Debate in Southgate Debate in Southgate (February 18, 2004)

Residents consider pros and cons of starting a neighborhood group

by Jocelyn Dong

To form an association or not to form an association -- for the neighbors of Southgate, that is the question.

Last week, the election of board members for a new Southgate residents' group was suspended two days before its conclusion, following protest by some neighbors who aren't convinced they even want a group of representatives.

Instead, board nominees decided to form a committee that would host a neighborhood-wide meeting on the issue in early to mid-March.

The Southgate debate is especially relevant at a time when neighborhood associations throughout Palo Alto have taken an active role in working with the city -- and also taken heat in some cases from residents who didn't agree with their actions.

Last September, a group of residents led by Jennifer Hagan got together to start an association in Southgate -- a neighborhood of 230 homes located next to Palo Alto High School and bounded by Churchill Avenue, El Camino Real, Park Boulevard and the train tracks. They spread the word via fliers delivered door-to-door, posted a Web site and announced an election for board members.

Hagan was inspired to form a neighborhood group after four years as a Palo Alto Parks & Recreation commissioner, during which she heard from representatives of numerous residential groups.

Hagan realized Southgate was "one of the discrete neighborhoods that didn't have a neighborhood association," she said. "There hasn't been a unified voice."

The association, she said, would serve two purposes: To give the neighborhood a "focused, consensus"-oriented group that could interact with city staff and officials, Stanford University and the school district on issues that might affect Southgate; and to disseminate information to residents.

As straightforward as that may sound, some residents, like Marian Krause, question the value of an organization. She asked Hagan last week to stop the election and poll neighbors on whether they want an association.

It's not that Krause means to be unneighborly. In fact, she's a block captain for Southgate's Neighborhood Watch program. But she has mixed feelings about an association.

One of her concerns was for residents whose views differ from a position taken by the group.

"I'm not sure how it all works. If you disagree, what happens?" she asked.

Krause recalled the time when the Midpeninsula Community Media Center considered relocating to Palo Alto High School. She was in favor; other neighbors were staunchly opposed. Holding the minority opinion amid a more vocal majority made her feel uncomfortable, she said.

Hagan, however, said she doesn't have a particular agenda for the association and just thinks it'd be a good idea to have one in place to deal with outside parties.

"The board isn't getting together to fix neighborhood problems," she said, even though she acknowledged some neighbors would like to help with cut-through traffic. Neither is it intended as "an internal policing organization. ...We're not out to tell people their walls should be five feet or six feet."

Aside from that issue, Krause said the process of starting the neighborhood group took her and others by surprise. Although she'd heard Hagan pitch the idea at the Neighborhood Watch meeting last September -- and Krause said she'd spoken of her concerns then -- she was surprised last week to receive an election ballot.

"I was shocked," Krause said, "because I didn't know we had decided (to have an association). ... This seemed to be putting the cart before the horse."

She immediately contacted Hagan and asked for a poll of neighbors. Krause is wary of jumping on the bandwagon just because other neighborhoods are.

"Neighborhood associations seem to be the latest greatest political thing to do," she said. But if the majority of residents want it, she will be fine with it, she added.

Other Southgate residents are feeing laissez-faire about the whole idea -- wanting neither to stand in the way of an organization nor to encourage its formation. Some don't see the need.

"I think individual action can be as effective as group action," said longtime resident Eugene McDonnell. Most recently, he and his wife voiced their concerns about the neighborhood's sewer systems at a meeting with the city. "We have confidence that we can make changes, because we have done it."

However, he allowed that an association "may do some good," although he said he likely wouldn't be involved.

Members of the new neighborhood committee include David Vick, Bob Stillerman, John Schwartz, John Klinestiver, Jean Martin and Hagan. They hope residents will attend the March meeting and exchange ideas on what a neighborhood association could do and how they would like one to operate. After that, Hagan said she expects there to be a poll articulating how the neighborhood association would be structured and asking for residents' support.

In spite of the suspended election and change of plans, Hagan said the process has been enlightening and given her new perspective.

"It's pure Palo Alto process," Hagan said. "I've spent a lot of time this week talking about inclusiveness and democracy and really trying to get a broad base of support. We don't want to be stepping on people."

For more information, visit the neighborhood's Web site at www.sougthgatena.org or contact Hagan at 322-8498. Assistant Editor Jocelyn Dong can be e-mailed at jdong@paweekly.com.

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