Council sets goals for year Council sets goals for year (February 18, 2005)

Cuesta Park annex, customer survey high on city's to-do list

By Jon Wiener

The city council made some belated New Year's resolutions Tuesday night, voting on which projects it wants to move forward with this year.

Among the new initiatives, a master plan for the Cuesta Park annex garnered five votes from the seven members, tying for the lead with two pet projects of new Council member Laura Macias -- creation of an economic development task force and a "customer satisfaction survey" of Mountain View residents. A plan to reduce parking requirements for affordable housing developments also got five votes.

The lack of a master plan has prevented the Parks and Recreation Commission from discussing potential uses for Cuesta Park annex, the remnants of an old prune orchard.

Robert Schick, a neighbor of the park, came to the meeting to present his vision of what he called a "heritage orchard," which he said would preserve the site's charm while keeping the city's agricultural past and view of the Santa Cruz Mountains accessible to the public. "It's really what the city was named after -- that view," he said.

Macias, who suggested both the task force and resident survey during last year's campaign, said the ideas grew out of her background in the business world.

Receiving four votes were the extension of the Hetch Hetchy Trail, a push for more energy conservation measures, redevelopment of Centennial Plaza and an evaluation of the cost of city projects.

The votes do not require the projects to be pursued, only studied, said City Attorney Mike Martello. Decisions about whether to fund projects will be made on an individual basis at future council meetings.

Deputy city manager Linda Forsberg said that city staff will examine the chosen projects to see whether they place too heavy a workload on certain departments.

The first so-called goal-setting meeting for the coming fiscal year took place in a relaxed setting, with council members and city staff munching on a catered dinner at the Adobe Building. Potential projects and programs, more than 60 in all, were scrawled across sheets of butcher paper in multi-colored marker.

But despite the lack of formality, the decisions being made had real implications in terms of what initiatives the city will be pursuing in the near future. Past goal-setting meetings have been the birthplace of capital projects like new reservoirs and a downtown parking garage.

"This is where things get legs," said Council member Mike Kasperzak.

Another goal-setting meeting is scheduled for early May.
E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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