After two years of not having a mayor's award, Mayor Jac Siegel has resurrected it and is seeking nominations for outstanding people, groups and businesses in the city that deserve recognition.

In order to make it more practical, Siegel said he spent considerable time figuring out how to cut the time and expense of conducting the event, which the previous two mayors passed on during the recession. "I went through with help of staff (and) streamlined the heck out of it," Siegel said.

Sigel said that what used to cost $5,000 to $6,000 and require several meetings will now cost only $1,000 and one meeting.

"We are down to one meeting now with five people on a committee," Siegel said. "In two or three hours we're going to decide right there."

The award categories are not set in stone, and the committee may create categories as needed in order to recognize five to 10 award winners. Potential categories include "Leadership, Volunteerism, Community Involvement, and Commitment to the betterment of Mountain View." Mountain View employees are not eligible for awards unless they are residents as well, but they may make nominations.

A nomination form with instructions is available on the city website at mountainview.gov under announcements or at the library, City Hall, Community Center, Chamber of Commerce and the Senior Center. The deadline for submissions to the city manager's office is Sept. 26 at 5 p.m.

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