PREPARED BY: Saurabh Nijhawan
Senior Civil Engineer
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 04/01/2025
ITEM NO: 5
DESK ITEM
DATE: April 1, 2025
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Chris Constantin, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive a Report on the Montebello Bollard Project (CIP No. 813-0235) and Provide Direction to Staff
REMARKS:
Attachment 3 contains the staff presentation.
Attachments Received with The Staff Report:
1. Alternatives Analysis – Vehicle Ramming Prevention at Plaza Park
2. Concept Sketch of Proposed Bollard Locations
Attachments Received with This Desk Item:
3. Staff Presentation
Montebello Bollard Project:
Enhancing Safety at Town
Plaza Park
Town Council Meeting
April 1, 2025
SN by Saurabh Nijhawan
This presentation examines the proposed bollard installation at Town Plaza Park in Los Gatos. We'll explore the project's background, current challenges, and potential solutions.
(CIP Project No. 813-0235)
ATTACHMENT 3
Plaza Park: A Community
Hub
67 Annual Road
Closures
Montebello and Broadway
close approximately 67 times
yearly for events.
Diverse Events
Hosts Farmers Market, Jazz
in the Plaza, Spring into
Green, and Los Gatos in
Lights.
Pedestrian Safety
During events, the space fills with pedestrians requiring protection.
Project Background
1 February 2023
Staff presented information on resources needed for special events. Recommended limiting to 8 closures per year.
2 May 2024
Town Council allocated $50,000 for bollard installation. 3 October 2024
Project posted for bidding with seven bids received.
4 February 2025
All bids rejected as they exceeded the $50,000 budget. Staff began an in-depth analysis.
Moveable Anti-Vehicle
Barriers Option
Security Level
Provides high level of protection against vehicle ramming incidents.
Staffing Requirements
Requires three PPW staff to set up, break down, and operate during events at approximately $400 per hour.
Annual Cost Impact
For 67 events requiring 5 hours each, total annual staffing cost would be approximately $134,000 at straight time (higher with overtime).
Limitations
Must be operated by town staff only - cannot be managed by event organizers, creating potential staffing constraints.
Concrete Barriers and Planters Options
• Concrete barriers (K-rails) and water-filled barriers provide high protection but require significant staff resources - approximately $520 per hour for four staff members, totaling $174,200 annually for 67 events. They require heavy equipment to place and move, creating safety concerns in crowded settings. • Moveable planter boxes offer aesthetic benefits consistent with downtown character but require ongoing maintenance of plantings, storage space, and proper locking mechanisms to be effective. However, most decorative planters lack proper crash ratings to truly mitigate vehicle threats.
Traffic Rated Bollards:
Recommended Solution
Accessibility
Can be operated by any authorized person – staff or event planner Protection
Provide moderate protection against vehicle ramming incidents Low Maintenance
Only periodic cleaning may be required, with potential for sand and grit depending on product quality
Stakeholder Approval
Meets the needs of all interested parties: Event Organizers, Event Staff, Police, Fire/EMS, and Parks & Public Works
With an estimated cost of $250,000-$275,000, traffic rated bollards represent the most balanced solution without requiring extensive staff resources for each event.
Permanent Road
Closure Consideration
Security Level
Provides full protection against vehicle ramming incidents.
Parking and Accessibility
Loss of Parking Spaces in downtown.
Reduced access to one business, the post office and frontier office.
Cost Efficiency
Lowest long-term operating costs after initial implementation Stakeholder Approval
Meets the needs of all interested parties: Event Organizers, Event Staff, Police, Fire/EMS, and Parks & Public Works
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Solution Capital Cost Annual Operating
Cost
Stakeholder
Approval
Moveable AntiVehicle Barriers
Town owns two $134,000 3 of 5 stakeholders
K-Rails/Concrete
Barriers
$30,000-$40,000 $174,200 2 of 5 stakeholders
Moveable Planter
Boxes
Unknown Ongoing
maintenance
3 of 5 stakeholders
Traffic Rated
Bollards
$250,000-$275,000 Minimal 5 of 5 stakeholders
Permanent Road
Closure
Unknown Low 5 of 5 stakeholders
No Road Closures for
Events
None None 3 of 5 stakeholders
Financial Considerations
For Bollards
$50,000
Initial Allocation
Current budget for bollard project.
$275,000
Updated Estimate
Total projected cost for complete
implementation.
$225,000
Additional Funding
Amount needed beyond current
allocation.
Montebello Bollard
Project: Enhancing
Safety at Town Plaza
Park
• Recommended Solution - Bollards
SN
• Council Direction on Project Priority
• Q & A