Staff Report - Final
PREPARED BY: RYAN BAKER
LIBRARY DIRECTOR
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: 10/17/2017
ITEM NO: 2
DATE: OCTOBER 17, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: EXTEND APPOINTMENT OF SEATED TOWN POET LAUREATE STAN GARBER
FOR ONE YEAR
RECOMMENDATION:
Extend appointment of seated Town Poet Laureate Stan Garber for one year.
REMARKS:
The Town of Los Gatos Poet Laureate position was established in 2010 to further the
appreciation and advancement of poetry and literary arts in Los Gatos. Since the establishment
of this position, Council has appointed three individuals to serve. Parthenia Hicks served a
three-year term from 2010 through 2012. Erica Goss served a three-year term from 2013
through 2015. Current Poet Laureate Stan Garber has served a two-year term beginning in
2016.
Stan Garber was appointed as the Town Poet Laureate for a two-year term by Council on
January 4, 2015 based on the recommendation presented by the Poet Laureate Selection
Committee to appoint for a two-year term beginning in January of 2016 with a possible
extension to a three-year term which Council would review in the fall of 2017.
During Stan Garber’s term as Poet Laureate he has made frequent visits to share poetry and
lead poetry workshops to the Town’s elementary and middle schools as well as making annual
visits to the high school’s Honors English classes during National Poetry Month. He has also
been involved in the community by composing a series of poems to highlight Town businesses
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SUBJECT: EXTEND APPOINTMENT OF SEATED TOWN POET LAUREATE STAN GARBER
FOR ONE YEAR
OCTOBER 17, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\10-17-17\Poet Laureate\Staff Report - Final.docx 10/12/2017 10:12 AM SLL
REMARKS (cont’d):
as well as composing poems to commemorate events such as the anniversary of the Library,
dedicating the Town Holiday Tree, and kicking off the start of Summer Reading at the Library.
On September 13, 2017 the Library Board, as the Commission that works closest with the Poet
Laureate, reviewed the contributions Mr. Garber had made during his appointment and
recommended that Council extend the appointment of the Poet Laureate for one more year to
comprise a full three-year term conforming with the Town’s practice for previous Poet
Laureates. The Library Board also recommended that a general policy for future Poet Laureate
selection, appointment, expectations, and set length of term be written for review by the
Council Policy Committee.
If extended, Mr. Garber’s appointment as Poet Laureate would end on December 31 st, 2018. If
not extended, Mr. Garber’s appointment would end on December 31st, 2017 and the process
would begin for the selection of a new Poet Laureate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.