PREPARED BY: Wendy Wood
Town Clerk
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director 110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832 www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/07/2025
ITEM NO: 12
ADDENDUM
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
October 3, 2025
Mayor and Town Council
Chris Constantin, Town Manager
Review and Provide Direction on the Revisions to Standardize the Town’s Boards, Committees, and Commission’s Enabling Resolutions
REMARKS:
Attachment 4 includes public comment received before 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025.
Attachments Provided with the Staff Report:
1. Draft Resolution with Exhibits
2. Boards and Commissions Enabling Resolutions
3. Public Comment Received Prior to 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 2, 2025 Attachments Provided with this Addendum:
4. Public Comment Received Prior to 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 3, 2025 From: Gordon Yamate
To: Clerk
Subject: Proposed Revisions to Enabling Resolutions for the DEI Commission Date: Friday, October 3, 2025 10:33:20 AM
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Dear Mayor Hudes and Members of the Los Gatos Town Council—at the Policy Committee meeting on September 23, 2025, I understood that when the DEI Commission size was kept at seven members, it did not count the two liaison commissioners appointed from the Arts and Culture Commission and Community Health and Senior Services Commission. In the proposed enabling resolutions forwarded by the Town Clerk on September 26, the Policy Committee appears to be interested in placing the DEI Commission on parity with other commissions that are now limited to five seats. For the reasons set forth below, I believe that this reduction would be detrimental to the operation of the DEI Commission and respectfully request that you maintain membership at seven members plus the two liaison members appointed by their respective commissions. Please note that these comments are offered in my personal individual capacity and not on behalf of the DEI Commission or in any other capacity.
The reduction in size of the DEI Commission is at odds with the original enabling resolution passed by the same Town Council that established the DEI Commission. In the DEI Commission’s enabling resolution, the Town Council declared that it was seeking a diversity of members that includes but is not limited to youth, seniors, BIPOC, LGBTQ, those who are disabled, and religious diversity—we started with 11 voting members, seven of whom would be drawn from a cross-section of the Los Gatos community, including residents, businesses, and nonprofit and faith communities. The reason for having a DEI Commission is to expand input on matters affecting the Town from diverse voices and perspectives. How are we going to achieve that diversity on the DEI Commission as originally intended by this Town Council and recommended by an independent consultant? Reducing the size of the DEI Commission unfortunately sends the wrong message—that the DEI Commission no longer matters and/or is not valued by the Town Council or that the Town is not interested in solving its DEI problems.
Reducing the size of the DEI Commission will adversely affect the ability of the Commission to do its work. As I pointed out at the September 23 meeting, we operate under a clear understanding that Commission recommendations have a better chance of being approved by staff and the Town Council if it does not involve Town staff time or other Town resources or funding. That ultimately shifts the lion’s share of the work to individual members of the Commission and makes their job much more difficult. Having a sufficient number of members on the Commission is critical for getting the Commission’s work done and doing meaningful work for the Town of Los Gatos. The DEI Commission’s ability to staff tables and activities at Town-sponsored events underscores the importance of being able to draw upon its members for such support.
ATTACHMENT 4