Town Council to Review Draft 2040 General Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report on June 20

The Town Council will hold a Special Meeting on Monday, June 20, at 7:00 p.m., via teleconference, to receive public testimony and consider the Planning Commission's recommendations on the Draft 2040 General Plan and Final Environmental Impact Report.

June 21, 2022 Town Pension and OPEB Trusts Oversight Committee Meeting 

The agenda and reports for the June 21, 2022 Town Pension and OPEB Trusts Oversight Committee meeting at 6:15 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Committee will receive the Town of Los Gatos IRS Section 115 Pension Trust Account update as of March 31, 2022 and receive California Employer’s Retiree Benefit Trust (CERBT) Strategy 1 Account Update and Market Value Summary Report for the period ending March 31, 2022.

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/83816043113?pwd=YXk1bklud0s3M0dxOXZLS3puNXRYQT09 with password: 255844. 

To access the meeting by telephone, dial: 877-336-1839 with 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. 

For more information on this agenda or about Town Pension and OPEB Trusts Oversight Committee meetings, please call 408-354-6832 or send an email to the Town Manager's office. 

June 21, 2022 Town Council Meeting

The agenda and reports for the June 21, 2022 Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Town Council will consider:

• Objections to the proposed removal of brush on parcels listed on the 2022 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) area non-compliant parcel list and abatement of
  the public nuisance and potential fire hazard pursuant to the Town Code (Chapter 9)
  regarding defensible space;
• Landscaping and Lighting Assessment Districts 1 and 2;
• Senior Services Roadmap Goals as recommended by the Senior Service Committee;
• A report on the June, 16, 2022 Promenade event and any additional direction on event format or other provisions if needed;
• The business license analysis and ordinance review and a proposed ballot measure to modernize and create a more equitable business license tax structure; and
• Maintaining a ban on cannabis businesses in Los Gatos and a ballot measure to tax cannabis businesses. 

• 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, press #2 on your telephone keypad to raise your hand. 

June 22, 2022 Planning Commission Meeting

The agenda and reports for the June 22, 2022 Planning Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online. The Planning Commission will consider a request for approval for construction of a new second-story addition to an existing single-family residence at 147 Arroyo Grande Way and the draft Objective Standards.

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/83234841285?pwd=WnUvOXlRVWhLVFVKUlBrOGVRNk96QT09 with password: 161130.

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. We hope you can join some of the exciting upcoming events. 

Law Enforcement Northern Special Olympics: June 24

 
The Police Department would love to have the community support them in raising money for the Northern California Special Olympic athletes. The goal this year is to raise $7500.00. The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno PD Team page is available at https://p2p.onecause.com/sonctorchrun/team/los-gatos-monte-sereno-pd?participant=michael-birley
 
The run will begin at 8:45 a.m. in Monte Sereno at the Quito Fire station (Hwy 9 and Austin way) and run through Downtown Los Gatos towards Campbell (5 miles total). For more information, route details, and updates see the link for the social media post at https://www.instagram.com/p/Cel4f4iJlC7/

Coffee with a Cop: August 11

Join the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department for Coffee with a Cop at Blvd Coffee (15525 Los Gatos Boulevard) from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on August 11, 2022.

Community Police Academy: August 25 - October 27

The LGMS Community Police Academy is an opportunity for local community members to engage in an informative 10-week program designed to provide a transparent look into law enforcement, the legal process, and surrounding support services. The curriculum will be presented by Police Department personnel. More details to come. 

Walk with a Cop (Now- Fall 2022)

The Walk with a Cop program allows for community members to meet uniformed officers in their neighborhood, a commercial business area, or Civic Center and walk for an hour. The link to apply can be found at https://www.losgatosca.gov/forms.aspx?FID=149 

Lane Closures on State Route 9 in Monte Sereno
June 15 - August

The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) will perform daytime closures at the intersection of State Route 9 and Austin Way, in the City of Monte Sereno, in order to safely construct the Bike Safety Improvement Project.

Social Host Ordinance - Useful Information

The goal of the Social Host Ordinance is to educate and provide resources to the community about ways to deter underage drinking and to provide awareness that there are consequences for allowing such gatherings to occur.

What is a Social Host Ordinance?

Why Are Social Host Ordinances Necessary?

Cost Recovery Fees for Underage Social Gatherings

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.

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."