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| population_footnotes = <ref name="censusdata">{{Cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0648956|title=Census Data: Monte Sereno (city)|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 14, 2021}}</ref>
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'''Monte Sereno''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "Serene Mountain") is a city in [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara County]], [[California]], United States. The population was 3,479 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. The city is located in the foothills of the [[Santa Cruz Mountains]], about {{convert|10|mi}} southwest of [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], and is bordered by the town of [[Los Gatos, California|Los Gatos]] to the north, east, and south, the Santa Cruz Mountains to the southwest, and the city of [[Saratoga, California|Saratoga]] to the northwest. The city is named for the {{convert|2580|ft|adj=on}} [[El Sereno Open Space Preserve|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. It is an upscale [[Silicon Valley]] [[commuter town]]. Monte Sereno shares the 95030 [[ZIPZip code]] 95030 with the town of Los Gatos. Many municipal services are provided under contract by Los Gatos.
== History ==
===2020===
The 2020 United States Censuscensus<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Monte_Sereno_city,_California?g=160XX00US0648956 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> reported a population of 3,479, with a population density of 2,100 people per square mile (810.81/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup is 2,354 (67.6%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 26 (0.7%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 9 (0.25%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 682 (19.6%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 3 (0.09%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 44 (1.26%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 361 (10.4%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 230 persons (6.6%). There was 1,270 households.
The median age of Monte Sereno residents is 53.7, significantly higher than the California average of 37.9. 16.9% are under 18.
===2010===
===Christmas decorations===
A dispute between two neighbors over extravagant [[Christmas]] decorations gained Monte Sereno attention in national news. For years, Bonnie and [[Alan Aerts]] of Monte Sereno had showcased elaborate holiday displays in their front yard, costing as much as [[United States dollar|US$]]150,000. 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," <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074645/http://www.montesereno.org/details.php?type=agendas&id=88] </ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928074658/http://www.montesereno.org/details.php?type=agendas&id=90]</ref> which would require permits for such displays. In 2004, on the first Christmas season for which the law was effective, 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. <ref>[httphttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/6590930wbna6590930 Couple points Grinchly finger at neighbors]</ref>
The spectacle gained mention from the [[Associated Press]] and [[NPR]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060915023256/http://www.community-newspapers.com/archives/lgwt/20041208/lgnews1.shtml]</ref> The Aertses and the Nguyens also appeared on [[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]], a late night talk show.
===Padgett lawsuit===
Darla and Joe Padgett and the City of Monte Sereno [[litigation|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, including a wooden fence that was too tall. 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.[http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6829600] 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 $600,000 in attorney's fees and costs. [https://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Ex-cop-now-charged-with-child-porn-possession-953939.php] [http://www.mercurynews.com/losgatos/ci_12555238] In 2010, the punitive damages were reduced from $200,000 to $10,000.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 17, 2010 |title=Herhold: Long, strange legal battle over Monte Sereno fence appears to be over |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/02/17/herhold-long-strange-legal-battle-over-monte-sereno-fence-appears-to-be-over/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref>
===City in Turmoil in 2019===
In February 2019, newly elected Council Member Shawn Leuthold successfully led an effort to change how Monte Sereno would select its mayor in the future, arguing that 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.<ref name=":0" /> In March 2019, the Council went a step further and removed Mayor Curtis Rogers from his position as mayor, and then appointed the then-current Vice Mayor Rowena Turner as Mayor with Council Member Liz Lawler being appointed as Vice Mayor (with Council Members Turner, Lawler, and Leuthold voting for the changes and Council Members Javed Ellahie and Rogers voting against). Upon being removed as Mayor, Council Member Rogers resigned.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Emily |first1=Deruy |title=Mayor’sMayor's ouster, sudden resignation, shakes up Monte Sereno |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/03/07/monte-sereno-council-ousts-mayor-despite-pushback-from-residents/ |website=The Mercury News |publisher=The Mercury News |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> The Council appointed Daniel LaBouve to fill the vacancy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grace |first1=Hase |title=Santa Clara County DA Probes Claims of Voter Fraud Against Monte Sereno Councilwoman |url=https://www.sanjoseinside.com/news/santa-clara-county-da-probes-claims-of-voter-fraud-against-monte-sereno-councilwoman/ |website=San Jose Inside |publisher=San Jose Inside |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref> During the course of the remainder of the year, most of the City staff resigned:, Financeincluding Officerthe Suefinance L’Heureuxofficer, Citycity Attorneyattorney, Kirstenbuilding Powellofficial, Buildingcity Official Rob Queirolomanager, and City Manager Terrycity Blountclerk. The City staff also decided to unionize for the first time in Monte Sereno's 60-year history.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} In April 2020, Andrea Chelemengos, City Clerk for the prior two decades, resigned.
== Notable people ==
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