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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: May 19, 2010 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Crystal Morrow DIRECTOR: Barbara Powell
Administrative Analyst II Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: 2010 Fall Issue of The Saratogan
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept report and direct staff accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
The Saratogan is used as a tool to improve communications with residents and ensure the public
has access to important information. The City has published a wide range of articles in past
issues, ranging from public safety articles to water conservation tips to updates on City projects.
To reduce expenses in the 2010/11 budget, The Saratogan will be incorporated into the Saratoga
Recreation Activity Guide. Residents will continue to receive all the benefits of the newsletter
three times per year and the City will realize a savings of $23,000.
The spring issue of The Saratogan was mailed to residents in April 2010 and featured Saratoga
success stories. Story topics included positive changes that have been made in Saratoga Village,
healthy and active living in Saratoga, and efforts to make Saratoga more sustainable. The
newsletter also included Ask Jana, a story on MOVE-IT Saratoga, an announcement for the
Saratoga Community Garage Sale, a notice for the City Council joint meeting with homeowner
and neighborhood associations, information about Arbor Day, and an article on low interest
home repair loans.
Staff has started developing preliminary article topics for the fall issue of The Saratogan, which
will be mailed to residents in early August 2010. The articles are centered on “Building Capital
in Saratoga”. Below is a list of proposed primary and secondary articles.
Primary Article Topics:
• Budget highlights
• CaliforniaFIRST
• Saratoga Prospect Center improvements
• Village streetscape project
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Secondary Article Topics:
• Annual Tree Lighting announcement
• Ask Jana
• Resident services provided by West Valley Collection & Recycling
• Santa Clara County Prescription Discount Program
• Traffic Safety Tips
• Website features (email notifications, permit search, etc.)
To ensure The Saratogan meets the expectations of the City Council, staff is seeking input for
the fall issue.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
N/A
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
Staff will move forward without Council input on the theme, article topics, or other aspects of
the fall issue of The Saratogan.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION(S):
Implement Council direction.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, this item was properly posted as a City Council agenda
item and was included in the packet made available on the City’s web site in advance of the
meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also made available at the Saratoga Branch Library each
Monday in advance of the Council meeting.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: The Saratogan 2010 spring issue