May 9, 2022 Finance Commission Meeting

The agenda and reports for the May 9, 2022 Finance Commission meeting at 5:00 p.m. are available online. Among other items, the Finance Commission will complete comments and recommendations to Town Council on the proposed FY 2022/23 Operating and Capital Budgets and discuss the single audit results.

If you are interested in providing oral comments real-time during the meeting, you must join the Zoom webinar at https://losgatosca-gov.zoom.us/j/86805787823?pwd=cTNvclovaHlSaENSd3hlc1l0VFArdz09 with password: 830667. 

To access the meeting by phone, dial (636) 651-0002 or (877) 336-1829 (US Toll Free) with conference code 986172.

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. 

For more information on this agenda or about Finance Commission meetings, please call 408-354-6832 or send an email to the Town Manager's office. 

May 11, 2022 Planning Commission Meeting

The agenda and reports for the May 11, 2022 Planning Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online. The Planning Commission will consider an appeal of a Community Development Director decision to deny a fence height exception request for construction of a 5'9" fence located within the required front yard setback at 14741 Blossom Hill Road and a request for approval of technical demolition and re-build of a single-family residence at 16668 Shannon Road. 

Planning Commission meetings are held regularly on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Commission meetings are broadcast live on KCAT-15. Live and archived videos are also available online.

This meeting is being conducted utilizing teleconferencing and electronic means consistent with Government Code Section 54953, as Amended by Assembly Bill 361, in response to the state of emergency relating to COVID-19 and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by suspending or waiving specified provisions in the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.).   Consistent with AB 361 and Town of Los Gatos Resolution 2021-044 this meeting will not be physically open to the public and the Council and/or Commissioners will be teleconferencing from remote locations. Members of the public can only participate in the meeting by joining the Zoom webinar (log in information provided below). 

If you are interested in providing oral comments real-time during the meeting, you must join the Zoom webinar at https://losgatosca-gov.zoom.us/j/83836535836?pwd=MlZ6RXdnOVVuTzYzNXBIMFIySVFFUT09 with password: 347810. 

To access the meeting by phone, dial (213) 270-2124 or (888) 273-3658 (US Toll Free) with conference code 898841.
 
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, without a Zoom app, you must notify the Community Development Director  at PlanningComment@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 Chair may decide, consistent with the time limit for speakers at a Planning Commission meeting.

If you are unable to participate in real-time, you may send an email to PlanningComment@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 11:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting.  All comments received will become part of the record.  The Chair has the option to modify this action on items based on comments received.

For details on this agenda or about Planning Commission meetings, please send an email to the Community Development Department.

Community Policing

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department is initiating specific events and programs throughout 2022 to enhance community policing. Community Policing has been a long-standing framework for establishing trust, exchange of information and transparency, and a positive engagement between law enforcement and the community. Community policing is used to involve the community in public safety and gain an understanding of specific community concerns and create a positive, proactive policing method to meet the needs of the community.

 The community policing programs include Coffee with a Cop, the Therapy Dog Program, a Community Police Academy, Walk with a Cop, and staff Support of Special Olympics activates. These engagements are identified on the lower portion of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Community Policing logo to promote these events throughout the year on the department website, social media, and other communications. These engagements are integral to build respect, community - police partnerships, and developing a better-informed vision of public safety needs and responses.

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department is committed to enhancing community policing efforts through these specific engagement opportunities. Police presence and trust is fundamental to maintaining peaceful order to the community. It is the realization of public and police sharing a space in congruence, building relationships, with a focus on common goals. These community - police interactions help to bridge the gap and implement the LGMSPD mission to be a collaborative problem solvers. 

For more information, please visit the Police Department's Community Policing webpage. 

Participate in the Housing Element Update, the Balancing Act tool is Now Available!

The Balancing Act tool is a simulator for locating potential housing sites as part of the Town's Housing Element Update.

Housing Element Update Property Owner Interest Form

The Town wants to hear from property owners who may be interested in future housing development.

Wildfire Preparedness Webinars

The Santa Clara County Fire Department is offering Wildfire Preparedness Webinars in May.

The Return of Music in the Park!

The 2022 Los Gatos Music in the Park concert series is currently under production and sponsorship opportunities are now available. For information contact Neal Turley at whoisguygrand@gmail.com.

Becoming an Inclusive Community

Visit the Town's webpage, Becoming an Inclusive Community to find information about the Town's commitment to inclusivity, equity, justice, and diversity, including related Town Council actions, Council action on Police reforms, an overview of Police Department community policing, and a dedicated email for comments and inquiries regarding these important issues.

If you have concerns, experiences, questions, or ideas regarding how Los Gatos can be more welcoming for all, please let us know by sending an email to Community@losgatosca.gov.

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

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.  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 or email engage@losgatosca.gov with subject "Sign Me Up."