HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 13 1
Town of Los Altos Hills
Community Relations Committee
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Council Chambers
1. Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM by Chairman, Roy Woolsey. Present: Chairman,
Roy Woolsey. Members, Ron Knapp, Patty Woolsey, Karen Emerzian, Barbara Waldeck, Roger Burnell,
Colette Cranston. Associate Members, John Swan, Linda Seidel. Youth Commissioner, Rachel Kellman.
Associate Youth Commissioner, Ting Ting Liu.
2. Review of Prior Regular and Special Committee Meeting Minutes
The minutes of the last regular Committee meeting were approved as distributed. The minutes of
the special meeting at the Los Altos Country Club were also approved as distributed.
3. Welcoming of Town Newcomers
Patty Woolsey reported that since the last Committee meeting one sheet of mailing labels, with a
total of 20 newcomer names, were delivered to Town Hall for mailing of the newcomer letter.
4. Report on Westwind Barn Lighting Event
Barbara Waldeck baked 220 delicious cookies, and she and Barbara Mordo and Linda Seidel
served them and delicious spicy hot cider at a table at the December 4th Westwind Barn lighting event.
5. Recommendations for Town Charitable Donations
Ron Knapp led a discussion of Town charitable donations. He reviewed his draft
recommendation, suggesting that the Town should not make charitable donations, but that individuals
could make donations to charities of their choice and the Committee could consider leading fundraising
events. After considerable discussion, it was agreed that the draft recommendation should be shortened to
reflect that Town charitable donations should generally not be made, and that each donation should be
specifically discussed and approved by the Council each year before a donation is made. Ron will revise
the draft proposal with the Committee discussion in mind.
6. Report on Non-Resident Volunteer Appointment Situation
Roy Woolsey distributed copies of the memo to Council on the appointment situation. The
Committee reaffirmed its support of the position stated in the memo, that members of standing
committees should be residents of the Town, and that the appointment of a non-resident should be
rescinded. Patty Woolsey reported on her drive-by of the address in the application, that the property did
not appear to be currently occupied. Roy noted that the matter of the appointment of a non-resident to the
Pathways Committee will be considered at the December 15 Council meeting. The Committee asked Roy
to represent the Committee in the meeting.
7. Los Altos Hills Town Newsletter
The Committee briefly reviewed the December Town Newsletter and agreed that Duffy Price did
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a super job with the Newsletter. Roy Woolsey noted the misspelling of “celebration” on the last line of
the first page article, an error apparently inserted during the editing process, and it was agreed that
associate editors should carefully review the final PDF file before publication.
8. Discussion of Town Hall Mixers
John Swan led a discussion of his proposal for periodic social gatherings that would also serve as
venues for friendly discussions of an “issue of the day” in Town. Some of these gatherings would be held
in private residences, but when a topic is being discussed which might draw a large crowd, it would be
good to hold the event at Town Hall. John would also like the Town Newsletter to announce these
events. The Committee agreed with John’s proposal. John will prepare a recommendation for submission
to Council that will be considered by the Committee in its next meeting.
9. Planning for Fiftieth Anniversary Dinner Event
Roger Burnell led a discussion of planning for the anniversary dinner event. He reviewed the
status of arrangements with the Club, entertainers (harpist and jazz duo), and for the music booth and
décor. Rick Herns will work on our party in January, and will arrange for a professional MC. Roger will
coordinate with Rachel Kellman and Ting Ting Liu regarding youth assistance at the event.
Roger will obtain more detailed information from the Club regarding the menu, and e-mail that
information to Committee members. Roger will also obtain information on table layouts that maximize
the number of attendees, and present this information to the Committee at its next meeting.
Roger has some pricing information on party favor items, and Roger will investigate alternatives
for favors with Barbara Waldeck. Linda Seidel volunteered to work on flowers for the event. Roger will
work with Duffy Price on printed programs for attendees. Roger/Roy Woolsey will see if Collete
Cranston and Duffy Price can solicit donations from the community for flowers, colored linens and wine.
Roy circulated a final proof of the invitation, which was approved by the Committee without
change. The Committee agreed that out-of-town attendees would be put on a waiting list and notified
sometime between January 15 and January 20 as to whether or not they could attend; out of town
attendees would not be subsidized by the Town and therefore would be charged the full price of $125 per
person. Roger will so advise representatives of the Los Altos Community Foundation and Town Crier.
The Committee agreed that elected officials, including our supervisor, assemblyman, state senator, and
representative in Congress, would be invited, and would pay $95 per person. Ron Knapp’s draft of a
letter to former Mayors was reviewed and edited; Roy will see that it is presented to Council.
The Committee agreed to complete event planning both in the next Committee meeting and in a
special working group subcommittee meeting chaired by Roger Burnell at 7:30 PM on January 10.
10. Additional Items or Contributions from Committee Members
With the anniversary party planning requiring the Committee’s attention in January, it was agreed
that other items would be deferred from the January to the February Committee meeting where possible.
11. Date for Next Meeting and Adjournment
The next regular Committee meeting will be held at 7:30 PM on January 17, with a special
working group subcommittee meeting at 7:30 PM on January 10 at Town Hall. The meeting was
adjourned at 9:30 PM.
Minutes prepared by Roy Woolsey, December 29, 2005