May 5, 2025 Finance Commission Special Meeting

The agenda and reports for the May 5, 2025 Finance Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. are available online. Among other items, the Finance Commission will review and discuss the Proposed FY 2025-26 Operating and Capital Budgets and provide comments and recommendations regarding the proposed budget, including budget balancing approaches.

The Town welcomes public participation. For instructions regarding how to participate in the meeting, please see the meeting agenda. 

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 6, 2025 Town Council Meeting

The agenda and reports for the May 6, 2024 Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Town Council will consider:

• Fee and Fine Schedules for Fiscal Year 2025-26;
• The Recommendation of the Planning Commission for Adoption of a Resolution to Amend the General Plan to Allow 100 Percent Affordable Housing Projects as a By-Right Use in the Mixed Use Commercial General Plan Land Use Designation and Adoption of 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; and
• A Revised Town Council Code of Conduct Policy and New Board, Committee, and Commission Code of Conduct Policy.

This is a hybrid meeting and will be held in-person at the Town Council Chambers at 110 E. Main Street and virtually through the Zoom webinar application.

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 Council Meetings webpage. 

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

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:

• May 8, 2025, Complete Streets and Transportation Commission at 7:30 a.m.

Building Safety Month 2025

Building Safety Month is an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about building safety. For 45 years, Building Safety Month has reinforced the need for the adoption of modern, regularly-updated building codes, and helps individuals, families and businesses understand what it takes to create safe and sustainable structures.

Learn more at www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/building-safety-month/building-safety-month/

Plaza Park Fountains Temporarily Out of Service for Repairs

The fountain at Town Plaza Park is currently out of service while staff works to repair the ultraviolet (UV) water treatment system.  The UV system keeps the public safe when they come in contact with the water so the fountain cannot be operated without this system.  Staff is working diligently with the Town’s fountain maintenance vendor to define and fund the necessary repairs.  At this time the fountain may be out of service through mid-July.

Thank you for your patience while the repairs are made.

Caltrans Bridge Rail Barrier Replacement Project

Caltrans started construction of the Bridge Rail Barrier Replacement Project the week of April 7, 2025.

This project involves bridge railing replacement at two locations:

• Along the Main Street Bridge over Hwy 17; and
• Along the SB Hwy 17 overpass of the NB offramp to S. Santa Cruz Avenue.

The first part of the work involves the clearing of trees adjacent to the Main Street Bridge along the west side of Hwy 17. This work requires the closure of portions of Hwy 17 and will be performed at night. Caltrans will notify adjacent residents and businesses ahead of the night work. 

During construction of the Main Street Bridge, two-way traffic for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles will remain in place.  Parking will remain available along one side of the bridge. Pedestrian detours will be in place. Bicyclists and vehicles will share the road during the construction period.

Caltrans expects to complete the project by January 2026. We thank you for your patience during the construction.

For more information on this project, please visit the Caltrans Website.

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 at California's E-Bike Training Program Webpage.

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 Workshop

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

The 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 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 project is adding curb, gutter, sidewalk, planter strips and bike lanes on Shannon Road between Los Gatos Blvd and East La Chiquita Avenue.

Work continues to progress. Concrete sidewalks and ADA-compliant ramps have been installed along the north and south sides of Shannon Road. The contractor is currently awaiting completion of utility work by San Jose Water before proceeding with the installation of the new storm drain line. Further updates will be provided as the project advances.

This project is part of Public Works Department’s efforts to improve safety and accessibility for bicyclists and pedestrians. We appreciate your patience during construction and encourage you to stay informed by visiting the project website.

The Town is hiring!

The Town is hiring for various positions including: 

• Information Technology Technician (Temporary)
• 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."