He will join us later.

So we'll go on to item number three, approval of the minutes.

Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person like to provide comment on this item?

Please.

If so, please click the raise hand button in Zoom or submit a speaker card to the deputy city clerk.

We will take in-person public speakers first.

Each will have three minutes.

Is there any public speakers?

Seeing none.

We'll bring it back to the committee.

Is there a motion and a second to approve the minutes?

I move approval of the minutes.

I will second that.

All in favor.

All right, both of us.

Yay.

Okay.

Okay.

Moving on to item four, oral communications from the public.

Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person like to provide comment on this item?

If so, please click the raise hand button in Zoom or submit a speaker card to the deputy city clerk.

We will take in-person speakers first.

Each speaker will have three minutes.

Any public comment?

Speakers on.

I see none in the room.

I see none online.

All right, we're moving on to item five.

Just speeding through.

New business committee openings.

Deputy City Clerk Wanda Wong will make brief remarks and then we will proceed with a review and selection of interview questions.

Welcome to the meeting tonight.

I want to inform you that Ethan Weissman has withdrawn his application from the Board of Library Trustees.

And Cassandra Magana and Deanne Wee and the Senior Advisory Committee have withdrawn their applications.

Could you say that again?

It's Ethan Weissman from the Board of Library Trustees.

Jessica Chohan from Parks and Recreation Commission.

Cassandra McGona and Deanne Wee from the Senior Advisory Committee.

And I also want to let you know there are.

Yes, Dean Wee.

Also, want to let you know that there will be a few applicants who will be attending via Zoom tonight.

Well, that makes some of the decisions easier.

Thank you.

All right.

So we'll move on to public comment.

Would any member of the public joining us virtually or in person like to provide comment on this item?

If so, please click the raise hand button in Zoom or submit a speaker card to the deputy city clerk.

We will take in-person speakers first.

Each speaker will have three minutes.

And I see no hands on Zoom.

Alright.

Bringing it back to the committee.

Per the selection process outlined in council policy number K-2, interviews will be conducted in a panel format.

Applicants will be interviewed in groups by body.

Each applicant will receive the same amount of time to answer each question, and the questions selected by the committee will be asked in randomized, randomize round robin order.

The committee may ask a limited number of clarifying questions in the event that an applicant's answer was unclear or otherwise not understood.

Clarifying questions should be not used to allow an applicant an additional opportunity to expand on the original response.

The committee will now review and finalize questions to ask each applicant and a time allocated for each question.

Questions previously asked of each group of applicants are included in the memo from staff.

Where there are fewer applicants than open speech and incumbents are the only applicant.

The committee may choose to move these applications forward without interviews.

So shall we finalize some of these questions?

Committee member Showwalter.

Are there any changes you want to make to any of the questions?

I need a second to read these.

No worries.

Take your time.

I'm wondering about the performing arts committee one.

Um question two.

Describe your vision of the cultural scene and artistic desires of Mountain View and the surrounding communities.

One of the things about the performing arts committee that's sometimes understood by people who are applying is that it's really to oversee the operation of the performing arts center.

And um I'm wondering if we should um change that uh question to be something related to the administration of the performing arts center.

Sure.

How do how would you like to change it?

We say that.

Um, maybe what operating policies of the performing arts center are you interested in working on?

So it's just like a what we need question at that point, right?

Yeah, or yeah, or we could say and we could do what you have here instead of and what policies of the performing arts center are you working?

Interesting.

Maybe that would be better.

Okay, so we just add an and yeah.

So describe your vision of the cultural arts scene and artistic desires of mountain view and surrounding communities, and what was the question again?

What policies of the performing arts um uh center are you interested in working on?

All right, it's a long question, but we only have one applicant, so yeah.

That's true.

Anyway, what um do you have any suggestions?

I'm kind of curious.

The and senior advisory committee, there's a question number four.

It says new CSD staff recommended a question.

How will you ensure that your personal business activities do not influence or appear to influence your decisions or responsibilities if you are appointed to the senior advisory committee?

Seems like an odd question to ask.

Is there any context to that question?

That is to prevent any um conflict of interest.

Okay, it's just it's weird because like why the senior advisory committee.

Do you do uh it's it says it's just recommended?

Does that mean we we can choose whether to ask it or not?

Um it depends if um the way it's written is depends if a person uh an applicant has a business.

Um okay, and one of them does.

Oh.

If I read that application properly, yeah, that's correct.

That's why it's there.

All right, so we'll just ask that at the relevant time.

Do we have to ask it to all of them?

Or we have to ask to the one that has the same question, Tala.

Okay, so senior advisory committee will have an extra question.

If it doesn't apply for you, you just say NA.

All right.

Any other changes, Pat?

I mean, committee member show Walter.

I think it looks good.

All right.

Let's rock it.

Um, we'll move on to the actual interviews.

So the committee will now interview the applicants for the Board of Library Trustees, seat one.

Sharon Sue.

Is she in person or is she online?

Oh, she's online.

Welcome, Sharon.

Hello, can everybody hear me?

We can hear you.

Thank you.

I'll do the first question and then come in from Show Walter.

You can do the second one.

Sounds great.

And we'll do the third.

All right.

Um, Sharon, we we will start with your first question.

Why do you want to serve or continue to serve on the Board of Library Trustees?

Can I tell her hello?

Oh, and you have 30 seconds for this question.

Thank you, council members.

I've really enjoyed serving um a four-year term.

It's been such an honor and delight.

Um, and I'm passionate about continuing the good work from the last four years.

Uh so I have a PhD in English, and I was a former literature professor.

I focused on issues of race and ethnicity.

Um, and I really believe in city council's goal of community for all.

I think that we're in a particularly um challenging time with the federal shutdown, and I think that this is when the community can really lean on the library, and this is the library's time to shine.

Um, and I really want to make it.

Thank you.

30 seconds goes fast.

Okay.

Okay, but but the second question kind of reads from what you were talking about.

Um, what do you think would be likely areas of particular focus for you on the board?

I had my second child uh while I was serving on the board, and I spend a lot of time in children's and youth services.

The story times can draw upwards of 337 children and caregivers, which is you know, a lot of current and future readers.

The nursing station just opened this month, and I helped support some of the policies involved in making it a safe and welcoming space.

So I'm thinking about the families that are coming to the library and attentive to populations in children's services, such as Spanish and Mandarin speakers and neurodiverse families.

Um I'm also interested in, I saw many of you at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the bookmobile, and I want to help support and expand its services so it can continue to go out to neighborhoods, schools, senior living, workspaces.

Um, a lot of library cards are issued at the city's festivals and celebrations, especially lunar new year.

And I'd like to see more ways of bringing the library to the community and bringing them in through library cards and telling them all of the great resources that are available.

Um, and I'm thinking about how we can support your times up.

Thank you.

Thanks.

All right, the last question is two minutes.

Should I go?

Okay, all right, Sharon.

The last question is two minutes, it's uh two minutes long.

What changes would you like to see at the library?

I think the summer reading program is great.

I'd love to see it introduced um in the winter.

Uh, this is the first year that it was um encouraged at Mountain View Wisman Schools, which I think is a fabulous way of engaging the public school community.

I'd like to see more story times in city parks.

They did one at Bub Park, it was a special one with the T.

Um, I'd like to see how Silicon Valley and AI is affecting our community and our library and thinking about how to use it ethically, having hot topics, conversations, and programming, books that are recommended.

I'm proud of how youth services have been doing amplify teen voices and engaging more teens and presenting um what their passions are, um, such as the one that was called ancient history is viewed through coins, um, which is the first program.

And I think it's good to emphasize the library's fun side, discover and go so you can go out and see museums, um, borrowing the telescope so you can look at the night sky, mental and physical health emphasized as part of readerly health.

Everyone who loves doing the New York Times games can do that through the library.

Um, there are just so many ways to support reading and support inclusivity, and I would love to continue pushing for community for all.

Thank you.

Great, thank you so much for your time, Sharon.

That finishes all our.

Can I have a follow-up question?

Sure.

Sure.

Yeah, yeah.

Um, when you mentioned a winter reading program, when would that happen?

Would that happen over like the the um the break uh of school break, or would that be the whole winter, or what were you thinking?

Yeah, I was thinking that it's a way to engage um, you know, young people and older adults.

Um I think about how Sunny Bale Library does it seasonally.

So sometimes they'll say spring, sometimes they'll say fall or winter.

Um so making it a shorter time window, it can be, I mean, summer is about eight weeks, so it could also be an eight-week window.

And there can be small incentives if there are um generous donors, which there tend to be.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Great.

So I think that concludes our interview for the board of trustees seats.

There's one um seat and there's one um person um interviewing for it.

So I think thanks so much, Sharon.

Thank you, council members.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

So we'll move on to interview the applicants for the parks and recreation commission seats.

There's two seats.

There's Jonathan Davis and Sarah.

Is she are they here?

Are they on Zoom?

I'm not sure about Sarah, but we'll probably see.

Where shall I see?

You can sit right there.

Right here.

I'm gonna go on.

Okay, great.

Yeah.

Good evening, council members.

Good evening.

How are you?

Great.

Um so the three questions remain the same for the committee, right?

Yeah, we we didn't change any of this.

The only one we actually changed was where the property cards committee.

Great.

And then this is round robin too, right?

So necessary.

She's not out there.

Okay.

All right.

So we're Jonathan, you're here, we're ready.

We're gonna just get going.

Is that okay with you?

So you heard the lovely timer.

Um, so we'll just uh when it's I'm sure I'll bump up against it.

I always do.

Yeah.

Um, so the first question is 30 seconds, the second question is one minute, and the third is two minutes.

So um were you all taking turns doing the missions?

Okay.

Okay, go ahead.

All right.

So this first question is 30 seconds.

So for everybody.

Why do you want to serve on the Parson Recreation Commission?

First and foremost, civic engagement.

You know, I'm I believe that communities function best when citizens participate.

And so it's for me, I've this is my uh I've sort of full term on the parks and rec commission.

I serve in other capacities of the community is the Shoreline and the Shoreline West Neighborhood Association.

I lead our neighborhood community emergency response team, support the CSA and uh the historical association.

And I think communities just work better when people participate.

I only got half of that out.

Actually, the more important part.

All right.

Uh, yeah, the second question, one minute.

What do you think would be likely areas of particular focus for you on the commission?

So the focus of the commission is really set by the community services department.

We uh the agenda is set and therefore the focus is set by them.

And so I think how I would answer that is our my focus is will be to provide objective rational and uh useful perspective uh to the topics identified by the community services department.

Great, thank you.

Well to expand that focus, but I think now that's that's where it's well this way you have a little more time, it's two minutes.

What do you think should be the priorities of the parks and recreation strategic plan?

So I think there's maybe three primary elements.

Um one is to ensure the needs of the community are being met, and that those limited resources or finite resources are um offered in an equitable way.

So there are a whole variety of recreational and park activities.

Um different groups have different desires and needs, and sorting those out, you know.

Of course, pickleball is our our poster child of complexity and recreation.

But um, you know, providing a rational view of uh sorting out that uh those community needs.

I think the plan also needs to function as a uh framework for operational guidance, so how the city will manage these uh valuable resources, and uh, you know, I think our parks and open space need to be recognized as infrastructure, not just amenities, but like sewer and water, like streets, like electricity, these are vital components of our city and of course have to be managed, and I think the the uh department is doing a fantastic job in bringing those uh resource management or activities into a more modern framework, and then thirdly, and I think this is really a critical element of the strategic plan, um, and that's provide a framework for open space development.

And by development, I think the subtext of that is acquisition.

How do we both retain and enhance but also expand the open space in this increasingly dense urban environment?

Thank you.

Thanks so much.

Appreciate you wrapping it up right as the time ran out.

So um that concludes our questions, and then I think we're um, I don't know if you all talked about, we'll probably just deliberate at the the end, we're done with all our interviews.

So you can say or you can go however you'd like to, um, but we will let you know.

And thanks to you, council members.

I spend anywhere from 10 to 15 hours, depending on an agenda.

I don't know how you guys do it with your complex agenda.

So it's a lot of time.

Thank you.

Really appreciate it.

Yeah, great.

All right.

So then we're on to downtown.

Do we have every chair?

May I want to let you know we're like we guys are like 10 minutes ahead of schedule.

Maybe you might want to deliberate on your decision who just select for the board.

Yeah, I think that's the tricky part about giving people time frames.

We should just tell people to get here at six, I think, because you never know.

Yeah, I was just thinking that.

Um, but yes, um, we can we can deliberate.

Do we know what time we told downtown committee?

We told them um 6 35.

Oh, wow, a good what time did we tell parks and rec?

We told them um 6 20.

Okay, so we okay, so we're on time for parks and rec because it's 6 26.

Okay, so we'll we can deliberate on these two, I guess, and then go into downtown.

Yeah, and then we'll be back on time for the 6 35.

Does that sound okay?

Yeah, um could we check and see if Sarah is out there?

She wasn't out there, we wasn't out there, but I did Sarah.

Yes, Sarah Donna.

She I also kind of threw an interesting wrench in the downtown committee discussion.

Yeah, she did.

Um so if you look at the thing, we have four seats for the downtown property owners and things.

We have three applicants for the business at large.

But Peter Path's in the Chamber of Commerce, a chamber is technically downtown.

Would we be a client business?

Probably because he's the current income.

That probably happens there, by laws specified.

That yeah, I'm assuming that's not that category.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Why don't you answer that question while you were looking at the case of time?

Yeah.

So did you know how we there?

It sounds like we can't.

But if she arrives, we can't move them because that's you can't swap it out.

Okay.

Yeah.

Well, thanks for that clarification.

So we have um interviewed Sharon for one position.

There's one opening for board of trustees, and we have one applicant, and then for Parkerson Rap, we have two seats, but we have one applicant.

Um both of them are incumbents.

Um, and I'll leave it to my committee members if they'd like to maybe make a motion and then I guess we can try to, I don't know.

Is Sarah Sarah is incumbent as well, right?

No, she's not.

Okay.

Well, I I think we should see if we can interview her a little later just for the I think that if she comes.

Yeah, I think that the time that we gave her was 620, 628.

Yeah, but we can, yeah, I mean it's.

Let's see if we can how it goes.

We don't have the time because otherwise we're gonna come have to come back another time to fill this.

So I mean, if she's if we can do that.

Anyway, I would I would um I move that we appoint uh um Sharon Sue.

She sounds like she's doing a great job, and she's certainly very enthusiastic.

And I know um from my exposure to the uh library that the children's services are truly wonderful, and they bring in so many people.

So having somebody who is actively involved with that on the library board, I think that's a great thing.

Yeah, I think she did well in her answers, and I think she has done a pretty good job.

So moving on, it's I I'll make the motion to uh Pat made the motion.

I'll second it.

Great, thank you.

Okay, um, and then so all those in favor of supporting Sharon Sue for the Board of Trustees position.

That looks unanimous.

Thank you.

Okay, great.

All right, so then for the parks and recreation commission, we have um what's our discussion?

I think um Mr.

Davis is an adequate and good incumbent on that scene.

Um I I have no problem with reappointing him.

I guess the bigger discussion is what to do about the open seat, but um I can make it easily make the motion right now to reappoint Jonathan Davis.

Okay, and I'll be glad to second that.

I was I was impressed by his answer, and I have seen him at a number of um events and chatted with him, you know, individually.

So I think that he um he's serving us well, and there is some value in continuity, right?

Yeah, okay.

Well, um Jonathan, in my opinion, you're more than adequate.

Um, so uh I I will say, and perhaps that's um, you know, I have had the opportunity to um interact with Mr.

Javis.

Um, I guess when you went for the appointment four years ago, and um what's been so great is just how um he's been able to like lead the discussions not only in Parks and Rec as chair, but also for the pollinator habitat in his community in Shoreline West, Mariposa Park is such um, you know, it wasn't on the list, but it was really the community efforts that decided to include that.

And we're so fortunate, I think, to have community-led efforts to increase our pollinator habitats.

And to me, that's quite impressive, um, in addition to everything else um you and your family does so um why don't we um take the vote?

So all those in favor of reappointing Jonathan Davis to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

All right, that is unanimous, all right.

Thank you.

Appreciate your work.

Uh and can we have a little bit of a discussion about this this um this uh bylaws for the business?

I mean for the downtown committee.

Oh but they said we couldn't.

So we try to because it wasn't on the agenda, right?

Yeah, so well, yeah.

You can't change anything because this is not the forum for that, but um the bylaws do restrict what appointments come out of what category, and so that the bylaws specifically carve out that the chamber seat would come out of business at large, um, and that the association would come out of the property owner slash representative.

Um have you know, I know we've been in the process of of redoing the um uh revisiting the resolutions.

Have we gone through the downtown committee yet?

That is with the department, I'll have an update on what they've done.

Okay, so it's possible it could be loosened in the future.

Yeah, yeah, I would recommend that if that's something you're interested in exploring to bring it up under item eight at your next counseling meeting, um, to see if you have consensus from your colleagues.

Okay, maybe uh um explore that so that staff can bring that back as a more of a fully baked okay um item instead of having to change it on consent.

Does that sound good?

Yeah, okay.

So Emily, maybe you can help me remove that.

So how are we doing time wise?

Uh 6 32.

I think you're good.

So we if I mean are people out there, um Peter and Marisol are online.

Okay, great.

Let's let's bring them and then we can um yeah, I think Jamil is up.

Yes, I just everybody, yeah.

Thank you.

Yeah, yeah, please.

Show time guys, any update on Sarah?

No, I just left your voicemail.

Thank you.

You still would like to interview her.

Okay, great.

Call me too great.

So, what are we doing?

I have a seat right here.

Yes, please, thank you.

All right, so it's gonna be a little bit of a hybrid because we have people in person and then we'll have some applicants who will be online.

Are they able to undo their video or is it just not possible?

I can promote them, but I don't know if they want to show video.

But yeah, okay, great.

Well, we're gonna give um our applicants the opportunity to come online and and show their video if they'd like.

Um, because we have applicants also um in person in the positive conference room.

So um for the downtown committee, we have a downtown property owner and a representative of a business in the downtown seat.

We have one specifically for the DBA.

The applicant is uh Medi Saul, and then for business at large seat.

We have two seats, and it looks like we have three applicants.

We have Mike Kasper Zach, Peter Katz and Dennis uh Reitner.

So writer, and then for community at large seat, we have one seat.

I believe we have four applicants, correct?

That's correct.

Heather Green, Anna, Mousianko, Rumesh Ragahavon, and Dennis.

So you can also call you also qualify for this seat as well.

And then Sumesh is traveling and we'll try to zoom in tonight.

Okay.

Well, we'll look in the Zoom for them.

And then our Heather or Anna joining us.

I think that's Anna right there.

That's Mary Saul and Peter.

Welcome.

We have no update on whether Heather or Anna will be interviewing.

They didn't say they would interview.

She's going to be available after 6 20 tonight.

That's okay.

Oh yeah.

Okay, so question mark.

And then did Anna confirm that she would be joining us in person or virtually?

Nope, she did not.

Okay, so I'm just gonna cross since we didn't hear it all.

Okay, and then for our neighborhood seat, we have one seat and we have one applicant, Jamil.

Yay, hi Jimia.

Okay, so we will do the interviews.

They're um round robin style.

So we're just work with us as we go.

I think what we'll do.

The way that it's ordered is muddy so then uh Mike then Peter, right?

Just go in that order.

Okay, perfect.

Okay.

So we're gonna have to go online and in person and online and in person.

So um, and then we have three questions.

Each of us will ask the questions and tell you how long that you have as we go through the process.

So um the first person is Marisol and the vice mayor will ask that question.

Hi Marisol.

Um, this first question is 30 seconds.

Um, why do you want to serve on the downtown committee?

Um, I want to continue to serve on the downtown committee because I care about Mountain View and the role the downtown plays in bringing our community together.

Um through my work producing events and collaborating with local businesses.

I've seen how vibrant downtown supports both our economy and sense of community, and I'd like to help to continue that momentum.

Great.

Thank you.

All right, I have the next question.

It's two minutes.

What do you oh no?

Sorry.

The next mic.

No, no, no, no, no.

Sorry, we have to go question one.

Mike.

Okay, um, like Marisol, I too would like to continue serving.

I do know that I have reached the term limit.

But uh, you know, 30 years of public service.

Uh I still want to continue, keep contributing to the city of Mountain View.

I've also become on the downtown committee somewhat of the historian because I've been around the community so long, longer than most of the staff at the city, and um and uh work really closely with um staff.

So all right, thank you.

Um the next one is for Mr.

Katz.

Um it's 30 seconds.

Why would you want to continue to serve on the downtown committee?

Thank you.

Uh good evening, everyone.

Um, I would like to continue to serve on the committee because I feel that uh we have a lot of things ahead of us, um, especially with the Ped Mall going on downtown.

And I think it's uh truly the gem of our city, and uh success downtown means success for all of us.

Um, and so I think that the chamber is uniquely positioned in the middle of all these things happening, and uh want to make sure that we continue to foster the ecosystem that is okay, Mr.

Katz.

That 30-second time limit is uh is a real stickler.

All right, Mr.

Mr.

Writer.

Mm-hmm.

Right.

Writer.

All right, you have 30 seconds for the segment.

Okay, so uh yeah.

Um over the last 12 years, I worked my way up as a food and beverage director now at the Ameswell Hotel, which is a luxury property in Silicon Valley, uh before that at the casino.

So I have an invested interest in hospitality, restaurants, uh hotels, and so on and so forth, and they have been struggling over the last few years.

Uh so that's why I'm here to uh put my expert knowledge uh to good use when it comes to that specifically.

Wonderful.

Um next we have Janil.

Oh, hi, thank you.

So the reason I want like to serve on the downtown committee because I just love downtown too much, you know.

And we're just so close to downtown.

I think that downtown is extension to my backyard.

And downtown is good, my backyard is good.

And with serving that many years, I have put up uh the relationship with the businesses where I can go and take them directly.

What cities you offer and bring it back to that.

Thank you.

Okay.

All right, I have the next question, and then it goes Mike.

Go the next one.

All right.

Um two minutes.

What do you think of downtown Mountain View?

How would you improve it?

How would you balance the interests of businesses with those of the community?

All of that in two minutes.

Yes.

Um we have a great vibrant downtown.

Everybody knows it.

Um, but some of the things where we can improve are we're beginning to get a number of vacancies.

I know the council is working on, you know, uh ways to uh combat that or to address that issue.

Uh but one of the things is is like how long do we hold on to the ideas of retail?

Everybody loves a vibrant retail.

Maybe we should be putting office spaces or something in what would normally have been like a retail type establishment.

Um getting, you know, having the vibrancy downtown and more office space as well.

We really noticed it in the food and beverage industry without the employees downtown.

Uh, you know, lunches are it's really tough now in Mountain View compared to what it was before the pandemic, where you had people like Pure Storage here.

They were really the employees will really get out and spend time down there.

And I know this is tough with the community because there are segments of our community that don't think we should be having office space in the downtown.

Um I'm of the opposite belief.

I mean, downtowns are where office does belong.

We have the infrastructure, we have the parking, we have the transportation infrastructure.

So those are some of the things.

I've also talked with Amanda and with Christian a little bit about perhaps the downtown committee should be expanded to being economic development and supporting staff in a broader economic development capacity, not just downtown.

So, but those are just like, you know, ideas.

Thank you.

All right.

Uh Peter, same question, two minutes.

Would you like me to repeat it?

If you wouldn't mind.

What do you think of downtown Mountain View?

How would you improve it?

How would you balance the interests of businesses with those of the community?

Thanks.

So I first of all, I I said this earlier, and I'll say it again, is I think that uh, you know, downtown is a jewel, it's a gem.

It is if you ask people, you know, a dozen people, what do they love most about Mountain View?

Downtown is always number one or number two.

So I think that what we also have is the opportunity to both bring in new businesses as well as preserve the ones that are already there.

And the more that we can do to do both those things helps everyone.

Um everyone loves knowing that there's a small storefront nearby, and so we need to make sure that storefront uh still stays vibrant.

Um I also feel that we um need to think about downtown as the entire length of Castro Street, not just the 100, 200, 300 blocks, which get most of the attention.

What can we do to really bring vibrancy to the rest of the other blocks as well and to really tie it all together?

Because you know, it's that age-old thing about you need people, you need residents, you need businesses, you need visitors, you need all of the above in order to have a really healthy and thriving downtown.

Um, you also need to, I mean, one of the things that makes um our downtown special too are the people.

And so the more that we can do to put a face on the businesses.

Um, the event that we had at the uh Monte Carlo, I think was one step in that direction where we really said, you know, this this, these are the people behind the storefronts.

These are the issues that they're facing.

And as importantly, this is what you can do as residents and as visitors to help.

Um, all of those kind of activities work together.

Um, get us all gets it get us all rowing in the same direction, if you will.

Um, I also feel that um the more that we can do to encourage people from the outside world um to come downtown, um, the better.

Um, you know me, I can talk about downtown for half an hour, but I think I've only got a few seconds left.

So thank you.

Great, thank you.

All right, Dennis, same question for you.

All right.

Um, yeah, so I'm still fairly new to Mountain Viewer.

Uh so I've been only here for two years, but from what I've seen in downtown, it has uh huge potential.

Um, uh it's a great uh nice little area.

I love the vibrancy there, uh, the different uh restaurants and so on and so forth.

However, one thing that I noticed right away, it could uh use a little bit of a modernizing um optic.

So, what I mean by that is like building uh, let's say a digital infrastructure so that we actually connect uh the businesses to faces.

Uh so have like a cool website that uh that tells you the story about who these business owners are, what are they doing, what is their vision, and so on and so forth.

And then also taking this a step further into the social media realm uh of things, because that's what then ultimately connects the community to the business owners because they start now to learn who these people are and you put a face uh on that.

Another thing is that I could help with is um uh these restaurants operating at their uh maximum best in terms of efficiency.

And I know coming from my background, um, there is a lot of times uh it's a family-owned business.

Uh they don't have the bandwidth or the uh resources to make it uh operate as efficiently as possible.

And this is where uh I could help.

I could uh provide resources, uh know-how.

I've been doing this now for uh 12 years, large uh food and beverage operations from like casinos to luxury hotels, and I know that sometimes uh the restaurants they just don't have the bandwidth that they need uh in order to succeed.

And then also another thing that I would like to do is uh to implement something that restaurants understand that they can actually start to share resources uh instead of having to battle this uh out on their own, and they are operating on.

Thank you.

All right, let's see.

Hi, hi.

So I mean, uh everything would Peter said, plus, um we're talking about the Jubilee and the Crown is is kind of very interesting to find something which we all might, but a couple of these issues we're having their downtown is the empty storefront.

So we need to continue looking at it and comparing us all to the example with other cities, what the other cities are doing constantly.

First, we need to help the businesses by having special programs like we had the program to uh we have lots of money to do up on the front of the store.

Uh, those kind of things, and plus uh we need to get other these businesses involved because what they so they they take part in it.

Like we had the program of the Monte Carlo.

There was only three businesses that some businesses came by.

So what we did as a community member, we went out to the other businesses.

Were you there?

No, that's what happened, and they were asking questions.

We can brought those things up.

So we can take more active role in that one, and uh, I mean, other thing is, like earlier what brought up that we need to consider the downtown all the way from block one to the all the way to the end and figure out what we can be doing, or maybe even further on the other side.

All the way to the rose marketing.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right, and I last for this question is Muddy Sol.

Just let me know if you want me to repeat it.

The two-minute question, I think I got it.

Okay, um, I think that downtown Mountain View is one of the best examples of a welcome of a walkable and welcoming downtown.

Um, it's diverse and it's full of character, and when it's activated, it's really lively.

That's that there's always room to grow.

I'd like to see more cultural programming and uh support for small and emerging businesses so we can continue acting both as residents and visitors, um, balancing the needs of the businesses and community really comes down to communication and collaboration.

So when the business businesses succeed, the community benefits, and when the community feels connected, they support local businesses.

I'd focus to on initiatives that encourage both sides to work together, like public events, outdoor activations, and policies that make it easier to do business while maintaining downtown's term and accessibility.

Thank you.

All right, that's done with question two.

So, question three is Council Member Show Alter, and we'll start with Peter.

Peter and then that's all right.

Yeah, because it's around the okay.

So, Peter, here is question three, and you get one minute for this one.

The city has an economic vitality strategy.

How can the city assist downtown businesses?

You could talk for half hour on this, but I think the important thing about the economic vitality strategy is that um it it involves many, many different facets that all work together.

And so, how can the city help?

There are many ways, Mary, um, in terms of identifying where are the barriers.

So we've uh both the uh economic vitality strategy as well as the um the retail report talk about how um the kind of spaces that we have, that some of them are like rabbit warrants and so on, and uh how can we uh relax some of those restrictions?

How can we have an entertainment district so that you can actually carry your glass from you know one place to another?

Um maybe there's some exciting events that we can do like that are unusual, like a makerspace or something like that.

And all of that involves both permission as well as assistance um from the city to make it easier to help with the uh um promotion, etc.

Um, and even funding um comes comes into play.

Um, you know, are there grants or there are things like that that can happen?

Thank you.

Thanks.

Very good.

All right, you got a lot in in two minutes.

Okay, and next comes Dennis Ryder.

Would you like me to repeat the question?

No, no, no.

I was waiting for the beep, but it helped again.

Okay, we're going to the beach.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I think um one of the challenges for Mount View is because it does so well with uh the tech world.

So you have all the big business, but it's also uh focusing on the small businesses uh here as well.

So what I think downtown is is um for me that's the area where the small business uh needs to thrive.

And I think it's all about uh finding that uh balance.

Another thing is that uh daytime traffic for downtown has uh broken down pretty dramatically since uh COVID.

So I think instead of going after those customers, it's again broaden the reach because those customers most likely will not come back because they're changing consumer habits, but to find new ways to engage maybe um people past the boundaries of Mountain View.

Okay, thank you.

Next is Jamil.

Hi.

Can you repeat the question?

Of course.

Um yeah, the city has an economic vitality strategy.

How can the city assess downtown businesses?

So one of the best uh ways would be to talk to business, talk and talk and talk to the businesses, get their input all the time, and then um also um see that how business is doing right now as compared to what were you know earlier, and um also the um some of the programs like City had called the business businesses, you know, we're doing the uh start and slow time, also um the um other thing would be that make sure that the businesses um I mean can take advantage of the what we city has to offer, and uh it's probably about it, you know.

Okay, thank you.

All right, it's just two minutes, and the next one will be Mike.

No, Marisol, and then Mike.

Marisol, are you there?

Yes, I would you like me to repeat the question?

No, I got it.

Okay, thank you though.

Um, so the city can support downtown businesses by making it easier to thrive.

So through clear communication and streamlined permitting um and programs that encourage foot traffic and visibility, continuing to invest in marketing downtown, creating partnerships for events, and supporting businesses innovation will keep this area vibrant.

In short, the city can be a connector, helping businesses grow while showing downtown welcoming and dynamic.

Thank you.

And then we get to Mike.

So a couple of things.

Um we spent a lot of time in the city working on place making, and I think one of the things we could be doing is better placemaking in downtown Mountain View, you know, the 300 block, the um pedestrian ball area is a great way to great start on that, but placemaking, getting people here that can then use the businesses that are here, whether it's restaurants, retailers, or just regular commercial businesses.

The other thing is Mountain View has to be inviting to businesses coming here.

It's not just the businesses that are here.

We're still not perceived as a great place to do business.

It's still tough to get permits, get through the planning department, and you know, I I really think you know our planning department has gotten used to having to deal with the Googles of the world, and they're not dealing with used to dealing with the Ludwigs of the world.

And they have vastly different resources.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

That's everybody, right?

That's everybody.

All right.

So I think that's everyone who attended our downtown committee interviews.

So we have uh one seat for the downtown property owner and a representative of business.

We have two for the business at large seats, and we have one for community at large seat and one for the neighborhood seat.

So um that concludes the interviews.

Thank you to everybody for coming.

Uh I think we're back on schedule.

Is that right?

Okay, so we're gonna just keep going through the interview process, and um the the city clerk's office will be uh in touch about the appointments.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

I will just say I applied for, I think was the at-large business, but I'm also a resident.

So if there's a or something, I think it all sorted itself out where it'll be one person for the downtown property owner and representative, and then we have three people under the business at large, but two of you can apply for that, and Mr.

Ryder can be the community at large seat, and he was the only applicant who came for the community at large seat.

Um, so I think it'll sort itself out.

Yes, thank you very much.

Are you thank you?

And you guys you're welcome to stay, or you may go and enjoy the rest of your night.

Um, I like the downtown committee, it's morning meetings.

Uh yes, I know with coffee and breakfast.

Yeah, no coffee, no breakfast.

Okay, well, in my well, maybe maybe Dennis will do it.

Those are the real things.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

If you don't mind taking your name tag, Mr.

Casperzach.

Sorry, I got you.

All right, okay, so we'll move on to performing arts.

We have one applicant and one seat.

Hello, how are you?

Oh, wait, sorry, I'm having a bunch of the questions.

Oh, okay.

So you'll have to ask that one, right?

Or maybe that's um okay.

There was a change in the question.

So I'm gonna ask the first one and then the vice versa, the second, and the um uh chairmember Shawalter asked the third one.

Okay, is that okay?

Um, I don't have the edits on that.

Okay, so um the first question for 30 seconds.

Why do you want to serve?

Why do you want to continue serving on the performing arts committee?

Well, uh so I believe in Mountain View since 1997, and I have been an active member of uh performing arts, our center for the performing arts.

Uh I'm attending almost every uh play by Federal Works, and I have some ideas um to invite uh the artists and performers.

Um, and then I've been active in at the Lucy uh Suffacart uh theater in the West Bay Opera, San Francisco.

Same thing in San Francisco.

But that's it.

30 seconds is so fast, but she's gonna ask you another question.

Yeah, and you get a two-minute one, but it's a long question too.

So bear with me.

So this question is a two-minute answer.

Uh describe your vision of the cultural scene and artistic desires of Mountain View and the surrounding community.

Oh uh, so your vision of the cultural scene and artistic desires of Mountain View and the surrounding communities, and what policies of the performing arts center are you interested in working on?

So I I like to um focus on like diverse uh population in Mountain View, because we have um international community, young professionals as well as um older, middle-aged uh, and I would like to introduce some more like uh symphony, symphonic performances, perhaps partnering with um San Francisco, City of San Francisco, Palo Alta, and uh bring in more classical music, perhaps, um, as well as um modern uh singers, and uh perhaps even organizing something like uh a dance, uh, like we had programmed in uh the outdoor uh performers, right?

Like we had different bands performing and it was really popular in the summer, but in the winter we can do it indoors, so um we can think about the movie nights.

Um just something something different to appeal to a public because I was observing um, you know, people different ages, like dancing.

Uh, when I go into the performance again, it's uh it's a certain audience attending, but we can introduce like um diverse program to appeal to different um population interest.

So um what else?

I was thinking about uh having an exhibits like art exhibits.

Um uh perhaps again we can vary like international um artists.

Um I can uh perhaps discuss it with other members of performing art committee and uh figure out uh what would be uh good options, but impressionists would be uh of course very interesting, and uh I can perhaps um figure out with the museum with introducing like you know, okay.

Great, okay.

Um the third question, this is a short one too, just one minute.

What do you think should be the priorities of the committee in the coming few years?

Uh so well, we need to um attract more people, come in and um enjoying our uh art offerings of uh different nature, and uh so we wanted to be um entertaining, safe.

Um we want people to be more curious, we want people uh to feel safe and uh yeah, it's uh it's a two-way street.

We just um bring more talents to Mountain View, not necessarily having to drive to cities like San Francisco, San Jose, and um collaborate with um other uh performance centers like in our sister cities, Palauta, San Jose, and uh, yeah, basically just have more um active uh art scene so that people don't feel obligated to to drive to the city.

I would just you know focus on that.

Great.

All right, well, thank you.

Uh that concludes the our interview questions.

Um, and there's uh one seat, and you are the uh applicant for that.

So we will um continue on with our interviews, but we'll the city clerk's office will let you know after we take our vote at the end of all our interviews.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you for your service.

Oh, good evening.

You too.

All right, so then I think that brings us to the last committee of the night, right?

Which is our senior advisory committee.

So we have Deanne, David, and did Marisella.

Um she's on a flight now, not gonna zoom in.

Okay, okay.

Oh, sorry, Deanna was.

Yes, she just reached through.

Okay.

So we have David then.

Okay.

Okay.

Got it.

All right.

Well, um, I had the pleasure of meeting David last week at his ribbon cutting for his business in Mountain View.

And now everyone else gets to meet him as well.

Um, okay, so we have uh, let's see, two seats but one applicant.

Well, I guess two applicants, but the one we can't uh interview.

So we'll I guess have to discuss that later during the discussion portion.

So um David, we have three um, no, we have four questions.

So how about one, two, do you want to doing three, four?

That's fine.

Perfect.

All right.

Okay, all right.

I will start.

This first question is 30 seconds, I'll come at you fast.

Um, why do you want to serve on the senior advisory committee?

So I'm a 25-year resident, Mountain View.

So this is where I live, this is where I work, this is where I pray, and this is where I play.

And for 25 years, I've been so busy with uh my work in medical devices, I haven't been able to give back.

So this is my first time and my first opportunity to be able to do my civic duty and provide some support for the work that the city might be does.

That's good.

And the second question is a minute.

What do you think would be likely areas of particular focus for you on the committee?

I think this committee is unique in that we don't have a committee for different ethnic groups.

So it's a very specific need.

And what I'm finding is that uh getting old is complex and difficult and challenging.

And so for me, the big focus is it's much easier to get old when you have resources.

When you don't have resources, it's very complex and difficult to navigate all the things that you have to do.

So for me, a focus for me is to make sure that those that are under resourced that don't have uh the the answers to their questions, they have the ability to get uh the help that they need in order to survive.

Thank you.

Okay, and um then this one is two minutes.

What would you like to see a senior advisory committee do?

Thank you for the question.

Um I would like to see us represent and give a voice uh to those people that are in this stage of life, and actually I think it's an interesting thing.

All of us will hopefully get to that stage of life where we become someone that is represented by this committee.

Um I would like us to make sure that their needs are being represented to the city, to others, uh, because sometimes it's really easy to disregard those that don't have a voice.

And so for me, I would like to see us amplify the voice of those people uh that are in the state of of being old, of having specific issues around being old, because there are specific issues around that.

Um many of the the aged that people are that are in their senior years are retired, so they are living on fixed incomes, and so they have specific challenges, especially living in the Bay Area associated with being a senior.

So I think that's a big thing.

Uh, they have much more challenges when it comes to medical needs and medical challenges, and so I think that's that's a unique uh challenge as well.

And I think it's also challenging to get old when you're in a in an area where technology is moving forward so fast that I have a hard time keeping up.

And so I think there's there's a challenge in terms of trying to keep people connected and um of um having the access to the things that they need to do in order to live their day-to-day lives.

Okay, and then we have a fourth one, which is um how will you ensure that your personal business activities do not influence or appear to influence your decisions and responsibilities if you were appointed to the senior advisory committee.

What long for that question?

Um, two minutes.

Yeah, two minutes.

Sure.

Sure.

Thank you for the question as well.

Um, as a business owner, um, as a business owner for senior uh, or actually it's not a senior care um business, it is an in-home care business.

We serve mostly seniors, uh but it is anyone that needs is in need as an adult.

Um, I would I'll recuse myself from anything that would give the appearance of some sort of conflict.

Um my business is really I'm here to serve.

And so I I hope that there isn't anything that becomes a conflict.

Um what I want to provide isn't a good, it's it's uh it's a person, uh a human being that can provide services and support for someone that is in need of that sort of support.

Um so I hope that I wouldn't be in a situation where um there would be a perceived conflict uh between how I would um represent um uh seniors and my business.

I I think in in the best case, uh what is good for the seniors is also good for my business as well.

Um, but if there was any um issues that would rise to that level, I would simply recuse myself.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, I think that concludes all of our questions for the senior advisory committee so thank you for impatiently waiting um so you're you're welcome to stay um or you may go whichever you prefer um but the committee will um bring the matter back to the committee for discussion and a recommendation to the council so we already have our board of trustees recommendation our parks and commission um recommendation and i don't believe that did we hear from um uh sarah no we did not hear from Sarah we're just gonna continue if that's okay council member showalter we did we didn't uh we were giving Sarah an extra opportunity but but she didn't show up yeah so if that's okay it's 7 10 so that's okay it's reasonable okay just wanted to check on the traffic yeah well it's a Monday Monday and my child care was a little late so that's why I was late okay so um and then so now all we have the bounds is the one seat uh specifically reserved for the downtown business association portion of the downtown committee downtown property owner and a representative of a business in the downtown category two seats for the business at large category one seat for the community at large category and one seat specifically reserved for the neighborhood association appointee we have one seat on the performing arts committee and two seats on the senior advisory committee so do we have um discussion from the committee I can move forward with the motion okay all right so let's start with this um for the downtown committee um I move that we recommend to appoint Marisolara for the downtown property and or a representative of business Mike Kasparzak Peter Katz for the business at large seat Dennis writer for the community at large seat Jamil Sheikh for the neighborhood associate neighborhood association seat uh Irina Crone for the performing arts commission and David Kim for the senior advisory committee I second that okay all right so we have a motion by Ramas and a second by council member showalter um the senior advisory committee has two seats and if we do have an applicant who has not withdrawn but who is unable to uh be interviewed is that correct did we want to discuss that or do you want to take maybe we take this motion then we can discuss that seat yeah okay all right so why don't we take the motion at hand um so all those in favor of the motion okay that's unanimous and then um did we want to revisit that we have one applicant for senior advisory that we weren't able to interview or something she is parks and rec commission so what happens to this you know we're not we actually heard from this person oh okay we actually heard from this individual that they were on an airplane so that's fair enough so that they were that they would they confirmed interest but that what they were on an airplane I think with the applicant for parks and rec we did not hear anything exactly no okay yes I like city clerk remind the um the uh council policy requires someone to have interviewed at least once I see the applicant has not I think the senior advisory committee applicant has not been interviewed before if they were an incumbent you can move forward and thank you okay so we'll have to have another um committee meeting to do parks and rec and and yeah senior advisor okay all right so I think that um they would they would be I'm sorry to interrupt they would be seated in January anyway, right?

Correct.

So we have a little bit of so I think it's to the looking to the committee.

Do we squeeze in interviews for those two before the end of the year?

If we can, I would like to do that.

The alternative would be if we had applicants.

Um wanted to come straight to council.

Instead of doing a two step process, that could be something.

Um you want to the council can override its policy in that first.

But they would have to come and be interviewed in front of all seven of us.

Correct.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean, that's fine.

If you wanted to, but yeah, yeah.

The council can waive its policy that would like our committee can't correct.

Okay, understood.

All right, thank you.

Um, City Quick, appreciate that.

So looking to the committee.

Um, since the committees aren't seated till January, it would be great to try to get it full, right?

So maybe we just work together to try to squeeze something in.

Um I think our we we would have to reissue the um notice, correct?

Yeah, and then invite those who have didn't did not make it tonight so that they can have another opportunity.

Yeah, this is odd.

I think we've got it.

I don't know.

Yeah, no, no, I think that's a good idea.

I mean, let's do it.

If it's I just feel it would be nice for all our committees to at least be full going into January, and then if there's other issues that arise, you know, other issues arise, but at least um, so then we probably need to find a date in November or November.

I just December gets tricky, but yeah, I mean we could.

Well, it's only gonna be half an hour meeting, yeah.

For us, I mean, for you it's a lot more work, yeah.

Well, and then the noticing we need is there a certain duration that we have to have the application out for?

No, we just need to notice it again.

And the noticing's already been done.

This is really just to give people an extra opportunity to apply, so there's no legal requirement.

Okay, okay.

So then we can try to find some more applicants.

Yeah, and then we just need to sync ourselves to yeah, but it's only for those two committees, right?

So there's also um the downtown.

Oh, yeah.

And downtown, we could advertise for that committee.

Also, so three, right.

Okay, so an hour, an hour, 45 minutes an hour.

Yeah, I would say for that one, let's just tell them the time.

Oh god, yes, I'll come at the same time.

Right, exactly.

And then that way no one is confused, yeah.

Yeah, because that can happen.

Um, okay, so we will I think that that's a really great way to try to um address the issue.

We have the motion on the recommendation.

This will be brought forward at the December 16th um city council meeting, so that gives us opportunity to provide a full recommendation, right?

Okay, great.

Any other discussion?

Okay, all right.

So we have uh item six, our committee staff comments, questions, committee reports, anything?

No, all right.

So then we can move on to item seven adjournment.

This meeting is adjourned at 7 15.

Oh, wonderful.

Okay, so thank you so much.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

I really appreciate your service.

I know it's very time consuming, but hopeful