Item 21 Staff Report Council Direction on the Formation of the Economic Vitality RoundtableCOUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: APRIL 15, 2003
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE: 4/21/03
ITEM NO.
COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THE FORMATION OF THE ECONOMIC
VITALITY ROUNDTABLE
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Council provide staff direction on the formation of the Economic Vitality Roundtable
including the following:
1. Roundtable purpose/mission
2. Format/structure/composition
3. Selection process
BACKGROUND:
At its meeting of January 21, 2003 the Council directed staff to further develop the concept of an
Economic Vitality Roundtable and report back with recommendations. Staff has since studied the
formation of the Roundtable and the following are concepts for the Council to consider and discuss
in order to proceed:
DISCUSSION:
Purpose and Mission
Based on Council input and further analysis, staff recommends the following framework for
Council's consideration:
Mission Statement: To advise the Town Council on economic vitality policies and programs needed
to support and enhance the business community's contribution to the quality of life in Los Gatos
during the economic downtown.
PREPARED BY: Marty Woodworth/ 'C `t./
Redevelopment Manager
Reviewed by: QS3 Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Clerk Finance
Community Development Revised: 4/17/03 1:05 pm
Reformatted: 5/30/02
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THE FORMATION OF THE ECONOMIC
VITALITY ROUNDTABLE
April 15, 2003
Goals and Objectives:
.
To promote a healthy local economic environment
To promote the provision of local goods and services to Los Gatos residents
To promote local business and generate tax revenues for the Town that can be used to
provide high quality municipal services to Los Gatos residents
To represent the interests of all segments of the local business community including retail,
service, business to business, R&D and office
Desired Outcomes: Council should consider the desired outcomes it would like from the Roundtable.
One suggestion is that the work of the Roundtable result in a report to the Town Council including,
but not limited to, the following topics:
A review of the role of the business community in Town finances and the inter -relationship
between business and residential segments of Los Gatos
The key indicators that will help Town staff and the Council monitor the economic vitality
of Los Gatos while pointing out the "red flags" that the Town should monitor
The challenges in building and maintaining a strong, healthy business community in Los
Gatos. What obstacles keep businesses from locating and growing here and what can the
Town do?
• The opportunities for strengthening the Town's economic base. What goods and services
are missing from the mix? What business/industry segments would find Los Gatos desirable
for a unique set of reasons?
• Is there value in creating a permanent Economic Vitality Roundtable?
Duration of Roundtable: It is recommended that the Roundtable meet for a period of one year or
less and forward recommendations to the Council per the "Desired Outcomes" outlined above. At
the end of the year period, the Council may wish to discuss formation of a permanent business
advisory committee.
The Roundtable can function as an "ad hoc" committee (not subject to the Brown Act) which should
stimulate a candid, internal and hopefully creative "think tank" environment. All recommendations
of the Roundtable would ultimately be considered by Council in an open public session.
Format and Composition
The composition of the roundtable is envisioned to reflect a cross representation of key business
sectors in the community and representation from different commercial areas of Town. However,
it is important to balance this interest with the interest of having a manageable number of members
on the Roundtable with the realities of the number of business persons that might be interested in
serving. The following is a recommended composition to achieve this objective. Further
refinements can be made based on direction from the Council. Further refinement might also occur
"naturally" as the application process determines the level of interest by the business community.
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THE FORMATION OF THE ECONOMIC
VITALITY ROUNDTABLE
April 15, 2003
The Chamber of Commerce has submitted a memorandum (Attachment 1) that discusses the
composition and format of the Roundtable that they would like the Council to consider.
The question of whether or not Councilmembers should serve on the Roundtable has been raised.
Council direction is needed on this issue including the number and method of selection.
Frequency of Meetings: Quarterly or more often as may be needed
Composition of the Roundtable: Two options are presented for consideration:
Option # 1: Business Sector Method: Under this approach the ten to fifteen largest business
sectors or types would be identified. This might include banking, auto dealers, retail, personal
service, restaurant, hotel, etc. We would then undertake targeted outreach to these sectors and ask
them to submit applications for persons interested in serving on the Roundtable.
Option # 2: Specific Business Types and Broad Based Outreach: Under this approach the
following categories are identified as those generally desired to be represented on the Roundtable.
Outreach would be broad -based as indicated below.
• Chamber of Commerce including the Executive Director and the Chamber President or
Board Member
• Los Gatos Community Hospital administrator
• Downtown property owner
• Downtown business owner
• Los Gatos Blvd. property owner
• Los Gatos Blvd. business owner
• Auto Dealer
• Hotel/motel General Manager or owner
• Office/R&D owner, manager or broker
• Commercial realtor
• Residential realtor
• Banking community representative
• Residential builder
• High tech company representative
• Retail: a representative from each the Northside Downtown, Vasona/Rinconada, and
Union/Harding areas
• Personal service
• Town staff including the Town Manager, Community Development Director, and
Redevelopment Manager
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THE FORMATION OF THE ECONOMIC
VITALITY ROUNDTABLE
April 15, 2003
Under this approach outreach is intended to reach a broad cross section of the business community
in order to fill seats on the Roundtable. An outreach process that is similar to that currently being
used for fill the Gateways Design Working Group could be used. The outreach effort would include
articles in the Daily, Weekly, and Mercury News; information and applications on the Town's web
site; working through the Chamber of Commerce and contacting their membership to inform them
of the opportunity and targeted outreach to specific groups and individuals that may have an interest
in serving. Council may provide staff the names of groups and individuals to contact as well. By
having this broad outreach program, staff would hope to have a pool of qualified applicants from
which to choose.
Options for selecting individuals to serve on the Roundtable: The following are two options for
Council to consider in selecting the membership of the Roundtable:
Option #1: The Town Manager would review all the applications and possibly conduct
interviews to recommend a list of individuals to serve. The Council would review the
recommendations at a Council meeting and make the final determination.
Option #2: The Mayor would appoint a Council sub -committee to review applications and
possibly conduct interviews and forward a recommendation to the full Council for
approval.
Facilitation of Meeting: Staff recommends that a skilled facilitator be employed to assist the group
at least for the initial meeting. The facilitator should have economic development experience that
can help the group focus on specific issues of importance to the economic vitality of the community.
Staff will need to undertake research prior to recommending a specific person for this task.
CONCLUSION:
The formation of the Economic Vitality Roundtable comprised of a broad cross-section of the
business community should provide the Council with a mechanism to receive valuable information
from the business community about maintaining and enhancing a strong and healthy business
community in the Town. This Council Agenda Report is intended to provide a framework for
Council discussion regarding a number of important aspects of the Roundtable.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: COUNCIL DIRECTION ON THE FORMATION OF THE ECONOMIC
VITALITY ROUNDTABLE
April 15, 2003
FISCAL IMPACT:
The formation and administration of the Roundtable will be undertaken with existing staffresources,
with the exception of a paid facilitator to be paid for with RDA funds. It is anticipated that the
recommendations of the Roundtable will have a positive impact on the Los Gatos business
community and result in the retention of established businesses and attraction of new businesses to
Town. It is anticipated that the recommendations of the Roundtable could result in increased locally
generated revenues for the Town that can be used to support Town provided services to its residents
and businesses.
Attachments:
1. Memorandum from the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce
Distribution:
Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce
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061
111 Town of Los Gatos
Chamber of Commerce
Economic Roundtable Chamber Recommendations
1. The roundtable should be co-chaired by a council member and the Chamber
President.
2. The mission of the roundtable should be: Identify economic issues and
concerns and make recommendations to the Town Council and Administration to
consider how to improve the Los Gatos economy.
3. The composition of the group: 10-12 representatives of business and
industry in Los Gatos. The group should represent various sectors of
business (retail, services, hospitality, automotive, technology, real
estate, etc.) and also represent the geographic areas of Town (downtown, the
boulevard, Blossom Hill, Vasona Station, Winchester, University Ave, etc.).
4. Objectives:
a. To define the elements of economic vitality that the Town can influence;
b. To develop a statement of issues and concerns that are perceived as
impediments to economic vitality;
c. To propose a list of things the Town can do to help local businesses be
more successful and improve the Town's economic vitality.
5. The economic vitality roundtable should focus specifically on hearing
from the business community. Other groups in Town will have the opportunity
to review and comment on the roundtable's recommendations through the Town
Council's public process.
6. Participation by Town staff will be essential to assist the roundtable in
organizing, conducting its meetings and preparing its advisory reports to
the Town Council.
Attachment #1
Town Council Minutes April 21, 2003
Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California
PROJECT 0107/TOWN PLAZA RECONSTRUCTION/RESOS 2003-51 & 2003 1ORD (18.24)
Ray Davis addressed the need for restroom facilities for the new Town Plaza.
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Glickman, that Council/Agency adopt Resolution 2003-
51 & 2003-10RD entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ACCEPTING WORK OF ROBERT A.
BOTHMAN, INC. FOR PROJECT 0107 - TOWN PLAZA RECONSTRUCTION AND
AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE
CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE AND NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR RECORDING
BY THE TOWN CLERK/SECRETARY OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. Carried
unanimously.
ECONOMIC VITALITY ROUNDTABLE/FORMATION/DISCUSSION (21.28)
Marty Woodworth presented an overview of the formation of this Roundtable.
Margaret Smith, representing the Chamber, spoke enthusiastically of the concept and offered
support in helping with its formation.
Council Consensus:
* To remove a portion of the suggested mission statement so that it would now read, "To advise
the Town Council on economic vitality policies and programs needed to support and enhance
the business community's contribution to the quality of life in Los Gatos."
* Updates to Council on implementation and progress as the Roundtable gathers the ideas of
the business community to assist and support Town services that make Los Gatos special and
unique.
* The composition of the Roundtable should consist of a core of interested businesses that
would meet monthly. Council Members will not be on the Roundtable.
* The Town Manager will recommend applicants to Council for appointment
* The goal should then be to expand the outreach to the business community and include as
many segments as possible.
* A facilitator will be employed to assist the group at least for the initial meeting.
* Measures for success shall be developed as the program develops.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN NEIGHBORHOODS (22.28)
Debra Figone, Town Manager, gave an overview of the concept for Town Hall meetings to be held
in various neighborhoods of our community. She noted that residents would be able to speak on the
specific issues affecting their areas and would also be given the opportunity to meet and speak with
Council Members and Town staff in a less formal setting. Two dates were suggested to initiate this
program, June 30, 2003 and September 29, 2003.
Ray Davis suggested that these meetings be broadcast on TV. He also asked that a larger bulletin
board be made available for the public notices at Town Hall.
Council Consensus to proceed with this concept and begin with the Bel Gatos and La Rinconada
neighborhoods which are the furthest to the east and west of the Civic Center. That method for notice
and survey of the neighborhood be developed in order to develop a meaningful agenda. That public
input will be accepted, and information on Town services delivered but no action will be taken.
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