Community Services Commission Informational ReportCOUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: February 17, 1999
TO: MAYOR AND TO V COUNCIL
FROM: TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION INFORMATIONAL REPORT
MEETING DATE: 3/22/99
CITY SE RV ICFS
CCdMISSION
RECOMMENDATION:
For information, only.
DISCUSSION;
Attached is an informational report from the Community Services Commission. Attachment 1 decribes the status of
current projects and programs. Commission Chairs will provide additional information regarding Commission programs
and projects at the Joint Session. The Commission is very active with six committees and four liaison appointments.
The Commission will be soliciting feedback on the following:
1. What housing development strategies should the Commission explore?
2. What changes, if any, would the Council like to see on the Human Services evaluation and funding process?
Attachments;
Community Services Informational Report
Distribution;
Community Services Commission
PREPARED BY: Regina A. Fa
Community S
C S D23 : en cl rptslcscltc
Reviewed by:
s Director
Attorney N Finance Revised: 2/17/99 9:32 am
Reformatted: 10/23/93
ATTACHMENT ,„
MEM O R A N D U M
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION
To:
From:
Subject:
Date:
Town Council
Community Services Commission
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION COMMITTEES
February 11, 1999
Steering Committee. Paul Dubois. Chair
The Commission's Steering Committee consists of the Chair, the Vice -Chair and the Community Services
Director. Its function is to review the Commission's goals and projects and to recommend appointments to
committees, etc. The current committees' memberships are:
COMMITTEES
Agency Liaison
Dubois (C), Werp
Evaluation
Neal (C), Dallas, Ehlert,
Seaborn, Werp
Housing
Perazzo (C), Dallas
Seabom, Blackstock
Recycling
Blackstock (C), Perazzo
Private Revenue
Dubois, Ehlert, Seaborn
Steering (Ad Hoc)
Neal (C), Dubois
LIAISON
General Plan
Ehlert, Dubois & Dallas (Alternates)
L.G. Com. Foundation & ADA
Dubois, Ehlert
Drug.Free Community/Youth Develop
Blackstock, Dubois
Senior Citizen
Perazzo, Ehlert & Neal (Alternates)
Agency Liaison. Paul Dubois. Chair
During 1998 the Commission continued its Agency visitation program which allows all commissioners to view
first hand (or hear presentations on ) the operations and facilities of the agencies we support. If the agency is
located in Los Gatos, Commission meetings are scheduled at their locations. If the agency is located out -side of
Los Gatos, we invite them to give us a presentation at our meetings.
Evaluation Committee. Jack Neal. Chair
This committee has the responsibility of reviewing the requests for CDBG funding. The 1998-99 funds
authorized for funding for the Town of Los Gatos were $165,566. This amount was allocated as follows:
Public Services - $32,220, Housing and Other - $118,346, and CDBG Administration - $15,000. The evaluation
for the next fiscal year will be done in March. Recommendations to the Town Council will be presented in
April. Jack will attend the Town Council meeting to present these recommendations and answer any questions
regarding recommended allocations.
The Committee also reviews the Town's Community grants funding in April. The FY 1998-99 funds allocated
were $77,330. Thus the combined funds were some $242,896.
1
February 11, 1999
Community Services Commission Committees
Page 2
Housing Committee. George Perazzo. Chair
Los Gatos Creek Village Apartments
The Committee continues to monitor the development's progress through regular contact with Community
Housing Developer's project manager and Town staff. The Committee was in attendance at a community
meeting conducted by CHD staff. The project manager and the architect each made a presentation followed by a
question and answer session.
Habitat for Humanity Project
The Community Services Commission began investigating donating the Town's lot on Charles Street to Habitat
for Humanity in 1998, with the hope that a new single family house could be built on the currently unused land
with largely volunteer labor and donated materials.
In January, Alastair circulated a site plan describing a simple house on the property and preliminary meetings
were held with the Bay Area Habitat group to discuss possible logistics. The project was discussed at several
CSC meetings and presented, preliminarily, to the Town Council at our annual briefing on Saturday, February
21.
On Saturday, May 9, Mary Ahearn of Habitat and Alastair walked the neighborhood and talked with the project
site's neighbors. Habitat for Humanity has a strongly positive reputation and they distributed literature
explaining the organization's goals and methods. On May 28, an open meeting was held at the Neighborhood
Center which was well -attended by Habitat supporters who live in Los Gatos and one or two project neighbors.
The results of this meeting were presented to the Town Council on July 20, and this, in turn, was the subject of a
Weekly Times article July 29. At this point, the town's general willingness to donate the property, Habitat's
agreement to develop it and the CSC's cooperation could be said to be well-known among the neighbors and the
Town residents.
Recycling Committee. Toni Blackstock. Chair
The Recycling Subcommittee declared the first Town -Wide Garage Sale held in May 1998 to be an unqualified
success. The goal of recycling items which might otherwise have been sent to the landfill during Spring Clean-
up was met. Our second -Community Garage Sale is scheduled for May 15, 1999.
The Committee is working with staff to reduce food waste by pairing a food provider (ideally supermarkets,
bakeries, pizza parlors) with an agency which has a distribution program in place. We are currently identifying
food resources.
A pilot program by Green Valley to recycle commercial sector mixed paper began in January 1999. Initial
reports indicate that businesses are enthusiastic about this program.
Private Revenue
The Committee's primary project during the last year was to continue the "Wish List" project. The brochure
lists local service provider's equipment needs. It is made public by means of brochure that will be distributed
through the following channels: Los Gatos Weekly Times; Web; Chamber of Commerce mailing; Library;
Town Hall. The Committee also assists in matching unsolicited donations that are received to social service
providers and to other organizations with potential need.
February 11, 1999
Community Services Commission Committees
Page 3
Liaisons
ADA. Paul Dubois
Paul has continued to serve as liaison with the ADA subcommittee, reporting back to the Commission on what
projects have been completed, and what projects are being planned in order to help determine appropriate
funding priorities from CDBG grants.
Los Gatos Community Foundation. Paul Dubois
Paul serves on the Los Gatos Community Foundation, Board of Directors and is now serving the Foundation as
its president. Over the past year Paul has chaired a re-evaluation and long range planning effort on the part of
the Foundation to truly become a "community umbrella organization". The Foundation has established goals
and objectives, among which are the building of the Endowment Fund of 2.2 million dollars by 2002. Paul also
worked as the director of ticket sales on the annual Garden Party. In spite of the fact that it was almost rained -
out, the Garden Party was a success. Two more grants, totaling $5,000.00 were awarded to community
organizations. Additionally, the Foundation invested $5,000.00 in the Town's plaza -power -upgrade program as
a challenge to other organizations to provide matching funds. The Foundation has restructured
itself and has a very active and talented board with specific goals to be accomplished over the next 24 months.
General Plan. Gary Ehlert
Gary is an active participant on the General Plan Committee as the Community Service Commission's
representative. Gary has been working with the General Plan Committee to integrate the General Plan Task
Force II's comments and issues into the General Plan.
Senior Citizen. George Perazzo
George serves as the Commission's liaison to the Senior Consortium whose membership consists of about 12
local agencies. The Committee is made up of groups serving senior citizens. Its purpose is to share information
and ideas as well as coordinate activities when possible.
CSD34A:\csc\csc9899.wpd