HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 9TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS
Community Relations Committee
Tuesday, September 9, 2014, 7:30PM
Chair Roger Burnell called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. on Tuesday September 9, 2014.
Members present were Roger Burnell, Barbara Cannon, Karen Emerzian, Ron Knapp, Nena Price
and Barbara Waldeck. Council Liaison Courtenay Corrigan arrived later.
Introduction of Members of the Public
Kjell Kaarlson and Michael Schoerndorf attended the meeting. Michael will apply to become a
member of the committee at the October Council meeting.
Review of Committee Minutes of April 8 and May 20 meetings:
The minutes of the April 8, 2014, 2014 were approved unanimously on a motion by Barbara
Cannon and seconded by Karen Emerzian. The minutes of the May 20, 2014 were approved
unanimously on a motion by Barbara Cannon and seconded by Barbara Waldeck.
Review of Prior City Council Meetings:
A report to the Council of the Committee’s activities was discussed. Barbara Waldeck said that
the CRC report is usually made in October but that one wasn’t made in 2013. Roger Burnell will
try to schedule one for the October meeting of the Council.
Review of 2014 Picnic
What worked: Ron Knapp reported that the music was a little more expensive but it was worth it.
There were no complaints. He bought the soda on sale and saved $800 on the beer. Total cost of
beverages of $1468 was less than the cost of the ice cream. Karen Emerzian said that people
seemed calmer. Registration went well. There were 1883 residents at the picnic. One man was
upset that there was only dark chicken meat. Kjell Kaarlson commented on Rich Larson’s “baby
kissing” in the food lines. He thought that having a Council member greet picnickers effusively
was a nice touch. Barbara Cannon and Nena Price both thought everything worked well and that
there were enough volunteers. Barbara Waldeck said that many people have told her it was “the
best picnic ever”. Roger Burnell said the car show was great, the train route and the preparation
of the route worked well. The layout worked and he has made notes to replicate it next year. He
thought the dunk tank was very popular among the people who used it. Since it doesn’t cost us
anything we should have it again next year.
What needs improvement: Michael Schoerndorf brought up the perennial question of extended
families attending the picnic. He checked in one family who registered ten people. Ron Knapp
thought we need more seating. He suggested long narrow tables instead of the round ones and
perhaps some tables by the fence where there is shade. Karen Emerzian mentioned that the
common perception is that the picnic is “just for kids”. Perhaps we could redo the publicity for
2015 to stress that the picnic has plenty of entertainment for every age. Courtenay Corrigan said
she needed more space for serving sangria and that signs were needed at the drinks tent indicating
where the soda, beer and wine are located. Barbara Waldeck said that many people were getting
both chicken and hot dogs. She thinks that the Maverick’s servers need to be told that it is one or
the other. The picnic tables need to be bussed to keep things looking neater. Roger Burnell noted
that the food lines were too long partly because people didn’t realize that there were three serving
lines. He said ribbons strung up to indicate three different lines would help. The music
distribution system was discussed. There is a substantial drop off in the sound level as you move
away from the band. The Committee should have a new sign made for the Gunn High School
Robotics team and store it with our picnic supplies to keep it from getting lost.
Suggestions: Get a high school marching band. More community participation perhaps a talent
show. Bring back the dunk booth. Erect a tent for the petting zoo. Ron Knapp asked if we should
to consider changing the venue since the field is full. He questioned what percent of town
residents have never been to picnic. One way to reach out would be to put some publicity on
Next Door.
Completion of any Old Business:
Roger Burnell is working on resurrecting the tour of Stanford’s new buildings. Other tour
suggestions: a tour of the Packard building in Los Altos and a tour of the Tesla plant in Fremont.
As always, we need to recruit more members and need to be more diverse.
The next meetings are on October 14th and November 11th. Barbara Waldeck said it is important
to have a January meeting to reappoint associate members of the Committee. This was never
done last year.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Waldeck, Secretary