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that the group should not be so big that nothing gets accomplished, and there needs to be a strong emphasis on the committee reporting back to and getting comments ITom the policy makers. Otherwise, at the end there will be a report that ends up on the shelf and nobody wants to read. Mayor Hartnett said that "there is work to be done on the process and method of participation, but there is no work to be done on what we are trying to accomplish." Councilwoman La Berge acknowledged the importance of proper planning, but said it was very important to have some early successes. She said there needs to be "some visible evidence in the community that some action is going to take place before the whole process is completed." Councilman Ruskin said he shared many of the thoughts Mayor Hartnett had voiced, and agreed it was significant that Redwood City 2000's goals coincided with the Council's primary priorities. Councilman Ruskin said he was concerned with gangs and the safety of our neighborhoods, and felt a coming together of the community was the best answer. Councilman Ruskin said the overlapping of all levels was really valuable and he suggested it be extended to the executive committee and that it include some ex officio elected officials or officials of community groups. He suggested that when the plan is being developed that it also take into account the activities of the Redwood City boards, committees and commissions. Councilman Ruskin said he believed the proposed team might be too large. He said the report about Central Oklahoma impressed him and asked if the Committee intended to look at the quantitative indices to gauge results. Councilman Ruskin said it would be better to have a few goals and accomplish them to get the support of the community, and move on from there. He added that he hoped the effort was driven by a desire to solve practical problems rather than ITom any ideological basis. Councilwoman Howard, member of the Housing and Human Concerns Committee for eleven years, said that dwindling funds and increasing needs had caused the ITustration level to rise dramatically over the years. She said that was why she was so happy to hear about Redwood City 2000. Councilwoman Howard said she still had concerns about making sure the whole community is involved; having interpreters there so that a broad spectrum of the population felt a part of the process; having meetings at different times to allow for different work schedules; and having all age groups being involved especially young people. She said Redwood City 2000 offers a better solution to what is happening now and the money will go further. Councilwoman Howard asked that the team consider zero based funding as there was a possibility that money would not be the answer. She suggested that volunteers and community services at no cost be fully pursued. Trustee Nail said he came to the meeting pretty skeptical, but he was not as skeptical now as he was originally. Trustee Nail expressed concerns that it "seemed to be easy to define community as Redwood City." Although Mr. Gordon said the team would not be exclusive, Trustee Nail said when you use the name Redwood City it suggests borders. Trustee Nail said the concept of community had to be broadened, not necessarily the first day or first year, but it had to be broadened. He added that the community should be as large as possible, as inclusive as possible, and we should "be good neighbors." Trustee Nail said fences are erected "the MINUTE BOOK NO. 54 Special Joint Council Meeting Minutes Page No. 132 March 18, 1996 Page 11