April 9, 2025 Planning Commission Meeting

The agenda and reports for the April 9, 2025 Planning Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online. Among the items on the agenda, the Planning Commission will consider:

• A Request for Approval to Construct a Single-Family Residence and Site Improvements Requiring a Grading Permit on a Vacant Property Located at 15411 National Avenue; and
• A Resolution to Amend the General Plan to Allow 100 Percent Affordable Housing Projects as a Permitted Use in the Mixed-Use Commercial General Plan Land Use Designation and Adopt an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code to Add 100 Percent Affordable Housing Projects as a Permitted Use in the Restricted Commercial Highway (CH) Zone Pursuant to Implementation Program AB of the 2023-2031 Housing Element.

The live stream of the meeting may be viewed on KCAT-15 television and/or online at www.LosGatosCA.gov/TownYouTube.

The Town welcomes public participation. For instructions regarding how to participate in the meeting, including the Zoom link, please see the meeting agenda.  For additional details on providing comments, please visit the Town Public Guide to Town Planning Commission Meetings webpage. 

For more information on this agenda or about Town Council meetings, please call (408) 354-6832 or send an email to the Planning Department.

Upcoming Board, Commission, and Committee Meetings

To view upcoming Town Board, Commission, and Committee meeting agendas, visit the Town's Agendas and Minutes webpage. Next week's scheduled meetings include:

• April 7, 2025 Parks and Sustainability Commission at 6:00 p.m.
• April 8, 2025 Youth Commission at 7:00 p.m.

Los Gatos Creek Trail to Highway 9 Trailhead Connector Project Grand Opening Ceremony

The Town of Los Gatos is hosting a Grand Opening Ceremony, including a ceremonial ribbon cutting, to commemorate the completion of the Los Gatos Creek Trail Connector to Highway 9 Project!

Please join us on April 17, 2025 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The ceremony will be held on the Los Gatos Creek Trail directly under and south of the Highway 9 overpass at the site of the new pedestrian and bicycle bridge.

If you are driving, set your GPS to 41 Miles Avenue, Los Gatos, CA. Park in the Balzer Field Parking Lot (or nearby) and walk past the public bathrooms located behind home plate of Balzer Field and onto Los Gatos Creek Trail. Turn right and continue a few hundred feet on the trail to the event at the new bridge. We hope to see you there to celebrate with us!

Spring into Green 2025

The Town’s Spring into Green event is coming!! Get ready for a day filled with fun, music, and over 20 interactive booths celebrating recycling and sustainability! 

Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Town Plaza Park! Visit www.LosGatosCA.gov/SpringIntoGreen for more information

Temporary Closure of Bridge from Oak Meadow Park to County Vasona Park

Starting April 1, 2025, Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad will perform bridge maintenance between Oak Meadow and Vasona Parks.

Work will occur Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with intermittent closures. The bridge will be open on weekends. 

The bridge will be closed intermittently on the following dates:

• April 14–18

• April 21–23

• April 29–May 2

Detour routes will be posted. This work has been coordinated with the Town of Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Department and the County of Santa Clara Parks Department. Thank you for your patience while the work is completed.

E-Bike Safety Brought to You by the Los Gatos Youth Commission

Community members have reported kids acting dangerously on e-bikes in different areas of Town. The Los Gatos Youth Commission's Traffic Safety Ad Hoc wants to remind you to be a responsible road and bike path user to protect yourself and others.

Follow these four steps when riding your e-bike to ensure the safety of all vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians in Los Gatos:

• Adhere to all laws: Know the difference between e-bike classifications and their unique regulations. Do not carry passengers on your bike without an extra seat. It is illegal to drive your e-bike on sidewalks. Wear a helmet if you are under 17.
• Know the risk: Because of the size and power of an e-bike, injuries tend to be more severe. There were 225 e-bike injuries, in California in 2022, 4 of which were fatal. Acting responsibly and carefully with an e-bike protects you and those around you.
• Find the Right Bike: Consider your use of a bike - is it for recreation, exercising or a commute? Where will it drive? An e-bike has great power and more capabilities than a bike, but this comes with greater danger, expense, and responsibility.
• Follow the rules of the road: Follow all the same lights/signs as cars. Never weave in and out of traffic. Always use the bike lane - if none is present, match the speed and flow of traffic.

For more information, visit the Town’s E-Bike Webpage at www.losgatosca.gov/2811/Electric-Bikes or California’s E-Bike Training Program webpage at https://rise.articulate.com/share/yB3Hip8AYzOGdY0dqnd42mQ3k0c6Jza1#/.

PG&E Wildfire Safety Webinar

Join PG&E for a Wildfire Safety Webinar on Tuesday April 8, 2025 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm to:

• Learn about wildfire safety efforts and progress in the community;
• Hear about available resources; and
• Connect with local PG&E leaders.

 Visit https://www.pge.com/webinars to join online or via phone.

For more information from PG&E regarding preparing for wildfires or other emergencies, please visit safetyactioncenter.pge.com.

New Local Responsibility Fire Hazard Severity Zoning

CAL FIRE has revised their Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. These changes are part of an effort to enhance wildfire preparedness and safety across California. These maps classify areas into “Moderate,” “High,” and “Very High” fire hazard zones based on factors like vegetation, slope, and fire weather conditions. The Town is required to adopt these changes within 120 days of the map’s release (June 2025).

Visit www.losgatosca.gov/LRFHSZ to learn more and provide your input.

Santa Clara County Fire Department Spring 2025 Wildfire Preparedness Workshops

The Santa Clara County Fire Department is hosting two upcoming Wildfire Preparedness workshops. Learn about wildfire readiness, connect with local agencies, and access resources. 

The first workshop is on April 22, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Pavilion at Redwood Estates (21450 Madrone Drive, Los Gatos). 

The second workshop is on May 3, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Joan Pisani Community Center (19655 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga). 

Register at http://sccfd.eventbrite.com.

LGS Recreation Events & Programs

LGS Recreation has some exciting camps and events for different ages coming up in April and May!

Shannon Road Pedestrian and Bikeway Improvement Project

The Town of Los Gatos has contracted Sposeto Engineering for the Shannon Road Pedestrian and Bikeway Improvement Project, which began in September 2024.

The Town is hiring!

The Town is hiring for various positions including: 

• Grants Administrator (Temporary/Unbenefited)
• Police Officer 
• Police Trainee

For more information on both of these positions and to apply, visit the Town website at www.losgatosca.gov/1696/Employment. 

Senate Bill 330 Development Applications

Senate Bill 330 expands or amends Sate legislation, including the Permit Streamlining Act and Housing Accountability Act, with the broad goals of facilitating increased production of new residential units, protecting existing units, and providing for an expedited review and approval process for housing development projects through submittal of a “preliminary application.”

Sign Up for AlertSCC

AlertSCC is Santa Clara County's official Emergency Alert System.

Why sign up for AlertSCC?

• Stay ahead of emergencies and protect yourself and your loved ones. 
• Receive vital alerts directly to your device ensuring you're informed and prepared when it matters most. 
• Your information in AlertSCC is confidential and secure, used only for alerting purposes.

How are alerts received?

• AlertSCC is free for everyone and easy to set up.
• Alerts are sent directly to your mobile device, landline, and/or email.
• You can decide how you want to receive alerts and set up alerts for loved ones. 

Types of alerts include fire, earthquake, severe weather, public safety, and instructions during a disaster. 

Visit www.AlertSCC.org to sign up! 

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.

The lifeline – reached by dialing 9-8-8 – is the result of a push to make similar crisis and suicide prevention services available across the country starting July 16, 2022. The County of Santa Clara’s 988 operation includes an array of mental health services designed to de-escalate crisis situations.

The County’s new lifeline is designed to provide support for those experiencing emotional or mental health distress, including thoughts of suicide, fearfulness, or other mental health or substance use crises. Loved ones and others can also call 988 if they are concerned for someone else.
  
The lifeline will also serve as a connection point for County Behavioral Health Services and community-based organizations. The various onsite mobile response teams are made up of crisis clinicians and peer outreach specialists; services that both involve or do not involve law enforcement are available. The goals of 988 are de-escalation, stabilization, and referral to continued services.

County Behavioral Health Services staff are thoroughly trained on the new system, and the 988 line went live in a soft launch in May. The service is free, anonymous, and confidential, with no information shared unless in-person dispatch is required. Language interpretation is available in more than 200 languages. Calls to 988 are routed by area code; if the phone used does not have a 408, 650 or 669 area code, the Santa Clara County service can be accessed by calling 1-800-704-0900 and pressing 1. The same 800 number can be used for non-emergency calls to County Behavioral Health Services regarding general mental health and substance use treatment services information and referrals.

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 the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department 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."