Council appoints a new planning commissioner
Former task force member selected
By Nathan R. Huff
Peggy Marcucci worked to help create the town's new General Plan; now she hopes to help implement it.
Marcucci was unanimously appointed to the town's planning commission at the Aug. 5 town council meeting. A member of both General Plan task forces and the General Plan committee, Marcucci takes the seat vacated by Sandy Decker, who resigned in March to run for town council. Marcucci was sworn in at the Aug. 9 planning commission meeting.
The council selected Marcucci over fellow applicant Scott Prawat, who had applied for the position in April when it was first advertised. The council decided to wait on appointing anyone at that time, while it reviewed the possibility of reducing the commission to five members.
Marcucci becomes the sixth active commissioner. Chairwoman Laura Nachison is on leave for medical reasons, but hopes to return.
Marcucci said that while her familiarity with the General Plan and planning process would aid her, she knows there is a lot to learn. "I won't make any pretentious statements that I know it all," she said, "but I learn quickly and I know I'll have a great staff to work with." She describes herself as being an advocate for managed growth--meaning growth that offers more to the community than it takes away.
Before becoming a member of the General Plan Committee in April 2000, Marcucci served on both General Plan task forces and several subcommittee task forces. She also had a brief stint on the community services commission before being appointed to the General Plan committee.
In her interview with the council, she described herself as a natural leader and one to "rise to the occasion." Later, Marcucci said she was also a strong team player. "I enjoy working in team situations," she said, adding, "I'm going to have to be a team player, because I'm going to need the team to teach me."
Councilwoman Linda Lubeck, who worked with Marcucci on the General Plan committee, said she had confidence in the new commissioner's abilities. "She's a very down-to-business, down-to-earth, step-right-in-and-get-it-done kind of person," Lubeck said. "I don't think it'll take her more than a meeting or two to get her feet wet and jump in."
Marcucci, a four-year resident of Los Gatos, works at Applied Materials in Santa Clara. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's in marketing. To add a slightly unusual twist, Marcucci enjoys spending her spare time training and competing in triathlons, including Iron Man events, which include a full 26-mile marathon as the third leg of the triathlon.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
