Los Gatos Weekly-Times Editorials Approved plan shows value of compromise As much as our system of government depends on the fine art of compromise, it's surprising how frequently the term is used as a negative instead of a positive. Politicians get credit for sticking to their guns, but are sometimes criticized for compromising--as if trying to see a situation from all viewpoints is a sign of weakness. When the Toll House Hotel first proposed its expansion, the neighbors weren't hearing it. They were adamantly opposed to the annex that backed up to neighboring fences. There were several unfortunate false starts before all the parties actually began to see the situation from other viewpoints. Now the Town Council has given its blessing to a proposal that will bring the town an additional source of revenue and that will bring more business to downtown restaurants and retail shops. Residential neighbors are happy that the first proposal was scrapped in favor of a compromise that turns out to be better for everyone concerned. The frosting on the cake, though, is $100,000 worth of streetscape improvements on S. Santa Cruz Avenue and a redesigned hotel more in keeping with the Victorian look of downtown. The planter box and tree motif will extend the streetscape design that's already under way along N. Santa Cruz Avenue. For too long, Main Street has served as the unofficial end of downtown--at least visually. Now that will change. Many winners have emerged with this compromise effort. A Workable Plan Score one for Joel Gambord and Gordon Knight. When they originally suggested that Brian Loventhal be named to fill a dual position as city planner and city manager for Monte Sereno, the idea didn't exactly endear them to other councilmembers. Of course, at the time, the city had a full-time city manager, and the proposal was presented as an 11th-hour cost-saving measure, one that came as a surprise to then city manager Gay Strand. So far as local government protocol goes, it was pretty much off the wall. But in the 112 years since Gambord and Knight made their bold proposal, Strand quit, and Loventhal added interim city manager to his city planner title. City clerk Andrea Chelemengos also assumed some planning duties. In the seven months since the temporary arrangement was put in place, it's become increasingly clear that it's a workable plan. Not only does the staff like it, so do councilmembers. Would it be too much to hope that this meeting of the minds might be a harbinger of serene days ahead for the Monte Sereno City Council? [ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, January 27, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.