Does Los Gatos Need a Teen Center?

With a lease extension until Aug. 31, the non-profit youth center is trying to figure out if it can continue to operate for years to come.

The Los Gatos Town Council agreed on March 5 to give the agency five more months on the property, located at 4 New York Ave., behind

The center has been leasing the land from the town since March of 1992 and has been in operation for more than 20 years.

However, to survive and stay open, the center will have to stabilize its administrative and fiscal challenges, according to new A Place for Teens President Nicole Williams.

In a letter to Regina Falkner, deputy town manager, Williams said the agency's goals are to:

• Create a fiscal atmosphere that encourages the receipt of matching funds and grants.
• Ensure the ongoing integrity of fund reserves with regard to operating costs. In particular to work more closely with Los Gatos High School to include more school-related activities and to share upkeep and maintenance costs.
• Raise $20,000 during the 2011-12 fiscal year and $95,000 in 2012-13.
• Provide transparency of financial reports with online accessibility and quarterly reporting for the town.
• Increase the accountability and credibility of APFT and its board of directors.
• Strengthen the agency's governing structure with five adult executive board members, five new governing board members and a teen advisory board of 10-15 members. Set a long-term goal to create a junior advisory board of eighth-graders.
• Hire a staffer to run the center's daily operations and an executive director.
• Improve policies and procedures for usage and rental of the facility to include web-based forms and a calendar.

Falkner said Monday the town has the authority to extend the $1-a-year lease through June 30, 2013, based on mutual agreement as well as exploring the sale or lease of the property to another party.

In July of 2011, former director Mike Loya was terminated because of a lack of funds.

The Los Gatos Youth Commission held a meeting March 13 to find out how much support there is in the community for the center to remain open.

The question most townsfolk seem to be asking in light of the situation is if Los Gatos needs such a youth center.