Despite budget cuts, the city of Mountain View has agreed to continue managing Deer Hollow Farm – and Los Altos Hills is willing to help.
The Los Altos Hills City Council May 20 agreed to support the nearby farm financially if Mountain View meets certain provisions.
Los Altos Hills City Manager Carl Cahill said the town would make a one-time $10,000 donation to the city of Mountain View for the farm’s upkeep, subject to a few conditions.
Councilmembers want Los Altos Hills residents to receive priority registration for Mountain View Parks and Recreation programs and camps at Deer Hollow – a working farm and educational center in the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve south of Los Altos – and pay the same registration fees as Mountain View residents, Cahill said.
Whether Mountain View city officials agree to the conditions remains to be seen, according to Regina Maurantonio, Mountain View recreation manager. After gathering details of the conditions, the issue will be added to the Mountain View City Council’s agenda, she said.
“It’s very preliminary right now,” Maurantonio said. “And ultimately it will be up to our city councilmembers to decide.”
Los Altos Hills councilmembers also expressed hope that local residents would contribute matching funds for subsequent years.
In addition to financial support, councilmembers proposed other ideas to keep the farm operating.
“We are unanimously supportive of the farm,” said Councilman Jean Mordo. “However, farm supporters should start an endowment fund which will generate revenue.”
Although everyone has free access to the farm, Mountain View oversees operations at an annual cost of $110,000. With additional funding from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, a grant from Santa Clara County and support from the non-profit Friends of Deer Hollow Farm, the farm has hosted school groups and families for 35 years.
Sue Gale, president of Friends of Deer Hollow Farm, said she doubts that the all-volunteer organization has the fund-raising capacity to start an endowment at this time.
“Our volunteers and board members already raise $35,000 annually from the community through fundraisers, public events and merchandise sales,” Gale said. “Friends would need more volunteers and expertise to raise 10 times that amount to fund its current commitments and create an endowment fund whose interest can significantly support the farm’s operations.”
Representatives from neighboring cities, including Los Altos, attended an informational meeting April 29 initiated by Mountain View to discuss possible financial contributions to the farm. Only Los Altos Hills has pledged support thus far.
Contact Jana Seshadri at [email protected].
