Monte Sereno, California

City of Monte Sereno
City
Post Office and City Hall in Monte Sereno
Seal
Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California
City of Monte Sereno Location in the United States
Coordinates: 37°14′17″N 121°59′22″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Santa Clara
Incorporated	May 14, 1957
Government
• Mayor	Shawn Leuthold
Area
• Total	1.66 sq mi (4.30 km2)
• Land	1.66 sq mi (4.30 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation	515 ft (157 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	3,341
• Estimate  (2019)	3,427
• Density	2,065.70/sq mi (797.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95030
Area code(s)	408/669
FIPS code	06-48956
GNIS feature ID	277610
Website	http://www.montesereno.org/

Monte Sereno (from Spanish monte, hill, and sereno, serene) is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 3,341 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of San Jose, and is bordered by the town of Los Gatos to the north, east, and south, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the southwest, and the city of Saratoga to the northwest. The city is named for the 2,580-foot (790 m) El Sereno Mountain, upon the slopes of which the southern portion of the city is built. The community is entirely residential, with no commercial zoning and 99% single-family housing, and is an upscale Silicon Valley bedroom community. Monte Sereno shares the 95030 ZIP code with the town of Los Gatos. Many municipal services are provided under contract by Los Gatos.

History

The Monte Sereno area was part of the 1839 Alta California land grant of Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos. The city incorporated on May 14, 1957, to protect its semi-rural atmosphere. Its first Mayor was Retired Vice Admiral and former U.S. Director of Naval Intelligence, Thomas B. Inglis.

John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men in a wooded home at 16250 Greenwood Lane in what is now Monte Sereno.

Beat generation figure Neal Cassady lived in a Monte Sereno ranch house in the 1950s. Painter Thomas Kinkade lived in Monte Sereno in the later years of his life, which is also where he died.

Geography

Monte Sereno is located at 37°14′17″N 121°59′22″W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all of it land. Saratoga-Los Gatos Road (State Route 9) runs through the city.

The El Sereno Open Space Preserve is immediately south of the city and covers the top and portions of the flanks of El Sereno mountain.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	1,506		—
1970	2,847		89.0%
1980	3,434		20.6%
1990	3,287		−4.3%
2000	3,483		6.0%
2010	3,341		−4.1%
2019 (est.)	3,427		2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Monte Sereno had a population of 3,341. The population density was 2,068.4 people per square mile (798.6/km²). The racial makeup of Monte Sereno was 2,698 (80.8%) White, 14 (0.4%) African American, 12 (0.4%) Native American, 464 (13.9%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 28 (0.8%) from other races, and 125 (3.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 162 persons (4.8%).

The Census reported that 100% of the population lived in households.

There were 1,211 households, out of which 433 (35.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 917 (75.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 59 (4.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 26 (2.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 14 (1.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 8 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 178 households (14.7%) were made up of individuals, and 87 (7.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76. There were 1,002 families (82.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.05.

The population was spread out, with 816 people (24.4%) under the age of 18, 156 people (4.7%) aged 18 to 24, 487 people (14.6%) aged 25 to 44, 1,235 people (37.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 647 people (19.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males. The medi

There were 1,287 housing units at an average density of 796.8 per square mile (307.6/km²), of which 1,090 (90.0%) were owner-occupied, and 121 (10.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 3,030 people (90.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 311 people (9.3%) lived in rental housing units.an age of residents in the city is 51 years of age.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,483 people, 1,211 households, and 1,024 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,158.7 people per square mile (835.3/km²). There were 1,237 housing units at an average density of 766.7/sq mi (296.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.61% White, 0.17% African American, 0.06% Native American, 12.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population. In the city 604 people are foreign born, 6.7% from Asia, 3% from Europe, and 2.7% from other North American countries.

There were 1,211 households, out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.0% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.4% were non-families. 12.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $154,268, and the median income for a family was $156,706. The unemployment rate in 2015 was 3.7%. Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $41,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $76,577. About 3.1% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Of Monte Sereno's 2,501 registered voters, 38% are registered Democrats, while 33% are registered Republicans, according to a February 2017 report by the California Secretary of State.

In the state legislature, Monte Sereno is in the 15th Senate District, represented by Democrat Jim Beall, and in the 28th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Evan Low.

Federally, Monte Sereno is in California's 18th congressional district, represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren.

Monte Sereno is also served by District 1 Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman.

Schools

Most of Monte Sereno's residents are served by the Los Gatos Union Elementary School or Saratoga Elementary School districts (for elementary and middle schools) and Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School Districts (for high school), while a small portion of residents, primarily in the Bicknell Road area, are served by the Campbell Union School and the Campbell Union High School Districts.

Public services

Public services for Monte Sereno are served by those of the town of Los Gatos. These include the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department, the Los Gatos Parks and Recreation Department, and Los Gatos youth sports leagues.

Government

Monte Sereno is a General Law City incorporated on May 14, 1957. It operates under the City Council-City Manager form of local government, which combines the political leadership of a five-member elected City Council with the strong professional experience of an appointed local government administrator (City Manager) who is the responsible for the day-to-day administrative operation of the city, including preparation of the budget, delivery of services, hiring of personnel, and implementation of capital projects.

City Council elections are held the first Tuesday of November in even numbered years. The election is nonpartisan and the councilmembers are elected "at large" to serve the entire community rather than by district. The councilmembers are elected to four-year terms. In 1998 voters approved an ordinance limiting the number of terms a member of the Monte Sereno City Council may serve on the City Council to two consecutive four year terms with a right to hold office again only after at least two years have elapsed since that person last held office.

In 2004 the City Council voted to cancel the election because only the two incumbents whose terms were up, Erin Garner and David Baxter, filed candidacy papers to run for the two available seats.

In 2008 the City Council voted to hold the election for the two available seats despite there being only two candidates, Lana Malloy and Susan Garner, for those seats.

Year	Mayor	All Council Members
2021	Shawn Leuthold	Shawn Leuthold, Javed Ellahie, Rowena Turner, Bryan Mekechuk
2020	Liz Lawler	Liz Lawler, Shawn Leuthold, Javed Ellahie, Daniel LaBouve(1), Rowena Turner
2019	Curtis Rogers(2) Rowena Turner	Rowena Turner, Liz Lawler, Shawn Leuthold, Javed Ellahie, Curtis Rogers-->Daniel LaBouve(3)
2018	Burton Craig	Burton Craig, Evert Wolsheimer, Marshall Anstandig, Curtis Rogers, Rowena Turner
2017	Marshall Anstandig	Marshall Anstandig, Burton Craig, Evert Wolsheimer, Curtis Rogers, Rowena Turner
2016	Lon Allan	Lon Allan, Marshall Anstandig, Burton Craig, Evert Wolsheimer
2015	Walter Huff	Lon Allan, Marshall Anstandig, Burton Craig, Sue Garner-->Evert Wolsheimer(4)
2014	Burton Craig	Marshall Anstandig, Walter Huff, Curtis Rogers, Lon Allan(5)
2013	Curtis Rogers	Marshall Anstandig, Burton Craig, Walter Huff, Julie Wiltshire(6)
2012	Susan Garner	Marshall Anstandig, Burton Craig, Lana Malloy, Susan Garner, Curtis Rogers
2011	Marshall Anstandig	Marshall Anstandig, Burton Craig, Lana Malloy, Susan Garner, Curtis Rogers
2010	Don Perry	Marshall Anstandig, Lana Malloy, Susan Garner, Don Perry, A. Curtis Wright
2009	A. Curtis Wright	Marshall Anstandig, Lana Malloy, Susan Garner, Don Perry, A. Curtis Wright
2008	Erin Garner	Alan Aerts-->Marshall Anstandig(7), David Baxter, Erin Garner, Don Perry, A. Curtis Wright
2007	David Baxter	Alan Aerts, David Baxter, Erin Garner, Don Perry, A. Curtis Wright
2006	Mark Brodsky	David Baxter, Mark Brodsky, Erin Garner, Barbara Nesbet, A. Curtis Wright
2005	A. Curtis Wright	David Baxter, Mark Brodsky, Erin Garner, Barbara Nesbet, A. Curtis Wright
2004	Erin Garner	David Baxter, Mark Brodsky, Erin Garner, Barbara Nesbet, A. Curtis Wright
2003	David Baxter	David Baxter, Mark Brodsky, Erin Garner, Barbara Nesbet, A. Curtis Wright
2002	Jack Lucas	David Baxter, Erin Garner, Suzanne Jackson, Jack Lucas, Barbara Nesbet
2001	Barbara Nesbet	David Baxter, Erin Garner, Suzanne Jackson, Jack Lucas, Barbara Nesbet
2000	Suzanne Jackson	Fred Hawkes(8), Suzanne Jackson, Gordon Knight, Lucas, Barbara Nesbet
1999	Jack Lucas	Joel Gambord, Suzanne Jackson, Gordon Knight, Lucas, Barbara Nesbet
1998	Suzanne Jackson	Dorothea Bamford, Joel Gambord, Gordon Knight, Jack Lucas, Suzanne Jackson
1997	Jack Lucas	Dorothea Bamford, Joel Gambord, Gordon Knight, Jack Lucas, Suzanne Jackson
1996	Nancy Hobbs	Dorothea Bamford, Nancy Hobbs, Suzanne Jackson, Jack Lucas
1995		Dorothea Bamford, Nancy Hobbs, Suzanne Jackson, Jack Lucas
1994		Dorothea Bamford, Nancy Hobbs, Jack Lucas
1993		Dorothea Bamford, Nancy Hobbs, Jack Lucas
1992		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1991		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1990		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1989		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1988		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1987		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1986		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1985		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1984		Dorothea Bamford, Jack Lucas, Barbara Winckler
1983		Dorothea Bamford, Barbara Winckler

(1) Council Member LaBouve resigned on September 1, 2020.
(2) On March 5, 2019, Council Members Turner, Leuthold and Lawler voted to strip Mayor Rogers of his title of Mayor and elevate Vice Mayor Turner to Mayor and make Council Member Lawler the Vice Mayor.
(3) Daniel LaBouve was appointed on May 7, 2019 to fill Curtis Rogers' seat after Mr. Rogers resigned on March 5, 2019.
(4) Evert Wolsheimer was appointed on November 3, 2015 to fill Susan Garner's seat.
(5) Lon Allan was appointed January 21, 2014 to fill Julie Wiltshire's seat.
(6) Julie Wiltshire resigned in December 2013 when she moved out of the City.
(7) Marshall Anstandig was appointed November 18, 2008 to fill Alan Aerts' seat after Mr. Aerts resigned on October 21, 2008 for health reasons.
(8) Appointed April 13, 2000 to fill Joel Gambord's seat when Mr. Gambord moved out of the City.

Notable events

Christmas decorations

A dispute between two neighbors over extravagant Christmas decorations gained Monte Sereno attention in national news. Bonnie and Alan Aerts of Monte Sereno had for years showcased elaborate holiday displays, costing as much as US$150,000, in their front yard. The displays attracted large masses of visitors, resulting in great traffic around the normally quiet cul-de-sac of four houses. Neighbors Le and Susan Nguyen protested, and, in late 2003, the city council voted 3-2 (Nesbet, Brodsky, Wright for, Garner, Baxter against) to pass an ordinance regarding "regulation of special events" [1], [2] which would require permits for such displays. On the first Christmas season for which the law was effective (in 2004), the Aertses declined to apply for a permit, which would allow the Aertses' holiday display to be active only for 12 hours in a 72-hour period and would require a 30-day waiting period before a new 72-hour permit could be applied for. Instead, they erected a huge, 10-foot-tall Grinch on their lawn, who swayed from side while singing "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". The Grinch's outstretched arm pointed conspicuously at the home of the Nguyens. [3]

The spectacle gained mention from the Associated Press and NPR. [4] The Aerts and the Nguyens also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late night talk show, about the situation.

Padgett lawsuit

Darla and Joe Padgett and the City of Monte Sereno litigated in various lawsuits stemming out of incidents relating to the Padgett's building of a home which was started in 1999. The City began with allegations of code violations and a too-tall wooden fence, and later the Padgetts claimed, and later proved, that a city employee had written them a threatening letter and that there had been numerous other attempts made to intimidate them. In September 2007, Monte Sereno's city manager, Brian Loventhal, was found to have destroyed evidence.[5] In June 2009 a jury found that Mayor Curtis Wright violated the couple's civil rights and awarded the Padgetts $1 in compensatory damages, $200,000 in punitive damages, and awarded more than $4,000,000 in attorney's fees—more than the city's entire annual budget. [6]

City in Turmoil in 2019

In March, 2019, newly elected Council Member Shawn Leuthold, arguing the City was violating the law in election years by choosing the Mayor for the next year prior to the seating of the newly-elected council members, successfully led an effort to change how Monte Sereno would select its mayor in the future and to remove the then-current mayor, Mayor Curtis Rogers. Vice Mayor Rowena Turner was elected Mayor and Council Member Liz Lawler was elected Vice Mayor, with Council Members Turner, Lawler, and Leuthold voting for these changes and Council Members Javed Ellahie and Rogers voting against. Upon being removed as Mayor, Council Member Rogers resigned. The Council appointed Daniel LaBouve to fill the vacancy. During the course of the remainder of the year, most of the City staff resigned--Finance Officer Sue L’Heureux, City Attorney Kirsten Powell, Building Official Rob Queirolo, and City Manager Terry Blount. The City staff also decided to unionize for the first time in Monte Sereno's 60-year history. In April, 2020, Andrea Chelemengos, City Clerk for the prior two decades, resigned.

City Operations

In the year 2020, Monte Sereno hired a new City Attorney, City Manager, City Clerk, and Finance/Administrative Officer. Monte Sereno adopted a labor agreement with employees, worked extensively on new infrastructure and facility improvements, adopted a new budget format, and adopted finance and pension paydown policies. In addition, Monte Sereno adopted a Telework policy for employees. Monte Sereno granted funding to West Valley Community Services for COVID-19 housing relief, and granted funding for the Disaster Aid Recovery Team (DART). The Monte Sereno Youth Commission began its efforts to establish a Social Justice Award Program. The Monte Sereno Building and Planning Departments began implementation of an online building permitting software application. City Council voted to commit funding for the remodel of the old U.S. Post Office space located at City Hall into a Community Room which will also be used as an Emergency Operations Center and a Community Resource Center. A new Community Newsletter titled "The Peaceful Mountain Monitor" was established as well as a new City website.

Notable people

• 
  Thomas Kinkade, American painter of popular realistic, pastoral, and idyllic subjects.
• 
  John Steinbeck, Nobel Prize-winning author wrote The Grapes of Wrath and finished Of Mice and Men while living in Monte Sereno.
• 
  Jack Tramiel, Polish American businessman and Holocaust survivor, best known for founding Commodore International. The Commodore PET, Commodore VIC-20 and Commodore 64 are some home computers produced while he was running the company.

External links

• City of Monte Sereno official website
• Map of El Sereno Open Space Preserve
• Photos from El Sereno Open Space Preserve
• [7]