Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-1991 City Council Agenda packetPrinted on recycled paper. UMW ©g j ae 3 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 4; o ��,v (408) 867 -3438 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO. 2-o'3 AGENDA ITEM: MEETING DATE October 2, 1991 CITY MANAGER: ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT COUNCIL MEMBERS: Karen Anderson Martha Clevenger Willem Kohler Victor Monia Francis Stutzman SUBJECT: TO DEVELOP A CITY IRRIGATION SYSTEM MASTER PLAN FOR PARKS, MEDIANS, PARKWAYS AND LANDSCAPE FACILITIES. Recommended Action: Approve the proposal from Russell D. Mitchell and Associates to develop a City Irrigation System Master Plan for parks, medians, parkways and landscape facilities. Summary: The City of Saratoga requested written proposals to develop a City- wide irrigaion policy that would include a plan to upgrade existing landscape irrigation systems. The new policy and standards will conform to the latest water conservation measures and equipment. The plan will provide a working document for restructuring the city's old irrigation systems and to develop irrigation water conservation standards using the latest technology. The plan will survey and inventory the present system and establish standards and guidelines for any future systems to be designed and constructed with emphasis on water conservation. The plan will define and establish a five -year program to replace and upgrade the present irrigation system throughout the established City landscape facilities. Staff received five (5) written proposals which were as follows: Russell D. Mitchell Associates Madrone Landscape Group W. Jeffrey Heid Associates Brookwater Design Sugimura Associates $11,750.00 16,684.00 19,947.00 20,755.00 35,130.00 Staff reviewed all completed proposals and is recommending Russell D. Mitchell Associates be approved by City Council to develop a City -wide Irrigation Master Plan. Staff selected Russell D. Mitchell Associates after carefully reviewing their proposal which meets all stated goals and tasks listed in the City's request for proposal. Staff reviewed and discussed with other agencies that have worked with this firm checking their background, capabilities and experience in developing an Irrigation System Master Plan. Staff received very favorable comments from the City of Sunnyvale who commissioned Russell D. Mitchell Associates for a plan and feasibility study to develop a centralized irrigation control system. Since 1970, Russell D. Mitchell has done private irrigation consulting and in 1978 incorporated as Russell D. Mitchell Associates. Martin D. Dickson, a principal in the firm, will be the project manager. He has allotted sixty (60) days to complete this project. Fiscal Impacts: In the fiscal year 1991/92 budget, City Council approved $20,000 to fund a City -wide Irrigation Master Plan. SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO. O g C AGENDA ITEM: MEETING DATE: October 2, 1991 CITY MANAGER: /�c- G ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: HAKONE GARDENS WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM Recommended Action: Summary: Fiscal Impacts: Attachments: 1) Report 2) Appropriation Resolution Motion and Vote: Approve plans and specifications and authorize going out to bid. Approve appropriationn resolution which adds $80,000 to the budget for this project. The current domestic water supply and irrigation system at Hakone Gardens is extremely old and inadequate. With the development of the adjacent Morrow property, the City gained, through a cooperative agreement, the opportunity to connect to a large, newly constructed domestic water tank. The City retained the Engineering firm of Bissell and Karn to provide a design which would produce not only domestic water together with adequate fire protection, but also an up -to -date irrigation systen. The fire protection provisions meet the standards dictated by the Saratoga Fire District. The irrigation system provides a modern system to operate effectively and efficiently under our current and long term drought- fighting criteria. The current budget includes $50,000 for this project. This budget amount was developed based on very limited information and would provide only the irrigation system and not meet the requirements of the Fire District. The estimated cost of the proposed improvement is $130,000 which requires a budget adjustment of $80,000. When completed, there will be a reduction in operating costs since the need for manual irrigation will be greatly reduced. Additionally, the increased fire protection will cause a reduction in the fire insurance premium. HAKONE GARDENS WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION In order to utilize the new source of water, the City must construct a water main from the tank to the currently improved portion of the Garden. From that main, domestic service connections can be made to provide water for the Lower House, Cultural Exchange Center, and Caretaker's home. Irrigation service connections can be made for the main garden, the Bamboo Park, and the outlying landscaped areas. Standard fire hydrants can be installed in several locations as needed for fire protection. The Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 1991/92 allocates $50,000 for this project. This amount is based on the estimated cost for making improvements to the irrigation system only. The Engineers Cost Estimate for construction of the complete water system is $130,000; therefore an additional $80,000 must be appropriated to construct the complete project. Plans have been prepared for the construction of a water distribution system which will provide for all the service described above. We recommend that Council approve those plans, adopt the Appropriation Resolution, and authorize the City Engineer to call for public bids. BACKGROUND When Hakone Gardens was originally built, it obtained all of its water from a private well located on the property. Over the past twenty or so years, as the water table dropped and the use of the Gardens increased, the City was forced to connect to the San Jose Water Company lines in Congress Springs Road. This connection required that we pump the water up to the Gardens for use; which caused a major increase in the per gallon cost for water. The landscaping in the Bamboo Park, which was built in 1987, is very difficult to irrigate because water pressure at its elevation is very low. Additionally, the quantity which could be pumped was not adequate to meet Saratoga Fire District's standards for fire protection. Upon development of the adjacent property (Morrow) the City was able to obtain a new source of water for the Gardens' use. In exchange for being allowed to place their water tank on the higher lying Hakone property, the developer agreed to let the Garden draw its water from that source. With the construction of the tank the City now has the opportunity, not only to have enough water pressure to irrigate all regions of the Gardens, but also to obtain enough water to meet the Fire District's standards. HAKONE GARDENS IRRIGATION SYSTEM PAGE 2 In preparation for the budget, staff reviewed the irrigation needs of Hakone and determined that a complete irrigation system could be designed and constructed for $50,000. Based on that estimate, we obtained proposals for the design services of a Civil Engineer or Landscape Architect. The engineering firm of Bissell and Karn was selected, and on November 7, 1990, Council approved their contract for professional services. During the preparation of plans and specifications, it became obvious that a loop main would provide not only the water needed for the irrigation system, but if properly sized (6" diameter) and with the addition of standard fire hydrants, would meet the Fire District's fire protection standards. The consultant, the engineering department, and the Fire Chief worked together in developing the criteria for the design. It became obvious early on that a complete water distribution system which met all of the garden's needs would be prudent. SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO. l O O AGENDA ITEM 41 MEETING DATE: /D CITY MGR. APPROVAL W u'� ORIGINATING DEPT: !,/t��./ SUBJECT: Reclassification of Authorized Position Recommended Motion: Approve Reclassification. Report Summary: The position of Secretary which is shared by the Finance Department and the City Manager's Office has become vacant and staff is recommending reclassification from Secretary to Clerk Typist. This Secretary position was new in the 90/91 fiscal year and intended to be shared by the Finance Director and Community Services Director. Within a few weeks after the position was filled last January, the position of Community Services Director was eliminated and the City Manager's Office and Community Services Department were combined and reorganized. As the job has evolved, the required duties are less of a secretarial nature and more appropriate to the Clerk Typist classification. Filling the position at the Clerk Typist level will facilitate cross training with other members of the clerical staff, and give more flexibility for clerical support to the varied activities of these two departments. Fiscal Impacts: Reclassification will result in 20% salary savings. Attachments: Resolution No. 2663.3 Amending Resolution No. 2663 Motion and Vote: 0 1L 4. SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO. 2O8 (0 AGENDA ITEM 6 MEETING DATE: October 2, 1991 ORIGINATING DEPT: Engineering Discussion: CITY MGR. APPROVAL SUBJECT: Pedestrian /Bicycle Safety Improvement in and around Saratoga Ave. /Fruitvale Ave. Intersection 1. Receive status report on interim safety measures. 2. Authorize staff to execute a change order to the 1991 Pavement Management Program contract to install a six foot asphalt bicycle path along the east side of Fruitvale Ave. between Wildcat Creek and Saratoga Ave.. 3. Direct staff to evaluate the feasibility of reprogramming Capital Project No. 9105, Saratoga Ave. /Fruitvale Ave. Inter- section Improvements from FY 93 -94 to FY 92 -93. Since your previous meeting, staff has provided interim safety improvements in the vicinity of the Saratoga Ave. /Fruitvale Ave. intersection. These improvements are highlighted on the attached drawing #1. Additionally, the School District has found a second adult crossing guard to assist children crossing Saratoga Avenue and the Sheriff's Deputies and Community Service Officers have been present at the intersection during the past two weeks. All of this seems to have improved the situation from what it was when the school year began. Staff is continuing to pursue additional interim safety improvements. Among these are controlling the free right turn movement from Fruitvale onto Saratoga Ave., increasing the available time for school children to cross Saratoga Avenue by reprogramming the signal controller, installing flashing yellow caution lights which would operate during those times when school children are present and installing additional signs and pavement markings as may be advisable. Staff has also reviewed the possibility of widening the bicycle lane along the east side of Fruitvale Ave. betwen Wildcat Creek and Saratoga Ave.. As you recall, the Public Safety Commission and parents of Redwood School children recommended the City install an asphalt path along the Kerwin Ranch property similar to the one along the Heritage Orchard claiming that the existing bicycle path along the roadway is narrow and dangerous. The attached drawing #2 depicts the cross section of Fruitvale Ave. which shows the bicycle lane along the east side of the street as being only 2.5' wide. (Note that 1 do not consider the 3' wide rolled crub and gutter to be a part of the bicycle lane.) Since the additional width which could be gained by restriping the traffic lanes on the east side of Fruitvale Ave. is at most nine inches, I believe that the City Council should authorize construction of a separate 4' 6' wide asphalt bicycle path behind the rolled curb and gutter. The cost to install such a path would be approximately $10,000 and if authorized, could be constructed via a change order to the recently let contract for the 1991 Pavement Management Program. Lastly, the City Council was also requested to reprogram Capital Project No. 9105, Saratoga Avenue /Fruitvale Avenue Intersection Improvements from FY 93 -94 to FY 92 -93. The current Capital Improvement Plan has $75,000 allocated for this project. With the recent developments regarding the future of the Kerwin Ranch property, it may be possible and even desirable to reprogram Capital Project No. 9105 one year earlier. This decision need not be made at this time however. Rather, staff will analyze the implications of reprogramming the project and will present the results of the analysis to you when you update the CIP next spring. Fiscal Impacts: Improvements already implemented less than $1,000. Additional interim improvements $500 to $5,000 depending on what is done. Asphalt bicycle path along Kerwin Ranch property $10,000. Reprogramming of Capital Project No. 9105 Unknown at this time. Attachments: 1. Drawing No. 1 Saratoga Ave. /Fruitvale Ave. intersection. 2. Drawing No. 2 Fruitvale Ave. cross section 3. Letter from Angus Huang. 4. Letter from Linda Davis dated September 16, 1991. Motion Vote: City Council: 1 I am an eighth grader at Redwood Middle School and am concerned with the bike lane issue. I bike constantly and have had the experience of biking to Argonaut School for three years. I live on the corner of Fruitvale and Allendale. My route, along with many other kids, contains Fruitvale Avenue. The bike lane going towards the library is extremely dangerous. It is very narrow; two bikers could not ride parallel without going out of the bike lane. Therefore, one biker could not pass another biker or jogger. Even riding as close as possible to the orchard, there have been many instances where cars have come less than a foot away from hitting me. Big busses from West Valley College and trucks going at forty mph also come close. The turbulence of the air from passing busses can make your bike shake. To add to the disorder, riders and joggers are stuck in a gutter. The curved part of the bike lane is notably hard to ride in. I just wish this could be corrected and safe for all the people of Saratoga. A concerned student, Angus Huang Kerwin Ranch Since 1870 13616 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 September 16, 1991 Larry Perlin, City Engineer City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Ave Saratoga, Ca 95070 Dear Mr. Perlin: I received a phone call from a Saratoga News reporter (Gelhaus) informing me that some confusion still exists among the bicycle safety group regarding our position on widening the bike path along Fruitvale Ave. As a follow up to our earlier conversations, we would like to clarify our position with you and other city officials. We have no objection to widening the existing bike path on the eastern side of Fruitvale Ave adjacent to our property. Our concern all along was in regard to the construction of a new pedestrian sidewalk next to a working orchard. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Thank you for your assistance to us in addressing this matter. Sincerely Yours, Linda J. Davis Co- Trustee .5,4RATOGA AVE. errti`, Area $V46. 4i164r:._rt Re-Shige 4 imirP X 1-04t1.4. 'a%04 add 2 'More 8 9"-s ke'400c7 fersA kirA, 44. N 3 'ROLLCURB EkiST: BI ICE LANE NEW QIkE LANE ExisT: LANE STRIPE Ear 5r: LANE STR /pE NEW BIKE LANE- EXIST: BIKE LANE 3'ROLLCuf3 N 1 N A 1 /o-7"./7 Engineering Information Systems, Inc. 395 SarStoga Ave. Second Floor Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 867 -6611 October 4, 1991 City Council City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 Subject: 9/9/91 Petition to revoke Ordinance 71.91 (re cellular transmission antennas) Dear Council Members: This letter is in follow -up to the discussion during the 10/2/91 Council Meeting. I again urge you to act immediately to revoke the ordinance, before applications are made for additional towers. With obviously serious health hazard questions remaining unresolved, what possible benefit could come from allowing further applications to be made at this time? TV stations 5, 7, 11, and 36 have recently covered a very similar situation in the Almaden Valley area of San Jose, where GTE has installed a tower in a tiny commer- cial island immediately adjacent to a densely occupied residential area, and another cellular company has an application pending to install a second tower next to it. I urge you to contact one of the victims of this travesty, Mr. Jim Seymour [268 -2077, 997 7505, 742 5991 (office)] to find out what the consequences of such a situation can be. From what I have heard about the Almaden Valley situation, I expect the residents there will be successful in getting the tower removed; but that will hardly compensate them for the stress they have been under nor for the tremendous impact on the lives and careers of those there who have had to fight against the gross intrusion that was inflicted upon them. I have recently filed requests with the heads of the FCC and EPA to institute generally applicable corrective measures. Others have recently filed similar requests with the California PUC. But please don't wait for action at the state or federal level. Please: stop this thing now before it gets totally out of hand in Saratoga. Sincerely, Don Whetstone 001 7 1991