PREPARED BY: Katy Nomura
Assistant Town Manager
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/18/2024
ITEM NO: 23
DESK ITEM
DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution and Introduce Ordinances to Place a One-Eighth Cent Sales Tax on the November 2024 Ballot as Either One Measure for a Special Tax or Two Measures for a General Tax and a Companion Advisory Measure to be Adopted by a Separate Resolution; and Authorize a Fiscal Year 2024/25 Expenditure Budget Adjustment of $66,000 for a Single Measure or $132,000 for Two Measures from the Available Capital/Special Projects Reserve.
REMARKS:
Attachment 7 contains a summary of the 26 survey responses received as of June 17, 2024.
Attachment 8 includes a slide presentation for tonight’s meeting.
Attachments previously received with the staff report:
1. Draft Special Tax Resolution with Exhibit A: Special Tax Ordinance
2. Draft Ordinance Approving Proposed Ordinance with Exhibit A: Special Tax Ordinance
3. Draft General Tax Resolution with Exhibit A: General Tax Ordinance
4. Draft Ordinance Approving Proposed Ordinance with Exhibit A: General Tax Ordinance
5. Resolution Approving Advisory Measure to General Tax
6. Examples of Approved General Taxes with Advisory Measures Attachments received with this Desk Item:
7. NBS Survey Summary
8. Presentation
This Page Intentionally Left Blank
NBS Summary of Survey Responses as of June 17, 2024
ATTACHMENT 7
Other Town Service Improvements Listed as Priori�es by Survey Respondents:
• Bike infrastructure
• Require all residen�al landlords to have business license • Parking:
o More enforcement of exis�ng parking �me restric�ons
o Increase parking for residents who live downtown elsewhere • Limit building. Fill vacancies.
• Install sidewalks in high traffic (especially student) areas, like Roberts Rd between University and the creek.
• Public bathroom downtown
Potential Revenue Ballot
Measure
June 18, 2024
ATTACHMENT 8
BACKGROUND
• On May 21, 2024, Town Council discussed the poll results and the Finance Commission recommendation for a special tax and voted to:
• Explore a special tax for police, public safety, and emergency preparedness; wildfire prevention (such as vegetation management); and traffic relief.
• Approve an amendment to the NBS agreement to conduct outreach. • Direct staff to talk to key stakeholders and work with NBS on the outreach.
Date
NBS Survey
Summary of Responses
• A full summary of 26 responses can be found in the Attachment 7 desk item
• Results generally in alignment with polling results with Police, traffic flow improvements, and wildfire risk reduction as the top priorities Survey shared on Town website, dedicated landing page
losgatosca.gov/RevenueMeasure, social media, and Town newsletter Date
Options
For All Options
• If the Town does not capture the 1/8th cent sales tax capacity, another agency could pass a sales tax measure and prevent Los Gatos from having control of those funds.
• Sunset after 20 years and include a resident oversight committee. • Generate approximately $1 million in annual revenue
• August 9 deadline to submit any measures to the County Options
Special Tax General Tax + Advisory Measure
Requires a 2/3 vote to pass, which is
unlikely
Requires a simple majority vote to pass,
which is supported by the polling
Requires funds be used in specific areas as
outlined in the measure
Advisory measure would indicate the will
of the voters on how the funds should be
spent
• Council could specify the use of
funds in the oversight committee’s
enabling resolution
$66,000 to place on the ballot $132,000 to place two measures on the ballot
Date
Options
Special Tax Proposed 75-word Ballot Language
“To provide dedicated funding for Los Gatos, that cannot be taken by the State/County, for maintaining and enhancing Police and emergency services, rapid 911 response times, wildfire/storm hazard prevention/protection, and infrastructure to improve traffic flow/reduce congestion, shall the measure to enact a 1/8 cent sales tax (0.125%), raising approximately $1 million annually, ending in 20 years, with mandatory annual audits, independent resident oversight, and all funds controlled locally in Los Gatos, be adopted?”
Date
Options
General Tax’s Advisory Measure
Proposed 75-word Ballot Language
“If Measure __ is approved by Los Gatos
voters, authorizing a local 1/8th cent
sales tax, shall the measure providing that
the revenues from Measure __ should be
dedicated to the following categories: 1)
Maintaining and enhancing Police and
emergency services, including rapid 911
response times; 2) Wildfire and storm
hazard prevention and protection; and 3)
Infrastructure projects to improve traffic
flow and reduce congestion, be
adopted?”
General Tax Measure
Proposed 75-word Ballot Language
“To provide funding that cannot be taken
by the State/County, to maintain/enhance
Los Gatos essential services, including
Police/emergency services, rapid 911
response, wildfire/storm hazard
prevention/protection, infrastructure to
reduce traffic congestion, and for general
government use, shall the measure
enacting a 1/8 cent sales tax (0.125%),
raising approximately $1 million annually,
ending in 20 years, with mandatory annual
audits, independent resident oversight,
and all funds controlled locally in Los
Gatos, be adopted?”
Potential Actions
1. Adopt a resolution to place a one-eighth cent sales tax on the November 2024 ballot as a special tax, introduce an ordinance to approve the tax ordinance, read the ordinance title and waive further reading, and authorize a budget adjustment in the amount of $66,000 from the available Capital/Special Projects Reserve; or
2. Adopt a resolution to place a one-eighth cent sales tax on the November 2024 ballot as a general tax, introduce an ordinance to approve the tax ordinance, read the ordinance title and waive further reading, adopt a resolution to add a companion advisory measure, and authorize a budget adjustment in the amount of $132,000 from the available Capital/Special Projects Reserve; or
3. Provide other direction; or
4. Take no action.
Thank you!