The Los Gatos Town Council again heard from members of the public about MIP during the verbal communications portion at its April 7 meeting. Since it was not an actual item on the agenda, council members could not vote on the matter but could only request that it be placed on a future agenda. No council member made the request to have the item agendized.

Los Gatos resident John Tice, who has been involved with MIP in years past, told the council he had collected 1,100 signatures from people who wish to see the event moved back to the town plaza from its current location at the civic center.

Teri Hope, chairwoman of the city's arts commission, said the commission has already secured sponsorships from more than 20 organizations who expect the annual summer concert series to take place at the civic center.

The commissioners have been obtaining sponsorships since January, and they already have set in place three sponsors for each of the first five concerts, Hope said. Should the council decide to change the location from the civic center, it would be more feasible for the change to take place for the sixth or seventh concert, she said.

The suggestion of multiple venues did not sit well with Councilman Joe Pirzynski, though Tice was receptive to the idea.

Following the meeting, Tice offered his own solution. After the arts commission hosts the first six concerts at the civic center, the latter half of the series could be held at the plaza and organized by Tice and other citizens, he said. Then the public could vote on the two venues afterward, with a third option being a combined venue, he said.

Mayor Sandy Decker expressed concern that revisiting the issue would put the entire schedule for MIP in jeopardy. First, the matter would have to be reviewed by the arts commission again before making its way to the council. The earliest the council could discuss the situation would be June 10, she said.

The rest of the council agreed with Decker that there is not enough time to talk about changing the plans for this summer.

"In the time we are allotted, it makes most sense for us to proceed at the civic center," Pirzynski said. He suggested that the issue be revisited for next year.

Tice, who has worked to find sponsors for the event before, disagreed that it was too late to make changes for this year.

Councilwoman Diane McNutt asked the arts commission to identify the purpose of holding the concert series—a response to an earlier statement by Arts Commissioner Elke Groves that some people "misinterpret this cultural event as an economic development activity."

She also asked the commission to set up a standard system for measuring the success of the event this summer. The council in general asked that another survey be conducted.

The arts commission is also exploring alternative programs for the plaza, such as a jazz music series on Thursday evenings in the summer, art exhibits and children's programs, Hope said.