September 20, 2022 Town Pension and OPEB Trusts Oversight Committee Meeting

The agenda and reports for the September 20, 2022 Town Pension and OPEB Trusts Oversight Committee meeting at 6:00 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Committee will receive CalPERS valuations and receive OPEB valuation and consider assumptions. 

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/84749052891?pwd=NkhSSktIejRhYkdMQWQzclNCWHBIdz09 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. 

September 20, 2022 Town Council Meeting 

The agenda and reports for the September 20, 2022 Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Town Council will consider:

• Clarification of roles and responsibilities between CHSSC and the Senior Services Committee;
• Modifications to the Agenda Format and Rules Policy regarding remote participation as recommended by the Policy Committee;
• A Resolution to adopt the 2020 Land Use and Community Design Elements; and
• Wildfire prevention grant match.

• 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. 

September 22, 2022 Blossom Hill Road Traffic Safety Project Community Meeting #2 

Traffic safety has been an important consideration on Blossom Hill Road between Camellia Terrace and Hillbrook Drive due to a large number of students and Blossom Hill Park patrons using this arterial corridor.

In early 2021, a traffic safety feasibly study was completed and the recommendations were shared with the community. The Town has since developed a concept plan to enhance safety in the area and reduce traffic speeds. The concept design includes improvements at the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Cherry Blossom Lane, Class IV bike lanes with green bollards, and travel lane reduction in each direction on Blossom Hill Road within the project limit. The plan is to make the improvements as part of the 2023 Street Repair and Resurfacing Project next summer.

The concept plan will be presented at the online Community Meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22. Community members are highly encouraged to participate in the meeting and provide feedback. For information on how to join the meeting and additional information about the project, please visit the project website at https://www.losgatosca.gov/2650/Blossom-Hill-Road-Traffic-Safety.

September 23, 2022 Town Screen on the Green Event

The Town of Los Gatos invites you to join us to watch "Encanto" on Friday, September 23, 2022 for our annual Screen on the Green event at Oak Meadow Park.

Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project (BPOC) Survey

The Town is issuing an online survey to gauge support for three bridge types for the proposed Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing project at Blossom Hill Road.

The three bridge types being considered are concrete girder, flat steel truss, and arched steel truss. Here is the link to the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Hwy17BPOC.

The survey kicks off on Friday, September 16, 2022 and closes on October 7, 2022. People who participate in the survey will have the opportunity to view video renderings of each bridge type, provide feedback, and select their preferred bridge type for Town’s consideration. For more information, please visit the Town's project website at www.losgatosca.gov/2556/Hwy-17-Bicycle-Pedestrian-Overcrossing. 

Oak Meadow Park Outreach Survey

The Town of Los Gatos is considering expanding the bandstand area in Oak Meadow Park to enhance the use of the space for large events and private rentals.

Initial Public Review Draft of the 2023-2031 Housing Element Now Available!

The Initial Public Review Draft of the Town’s 2023-2031 Housing Element is now available for public review.

Adopted 2040 General Plan & FAQs Now Available!

The adopted 2040 General Plan and an FAQ document are now available at www.LosGatos2040.com. An interactive version will be posted in the coming months. 
 
The adopted 2040 General Plan retains the Town’s Low Density neighborhoods as is, allows more housing types in High (formerly known as Medium) Density Residential (i.e., small, multi-unit housing), does not allow new housing potential in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and focuses the majority of the growth in the Community Growth Districts with mixed use and higher density developments. 
 
Please note that the Medium Density Residential designation was renamed High Density Residential and the High Density Residential designation was renamed Very High Density Residential.  As a result, there is no Medium Density Residential designation in the adopted 2040 General Plan. 
 
The projected number of housing units is 3,160 over the next 20 years. Subtracting 475 previously-approved units (“pipeline projects”) and 500 anticipated accessory dwelling units, the projected total is 2,185 units over the next 20 years.

More specifically, the approved Plan:

• Keeps the Low Density Residential density at the 2020 density level (0-5 units per acre);
• Endorses the Planning Commission recommendation for High (formerly known as Medium) Density Residential (14-22 units per acre) except in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone where the density remains at the 2020 level (5-12 units per acre);
• Retains the existing housing potential in Office Professional at the 2020 level (10-20 units per acre);
• Removes housing from the Service Commercial designation; and
• Includes the other designation changes contained in the Draft 2040 General Plan.

 
The Town Council will review the Plan if 1,000 housing units are approved or after five years, whichever comes first. This provides the Council an opportunity to make any needed adjustments, in accordance with State law, based on actual development activity.
 
A referendum of a portion of the adopted 2040 General Plan is now circulating for signatures.  For full transparency, you can view the summary of the referendum at www.LosGatos2040.com. 

Remote Town Meetings Continue

The Town is continuing remote Town Council, Board, Commission, and Committee meetings.

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.

For more information on how the Town has been working on this issue for the last seven years, please visit: https://www.losgatosca.gov/2488/Beach-Traffic

County of Santa Clara Launches 988 Phone Number Dedicated to Crisis Mental Health Services

Santa Clara County has launched a lifeline phone number for people to call in times of mental health or substance use crisis, with teams of trained counselors available 24/7 to offer support by phone or in-person, depending on the nature of the situation.

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."