Item 13 Staff Report Accept Report on Council Participation in Community Forums(0
COUNCIL AGENDA
DATE: 5/2/94
ITEM NO. A3
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: April 28, 1994
TO: MAYOR AND TOWCOUNCIL
FROM: TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ACCEPT REPORT ON COUNCIL PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY FORUMS
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept report on Council participation in Community Forums.
BACKGROUND:
Council requested staff comment on the advisability of Council Member participation in the upcoming
community forums. This report discusses the pros and cons of active Council involvement.
DISCUSSION:
On the positive side, Council presence at the community forums demonstrates an interest in what the
community has to say. Council Members get an unfiltered message from the community. Community
participants also get the message that these meetings are important because Council Members are present.
This is the chance for the community to speak directly to the Council. Council Member presence will also
assure greater participation because people feel they are talking to decision makers.
On the negative side, Council Member presence could inhibit frank discussion among Los Gatos' citizens.
Citizens not wanting to offend any Council Member may not give a full assessment or opinion. Conversely,
citizens seeing the Council Member present may use the opportunity to raise an issue about some unrelated
topic. Having Council Members present may make it more difficult to keep the meetings focused on fiscal
solvency.
The forums are structured to be run by community leaders/volunteers. Staff is providing information, but
the leaders are facilitating the discussion. Council Member participation could result in community leaders
deferring to them for guidance and advice potentially altering the dynamics of the meeting.
The widespread citizen participation and credibility of the final recommendations are the central issues in
looking at this question. Recommendations from the community forums without Council participation could
be perceived to be more credible because Council did not exert influence. On the other hand, since staff
are present and Council Members are not, one could argue that staff had undue influence over the final
recommendation.
PREPARED BY: M�iRK LINDE , ss st ant TownVrTager
ML:pm
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Reviewed by:
4/28/94 3:02 pm
Attorney Cler inance Treasurer
COUNCIL ACTION/ACTION DIRECTED T
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MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ACCEPT REPORT ON COUNCIL PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY FORUMS
April 28, 1994
DISCUSSION: (continued)
Staff recommends having Council Members present as observers, not participants. This would mean that
Council Members would not comment. This alternative serves two purposes. It assures Council Members
that the recommendations received are reflective of the forums. It assures the community that the forums
are a serious venue to express opinions. By establishing ground rules that Council Members are present
to listen, staff to provide information, and the community leaders to facilitate discussion on fiscal solvency
and municipal services, the sessions should remain focused. Staff envisions each of the four forums chaired
by a community volunteer. Staff began recruiting volunteer facilitators this month. There will be working
sessions to prepare for the forums. Current plans call for four forums held in different sections of town. A
fifth forum/public hearing will be conducted in Council chambers.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
None.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None, at this time. Staff is preparing a budget for this process including cost of surveys, survey tabulation
and analysis, etc. This budget will be presented along with a project update on May 16.
May 2, 1994
Los Gatos, California
PAYROLL RATIFICATION/APRIL 1994 (07.V)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that L. uncil ratify the check register for
the payroll of March 27 through April 9, 1994 paid on April 15, 1994 in the amount of
$206,606.40. Carried unanimously.
TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS COMMITTEE/ADVERTISE FOR VACANCIES (09.20)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council accept report from Trails and
Bikeways Committee, determine vacancy exists, and instruct Clerk to advertise for applications
to fill vacancy. Carried unanimously.
9323 PROJECT/OAK MEADOW PARK/REST ROOM RENOVATION (10.35)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council approve contingency increase
for Project 9323 Oak Meadow Park rest room renovation by $2,000. Carried unanimously.
TRANSIT ASSIST PROGRAM/OPERATING BUDGET (11. )
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, ..:at Council amend the Community
Services Department's Transit Assist program FY 1993-94 Operating budget by transferring funds
from full-time employees account to insurance account. Carried unanimously.
ART COMMISSION/ART COUNCIL OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY/GRANT (12.20)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council amend the Arts Commission's
1993-94 budget to incorporate Arts Council of Santa Clara County 1994 grant of $1622. Carried
unanimously.
COMMUNITY FORUMS/COUNCIL PARTICIPATION (13.10)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, that Council accept report on participation
in Community Forums. Carried unanimously. (Council also requested staff consi
vacation schedules and councilmember's available calendar time.)
MOBILEHOME RENTAL/TENANT-LANDLOR'. PUTES/ORDINANCE 1973 (15.19
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. 3c. lin, that Council re -adopt Ordina: 973
entitled, ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF )S GATOS AMENDING ARTICL;< 14.85
REGARDING MOBILEHOME RENTAL AND O"; NER TENANT/LANDLORD DISPUTES
which was introduced at the Town Council meet of March 7, 1994. Carried unanimously.
OFFICE USE/GROUND FLOOR/A-92-3A/ORDIr E 1975 (16.46)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Benja; that Council adopt Ordinance 1975 entitled,
ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS .LENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE TOWN CODE TO PERMIT GROUND FLOOR OFFICE USES ON STREETS.
ALLEYWAYS OR PARKING LOTS WHERE THEY ARE PRESENTLY NOT ALLOWED,
was introduced at the Town Council meeting of April 4, 1994. Carried unanimously.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE POLICY/RETROACTIVE/ORDINANCE 1976 (17.43)
Motion by Mr. Blanton, seconded by Mrs. Ben :in, that Cou: .dopt 'inane
ORDINANCE OF THE TO' N OF LOS GAT AMENDING i HE TC Y COL
29.10.225 AND 29.20.310 a ) ADDING SE( )N 29.20.318 TO PR( •)E A
SERVING ALCOHOLIC B VERAGES IN ( :.5 WHERE USE PEI IT CO
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE POLICY IS VIOLA i ED, which was introduced at the
meeting of April 18, 1994. Carried unanimously.
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