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2000-029-Approving The Strategic Plan, July 1, 2000-June 30, 2005RESOLUTION 2000 - 29. RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF .LOS GATOS APPROVING THE STRATEGIC PLAN, JULY 1, 2000 -June 30, 2005 WHEREAS, developing a strategic plan is the essential first step in budgeting; and WHEREAS, goals should be identified so that resources can be allocated to accomplish them; RESOLVED, that the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, county of Santa Clara, State of California, hereby approves the Town of Los Gatos Strategic Plan, July 1, 2000 -June 30, 200:5. PASSED AND .ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, California, held on the :3rd day of April, 2000 by the following vote: COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES: Randy Attaway, Jan Hutchins, Linda Lubeck, Joe Przynslci, Mayor Steven Blanton NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN.: None SIG1vTED; MAYOl~OF THE TOWN O1~ LOS GATOS LOS GATOS,, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: CLERK OF T1=IE T OVv'N OF S GA LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ~. Apri13, ~ J "Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. " TOWN OF LOS GATOS STRATEGIC PLAN JULY 1, 20D0 -JUNE 30, 2005 MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the quality of life in Los-Gatos by providing the highest quality leadership and most efficient services and facilities. To provide a working environment which promotes excellence,. fosters cooperation and meets the needs of the community,. council, employees, board and .commission members, and volunteers. I. Introduction. A. Plan Purpose ^ To :meet the Town's needs over the next five years ^ To form the basis for evaluating success ^ To facilitate decision making ^ To :improve communication B. Strategic Planning Defined Strategic planning. is a systematic way to manage change which emphasizes consensus building while considering the environment, available resources,- and possible .futures. Based upon this information, action plansomcritical issues are implemented, monitored, andadjusted as the situation changes. Strategic Planning: ^ concentrates on implementation; ^ focuses on selected issues; ^ explicitly considers resources available, both inside and outside the organization; ^ assesses strengths, weaknesses, and the competitive position. of the .community; ^ emphasizes results; ~ . ^ produces a .coordinated .effort; ^ sets realistic .objectives and .allocates resources to achieve them; and ^ sometimes quantitative, but also stresses the importance of judgment, intuition, and creativity.. Strategic planning is not a panacea. It is not intended to: ^ replace other types of planning; ^ analyze the root causes of major problems; or ^ be a "one-time" effort; it is an evolving, ongoing plan of action. ATTACffiViI;NT 2 C. Process for Plan I~lopment The Management Tearn, composed of supervisors and department heads,,. drafted.. revisions to long and short-term objectives in December 1999. Town Boards; Commissions and Committees provided input and the Council discussed the plan during its goals workshop in January 2000.. II. Situational. Analysis A. History The name Los Gatos comes from "El Rancho Rinconada de Los Gatos," a ranch established in 1839 by a Mexican land grant and' so named because of the large number of mountain lions in the area. In 1854, James Alexander Forbes purchased' some of this land and built a flour mill.. In 1860,. the first hotel' was opened'to provide a stage stop on the toll road which had been built between San Jose and. Santa Cruz.. Wheat production gave way to orchards;. and rapid .growth ensued when the railroad reached Los Gatos in 1878. The residential subdivisions. of Broadway, Bayview, Fairview, and Almond Grove were built in the 1880s. By 1887, the population had grown to 1,500 and Los Gatans voted to incorporate. Fruit industries faded' slowly during the Depression and. World War II, and the postwar period brought an influx of people producing. residential and commercial. development: Highway 17 was constructed through the center of Town in 1957,. and Route 85 was completed in 1994 at the northern edge of Town. Nonetheless; growth leveled off in the early '70s; leaving Los Gatos with its small-town atmosphere and' pedestrian-oriented downtown. The slow growth of the Town over an extended number of years has 1'eft the Town with a heritage of older,. established residential areas and a downtown withmany historic buildings represenbingthe various eras in the Town's history. Protection of these historic resources which are a major part of the Town's. character is an important community goal. B. Community Values ^ Small Town Character (complete community, human. scale) Because of its distance from other centers of population, Los Gatos developed as a cornplete community including residential, business and industrial elements. Preserving, Los Gatos as a complete and well balanced community has been .and remains. a prominent goal for the community. From the first l00 acre townsite and an 1890populationof 1,652, Los Gatos grew slowly so that by 1963' the area was. 6.3' square miles,: with a population of 11,750.. In 1980,. the area was 10 square miles and' the population had increased to 26,600. The 1990 Census population was 27,445.. Today Los Gatos covers approximately 14 square miles and has a population of 3.0,200 (1998 estimate). This relatively slow growth over the first 80 years resulted in a human scale community with narrow streets,and small buildings. Los.Gatos'boundariesencompass. awide variety. often-ain,.ranging from, level land to steep and densely wooded hillsides. The sharp visual contrasts among these features and charming. architecture create the. picturesque setting. In the midst of an increasingly uniform. urban complex, this setting has attracted people with a preference for the Town's distinctive, high quality natural and urban environment. ^ Historic Preservation The slow growth of the Town over an extended number of years has left the Town with a 2 heritage of older, ~ ablished residential areas and a downtow~ ith many historic buildings representing the various eras in the Town's history. Protection of these historic resources which area major:part ofthe Town's character is an important community .goal. Two museums, Tait Avenue and Forbes Mill, help preserve the Town's valued history. ^ Education The Town is rich in educational and cultural resources. Los Gatos .High School is .housed in beautiful older buildings with expansive grounds sweeping down to Main Street. Fisher Middle School, Blossom Hill, Van Meter, and Alta Vista elementary schools are located in Town. Leigh and Westmont High .Schools, Rolling Hills, Daves Avenue, Carlton, and Noddin Elementary Schools, and UnionMiddle Sehool also serve Los Gatosresidents. All these schools have been recognized for the high. achievement of their students. In addition, there are numerous high quality private schools, which ;provide excellent educational opportunities. Local commitment to quality education is so high that in 1990, 1994, and again in 1998, voters passeda parcel tax to enhance the educational programs. Inall, seven chool districts serve Los Gatos children. West Valley Community College and San Jose State University are located in neighboring communities. The Los Gatos Public Library provides materials to help students with their academic programs and to support continuing education for all residents.. ^ Openness and Accessibility of Local Government The small-town character of the :community is :reflected in the Town government's responsiveness to local .citizens. The Town's various citizen boards, commissions and committees.provide input on issues ranging from developmentto the arts. Community input is built into decision-making through informalneghborhood meetings, formal public hearings, and through the Internet on the Town's government Website and a-mail. By making personal ~~ contact with Council Members and Town staff, or by attending a Council meeting, residents can directly influence Town policies. ^ :Preserve Neighborhoods Los Gatos has been identified as one of the world's most desirable places to ;live. Clear standards for historic dwellings, compatible in-fill .construction and new construction appropriate to the community needs assure the continued livability of LosGatos neighborhoods. The Town also works to protect the view of the mountain backdrop and to maintain existing housing stock by providing :loans .and :grants to income .eligible households. ^ Public Safety Feeling secure is a major part of any community's quality of life. The Town of Los Gatos .has one of the lowest crime rates in the .Bay Area. The Town government works with .citizens to preserve life, mantanhumanrights,protectproperty,andpromote individual.responsibility and community commitment. The community values law enforcement service which emphasizes problem solving, personal service, and a strong.Police/communitypartnership exemplified by over 1.50 volunteers working side-by-side with the officers. ^ Urban Forest Los Gatos' trees contribute to the beautiful, natural setting of our community. Our trees make the area more attractive, soften :impervious surface and buildings, provide shade in summer and remove carbon dioxide .from the .air. Our residents enjoy .and .nurture our -urban forest, The . Town. has red the Tree City, USA award every year e 1980. ^ Environmental. Quality In response to the community's desire for a clean environment, the Town participates in or administers a number of programs and plans which strive to improve the overall environmental quality of the Town. Lose. Gatos is a member of the Santa Clara County Congestion Management Agency (CMA). The CIv1A is designed to meet the goals of increasing the efficiency of existing transit and roadway systems, planning the best capital improvements to these systems,. and improving the. local land'-use decision-making- process.... The CMA prepares the biennial Congestion. ManagementProgram (CMP), a comprehensive county-wide, program designed toxeduce traff-ic congestion, to enhance-the effectivenessofland-use decision-making and to improve air quality. The Town's General. Plan.- Transportation Element. addresses various. aspects of transportation. including the hierarchy ofhighways,.-roadway capacity, hillside circulation,. cut-through traffic and' public transit. This element also addresses a convenient trails and bikeways-system that is safe and accessible to promote alternative modes of transportation. such as walking and bicycling. The General Plan includes an element to "reduce regionally generated cross-town commute and short-cut traffic" and. to "inhibit the flow of through traffic in established neighborhoods to the extent feasible without impacting the freedom. of movement of residents." The .goal of this element is to provide an integrated' transportation system to meet Los Gatos'' needs while retaining the Town's- character. In addition, the. Town provides a number of environmental programs including:- commercial paper and cardboard. recycling,. household' hazardous. waste collection, non=point source water pollution prevention, Title 24 Energy Conservation Methods,, alternative fuel vehicles and fueling facility to improve air quality, and comprehensive residential curbside recycling,. including: yard waste collection-which is composted. ^ Economic Health The community takes pride in the fact that Los Gatos is a largely self-sufficient community. Accordingly, its economy should' provide a full range of goods and services for its citizens. The community recognizes the: importance of maintaining the strength. and quality of our local economy. It is apparent that all segments of the community must work together to support and manage. our economy. The. Town. has many diverse business activities located in the historic downtown and throughout the community. The quality of the economy affects the Town's ability to deliver services and the value of residential property. ^ Tradition The Town cherishes its history and traditions. through many special events: the lighting of the Christmas tree at Town Plaza, the annual. holiday parade and Cotillion, Music in the Plaza, arts and crafts fairs, and other events. The: Town- also supports historical resources such as: The Billy Jones Railroad and carousel at Oak Meadow park; the many parks; and our public library, a service provided residents for over one hundred years.. 4 ^ Parks ~ ~~ Los Gatans prize the natural beauty of the area .and the .leisure and recreation opportunities their parks and trails provide. 'The Town park system provides a mixture of neighborhood parks, ;play lots, .regional park sites and open space .areas including the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Park facilities provide areas for hiking, bicycling, walking,. tennis, field:activities, and family picnic areas. Mostparks have playground facilities for children. ^ Open Space Los Gatos is dedicated to preserving,:maintaining, and enhancing its open space. Open space :provides protection for areas of particular scenic beauty and enhances the survival prospects for endangered plant and animal species. ^ Recreation Los Gatans value health and vigorously participate in recreation programs which are made possible through a recreation district in cooperation with local school districts. ^' Community Services A wide variety of community services are provided and these services are important in defining the :community. Service groups, non-profits and the Town actively support a nunnber of cultural, recreational, and human service activities providing a public library, public :art, housing assistance and rehabilitation, .rent mediation, museums, nutrition, :health, senior citizen and youth programs. ^ Volunteers Town volunteers continue to bean integral part of our success. We currently have about 700 volunteers, who contribute over one million dollars' worth o~ labor annually. Volunteers are essential in maintaining our park trails, installing Council Chamber art exhibits, coordinating Town sponsored events, painting murals, facilitating senior activities, furnishing information and referral services, and providing police and many other. support services.. The volunteer program is not only a budgetary savings to the Town, government and Town residents, but it also promotes a spirit of cooperation and trust between the municipality .and the community. C. Environmental Scan Located in Silicon Valley, the Town'sprosperity independent on the economic and social health of the region including its 7,000 technology based companies. Silicon Valley extends across 30 cities including San Jose, the third largest city in California, and parts of Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda-and Santa Cruz Counties. According to Joint Venture: Silicon Valley, this economic region includes more than 1.2 million jobs and 2.3 million residents. Education, health care, affordable'housing, public transportation, traffic and volunteerism are some of the essential community elements which .are monitored to assure the region's continued success. 5 Like the rest ilicon Valley, epicenter of the technolo~wolution, the Town is currently experiencing a favorable economy. Employment. in the valley is rising twice as fast. as the local labor force.. This phenomenon, however,. has created clogged. freeways, and parking shortages, lack of affordable housing,. pressure for land. development, and, competition for hiring qualified employees.. The challenge for the Town is to take advantage of this economic boom while it lasts, while maintaining a high. quality of life and' preserving the Town's unique character. III. Vision Statement The Vision Statement describes the community achieving its full potential, and' drives the Strategic Plan. The Vision articulates the future for Los Gatos and refYects the high ideals identified by the community: Residents are united in their desire to maintain a high quality of life and preserve the. character of the Town. The overall community consensus is that Los Gatos be afull-service community that is also environmentally sensitive; that Los Gatos maintains a balanced,. well-designed mix of residential, commercial, service and open space uses, fostering apedestrian-oriented communitywith asmall town, village-like character; that Los Gatos supports an active business community that provides a.wide variety ofgoads and services and a broad rangeof employment opportunities, eliminating the need to travel to othersommunities; and that Los Gatos provides a well-run, efficient municipal government that is fiscally healthy, with: high levels of public safety, recreational;. art and cultural amenities and is committed'to high quality education. 6 STRATEG~ PRIORITIES FOR TIIE NEXT FI~, YEARS July 1, .2000 -June 30, -2005 Strategic Priorities identify those issues which are important :for the community to address over the next. five years in order to achieve the Vision Statement. 'There is ;no order of importance to the community, rather these Priorities are of equal importance and .interrelated: ' • Priority: Appearance, Character and Quality of the Community • I'riority.• Responsive, Accountable and-Cost Effective Government • Priority: Fiscal Stability • .Priority: Infrastructure • Priority: .Transportation, Traffic, and Parking • Priority:. Personal Growth and Enrichment of the Individual Goals state what the community wishes to .accomplish or become over the next five years, in relation to a specific Strategic Priority. Goals provide the basis for decisions about the nature, scope, and priority of the projects and activities to be taken to achieve the Vision. Implementation Strategies delineate the specific actions to be taken by the .government ofLos Gatos to achieve the Vision .and Goals of the Strategic Plan. !Many of these .actions are ongoing activities to be accomplished each year, This is not, .however, an exhaustive list, but one which includes those implementation strategies where a special effort will be made.