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Los Gatos in Lights While celebrations may look different this year, the holiday spirit will be shining brightly in Los Gatos! To help keep everyone safe and healthy, there will not be a formal Tree Lighting Ceremony this year. However, the Town will be lighting the Park Plaza Tree
early - keep an eye out for the extra sparkle shortly after Thanksgiving. In addition, this year the Town is excited to partner with the Chamber of Commerce to provide large festive displays that will light up the night throughout Los Gatos in December. We hope these twinkling displays can help bring some additional holiday cheer to the community.
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California Blueprint for a Safer Economy - Santa Clara County Moves to Purple "Widespread" TierOn August 28, 2020, Governor Newsom announced the Blueprint for a Safe Economy, which uses a Color Tier System to slow the spread of COVID-19. The colors (Purple/Widespread, Red/Substantial, Orange/Moderate, and Yellow/Minimal) reflect the number of new COVID-19 cases and how the disease is spreading locally. They also provide a framework for a safe progression of opening more businesses and activities.
Citing concerns regarding a sudden rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the State of California announced on November 16, 2020 that Santa Clara County is moving from the Orange Tier directly back into the most restrictive Purple Tier of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, effective November 17, 2020. Visit the State's COVID-19 website to view the status of activities within each County.
The State’s website includes information regarding the Purple Tier and its impact on businesses and activities. Impacts include the closure of indoor dining, which was already planned in Santa Clara County for November 17, 2020, as well as the closure of all indoor activities associated with gyms, museums, zoos and aquariums, places of worship, and movie theatres. Shopping malls and all retail establishments must reduce to a maximum of 25 percent capacity.
On November 19, 2020, the State of California issued a Limited Stay at Home Order to stop all non-essential work and activities from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in Purple Tier Counties, including Santa Clara County. The Order is effective from November 21, 2020 through December 21, 2020 and more information can be found on the State COVID-19 website.
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise significantly and rapidly, both nationally and locally. Public Health Officials urge residents to refrain from all travel, to gather with persons outside of their household only outdoors, and to limit interactions with persons outside of their immediate household.
All businesses must have a Social Distancing Protocol on file with the County and displayed. See the Santa Clara County Health website for more information on local guidance and directives that all businesses in Santa Clara County must follow.
K-12 schools that have not yet opened cannot open while Santa Clara County is in the Purple Tier. K-12 schools that have already opened may continue to be open pursuant to the County Schools Directive and State Guidelines.
Santa Clara County was originally placed in the most restrictive Purple Tier along with most other counties when the State switched from the monitoring list system to its current color-coded tier framework on August 28. On September 8, 2020, Santa Clara County moved to the Red Tier and on October 13, 2020, the County moved to the Orange Tier. On November 17, 2020, the County moved back to the Purple Tier along with 40 other Counties. The moves were based on daily case rates and test positivity. It's important to note that the State framework gives counties credit toward their case rate if they test more people than the state average. Using this calculation, the high number of tests performed in our area gives Santa Clara County a significant credit.
State reopening metrics are based on cases per 100,000 residents and positive COVID-19 test results per 100,000 tests. Each County must meet the following requirements in order to advance to the next colored tier: Counties are only permitted to advance one tier at a time. If a County’s metrics worsen for two consecutive weeks, it will move backwards and be assigned a more restrictive tier. The State will calculate seven-day averages every Tuesday; the averages will be based on data from a full week earlier to provide counties time to report up-to-date information.
Please remember that when there are discrepancies between State and County guidelines, the stricter Order controls.
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Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing Project Town Council Meeting on December 1, 2020On December 1, 2020, the Town Council will consider several actions associated with the Highway 17 Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing project.
The actions include accepting the Measure B grant of $2.75 million, authorizing the release of a Request for Proposals for engineering design, and approving a Community Engagement Plan. If approved by the Town Council, the design work would begin in early 2021 and would be completed in 2023. Throughout the design phase, there will be additional opportunities for the Town Council and the public to provide input. Please stay in touch with this project by visiting the project webpage. The Town welcomes your involvement in making Los Gatos a more bike and pedestrian friendly community!
The Council Meeting agenda, reports, and Zoom link will be published no later than the Friday before the meeting on the Town website.
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General Plan Update The Town is updating its General Plan, the document that will guide the Town for the next 20 years. Be a part of planning our future!
The next meeting will occur on December 3, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the new Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice Element. Agendas, meeting summaries, teleconference links, and other materials are available on the General Plan update website by clicking PARTICIPATE.
The Town also invites interested residents and businesses to get involved online through the website www.losgatos2040.com and EngagementHQ.
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Becoming an Inclusive CommunityVisit the Town's webpage, Becoming an Inclusive Community to find information about the Town's commitment to inclusivity and diversity, including related Town Council actions, advance promotion of future workshops, 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.
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FY 2019/20 Annual ReportThe Town of Los Gatos FY 2019/20 Annual Report has been released! The Report highlights the Town’s services, work, and accomplishments throughout the last year, including the areas of community character, public safety, transportation and infrastructure, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement. The Town continues to work on existing Council Strategic Priorities and identify and implement new priority actions in response to these unprecedented times, while remaining strong, flexible, and resilient. Check out the report on the Town website.
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Free Flu Shots AvailableEvery person aged 6 months and older needs the flu vaccine, every year. This is especially true this year, with COVID-19 also circulating widely in Santa Clara County.
Free flu shots are available every Saturday at the Santa Clara County Fairground Expo Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through mid-December. The car entrance for general parking is located at Gate D, 2542 Monterey Road, San Jose, CA 95111. The pedestrian entrance and disabled parking is located at Gate B, 344 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95111.
No appointment is required and all are welcome regardless of immigration status. Shots are available for everyone aged 3 years and older. Children ages 3 - 17 years must be accompanied by a parent or a guardian. Younger children should get a shot from their regular pediatrician.
For more information, visit the Santa Clara County Public Health website.
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Prepare for Fire SeasonDuring Shelter in Place, you can actively prepare for the upcoming fire season and reduce your wildfire risk!
Time spent staying at home is the perfect opportunity to start creating defensible space around your house by: trimming brush and removing weeds and low hanging tree limbs, organizing your Firewise community in creative non-gathering ways, or hardening your home.
While many wildfire preparation activities can be done safely under Shelter in Place orders, residents should strictly adhere to all County and State guidelines. Additionally, when doing work, be aware of preventing injuries that would require care from the already strained medical system.
For details, please visit: https://sccfiresafe.org/prepare/shelter-in-yard/.
Below are additional steps you can take to be personally prepared for wildfire season:- Don’t be a source of ignition! Cease any risky activities like using outdoor machinery, barbecuing, improperly towing chains etc., as one less spark, one less wildfire!
- Pack your GO Bag Now.
- Agree on an Evacuation Plan for your family including pets. Where will you meet and how will you get there?
- Be ready to leave immediately if an order is issued.
- Sign up for emergency alerts with AlertSCC and Nixle.
Visit the Town's Be Wildfire Ready webpage for more information on how to be prepared and what you can do to help protect your home.
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SNAP (Special Needs Awareness Program)The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department is pleased to introduce a new program to assist our community members with special needs. The Special Needs Awareness Program (SNAP) is voluntary and confidential. It is designed to provide First Responders with important information when responding to calls that involve individuals who may have a memory disorder, hearing impairment, autism, or other needs. For more information, please visit: https://www.losgatosca.gov/2583/SNAP
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Represent Los Gatos Oral History ProjectThe Local History Room of the Los Gatos Library holds a collection of historically valuable documents that help tell the story of the Town of Los Gatos. However, the stories of Black, Indigenous, and people of color are underrepresented in this collection. We acknowledge that without the voices of the BIPOC community, it is not possible to paint a complete picture of the history of our Town. We are launching the Represent Los Gatos Oral History Project to fill these gaps in our collection and to allow you to share your own stories, however you would like them to be told. To learn more and to share your story, please visit the Represent Los Gatos webpage.
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Santa Clara County Business DatabaseCurious about which businesses are COVID-19 prepared? You can now search the Santa Clara County business database to see which businesses are following Social Distancing Protocols. Search by name, type or location: https://sdp.sccgov.org/.
Businesses must require the following for employees and customers:
-Face coverings (exceptions for medical reasons)
-Social distancing
-Handwashing or provide hand sanitizer stations
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Concerns About Not Following County COVID 19 Guidelines If you have concerns about a business, school, or healthcare provider not following Santa Clara County COVID-19 Guidelines, visit the County Health website to report a concern.
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CHECK for Your Safety!
Santa Clara County requires ALL businesses to post and implement a Social Distancing Protocol. The “COVID-19 Prepared” Checkmark Sign and Visitor Information Sheet should be posted at the business entrance. The Social Distancing Protocol provides important information about hand-washing, hand-sanitizing, cleaning, social distancing, signage, training, control measures, how to report a complaint, and other safety measures. For more information, visit the Santa Clara County Public Health website. Remember when you enter a business to CHECK for your safety!
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COVID-19 TestingTesting for COVID-19 is accessible and widely available in Santa Clara County. Testing is 100% covered by health insurance, safe, confidential, and free. Testing does not affect immigration status, require a doctor’s note, or require insurance.
If you are in the following groups, County Public Health highly encourages you to get tested once a month: healthcare workers, first responders, other frontline workers, anyone who is notified that they were exposed to someone who was confirmed to have COVID-19, anyone who is 60 years of age and older, and anyone with chronic medical conditions.
The County has a handy interactive map that makes it easy to find a testing location nearest to where you live or work.
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Los Gatos StrongOver the years, the Town’s conservative budgeting practices have resulted in healthy reserves and frequent annual budgetary surplus. Those reserves and surpluses are now paying the Town huge dividends.
On May 26, 2020, the Town Council reallocated $1,900,000 in prior surpluses reserved for downtown streetscape revitalization toward COVID-19 economic stimulus recovery efforts. Visit downtown restaurants and shops to see how some of our local businesses are expanding into temporary parklets on Santa Cruz and Main. This is one of the single largest economic recovery packages ever proposed in the Town’s history.
In addition, on June 2, 2020, the Town Council approved a balanced Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 with no reductions to service, despite significant revenue and other economic impacts from sheltering-in-place. |
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Update to Available Town ServicesPolice Department: Fully operational. Non-essential functions are postponed until further notice. Personnel are utilizing remote means to handle non-life threatening calls when appropriate. For more information, visit the Department website.
Community Development Department: Temporarily closed to the public. No in-person counter services are currently available. Inspections that can be completed via video are being scheduled and other on-site inspection services are evaluated on a case by case basis. Limited staff resources are available to perform work on permits remotely. Electronic permit submittal, resubmittal, and limited issuance started on April 17th. Please visit the Town’s Building and Planning webpages for further information on this option.
Library: The lobby is now open Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. There is a collection available for browsing, self-checkout machines, and staff at the Circulation desk to assist. For your safety and the safety of staff, the number of people allowed in the building at a time is limited. Check in at the patio desk before entering the building. When you enter, wear a face covering (anyone over age 2), sanitize your hands, maintain a 6 foot distance from others, do not enter if you have any COVID-19 symptoms, and please note that no restrooms, seating, or in-person tech help are available at this time. Follow Facebook, Instagram, and the website for a schedule of remote storytimes and other fun activities. Other online services such as e-books and e-magazines are available. For questions, email library@losgatosca.gov.
Parks and Public Works Department: Parks and trails are open with physical distancing of at least six feet. Park restrooms are available and cleaned once a day. Playgrounds, tennis courts, sports fields, and BBQ areas are open with physical distancing and other requirements as posted. Park reservations are being accepted. Routine maintenance of streets and parks continues at reduced levels. Selected construction projects and support for urgent work for utility companies exempt from the County Order continue. Email any concerns to ppw@losgatosca.gov.
Economic Vitality Department: Resources for small businesses, employers, and employees are available here and on the Town website. The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce is also a good source of information for businesses and the community. Any questions can be emailed to Monica Renn at mrenn@losgatosca.gov.
Finance Department: Business license services are available remotely via email at businesslicense@losgatosca.gov.
Clerk Department: Requests for public records are being processed, but time limits to respond have been suspended. We appreciate the importance of your request and will do our best to respond within 10 days, but responses may be delayed until such time the order is suspended and Town Hall opens fully for all services.
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Lifesaving Information For Emergencies (L.I.F.E.) FileEmergencies 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
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Notify Me!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.
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