Rebecca Albin

The meeting involved the approval of the minutes from the December 2nd, 2025 meeting for the OPEB Pension and Oversight Trust Committee. The primary business involved a verbal presentation on the Pension Trust, detailing the ending balance as of December 31st, 2025, a recent transfer of $690,000 on February 24th, 2026, and performance metrics, including a net return of 1.18% for the month and 5.88% fiscal year to date. Staff indicated they would return in June to discuss exploring alternative section 115 trust providers or transferring assets to CalPERS. A subsequent verbal report covered the Retiree Benefit Trust, noting its ending balance as of December 31st, 2025, and monthly/YTD net returns of 2.72% and 10.32%, respectively.

The meeting commenced with a call to order and roll call. Public participation protocols were detailed, encouraging written comments and live speaking opportunities during the verbal communications period (for non-agenda items) and public hearings (for agenda items). During public comment, a speaker raised concerns regarding town response to federal immigration operations, referencing Project 2025, and requesting clarity on the planning department's stance and public notification procedures. The consent calendar, including the draft minutes from the January 14, 2026, and January 28, 2026, meetings, was unanimously approved. The main public hearing concerned Item Number Three: site improvements, a grading permit, and a conditional use permit for a large vineyard on HR2 zoned property, involving exceptions for fence height and hillside development standards due to a proposed crawl space and stairway. The applicant's representative explained the scope of the grading and the non-habitable nature of the under-structure space. Following discussion, the commission unanimously approved the conditional use permit and site improvements. Commissioners subsequently discussed the possibility of agendaizing a discussion on the pre-1941 structure survey, expert opinions, and strengthening the process moving forward. Subcommittee reports noted that the Conceptual Development Advisory Committee discussed a height concern regarding an eighth-story memory care and assisted living project, and the Historic Preservation Committee seated a new chair and vice chair.

This document outlines the strategic priorities for the Town of Los Gatos, focusing on six core goals: Community Character, Good Governance, Fiscal Stability, Quality Public Infrastructure, Civic Engagement, and Public Safety. Key priorities include enhancing emergency preparedness and resiliency, ensuring prudent financial management with fully funded Capital Improvement Plans, preserving the town's charm while providing diverse housing opportunities, implementing transportation demand management, promoting sustainability, fostering economic vitality, and ensuring an inclusive community that addresses the needs of older adults and unhoused residents.

The meeting involved the approval of consent calendar items. Discussions during the consent agenda included concerns about the significant swing in the comprehensive financial report from deficit to surplus and a request for more frequent financial updates. Council members also inquired about the differing compensation increases (5% versus 3%) for management employees, which was explained as necessary to mitigate compaction issues with police sergeants' pay rates. The council approved a resolution to waive the 180-day rehire wait period for Gita Anvari, allowing her to serve as interim Administrative Services Director while the permanent position recruitment is ongoing. Additionally, a similar waiver was approved for Jose Reyes, Police Department IT Systems Administrator, to assist with critical public safety projects including the Axon real-time crime center implementation, the drone first responder initiative, and the next-generation 911 transition.

The Town Council meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance led by a fifth-grade scout. The primary agenda item addressed was the presentation of the 2025 to 2026 Work Plan by the Youth Commission, structured around four ad hoc committees: Environmental, Teen Wellness, Community Outreach, and Traffic Safety. Key proposals included revising the plastic straw ordinance to encourage BPI compostable takeout plastics, educating the community on the upcoming statewide plastic bag ban, planning participation in local parades and a multicultural event in collaboration with the library and DEI commission, focusing teen wellness efforts on stress management through flyers, videos, and wellness center activities, and addressing traffic safety through e-bike safety promotion, analyzing traffic safety survey results for risky intersections, and increasing public transportation ridership by surveying high school students regarding VTA bus service utilization and exploring the LGHS bus pass pilot program. Council members offered substantial feedback, specifically encouraging the addition of explicit education on the statewide plastic bag ban implementation to the environmental goals and endorsing the focus on public transit as a college readiness skill.