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Home My WebLink About03-24-1998 City Council agenda (2)AGENDA SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIDE: Tuesday, March 24, 1998 5:30 p.m. PLACE: Adult Care Center, 19655 Allendale Avenue TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting /Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission and Hakone Foundation 5:30 p.m. Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Title: City Manager Mayor's Report on Closed Session. 't'� 1. Roll Call 7:30 p.m. 2. Report of City Clerk on Posting of Agenda Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on March 20. The notice of adjournment from the March 20 Council meeting was properly posted on March 20. 3. Oral Communications from the Public on Non- Agendised Items 1A 4. joint Meeting with Hakone Foundation 7:35 p.m. 4 A. Council Representation to Foundation Board A c--B: Management /operations issues Report on rentals /memberships D. status of restroom project E. Caretakers house renovation F. Upcoming projects and events S. Joint Meeting with Parks and Recreation Commission 8:30 p.m. A. Park Development Fund Project Update 1) Council support for Parks and Recreation Commission in Implementation of Prioritised Projects B. selection of Project Manager to Coordinate school Playfield Development C. Recommendation on Request from High School for Park Development Funds for Aquatics Facility D. Report on Commission /staff attendance at recent California Parks and Recreation Society conference E. status of request for funding skateboard park City Council Agenda 2 6. Self Evaluation of Previous Meeting 7. Agency Assignment Reports Assoc. of Bay Area Governments Moran Chamber of Commerce Board Wolfe County Cities Assn. Leg. Task Force Bogosian County HCD Policy Committee Jacobs Emergency Planning Council Moran Hakone Foundation Liaison Bogosian Joint Venture Silicon Valley Wolfe KSAR Community Access TV Board Shaw Library Joint Powers Agency Bogosian N. Cent. Flood Cont. Zone Adv. Bd. Bogosian Penin. Div., League of Cal. Cities Wolfe Santa Clara Valley Water Commission Jacobs Santa Clara County Cities Assn./ Wolfe /Moran City Selection Committee SASCC Liaison Shaw Saratoga Business Dev. Council Wolfe School Liaison Jacobs Sister City Liaison Shaw Solid Waste JPA Moran Valley Transportation Authority Wolfe Valley Transportation Authority PAC Shaw West Valley Sanitation District Moran March 24, 1998 8. Citizens Recognition 9. Other 10. Adjournment to 8:00 a.m. on Friday, March 27, in Administrative Conference Room for meeting with State Senator Sher c In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact Peter Gonda at 408/868 -1221. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. [28 CFR 35.102- 35.104 ADA Title II] 6'i?-,,- ugu ff o2 0&MZUQX5& 13777 FRUITVALE. AVENUE SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 (408) 868 -1200 COUNCIL MEMBERS: January 20, 1998 To: Mayor Wolf Members of the City Council Stan Bogosian Paul E. Jacobs Gillian Moran Jim Shaw Donald L. Wolfe From: Kay Whitney, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Subject: Response to Kevin Skelly, Principal at Saratoga High School, Regarding Park Development Funds for an Aquatics Center. Thank you for the opportunity to review the proposal made by Kevin Skelly. He has requested $200,000 from the Park Development Funds to be used for the construction of an aquatics center at Saratoga High School. This project has been previously reviewed by the Commission (though the proposal was slightly different), and the very concept of a community pool has been researched by the Commission in the past. The Commission has asked three basic questions in examining this project: Is there a need for a community pool? Past research has indicated that over 80% of Saratoga homes have pools. In addition there are over 12 public and private swim clubs available to our residents. Further, in public meetings and town hearings held to determine Saratoga's needs, there was very little interest in having a community pool. Based on these findings, the Commission does not feel that a community pool is a City need. 2. What the fiscal impact of operating an aquatics program? Aside from additional funds needed for any start up program, our research has shown that aquatics programs are not profitable. This could cripple a recreation fund which Council has asked to be full cost recovery in a year. Even if maintenance costs are shared (with the high school), there are still other considerations (e.g. locker room facilities, parking, scheduling, maintaining site staff, training and hiring new staff, etc.), all these costs would have to be met. In addition, aquatics programs expose the City to higher risk. (With the City being self- insured a claim could be devastating.) We have concluded that an aquatics program would be a liability to the City's budget. 3. Are there any secondary benefits that may be derived through an aquatics program? It has been suggested that this may be a way to "build community". The Commission feels that the best way to build community is to 1 build trust. We, the Council, the Commission and the City Staff, have been entrusted by the residents of Saratoga to complete the projects they &M designated as high priority and the Council has acknowledged through their vote. To provide funding for a project not on the approved list, especially when the high priority projects haven't been started, would undermine confidence and community. There is a misconception that there are additional monies available which has not been budgeted. If only....! About 2 million dollars has been loosely budgeted for the approved project list, but these allocations have been based on estimated costs. It is not uncommon that actual costs exceed what has been budgeted. Providing funding for other projects may handicap the City's ability to complete the approved projects in the manner expected by the citizens of Saratoga. Despite all these sound reasons, the Commission is sympathetic with Dr.Skelly's request. We understand what he is trying to accomplish for his school and we wish him every success. But as he must answer to the high school community, we must be accountable to the entire City and follow through on what has been promised to them. The Commission's recommendation to the Council is that the entire fund be reserved for the completion of the approved list of projects. When those immediate needs of the Saratoga community are met, other projects may be considered. Response- Skel"emo.doc I o SARATOGA HIGH SCHOOL AZI? Principal: Kevin Skelly, Ph.D. g Assistant Principals: Karen Hyde, Charles Krause The Honorable Gillian Moran Members of the Saratoga Council 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 December 4, 1997 Dear Mayor Moran and Members of the Saratoga City Council: 22300 Herriman Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 -4999 Phone 408 /867 -3411 Fax 408/867 -3577 I am writing to ask you to consider once again our request to join with us for the purpose of building a new community aquatics center at Saratoga High School. In July you made the decision to follow the recommendations of the Parks and Recreation Committee regarding budgeting for the Parks and Recreation Development Fund. This money has been allocated for other recreation upgrades in Saratoga. It is my understanding, however, that roughly $200,000 beyond the budgeted amount has been generated through new home construction. We respectfully ask that you budget this money for the pool. We are now launching a major effort among our school community to renovate our aquatic facilities. To date, we have over $300,000 pledged toward this project. Our Annual Appeal will target a new pool. Our Annual Appeal asks parents to make contributions to our school for improvements on our campus and has raised over $300,000 over the past four years. Saratoga Athletic Booster Club funds and the facility rental money we raise will be devoted toward this upgrade. This letter asks that the City Council again consider devoting $200,000 in Parks and Recreation Development Funds toward this project. This money would be available to the school for one year for the purpose of building a pool. It would be our responsibility to raise the additional money from other sources. If, at the end of the year, we have not been successful in raising the additional money, the City Council could allocate this money for some other recreational use. We have previously outlined to you and the Parks and Recreation Committee the rationale for this program. While the details would have to be negotiated, we believe that, unlike other uses for Development Fund monies, this pool project would help the City's recreation department financially. Of the money that you allocated from the Parks and Recreation Fund in July, it is my understanding that none of it has yet been spent, in part because the City of Saratoga lacks the personnel to implement these projects. With the City's support, I am confident you will see prompt results from your investment in this important recreational facility for our city. Thank you for your attention. S relgelly 'r Kevin S Principal A DISTINGUISHED CALIFORNIA SCHOOL NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE