HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/06/1999 (2) Minutes of an Adjourned Regular Meeting
January 6, 1999
Town of Los Altos Hills
City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting
Wednesday, January 6, 1999, 5:00 P.M.
Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Johnson called the Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at
5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall.
Present: Mayor Johnson and Councilmembers Casey,Dauber,
Finn and Siegel
Staff: City Manager/City Engineer Jeff Peterson and City Clerk
Pat Dowd
Press: None
Community Roy Woolsey, Chairman,Roger Burnell, Barbara Lamparter,
Relations Ingrid Jackson MacDonald, Dorothy Price and Patty Woolsey
Committee:
• 2. COMMUNITY RELATIONS.COMMITTEE:
A. 1998 Accomplishments
Chairman Woolsey presented an overview of the committee's accomplishments for 1998. These
included: the quarterly distribution of the Town's newsletter; the establishment of the Greeter at
Council Meetings; the establishment of the Town's webpage;the successful Town Picnic;
production of a preliminary draft of a Town questionnaire; continuation of the Newcomer
Project; and disposition of the Town Float. Chairman Woolsey thanked Roger Burnell for all of
his past work on the Town Newsletter and welcomed Dorothy Price as the new editor of the
newsletter and also thanked her for her work on the recent newsletters and the successful
production schedule.
B. Goals and Objectives for 1999
Chairman Woolsey asked for Council direction on several 1999 projects. Specifically,he
addressed the newsletter,the greeter project,the annual Town Event,the Town Questionnaire,
the update of the Town Manual,the webpage,the Youth Commissioner and joint social events
with other communities.
Concerning the Town Newsletter, Council thanked the committee for timely and well-done
newsletters and agreed that they should be put on the webpage. Council also concurred that it
was quite helpful to have a Town Greeter at the meetings and agreed that this effort should
January 6, 1999
Adjourned City Council Meeting
1
continue at the discretion of the committee. It was noted that the Town Manual which was a
handy reference of important phone numbers and was an enclosure with the Town Handbook had
not been updated since the original printing of the handbook several years ago. Council had
before them an updated version which had been compiled by the Community Relations
Committee and the City Clerk. Council agreed that this manual should be updated every two
years and could also be included on the webpage. Concerning the webpage,the Mayor reported
that a subcommittee was working on the webpage and that as soon as staff training was
completed this month the webpage would be updated from Town Hall. It was agreed that the
Community Relations Committee would review the webpage on an annual basis and report any
comments,recommendations, etc. to the Council. With regard to the position of Youth
Commissioner, it was agreed that the charges for this position had always been a little vague. It
was agreed that the committee would review the purpose of having a Youth Commissioner and
would report back to the Council. It was noted that Los Altos had a Youth Commissioner and
perhaps the Town could combine the position with theirs. Duffy Price mentioned the Milennium
Event being planned in Los Altos and asked if the Town would be getting involved and whether
or not it should be a committee task. It was noted that the Executive Director had made
presentations at the Council concerning the event but at this time it was a little premature to
know what, if any, involvement the Town would have in the Milennium Project. Roger Burnell
commented on joint social events with other communities such as a joint bike ride with Los
Altos, Mountain View, Palo Alto. It was agreed to discuss this further at a future time when
more details of such events were available.
Chairman Woolsey noted that Council had received a draft of a Town Questionnaire which had
been prepared by the committee. This was a project the committee had been working on and
which they had brought before the Council for discussion several months ago. At that time
several recommended changes were made and the format was discussed. Also raised however
were concerns about how this questionnaire would be used and• what_its benefits, if any,would be. At this time the committee needed direction from the Council as to whether they should
finalize this questionnaire and put it into use or table the project. Casey supported having a
questionnaire but believed such a questionnaire should be tested and should have professional
input. Dauber noted that the way the questionnaire was worded it could involve personnel issues
and she did not think it was appropriate for the committee to review such responses.
PASSED BY CONSENSUS: It was agreed that the Council would accept the draft questionnaire
with appreciation to the committee for the work they did on it and would direct the City Manager
to research what other cities have in the way of questionnaires and to report back to Council with
a recommendation for implementation of a Town Questionnaire.
Chairman Woolsey addressed the issue of the Town-wide event scheduled for the spring and
asked for Council's guidance. He noted that the committee was suggesting a picnic on May 23rd
to be held at the Little League Fields (field number 2). There would be entertainment and a
chicken dinner which would be cooked by the Fire Department and provided by them at cost.
The committee also suggested a `celebrate your city' theme which might include a tour of the
Town Barn and access to certain Town information on computers set up at the barn. The
committee at this time was asking Council if they agreed with this type of event, if the Town
should pay for the cost of the dinner or charge residents, if reservations should be required, if
invitations should be sent to all residents, etc.
Council agreed with the plans for a Town-wide picnic on May 23rd at the Little League Fields.
Council also agreed that invitations should be mailed to each resident with the details for the
event. This invitation would include a reservation form so an approximate number could be
arrived at for the event planning but there would be no charge to the residents for the event.
January 6, 1999
Adjourned City Council Meeting
2
Flyers would also be included with the Town Newsletter and the welcome letter sent to
newcomers would include a reference to the Town Picnic. Dauber commented that the local
schools might be contacted for the availability of bands and Casey commented that some type of
cover would be needed to protect attendees from the sun. It was agreed that the `celebrate your
city' theme could be followed with an open house at the barn and computers set up. Council also
noted that since the firemen were going to be there and they were paramedics perhaps there could
be set ups for blood pressure testings, etc.
MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Casey, seconded by Finn and passed
unanimously to authorize a$4,000 budget for the Spring Picnic in May, 1999.
C. Discussion of specific items brought up by committee and Council
Members or introduced in the goals and objectives
Council thanked the Community Relations Committee for their many contributions to the
community including their successful accomplishments for 1998 and their enthusiastic plans for
the new year.
3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Sandra Humphries, 26238 Fremont Road, suggested that the list of Neighborhood Coordinators
also be included on the Town's webpage.
4. ADJOURNMENT
• There being no further new or old business to discuss,the City Council Meeting was
adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia Dowd
City Clerk
The minutes of the January 6, 1999 Adjourned Regular City Council Meeting were
approved at the January 20, 1999 City Council Meeting.
January 6, 1999
Adjourned City Council Meeting
3