Attachment 6 - Clean Copy of Proposed Edits to Core Goals and Guiding PrinciplesAttachment 6
Clean Copy of Policy Committee Recommendations for the Updated Core Goals and Guiding Principles
Core Goals
Community Character: Preserve and enhance the Town’s historic resources and small-town character;
foster the economic vitality of all business locations; maintain and enhance diverse neighborhoods,
promote sustainability practices, and protect and conserve the natural environment for present and
future generations.
Good Governance: Ensure open, responsive, accountable, transparent, accessible, inclusive, and
collaborative government that encourages public involvement.
Fiscal Stability: Maintain current and long-term fiscal stability while striving to deliver high-quality, cost-
effective, and efficient municipal services that meet the current and long-term needs of the community.
Quality Public Infrastructure: Maintain the condition and availability of public facilities, infrastructure,
and a well-connected transportation system that enables safe access for all transportation modes,
including pedestrians, people with access and functional needs, bicyclists, motorists, transit riders, and
people of all ages and abilities.
Civic Engagement: Foster opportunities for meaningful community involvement in government
processes, encourage recreational and personal enrichment, and promote ethnic, cultural, and socio-
economic diversity and equity to enhance the quality of life in Los Gatos.
Public Safety: Ensure public safety through proactive community policing, effective emergency
response, community-wide emergency preparation, education, and a community design that is
responsive to the full range of potential natural and human-made hazards and safety issues.
Guiding Principles
Small Town Service is our commitment to providing services in a courteous, timely, equitable, and
responsive manner. Los Gatos is a welcoming, family-oriented, safe, beautiful, and sustainable
community where people feel a sense of belonging. Our small-town character is important to all who
visit, work, and live in Los Gatos. We strive to make our customer service reflect these qualities. Small-
town service is also about programs that celebrate the Town’s small-town charm, such as our Library
children’s story times and arts workshops, the annual Spring into Green environmental and
sustainability event, the 4th of July musical celebration, Screen on the Green family-friendly movie night,
annual Tree Lighting, Music in the Park, Forbes Mill Footbridge children’s murals, and many more.
Community Stewardship means that we recognize the responsibility entrusted to Town leaders and
staff to care about the well-being of the entire community and to carry out our obligations accordingly.
We take our role seriously, as we work to maintain fiscal stability; a range of housing opportunities;
historic neighborhoods; outdoor recreation opportunities; environmental sustainability; local culture
and art; equitable and responsive municipal services; open and transparent government processes; a
lively and accessible downtown; dynamic and thriving business community; public safety; a choice of
mobility options; superior public facilities and services; and other quality of life elements. We
encourage a high degree of public participation and community partnerships to carry out our
stewardship role.
Attachment 6
Future Focus reminds us to always have an eye on the future as we care for the community of today.
Our goal is to ensure a high quality of life for present and future generations, positioning the Town to be
resilient as the climate changes. We work to preserve and enhance the Town’s historic resources, small-
town character, and natural environment while guiding the community into the future. Our General
Plan is subject to change as ideas develop and priorities evolve. We also keep the future in focus by
looking for more efficient ways of doing business – whether it’s streamlining processes or utilizing
effective technologies.