Councilman Curtis Wright declined to support the city's goals for the upcoming year, saying he was against one of the seven stated goals. The other council members voted for the goals.

Wright's key concern was with a goal that was worded, "Continue to explore traffic-calming measures for Winchester Boulevard." While another goal stated, "Continue to explore pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety improvements," Wright argued that the Winchester Boulevard goal should either be eliminated or more specific.

"Winchester is just one street," Wright said. "I see no reason for us to focus on one street when we have other streets with similar problems that are totally within our jurisdiction." Most of Winchester, on the other hand, is in the jurisdiction of the town of Los Gatos.

According to Wright, there should be a general goal that would cover traffic calming throughout the city. If there was a Winchester-specific goal, however, Wright said, the wording should indicate the city's commitment to an in-depth study of traffic on the street.

Wright's peers disagreed with him.

Councilman Mark Brodsky, who had campaigned on the Winchester traffic issue, said the city needs to spell out to citizens the importance of the issue. "While traffic calming in general is important all through the town, this is an important gateway," Brodsky said.

Vice Mayor Erin Garner sided with Brodsky, saying the priority of Winchester needs to be clear. "I think these issues will be before us" this year, Garner said.

Ultimately, the council voted to reword the general traffic condition by adding "throughout the city" to the end, and at Mayor David Baxter's suggestion, to add a sub-goal to "evaluate use of landscaping and design to reduce speeds."

Other goals were to review the city's zoning ordinance; continue community outreach; examine annexation of unincorporated parcels; and continue to explore friendship and sister city relationships.

A new goal, brought up by Baxter, was to add, "Explore ways to cooperate and coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions and public agencies." The council specifically wanted to work with Caltrans on Highway 9 upkeep and the town of Los Gatos in maintaining the Winchester/Daves Avenue stoplight.

Councilwoman Barbara Nesbet said she wanted the city to continue examining its holiday lighting ordinance. Nesbet received various emails from concerned residents about Alan Aerts' Danielle Place Christmas display. "We need to figure out how to make displays happen without disturbing the peace and quiet of the street," Nesbet said.

City Manager Brian Loventhal replied that the issue could be addressed as a public nuisance. Both nuisances and the lighting ordinances are, however, included in the zoning ordinance goal.

Wright reminded the council of a point that was brought up often in the city council campaign—that one instance, or one homeowner, should not cause the city to enact ordinances that would apply to the entire community.

Upon witnessing the bantering back and forth between council members, Baxter said, "I think we're getting an interesting view of the debates to come."