2010050301 - Town Council Retreat Minutes of April 19, 2010DRAFT Council/Agency Meeting 4/3/10
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MINUTES OF THE 2010 COUNCIL/COMMISSION RETREAT
APRIL 19, 2010
The Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos conducted a Special Meeting on
Monday, April 19, 2010 at 8:15 P.M.
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Diane McNutt, Vice Mayor Joe Pirzynski, Council Member Steve
Rice, and Council Member Barbara Spector.
Absent: Council Member Mike Wasserman.
VERBAL COMMUNICATIONS
Open/Closed Verbal Communications
DISCUSSIONS
This Study Session is a Retreat Format -Council held discussions with
Town Commissions/Boards on the following items:
1. 2010-12 Core Value and Strategic Goals
Mayor Diane McNutt commented about the Council's core values and strategic
goals for the next two years.
2. Fiscal Year 2010-11 Budget Outlook
Jenny Haruyama, Finance Budget Manager made a presentation on the
proposed 2010-2011 budget.
Mayor Diane McNutt
• Commented on the Town's budget challenges and how important the
Commissions are to the Town Council and the community.
Discussions -Continued
3. Council and Commission Chair Leadership Discussion on Town
.Priorities
Commission Comments
• Questioned how the Town responds to the .garbage cans that are
overflowing in the downtown area and around Los Gatos High School.
• Commented about the General Plan and the Transportation and Parking
Commission's role with streets, roads, and crosswalks.
• Questioned if there is an increased use of consultants and questioned if
the Town has looked into keeping those costs down.
• Questioned the decrease in the amount of Commission meeting's and the
increased attendance at community meetings.
• Expressed concerns about filling vacant positions and would like to see a
more aggressive recruitment process.
• Questioned when the Los Gatos Boulevard plan would be coming forward.
• Questioned if the strategic goals have been adopted by Council.
• Questioned how the Commissions can more effectively achieve the goals.
Mr. Larson
• Commented about the Town's operating procedures for upkeep of the
downtown.
• Clarified that sometimes it is more cast effective to hire consultants.
• Clarified the process-for contract bidding.
• Commented that. the Town staff has reduced costs from 6-8% in each of
the last three to five years.
• Clarified that the General Plan is the top priority and after that is adopted
the same staff would be working on the Los Gatos Boulevard plan.
Mayor Diane McNutt
• Questioned how the Commissions could work together to achieve the
strategic goals.
Commission Comments
• Complemented the Library Board on the poet laureate selection process.
• Commented on incorporating the Youth Commission into youth art goals
which are being developed by the Arts and Culture Gommission.
• Suggested having periodic multi-commission meetings.
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Discussions -Continued
Mr. Larson
• Commented about the upcoming sports facility and the various
Commissions' roles with that process.
Council Comments
• Questioned if the Youth Commission would be interested in interacting
with other commissions.
Commission Comments
• Commented that the Youth Commission could work to integrate the youth
with goals that other Commissions are working on.
• Suggested a desire to communicate among the Gommissions.
• Commented that if the Commissions interacted and worked on shared
goals that it may save staff time.
• Suggested that it would be productive if the Council attended some of
these meetings.
• Commented that the Sustainability Committee does provide an opportunity.
for multiple Commissions to come together.
• Suggested sending agendas or minutes from Commission meetings to
each Commission.
Mr. Larson
• Suggested a meeting with members from each Commission to design
shared work plans.
Commission Comments
• Commented that these meetings need to be well planned out to be
effective.
• Questioned the timeframe of completion for the current strategic goals.
Mr. Larson
Clarified that Council and staff are targeting completion of the current
goals within two years.
Council Comments
• Commented that the work on the goals would be overlapping.
• Commented on what it means to be a policy maker and what it means to
be a volunteer or the eyes of the community.
• Commented on the Commissions' roles as members of the community.
• Questioned the process to request clarification on policy issues at the
Commission level.
Discussions -Continued
Mr. Larson
• Clarified that the Commissioner's Handbook addresses the protocol for
requests and for clarification from Council.
• Commented that the process would begin at the staff liaison level.
• Requested guidance on priority goals and which Commissions would be
associated with those goals.
Council Comments
• Questioned if a priority list could be created.
Commission Comments
• Commented that a prioritized list would be helpful in .achieving goals as
strategic goals may change and are subject to shifting.
• Commented on the importance of communication throughout the process.
ADJOURNMENT AT 9:46 P.M.
Attest:
Jackie D. Rose, Clerk Administrator
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