Los Altos Rotary Club Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show November 19, 2009

 
 
“Goooood Afternoon Los Altos Rotary!” Chimed President TRACIE MURRAY at 12:17 on the afternoon of November 19, 2009.  Greeters GEORGE STAFFORD, LOUIS BOREL and MARGE BRUNO welcomed each Rotarian at the door as WYATT ALLEN cheerfully collected the day’s revenues.
 
BILL “The Good Looking” MOISON led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.  JEAN NEWTON FRAGUGLIA reminded us that Thanksgiving is a time to keep your turkeys plump and off your thighs.
 
Past President SAM PESNER, assisted by GEORGE STAFFORD crooned a song that cannot be forgotten, but has been.
 

President Elect DENNIS YOUNG introduced Rotarians with guests, of whom there were many, and visiting Rotarians Mark Linder from Cupertino, Roger Bogard from Monterey, and Roger Hassler PDG-Elect from Almaden Valley.  Dennis announced that the program for the next meeting after the Thanksgiving break will be on wildlife conservation.

 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KENDRA GJERSETH reminded everyone of the Holiday Party on December 20 from 6-10 pm at the Jesuit Retreat House.  Please make your reservations and make sure you pay for your $55.00 ticket in advance. 
 
SAM PESNER announced that Rotary Foundation month is doing well and that each Rotarian who wishes to make a contribution to Rotary Foundation should get their checks to him this month.  Many people did so and Sam was seen counting bales of cash and checks.
 
MIKE ABRAMS invited everyone to a wine tasting event and JERRY MOISON, Director for the Avenue of Youth and Vocations, invited Rotarians to engage with the Interact Club of Pinewood School and participate in their silent auction.  Jerry also said that ODFL - One Dollar for Life is expanding to Laptops for Life.  100 computers will be collected and sent to schools in Central Kenya.
 
DON WITT announced that the annual Festival of Lights Parade will kick off for Rotarians at 5 p.m. November 29 at the Main Street Café.
 
NANCY SIMON announced that Holiday Share for CSA is seeking donations of cash, toys and PJ’s for children.  Drop your donations in the box designated at the meeting or see Nancy if you can help.
 
DAVE BERONIO asked for assistance with cooking turkeys for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the underprivileged to be hosted at Maltby’s.  Dave said that three ovens are needed to cook turkeys which will be provided.
 
 

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE INVOLUNTARY
Past President SAM HARDING, famous purveyor of haggis, perpetuated his pursuit of club revenue by asking KAREN GESSERT to contribute $50 because she is moving on to a new life adventure as a wine steward and manager of restaurants on the Princess Cruise Line.  Unfortunately, her family is closing the Vino 100 store on Main Street.

• Sam also asked accomplished attorney RANDY GARD to pay $20 for his favorite Thanksgiving food – his grandmother’s cornbread.
• DON WITT added $20 for his grandmother’s giblet gravy and DAVE SNOW paid $30 for his family’s pecan pie.
• JOAN ROSSELLE paid $20 for her mom’s stuffing.
• JULIE ROSE paid $20 for her favorite Amish dry corn.
• ROLAND PAYNE contributed $20 for mincemeat pie.
• STEVE ANDERSON paid $20 for turkey nibs.
• KENDRA got a discount for being a vegetarian and paid a $10 fine for corn soufflé.
• While WARD WILDANGER told the tale of his burning turkey which was doused with a fire extinguisher by his wife, hosed off and re-cooked.  He said it was delicious!

 
SPEAKER – GREEN TOWN LOS ALTOS
In one of the most interactive programs in recent memory, Forrest Linebarger, chair of the sustainable land use group of Green Town Los Altos, told Rotarians that from 1994 through 2007 the retail sales tax receipts of Los Altos has gone steadily down, while those of Burlingame, Los Gatos and Mountain View have generally risen.  The retail business climate in Los Altos is distinctly cloudy and there is no fair weather in sight.  However, Linebarger said, there is the possibility of a new vision for Los Altos that could make for sunnier skies ahead for business.  
 
It will take a new vision, a sweeping change in public-private partnership to bring a new approach to land use in the village area of Los Altos.  The new idea is to move parking underground on the perimeter of the Village below the north and south parking plaza, turning the central parking plaza into a pedestrian park and increasing the height allowance for buildings to four stories, while, at the same time, retaining the architectural style of the current Village.
 
The defining element that can make this change happen is the political reality that the long running policy of no change to the Village will prevent the growth of the community in a planned way.  Change will happen, it is a matter of defining how change will occur, Linebarger said.
 
The population of Los Altos is the second oldest in Santa Clara County – 18 percent of the population is over the age of 65.  The fact is, as people age, their households get smaller.  However, the population of Los Altos is expected to grow by 1,900 over the next 20 years.  The issue is how to direct that growth so as to benefit the retail businesses in the Village.  Since the city owns eight acres of land surrounding the Village, it is in a unique position to control how the growth occurs and direct the benefit the retail sector.
 
In order to attract a private partner, parking must be made as efficient as possible while creating a space where pedestrian traffic is increased for businesses along Main and state streets.  If the parking is shared, rather than dedicated, Linebarger said, it will bring people to the downtown to support the business environment.  He said the loss of parking in the central plaza can be made up in the perimeter areas.
 
Increasing the height allowance for buildings along both State and Main will allow for an increase in mixed-use buildings, including more retail and office space and for residential apartments to increase the human density of the downtown.  This will result in an increase in retail sales and the resulting revenues to the city.  Linebarger said this has been proven in Petaluma and Burlingame where these two Cities used this approach to revitalize their decaying downtowns.
 
Linebarger showed several photo views of the proposed changes that reflected what the changes would look like if implemented.   He said we can still have a healthy downtown, but that we need to change the structure developmentally.  If this approach is adopted, property owners will realize an increased value in their properties and be encouraged to engage in projects to take advantage of the new development rules.
 
Linebarger was barraged with questions from Rotarians who appeared interested in preserving the status quo or embracing the idea of change.  Clearly, there will be a lot of opinions expressed about these proposals during the process of developing a new vision for Los Altos for the next 100 years. 

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