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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: March 18, 2009 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Ann Sullivan, City Clerk DIRECTOR: Dave Anderson
SUBJECT: California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Presentation of Awards
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Listen to a short presentation from Kelly Carroll, Manager of West Valley Clean Water Program
and receive awards.
REPORT SUMMARY:
Tonight the City is receiving 2 awards from CASQA – the California Stormwater Quality
Association. Saratoga earned these awards through work done by its stormwater agency, West
Valley Clean Water Program (WVCWP). WVCWP staff participated in committees which
developed the two award-winning projects. The committees are part of our Santa Clara Valley
consortium of cities, towns, and agencies – “SCVURPPP” (Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff
Pollution Prevention Program). This program was created by all Santa Clara County
municipalities, and several agencies, to help meet requirements of our EPA Stormwater
Discharge Permit. SCVURPPP involves representatives from Santa Clara County itself, from
each Santa Clara County municipality, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District. Together
these staff members work on a variety of projects aimed at meeting requirements of the
Stormwater Permit.
Saratoga’s staff, through its stormwater agency WVCWP, was integrally involved in creating
these award-winning projects.
In selecting the award-winning projects, CASQA reviewed projects from throughout the State,
related to preventing stormwater pollution. One award honored the “Trash Toolbox” program.
This addresses litter which can end up in our local creeks, and ultimately in the San Francisco
Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The “Trash Toolbox” addresses sources of trash, trash pathways into
our creeks, and methods of controlling this trash problem. The “Trash Toolbox” program stood
out from competition throughout the state of California, and received the award for “Stormwater
Research Project of the Year”.
The other CASQA award honored the “Green Gardener” program. This was the “Stormwater
Information/Outreach Award”, and it was shared with several other California programs which
have also implemented Green Gardener programs. The Green Gardener program for Santa Clara
County is especially aimed at reaching small landscaping contractors who might not otherwise
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have access to this type of training. The emphasis of the training is to learn to implement
landscaping practices which reduce harmful runoff into our water systems. This includes
reducing use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. Classes are available in English and in
Spanish, and some tuition subsidies have been provided by SCVURPPP members. It is hoped
that local residents will seek out landscapers who’ve undertaken the Green Gardener training.
Landscapers using these techniques provide homeowners with a healthier yard, and also help to
reduce pollution in our creeks.
Further information on the Trash Toolbox and Green Gardener programs are available by
contacting WVCWP at: info@cleancreeks.org
FISCAL IMPACTS:
N/A
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION:
None
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Posting of the agenda.
ATTACHMENTS:
Water Quality Monitoring and Watershed Assessment Report