Last week, Los Gatos voted to enlist the talents of CSG Consultants, Inc. for building inspection services at the North 40 development site.
Council made the decision to tap the company, which charges $160 an hour for Certified Access Specialist inspections, as part of a consent motion, during the Nov. 21 meeting, that was hived off from more contentious housing-related items.
But while both phases of the North 40 project itself have been controversial, the choice to hire CSG was not.
It plans to put Jose Martinez and Jerry Schnell on the job.
“Mr. Schnell has more than 30 years of inspection experience, having performed inspections for similar projects throughout the Bay Area,” CSG President Cyrus Kianpour told the Town in a September letter. “Mr. Martinez brings over 20 years of municipal experience and is well versed in building division and code enforcement activities.”
Schnell went from working as a licensed contractor in Santa Rosa and San Francisco to the Redwood City permit counter to serving as the Building Official for Half Moon Bay and Pacifica. He’s also done residential and commercial inspections in Marin and San Mateo counties, as well as in Woodside and Los Gatos, among other Bay Area locations.
Martinez was a Code Enforcement Officer and Plans Examiner for Monterey County, the Chief Building Official for East Palo Alto and the Building Official for the City of Gonzales.
“CSG will bring specialized building inspection expertise, and a commitment to thorough, accurate and timely service,” Kianpour wrote to Los Gatos Administrative Analyst Tania Maheu.
The contract with the Foster City-based firm is set to start on July 18 and will remain in effect until June 30, 2025.
Its regular Building Inspector services rate to charge the Town is $115 an hour.
The motion, made by Vice Mayor Mary Badame and seconded by Councilmember Matthew Hudes, passed unanimously.
Council affirms set of zoning decisions
After the first consent calendar vote of the Nov. 21 evening had been taken, Council moved on to the series of zoning decisions meant to prove to the State its seriousness about implementing the housing plan it’s trying to win approval for.
Feelings around the Housing Element Overlay Zone are strong, however, these had mostly been worked-out at the prior Council meeting, so the vote tallies remained the same.
It’s “probably the most complicated consent calendar we’ve ever had,” Mayor Maria Ristow commented.
Councilmember Matthew Hudes made the motion to create the HEOZ, with Councilmember Rob Moore seconding it, and Vice Mayor Mary Badame abstaining.
Moore made a motion to approve an overlay zone section covering the vast majority of proposed sites, with Councilmember Rob Rennie seconding. Hudes voted no and Badame abstained.
Hudes has said he worries the Town hasn’t done enough to factor in the housing that could be built if developers take advantage of all the new construction-opportunity bonuses allowed under State law.
Badame was recused for the next item, which affects the Los Gatos Lodge and Alberto Way plans, which is near where she lives. Moore moved approval with Rennie seconding. Only Hudes voted no.
Moore was recused for the next overlay region (15300, 15349, 15367, 15405, 15425, 15480 and 15500 Los Gatos Blvd.), which is near his home. Rennie moved approval, with Ristow seconding. Badame abstained and no one voted against, as Hudes said he believes these are appropriate areas in which to encourage residential development.
Left off the calendar was the push to rezone the post office site downtown, as Rennie made a motion to delay this decision, Nov. 7, with only Moore voting against, as Ristow was recused.
At the time, Moore argued this means Los Gatos will be cutting it way too close when it comes to putting a compliant Housing Element in place, before penalties kick-in.
