april 2007 Meeting Summaries
City Selection Committee:
- Appointed Jack Morton, Palo Alto, and Barbara Spector, Los Gatos, to the Airport Land Use Commission. Both terms expire on May 1, 2008.
Board of directors:
- Received a presentation from Connie Martinez and Doug Henton who represent 1st Act Silicon Valley – Arts/Creativity/Technology. 1st Act’s mission is: “inspiring leadership, participation and investment at the intersection of art and technology.” The outcome is a sense of place, cultural vibrancy, community pride, closer ties to community, and creative ideas and people. The goal is making Silicon Valley a Cool Place to Live for Everyone. The challenge is how do we create a sense of place and strengthen the community ties of one of the nation’s most diverse regions while sharpening the competitive edge of one of the most innovative economies in the world? Discussion ensued with suggestions such as making a cultural asset map of the region. The Board expressed an interest in having 1st Act return to the Cities Association and involve more people in the regional conversation. The September 20 Board Meeting was determined as a good time to have a General Membership Meeting of the Cities Association and invite City Managers and City Planners to the meeting.
- Dean Chu, the Cities Association’s Representative to MTC, gave a quarterly report that included: the recent infrastructure bonds projects approved in Santa Clara County for highway improvements; potential projects in Santa Clara County for transit projects (Rapid Bus Transit on Stevens Creek Boulevard); the closure of the Bay Bridge over the Labor Day weekend in order to make improvements on the Bridge; and the High Speed Rail Decision as to the route for High Speed Rail to enter the Bay Area. The Cities Association took a position in 2004 to support the Pacheco Pass alignment over the Altamont Pass alignment. Dean will ask the Board at the May 10 Board Meeting to reaffirm the Pacheco Pass alignment.
- The Board approved the Draft 2007-08 Budget and the provision of no dues increase for 2007-08.
- Jennifer Sparacino, Santa Clara City Manager, thanked the Board for the March General Membership Meeting.
- David Casas announced and urged attendance at the Santa Clara University’s Markkula Center for Applied Ethics “Ethics and Leadership Camp for Public Officials”, June 27-28. The City of Los Altos passed a resolution regarding Ethics Training for city staff and will be happy to forward the resolution to interested parties.
- Pat Mahan announced that the City of Santa Clara has taken an Oppose Position on Senate Bill 49 (Migden) – Local Governmental Financial Assistance for Sports Franchises.
- Dan Furtado, Campbell Mayor, expressed the thanks to the Board for the Board’s recognition of her retirement.
- City Reports: At each Board Meeting, members are encouraged to share information about upcoming events, recent milestones, best practices, etc. with other Board members. Members reporting: Dan Furtado, Campbell, - the Great Race between Saratoga and Los Gatos is Sunday, May 15 at 9 am; Dan Furtado - ABAG is holding its Annual Meeting which will be “Focusing our Vision” at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco on April 19 and the CITIPAC Bocce Ball Tournament is on April 26 at Campo di Bocce in Los Gatos; Kathleen King, Saratoga, asked for information on how cities are reducing the amount of paper copied and distributed - she has also urged VTA to go “paperless”; Dave Baxter, Monte Sereno, announced that Monte Sereno is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a picnic on May 12 and everyone is invited; Laura Macias, Mountain View, announced the dedication of its new parking garage on May 2 and invited everyone to the dedication; and Dean Chu, Sunnyvale, stated that the Sunnyvale Citizen’s Advisory Committee had looked at revising the City Charter. The committee made no recommendation on council terms but did recommend a “no” on a directly elected mayor and suggested the mayor be elected by the council for a two-year term.