February 26, 2020 Planning Commission Meeting

The agenda and reports for the February 26, 2020 Planning Commission meeting are available online. The Planning Commission will discuss and recommend a Preferred Land Use Alternative framework for the General Plan Update and consider amendments to Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code regarding both family daycare home regulations and accessory dwelling units.

Planning Commission meetings are held regularly on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the Town Council Chambers located at 110 E. Main Street. Commission meetings are broadcast live on KCAT-15. Live and archived videos are also available online.

The Town seeks input on all Planning Commission agenda items.  The deadline for written comments is 11 a.m. on September 11, 2019.  The public is also welcome to attend the meeting to give input.  For more information, see the Public Guide to Town Council Meetings.

For details on this agenda or about Planning Commission meetings, please call (408) 354-6874 or send an email to the Community Development Department to confirm meeting date, location and time. 

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department is proud to present its first Citizens Police Academy. This is an opportunity for local community members to participate in an informative 10-week program designed to provide an inside look at local law enforcement. During academy training, students will be introduced to a wide range of topics designed to provide participants with an overview of the Police Department’s function and operational procedures.  The primary goals of the Citizens Police Academy are to increase understanding between our residents and the Police Department and to enhance the strong relationships we have with the community. Topics covered include patrol operations, laws of arrest, investigations, records processing, traffic laws, communications, defensive tactics, supportive resources and much more. The curriculum will be presented by Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department personnel and other community resources that collaborate with our Department to keep our neighborhoods safe. The course will consist of one 3-hour evening session per week for the duration of the course. The Citizens Police Academy is a great way to get to know the men and women of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department and gain a better understanding of the role of the police in the community.

If you are interested in joining us, submit an application today! Details and application forms are available at https://www.losgatosca.gov/2575/Citizens-Academy.    

Apply Now to Serve on a Town Board, Commission, or Committee

The Town Council appoints members of the public to specific Town Boards, Commissions, and Committees. The primary responsibility of the Commissions is to act as advisory bodies to the Council. Commission members identify issues of interest to the community, make policy recommendations to the Council, and initiate programs that benefit the community.

Students entering Grades 8-12 for the 2020/2021 school year are eligible to apply for a spot on the Youth Commission. The Youth Commission application deadline is Friday, May 1, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. with interviews scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.

The Adult Commissioner Deadline is Friday, May 8, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. with interviews scheduled on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.  The following Adult Commissioner opportunities are available:

• Arts and Culture Commission
• Building Board of Appeals
• Community and Senior Services Commission
• Personnel Board
• Sales Tax Oversight Committee

Fuel Break Project Returns to Los Gatos -
Potential Hwy 17 Delays 

On March 22, 2019, Governor Newsom Proclaimed a State of Emergency on Wildfires to Protect the State’s Most Vulnerable Communities.  The State of Emergency proclaimed by Governor Newsom identified 35 areas most vulnerable to wildfire, including the 6.5 mile stretch of SR-17 between the Town of Los Gatos and Summit Road. 

A shaded fuel break project removes fire fuel from under the tree canopies while preserving most of the trees.  The fuel break project returned to the Los Gatos area on January 21, 2019, with work occurring intermittently during the week between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The nature of the work requires lane closures so our community should plan for extended travel times, as shoulder and lane closures will cause delays.  In order to avoid driving delays and receive the most up to date information, sign up for project notifications at www.firesafe17.com.

Community Budget Survey

The Town of Los Gatos is seeking community input regarding the annual budgeting process.  We want to know what Los Gatos residents, businesses, and property owners view as the budget priorities for the Town.  For basic background information, the “Budget At A Glance” can be viewed on the Town website here.  More in-depth budgeting information is available on the Financial Transparency webpage here.  Please provide your input by clicking on the survey link below and submitting your responses to a short, three question survey.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGbudget

Volunteers Sought for Bike Valet at Local Events

The Town of Los Gatos and the Complete Streets & Transportation Commission are supporting Free Bike Valet Parking at local events. Volunteering to park bikes is a ton of fun! Sign up solo and meet new people or sign up with some friends and make a date of it; high school students will receive community service hours. Service clubs are welcome to take on a special event and run the bike valet themselves.  Typically volunteers work 2-hour shifts. We park bikes at Spring Into Green in April and the July 4th Town Celebration, plus other events as demand and volunteers allow. If you can help out, please contact Maria Ristow, ristows@comcast.net to become a part of this energetic volunteer team. Help us take more cars off the road and make it easy for people to bike downtown.  

New Financial Transparency Webpage 

The Town recently launched a new Financial Transparency link to the homepage of our website.  In an effort to provide better access to important fiscal information, the webpage contains individual links to pages dedicated to specific elements of the finances of the Town. These webpages include:

• Town Strategic Priorities
• FY 2019/20 Budget at a Glance 
• Five-Year Financial Forecast
• Annual Budget/CAFR Cycle
• Town Budget
• Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFR)
• Town Pension and OPEB Plans Information
• Los Gatos at a Glance

The Town is exploring new approaches to engage the community in the annual budget process and additional information is forthcoming.  Please send your comments and questions to manager@losgatosca.gov.    

Notify Me!

How can we help you if we can't reach you?  While you have signed up to receive these weekly "What's New" emails, many of your neighbors may have remained in the dark because they did not receive current information from the Town regarding the recent PG&E public safety power shutoffs.  In addition to emergency communications, you may sign up for Town notifications regarding infrastructure projects in your neighborhood, Town events, meetings, and other topics of community interest. 

Please encourage your friends and neighbors in Los Gatos to sign up for Town communications through "Notify Me" at: www.losgatosca.gov/notifyme. Type your email address in the box and select "sign in."  From there, you can subscribe to the topics you wish and you are able to unsubscribe at any time. If you need help, call the Town Manager's Office at (408) 354-6832 during business hours. 

Lifesaving Information For Emergencies (L.I.F.E.) File

Emergencies can happen when we least expect them to and many of the requests for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) happen within the home. The Town of Los Gatos is partnering with the Santa Clara County Fire Department to promote their new L.I.F.E. file program. The L.I.F.E. File is a simple tool individuals and families may use to assist emergency responders during a medical emergency.   First Responders rely heavily upon the patient, and/or the patient’s family members, to provide information used to help in the treatment and care of the patient. However, there are times when the patient is unable to provide this information and family members may not be present or available to assist First Responders during a medical emergency. The L.I.F.E. File information includes past pertinent medical history, allergies to medications, medications currently prescribed to the patient, advanced medical directives and any additional information. The L.I.F.E. File pouch is a vinyl magnetic pouch that is placed in an easily seen location on the front or side of the refrigerator.

You may pick up L.I.F.E. Files from Town Hall and local fire stations. If you, or anyone you know, would like additional information on the L.I.F.E. File program please contact Jackie Rose, Community Outreach Coordinator at JRose@losgatosca.gov

Interested in Proposed Development in Town?

Visit the Pending Planning Projects in Los Gatos on the Town's website.  You can search for planning applications by street name and address, or by clicking on the map option.  The information for projects includes a brief description, project planner, date filed, and status. Some projects include images/plans and other related documents for information only.