At a Sept. 17 Saratoga City Council meeting, Major Nick Streit suggested establishing a similar ordinance for downtown Saratoga, putting a temporary stop on applications and permits for personal-service business, which are businesses such as nail salons, barbershops, spas and other businesses that deal with customers on a one-on-one basis.

According to City Attorney Richard Taylor, before adopting an urgency ordinance, the council must provide several findings: they must provide evidence that such businesses pose a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety or welfare of the residents.

Such an ordinance requires a four-fifths vote. Should the ordinance pass, it would be effective for 45 days and could be extended for a maximum of two years.

However, if the council believes that immediate action is needed, a moratorium on new personal-service uses could be placed while staff conducts further research.

After brief discussions, council members agreed to continue the issue at a later meeting and requested staff to provide quantifiable data regarding the number of personal-service businesses on Big Basin Way.

At the meeting, Councilman Norman Kline expressed some concern about taking business owners' rights away. He said that merchants should be able to conduct whatever business they choose as long as it does not harm patrons of the downtown area.

Councilwoman Kathleen King said she was split in her decision, referring to the profit the city would make from property and sales tax while noting that an increase of personal-service businesses would create too much competition.

Several merchants along Big Basin Way said they've noticed a trend within the past several months—and some said they're not thrilled about what they're seeing. Kristin Davis, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce's executive director, said that there has been a growing number of nail salons in the area. There are approximately seven nail salons, including the one next to the Chamber office that used to be a travel agency.

"We need businesses, such as retail stores, that would create a lot of foot traffic," Davis said. "But until traffic increases, retail merchants would not want to come to the area. That leaves current retail businesses struggling in the meantime."

George Newton, store manager at Patrick James, said it's likely that merchants of personal-service businesses who were turned down in Los Gatos will look at Saratoga for setting up their establishments because of the location and upscale reputation. Like Davis, Newton said there needs to be a more diverse collection of shops along the downtown strip. He argued that personal-service businesses like nail or spa salons do nothing for neighboring businesses.

"The appearance of such businesses is not exciting," Newton said. "The storefronts don't attract people to the area."

As opposed to retail shops where passersby like to browse or window-shop, Newton said that people who go to personal-service stores come for one reason and leave right after.

"Chances are, patrons of such businesses won't stick around and shop." Newton said it would be nice to see more clothing or jewelry shops in downtown.

Sherri Hanson and Patrick Rupert, co-owners of Uncorked, said that although they are already concerned about the number of nail salons and spas in the neighborhood, they are against the city setting ordinances against such establishments.

"Businesses should be self-regulated," Rupert said. "The success of a business should be dependent upon the customers."

Hanson added that if residents don't want a new spa or nail salon in the area, they wouldn't go to it. Eventually, lack of customers would drive the business away.

What Hanson and Rupert said they would like to see in the downtown area are more boutique shops and a high-end grocery store.