COUNCIL TAKES CABIN RETREAT GETAWAY FOCUSES ON COOPERATION.Byline: Heather MacDonald Staff Writer NEWHALL - Under the blistering blis·ter·ing n. See vesiculation. hot sun Friday in Towsley Canyon, Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, City Council members traded in their suits and power ties for business casual, and turned off their pagers and cell phones. At a cabin nestled off the canyon access road, the council focused on working better together at a team-building retreat. Mayor Jo Anne Darcy, dressed in a dark pink sweater set and black slacks, and City Manager George Caravalho, in a polo shirt and gray slacks, joined the rest of the council at the retreat. The group, using colored markers on big easels of white paper, urged increased openness and understanding. Councilman Cameron Smyth Cameron Smyth is a Republican who has represented Califoria's 38th Assembly district since December of 2006. He succeeded Keith Richman who was term limited. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Assemblyman Smyth served on the Santa Clarita City Council, where he , in a green Hawaiian print shirt and khakis khak·i n. 1. A light olive brown to moderate or light yellowish brown. 2. a. A sturdy cloth of this color. b. khakis A uniform made of this cloth. , expressed a desire to get to know his colleagues better on a personal level, to be able to more completely understand their positions on issues. ``Check egos at the door (and the) city benefits,'' wrote Councilman Frank Ferry, dressed in jean shorts and a collared red-and-white striped shirt. He used a purple marker, the school color at Valencia High School Valencia High School may refer to:
Councilman Bob Kellar, in suit slacks and a dress shirt, said increased trust among council members was crucial if they were to do their best for the city. Mayor Pro-Tem Laurene Weste joined the group late Friday afternoon. The group members also chuckled their way through exercises that encouraged problem solving problem solving Process involved in finding a solution to a problem. Many animals routinely solve problems of locomotion, food finding, and shelter through trial and error. by ``thinking outside of the box,'' after finding the tasks more difficult than expected. The tab for the three-day retreat is $12,000, including expenses, said Shirley Poitras, the facilitator who ran the retreat. The money came out of the city's general operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. . The group spent most of Friday afternoon discussing leadership skills and attributes. ``Hopefully, this will help them see that while they all have different leadership skills, one isn't right and the other isn't wrong, just different,'' Poitras said. Today, the city leaders will discuss communication, flexibility, understanding, setting norms and the long-term council vision. This evening, a reception for department heads and their spouses will be held at the cabin. Sunday will be a wrap-up and feedback session. |
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