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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSaratoga California 2015 Evaluation 1 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 America in Bloom 2015 EVALUATION FORM Participant: Saratoga, CA Population Category: 30,000 to 40,000 Visiting Dates: May 4 and 5, 2015 Judges: Jack Clasen and Evelyn Alemanni America in Bloom envisions communities across the country as welcoming and vibrant places to live, work, and play – benefitting from colorful plants and trees; enjoying clean environments; celebrating heritage; and planting pride through volunteerism. All judging criteria will be adjusted to the climate and environmental conditions of the participant’s location. The judges’ report is based on efforts in management, planning, maintenance, improvement, and innovation of each of the following criteria: Criteria Actual Points Possible Points 1. Floral Displays 154.50 175.00 2. Landscaped Areas 162.50 175.00 3. Urban Forestry 154.50 175.00 4. Environmental Efforts 147.00 175.00 5. Heritage Preservation 155.00 175.00 6. Overall Impression 116.00 125.00 Total 889.50 1000 % 88.95 Bloom Rating 5 Five blooms = 85% Four blooms = 72.50–84.95% Three blooms = 60.00–72.45% Two blooms = 45.00–59.95% One bloom = <45.00% Participant representatives met: (including email) Name: Jill Hunter Title: Saratoga Village Gardeners Email: jhunter95070@yahoo.com Name: Howard Miller Title: Mayor Email: hmiller@saratoga.ca.us Name: Paula Cappello Title: Saratoga in Bloom Committee Email: plcappello@gmail.com 2 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 General Comments and Suggestions: Suggestions are indicated in italics. Congratulations on your first year of participation in America in Bloom and WINNING in your population category with a prestigious FIVE bloom rating. Congratulations also on earning a special award for “Most Beautiful Canopy of Trees”. You have already experienced the power of the America in Bloom program to bring together a diverse cross-section of your community to work together on positive and visible projects. We understand that California is experiencing a drought of historic proportions and have taken that into consideration in the scoring and our comments. Saratoga benefits from a well-educated and engaged population that is interested in getting involved and giving back. Your commitment to retaining the current community character and village lifestyle is commendable and helps to preserve all that is special about Saratoga. Saratoga enjoys a dedicated and professional city staff. The fact that many of them have worked for the city for many years speaks volumes about the work environment. Having a mayor with vision and a passion for excellence in every area is a definite plus. Because there are so many civic groups in Saratoga, consider hosting an annual meeting for all of them, where they can present their programs. It’s a great way to find synergy among the groups and get them to work collaboratively on a wide range of projects. Inviting the public to such a meeting is a great way to recruit new members as well. Also, be sure that your civic groups are recording their volunteer hours. They can be used as the “matching” part of matching funds grants. Your community profile is an excellent summary of your achievements. Be sure that it gets wide distribution. For example, copies could be placed in city hall, at the library, and chamber of commerce. Many cities use it as an economic development tool, and realtors can use it to showcase why Saratoga is a great place to live. There was nothing around the city to indicate that you are participating in America in Bloom. You might consider offering small decals to place on store windows or doors and on city vehicles. Let everyone know that you’re planting pride with America in Bloom. Next year, it would be very helpful if all the people we meet wear nametags that include their affiliation. It helps us get to know you faster and direct questions to the right people. 3 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 America in Bloom has several other levels of participation. Neighborhoods, business districts, college campuses and military installations are all eligible to participate. You might consider inviting your business district and college campus to participate in 2016, as well as recruiting neighboring cities. In addition, we have the “Circle of Champions” category in which towns that have a combination of three population and/or outstanding achievement awards. Circle of Champion members compete against each other in special categories. It is certainly a designation worth striving for and within the realm of possibility for Saratoga. It’s time now to start planning your AIB participation for next year. As a winner in your population category, you are eligible to compete in the Communities in Bloom International Competition and we strongly encourage you to do that as well as AIB. We look forward to your continued involvement. 4 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 1. Floral Displays Flower beds, containers, baskets, window boxes. Arrangement, originality, distribution, location, diversity, balance, harmony, quality of maintenance. Use and integration of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, bulbs, tropical plants, and seasonal flowers that provide year- round interest. M a x p o i n t s A c t u a l S c o r e Municipal Leadership and plan of action for floral displays 20 16 Concept and design, variety of plantings, overall effect 20 17 Maintenance and quality of displays 20 18.5 Design for all seasons 15 12.5 Business Concept and design, overall effect 15 13 Maintenance and quality of displays 15 13 Residential Concept and design, overall effect 15 13 Maintenance and quality of displays 15 13.5 Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in design, planting, and maintenance of floral displays 20 19 Financial and in-kind contributions to floral displays 20 19 Total (the fields automatically calculate – do not type in them) 175.00 154.50 Comments and suggestions: Saratoga is not shy about floral displays. Medians bloom abundantly with a wide range of drought-tolerant flowering perennials. We saw roses, jasmine, lantana, society garlic, and more. Our thanks to Betty Peck for allowing us to see her garden. We have never seen anything quite like it. Landscapes around municipal buildings feature seasonally flowering shrubs. We were impressed by the flower borders at Kevin Moran Park. Thousands of daffodils have been planted there and will naturalize. Likewise, schools and the museum property displayed attractive flowers. At the 5 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 museum, we were particularly impressed by the plants that had been specifically bred for the area by the non- profit Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation, which unfortunately is no longer in operation. It is wonderful that the museum still has some of these plants. If they aren’t patented, perhaps they can be propagated and used in other areas of the town. Businesses in the historic downtown village certainly do their share of floral displays with window boxes, container gardens, and planter beds. Even alleys feature bright flowers. We were pleased to see several stores include an acknowledgement to the Village Gardeners in their windows. Kudos to the Village Gardeners, a group of enthusiastic and talented volunteers who have planted tree wells and provided container plantings for downtown. They also provide maintenance, watering, and sidewalk sweeping. Consider making a much more aggressive appeal to your merchants for support. They are the primary beneficiaries of this group’s hard work and should, at a minimum, offer hoses for watering and funding for plants. In the containers and tree wells, be sure to use plants that have similar light and water needs. Be conservative about adding container plantings in or near the tree wells – less can be more. Consider adopting a city flower that could become a signature feature in some of the planters. Private residences are uniformly well-landscaped and many homes have lovely floral displays in their front yards to be enjoyed by neighbors and passersby. If it isn’t already being done, consider having the Village Gardeners offer a garden tour as a fundraiser for their extensive work. This year, you could feature drought-tolerant gardens. You could even offer a “Tour de Fleurs” a garden tour in which participants travel to gardens on bicycles. Because of the drought, you may want to re-evaluate the use of hanging baskets to save water. If you decide to continue using them, you may want to work with a nursery or grower to grow them out to a full size before hanging them, to get a more impressive display. 6 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 Comments and suggestions: Saratoga enjoys uniformly attractive landscapes. Municipal buildings set the tone, with quality landscapes at city hall, schools, and the museum. The city-owned Hakone Japanese garden is a real treasure – being more than 100 years old and on the National Register. Public parks are well-landscaped and immaculately maintained. We were impressed to see a variety of mowing styles based on use at Wildwood Park. Sports fields are managed well and the appropriate types of turf are used depending on the intensity of play on the field. 2. Landscaped Areas Overall design and suitability of landscape, turf, and ground covers. Use of native plants. Overall design and suitability for location/use. Good use of design principles (i.e., balance of plant material and constructed elements, harmony, color, texture, shape, etc.). Sustainability. Integration of hardscapes, lighting, site features. Maintenance (weeds, mulching practices, edging). Site rejuvenation and rehabilitation. Efforts in strategic planning. Community gardens, children’s gardens, healing gardens, Audubon and other specialty public gardens and zoos. M a x p o i n t s A c t u a l S c o r e Municipal Overall design and planting of landscape, turf and groundcovers 15 14 Environmental management of sports fields and turf 15 14 Quality of landscape maintenance 15 14 Sustainable management, naturalization and eco-design 15 13.5 Business Overall design and planting of landscape 15 13 Management of turf and groundcovers 10 8.5 Quality of landscape maintenance 15 14 Residential Overall design and planting of landscape 15 14.5 Management of turf and groundcovers 15 14.5 Quality of landscape maintenance 15 14.5 Community Involvement Volunteer involvement, i.e. garden clubs, neighborhood groups, Master Gardeners and University extension, in funding, planting, and maintenance of landscaped areas 15 14 Participation in future planning (committees, councils, and advisory boards.) 15 14 Total (the fields automatically calculate – do not type in them) 175.00 162.50 7 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 The city’s commitment to annex an old quarry and turn it into a natural park is commendable. Preserving open space and protecting it from development is a gift to your current and future residents. Thirty-nine neighborhoods have voted to self-tax in order to pay for additional landscaping improvements in their neighborhoods. This is something rarely seen in towns of a similar size and is a testament to the city’s willingness to work with its residents on a variety of projects. Because of the ongoing drought, some residents have started removing lawns. The city has removed three acres of turf in parks. The San Jose water district has excellent lists of drought-tolerant plants on its website that is a comprehensive resource for water-wise landscaping. We were impressed by the xeriscape landscapes at the entry to West Valley College and at portions of Montalvo. Commendations to the Foothill Club on its new garden that blends seamlessly with the historic clubhouse and grounds. We felt fortunate to have a guided tour and can imagine that the information provided us could be turned into a very informative and useful brochure to enhance people’s enjoyment and appreciation of the garden. At the elementary school, we observed a small children’s garden. For additional ideas on school gardens, check grannysgardenschool.org which shows how having a garden can transform a school campus as well as the curriculum. You may want to start honoring residential and commercial landscapes that have been redesigned for low water use with a “yard of the week” or “yard of the month” program. Such a program could publicize the fact that a low water use landscapes can be attractive. With the mandate to reduce water use by 25% (or more), it may be necessary to reduce watering in medians. They may need to be redesigned using gravel and rocks with spots of attractive low-water use plants. Sometimes a specific site crosses several of our evaluation criteria, and this is certainly the case for the historic community orchard that surrounds the library. It is a designated historic site that reflects the area’s agricultural heritage. The orchard is a real treasure and is the site for the annual blossom festival. This site could logically be discussed under heritage, landscape, or even urban forestry. Community orchards are popular in Canada and increasingly, in the US. At these locations, residents are permitted to harvest fruit for personal use. Our concern is that although Saratoga’s orchard is called a “community orchard” (it belongs to the city), residents only have the benefit of looking at it from a path through it and are not permitted to enjoy the fruit. The city pays for water and pays a contract farmer to manage the orchard. Perhaps in future years, part or all of the orchard could be managed by creating a partnership with any of the fine agricultural programs in the area, such as UC Santa Cruz, Foothills College, or West Valley College. This would give students hands-on experience. You could have one harvest day when you residents are permitted into the orchard to enjoy the fruit. This would be a way for students to learn about agri-tourism as well. 8 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 3. Urban Forestry Distribution, variety and suitability of trees; new plantings; urban tree program; qualified personnel or access to trained individual(s); inventory or database; frequency of tree surveys; care and maintenance programs; preservation of heritage trees and woodlots and green buffer zones; scheduled succession plantings. Efforts in management, planning, maintenance, improvement, and innovation. Written policies, bylaws and regulations, long- and short-term plans. M a x p o i n t s A c t u a l S c o r e Municipal Overall plan of action, tree planting programs, variety of species, inventory 20 17 Tree maintenance 15 13.5 Preservation and restoration of natural areas 15 14 Tree protection/planting regulations and by-laws 15 14 Business Overall planting program 20 18 Tree maintenance 15 13.5 Residential Overall planting program 20 18.5 Tree maintenance 15 14 Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in funding, planting, and maintenance of trees (i.e. Tree City USA) 20 17 Volunteer involvement of youth in tree programs (i.e., Arbor Day, etc.) 20 15 Total (the fields automatically calculate – do not type in them) 175.00 154.50 Comments and suggestions: Saratoga has a beautiful tree canopy that is amplified by the fact that the city has a building code that requires buildings to be no taller than two stories. Using ArcView GIS mapping software, the city has inventoried approximately 4,200 City owned and maintained trees, using student interns from West Valley College and a local tree contractor that specializes in tree inventories for cities throughout California. In 2010 the City challenged themselves to reach a goal of planting 2,015 trees by 2015. The goal included trees planted by the city and private residents. The goal was reached by Arbor Day in 2013, but reaching the goal did not stop the city from continuing to plant trees and currently 4,100 trees have been planted since 2010. The desire to plant trees will continue which will assure an attractive tree canopy for generations. Tree canopy coverage is approximately 40%, excellent for a city of any size, and especially impressive in such a dry climate. Arbor Day is celebrated with the assistance of the Saratoga Youth Commission, composed of eleven middle and high school students who are appointed by Saratoga City Council. There is a poster contest in the schools and the posters are displayed in store windows in the Village. 9 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 It is so sad that Saratoga’s ancient iconic pine tree in Blaney Plaza is dying. Arborists have evaluated it to discover that it has a beetle infestation and other diseases that preclude recovery. The tree is slated for removal. Talk to local woodworkers to see if there is any interest in salvaging some of the wood to make bowls or other items. Because of the current drought, some trees are struggling and others are dying. Remove dead/declining trees as soon as possible so they will be less likely to spread insects and remain a fire risk. The city has decided to not charge for a permit to remove dead trees, although a permit is still required, even for removal on private property. The city provides a free chipping service for removed trees. The city arborist is quite active in approving removal and pruning of trees, filing penalties for non-compliance with the city tree ordinance, and approving the city business license for tree trimming companies. An inspection schedule is followed for city trees and the Water Efficient Landscaping Regulation is used in plantings. The city has been a Tree City USA city since 2007. This program is good to be involved with as it offers opportunities for communities to challenge themselves to improve their urban forest with “growth award”. Saratoga is encouraged to seek a growth award in 2016. The Heritage Preservation Commission maintains a list of Heritage Trees. There are currently 50 trees on the list. The city offers residents and groups such as graduating high school classes an opportunity to purchase a tree to celebrate their an important event. The city website has extensive information on the Saratoga urban forestry program including forms, links, and handouts of watering trees, etc. The Heritage Orchard is a State of California designated Landmark. While the Orchard is an important part of the history of the city, the cost to maintain the orchard seemed quite high and efforts should be made to reduce the overall expense. The city maintains a list of “protected trees” on their easy to navigate urban forestry section of the city website. The Heritage Tree Society maintains a website with tree news and a contest where judges pick the loveliest trees in the city. The Society also sponsors educational lectures by leading arborists. 10 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 Village trees represented a wide variety of species. The pear trees did not look healthy and plans should be made now to remove them and replace with a hardier species. Residents could use help in selecting new trees. Develop a list of recommended trees for your area and include it on the city website. 11 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 Comments and suggestions: Saratoga is justifiably proud of its 75% recycling rate. Yard waste is collected separately. The “Blue bin” accepts comingled recyclables including small electronics. The trash can is the smallest of the three and visually attests to residents’ commitment to recycling. Garbage trucks are powered by CNG. Well done! Recycling in Saratoga means more than sorting discards. Buildings have been repurposed for more than 100 years. The “Book Go Round” used book store is staffed by volunteers and raises funds for the library. The Echo (great name!) resale shop is also run by church volunteers and profits from the sale of used clothing and household items go directly back to the community. Commendations to West Valley College for the extensive solar array that covers its parking lot. Many residents also have solar power. The recent introduction of storage batteries will make solar even more attractive because excess power no longer needs to be diverted back to the grid at no cost. Perhaps the college could get a grant to purchase several batteries. 4. Environmental Efforts Sustainability practices. Recycling (paper, glass, metal, plastic, electronics, clothing, etc.), policies and by-laws, sustainable development strategies, waste reduction, hazardous waste minimization and collection (oil, paint, chemicals, used batteries, etc.), water quality and conservation, energy conservation, environmental cleanup activities, reducing carbon footprint, environmentally friendly transportation, LEED certification, air, noise and light pollution, rain gardens and rain barrels, composting, energy efficiency, youth programs, etc. Events such as Earth Day, Recycling Days, Bike to Work Days, etc. M a x P o i n t s A c t u a l S c o r e Municipal Leadership in environmental initiatives 25 23 Effective communication of environmental strategies and initiatives 25 21 New programs, improvement and innovation 25 23 Business Participation in environmental efforts 20 17 New programs, improvement and innovation 10 7 Residential Participation in environmental efforts 20 15 New programs, improvement and innovation 10 6 Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in environmental efforts 20 18 Youth participation in environmental activities 20 17 Total (the fields automatically calculate – do not type in them) 175.00 147.00 12 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 In keeping with its small town aesthetic, many of the streets in Saratoga do not have sidewalks and residents prefer it that way. When new sidewalks are constructed or old sidewalks are replaced, be sure to use permeable paving. This should also be used for driveways and parking lots. While rainfall averages 16” per year, it is still important to manage the stormwater and permeable paving will help with that effort. Saratoga is proud of having a multitude of beautiful venues for hosting many public events and festivals which are well-supported by the city council and Chamber of Commerce. To save time and reduce waste, you may want to look into the possibility of having “zero waste” events. Check this link to see how the town of Incline Village, NV does this. https://www.yourtahoeplace.com/public-works/waste-not/waste-not-programs/zero- waste-events. To encourage people to think about continuously reducing their carbon footprint, consider asking the local newspaper to feature weekly articles on the environment. The city gets its water from the San Jose Water District. You might work with the district to create a program in the schools that elicits new and creative ways to save water and share the results on the city website and on social media. You may even want to adopt the idea of a “Water School” used by Santa Cruz for those who use too much water. http://www.mercurynews.com/scott-herhold/ci_26329930/water-school-santa-cruz-it-beats- traffic-school. One important way to save water is to mulch landscaped areas with 3” of mulch. This will slow evaporation and eventually build the soil. If organic mulch is not available in sufficient quantity, even gravel is a good mulch. We were surprised that The Inn did not have any signs about reusing towels, taking short showers, etc. Visitors from out of state may not know about the drought and mandated water reduction requirements and this should be communicated. There are many things that hotels can do to help the environment. Check greenhotels.com. We were unable to determine whether there are dropoff locations for expired medications. You may want to work with local police and pharmacies to develop a dropoff program and educate residents on the correct disposal procedures for pharmaceuticals. 13 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 Comments and suggestions: The city and residents combine to provide excellent heritage preservation. Beginning with the council appointed Heritage Preservation Commission, heritage is a vital part of this community even though it is a fairly young city in the history of the country. The city owned and maintained History Park contains a museum with rotating exhibits, a permanent exhibit, and nine books for sale that have been written about Saratoga. The Museum is open three days per week. The McWilliams House, a one room schoolhouse, and the museum are all placed close to each other in a central location in town. The History Foundation is an active volunteer which oversees the Historical Museum and the many volunteer docents – 20 in the main museum and 20 that tour children through the school house and lead other activities. Over 1,000 children visit the school house. Volunteers also maintain the beautiful 5. Heritage Preservation Historical, natural, agricultural, and cultural heritage. Preservation and restoration of buildings, homes, churches, cemeteries; heritage sites and/or monuments; heritage parks, historical gardens; artifacts; historical society; heritage advisory committee, museums, archives, history books, and interpretative programs; ordinances and policies. Resource availability. Farmers markets, festivals and parades. M a x P o i n t s A c t u a l S c o r e Municipal Leadership in preservation and restoration initiatives 25 23 Legal protection of heritage sites 25 23 Resource availability for preservation and restoration 25 22 Business Conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of properties 15 13 Participation in and support of heritage/cultural activities 15 12.5 Residential Conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of properties 15 14 Participation in and support of heritage/cultural activities 15 13.5 Community Involvement Volunteer involvement in cultural, historical, and natural heritage activities 20 18 Youth involvement in heritage activities 20 16 Total (the fields automatically calculate – do not type in them) 175.00 155.00 14 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 gardens at the museum complex. The Saratoga History Foundation provides walking tours of historic sites, as well as garden and bicycle tours. The city has guidelines for design and color of historic structures. Attractive informational historic signage can be seen on many buildings. (below). The Saratoga Foothill Club was established as a Woman’s Club in the early 20th century. Saratoga is a multi-ethnic community and city organizations do a good job of incorporating traditions and customs into cultural program. The museum recently had an exhibit on the important Chinese contribution to the development of the area. The Chamber of Commerce, the Village Development Council, and the city support the many festivals that occur in the Village. The Village has almost one major event each month, including the Blossom Festival, July 4th Celebration, and Heritage Days. Over 100 properties are listed on the heritage inventory. Another concept related to heritage buildings is to develop a designation called “Century Buildings” with a plaque for any building that has existed on the site for 100 years or more. The high school band participates in the annual Memorial Day parade which goes from Madronia Cemetery to the Village. The city purchased the Hakone Gardens (Japanese gardens) and is planning to develop the Quarry Park to preserve open space and celebrate the early mining history of the area. The beautiful and colorful Saratoga Historical Garden is also located near the Historical Museum. Volunteers plant and maintain the garden. Each week the Saratoga News publishes a photo with a caption from a local historian. High School students can use technology to connect with their local history. Consider using the website: www.historypin.org to research historic photos and postcards and match those with photos of the same locations as they appear today. Users can download a tour of the featured sites on the historypin website. This program combines the student’s interest in technology with historic photos to make history come alive. Heritage tourism is growing in popularity throughout the country. The Historical Society could check into 15 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 developing a regional “heritage loop” for visitors to the valley. The California State Historic Preservation Office would be a place to start. Many communities have information on heritage on their city website home page. Consider adding something on heritage on the home page or directing visitors to heritage information quickly and easily. The website www.gosaratogaca.com did not have any information on heritage for visitors. That would be a helpful addition to the website to encourage tourists to stop and enjoy the sights. This website could also include under “music and arts” or “recreation” the Historic Walking, Garden, and Bicycle Tours. 16 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 6. Overall Impression Lack of litter and graffiti. Maintenance of public open spaces, medians and boulevard strips, streets, sidewalks, walking and biking trails, curbs, ditches, road shoulders, unattended and vacant lots, buildings, garbage receptacles; lack of weeds, dog waste policies and receptacles, notices/posters appropriately displayed, vandalism not evident. Maintenance of the hardscape: walls, lamp posts, benches, playgrounds, etc. Appropriate use and placement of sculpture, wayfinding signs, graphic elements such as banners, signs and murals. M a x p o i n t s A c t u a l S c o r e Municipal Overall cleanliness 10 9.5 Maintenance of public roads and shoulders 10 9.5 Condition of public buildings and properties 10 9.5 Impact of graphic elements - banners, wayfinding signs, murals, etc. 10 9.5 Business Overall cleanliness 20 19 Condition of buildings and properties 20 19 Residential Overall cleanliness 10 9.5 Condition of buildings and properties 10 9.5 Community Involvement Participation in clean-up efforts, adopt-a-spot, annual cleanup days, etc. 15 13 Recognition of volunteer efforts 10 8 Total (the fields automatically calculate – do not type in them) 125.00 116.00 Comments and suggestions: The entire city is clean and tidy. Residents take great pride in their properties and the city sets a fine example with clean streets and well maintained roads and curbs. Saratoga is a bedroom community with no industrial section and well-designed commercial areas. Buildings are no taller than two stories and the Village area is replete with small, locally owned shops and businesses. The Village Gardeners, a volunteer group, take care of the tree plantings in the commercial district. They maintain over 100 pots along with 75 tree wells. Each gardener is allowed to create their own designs and maintain their plantings. The use of mulch would help “finish” the planting areas and help with moisture evaporation. The only issue with using more mulch is the need to gently sweep it back into the tree well. 17 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 Mulch is needed to provide a finished look. Volunteer recognition is vital to keep volunteers engaged. The 50 Village Gardener volunteers should be praised for their efforts whenever and wherever possible. Consider calibrating the savings to the city from their efforts. It is possible to develop reasonable numbers of taxpayer savings as well as the beauty and pride they bring to the Village district. Businesses take pride in their storefronts while the Village Gardeners give a Golden Broom Award to those owners who take extra pride in their shops. Some business owners maintain planters in front of their shops. The city provides up to $5,000 for facade matching grants for businesses. Medians are well maintained and drought hardy with native plants used to conserve water. Various groups sponsor clean up days throughout the year. Local artists painted one of the few available the store windows in the Village commercial area. (photo below) Even the resident dogs enjoy the city as dog bowls and treats are placed throughout town. There is also a dog drinking fountain! Not only is Saratoga a very clean place to call home, it is also one of the safest cities in California. Community involvement is strong with five active commissions appointed by City Council. The Village area had attractive benches and waste receptacles. Occasionally, a trash can was placed in the wrong location as in the photo below. It was right next to the welcome sign. 18 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 Attractive shopping districts like the Village can encourage customers to linger by looking for opportunities to place additional benches in the main district. Parks in Saratoga were attractive even with the current drought conditions. As the drought continues, additional ways of conserving water and keeping plants alive should be considered. Using more mulch in the parks would help keep the soil cooler and reduce evaporation. 19 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 Checklist for Judges and Participants: Yes No N/A X Were the judges given a community profile, itinerary, and map prior to their arrival? X Did the itinerary provide for seeing a representative cross-section of the participant? X Were the guides knowledgeable about the participant and horticultural aspects? X Were the judges able to modify the schedule if needed? X Did the judges meet with the media? X Did the judges meet with municipal leaders? X Were the judges asked to give presentations? X Were the judges able to meet with and talk to volunteers? x Was enough time allotted to complete the evaluation form in a quiet place? Comments: DEFINITIONS Municipal: City hall and other municipal properties, parks and open spaces, roads, roadsides, sidewalks, cemeteries, schools and sports facilities, empty lots and brownfields, libraries, hospitals, assisted living, churches, universities, and colleges Business: Commercial and industrial sectors, shopping centers, stores, office buildings, restaurants, mixed use developments, service stations, railway and bus stations, plant nurseries/garden centers Residential: Single family residences, condominiums, town houses, planned communities, apartment buildings, gated communities, manufactured home communities, trailer parks, residential developments, neighborhoods, graduated care facilities Community Involvement: Volunteer efforts by individuals, clubs, youth groups, church groups, civic organizations, and social clubs for community enhancement 20 Saratoga, CA 2015 All rights reserved. © America in Bloom 2015 2015 Special Mentions Participant: Saratoga, CA Recognized Criterion: Overall impression Saratoga is a very clean and tidy community on the edge of Silicon Valley in California. Streets, sidewalks, parks, signage, and buildings were all in good condition. The municipality, residents, and businesses take great pride in maintaining all properties to a high standard. The downtown village shops are small and locally owned. The Village Gardeners present the “Golden Broom” award to a business owner who takes noticeable pride in their establishment. Clean up days are scheduled but it is difficult to see what is needed as the town sparkles. Special Project or Initiative: Transformation of an old quarry into a nature park The plans to transform the old quarry area into a new park for Saratoga is moving along in stages. The concept is exciting and hopefully will keep moving toward the eventual goal. America in Bloom … Planting Pride in Our Communities 2130 Stella Court, Columbus, OH 43215 ● (614) (614) 453-0744 ● Fax (614) 487-1216 www.americainbloom.org ● aib@americainbloom.org