August 19, 2025 Town Council Meeting

The agenda and reports for the August 19, 2025 Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Town Council will:

• Receive the Bi-Annual Police Services Report for January – June 2025;
• Consider an Appeal of a Planning Commission Decision to Deny a Fence Height Exception Request for an Existing Fence Partially Located in the Town’s Right-of-Way and Exceeding the Height Limitations Within the Required Front Yard and Street-Side Yard Setbacks on Property Located at 10 Charles Street; and
• Provide Direction for the Distribution of $155,000 Included in the FY 2025-26 Budget for Community Grants.

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:

• August 19, 2025 Development Review Committee at 10:00 a.m.
• August 20, 2025 Arts and Culture Commission at 4:00 p.m.
• August 21, 2025  Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission at 5:00 p.m.

Firewise Community Meetings August 16 & 26

The Town of Los Gatos invites you to learn how to reduce wildfire risk and improve safety for your neighborhood by becoming a Firewise community!

Firewise benefits include:

• Improving wildfire safety for your home and neighborhood
• Strengthening preparedness and coordination with neighbors
• Eligibility for potential insurance discounts
• Earning recognition through a national fire-resilient community program

Attend a community meeting to learn more:

Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Los Gatos JCC at 14855 Oka Road

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
El Camino Health Conference Center at 815 Pollard Road
*Remote attendance available for August 26

Each session will last approximately 90 minutes. Learn more and register here.

Presented in partnership with the Santa Clara County Fire Safe Council.

 August 18 Pickleball & Tennis Court Community Meeting 

The Town of Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Department invites you to attend a Pickleball and Tennis Community Meeting on Monday, August 18, 2025 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at La Rinconada Park.

The upcoming project planned for La Rinconada Park's sport court and concerns related to the maintenance and future use of the court will be discussed. This is a valuable opportunity for residents to learn more about the project, ask questions, and share input.

La Rinconada Park is located at 151 Granada Way in Los Gatos. We look forward to seeing you there!

August 18 through September 8, 2025 Caltrans Temporary Parking Closure on the Main Street Bridge

Caltrans has notified the Town that from Monday, August 18 until Monday, September 8, 2025, parking spaces on both sides of the Main Street Bridge will be temporarily unavailable.

Music in the Park 2025

The Town of Los Gatos is proud to announce the return of Music in the Park and the lineup for the 2025 season!

• August 17 – Extra Large
• August 24 – Freestone Peaches

Join us on Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on the Civic Center lawn for this free, family-friendly concert series. Music in the Park has been a Los Gatos tradition since 1988 and we hope to see you there this summer! Learn more about Music in the Park.

The Town is Now Accepting Applications for Leadership Los Gatos

Leadership Los Gatos is back! Consider applying to participate in the Leadership class of 2026. This engaging community program offers the opportunity to learn more about Los Gatos while building your network and strengthening leadership skills. Applications are available online through August 29 and the program begins on October 3, 2025. 

Learn more and apply now!

Shannon Road is Ready for Back-to-School!

Just in time for the first week of school, the Town of Los Gatos is excited to announce that the Shannon Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements are now complete and ready for use!

E-Bike Safety

With the start of the new school year, the Town would like to remind the community about bike and e-bike safety!

The Los Gatos Youth Commission's Traffic Safety Ad Hoc has provided four guidelines to follow to ensure the safety of all vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians in Los Gatos:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.

West Valley Community Services Park-It Market Available at the Los Library Twice a Month

The Town of Los Gatos is pleased to announce a partnership with West Valley Community Services to offer the “Park-It Market” mobile food program every second and fourth Thursday of the month at the Los Gatos Library from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m.

Services include free access to food for community members experiencing food insecurity.

For more information and to register, visit the West Valley Community Services website.

Understanding Stormwater in Los Gatos

Do you want to learn about how the Town of Los Gatos manages stormwater?

When rain falls in Los Gatos, some soaks into landscaped areas, but some of it runs off into the streets and parking lots.  A system of inlets and pipes carries that water to local creeks and streams and eventually, all of that water ends up in Los Gatos Creek and San Francisco Bay. There are a number of laws and regulations that dictate how the Town manages this runoff, especially with regard to the quality of the water that enters the drainage system.  Specifically, there is a Municipal Stormwater Permit the Town must comply with. 

The Town’s Department of Parks and Public Works is responsible for ensuring the Town complies with the permit requirements.  Fortunately, the Town has the support of a Joint Powers Authority – West Valley Stormwater Authority. This small agency supports Los Gatos and the other West Valley Cities of Monte Sereno, Saratoga and Campbell with compliance efforts.  Their work is invaluable.  You can learn more about stormwater and the work of the West Valley Stormwater Authority in their new video.

Town Social Media Survey

How can the Town of Los Gatos improve its official social media presence? Let us know by taking the Social Media Survey. We appreciate your feedback!

Planned Hazardous Vegetation Clearing Complete

The Town of Los Gatos is happy to share that the planned hazardous vegetation clearing in and around the Town-owned La Rinconada, Novitiate, and Worcester Parks and Heintz and Santa Rosa Open Spaces has been completed!

The work was critical for wildfire safety by reducing potential hazardous fuel and creating defensible space around park structures, trails, and perimeters. There is now defensible space of 100 feet along the perimeters of open space that share boundaries with private residences. Additionally, the community and first responders can more safely access the parks via trails and fire roads.

The Town utilized grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), starting the work in March and completing it in mid-June. Maintenance of the completed work will be performed in 2026 and 2027 as a requirement of the FEMA grant.

Homeowners are reminded that maintaining a defensible space around your home is critical to the Town’s wildfire management efforts. Resources and information for homeowners can be found at Wildfire Preparedness Page.

The photo above shows some of the completed work at Santa Rosa Open Space.

Water Fountain on Southeast Side of East Main Street Bridge Temporarily Unavailable July though September

In early July, the water fountain on the southeast side of the East Main Street Bridge will be temporarily removed to provide adequate work area for CalTrans to complete work on the East Main Street Bridge Project.

Wildfire Preparedness in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Wildfire season is here—are you ready? #PrepareForEmergencyLG

Homes in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) are at higher risk from fast-moving fires. Now is the time to take action around your property:

• Maintain 100 feet of defensible space by following Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) guidelines for clearing vegetation and reducing wildfire risks.
• Remove debris from roofs and gutters.
• Trim tree limbs at least 10 feet away from structures and other trees.
• Store firewood and combustibles at least 30 feet from your home.

Important Safety Note:

Avoid using yard equipment (mowers, weed trimmers, chainsaws) during hot, dry, or windy conditions. These tools can spark fires. If you must clear vegetation, plan to work early in the morning, and have a water source or extinguisher nearby.

Not sure where to start?

The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council offers free HIZ evaluations to help you identify specific actions to reduce your risk. Visit their website for more info at Santa Clara County Fire Safe page.

Concerned about overgrown vegetation on nearby properties?

Report potential hazards to the County Weed Abatement Program at Santa Clara County Weed Abatement page.

For more information about wildfire preparedness, visit the Town website at Los Gatos Wildfire Prep page.

Stay informed. Sign up for AlertSCC alerts at www.AlertSCC.org.

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. The Town will continue to provide updates as they become available. 

Thank you for your patience while the repairs are made.

Caltrans Bay Area - Highway 17 Bridges Safety Upgrades in Los Gatos

Caltrans is improving safety and infrastructure in Los Gatos. In April, construction crews began the process for essential upgrades to two bridges in Los Gatos: Main Street Overcrossing Bridge and Santa Cruz Undercrossing Bridge. These improvements include new sidewalks and upgraded bridge rails designed to meet modern safety standards, protect travelers, and enhance the long-term durability of these structures. Benefits include improved pedestrian and driver safety and stronger, more reliable bridge structures. It will result in a safer travel experience for the Los Gatos community and its visitors.

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

• Project Duration: April 2025 - January 2026.
• Daytime Work: Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Intermittent daytime closures may also occur.  Some construction noise is expected during both day and night work hours. 
• Overnight Work: Monday–Friday, 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. Nighttime work will vary on lane closures but will start approximately at the timeframe provided. 
• Parking and Sidewalk Restrictions: Limited parking on the Main Street Overcrossing during construction. Construction activities on the Main Street Bridge will occur on one side at a time. 
• Main Street Bridge to take 3-4 months per side, with a tentative completion date of January 2026.

We appreciate your patience while Caltrans completes the work.

If you have a question or want to share a concern, please call the Caltrans Project Hotline at (510) 286-0319 or email SR17projects@dot.ca.gov

The Town is hiring!

The Town is hiring for various positions including: 

• Library Page (Temporary/Hourly)
• Police Officer 
• Police Trainee
• Senior Transportation Planner (Temporary/Hourly)

For more information on both of these positions and to apply, visit the Town's employment webpage. 

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."