Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Task Force paved way for dialogue

By Jan Hutchins

In the Nov. 6, 1996, issue of the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, the editorial posed this question: "Is anyone out there listening to the people?" The editorial continued: "Who are the people? And how exactly does one find out what they want? People bring a lot of baggage to the table. ... They bring fears and suspicions and past slights and lots of misinformation." The editorial concluded: " ... more than anything, what the people want to know is that someone is listening."

I hope it is clear, or soon becomes apparent, that this Los Gatos Town Council is listening and is working to ensure better communication with citizens. It is obvious that even in our charming town we face issues of mistrust, civic disengagement and cynicism about government, attitudes that can tear at the fabric of community and democracy. In fact, in the editorial in the Dec. 31, 1997, issue of the Weekly-Times, this prediction was made: "In 1998, either Los Gatans will come together to decide how best to preserve the community they love, or they will turn it into a year of divisive bitterness marked by finger-pointing and shouting."

This Town Council would rather come together to decide how best to preserve the community we love, so seven months ago we took positive steps to encourage respectful, reasoned discussion. To begin a community conversation about the future of Los Gatos, the council carefully designed and funded a General Plan Task Force. Its 28 members represent different geographic areas of the town, various community interests, organizations, age groups, residence types and business districts. To assure a fresh perspective, no one involved on any of the town's boards or commissions was eligible to be on the task force.

Learning is not an easy process, but it's worth the struggle because learning enhances our capacity for effective action. The task force members spent six months of study and intense dialogue coming to a consensus about issues surrounding the town's general, hillside and downtown-specific plans. Those documents describe the vision, goals and implementation procedures that shape change in our community. It's time they were updated.

During much of their time together, task force members were frustrated about the process, impatient to implement solutions, even angry at one another; but they stuck with it and wound up amazed at how much they learned by confronting their differences, critically examining their own positions and experiencing the complex, dynamic nature of the issues. The process worked. Almost all the task force members are now committed to continuing their involvement with the town. Several have already been appointed to boards and commissions. Their fresh ideas, enthusiasm and ongoing contributions to our town will be just part of the legacy of this communication process.

The task force has completed its work and will present its report to the Town Council on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers. The report will be the only item on the agenda that night. You are enthusiastically invited to attend. You are also invited to join the widening circle of community conversation that must follow. The task force report is just the first step in a long process. Task force members have done excellent work, but they have only reached consensus on the questions the entire community must now consider.

The learning process experienced by the task force is a model for the next phase of the general plan review. To learn, each of us will need the courage to open our minds to new information and seriously question assumptions we might have held for years. And, like the task force members, we will have to get beyond our individual or group interests to discover what is best for the entire community.

The task force report is in the form of prioritized questions--"how" do we accomplish a set of short-term goals, and "should" we undertake to fulfill a set of longer-term desires. It is the wish of this council that thousands of Los Gatos citizens take part in considering these questions.

We will design the initial process and structure that allows all of us who love Los Gatos to come together to create a general plan vision that guides our wonderful town into an even more livable, prosperous future. But please understand that this is neither a quick fix nor an easy task and, in fact, doesn't end with a new general plan. The real goal is to create a legacy of open communication and involvement of citizens in a culture of collaboration. Please contact us if you're interested in being part of this process. Our grandchildren will appreciate the fact that you were involved.

Jan Hutchins is the vice mayor of Los Gatos. To indicate interest in the continuing discussion, write: Town of Los Gatos General Plan Review, 110 E. Main St., P.O. Box 949, Los Gatos, 95031; phone: 354-6832; fax: 354-8431; or email: LG_Town_Clerk@Vval.com.

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