The decision to reconstruct the committee came about after years of tension and fruitless attempts among business owners and residents to reach consensus on various issues regarding Gateway guidelines. The committee was temporarily in a stale period after seven members requested to be withdrawn from the group.

Waltonsmith, who expressed her enthusiasm to start anew, attributed the original committee's failures to a lack of focus and order within the group.

"There were too many people with too many concerns. The meetings were chaotic and unproductive," she said. There was also inconsistency in the numbers representing business owners and residents at each meeting.

The newly established ad hoc committee will be smaller in size and more defined, explained Streit. It will consist of two members from the city council, a representative from the planning commission, two business owners and two residents from the Gateway district, a commercialized area along Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road between Prospect Road and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Streit commented that the odd number will ensure majority votes. Community Development Director Tom Sullivan will serve as staff moderator and technical director, though he will not be able to vote during meetings.

Although the committee will be smaller, Streit assures that the "public process will not be circumvented" and that "feedback from other groups will be encouraged and highly considered."

Streit will determine who will fill the remaining slots—he said he has a solid list of potential candidates who were active members in the original committee. But with two down and five to go, he already sees great potential in the new committee and says he is confident the two will pave the way to an organized group and many future Gateway accomplishments.

"Our first goal is to create a vision statement of what Gateway would look and feel like in 50 years," said Kline. "That will require time and energy."