Los Gatos Weekly-Times

LGDA board says no to joining Town Chamber

By Dale Bryant

The board of directors of the Los Gatos Downtown Association voted Oct. 2 to remain independent of the new Town of Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce.

The previous week, representatives of the Los Gatos Town Chamber invited LGDA members to discuss how an umbrella concept--under which the LGDA would serve as a subcommittee of the chamber--might work.

The meeting was scheduled after the Los Gatos Weekly-Times published a Sept. 4 article indicating that the chamber had announced, in a membership-drive brochure and at a public meeting, that the LGDA and the Los Gatos Boulevard Community Alliance had agreed to operate under the chamber's umbrella, but leaders of both organizations had called the announcement premature.

It also appeared that there was considerable confusion about how the organizations would relate to each other and whether each individual member of the LGDA and BCA would have to pay chamber dues. The Town Chamber is affiliated with the San Jose Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

LGDA board member Gary Schloh said it wasn't so much that an affiliation was ruled out as that there would be no rush to make a decision. "We're going to hold off and maintain our own identity--which, admittedly, isn't much," Schloh said.

The LGDA has been in financial trouble since the town ended its funding of the organization a year ago because of the town's budget troubles. A LGDA membership drive fell short of expectations, and in early June, Barbra Toren, executive director, submitted her resignation.

LGDA board member Shirley Henderson said of the decision not to join the chamber: "We're strong, and we have a mission. We want to remain active."

She said the board is exploring what the organization might do for the Christmas season in terms of advertising and promotion to bring shoppers downtown.

Last year, the LGDA hired someone to hang the Christmas banners, and this year has recruited the Lions Club to take on the responsibility. Carriage rides could be more problematic because last year, the paid executive director handled the scheduling of the rides during the holiday season. Henderson said, nevertheless, the organization is exploring how it might bring back the popular horse-and-buggy rides.

"We've got plenty to keep us busy until after the holidays," Henderson said. "And after the first of the year, the majority of us still want to explore a business improvement district."

Joe Hargett, a founder of the LGDA, and until recently the organization's treasurer, pointed to the potential for many changes downtown with several projects that currently are in the planning process, including Old Town and David Flick's project where the Buffalo Trading Co. building now stands.

"There are also many young people who are now running businesses downtown, so we could have a whole new generation of participation," Hargett said. "In other words, we don't see the urgency of making a decision right now. We need to see what's going to happen downtown."

Although he indicated the LGDA would revisit the issue of chamber affiliation after the first of the year, he added: "We have not abandoned the idea of a BID."

Hargett also expressed concern that becoming a subcommittee of the chamber could endanger the organization's autonomy. "What would happen, for instance, if we disagreed with a position the chamber was taking? And what impact would an affiliation as a subcommittee have on our bylaws?"

Linda Asbury, who works for the San Jose chamber and serves as liaison to the Town of Los Gatos chamber, said when informed of the decision: "They've made a decision that's right for them, and we'll be happy to work side by side with them." She added: "Maybe we'll revisit this again."

One person who hopes the affiliation is addressed in the future is Kurt Lemons, an active board member of both the Town Chamber and the LGDA. "I'm having a hard time dealing with the idea that going into an organization is opening the barn door."

He added: "The chamber has a broad perspective. I'm not the least bit interested in networking, but it's there for those who want it. There's room for the special interests of those in the LGDA, as well."

In addition to favoring an affiliation to give two business organizations strength in numbers, Lemons said, "I thought we needed the staff help. Here it is October, and we have no advertising plan. I know nothing about carriage rides. Last year the carriage rides worked because of [paid staff] Barbra Toren."