A Roundup of Feb. 7 Town Council Meeting

Here is a roundup of Monday night's Town Council meeting:

North Forty

A resolution that authorizes Town Manager Greg Larson to execute an agreement with RRM Design Group to serve as consultant for the North Forty Specific Plan was pulled from the consent calendar by Councilwoman Barbara Spector after she became concerned with language that referenced a four- to five-story hotel.

The North Forty Specific Plan calls for developing 32 acres of land in Los Gatos, bought by London-based Grosvenor Americas from the Yuki family. The North Forty is bounded roughly by Los Gatos Boulevard, Highway 85, Lark Avenue and Oka Road.

The resolution was approved by a 4-0 vote, with Councilwoman Diane McNutt absent due to illness, and with the conditions that town staff would include the General Plan document and the 1999 North Forty Specific Plan document and also reinstate the former General Plan Advisory Committee to preside over the project's approval process.

Spector said that when the North Forty issue came before the General Plan Advisory Committee, the four-five-story hotel was not recommended.

Staff agreed to include Spector's and Los Gatos Mayor Joe Pirzynski's recommendations into the resolution, and reiterated that RRM Design Group's work will have to be evaluated by the General Plan Advisory Committee, the Town Planning Commission and then the council. Staff solicited bids from five firms for the project's design, said Wendie R. Rooney, Los Gatos Community Development director.

Other Meeting Highlights

There was a surprise visit by Carl Guardino, CEO of Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG), who encouraged council members to join him on his organization's annual D.C. trip on March 15-17 and Sacramento trip April 12-13. He said they could join the more than 50 senior executives and elected officials in in Silicon Valley in addressing U.S. jobs and economic competitiveness. SVLG will work with federal and state lawmakers to come up with ideas on how to create more technology and manufacturing jobs.

Earlier this year, Gov. Jerry Brown had asked the SVLG to come up with a proposal for improving U.S. jobs and competitiveness, Guardino said, adding that he would discuss "game changers" that will create more working opportunities to keep California economically competitive.  

Accompanied by his 20-month-old daughter, Sienna, Guardino said he's visiting about 25 city and town councils and four boards of supervisors in Silicon Valley to invite the officials to join the CEOs and senior officers on the trips. He said Sen. Diane Feinstein and Brown had asked SVLG to help companies to grow manufacturing and technology jobs. "There's a shortage of jobs overall," Guardino said.

The state is suffering through a 12.4 percent unemployment rate, and the country has a 9 percent unemployment rate, Guardino noted.

Maddox Hair Salon

Lance Tate, owner of Maddox Hair Salon, 22 S. Santa Cruz Ave., was once again denied his request to add three salon stations. The salon is in the town's so-called Central Business District. Tate wanted to expand the business from four to seven stations. His request was denied by the town's Planning Commission based on the fact that the area would lose first-floor retail space in downtown that would then come with the proliferation of personal care services or salons, which the area already has plenty of, explained Rooney.

Pedro's

manager Mike Dipietro's request to allow him to add outdoor seating, live entertainment, dance lessons and exterior modifications to his business was continued until March 21, to allow him to address concerns the council has about how the changes would impact security, noise levels, the building's architecture and the town's alcohol and beverage policy.

The restaurant’s proposed outdoor patio, at 316 N. Santa Cruz Ave., would accommodate 19 people, who would be included in its current 249-seating capacity. Live entertainment would consist of live bands, free salsa dance lessons and comedy nights. The bands and dancing would be kept indoors, and the music would end at 10 p.m., Dipietro said.

RDA

The council also approved a resolution to oppose Brown's proposal to abolish redevelopment agencies.