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Home My WebLink About2014 Winter SaratoganSAR ATOGANthe Winter 2014/15 C I T Y o f S ARATO G A CALIF O R N I A1956 Volunteering Benefits the Community and the Volunteers The essence of volunteering is giving time freely for the benefit of others. Not only does volunteering help the community, volunteering can be a rewarding experience that can be worth more than money. Volunteering has numerous benefits for communities, organizations, and individuals. It strengthens communities by uniting people for a common goal, helps save resources for cash-strapped non-profits, and promotes personal growth and self-esteem in volunteers. Saratoga residents have never been shy about rolling up their sleeves and volunteering. Residents clock in well over 2,000 hours of volunteer time each year as part of the City of Saratoga’s “Volunteer Saratoga” program. The City offers a variety of volunteer opportunities that can use residents’ talents or spark their passions. In the past, the City has placed volunteers in each of its departments, such as Administrative Services, Community Development, Public Works, Recreation, and the City Manager’s Office. For more information on the “Volunteer Saratoga” program, or to apply, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/volunteer. Residents looking to make a difference in their community can also volunteer with the Saratoga Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which is managed by the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Since 2006, Saratoga CERT has trained about 200 Saratoga residents in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and team organization. For more information, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/cert. Another volunteering opportunity is with one of the City’s six Commissions—including the Heritage Preservation Commission, Library Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Traffic Safety Commission, and Youth Commission. Commissioners are appointed by the City Council and advise the Council to help address community needs. Residents in this role have the opportunity to share their vision and help mold Saratoga’s future. For more information, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/commissions. This issue of The Saratogan focuses on volunteering opportunities, but also read about: • Videos produced by the City, which cover everything from the state of the City to Public Works projects. Keeping residents informed about projects going on throughout Saratoga is one of the City’s priorities. • The City of Saratoga’s “A” grade for its straightforward solar panel permitting process. Learn about the permitting process and why the City received such a high grade. • Local community events coming up in the next couple of months. Volunteer What are some of the volunteer opportunities in and around Saratoga? Saratoga may be a relatively small city, but it has a lot of spirit thanks to the residents who give their time to volunteer. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities in and around Saratoga. Below is a short list of them. Saratoga Library The Saratoga Library offers volunteer opportunities for teens and adults. Volunteer positions include being a library ambassador, reading program tutor, and circulation volunteer. Location: 13650 Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga Website: www.sccl.org/Locations/Saratoga/Support-Your-Library/Volunteer Saratoga History Museum The Saratoga History Museum offers a number of volunteer opportunities, including being a museum docent, walking tour guide, recording the memories of Saratoga’s residents, writing newsletter articles, and helping with events. Location: 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road in Saratoga Website: www.saratogahistory.com/volunteers.htm Saratoga Senior Center The Saratoga Senior Center requests volunteers for help with special events, substitute receptions at the front desk, and phone callers to keep in touch with Senior Center members. Location: 19655 Allendale Avenue in Saratoga Website: www.sascc.org/volunteer.shtml Book-Go-Round The Book-Go-Round, a non-profit used bookstore is operated by volunteers of the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries. Help is needed for sales, sorting, book pick ups, publicity, and more. Location: 14410 Oak Street in Saratoga Website: www.bookgoround.com/volunteerinfo.html Saratoga Chamber of Commerce The Chamber of Commerce, which focuses on local business interest and community vitality, is looking for volunteers to help with front-desk duties, special events, and outreach. Location: 14460 Big Basin Way in Saratoga Website: www.saratogachamber.org Saratoga Village Development Council (SVDC) The SVDC, which includes the Village Gardeners, is a volunteer group of merchants and residents who promote the businesses of downtown Saratoga. The group seeks volunteers to help with its events and gardening along Big Basin Way. Location: Downtown Saratoga Website: http://saratogavillage.info/volunteer.html Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff The Sheriff’s Office is seeking volunteers to help at the Sheriff’s Headquarters, main jail, Hall of Justice, community events, and West Valley Division (which serves Saratoga). Location: 1601 South De Anza Boulevard in Cupertino Website: www.sccgov.org/sites/gosheriff/pages/jobs.aspxAnd there’s more... • Santa Clara County Fire Department • Saratoga July Fourth Celebration • West Valley Community Services • West Valley Clean Water Program San Jose Animal Care Center The San Jose Animal Care Center is looking for volunteers to act as “Pet Pals” for the shelter’s animals to ensure that they are cared for during their time at the center. Location: 2750 Monterey Road in San Jose Website: www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=1395 Viewers are guided through all the new and numerous items that can be dropped into green waste or recycling bins instead of garbage cans in Saratoga, Campbell, Los Gatos and Monte Sereno. Residents are updated on where the City currently stands with its 2014/15 Fiscal Year Budget and some of the recent changes that have occured in Saratoga. Roll The Footage The City of Saratoga has produced nine video projects in a year-and-a-half in an effort to educate and update residents on what’s happening in their City. The videos cover a variety of topics. Below is a breakdown of the videos that are not highlighted to the right: • 2013 Holiday Tree Lighting and Village Open House • Quito Bridges Replacement Project • Quito Road Public Service Announcement • 2013 State of the City Address; and All of the videos can be viewed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/CityHallSaratoga and Vimeo at www.vimeo.com/cityofsaratoga. 2014 State of the City Address Garbage, Recycling & Green Waste Upgrades and additions to the Saratoga Village as part of the second phase of the Village Pedestrian Enhancement Project are discussed in this less-than-three-minute video. Village Enhancements - Phase II This video goes through roadway safety improvements along the nearly 2-mile stretch of Prospect Road between Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Lawrence Expressway. Prospect Road Improvements Project Take a five-minute tour of Saratoga Quarry Park and learn some history about the Quarry, see its current condition, and hear about possible future changes and improvements. Saratoga Quarry Park Tour Video Projects To learn more about The Saratogan, make comments, suggest story ideas, or just ask a question, contact Brian Babcock at bbabcock@saratoga.ca.us or 408.868.1275. You can also find The Saratogan online and sign up for email alerts at www.saratoga.ca.us/saratogan. C I T Y o f S ARATO G A CALIFO R N I A1956 Ask Our Staff featuring John Cherbone Have a question? Send your question(s) to bbabcock@saratoga.ca.us or (408) 868-1275. Q: The street I live on has cracks and holes and needs repair. How do I go about getting my street repaired? A: The City of Saratoga has a comprehensive Pavement Management Program that staff uses to help identify streets with the greatest maintenance needs. The program uses a pavement management system software, which is maintained by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The system provides current inventory of roads, pavement conditions, maintenance recommendations, and a forecasting of budget needs. This information, combined with resident requests and physical inspections, determines the year-to-year priorities for street paving. Contact the City’s Streets Division at (408) 868-1245 to request an inspection of a road. For more information on the Pavement Management Program, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/pmp. John Cherbone is the Public Works Director for the City of Saratoga. The Public Works Department oversees engineering and capital projects; maintains the City’s parks, trails, medians, and right-of- ways; repairs and maintains the roadway systems, including streets, traffic and pedestrian signals, lighting, and storm drains; and ensures the City’s environmental responsibilities are fulfilled. &Q A Upcoming Community Events The City of Saratoga was recently awarded an “A” grade in Complete Solar’s “Solar Ease Index.” Complete Solar, a solar company based in Foster City, ranked Saratoga sixth in its California index. The high ranking is due to the City of Saratoga’s fast permitting time and relatively low permitting costs for solar photovoltaic installations. The City only requires one set of plans, which are checked over the counter and usually approved within a day. The roof mount permit is only $141.20. To apply for a permit, visit the Building Counter at City Hall, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m to noon and 1 p.m to 5 p.m. Holiday Tree Lighting and Village Open House Friday, Nov. 28, at 5 p.m. Big Basin Way www.saratoga.ca.us Silicon Valley Turkey Trot Thursday, Nov. 27 Downtown San Jose svturkeytrot.com Keeping the Lights on in Saratoga City Council Reorganization Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. Saratoga Civic Theater 13777 Fruitvale Avenue