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, September 1, 2026
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a regular meeting in person and via teleconference.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Rob Moore, Vice Mayor Ristow, Council Member Mary Badame, Council Member Rennie, Council Member Matthew Hudes (participating remotely in accordance with Government Code Section 54953.8.3 under the circumstance of “Just Cause” due to a medical emergency)
Absent: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Susan Burnette led the Pledge of Allegiance. The audience was invited to participate.
CONSENT ITEMS (TO BE ACTED UPON BY A SINGLE MOTION)
1. Approve the Minutes of the August 10, 2026, Closed Session Town Council Meeting.
2. Approve the Minutes of the August 11, 2026, Special Town Council Meeting.
3. Approve the Minutes of the August 17, 2026, Closed Session Town Council Meeting.
4. Approve the Minutes of the August 18, 2026, Special Meeting of the Town Council.
5. Approve the Minutes of the August 18, 2026, Regular Meeting of the Town Council.
6. Adopt a Resolution to Summarily Vacate a Public Service Easement at 15995 Cerro Vista Drive. RESOLUTION 2026-052
7. Adopt a Resolution Establishing Preferential Permit Parking and Time Limited Parking on Portions of High School Court and Brooklyn Avenue, and Authorize the Town Manager to Accept Reimbursement Funds from the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District Associated with the Brooklyn Avenue Parking Improvements. RESOLUTION 2026-053
8. Authorize the Town Manager to Execute a Consultant Agreement for Executive Recruitment Services with Bob Murray & Associates in an Amount Not to Exceed $29,900.
9. Approve and Ratify the Accounts Payable Check Registers and Payroll Reports
10. Approve a Revenue Budget Adjustment of $3,674,187 for the Proceeds Received from the Sale of 4 Tait Avenue and Allocate Net Proceeds.
Mayor Moore pulled item number ten.
Mayor Moore opened public comment.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of September 1, 2026 DATE: September 15, 2026
The following individual spoke on the consent items:
1. Member of the Public (Items 2, 4, 5, 7, 8)
Mayor Moore closed public comment.
(Video time: 00:09:30)
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Ristow to approve consent items one through nine.
Seconded by Council Member Rennie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Moore opened public comment.
The following individuals spoke during verbal communications:
1. Member of the Public
2. Debbie Pinkston
3. Janet Wolf
4. Austin
5. Leanne McAuliffe
6. Joe Enz
Mayor Moore closed public comment.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Consider a Recommendation of Approval by the Planning Commission on Proposed Changes and Additions to the Town’s Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Projects. Not Subject to CEQA Review Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (b)(3) Because It Can Be Seen with Certainty That There Is No Possibility that the Changes and Additions to the Town’s Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Projects Would Have a Significant Effect on the Environment. All Projects for Which the Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Projects Will Apply Will Undergo Separate CEQA Review and Approval. Project Location: Townwide. Applicant:
Town of Los Gatos. Project Planner: Sean Mullin. RESOLUTION 2026-054 Sean Mullin, Planning Manager, presented the staff report and introduced the consultant Monica Szydlik, from Lisa Wise Consulting. The consultant gave a presentation on the proposed Objective Design Standards.
Council discussed the item.
Mayor Moore opened public comment.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of September 1, 2026 DATE: September 15, 2026
The following individuals spoke on this item:
1. Lee Fagot
2. Member of the Public
3. Dashiell Leeds
4. Rani
Mayor Moore closed public comment.
Council discussed the item further.
(Video time: 01:40:25)
MOTION: Motion by Council Member Hudes to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendations, adopt the Resolution approving changes and additions to the Town’s Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Projects, with three modifications: one to review this with architect Larry Cannon; two, adopt Vice Mayor’s objections about lighting [Lighting shall be arranged so that the light will not shine directly on lands of adjacent properties. All exterior light sources shall have a correlated color temperature of 2700 Kelvin or lower. All outdoor lighting shall be equipped with automatic controls programmed to extinguish the lighting by 11:00 p.m. or when the illuminated area is no longer in use, whichever occurs first. Lighting required by the California Building Code or Fire Code for safety or emergency access is exempt]; three, adopt a fifty-foot rather than a forty-foot distance from a single-family residence; and bring it back to the Council. Seconded by Council Member Badame.
(Video time: 1:44:38)
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Ristow to accept the Planning Commission’s suggestions with the parts the staff presented in the existing draft document [adopt the Resolution approving changes and additions to the Town’s Objective Design Standards for Multi-Family and Mixed-Use Projects], with the addition of language for 7.2 as described earlier [Lighting shall be arranged so that the light will not shine directly on lands of adjacent properties. All exterior light sources shall have a correlated color temperature of 2700 Kelvin or lower. All outdoor lighting shall be equipped with automatic controls programmed to extinguish the lighting by 11:00 p.m. or when the illuminated area is no longer in use, whichever occurs first. Lighting required by the California Building Code or Fire Code for safety or emergency access is exempt]; and change the forty-foot stepback where a building taller than two stories is adjacent to single-family homes to a fifty-foot step-back [in Exhibit 1]; have the town architect review these, hear his feedback, and if it seems substantial, reopen a decision about whether there are additions and changes to make. Seconded by Council Member Rennie. AMENDED: Before [the architect] reviews, come back with a price estimate and [Council] can make a decision at another meeting.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of September 1, 2026 DATE: September 15, 2026
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
CONSENT ITEM
10. Approve a Revenue Budget Adjustment of $3,674,187 for the Proceeds Received from the Sale of 4 Tait Avenue and Allocate Net Proceeds.
Chris Constantin, Town Manager, provided information on the item.
Mayor Moore opened public comment.
The following individuals spoke on this item:
1. Janet Wolf
2. Rita Kelly
3. Jan Schwartz
Mayor Moore closed public comment.
Council discussed the item.
(Video time: 02:01:32)
MOTION: Motion by Vice Mayor Ristow to approve a revenue budget adjustment of $3,674,187 for the proceeds received from the sale of 4 Tait Avenue and allocate the net proceeds according to the staff report [the staff report states:
“$3,109,000 would benefit the General Fund, including $3,000,000 to replenish unassigned fund balance previously allocated to the Long-Term Community Benefit Capital Fund and $109,000 to reimburse sale related staff and special counsel costs. The remaining $565,187 is recommended to be allocated to the Long Term Community Benefit Capital Fund”], and have the discussion at CIP (Capital Improvement Program) time of what to do with that fund. Seconded by Council Member Rennie.
VOTE: Motion passed unanimously by roll call vote.
COUNCIL MATTERS
- Council Member Rennie had nothing to report.
- Council Member Hudes stated he met with West Valley Museum Association (WVMA) and the Farley Road neighborhood organization, met with a resident regarding concerns, and attended a meeting with Representative Sam Liccardo.
- Vice Mayor Ristow apologized for her inadvertent use of outdated language related to mental health.
- Council Member Badame stated she participated in a Council Policy Committee meeting and met with residents about concerns.
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SUBJECT: Minutes of the Town Council Meeting of September 1, 2026 DATE: September 15, 2026
- Mayor Moore attended the morning Rotary Endless Summer celebration, Jazz on the Plazz, Music in the Park; appointed to the Cal Cities Young Elected Member Group; attended the Cities Association Executive Committee meeting; met with a developer; attended the Lick Observatory’s 150th celebration; met with representatives of the Los Gatos Saratoga Assistants League; attended the inaugural Rinconada Hills Senior Resource Fair, and Silicon Valley Pride.
MANAGER MATTERS
Chris Constantin, Town Manager
- Stated that there are unscheduled vacancies on some of the commissions and that Town Administrative Offices would be closed for Labor Day.
ATTORNEY MATTERS AND CLOSED SESSION REPORT
Gabrielle Whelan, Town Attorney
- Stated that the Town Council met earlier in closed session to discuss initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9, and there is no reportable action at this time.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
_____________________________________
/s/ Keara Johnson, Deputy Town Clerk