State of the Town 2012: 'Los Gatos Has Many Reasons to Celebrate!'
Los Gatos Mayor Steve Rice gives an upbeat speech, town's fiscal budget hole not as deep as anticipated earlier.
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In a short State of the Town address Monday evening, Los Gatos Mayor Steve Rice listed the following as challenges that lay ahead:
- A $1.8 million budget shortfall during fiscal year 2012-13
- Dissolution of the RDA
- The North 40 multi-million dollar mixed-use development
- The Los Gatos Boulevard Plan
- Lack of funding for critical infrastruture projects
But those issues seemed overshadowed by the audience's excitement for Saturday morning's grand-opening of the new Los Gatos Public Library.
Rice then mentioned the following celebrations this year, which made him state: "Am I lucky to be mayor this year? Yes, I think so."
- New Creekside Sports Park
- Renovated Pageant Grounds Park
- Los Gatos Jubilee Year honoring its 125th anniversary
Reaction was positive to Rice's 10-minute-plus speech.
Dale Hill, a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Los Gatos Library nonprofit organization, said she thought Rice had given a "good speech;" her favorite part was the mayor's praise for the much-anticipated grand opening.
Councilwoman Diane McNutt praised Rice for summarizing the town's future challenges, but also for clearly stating the reasons "to be happy and glad in 2012 in Los Gatos because it's going to be an exciting year."
Los Gatos Planning Commission Vice Chairman Charles Erekson called Rice's speech a "clear representation" of what lies ahead, and concurred 2012 will be a celebratory year for the town.
The town budget was facing a $4 million shortfall earlier this year, but it has now been reduced to $1.8 million for fiscal year 2012-13, due to an influx of Netflix sales taxes which are being retained and not lost to San Jose, Rice said.
Los Gatos Councilman Joe Pirzynski said Rice was accurate in focusing on reasons to celebrate the town. "We're in really good shape," said the former mayor. "If you compare us to the other 14 cities and towns in the county we're way ahead in terms of everything we're able to provide. Our finances are solid."
To read the complete speech, please click here.
Mike Calahan
10:23 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Does this mean LG will improve the LG Blvd sidewalk and Lark intersection Patch had highlighted a while back?
Jim Thrall
10:29 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Glad to hear that we are in good hands. I am not so sure that a $6 million dollar soccer field in a terrible location is much to crow about when facing such a deficit, but railroads must go through. Let's see what the town can make of this fiscal inconvenience of a budget. I think we will all do just fine.
Sheila Sanchez
10:32 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Mike, I think what the mayor said is that the LG Blvd Plan, created in 1997, needs an update. I'm sure curb and sidewalk upgrades will be a part of that plan. One of the challenges ahead is that LG lacks an ongoing source of funding for infrastructure maintenance such as street paving, sidewalk repair and pedestrian and bicycle safety. This year, he said, the town was only able to resurface about 8.5 miles of residential streets. Town has to look at other options to fund these infrastructure needs, especially ADA-non-compliant spots, IMHO.
Dyan Chan
10:47 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I'm grateful to our Town Councilmembers for taking on the hard job of weighing all the factors and making decisions that impact the health and prosperity of our community!
Irene Aida Garza-Ortiz
12:19 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Any improvement that get's the "GO" is Wonderful News for this quaint Town of Los Gatos!
Larry Arzie
2:53 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Optimism is always a feel good policy and I see it is being promoted by the three council members who vote in a block to appease the "money machine" of elites, developers and town manager and his staff. This money machine pushes for growth and intensification of housing and business that provides taxes and higher property values. Unfortunately higher retail rents and property taxes follow. So I am sure these three council members have a plan to overcome our budget deficit: more tax receipts. More housing, more restaurants, more traffic, noise and more people coming to enjoy our town. Wouldn't it be easier to address our bloated police budget. (one report shows it at 50% higher than Los Altos. Also the salaries we pay our staff which has been estimated at 17% higher than like jobs in the public sector. Shiela, why didn't you get comments from the two preservationist town council members that often do not agree with the voting block?
Sheila Sanchez
2:58 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Hi Larry, I got comments from Council members Diane McNutt and Joe Pirzynski because they were still around by the time I was finally able to start getting reaction to the mayor's speech. I'll try to get a comment from Vice Mayor Barbara Spector today as well as from Council member Steven Leonardis.
Melissa Pugh
5:38 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Glad to hear things are on the upswing. Looking forward to hearing how LG will find funding for infrastructure issues. Really concerned about the North 40, as there is no way the outcome of a traffic study will be favorable. My guess is that it will be more like a "traffic study", where the Town pays an ton of cash to a "yes-sir" company in order to get the go ahead. Aside from that...so far so good.