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MAJoR THEMES <br /> <br /> A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO THE RIVER ROAD/SANTA CLARA TRANSITION <br /> (continued) <br /> The committee is hopeful about a more constructive future. We have been impressed by the good will. of <br /> <br /> the councilors with whom we have met and have particularly appreciated the consistent presence of <br /> Councilor. Pape at our meetings. Likewise, the management and staffs of the City and County who have <br /> supported and helped to inform the committee have been uniformly professional with clearly unqualified <br /> intentions of doing a good job for us. In short, we have the potentials for a truly constructive and <br /> collaborative transition, but the Councils' concerted engagement seems a necessary fulcrum for majority <br /> rule. <br /> COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION <br /> by Julie Fischer <br /> A major challenge for River Road and Santa Clara residents is access to information about urban <br /> services. Residents are often unsure about who to call -city or county -and public officials are <br /> sometimes as confused as residents. Improving the flow of information between government, elected <br /> officials, and citizens is critical to rebuilding trust between the City and River Road Santa Clara. <br /> The only official tool of communication for residents is the community <br /> organization newsletters, and poor funding limits circulation. The "Santa Olaf°a <br /> neighborhood organizations hold regular meetings to discuss community lacks a <br /> issues, but attendance is low. Within city and county government, there community center, <br /> is no specific person in charge of River Road Santa Clara issues. <br /> and it desperately <br /> A simple solution to improve communication is to increase the circulation needs a .way to <br /> of the newsletters. If each resident received a newsletter, it is likely that bring together <br /> attendance at neighborhood meetings would increase. Funding could established residents <br /> come from the Park or Water district. A low-cost option for improving and new fzeighbors. <br /> communication would be to develop an information page on the City <br /> website, or create a separate River Road Santa Clara website. A major <br /> commitment toward improving communication would be to appoint a city staff person to track issues <br /> related to River Road Santa Clara and relay information to the community organizations. <br /> One of the greatest assets to communication is the River Road Parks and Recreation District. Programs, <br /> classes, and events bring residents to the facility, where they communicate with neighbors, discuss <br /> issues, and feel part of a community. Santa Clara lacks a community center, and it desperately needs a <br /> way to bring together established residents and new neighbors. Building a community center in Santa <br /> Clara would greatly enhance communication in the area. <br /> 12 <br /> <br />