Candidate for
Council Member; Town of Los Gatos

A conversation with Diane

Why do you want to be re-elected to the Town Council?

I have always devoted time to public service. It has delighted me to take a lead role in programs that have added to the quality of life in our community like the Los Gatos July 4th celebration, the Leadership Los Gatos program, and Screen on the Green.

But as much as I enjoyed these activities, serving on the Los Gatos Town Council since 2002 has taken my commitment to this community to a different level of intensity. I believe that my service on the Town Council is how I can now contribute the most to this Town.

I know this community. I have an appreciation for what makes it an extraordinary place. I understand the complexity and nuances of the issues that come before the Town Council. Serving on the Town Council is not an easy job, but it is one that is meaningful and touches the lives of every person who lives, works, or visits Los Gatos.

A statistically-valid survey of residents found extremely high levels of satisfaction with the services the Town of Los Gatos provides to its citizens. When so many say they are happy with the way things are going in this community, then we know we are doing a whole lot right.

What are the proudest achievements of your time on Town Council?

As I look back at the last four years, there are many accomplishments to point to. At the top of the list is the Town's solid financial situation. During a very tough economy, when most cities were draining reserves and cutting back services, we were able to have a balanced budget, maintain the delivery of quality services to our residents and business and build reserves! This required hard work by our exemplary staff and leadership by the Town Council.

Another significant achievement was the completion of both the Hillside Design Guidelines and the Commercial Design Guidelines. These documents provide clear, easy-to-understand information to residents and business owners about the expectations and limitations of building and remodeling projects in Los Gatos so that they will have an easier time going through the planning process, saving them time and money. It is an example of the customer service attitude we want to present to the community. Equally as important, these documents help us to preserve our two of our most valuable community assets + our beautiful hillsides and our historic downtown.

It is fun to look back at my campaign materials from 2002 and to see how many of the ideas have been implemented, such as:

• Establishment of a Youth Commission. There were more than 100 applicants the first year and we interviewed 30 incredibly articulate young people who wanted to become more involved in their hometown. Every one of the teens who has applied for or served on the Youth Commission is impressive and highly qualified. At my urging, four of the 2005-06 Youth Commissioners attended the National League of Cities convention this past December where they shared information and ideas with youth from throughout the U.S. They brought back a new perspective on their future as community leaders, and one has gone on to serve on a national youth leadership committee.

• Online permitting [starting this fall]. It has taken four years to overcome some difficult technical challenges, but I am thrilled that my pushing and prodding will now allow our residents to take care of routine permits from the convenience of their home or office computer.

• Improved communication with residents, such as the redesigned, user-friendly Town website

• Strengthening neighborhoods with more community meetings and assistance to help them organize, such as with the National Night Out program in August and our new Self Sufficiency campaign launching in October.

• A dynamic Economic Vitality program that is helping our current businesses be successful with such programs as the Hometown Advantage, and helping to recruit new businesses to Town when there is a vacancy. Our downtown commercial space is 98.5% full + we are the envy of every city in Santa Clara Valley, especially when businesses like the new Lamborghini showroom announce they are investing in Los Gatos! It is important to have quantifiable data on how we are doing, rather than relying on anecdotal evidence. Bottom line data like sales tax revenue and how much commercial space is on the market gives us a true picture of our economic health.

• A master plan for the Civic Center [soon to be complete] so that we can begin a serious and informed conversation with community about their desire for a new library and expanded space for senior activities.

• The additional of more affordable housing options for our residents, including 75 below market units and a shared home for low income seniors.

• Broadcasting of Council meetings has expanded the reach of government to more people. I can't tell you how many times someone has come up to me at the grocery store or at a Town event to say they watch our Council meetings on Monday nights, or the replays on Saturday afternoon.

I could not have been prouder of Los Gatos when a group of our residents stepped forward and suggested that our town adopt a city that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We selected Pascagoula, Mississippi and since fall of 2005, individuals, businesses and organizations in Los Gatos have sent money, equipment, and hands-on help to our Pascagoula friends. I hope you will visit www.losgatoskatrina,org to read about the outstanding efforts of our residents and how you can help with the long and complex rebuilding of a community. My husband and I made a trip to Pascagoula last December [at our own expense, of course] and I've stayed in touch with their city leaders. They are so thankful and appreciative of everything Los Gatos has done to help them get back to "a little bit of normal." Our new Self Sufficiency campaign to prepare our residents to take care of themselves after a natural disaster or pandemic flu was sparked by what I saw and heard in the Gulf states after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

What are the important issues coming up for Los Gatos?

We obviously live in a very special community, and we must make every effort to preserve its natural beauty, its small town character, and its unique charms. Preserving what is best about Los Gatos is important to me. But I also want to improve what could be better. This includes:

• Completion of the Residential Design Guidelines that will join the Hillside Design Guidelines and the Commercial Design Guidelines in giving residents and businesses clear, concise information that will help them achieve their goals within the framework of our General Plan.

• More community involvement. Our residents are very bright, very resourceful, and very talented. We need to draw them into community participation so that each and every one has the opportunity to fully enjoy their neighborhood and their town.

• Disaster preparedness.

• Long-range strategic planning.

• Widespread free wireless access.

• Continued emphasis on building a sustainable future, which mean protecting the environment for the next generation. Los Gatos has been a leader in many ways in green building requirements, and we drastically reduced the fees for solar heating systems this year. Last November I attended a presentation by Prince Charles where he eloquently spoke of the urgent need for each individual and business to take responsibility for helping to protect Mother Earth. We must be constantly vigilant about thinking through the consequences of our actions and both their immediate and long-term impacts.

I believe Los Gatos residents want leaders who treasure this extraordinary community and who understand their responsibility as caretakers of this town for future generations. I also believe residents seek Council members who understand how every decision must be analyzed carefully and objectively. Generic solutions do not work in Los Gatos. Every situation is unique and must be considered on its own merits.

We need thoughtful people on the Council who will fairly examine all of the ramifications of every decision on the character of our town. And we need an advocate on the Council who will push for a municipal government more responsive to residents' needs.

I am honored to serve as your Mayor and proud to represent the community on the Los Gatos Town Council.