09 Staff Report.Council Staff and Community Values
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 09/05/2023 ITEM NO: 9
DATE: August 29, 2023
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Discuss and Provide Direction for the Use of the Town Council, Staff and
Community Values
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss and provide direction for the use of the Town Council, Staff and Community Values.
BACKGROUND:
On June 13, the Town Council held a retreat. During the retreat, the Council members
identified the values they want to promote in guiding how they and staff engage with
community members, and how they would like community members to engage with them at
Council meetings and other forums.
DISCUSSION:
The values are intended to supplement the Meeting Rules of Decorum and Civility by describing
the elements of constructive communication when Council, staff, and community members
interact with each other. To promote constructive communication in conducting the business
of the community, Council members, staff, and community members are encouraged to
embrace and adhere to the following values:
• Be respectful, welcoming, inclusive, compassionate, and kind to each other,
• Appreciate the diversity of perspectives and views in our community,
• Express your views and share your perspectives in helpful ways,
• Listen to understand and empathize with each other, and
• Collaborate and work together to do what is best for Los Gatos.
Council agreed that the community values should be included in the Town Council Policy 2-4:
Town Council Code of Conduct (Code of Conduct) when the Town Council is ready to consider
amendments to that Council Policy. At the retreat, the Council also discussed including the
PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: Discuss and Provide Direction for the Use of the Town Council, Staff and Community Values DATE: August 29, 2023
DISCUSSION (continued):
values on meeting agendas. There is also an opportunity to display the values on posters
located in Department offices where the public interacts with staff and in the Council Chamber
lobby. Some communities have also placed their values on the back of the Speaker Cards so the
expectations for respectful participation are clear.
This agenda item provides the Town Council an opportunity to receive public input, make
refinements to the values, and direct how the values could be utilized.
In addition, depending upon the Council’s direction for the use of the values, the Town Council
may wish to also provide direction on the civility guidelines that are found in the Code of
Conduct and Town Council Policy 2-1: Town Agenda Format and Rules. Among potential
changes, staff recommends removing the sentence, “Disruption of the meeting may result in a
violation of Penal Code Section 403” for the following two reasons:
1) Disruption of the meeting IS a violation of PC Section 403. Disrupters MAY be cited.
2) This is just one potential consequence out of several and it may not be necessary to call
it out.
If Council directs such a change, these Policies would return to Council for consideration. If
approved, the agenda language would also change to be consistent with the Policies.
CONCLUSION:
Staff looks forward to the Council’s discussion and direction with respect to the draft values and
associated Policies.
COORDINATION:
The preparation of this report was coordinated with all Town Department Directors and the
Town Attorney.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This agenda item does not have a fiscal impact. If Council directs the preparation of a poster for
the Council Chambers Lobby, modifications to our Speaker Cards, or other printed materials,
the costs would be minimal and the Adopted Town Budget covers these expenses.
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: Discuss and Provide Direction for the Use of the Town Council, Staff and Community Values DATE: August 29, 2023
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This agenda item is not a project defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and
no further action is required.