Town's 2000-2002 budget receives applause, some minor tweaking

Neighborhood center retrofit, senior staff recommended

Chamber could get boost

By Nathan R. Huff

Los Gatos' 2000-2002 budget proposal received a warm welcome from council and community members on May 22, and will return--with a few major changes--for adoption next month.

The council, reviewing the town's first-ever two-year budget, expressed thanks to town staff for creating the $42.3 million balanced budget that council members felt accurately reflected the community's priorities. The council also asked that staff return with ways to incorporate several other items the council agreed should be included.

Highlights of next year's $20.7 million operating budget include several items relating to the senior task force's recent report. The sum of $40,000 is budgeted to pay for approximately half the salary of a full-time senior coordinator. The other half will be contributed by the Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation Department. Another $250,000 is allocated to retrofit the neighborhood center for senior use, and the council asked staff to incorporate $40,000 to $60,000 for a senior case manager into the revised budget.

Other staff increases include a downtown sidewalk-cleaning staff person, another Parks and Public Works employee to take care of the town's medians and another part-time clerk to assist with passports.

"There's a few outstanding issues, and all of us have the things we as individuals focus on," Mayor Steve Blanton said. "But generally, I think the budget is a very good document and reflects the good times that we're in."

Most of the "individual things" council members advocated were on a list of unfunded items that town manager Dave Knapp included in his budget presentation. Unfunded items represent requests by departments, staff or council members that couldn't be added into the proposed balanced budget.

An additional police motorcycle officer, a second school resource officer, a community crime prevention officer, a contribution to the Washington, D.C., World War II memorial, the senior case manager and building attendant, and an increase in funding for the Chamber of Commerce all appeared on the unfunded list.

After hearing thanks from numerous recipients of town money, the council discussed which of the unfunded items they most wanted to see added to the budget. Council members unanimously supported a case manager for seniors--someone who would assist seniors one-on-one with their individual problems.

"[The task force] did everything we asked of them in terms of process and producing an excellent report," Councilman Jan Hutchins said, "and I think the heart of the new senior center would be a case manager."

The Chamber of Commerce's request faced a slightly more uphill battle, but appears to have been successful. The Chamber wants the town to increase its funding for informational services from $25,000 a year to $66,500. Chamber spokeswoman Diane McNutt told the council that the organization routinely runs out of brochures, and, in light of a possible parking management plan for downtown, the need for information services would only increase.

The council hesitated briefly before agreeing to increase its contribution. "I'm willing to support the Chamber because they're giving us tangible items our community can use," Councilman Randy Attaway later said.

A Place for Teens was also a big winner, getting the $5,000 the town usually adds mid-year on top of the $5,600 already budgeted for the teen center. The council also left open the possibility of helping Peninsula Open Space Trust purchase the Bear Creek Redwoods.

The Police Department was unsuccessful in getting any of its unfunded items into the revised budget. Citing the fact that the town already commits the largest percentage of its budget--40.5 percent--to the police department, the council decided not to add a fourth motorcycle officer or community service officer.

At one point in deliberation, the addition of a part-time clerk for passport services also appeared to be headed for defeat. But after confusion over the revenue versus expenditures for the program became evident, the council agreed to consider the request after ensuring the position's cost would be covered by passport fees.

Steve Blanton's request that the town give $25,000 to the WWII memorial was rejected by his fellow council members. The Capital Improvements Plan, a budget for infrastructure maintenance and construction, was also sent back for an extensive revision. The council asked staff to gather information on utility agencies' plans for the streets before repaving roads that may later be torn up.

Council benefits also came up. "We get paid $200 a month, which works out to $12,000 a year (for all five council members)," Lubeck said. "But if you look at what's budgeted, it's a lot more than that." Medical and pension benefits, which council members have the option of refusing, add another $54,900 for 2000-2001 fiscal year.

Knapp also presented the council with a list of items the town could be forced to fund in the near future. The town is in the midst of determining how it will handle animal control services, as well as aspects of the Clean Water Act that will affect the town's sewer system. Los Gatos also stands to lose $1.35 million in motor vehicle fees if a state rebate bill is approved.

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