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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-2010 SUPPLEMENTAL COUNCIL AGENDA2010 Taste of Saratoga — Art & Wine Festival Proposal to The Saratoga City Council by The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce Goal: To present a professionally managed two -day Taste of Saratoga — Art & Wine Festival September 25 -26, 2010 Update on Event Preparations to Date: • Caltrans has issued an encroachment permit for September 25 and 26. • An event management group has been selected and is holding the dates open • Committee reps have been in conversation with Captain Terry Calderone of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department, who is supportive of the two -day event and has agreed to provide officers needed for security and traffic control. ■ The Chamber Board of Directors is very enthusiastic to develop and produce a well- organized event that will be a positive experience for the City of Saratoga, Village Merchants, Village residents, attendees, artists, vendors, and volunteers which can become an annual attraction. Pros of a Two -Day Event • Two -days of attracting Saratoga residents and residents of surrounding communities to attend • Great potential for increased business for Village merchants and restaurants • Professionally- managed from start to finish by an organization that has a 25+ year established record of successful art and wine festival production ■ Management group will be promoting the event all year on their website, at other events they produce and through the artists that will be exhibiting at Saratoga's event ■ Chamber of Commerce Board and volunteers will be freed from the event logistics planning and execution and can thereby devote their time to communicating and meeting with The Village merchants, neighbors, restaurants and wineries Challenges of a Two -Day Event Limited parking Solutions: • Make more parking lots available to attendees by relocating the artist and vendor parking area to West Valley College and provide shuttle services. This plan has been accepted by California Artist. • Contract with a valet service such -as Corinthian International Parking Services to provide shuttle buses and paid valet parking services o Prepare and implement a parking- awareness plan to inform potential attendees of available choices and encourage them to use the shuttles and public transit • Encourage attendees to park at one of the designated parking areas through notification in our publicity of the event • Work with the restaurants to create solutions to provide convenient parking for their guests o Require event volunteers to use the shuttle ■ Past objections to event from Oak Street neighbors, merchants, restaurants and wineries Solutions: o The Chamber Board will do the following: a. Canvas Oak Street residences, merchants, restaurants in the Village and wineries to present the event and to gather information from each of these groups related to their past experience and concerns about the event b. Arrange Town Hall meetings with each group to provide further information c. Analyze and prioritize the information and develop collaborative solutions to the challenges that were presented during the canvassing and Town Hall meetings We have already had a conversation with Joan LeMahieu, General Manager of The Mountain Winery and she has expressed her full support of a two -day event street closure. She has recorded the proposed dates and will work with those while planning Mountain Winery events. They will publish driving directions for the two -day event on their website and through other media for their customers. The Chamber Board is seeking approval, for this event, from the City Council. Madam Mayor, City Council Members, City Manager and Staff: I am before you to ask that you review a decision made by the Traffic Safety Commission at their meeting on January 14. As background, in September 2009 a painting crew arrived at our street to paint a crosswalk at the intersection of Kirkmont and Kirkbrook Drives. I was not aware of this action and called John Cherbone, City Public Works Director. I told him that the crosswalk was a total surprise and that no public notice or public input was requested by anyone in the neighborhood. He took action to defer this installation until the Traffic Safety Commission reviewed their action. I learned that at the March meeting of the Traffic Safety Commission only one resident on Kirkmont had requested the crosswalk and the Commissioners approved it at that meeting. Since September I and one other resident on Kirkbrook Drive have monitored the traffic at that intersection and the area around the Blue Hills School. We have physically checked the flow in the morning and afternoon during school days at least once or twice a week from September to January. Our observations were that the general traffic flow or children and parents parking their cars and walking between the traffic flow on Kirkmont, Kirkbrook, Knollwood, Kirkdale, DeSanka and Seagull was a more important safety concern that the Traffic Safety Commission should review and not assume one crosswalk will alleviate the safety concerns. I only had three minutes to make this point at the Commission meeting on January 14th. so I provided a written statement with pictures so the Commissioners could review it at a later time. They then closed the public session. The Commissioners discussed my request and only two Commissioners even looked at my hand out. There was no attempt to even consider reviewing this additional information. They then asked their Traffic Engineer about her review of the intersection request. She advised them that the crosswalk was needed. Her recommendation was based on ONLY A ONE DAY review. The Commissioners did not even acknowledge my request for a more overall review of the traffic congestion around Blue Hills School. They only questioned the Traffic Engineer and then voted to install the crosswalk. I am requesting the Council to have John Cherbone defer the crosswalk painting and require the Traffic Safety Commissioners to personally perform an on site review of the total traffic flow for themselves and not totally rely on the ONE DAY REVIEW by the Traffic Engineer. For your information, in 1998 a review of the traffic around Blue Hills School was performed, but that was ten years ago. A new review is now warranted. I have given a copy of the documents that I presented to the Traffic Safety Commission to the City Clerk for the Council's review. Ernest A. Brookfield 12226 Kirkbrook Drive, Saratoga, CA 95070 TO: Saratoga Public Safety Commission Directors SUBJECT: Old Business - Item 2 - Traffic Matrix @ 233 - Mike Ziegel Ref: Traffic Safety Commission Meeting March 12, 2009 The Traffic Safety Commission on the reference date reviewed a request ( #233) for a cross walk on Kirkbrook Drive and Kirkmont. The specific motion was to "recommend a white crosswalk be painted across the southside of Kirkbrook at Kirkmont." This was approved 6 -0. This action was taken without any notification to the residents of the area, nor an official posting, so other residents of the area could provide additional input or comments. The Commission approval was based on just one individual's request. No on -site survey was conducted nor was the Commission provided with any additional supporting data by this individual to reflect that a safety issue was present. I am concerned about safety as all of the residents of Saratoga are and I support the efforts of this Commission. However, I feel that this specific action to add a crosswalk at this location is not a safety issue, but rather one of convenience to only a few parents who live on Kirkmont. I have taken pictures of the traffic in the morning of parents taking their children to school. I have not yet seen a child walking to school without their parents. Will this crosswalk provide more safety than a parent? If this crosswalk is installed, will these same parents allow their elementary school child to walk to school without them? Parents currently driving their children to school are parking their cars on Kirkbrook near the Knollwood intersection (most of the time as far down toward Kirkmont). They get out of their vehicles and just cross Kirkbrook as noted on one of my pictures. A more serious safety issue the Commission needs to consider is the current traffic pattern that Blue Hills School is using to "drop off' the children on DeSanka. Several years ago, Nick Streit, Saratoga City Council member surveyed our area to review the traffic flow of Blue Hills School. The result of that review was to install a traffic light at the corner of Sunnyvale- Saratoga Road and Seagull. This action was to provide a better access to Blue Hills School (for left hand turns) as well as vehicles leaving the school to return to Sunnyvale- Saratoga Road. Also, a school guard was placed on DeSanka and Knollwood to assist with the traffic flow as well as providing safe crosswalk control for the children leaving the school. This guard is no longer there due to budget issues. The concern for safety needs more investigation of the overall Blue Hills School traffic congestion. The current traffic flow to the drop off point has no control by either the school or parents. I invite you Commissioners to be in the Blue Hills School area at 7 :40 to 8:14 am any school day to witness this condition. Your review may provide a better safety approach then just painting another crosswalk. How safe is the walk down our Saratoga Streets that have no sidewalks, next to parked cars, in order to get to a crosswalk and feel safe? Parents have the basic responsibility to protect their children. I have lived in Saratoga for over 35 years, raised my child in Saratoga and have seen other families raise their children as well. There has never been a safety issue on Kirkbrook, Kirkmont or Knollwood Drives. I request that the Commissioners disapprove this crosswalk request due to the lack of a justifiable safety issue. Sincerely, Ernest A. Broo d 12226 Kirkbrook Drive Saratoga, CA 96070 AV,4 r /6- IWOR ,2 /US ry s��ot 1poaoalr ell Cr 177101-A? 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GJZ r�q�,diN6 ov Al) Rv e F3Y1l�A�� L f �a�2trnlT �Y�k� Ale,- / �D tv SCdAPL ;3WWW* n- R'. -Irk G IV, O04 -' </t7wo p���rr January 20, 2010 Honorable Mayor Kathleen King Honorable Members, City Council Address: City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070 RE: Interpretation of Artificial Turf /graveVtree bark as Impervious Coverage (code 15- 06.370) and it's impact on Saratoga Building Permit 09 -0344. Dear: Mayor King and Members of the City Council: This letter is intended to bring to your attention outstanding issues surrounding our installation of artificial turf (AT), landscaping gravel and tree bark in our enclosed backyard, which the Planning Dept. verbally defines as Impervious Coverage (IC). For the reasons stated below, we are asking relief from the Planning Department's directive that our AT /gravel/bark be counted as IC and we not be required to remove part of our Impervious Coverage since we would then be within the city code limits Summary As you will see below I have undertaken extensive investigation of this issue and suggest the City needs to place a high priority on reviewing its ordinance regarding impervious coverage in light of the need to conserve water resources, the present California State Water Conservation in Landscaping Act and the evolvement of artificial turf. AT /gravel/bark are well accepted in municipal ordinances of other forward thinking cities, while balancing needs for curb appearance. At the same time, there is the opportunity to interpret the present ordinance to fit the specifics of my case. First, Article 15- 06.370 does not specifically address artificial turf. When you examine the specifications of the material in place in our yard, there are immediate distinctions to the examples given in the ordinance and the "Impervious Coverage Table ". Of course, the point is whether the type of AT used here is "impervious ". It is not. Second, the ordinance uses the term — "natural aesthetic ", without defmition. Again, AT has evolved significantly from the Astro -turf of 40 -50 years ago. More importantly, the term "natural aesthetic" is not the same as "natural material ". "Aesthetic" relates to the look. In today's push for a greener environment and water conservation, the State and Water Districts discourage live lawns since they are the heaviest water user for most homes. An accepted, an encouraged, alternative is AT which has the look and feel of natural grass, while not requiring water, reducing pollution and at the same time allowing percolation. Background We have resided on a 1.5 -acre property on Woodbank Way since 1975. As part of a recent remodeling of the house and relandscaping of the grounds, we installed live landscaping in front and rear yards. Later we installed- 3,534ft2 of expensive Eco- Friendly AT and landscaping gravel in a former flat horse corral that consisted of dirt, rocks and weeds. The corral is visible from the back of the house and adjacent to the landscaped backyard. Our intention was to enhance the landscaping aesthetics of the corral, provide consistent backyard appearance, while limiting use of additional water. It is in our enclosed backyard and cannot be seen from outside the property. It did not require city review /approval or a permit. This project was completed in May 2008. In Dec. 2008, we applied for a permit to build a cabana in our enclosed backyard. For the permit application the Planning Dept. counted our "backyard AT & gravel" as IC, even though it is undocumented in the city code. This action caused us to exceed our IC limit by 5 %. When this is not counted as IC we are at 33 %, which meets the 35% limit. Site visits demonstrated that the AT looks like grass and percolates water at a high rate. Even though we contested the definition of IC we were informed that the Planning Dept. would not recommend a variance to our IC, nor recommend approval of our building permit without removing the AT /gravel, or some other IC, to comply with the 35% limit. In order to obtain the permit and finish the cabana, we complied, but "without prejudice to my rights to revisit the issue in an alternate forum" (excerpt from my letter of March 31, 2009.). The cabana is now finished, but approval of our "final" cabana permit is pending our removal of the AT /gravel, or equivalent in patio decking /sidewalks /etc, all installed before the cabana project began. We are faced with the removal of expensive ( >$30K) landscaping, replacing it with live plants (using water) or reverting back to dirt/weeds, destroying the rear yard appearance and reducing the property value. This is the essence of our dilemma and that brings us to the reason for this letter. Impervious Coverage Since our permit approval, to better understand regulation of impervious coverage in California cities, I reviewed the Saratoga city code, investigated the legal definition of impervious coverage, and how 18 other cities, including all local cities, and five local water districts treat AT, gravel and tree bark. I have also had discussions with Green organizations, AT manufactures, and several lawyers. The results of my research can be summarized as follows. More details on IC and AT are contained in the attachments to this letter. • Planning Dept.'s verbal definition of IC states this material does not look like "Natural Landscaping" and it is to be counted as IC, whether it is in the visible or enclosed yards. "Natural Landscaping" is also not defined in the code and could be considered as dirt/rock/weeds to grass /trees. See enclosure -E for a photo of this area. 2 • Legal definitions and all cities surveyed define IC in relationship to "water percolation ", not visual appearance. • There are no restrictions in 20 other cities (including local cities) on AT /gravel/bark and enclosed backyards, except for extreme hillsides. Only in rare cases was gravel restricted in font yards None are considered Impervious. See attachment -D for summary of how 4 local cities handle IC. • Some cities encourage the use of AT to save water and provide a year around green landscaped appearance (no browning or dying). • Most local water districts, including those serving Saratoga, will give rebates if real grass is replaced by AT in order to save water and reduce pollution. • Saratoga's normal rainfall is less than 1 " /day. The worse AT we percolates water at 168" /day (equal to 17 simultaneous Hurricane Katrina's). • Use of natural grass and plants, as recommended by the some Planning Commissioners, would require an extra – 100Kg /yr of water, enough water to fill the City Council Chambers with >4' of water —a significant waste of water, especially during a drought. Lawns are single - largest irrigation crop, 3 times more than corn (per NASA & Science Daily: www.sciencedaily.com /videos /2006/0404- Qreener Brass less water.htmwww.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0404- areener izrass_less¢water.htm). Calif new Landscape code requires all cities to limit live lawn areas and water used for landscaping. • AT reduces water runoff and water /air /noise pollution. Tree bark and gravel are commonly used to help retain irrigation water and reduce water usage. Conclusions Verbal interpretations & restrictions on the use of AT not consistent Saratoga's documented code does not specifically define these materials as impervious or require review /approval before installing. The result is that Saratogans can make a significant investment and, after the fact, are being told to make another investment to replace it. Saratoga code interpretation is not consistent with building _a green community. Other municipalities consider impervious coverage to be a water percolation issue, not a landscape issue. The Planning Dept.'s actions force homeowners to plant live plants and use water, instead of choosing materials to save water to beautify their property. This contradicts an image of Saratoga as a "water conservation" community. Saratoga should encourage homeowner investment in new technology water - saving options. Saratoga is in conflict with the goals of the San Jose Water District and State of Calif Local water districts recognize that AT helps to reduce water consumption as well as the amount of toxicants entering the water system. Toxicants in modern AT are safe, well below environmental standards and much less than those from lawn pesticides, fertilizers, etc.. Many water districts, including Saratoga's, give rebates to homeowners who replace real grass with AT. Now, the state wants to fine water districts if they don't reduce water consumption by 20 %. Califs new Water Conservation requirement for landscaping requires all cities to limit landscape water usage and size of live lawns. How does Saratoga comply with this requirement since we are penalized for using material to save water, especially for large lots? If we must live with the Planning Dept. directive, then we greatly exceed the state limits and waste an enormous amount of water. AT can help solve this state requirement while giving the City a green landscaped look. We AGREE with the city's desire to maintain a high standard of aesthetic appeal in the community. Our belief is that proper use of AT increases Saratoga property values and the appearance of the community. Old style glowing green Astro -Turf and indoor /outdoor carpeting are not appropriate in visible areas, but modern AT looks /feels like real grass. To control visible public areas a practical, simple solution would be to have homeowners present a sample of the materials they plan to use to the Planning Dept. for review and approval. I could not find any city controlling how homeowners landscape their rear yards. All these materials percolate water, and should be allowed and encouraged like other cities. We hope to resolve this matter promptly and appreciate your attention to the concerns we have raised. Respectfully yours, Ronald and Suzanna Hills 18588 Woodbank Way Saratoga, CA 95070 Attachments: A- Information on Impervious Coverage and Artificial Turf R_ T.etter frnm our grace manufacture showing lndepandent testing of percolat:0^. rate, including the base rock. G Letter from our grass manufacture showing independent testing for toxicants D- Summary of how local cities consider IC E- Photo of AT area, facing rear of enclosed yard 4 Attachment -A Information on Impervious Coverage and Artificial Turf 1. Saratosta code related to this issue states: a. Article 15- 06.370: "Impervious surface" means any structure or constructed surface that disrupts the natural aesthetic of the landscape, including, but not limited to, solid surface decks, accessory structures, swimming pools, recreational courts, paved driveways and parking areas, and surfaces composed of gravel, decomposed granite, clay, and brick with sand or concrete. [Our original Natural Landscaping was dirt /rocks /weeds] b. Under "requirements for design review applications ", pg -2, item -m, "Impervious Coverage table" list the following examples to be used in the calculations: home footprint, driveway, walkway, pool, and deck. [These are all hard surfaces that won't allow water percolation] c. No requirement exists for review /approval/permit to install AT, gravel, tree bark or even uncovered cement patios /sidewalks. One could cover their whole backyard without a permit but then be penalized when a permit is needed for something else. 2. Impervious Coverage & Surface definition examples: Defined by EPA, Webster's, Google, Wikipedia, water districts and other city codes as: "does not allow rain water to be directly absorbed by the ground ", "infiltration of water into the underlying soil is prevented ", "not allowing anything to pass through it ", "incapable of being penetrated ", "seals soil surface, eliminating underground natural water recharge ". There is no reference to "landscape aesthetics ", only water percolation. We were told that since it was man made it was not "natural landscaping" and was therefore classified as IC. Survey of 20 Calif. cities (including Saratoga's surrounding Bay Area cities and some in conservative Orange County): a. No other city restricts the landscaping in an enclosed backyard, other than for extreme hillside areas. Some regulate ground water percolation but allow AT /gravel/bark. b. They control how much of the exposed front yard and side yards can be paved vs. landscaped (usually 50/50). No backyard restrictions. c. Some encourage the use of Artificial Turf to save water and give a year around lush green landscaped appearance (does not turn brown in winter or droughts). Tree bark and gravel promote water conservation. 4. Water districts will give cash rebates if real grass is replaced with Artificial Turf in an effort to conserve water. Saratoga is in direct conflict with the efforts the Water District (Reference SJ Water District rebate program: www.vallevwater.ora /Water/Water conservation/L,andscaping/ Landscape rebate p rogram.shtm). A few examples of other water districts giving rebates (while money holds out): Santa Clara Valley, East Bay Mud, Sequel, N. Marin and misc. S. Calif. districts. 5. "Calif. Water Conservation in Landscaping Act ", as of Jan. 1, 2010, requires all cities to use the states new complicated regulations, or create their own regulations, to limit the use of water. The state law limits live lawn areas to —25% of yard area. The purpose is to limit water usage for landscaping. (see http: / /www. water. ca. gov/ wateruseefficiency /landscapeordinance /) A 6. Our IC problem- Some commissioners suggested we install natural landscape (also undefined in the code). To make it match our other landscaping would require a large area of grass and plants. Every square foot of grass takes — 23 -45gal of water per year (depending on lawn, etc). To match our existing grass we would need —100K -160K gals /year (66K -106K toilet flushes). This is equivalent to covering the our area or the City Council Chambers in 4 -6' of water. This is a real waste of water, especially in a drought period and when the state wants to limit (& fine) water districts and homeowners. Typically, each household uses >50% of their water for outdoors (SJ Water Co.). Landscaping a large lot (we have 1.5A) using real grass, etc requires excessive amount of water. Homeowners with large lots are penalized if they want to have landscaped areas like homeowner with smaller lots. SJ Water Co. plans to increase water rates -36% over the next 3 years. Restricting the use of modern materials, the state code and water district demands to reduce water consumption, plus increase in water rates will not encourage homeowners to landscape or water, which is not in keeping with the desired green landscaped look of Saratoga neighborhoods. 5- Water runoff/percolation: Surveyed more than 12 AT manufacturers: Their products (including the compacted base rock) have been tested to percolate water at a. 7" -31 "/hour. See attachment -B for percolation rate testing (> 10 "/hr) of our AT. The rate primarily depends of style of Turf. AT (including base rock) can percolate much water faster than the soil. The base rock even acts as a "detention pond ", reducing runoff and allowing more water to be percolated into the aquifer. Saratoga's maximum rainfall is <1 " /day and only on few occasions in the last 7 years did it exceed 1" (max was 4.2" /day in 2008). At 7 "/hr AT can handle at least 168" /day. It is designed for, and used in, dusty places which also have torrential rain storms (such as Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas, etc.) plus in constant heavy rain areas (Gulf region, Hawaii, etc.). It is used for landscaping homes, hotels, parks, commercial buildings, schools, airport runway in- fields, etc where runoff cannot be tolerated. 6- Our property has a unique situation: Most of our property cannot not percolate water into the aquifer. The house and backyard areas are built on fill dirt, over an old shallow lake bed. The surface of the lake bed contains a dense gray silt that doesn't percolate. Consequently we have had flooding and had to installed drain lines to divert rain water off the property into the storm drains or creek. The AT base rock helps control the situation and retain water. 7- Toxicants are not a problem. Most AT manufactures use recycled materials for infill. Originally water districts worried about leaching lead, zinc and C other toxicants into the water sources or contamination to the skin. Over recent years these problems have been eliminated. Saratoga & Prospect High schools use AT. Fremont School District is now converting all football fields to AT. AT also eliminates pesticides, insectsides, etc from entering the water. Water districts have done studies and verified AT is safe. Reference the attachment -C for toxic test results on our AT. 8- Saratoga wants to be known as modern green and environmentally_ friendly, it should follow the lead of other cities, water districts and the state, and encourage the use of modern products that save water and reduce pollution. Being Green means minimizing use of natural resources (such as water and energy) and reducing pollution- both accomplished with AT /gravel /bark. The City of Saratoga has the same problems as homeowners. Saratoga is replacing worn grass in El Quito and Congress Springs parks with decomposed granite paths to save water and maintenance. Decomposed Granite is defined as IC. Do schools, city parks, etc. have the same IC interpretations /restrictions as homeowners? 9- Need to save water: Saratoga spends 55% of its utilities bill on water and is trying to reduce the overhead (ref. Saratoga News, pg -12, 11/3/09). "Build -it- Green" wants to minimize "real turf' areas to 10 -33% of property. The American Water Works Association promotes use of AT to save water. Water Districts are threatened with losing state aid if they do not reduce water consumption by 20% in the future (SJ Mercury, Pg -1, 10/23/09). Again, counting these materials as impervious materials for the City or homeowners effectively goes against water conservation requirements. 12- Other advantages of Artificial Turf: a. Reduces water runoff since base rock acts as detention pond while the ground absorbs the water. Consequently there is less water runoff than from dirt or grass. b. Looks and feels like real grass year around, even in shaded or heavy traffic areas or during winters and droughts. Improves aesthetics of Saratoga. UV stabilized, long warranties and life. c. Child, adult and pet friendly. No allergy- causing seeds or cuttings. Non - toxic /antimicrobial. (ref. US Consumer Product Safety Commission) d. Eliminates problems with dogs /cats, insects, gophers, rabbits, etc. AT is also used in local dog parks. e. Reduces landscape maintenance time and cost, especially for older people and for large lots. Easy to clean (blow off leaves, wash off spills) f. Greatly reduces water, air, noise and toxicant pollution (fertilizers, insectides, weed sprays, lawn mover & trimmer green house gases /noise, etc.), which impact neighbors and the City. g. Adds resale value and improves aesthetics of Saratoga. 7 i` %tC H M EA/T- BIG CYPRESS'S stf R� RADI tl L 1M. 12 PfXYE-THVLEN'E FIBER ANO EWERB :A-DE 421K; x SPRI,1 -SFT PM,0fl INOTf. SAD FWE FUEPOPT' YARN SLR; Qt5LWPLV 1t}A -00 DENIER N"OP / WNr P,E. US 1"fICRUNS TH$ ti i:J( t0NLlD ifil"1-I'i A Wt j.' 8 PLY WYLON GAUGC T14, SnT CK RATE: t 1 5 STITCHES PER 3 INCHES air. 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AL't4 IV- ZzS'�b+ �I�i.�a'`��� �G��L44 �t►��S� �`.X!�; �`�r,��: ,xq�+ �,'Ii Y'#'4�'.L:�t. #��:- T�'!i.i ��4 BIG CYPRESS'S stf R� RADI tl L 1M. 12 PfXYE-THVLEN'E FIBER ANO EWERB :A-DE 421K; x SPRI,1 -SFT PM,0fl INOTf. SAD FWE FUEPOPT' YARN SLR; Qt5LWPLV 1t}A -00 DENIER N"OP / WNr P,E. US 1"fICRUNS TH$ ti i:J( t0NLlD ifil"1-I'i A Wt j.' 8 PLY WYLON GAUGC T14, SnT CK RATE: t 1 5 STITCHES PER 3 INCHES air. PrkE HEIGHT; a5ttito - 1 t�c Wji P Iv., O 40MU- I�t',G Ii KYLCNi FACE WE.40KIr' 7 071, & YEAR FAM V; ARFU 4T Y PRIMAR'Y "laK- 8.� Q;Z l HLE BAJM.',NrG:- 13 E€1' (YVtPJ POLYPROPY3.'E 4E p.Lls 18) :fir URETHANE W)HOLES FOR . cER AW FOOTS L IS FEET SMPP0410 WI PUG}!T: I 1 LU a- PIER LANI . k Ems" I' PMOMTM THE WOtMERFUL CMDR AM THE i>;6`aNiG" L FOR 4f€WUNti PU FWTEP+(`.THDN ALWAYS F .L KITH" 1 =:2 L5* M BARE. f60'f "AM AW 1 L5 CW M ; 9OWAll F= . TMF ,*or,*t` )VrTl t?0tyET iAEl- = Rim A SMCI& TPff URIZMI EFFECT T 'f ',`o F.,j THE TU►RF LOOK UKE'REAL TWIG" i? '!t ` POP T'► lC h? Z SWL1 i ??# , M+ LA )4t WILL A.4:t W T j� RUMER TO IV ti ITS ilL Aga THRO" TOE mmoN 11'dCJwtvo^I ro vim ''T %'n'F AL: t AbOCT104AL. lli '1:1 {. ' l tzy '+�+'IL . ?F$d ALU7*3 TW- '!k% tH VO UL ISTPONot"A. l `.F �Py3�jf4 -1 « '�.:ff, .�� t±►,„+�� � �#' �sr;� � +� i� CK+� ��rr:u�� � �. `3' �t car:. r.-d oru:# tl s" t * el up vo vw wl r;l -. --, i ;we y' Vgm I a i m n,. x W wrt meeNrilqq I ?w-- ��` s t' _J Efts rye, ul P'a trm I td.: by 11 --cul 2 4u Id us v ��z�� t�: t�-�� �t�r:a tam mart ".�� �§+ �'► ('?�';!�'G::l au� iaa �:�rd �� err e,is- - a:r�a�e� � ?€ - i l pkrf a mr 1st Ca nos vT m_ . �,q Fkjw co. wvw , jon j ne y:. Pj t,+ 3- + Y. P D-f yHigh car CIO-1 owmPt "dry t4vd siowt Sao MAO�wpV%.i bm �� f+d :��ayJ'r�ye��•'�t��1ss.. �2 C� y,,3 �°! 1€a�'6A'i �r'kk'�`y{}`,:�.' U t�`'e�'e�Y�l� !�? ?!M f��$ ����' �'�r''1E f�� ; .eiixl 0 ► ? In *164) ) Sr! iTO rA44** T W Aw pxA#A 1 i t :fat %'+►l1 4 'LY 'lt. '6 ,U +fir ►`�:7 � �;� r<e��� `t`�,. r:�r'�s r- �rca��^�'115e:4`�+'4� u':, I-xv. floe %1 k. AL't4 IV- ZzS'�b+ Mar. 25. 2009 3:22PM South Bay Materials 408 295 2400 No. 4247 P. 1 w TESTING SERVICES, INC. 917 SHOWALTER AVE. • P.O. BOX 2041 TS1 DALTON. GEORGIA 30722 -2041 / PHONE: (706) 226 -1400 • FAX: (706) 226-6116 TEST REPORT CLIENT: Eve reen Synthetic Turf REPORT NUMBER: 41103 m L P.O. Box 2008 Dalton, GA 30722 -2008 LAB TEST NUMBER: DATE: 1924 -3110 Aril 24, 2008 RIBBON ID: OVERVIEW: A cone of ribbon was submitted for analysis. TEST METHOD: Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) by Method 60108 TEST SCOPE: Testing Services Inc was instructed by the client to determine the teaching properties for EPA toxic metals from submitted yam using in the manufacturing of synthetic turf. TEST PROCEDURE: A sample of yarn was diluted 20 -fold to an acetic add extraction. An extraction was performed after 18 hours on the fluid to determine toxins that may have leached from the dyes in the yam. TEST RESULTS: �r r metals esuU Arsenic As <0 5 IL inimum Detection Limit Barium Ba <5,p tL 5,0 m L Cadmium (Cd) <0.1 m fL 0.1 m IL Chromium trA <0,5 1, 0.5 m IL Lead Pb <0.5 m IL 0.5 m 1L Selenium Se <0,1 L 0.1 m L Silver A <0.5 m L 0.5 m IL TCLP Mercur (H Result Minimum Detection limit Mercury H <0.2 0.2 m L CONCLUSION pigments of -the yarn. - - -• - -, r °•�• .•� , u�t t'IV VIUVVIUM, VI heavy metals Irom ine (lye Approved «. �� Vt..O •.M+�tnwn.t.c, CU.1. O.M1: IDO40L2. MUM W'oC Erie Miles, Vp VP Testing Services Inc OUR LETTERS AND REPORTS APPLY ONLY TO THE SAMPLE TESTED AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF THE QUALITIES OF APPARENTLY IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS. THESE LETTERS AND REPORTS ARE FOR THE USE ONLY OF THE CLIENT TO WHOM THEY ARE ADDRESSED AND THEIR COMMUNICATION TO ANY OTHERS OR THE USE OF THE NAME TESTING SERVICES, Inc. MUST RECEIVE OUR PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL, THE REPORTS AND LETTERS. AND OUR NAME. OUR SEALS, OR OUR INSIGNIA ARE NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE USED IN ADVERTISING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. VISIT OUR WEB$RE AT www.toioldelton.com Im | nce| City Comparison 1/20/10 11:30 AM IC 1% coverage limit AT counted Impervious Coverage city Turf Gravel Bark Fron Total as IC Code ref. Contact Los Gatos i Not defined i Not defined :Not defined 1-50/50, :No limit. las IC. No as IC. No !paved vs las IC. No AT/Gravel/ 1 Himit on its limit its ilimit 'for Santa Clara County. IC :Nguyen (+2 i j on on its landscape. lBark OK. means water percolation. others) AT/Gavel/ i i i:AT/gravel/bark are not counted. ::354-5236 :Same as LG 110.01.020.1- "ICmeansthe 'Erin larea covered by all buildings or McGranahan lother structures, decks, :354-7635 'driveways, patios & paved i !parking or storage areas." Has Iapproved AT in front & rear Campbell !Same as LG I Same asLGSameas LG !Same as LG iSarne but not Frontyard set-back area has 866'2193 desired in 50/50 limit on paved vs 8nntyavd. Handscape. AT/Bark allowed & Mot counted as [C in front but gravel not desired. Backyard can be 100% pervious. Cupertino Same asLG 1 Same as UG I Same as LG Same as LG ::Same as LG Same as G ne as preventing :Leslie Gross rainwater from entering ground :777-3308 i !and groundwater. 'AT/Gravel/Bark are not counted. 1777-3277 Saratoga -Yes, counts !Yes, counts iYes, counts iSimilar to lCounted as Yes Werbal (based on appearance- :Saratoga :as 11C !as IC :as IC LG :part of total Idoesn't look like natural Plan. Dept. :on property on property Ion property 6 "a ta, a*,-s,*e,* d, on essentially flat lots (small to large). Some-Tii m i.t. a t.-i o1n.-s on slopes above 10% where even live grass, i s s o m e t.-in e s ...................... .. constrained for appearance or water nun'uff. City comparison.xls M "f `^ .% �' Mme• ,'R rF:,''y,. / 71, TWO- 44. 0 rlw-.Ivl AL � ±. .: .- _ �� .`� w '• ,rr z&•`.`- ACS 4s � ", ° • � A _ _ yid ; .,. ` _Y•L �' •' , I. _ �• i +� - �• `Y ,,+r •Sn E,•�s1 'P ��� ICI {� 1 \i gip., t • % �1 :`. �'. Z .'. "� } �, i I `:rte— •' , � - - .. s;:_ •ter a d + yr �• ,. yr '. Matteoni Olaugmin &Hechtman L A W Y E R S V. WI ;ui hliu Iir:nllr� AI. \l'ol —wii kmlmi Ili (111111 u Hand - Delivered January 20, 2010 Mayor Kathleen King and City Council Members City of Saratoga Saratoga City Hall 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Re: 2010 Work Program; General Plan Issue Dear Mayor King and City Council Members: On the south end of town there are two clusters of parcels located in the City's Urban Service Area, but outside of City limits. The 1987 General Plan Map (attached) shows these parcels with a designation of RHC (Hillside Conservation) which generally will allow a parcel size in the range of 1 — 10 acres depending upon the slope and availability of utilities. You will find that same designation in every new version of the City's General Plan Map from 1987 to 2007. Even the General Plan Map on the City's website today shows these clus�rs with the RHC designation (attached). That designation makes perfect sense from a planning standpoint, because the 100+ parcels that make up these two clusters are generally in the 1 acre to 5 acre range, with the largest parcel being 13 acres. In June 2007, the City Council changed the General Plan designation for these two clusters to OS -H (Hillside Open Space) which requires between 20 and 160 acres per parcel. (See attached map which staff says is the current, valid map). Not one owner of any of these 100+ parcels was given notice that the City was contemplating this change to their General Plan designation. I have reviewed the staff reports for those hearings and I have watched the City Council videos of those hearings. This change in the General Plan designation was not mentioned even once by any member of 818 'I'll \Ia III eda Sim .lose. CA 9.:120 ph. 108.293.4300 fay. 108.293.1004 �%«%c.maUconi.ioru Kathleen King and January 20, 2010 Members of City Council Page 2 staff or any City Council member. There can be no dispute that it makes no sense to impose a 20 acre minimum parcel size on a cluster of parcels where the largest existing parcel is only 13 acres. I believe that this problem was created by an innocent misinterpretation of General Plan language from 1983 by staff members in 2007. The problem could be easily solved by changing the General Plan Designation for these two clusters of parcels back to RHC. I have tried to work with staff directly to resolve this issue, but without success: Staff's suggested solution is to make each one of these 100+ property owners apply for their own General Plan amendment, pay for environmental review particular to their property, and sign a preannexation agreement giving up many of their rights. That is an overly expensive, overly complicated and unfair solution to a problem the City created and the City should solve. plan. I hope that you will consider solving this problem as a part of your 2010 work Very truly yours, , �L& BARTON G. HECHTMAN BGH /mr Attachments t I GENERAL PLAN LEGEND CITY OF SARATOGA •CALI • MONTH 1".6 0 0 WP D Boo J U N E 1 9 a 7 URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY, CITY L,. m T.5 7vl N esfi POLelce ETA . WINNOW MAN e ' F xV. �4 v.� L E Hillside Conservation S.f Rvia : Very Low Density Residential am Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential: M -15 Medium Density Residential: M -12.5 Medium Density Residential: M- ID MWti -Family Residential OR Planned Development Residential Mulb the Plaroung Dhtrxt Planned Development - Protessiolel Admmhtiatnr Comm ,—I Retail :E?frl0�, Community Facility Mllside Open Space Open Space- .Waged Re.—e _ Open Space. Outdo., Recreahuu open Space - Private Public Use Corddas - -- -- Sphere CH InHUence City Limits ---- Urban Sewwe Area Mllside WCIHC Plan Area Hydrology G,P. ` - opt ed by City Council xd June 6, 2007 -- z mn 17 i �I ti-' ..i,....::....1.. ....... ., ...... ..L........r. ~� - .... �a...... i ...�,...,.dn,.....d.r�ae "�� ", srr..crrw. �d�W uuOwlp�n, °. eWMW Mn.a. u, a. G,P. e nw. Ct+ W'-k's,'FC. iI�p�r'� CL'v��c;,ye� . Upen Space - Managed I Open Spare- Clutdoor R Open Space - Private Puc ' Public Use Corridor - - - Sphere Of Influence City Limits Urban Service Area Hillside Specific plan t Hydrology Adopted by City Cow, June 6, 2007 O -J 1 Ind. = I.UUO teat I QQU SW U I WU Thus 1: alu: ur a :erw, of 1�IaQralnS •.ofitcb •.Ilan wmbur. ;arata¢a wtwo A Man, tnnstftutrr tRe land Irr. daetbp. et :Al ateffa .A""It6 u:e: fal yaclfu. prc =1, of lad anal,, b/ laf,-WKe to fit, diagram tr eared Date: flay 30. 1007 Red31011 bat City oj'Saratoga Land Use Element Background ReportlGoals, Policies, and Implementation Allea•tires f IA k M , OV461 J . ;:w YtMriti wig t j 4 I.A % UArGO-MCCORMICK CONSULTING Jerry Haag, Urban Planner '>Curre,,t MC. C1LCf'f'L i t1a rt., V- PAGE 15 Exhibit LU-5 *J MILO(! S.F. Pmfe­Imal Admsno,l, ore '-�f NVILO L ­­t, P,: dentlat Commercial Retail City Lrwt' R&D C.". (ammujnitv Facility av tS Jiw Dema, Rest.jentla( m -IS rut Public Use Cum&4 Medilmn (.enslt: pe�.tdentml* M-1 HILido --Von Sq i m-lo Opn •;par e - man d Rp."'Ow Multi hiro(i H,es,Wes=vmi (.-,P-n Vtt ---iAndr,or Pe,-rev ..:,r) Plmn,d ()c- Mopm•nt Pe,identi.il upen >pc Prate Fldnmrw District WH& Sp'.0 Ili-, PLII. 5J;.'..l N'...lopirw-w Ifidr,4 ',q-j UArGO-MCCORMICK CONSULTING Jerry Haag, Urban Planner '>Curre,,t MC. C1LCf'f'L i t1a rt., V- PAGE 15