Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Editorials

Green Valley, cities could all be winners

Green Valley Disposal Company and the four West Valley cities the garbage company serves have had a contentious relationship, especially in recent years.

At issue is Green Valley's insistence that the firm isn't making the 5 percent profit margin guaranteed by its contract. Cities, in turn, say they're willing to pay costs plus 5 percent, but the surcharges, such as the $13 a ton Green Valley must pay the city of San Jose for dumping privleges, shouldn't be included in the calculation.

Local officials are getting heat not only from the garbage company but from local residents, who last year were hit with a big rate increase when curbside recycling was introduced. Now, the garbage company wants another increase--so it can make its 5 percent profit. The rate increase is just more fuel on the fire, because Green Valley already has an ongoing suit against the cities.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the court.

Everyone calmed down long enough to take a hard look at the contract. Now all sides are beginning to think maybe they should just toss it out and start all over.

The idea has merit. Cost-plus contracts are not much in favor these days. And the problems that have surfaced between Green Valley and the four West Valley municipalities clearly illustrate why.

What's more, cost-plus contracts contain a built-in disincentive for belt-tightening. The higher the costs, the greater the amount of profit.

Now the legal case is in mediation, a process intended to provide a win-win result for all parties--something litigation seldom does.

If Green Valley and the West Valley cities are willing to put everything on the table--even their contract--and search for a solution that is equitable, everyone will win.

A job well done

Barbra Toren's decision to accept a position with the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau is Los Gatos' loss and San Jose's gain.

During her two years as executive director of the Los Gatos Downtown Association, Toren has been a strong presence in the community.

She's been advocate, administrator and troop leader for the downtown merchants in their efforts to market and beautify the downtown, a task that's been increasingly difficult with the town in a cost-cutting mode.

Toren understands well that downtown is the heart of Los Gatos and that how the downtown assocation presents itself reflects on the community as a whole.

That's why she's worked tirelessly to project the right image, whether it be Dickens the Cat for a holiday shopping campaign or the Cats Festival, an event aimed primarily at bringing local residents downtown to enjoy food, music and funny photographs of kittens and cats and to stroll through downtown shops.

While she understands the importance of out-of-town visitors, Toren never lost sight of the fact that local residents are the key to downtown's success.

The association can survive without Toren, but it won't be easy. One of her strongest qualities is her ability to shake herself off when the going gets tough, look inside herself for resolve and then bounce right back.

Those are qualities the Los Gatos Downtown Association needs in abundance these days.