Council Briefs Council Briefs (September 23, 2005)

Council rejects Katrina aid request

Members of the Mountain View City Council turned down a request Tuesday night from San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales to donate $35,000 to a local Red Cross chapter, saying local taxpayer money was never intended for that purpose.

San Jose donated 50 cents per person to the Santa Clara Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Gonzales asked every city in the county to do the same. The money is intended to assist with the relocation of refugees from Hurricane Katrina.

The motion by Laura Macias garnered only three votes, well short of the five it needed to pass. Council members Nick Galiotto, Tom Means and Matt Pear voted against the contribution. Mayor Matt Neely and council members Laura Macias and Greg Perry all voted in favor of a measure they said wasn't perfect but was likely better than anything else they might come up with. Mike Kasperzak did not vote because he serves on the board of the Red Cross Palo Alto chapter.

"Obviously we want to do something," said Galiotto. "It's the approach that I'm concerned with."

Galiotto said he did not want to simply write a check to the Red Cross when the city might be able to target its aid more effectively, but he found little support for his effort to have city staff come up with alternatives.

Means pointed to instances of locals who are voluntarily helping out with the relief effort, and said that money was collected from Mountain View taxpayers in order to provide city services.

"It's easy to spend other people's money," said Means. "Let's spend our own money."

Returning to the council chambers after the discussion, Kasperzak said it was important to help those in need of disaster relief now, because one day, Mountain View residents could find themselves in a similar position.

Mayfield project moves ahead

In a study session that lasted longer than two hours Tuesday night, council members discussed their goals for the look and feel of the Mayfield Mall housing development.

The discussion held little in the way of surprises. Most council members voiced support for either four- or five-story buildings far away from the existing neighborhood. They also emphasized the importance of setting aside usable open space for recreation, rather than allowing the developer to pay in-lieu fees to make up for park space.

At one point, council member Greg Perry lobbied to limit the height of buildings on the periphery of the project to one story, saying the city could trade for more density elsewhere in exchange for currying favor with grateful neighbors.

"If what we're trying to achieve is smart growth," said council member Laura Macias, "that's what should be driving our discussion here, not how high or wide can you go."

Operator picked for Child Care Center

Tempers flared again Tuesday night over the future Child Care Center in Rengstorff Park, as the council voted 5-2 to approve in concept an agreement with Children's Creative Learning Center to operate the center.

Council members Greg Perry and Matt Pear once again voted against the project. Perry complained that there were not enough details and reiterated his concern that the project would infringe too much on open space at Rengstorff Park. And council member Mike Kasperzak once again admonished Perry that the decision had already been made and it was time to move ahead with the project.

Last week, the Parks and Recreation Commission criticized the city for taking away park space and asked for a replacement for the two or so acres of Rengstorff affected by the project.

Council backs Hangar One resolution

The council narrowly voted to endorse a resolution backing the Save Hangar One Committee's efforts to preserve the giant structure. Council members voted 4-2 to oppose demolition of the Hangar and make federal funding available for any reconstruction.

Council member Greg Perry cautioned that the council had not seen enough details about the feasibility and cost of various alternatives and should not be taking such a specific position without it. Mayor Matt Neely joined him in dissenting.

"I recognize there's enormous nostalgia and love for that building in our community," said Neely, who added that he was not as attached to the Hangar.

Council member Tom Means abstained.

But those who voted for the resolution cited the council's previous positions and the outpouring of community interest in preserving the hangar.

Mountain View resident Jeff Segall, who proposed the resolution to the council, said the Save Hangar One Committee hopes support from local cities will interest congressional representatives, who might have more influence on the Navy.
-- Jon Wiener

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