June 18, 2024 TOwn Council Meeting

The agenda and reports for the June 18, 2024 Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Town Council will consider:

• Landscape and Lighting Assessment Districts No. 1 and 2;
• Brush Abatement Program Public Hearing Regarding the Proposed Removal of Brush on the Parcels Listed on the 2024 Wildland Urban Interface Area Non-Compliant Parcel List;
• The Reorganization of an Uninhabited Property Located at 15575 El Gato Lane;
• A Request for an Exception to the Height Pole, Flagging, Netting, and Signage Policy to Allow Preparation of Visual Renderings by the Applicant Rather than the Town’s Consultant as Required by the Policy at 110 Wood Road;
• A Proposed Donation from the Los Gatos Rotary to the Town at Live Oak Manor Park;
• Direction on the Town’s Community Grant Process;
• Direction on Near-term Improvements to the Interim Community Center and Operational Support for Community Partners; and
• An Ordinance to Place a One-Eighth Cent Sales Tax on the November 2024 Ballot.

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.

Juneteenth Closure

Please note that Town Administrative Offices and the Library are closed on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in observance of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control and ensure that all enslaved peoples were freed (although the Civil War had ended and the Emancipation Proclamation had already declared an end to slavery, it still existed in Texas).

We celebrate freedom and are also reminded to continue to act against racial injustice.

Upcoming Board, Commission & 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:

• Development Review Committee on June 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Potential 2024 Revenue Measure

To meet the Town’s service priorities, the Town is considering placing a 1/8th cent sales tax measure on the November 2024 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would add 12.5 cents to a $100 purchase of taxable items (groceries, utilities and prescription medicine are exempt from sales tax).

Curious About Proposed Development Projects in Los Gatos?

Check out the following resources on the Town website:

The Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department is hiring officers and dispatchers!

The Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department is hiring Police Officers and Dispatchers!

The Town is hiring!

The Town is hiring for various positions including: 

• Park Services Officer Aide (Temporary/Hourly/Unbenefited) 
• Police Communication Dispatcher 
• Police Officer
• Senior Administrative Analyst (Budget and Grants Administration)
• Supervising Equipment Mechanic or Equipment Mechanic

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

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.

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 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."