110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Minutes of the Town Council Meeting
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting in person and via teleconference.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:02 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Matthew Hudes, Vice Mayor Rob Moore, Council Member Mary Badame, Council Member Rob Rennie (participated remotely), Council Member Maria Ristow.
Absent: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Ristow led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Hudes welcomed the Friends of the Library. The Friends of the Library presented a donation to the Los Gatos Library.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the August 5, 2025, Town Council Study Session.
2. Approve the Minutes of the August 5, 2025, Town Council Meeting.
3. Receive the Monthly Financial and Investment Report for June 2025.
4. Ratify the Town Council Selection Committee’s Recommended Youth Commissioner Appointments.
5. Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a First Amendment to the Agreement for Services with Frank and Grossman Landscape Contractors Inc. for Janitorial Services to Reduce the Scope of Work and Compensation through June 30, 2029.
6. Adopt a Resolution Approving a List of Approved Street Names for New Street Projects.
RESOLUTION 2025-046
7. Approve Purchase Orders with Baker and Taylor not to exceed $115,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26.
8. Authorize an Expenditure Budget Appropriation Adjustment to the Community Grants Line Item in the Amount of an Increase of $5,000 from $150,000 to $155,000.
9. Approve the Revised Town Council Code of Conduct Policy 2-04. POLICY 2-04
10. Approve the Town Boards, Committees, and Commissions Code of Conduct Policy. POLICY 2-19
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of August 19, 2025 DATE: September 2, 2025
Gus Who
- Spoke about concerns related to items nine and ten.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to approve consent items one through ten.
Seconded by Vice Mayor Moore.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Rich Daniel
- Commented on concerns with the proposed development project on Oak Meadow Drive.
Ben Daniel
- Commented on concerns with a proposed 14-unit apartment complex.
Zoila Daniel
- Commented on concerns with a proposed 14-unit development on Oak Meadow Drive.
Art Vailionis
- Commented on concerns with the proposed 14-unit development project on Oak Meadow Drive.
Frank Farshidi
- Commented on concerns with the proposed 14-unit development project.
Gus Who
- Commented on various concerns.
Susan Bassi
- Commented on past incidents and expressed concerns about transparency and the public records request process.
OTHER BUSINESS
11. Receive the Bi-Annual Police Services Report for January – June 2025.
Jamie Field, Chief of Police, presented the Bi-Annual Police Services Report.
Council asked questions.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
No one spoke.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of August 19, 2025 DATE: September 2, 2025
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Council received the report.
Council Member Badame stated that she would recuse herself from the next item due to the location of her primary residence. Council Member Badame left the Council Chambers.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
12. Consider an Appeal of a Planning Commission Decision to Deny a Fence Height Exception Request for an Existing Fence Partially Located in the Town’s Right-of-Way and Exceeding the Height Limitations Within the Required Front Yard and Street-Side Yard Setbacks on Property Zoned R-1D. Located at 10 Charles Street. APN 532-36-022. Fence Height Exception Application FHE-23-001. Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303: New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. Property Owner/Applicant/Appellant: Firoz Pradhan. Project Planner: Sean Mullin RESOLUTION 2025-047
Council provided the following disclosures: Vice Mayor More stated he visited the site; Council Member Ristow stated she visited the site; Mayor Hudes stated he visited the site and met with the appellant.
Sean Mullin, Planning Manager, presented the staff report.
Firoz Pradhan, appellant, provided opening remarks and stated reasons for the appeal.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
Kevin Chesney
- Commented on concerns and spoke in support of denying the appeal.
Doug Olcott
- Commented in support of the proposed plan from the appellant to reduce the fence height.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Firoz Pradhan, appellant, provided closing comments.
Council discussed the item.
Mayor Hudes called a recess at 9:05 p.m.
Mayor Hudes reconvened the meeting at 9:20 p.m.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of August 19, 2025 DATE: September 2, 2025
MOTION: Motion by Mayor Hudes to adopt a resolution denying an appeal of a Planning Commission decision to deny a Fence Height Exception request for an existing fence partially located in the Town’s right-of-way and exceeding the height limitations within the front yard and street-side yard setbacks on property zoned R-1D located at 10 Charles Street. Seconded by Council Member Ristow.
VOTE: Motion passed by a 4-0-1 roll call vote. Council Member Badame was recused.
Council Member Badame returned to the Council Chambers.
OTHER BUSINESS
13. Provide Direction for the Distribution of $155,000 Included in the FY 2025-26 Budget for Community Grants.
Ryan Baker, Library Director, presented the staff report.
Mayor Hudes opened public comment.
Ed Lozowiki, Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP)
- Requested the laundry voucher program be considered as a sustaining grant rather than a competitive grant.
Sue Ahmadian, Saint Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP)
- Requested the Council consider a sustaining grant for the laundry voucher program.
Tim O’Rorke
- Requested the Council move the $2,500 laundry funding from competitive grants to sustaining grants.
Last Thing
- Commented on potential funding to support upcoming sports events.
Will Whitney
- Thanked the Council for providing grant funding to the Billy Jones Railroad last year.
Mayor Hudes closed public comment.
Council discussed the item.
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Moore to set our sustaining grants at $23,000 for Live Oak Nutrition, $2,500 to St. Vincent de Paul for the laundry program, $20,000 to West Valley Community Services for human services support, $20,000 for rental assistance for staff to work with St. Vincent de Paul and the Los Gatos Anti Racism Coalition to PAGE 5 OF 6
SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of August 19, 2025 DATE: September 2, 2025
fairly appropriate, $10,000 for Cassy, $10,000 for Next Door Community Solutions, $6,000 for St. Luke's for food pantry support, and $7,800 to the Los Gatos Methodist Church for the shower program. Seconded by Mayor Hudes.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Badame that the remaining funds that are not allocated to sustaining grants are made available as competitive one-time grants. Seconded by Vice Mayor Moore.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow that starting this year, an organization can only receive a competitive award every other year, rather than remaining eligible every year, and stipulate that 100% of the service or event funded by the grant takes place within the municipal boundaries of incorporated Los Gatos. Seconded by Council Member Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed 4-1 by roll call vote. Vice Mayor Moore voted no.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to approve the composition of the grant reading/rating pool to include two members of the Arts and Culture Commission, two members of the Community Health and Senior Services Commission, and one member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. Seconded by Vice Mayor Moore.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Ristow to receive in the budget, the sustaining grants, itemized with who is receiving them and the dollar amount; and the competitive grant lump amount that would go through the process using the rubric. Seconded by Council Member Badame.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of August 19, 2025 DATE: September 2, 2025
COUNCIL/TOWN MANAGER REPORTS
Council Matters
- Vice Mayor Moore stated he participated in the Youth Commission interviews; hosted an emotorcycle listening session; attended the Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action Summit; spoke with students from the incoming West Valley College Student Government Class; attended a Cities Association Board meeting, a Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce Mixer, and a pickleball meeting; and held a community coffee meeting. - Council Member Ristow stated she attended the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Policy Advisory Committee and met with residents.
- Council Member Badame stated she attended a Finance Commission meeting as an observer; met with Ryan Rosenburg of Los Gatos Thrives, and John Whitney and Jim Foley regarding a development proposal; and attended a resident wildfire advisory group meeting.
- Council Member Rennie stated he met with John Whitney and Jim Foley regarding a development proposal; met with Tom Picraux with Los Gatos Thrives; and attended a Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority Board meeting.
- Mayor Hudes stated he participated in the Youth Commission interviews, a wildfire advisory meeting; announced an event tomorrow morning to speak at Novitiate Park; attended a ribbon cutting for the New Mom School; participated in a Los Gatos Thrives Executive Committee meeting, a Finance Commission meeting, and a Cities Association Board meeting.
Town Manager Matters
- Announced the Finance Commission reviewed a draft Request for Proposals for three different studies, including a fiscal impact analysis regarding the impact of the Housing Element, a fiscal condition analysis with a five-year forecast, and an asset liability management study.
Closed Session Report
Cassie Bronson, Contract Attorney, stated there is no reportable action.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 11:02 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
_____________________________________
/s/ Jenna De Long, Deputy Town Clerk