December 2, 2024 Finance cOMMISSION mEETING

The agenda and reports for the December 2, 2024 Finance Commission Special meeting at 5:00 p.m. are available online. Among other items, the Finance Commission will:

• Review the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Draft Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and provide comments and recommendations to the Town Council.

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.

December 3, 2024 Town Council Meeting

The agenda and reports for the December 3, 2024 Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. are available online.  Among the items on the agenda, the Town Council will consider:

• Introduce an Ordinance to repeal sections 6.120.060, 6.120.070, and 6.120.080 of the Town Code which define and regulate residential and nonresidential all electric construction;
• Introduce an Ordinance amending Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code Regarding State Mandated Density Bonuses, pursuant to Implementation Program R of the 2023-2031 Housing Element;
• Introduce an Ordinance Amending Chapter 29 (Zoning Regulations) of the Town Code to Add Low Barrier Navigation Centers as a By-Right Use in Mixed-Use and Nonresidential Zones, Pursuant to Implementation Program AD of the 2023-2031 Housing Element;
• Introduce a Replacement Units Ordinance and Adopt a Resolution Adopting Replacement Units Guidelines, Pursuant to Implementation Program AU of the 2023-2031 Housing Element; and
• Receive the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department Organizational Assessment Report Completed by Meliora Public Safety Consulting.

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:

• December 3, 2024 Development Review Committee at 10:00 a.m.

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: 

• Intern (Temporary/Hourly)
• Maintenance Assistant (Temporary/Hourly/Unbenefited)
• Police Community Services Officer Intern
• 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."