HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 28
1
Town of Los Altos Hills
Community Relations Committee
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Parks and Recreation Building
1. Roll Call; Committee Membership
The meeting was called to order at 6:59 PM by chairman Roy Woolsey. Present: Members, Lana
Einschlag, Karen Emerzian, Nena Price, Roy Woolsey, Roger Burnell (arrived at 8 PM). Associate members,
Ken Brown, Medha Rishi.
2. Introduction of Members of the Public; Public Comment.
Kjell Karlsson, who commented on some agenda items.
3. Review and Approval of Prior Committee Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the last meeting were approved as distributed in draft form.
4. Review of Prior City Council Meetings. No report.
5. Followup to Review of Committee Charges and Duties
The Committee discussed other events it might organize besides the Town Picnic. The consensus of the
Committee, after some discussion, was that the Committee should consider holding new resident receptions
every other year. Since one was held in March of last year, the next one should be held next year. The
Committee briefly discussed other events, and could organize another event, such as a corporate tour, tour of
Stanford University or tour of the nearest Amazon fulfillment center, if some member of the Committee offered
to be event chair and take the lead in organizing that event.
6. Possibility of Organizing TEDx Program in Town
Medha Rishi led a discussion of TEDx programs, continuing the discussion from the last Committee
meeting. Medha noted that most other cities or towns in the area have already organized TEDx programs, and
she passed out information on several from neighboring towns. She distributed a one-page project plan,
containing a suggested timeline, proposing key milestones, tasks and resources needed to hold such an event.
The Committee held a brainstorming session and suggested quite a few possible topics for a Los Altos Hills
TEDx session that might be held some afternoon in early November of this year. The consensus of the
Committee was to organize a Los Altos Hills TEDx program.
After some discussion, it was moved, seconded and passed unanimously that the Committee appoints
Medha as event chair, with the near-term tasks of: (1) immediately discussing the proposal with Mayor
Michelle Wu and encouraging the Mayor to place this item on the agenda for the February Council meeting and
to discuss the proposal in the Council’s meeting to set goals for the year, and (2) to prepare a presentation to
give to the Council at its February meeting to obtain Council’s approval of the proposal.
7. Report on Recent Town Activities. No report.
2
8. Recognition for Youth Commission
Roy Woolsey outlined five suggestions from Sarah Robustelli for recognition for the Youth Commission.
Roy noted that Roger had volunteered to prepare the nomination paper work for the Joint Volunteer Awards
Committee to nominate the Youth Commission. Several letters of recommendation would be required for the
nomination to be successful, and those letters can be obtained in the fall from Committee members and others
in Town. The consensus of the Committee was to proceed with this method of Youth Commission recognition.
9. Welcoming of New Residents to Town
Roy Woolsey reported that there were just four new residents to Town in the month of December, and he
would combine those with new residents for January and submit mailing labels for both months to Town Hall
in early February.
10. Los Altos Hills Town Picnic
Roy Woolsey distributed a draft of a report on last June’s Town Picnic, noting that Sarah Robustelli just
provided reservation numbers to fill in the 2019 row in the table on page 7. Roy made a couple very minor
editorial changes. It was moved, seconded and passed unanimously to approve the report with the changes Roy
noted.
Roy distributed a four-page spreadsheet with Town Picnic feedback and comments from seventy-seven
Town Residents. The feedback provided a wonderful collection of comments on the Town Picnic. It was
noted that there were many comments that the band was too loud, that lots of residents would like the return of
the pig races and/or magician, that there were not enough attractions for older kids, and that more seating
should be provided. It was moved, seconded and passed unanimously to seek feedback from the Youth
Commission on preferred attractions for their age group, to seek a band without so much amplification, and to
ask Sarah Robustelli and Roger Burnell to check availability and prices on the pig races and several possible
candidate magicians, and report back at the next meeting, at which time a final decision on Picnic entertainment
should be made.
Roy discussed his conversation with Tony Bowden of the Santa Clara County Fire Department regarding
the possibility of the Firefighters Union doing a barbecue for the Town Picnic, as the Firefighters did for many
years. Roy noted to Tony that many attendees at last year’s picnic spoke highly of the firefighters barbecue and
how much they missed it in recent years. Per Tony’ suggestion, Roy sent Tony an e-mail for Tony to forward
to the current president of the Firefighters Union. Ken Brown knows Tony, and offered to follow-up on Roy’s
e-mail to see if the firefighters would be interested in doing a barbecue, rather than us using a concessionaire.
Regarding Picnic subcommittee chairs, Ken Brown is a candidate to handle beverages and music that used
to be handled by Ron Knapp, and Nena with check with Barbara Connon regarding handling ice cream.
11. Discussion of Garbage Contract
There was brief discussion of the garbage contract, including additional cost and problems with having to
wheel carts with compostables long distances for collection. It was noted that the Town might be in a better
position to revisit the garbage contract next year.
12. Additional Items or Contributions from Committee Members. None.
13. Date for Next Meeting and Adjournment
The next Committee meeting will be held on the usual fourth Tuesday of the month in February, which is
February 25, 2020, at 7 PM in the Parks and Recreation building.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 PM.
Minutes prepared by Roy Woolsey, January 29, 2020