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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-05-2007 CC Agenda Packet AddendumCity of Saratoga City Clerk's office Memo To: Mayor and City Council From: Cathleen Boyer, City Clerk Date: December 5, 2007 Re: Agenda Item 10 Emails in regards to Item #10 — Madronia Cemetery. Saratoga Cemetery Page 1 of 2 Cathleen Boyer From: Ann Waltonsmith Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 8:47 AM To: Annette Woolsey; Aileen Kao; Chuck Page; Kathleen King; Jill Hunter Cc: Dave Anderson; Cathleen Boyer Subject: RE: Saratoga Cemetery Dear Annette Woolsey Thank you for sending your thoughts on the Madronia Cemetery issue. The Council has limited authority over the Cemetery District but we have agendized a discussion on direction of action to the staff and a possible formation of an AdHoc Committee of the issue. That discussion has been agendized for next week's Council meeting on the 5th starting at 7 pm. You are welcome to attend and state your views and opinions at that public meeting. Thank you again for sending the Council your opinions. Ann Waltonsmith Ann Waltonsmith Vice -Mayor, City of Saratoga From: Annette Woolsey [mailto:awoolz@yahoo.com] Sent: Fri 11/30/2007 6:16 PM To: Aileen Kao; Ann Waltonsmith; Chuck Page; Kathleen King; Jill Hunter Cc: Dave Anderson; Cathleen Boyer Subject: Saratoga Cemetery Dear Mayor and Council Members, I am very concerned about the actions of the Saratoga Cemetery Board. Threatening to seize property to expand the Madronia Cemetery is not the way anyone should operate in Saratoga. Home owners should never be intimidated by public entities. Property owners who have lovingly spent hours of their own labor to improve their homes deserve respect. It is a real estate owner's basic right to decide when they are ready to sell their property. The Teeters and Kathleen Boyd deserve a public, heartfelt apology from Phil Boyce and his Board. I am disturbed by several other aspects of this case. The Madronia Cemetery is a beautiful natural setting and I like it the way it is. Before its character is changed there should be a very public debate about the future vision for the cemetery. 1 do not want mammoth gates, driveways and imposing buildings added to the site. The cemetery district evidently receives more money that it spends every year. There is room for improvement in the maintenance of the grounds. Soil amendments and the cautious use of fertilizers would 12/2/2007 Saratoga Cemetery Page 2 of 2 make the existing trees and plants flourish. I would like to see more emphasis on enhancing and caring for what we have. I encourage you to assist the homeowners in any way you can and to discuss the kind of Cemetery Che residents want in Saratoga. Sincerely, Annette Woolsey 19952 Durham Ct Saratoga, CA 95070 30 year resident Get easy, one -click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your homepage. http:iiwww-yahoo.comri hs 12/2/2007 Page 1 of 3 Cathleen Boyer From: Ann Waltonsmith Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 8:45 AM To: Lynn Weber; Aileen Kao; Chuck Page; Kathleen King; Jill Hunter Cc: Cathleen Boyer; Dave Anderson Subject: RE: Saratoga Cemetery District Dear Lynn Weber Thank you for sending your thoughts on the Madronia Cemetery issue. The Council has limited authority over the Cemetery District but we have agendized a discussion on direction of action to the staff and a possible formation of an AdHoc Committee of the issue. That discussion has been agendized for next week's Council meeting on the 5th starting at 7 pm. You are welcome to attend and state your views and opinions at that public meeting. Thank you again for sending the Council your opinions. Ann Waltonsmith Ann Waltonsmith Vice -Mayor, City of Saratoga From: Lynn Weber [mailto:ellweber@yahoo.com] Sent: Fri 11/30/2007 1:49 PM To: Aileen Kao; Ann Waltonsmith; Chuck Page; Kathleen King; Jill Hunter Subject: Saratoga Cemetery District Dear Saratoga City Council Members, The below letter has been sent to the county Board of Supervisors indicating our strong opposition to the use of our property tax revenue for a new monumental entrance for the Madronia Cemetery. Additionally, we feel that the proposed addition would be totally out of place in our tasteful, low-key residential neighborhood. Please assert any and all influence you have toward discouraging this unnecessary project. Sincerely yours, Lynn and Susan Weber 12885 Pierce Rd. Saratoga, CA 95070 **************************************************:********************************* The Honorable Liz Kniss Board of Supervisors for Santa Clara County 70 West Hedding Street San Jose, CA 95110 12/2/2007 Page 2 of 3 Dear Ms. Kniss: As a resident of Saratoga for the past 33 years we have only recently become aware that a portion of our considerable property tax payment has been going to the Saratoga Cemetery District. Though we understand the need for this service we are among the growing portion of the general population that have made alternate plans for the disposition of our remains. Additionally, we understand that the operating expenses of the district are largely covered by their operating income and that the property tax component of the district's income has been accumulating. Now this district has begun the process of expanding their presence by trying to acquire two adjoining properties to build what can only be described as a "Grand Entrance" to the cemetery. The district has plenty of existing space for its primary function of providing burial plots, for many years to come. As the two property owners have indicated no desire to sell their land or move for any other reason this land grab is totally out of place and serves no usefulcommunity purpose. The hardship of finding a replacement home, moving, disrupting their lives and the attendant substantial financial burden imposed on these families would be truly unconscionable. Please assert your oversight and funding influence on the board of the Saratoga Cemetery District to reign in their grandiose plans and limit their activities to their primary function of overseeing the maintenance of the district's existing facilities. In addition, please consider reducing or eliminating the collection of unneeded property tax revenues for this district. There are many more needy and broadly useful services that could make better use of these funds. Sincerely yours, Lynn and Susan Weber cc: Supervisors Gage, Alvarado, McHugh, Yeager, Peter Kutras, Madronia Cemetery Board of Trustees, Saratoga City Council 12/2/2007 To All City Council Members: On December 5, 2007, George Kirk (who lives on LaPaloma) called to leave a message for all of you about the Madronia Cemetery District. He is against any use of Imminent Domain and feels that the Cemetery District is misusing this tool. Mr. Kirk has another meeting he has to chair this evening and wasn't sure he could be at the City Council meeting this evening to speak on this. His phone number: 867-7840 Madronia Cemetery Page 1 of 2 Cathleen Boyer From: Ray & Sue Persica [persico16@comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 8:56 PM To: Aileen Kao; Ann Waltonsmith; Chuck Page; Kathleen King; Jill Hunter Cc: Dave Anderson; Cathleen Boyer Subject: Madronia Cemetery Dear Saratoga City Council Members: I'm writing regarding the recent events with the Madronia Cemetery in Saratoga. I live across the street from the cemetery and recently learned of their plans to expand including the possibility of using eminent domain to take two neighbor's properties, the Teeters and the Boyds. We reviewed the meeting minutes from the Saratoga Cemetery District Board of Trustees monthly meetings for the past year and learned the following. • The Cemetery District Board visited several other cemeteries. • The Cemetery District Board repeatedly mentioned acquisition of the Boyd and Teeter properties. • At one meeting, the Cemetery District Board mentioned the Teeters and Boyds would receive a tax advantage by selling under the threat of condemnation. Conspicuously absent from the record was any discussion of the need for expansion or if such a need exists, a discussion of alternative sites or expansion strategies. My husband and 1 and many of our neighbors attended the last meeting of the Cemetery District Board on November 14. We expressed our opposition to the cemetery's expansion plan and requested that the community provide input in the future direction of the cemetery. We felt that our comments fell on deaf ears. We were told by Chairman Boyce that the board would develop a master plan following the acquisition of the two properties and at that point, they would involve the community. The Teeter and Boyd families have lived on Oak Street for decades and are not interested in selling their properties. I feel it is unnecessary, unethical and immoral to take their properties by eminent domain for cemetery expansion. In addition, as a resident of the neighborhood I would not like to see our neighbors' homes replaced with graves. Oak Street is charming and replacement of two homes with graves would change the character of the neighborhood. I urge you to adopt a resolution opposing the use of eminent domain for cemetery expansion. Thank you for your consideration. 12/5/2007 .Madronia Cemetery Sincerely, Sue Kalman 12/5/2007 Page 2 of 2 Page 1 of 1 Cathleen Boyer From: Francesca Ordona Ifrancescaoh©comcast.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 10:16 PM To: Aileen Kao; Ann Waltonsmith; Chuck Page; Kathleen King; Cathleen Boyer; Jill Hunter Subject: Complaint Ltr on Madronia Cemetery 12/4/08 December 4, 2008 Dear Saratoga City Council, I am the homeowner of 14739 Oak Street. In the past weeks it was brought to my attention that Madronia Cemetery is intending to purchase two properties across the street from my house. As I understand it, it is for the expansion of the cemetery and to build a "Bigger Presence" on Oak Street. Since this "Bigger Presence" on Oak Street will affect me directly, I am very concerned about this proposed project. The first issue I have with this proposed project is the acquisition of the two properties. The currant landowners are our neighbors and good friends. I do not know if the Council is aware of the fact that the people that live on the blocks around the cemetery, form a very tight community. Almost all the neighbors know each other and regularly talk and look after each other. In a way, I would say, we are one big happy family. Requesting our neighbors to sell and leave the area is like asking part or our family to leave. This act is disheartening and is not at all well received by the surrounding neighborhood. The law "Eminent Domain" has been mentioned as a way to acquire these properties. This, to say in the least, is very troubling. Another issue is the idea of a "Bigger Presence". What does this mean? I love Saratoga because is has a small town quaintness. I believe that is one of its attractions and why it so desirable to live here. For me, Madronia Cemetery is part of this quaintness. It has an old fashion historic spirit about it. This is something very difficult to find in a cemetery. Making a "Bigger Presence" on Oak Street could easily destroy this and Madronia Cemetery would then become just like any one the many cemeteries around. "Bigger looking" is often not better and I fear that the impact on the neighborhood and Saratoga's ambiance as a quaint historic neighborly town, could be severely damaged. So, for the reasons stated above, I am writing Saratoga City Council. I am requesting that the City Council take a look at the .Madronia Board's conduct towards Oak Street neighbors and the Saratoga community. I would like the City Council to pass a resolution that they are against the use of Eminent Domain for cemetery expansion. I would also request that the City of Saratoga return the Teeter's property designation to residential on the General Plan, as they requested in the summer of 2007. The future vision and direction that the currant Madronia Cemetery Board is proposing, is very scary to me. It. does not reflect the spirit of what I believe Saratoga to be. As a citizen of Saratoga, I am asking for your help. Thank you for your time in addressing these issues. Sincerely, Francesca Ordona Homeowner of 14739 Oak Street, Saratoga CA 12/5/2007