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Town Plaza is slated for a major makeover before next September
By Gloria I. Wang
When the Los Gatos Town Council agreed to several structural and aesthetic improvements for Town Plaza Park three months ago, the projected budget for the changes was a little more than $700,000.
Inflation and additional improvements have more than doubled the cost, which the council says it's willing to spend, since the park is meant to benefit the entire community. The park, on the corner of S. Santa Cruz Avenue and W. Main Street, is the site of the Los Gatos Farmer's Market weekly and Music in the Plaza series annually.
The $1.5 million budget includes $370,000 for a brand new fountain, an increase of $100,000 in the contracts with various consultants and architects, and some $450,000 for park and street improvements.
At the Dec. 17 town council meeting, Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Director John E. Curtis gave a brief overview of the budget breakdown and anticipated timeline. Town staff and project designers will work on a final design in January, receive the council's approval for the design in February, start construction in March and finish in time for an anticipated Sept. 14, 2002, grand opening. During that period, Music in the Plaza will be moved to the civic center, but it's unknown how the Farmer's Market will be affected, since it takes place on the perimeter of the park.
According to a staff report, the added costs would be covered by Los Gatos Redevelopment Agency funds, which are already paying for most of the project. Redevelopment money is customarily spent on repairs and improvements in the downtown area. The Toll House Hotel would fund the remaining $63,000 as part of its street improvements. The improvements were a condition of the town's granting the hotel its certificate of occupancy in November 2000.
The council had looked at a conceptual design for the park Dec. 3, following months of meetings and preparations by town staff and consultants. At that meeting, council members had expressed satisfaction with the plans, but made four suggestions, including the installation of a permanent audio system in the park.
The town-owned speakers were being used more and more, Vice Mayor Sandy Decker said, and were inadequate for the events at the town plaza.
The project budget also included a project contingency--money that, Town Manager Debra Figone said, would act as a "cushion" for "unforeseen costs." Of that contingency, $50,000 could go to the audio system, which is not specifically itemized in the budget yet. According to Figone, the finances and details of the audio system will be discussed at a February town council meeting.
The final vote, cast unanimously, had three elements. Council members approved increasing the project's budget to $1,509,267, modifying the town's contract with Mesiti-Miller to add funds, and amending the town's budget and allocating appropriate redevelopment agency funds.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
