Announcements
Joan Heller and John Sherry delivered donated coats to the Concord Homeless Shelter and the donated gifts to Shelter Inc prior to the holidays
Christmas Breakfast at El Charro attended by 12 members
Gin Fizz party attended by 12 members at the Chamber office.
Jack Hansen is having difficulty getting around and needs a walker these days. He is missed.
Terry Camp is doing better with his business.. Sherry told him we miss him and he said he would try to attend a meeting soon.
Reno Train Trip cancelled for lack of sign ups. Travel agent may have a car trip for Rotarians in March. More to follow
Stage committee notified by the Lafayette Community Foundation that they will be our fund raising arm for the stage at the reservoir. The land use application will be submitted to EBMUD next week. Once approved, a timeline will be established for construction.
Committee members are: John Sherry, Larry Blodgett, Larry Duson, Dick Holt, Jay Lifson, and Bob Shusta.
Honor dinner for Ed Stokes presented by Tom Courtright. Jan 22. Almost sold out, sign up soon.
Rotary Ski Trip planned for March 5. Contact Ron Wake.
Nominations for monthly Paul Harris $100 award for excellence in our club for next week. Start thinking about the person you choose.
There will be 3 big band dances this year./ First is Valentines day 2/12/10 at Rossmoor. Tickets available at the Chamber Office.
The nominating Committee must have nominations ready by next week’s meeting. To be sent to Intl. in Jan.

Recognitions
Tom Henry Birthday, Donated $100
Mike Heller turned 60 in Dec and Joan Heller turned 65.
Jack Clarkson turned 85 on Jan 1. Donated $100.

Larry Blodgett, Bob Shusta Troy Fedderson and Chuck Vogel fined for not attending the membership meeting in Dec.

Speakers:
Announced by Tom Henry
Current Mayor Brandt Andersson and Past Mayor and Current Council member Don Tatsin updated the state of the city.

Library opened Nov. 14 and has exceeded expectations. Attendance has increased from about 500 at the old Library to 1800 per day. Opening hours increased from 40 hours per week to about 52. Fundraising for the library maintenance and costs continues.

Downtown plan is designed to attract quality businesses while maintaining a balance between growth and the small town fell we enjoy. Goal is to complete plan this year with a lot of public input. In 20 years we want people to say we want the city to stay the way it is as we do now. The plan will be set up to take advantage of opportunities for growth as they present themselves

Open space plan based on how to acquire open space. Committee plan presented to purchase areas as they become available with $1 million in available bond money.

Fiscal Challenges. Lafayette has been run in the past in the mode of a low tax status and low service community. In that environment, road issues have been put off for a long time. Currently there is about $50 million in work to do. The past 2 bond measures failed. Police have also been kept to a small force and contracted from the county. With the county financial situation, our costs for the contracts are expected to increase significantly. Currently looking for alternative ways to improve our police force and maintain a low cost curve.

A charter has been drafted to move Lafayette to a Charter City status.
The advantages of this are local control and more revenue source opportunites.
Charter moving forward and may show up on the Nov. ballot.

Meeting adjourned on time!

3rd Annual Soroptimist Crab Feed & Silent Auction. All you can eat crab, pasta, salad, bread, dessert & Live Jazz band. Funds raised support programs that improve the lives of women and girls in our community. Saturday, 20 February 2010, 6:00 p.m., Oakwood Athletic Club-Lower Court, 4000 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, Tickets $40; advance purchase required. Call (925) 688-1480 or www.soroptimist24-680.org.