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Home My WebLink About102-Attachment A: The Saratogan 2009 spring issue.pdfSaratoganSaratoganTheCITY o f S A RATOG A CALIF O R N I A1956 Spring 2009 Community Garage Sale Springing into Summer Garage Sales This summer residents have the opportunity to reduce waste and earn some spare change during the city-sponsored community garage sale. This event will take place on August 8, 2009 with registration starting in June 2009. The City will provide free citywide advertising, a listing of garage sale locations on the website, garage sale tips for those who register, and donation collection sites for unsold items and electronic waste. Sustainable Saratoga The City of Saratoga has made the urban canopy a top priority, which helps keep the community sustainable. Trees perform critical ecological functions, such as fi ltering storm water and breaking down harmful pollutants, that protect Saratoga’s environment. Last year, the City planted 50 trees and treated more than 400 trees. Additionally, Saratoga was recognized as a Tree City USA—a special award given to cities that have demonstrated dedication to the urban forest. Trees are one of the many ways Saratoga is promoting sustainability. In this issue of The Saratogan learn more about what is being done to keep your City sustainable. •• Garage Sale •• Residents play a critical role in diverting waste from landfi lls by recycling, composting, and other reduction techniques. This year, the City is making it easier to reduce waste through a community garage sale, which will help residents sell unwanted items instead of disposing them. Read more below. •• Water Conservation •• Many California cities face the possibility of water rationing and the effects of below average rain levels. Conserving water now helps protect precious water resources. Read about water conservation tips on page 2. •• Environmentally Friendly Park Management •• There are many ways to adopt environmentally friendly practices, including the ways in which landscaping is maintained. Turn to page 2 to see how Saratoga parks are sustainably managed. The Saratoga annual cleanup is scheduled for July 13, 2009 - September 18, 2009. Specifi c dates and information will be mailed to residents. Azule Park in Saratoga Water Saving Tips This marks the third consecutive year of drought conditions in California. Conserving water supplies is essential to the sustainability of Saratoga and other cities in the Bay Area, which is why the Santa Clara Valley Water District has called for mandatory water rationing this summer. Residents play a key role in this effort; here are a few simple changes residents can make to help preserve water resources: Installing water-effi cient appliances and fi xtures. Up to 18 gallons of water • a day can be saved by using a high-effi ciency washing machine. Replacing high-fl ow showerheads and toilets with low-fl ow fi xtures • will save as much as 16 gallons of water a day. Using drip irrigation and mulch around landscaping can save 40 – 55 gallons of water each day. • Visit http://www.valleywater.org/conservation for more tips and information. Keeping Green Parks “Green” The City of Saratoga’s Department of Public Works is doing its part to create a sustainable Saratoga. While many park management plans call for spraying entire parks with toxic chemicals, Saratoga uses less toxic products and minimizes their use by focusing control only in areas with weeds. This means residents can enjoy healthier parks throughout the City. Grass requires constant maintenance, from regular mowing and watering to replacing worn areas with fresh turf. By replacing worn grass areas in El Quito and Congress Springs parks with decomposed granite paths, Saratoga is reducing its water usage by over 500,000 gallons a year! The new paths allow rainwater to soak through and do not require fertilizers, pesticides, weed control, or mowing. Savor Saratoga Sustainability is about more than just the environment. It is important to ensure Saratoga has a sustainable business environment. Supporting the local economy is as easy as buying from Saratoga businesses. Remember—stop, shop, and savor Saratoga. Ask Jana Got Code Enforcement questions? Ask Jana! Send your questions to Jana Rinaldi at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga CA 95070 or by email to jrinaldi@saratoga.ca.us. Conceptual website design Dear Jana, There is a car parked in front of my house, which has been there for three days. I am concerned the vehicle has been abandoned. Are there any City regulations that prohibit this car form being parked in front of my house? Parking Problem Paul Dear Paul, Parking on the street is open to public use, unless marked as a special parking zone. If a vehicle has been parked on a street that is not marked as a special parking zone for more than 72 hours then it can be reported to me at (408) 868-1214 or jrinaldi@saratoga.ca.us. Be sure to report the vehicle location, make, model, color, and license plate number. I will then post a notice on the vehicle indicating that it will be towed in 72 hours if not moved. Jana Dear Jana, I was driving down Saratoga Avenue on a Saturday afternoon and noticed a bunch of real estate signs at the signals. I thought it looked a little ridiculous and I would like to know if there are rules that regulate open house signs. Sign Investigator Dear Sign Investigator, There are several rules in the City’s Municipal Code that regulate real estate signs. Real estate signs are not allowed on • medians. The City allows up to one sign for an • open house to be displayed in any given intersection. Open house signs can be displayed until • 6:00 p.m. during winter and until 8:00 p.m. from spring to fall. If any sign is in violation of City regulations, then I will remove it. A $20 fee is charged for retrieval of the sign. If you see any signs that are not in compliance with our Municipal Code, you can contact me at (408) 868-1214 or jrinaldi@saratoga.ca.us to report the signs. Jana New City Website Coming Soon! Finding important information and conducting City business online will be even easier this summer! Earlier this year, the City began working with Civica Software to develop a new website with a focus on user convenience. Residents can expect the new City website to refl ect Saratoga’s natural beauty, feature easy to use navigation tools, allow users to fi nd needed information and resources more quickly, and offer interactive tools, such as email subscriptions. For more information, contact Crystal Morrow at cmorrow@saratoga.ca.us or (408) 868-1275. Postal Customer Local PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Saratoga, CA Permit No. 136 ECRWSS The Saratogan 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 CIT Y o f S ARATO G A CALIFO R N I A1956 Happy Saratoga Summer Campers Got ideas for The Saratogan? Send story ideas or comments to Crystal Morrow at cmorrow@ saratoga.ca.us or (408) 868-1275. Neighborhood Association Joint Meeting Summer Camps Get A New Look Even though its only spring, it’s not too early to start planning for Summer Camps! The Recreation Department is excited to present a re-vamped program that offers more fl exibility, affordability, and increased activities for the participants. With a new weekly format, parents can sign up for a single week rather than a two-week session. Camps include a new Discovery Camp for older children (8-10 years) that focuses on science projects and will offer a weekly fi eld trip (e.g. the new California Academy of Sciences). The popular Nature & Camp Caterpillar Camps will be returning and will include an array of eco-friendly activities.The Adventure Camp (8-10 yrs), Teen X-treme Adventures (11-14 yrs), and Leader-in-Training program (13-16 yrs) will also be held this summer. Sign up now at www.saratoga.ca.us/ recreation or call (408) 868-1249 for more information. City Business License Audit Are you a business owner in Saratoga? Did you know Saratoga’s Municipal Code requires companies doing business in Saratoga to register and obtain a business license from the City? The City has hired MuniServices, a fi nance services fi rm, to conduct a comprehensive business license audit and contact unregistered businesses. The purpose of the audit is to apply the business license code equitably and educate business owners about the requirements of the City’s ordinance. For more information, contact the City’s MuniServices representatives at their toll free number (800) 987-0999 or by fax at (559) 275-0289. Business license applications can be found on the City’s website at www.saratoga.ca.us/onlineforms.html under “Business License Forms”. Celebrate Trees, Participate in Arbor Day :: April 24, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. in Beauchamps Park, located at Beauchamps Lane and Bowhill Court — Residents are invited to enjoy refreshments, help plant an oak tree, learn more about how trees keep Saratoga sustainable, and take a seedling to plant at home. For more information, visit www.saratoga.ca.us. Attention Neighborhood Groups! The City Council will hold the second annual Homeowner and Neighborhood Associations joint meeting on June 17, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the Joan Pisani Community Center. For more information or to register, contact Debbie Bretschneider at debbieb@saratoga.ca.us or (408) 868-1216.