to allocate funds to support local businesses and economic
vitality.
Maria Ristow
- Requested the Council implement the Dixon Parking Study by installing signage to
identify downtown parking lot locations and establishing an employee parking permit
program.
Mike Calise
- Requested the Council allocate funds to support economic vitality, supported
temporary parklets to encourage outdoor dining, requested the Town to partner with
the Chamber of Commerce, and commented that the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police
Department would play a vital role in enforcing physical distancing.
Kevin Youkilis, Loma Brewing Company
- Supported reopening businesses.
Michael Burke
- Opposed closing North Santa Cruz Avenue, and suggested using the parking spots along
North Santa Cruz as a pedestrian walkway instead of temporary parklets and utilizing
the sidewalk for restaurant tables.
Niki Jaimes, Vagabond Marketing and Engage Los Gatos
- Supported reopening businesses and suggested the Engage Los Gatos social media
campaign shift focus toward Engage Los Gatos Safely to encourage economic vitality.
David MacGregor Scholes, Redemption and Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce
- Supported reopening businesses and requested the Town allocate funds to support local
businesses and economic vitality.
Kristina Taroni
- Supported reopening business and temporary parklets suggested unified parklets,
supported closing North Santa Cruz on weekends as a trial period, and requested the
Council allocate funds for a long-term revitalization project.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Special Meeting of May 26, 2020
DATE: May 29, 2020
Item #1 Public Comment continued –
Catherine Somers, Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce
- Supported reopening businesses, suggested reallocating two million dollars to the
revitalization project by changing the 2020/2021 budget, requested the Council
prioritize the best ideas to reopen economy, and asked that staff partner with the
Chamber of Commerce to develop methods to implement ways to reopen the economy.
Ginger Rowe, Time Out Clothing
- Supported opening businesses, requested the Council contact the County of Santa Clara
to request the Town reopen, and commented that curbside pickup will not sustain
businesses.
Andrea Romano, Cin-Cin and Centonove
- Requested that the Town ease restrictions for the use sidewalks for restaurant dining,
supported the addition of outside seating in creative ways, hoped for a reduction of
beach traffic in the downtown area, commented that process streamlining is critical,
stated that curbside pickup is not sustainable, and encouraged the County of Santa Clara
to allow Los Gatos businesses to reopen.
Michele Jehenson
- Supports the business community, closing North Santa Cruz Avenue and closing the on-
ramp onto Highway 17 southbound to mitigate beach traffic during the warmer
weather.
Jennifer McRay, Kismet Boutique
- Suggested marketing Los Gatos as an outdoor shopping and dining environment and
reducing beach traffic in the downtown area not necessarily by closing North Santa Cruz
Avenue.
Lynn Kennedy
- Suggested the Town facilitate access to businesses without encouraging gatherings and
keeping all parking lots and streets open for regular traffic flow. Supported curbside
pickup and temporary parklets. Requested the Town discourage pop-up parks, not allow
amplified noise outdoors, and not allow North Santa Cruz to close.
Heidi Owens
- Suggested long-term strategy with short-term fixes to enable the Los Gatos business
community to allocate two million dollars for recovery through December 31, 2020, and
requested Council remain flexible and anticipate re-evaluating the budget and consider
business license waivers and/or refunds to provide business support.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Special Meeting of May 26, 2020
DATE: May 29, 2020
Item #1 Public Comment continued –
Katie Dhuey, Affordable Treasures
- Thanked the Town Council for holding this special meeting, and thanked the Chamber of
Commerce and the Los Gatos Business owners for participating.
Alex Hult, Flights Restaurant Group
- Supported closing North Santa Cruz Avenue on weekends beginning Saturday at 1:00
p.m.
Josh Allen, Sidecar Modern Tavern
- Supported sidewalk and temporary parklet seating.
Jill Milton
- Requested the Town encourage the County to allow Los Gatos businesses to reopen.
Brian Edwards, Hapa’s Brewing Company
- Requested the Town make the process of opening a new business easier by streamlining
the planning stage of the application process.
Lee Streitz
- Supported closure of North Santa Cruz Avenue.
Jennifer Croll
- Supported utilizing public outdoor spaces for businesses and closure of North Santa Cruz
to help mitigate traffic during the busy summer season.
Marsie Sweetland
- Supported small businesses.
Closed Public Comment.
Council discussed the matter.
Motion by Council Member Sayoc to
Repurpose $1.9 million from the Downtown Streetscape Capital Improvement Project towards
COVID-19 Economic Recovery to implement the ideas heard this evening, work with the
Chamber on outreach, and be adaptable and flexible to changing needs.
Seconded by Council Member Rennie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Special Meeting of May 26, 2020
DATE: May 29, 2020
Item #1 continued –
Motion by Council Member Sayoc to
Approve process streamlining as outlined in the staff report and absorb Conditional Use Permit
(CUP) fees specific for businesses for one year and with a review at six months.
Seconded by Council Member Rennie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Mayor Jensen to
Close on-street parking on North Santa Cruz Avenue and Main Street in the C-2 district,
except for curbside pickup, to allow businesses in the area to use the space;
Do not close North Santa Cruz Avenue;
Be prepared to purchase planters to implement parking closures;
Direct staff to move forward with implementing the Parking Study by installing signage
on North Santa Cruz Avenue identifying parking for curbside pickup and longer stay
parking; and
Allocate funds from the repurposed Downtown Streetscape project for these items.
Seconded by Council Member Rennie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Submitted by:
_____________________________________
Jenna De Long, Deputy Clerk
Agenda
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA
MAY 26, 2020
110 EAST MAIN STREET
LOS GATOS, CA
Marcia Jensen, Mayor
Barbara Spector, Vice Mayor
Rob Rennie, Council Member
Marico Sayoc, Council Member PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC PROCESS
Vacant, 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 complete a “speaker’s card” located on the back of the chamber benches and
return it to the Town Council. If you wish to speak to an item NOT on the agenda, you may do so
during the “Verbal Communications” period. 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/Councilvideos
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]
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TOWN OF LOS GATOS
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA
MAY 26, 2020
7:00 PM
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE MAY 26, 2020 COUNCIL 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
https://meetings.municode.com/PublishPage/index?cid=LOSGATOS&ppid=4bc370fb-3064-
458e-a11a-78e0c0e5d161&p=0. 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 interested in providing oral comments real-time during the meeting, you must make
a request prior to the time the Mayor calls the item for Public Comment to obtain the Zoom
link and password for the meeting. Please email PublicComment@losgatosca.gov to obtain the
link and password.
During the meeting:
When the Mayor 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, without a
Zoom app, you must notify the Town Clerk at PublicComment@losgatosca.gov which
item(s) you would like to speak on prior to 7:00 p.m. the day of the meeting.
When called to speak, please limit your comments to three (3) minutes, or such other
time as the Mayor 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
with the subject line “Public Comment Item #__ ” (insert the item number relevant to your
comment) or “Verbal Communications – Non Agenda Item.” Comments will be reviewed and
distributed before the meeting if received by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. All
comments received will become part of the record. The Mayor has the option to modify this
action on items based on comments received.
REMOTE LOCATION PARTICIPANTS
The following Council Members are listed to permit them to appear electronically or
telephonically at the Town Council meeting: MAYOR MARCIA JENSEN, VICE MAYOR BARBARA
SPECTOR, COUNCIL MEMBER ROB RENNIE, COUNCIL MEMBER MARICO SAYOC. All votes during
the teleconferencing session will be conducted by roll call vote.
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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 consistent with the Participation instructions
contained on page 2 of this 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 comment. In the event additional comments 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 for each comment on any of the following
items consistent with the Participation Instructions contained on page 2 of this agenda.)
1. Consider Options and Provide Direction to Staff on Next Steps for Economic Recovery and
Community Vitality Opportunities.
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.
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