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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-1999 City Council Study Session -Playfield ProjectCity Council Study Session Tuesday, January 26, 1999 Playfield Project Status Update Irene Jacobs, Staff Liaison to PRC Barbara Olsen, PRC Chair Jaye Beals of The Beals Group, Project Manager 1. Staff Introduction -Jacobs 2. History of the Project - Olsen 3. The Remaining Phases to the_'rocess - Olsen 4. Task Force Process /Schematic Designs of Proposed School Sites - Beals 5. Questions from the City Council 1. Project Introduction: Irene will give a general introduction to the information that will presented tonight and then introduce Barbara and Jaye and let them move forward with their portion of the presentation. History of Project November 1990 City receives the final report from the consultant who was hired to develop the Parks and Trails Master Plan. The plan makes recommendations to the City to develop joint use agreements with existing schools sites to develop additional playfield use. June 1996 Community Task Force Meeting held to Prioritize Park Development Fund Projects; 70 members from the Community attended Spring 1997 City -wide budget cuts; before any significant progress was made on any of the projects, the City Council asked the Commission to revise the original priority list recognizing that the City would no longer be able to directly support any of the projects. The Community Hub now is bumped from its first priority slot and playfields renovation and development are moved up on the priority list.* January 1998 Parks & Recreation Commission decides to recommend to Council that the City hire a project manager to oversee the Playfield Development Project. City was not able to commit sufficient staff time to this project as was necessary in light of the recent budget cuts. March 1998 Parks & Recreation Commission meets with and receives approval from the City Council to hire the Project Manager to implement the Playfield Project. This project would be funded by the Park Development Fund for the development of new athletic fields in addition to renovating some existing fields, such as Congress Springs Park, that is in need of repair April 1998 The Parks and Recreation Commission supports staff's recommend that the City enact a $12 per participant user fee in place of the current flat rate of $1,500 per season for the use of Congress Springs Park by organized sports leagues. Staff had recommended this increase in user fees in an attempt to recover costs city -wide, as requested by the City Council. In 1990 dollars, it costs the city $5,500 per acre in maintenance costs for Congress Springs alone, a park measuring 9.97 acres. Both AYSO and Saratoga Little League pay $1,500 per season for the use of the site. The City Council overruled the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission and did not approve to enact a per participant user fee but, the Council did request that the Project Manager's scope of services (that had already received approval by Council in March) be expanded to include the establishments of joint -use agreements between the City, user groups and school districts for existing sites in addition to the proposed sites that had not yet been identified. The Council made it clear to the user groups that the City would not invest in playfield development projects if there was no commitment from their part to help in the maintenance of these new fields. The City was and is unable to provide additional maintenance above the level that it is currently providing for existing sites let alone additional playfield sites. If this group could not first prove that this first circle was going to work, the City Council would not consider building additional playfields. May 1998 Beals Landscape Architecture's contract is approved for to serve as the Project Manager. June 1998 Task Force Meeting - Number 1 Gune 30, 1998) Jaye will discuss the specifics. July 1998 Task Force Meeting - Number 2 (July 29, 1998) Jaye will discuss the specifics. August 1998 Task Force Meeting - Number 3 (August 19, 1998) f At this meeting, Task Force Members prioritized 10 potential sites and voted, thus make an initial recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Commission to improve the top four out of ten identified sites; Blue Hills School /Azule Park, Marshall Lane School, Foothill School and Congress Springs Park. The Task Force would make an official recommendation to the Parks & Recreation Commission once the Task Force had received the feedback gathered at the Public Input Meetings from residents. October 1998 Public Input Meetings are held for potential sites; Foothill and Marshall Lane Jaye will address the specifics November 1998 A Public Input Meeting is held for potential site; Blue Hills School /Azule Jaye will address the specifics December 1998 Task Force Meeting #4 (Canceled due to holidays and lack of a quorum) January 1999 Task Force Meeting #4 The Task Force held its fourth meeting to formulate its formal recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration in February. Again, the main objective of this Task Force was to devise a way to address the maintenance issue before the Parks & Recreation Commission and City Council would consider preceding with this project. The Commission will take consider the Task Force's recommendation at their February 1, 1999 meeting. Council Study Session on the Play fields The study session was planned to provide the City Council with an update on the status of the project; what has occurred up to now and what is left to be done. The session was scheduled to offer the Council an opportunity to ask questions of the consultant prior to being asked to vote on the issue in early March. 3. The Remaining Phases to the Process February 1, 1999 Parks Fr Recreation Commission Meeting Parks and Recreation Commission will consider the recommendation of the Task Force and make a formal recommendation to the City Council for approval of the "Plan ". Please note that depending upon the response that is received from the public on the evening of February 1, 1999, additional meetings may be scheduled to address issues raised at the meeting. Saratoga Union School Board Meeting (February 23, 1999) Request approval of the plan for Foothill School Site Project - in concept, if still applicable. t Please note: The approval that will be requested of each school district will be between the city and the school district only at this time. If the project does indeed proceed further, a joint -use agreement spelling out the specific terms for each site related to maintenance levels and user group participation will come before the school board for final approval at a later date. Cupertino Union School Board Meeting (February 23, 1999) Request approval of the plan for Blue Hills School Site Project - in concept, if still applicable. Campbell Union School Board Meeting (February 25, 1999) Request approval of the plan for Marshall Lane School Site Project - in concept, if still applicable March 1999 The City Council will be asked to approve the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the Playfield Project "Plan ". If the Council approves the "plan" in concept, then staff would work retain the services of a firm or consultant to perform the necessary reports related to traffic, noise etc. that are required by the City before development could occur. September 1999 The City would be provided with the results of the reports as would the public. From what I understand, the public would have an opportunity to comment on the results of the report and those comments would need to be addressed by the consultant. The results of the report would help to determine what the next steps of the process should be; to either proceed with the existing plan with minor changes or perhaps reconsider other viable options. Other points to cover if not already mentioned: Traffic & Safety were the number one concerns voiced by all residents at every public input meeting. The Parks and Recreation Commission realizes that no improvements can be recommended to any site, proposed or not proposed, without having the City consider the traffic and safety element. The Parks and Recreation Commission and staff hope to work with the Public Safety Commission, neighbors, user groups and all interested parties when considering traffic and safety issues related to this specific project and any other issue that needs to be addressed. 4. Proposed School Sites - Proposed Schematic Designs: Jaye will discuss the efforts made by the Task Force; what was developed through the process, the entire maintenance issue, the plans in detail etc. 4 5. Questions of the Council: Everyone will pitch in. A representative from each user group that participated was asked to be present in order to answer any questions from the Council. TO: City Council FROM: Parks and Recreation Commission DATE: May 9, 1997 SUBJECT: Priority Revision and Proposed Future Scheduling of the use of the Park and Recreation Development Fund. At the April 7, 1997 Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, by direction of City Council to reorder the priorities and scheduling for use of the Park and Recreation Development Fund, the Commission considered all listed projects and new projects that were submitted as possible candidates to be funded by the Park and Recreation Development Fund. The Commission stated that first.-,,- priority projects would be projects that did not increase cdrrent maintenance cost centers in the JoLicipt d-r--W*5`u-Tff even reduce the Curren level or effort. The Commission recommends that the playfield improvements at ..- existing school sites be given the highest priority and to direct staff to negotiate with the interested school districts and potential user groups of each improved school site. The purpose of these negotiations will be to determine and develop a maintenance and use agreement, in which all parties will agree to share in the cost of the annual maintenance of the improved playfield. The Commission recommends that a negotiated maintenance and use agreement be finalized before the City makes any request to have any site designed and developed. lA Community Center Facility Renovation $500,000 FY 97/98 A) Feasibility Study 1. To determine and idenify the need for renovation and maintenance upgrades for this facility. 2. If this facility is meeting the leisure needs of the community now and in the future. 3. The study could determine if expansion of the facility will increase revenue for the City and pay for the expansion over a period of time. B) Design Phase as determined by study PY97/98 C) Construction Documents FY 97/98 D) Construction FY 97/98 1$W Kevin Moran Park Gardiner Park $160,000 FY 97/98 A) Design and renovate play areas and play equipment at both especially segments that will link to County Park and Open Space Preserves. The Commission realizes that only means that this will be accomplished without additional financial burdens will be to continue with the volunteer efforts. To accomplish this, the Commission is proposing establishing a City Grant Program to aid volunteer groups to maintain existing trails segments and the possibility of constructing new segments. The program would consist of volunteer groups submitting applications to the Parks and Recreation Commission for review and final recommendations for funding be submitted to council for final approval. A) Have a consultant update the Trails Master Plan and develop a map to show all existing segments and proposed segments that will link to County Parks and Open Space Preserves. $ 10,F000 FY 97/98 4. Projects that were listed on the Parks and Recreation Development Fund but are recommended to be tabled at this time for the following reasons: A. Civic Theater Improvements The Commission stated that remodeling but felt that at improvements should be funded surcharge. the theater is in need of this time the many needed from the established ticket B. Saratoga High School Swimming Pool The Commission felt that although this may be a needed project, it was not ranked high on the priority list recommended by the community task force and the original use policy adopted by Council. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED PROJECTS 1. Community Center Facility Renovation $ 500,000 2. Kevin Moran Park /Gardiner Park Play Areas 160,000 3. Wildwood Park Restrooms 100,000 4. Heritage Orchard Improvements 50,000 5. Improvements to the Warner Hutton House 5,000 6. Playfield Improvements at Existing School Site- 11000,000 7. Trail Improvements 100,000 8. Hakone Restroom (currently in design phase) 100,000 Hakone Handrail System (under construction) 4.000 TOTAL $2,0191000 File 92060 Adopted on: July 22, 1997 (Supersedes policy adopted August 7, 1996) �POLiCY "ON S8 : F4 i�ARRS SAND �ttE�CRLASON DEVELOPMENT . FFJNb The following projects are listed in priority order: Playfield Improvements at Existing School Sites Wildwood Park Restrooms Heritage Orchard Improvements Warner Hutton House Improvements Kevin Moran Park /Gardiner Park Play Areas Trail Improvements Community Center Facility Renovation Study File 92060 Adopted on: August 7, 1996 POLICY ON USE OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENT FUND BACKGROUND: In March, 1996, the Saratoga City Council requested that a Community Task Force be developed in order to recommend what needs should be addressed by the Parks and Recreation Development Fund. The task force was comprised of two Parks and Recreation Commissioners, Jenny Crotty (Chair), and Kay Whitney; one Council Member, Gillian Moran; two community members, Jack Mallory and Fran Franklin and one alternative member who served as secretary, Monique Drumm. In addition, Rich Hughes was contracted by the City of Saratoga as a consultant. On June 8, 1996, approximately 70 members from the community attended a workshop to help determine and prioritize the needs of the City. Based on the results of that meeting, the Task Force makes the following recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Community Center Expansion - $100,000 for the initial phase This expansion is based on a concept that there is a need to have a community hub which would meet the needs of all the community and would include a variety of facilities. Create a master plan for a Community Center Hub $100,000 to hire an architect /consultant to consider * A new or expanded Community Center and its location * Possible relocation of the corporation yard * Possibility of including an indoor sports center * Joint use /joint development of gym with Redwood School * Possibility of partnering with private organizations to develop joint use agreement for facility use for Seniors * "Just- for - Teens" facility * Method for funding the development or operation of this new facility (tax /bond issue). 2. The Community emphasized a strong interest in meeting the needs of youth; This included a concern -about teen programs, development of new f ieT&9: iiM �-iipgi de.'- 0i^' ek12, -ting . field usaglb:. at school sites. Although. _`the .workshop ...did not discuss location for these recomrae. dations,. the task force -.looked at existing resources _and . is makirigr_the 'following recommendation: Playing fields for youth sports: 3 new and 4 . renovated '$'I„ 000,.000 a. Joint use playing fields at school sites.- $700,000 -(There are 7 fields for possible '`renovation listed alphabetically) * ?argonaut School 1*renov3ted.field - multi -use * Blue Hills Sch. /A7.ule Pk.l new, 1 renovated * Foothill School - 2 renovated fields - softball * Marshall Lane School 1 or more field - multi -use * Saratoga School 1 renovated field - multi -use * McAuliffe School 1 renovated field - multi -use b. Sports fields at City parks - $300,000 This would expand the number of fields currently available * Azule Pk. /Blue Hills Sch. 1 - 2 new fields - multi -use C. Teen programs and needs were strongly emphasized by the Workshop. The City should continue to make the Warner Hutton House available for teen programs and find a way to fund low cost activities for teens. 3. Improvements to existing parks - $500,000 Because of possible development of sports fields at Blue Hills and Azule, special considerations should be given to those areas. a. Azule Park (undeveloped) * Trees, picnic tables, BBQ * playground area, paths * Landscaped, off - street parking area b. Kevin Moran Park * Trees and benches * Picnic benches, BBQ * Playground equipment for older children * Community garden or garden plots * Landscaped off - Street parking area (to support both Kevin Moran and Azule users) C. Gardiner Park * New Playground equipment d. Hakone Garden * Replace hand rails if existing are unsafe * Replace restrooms 4. Reserve Fund - $400,000 a. Use to complete projects 1 through 3 above (if under - funded) b. Create a long term plan for developing and funding parks, recreation areas, trails and open space. * Park and open space acquisition , e.g. Mountain Winery, school sites, etc. * Trail improvements. 5. The above projects are not stated in priority order. See attached minutes of 7/17/96 and 7/23/96 for discussion on priorities. 2 Partial Minutes.of July 23, 1996: G. Self- Evaluation of Previous Meeting Councilmembers felt the meeting of July 17th went very well. Mr. Peacock indicates that the Council will be finalizing the park development project priorities on August 7th but as yet staff has received no direction as to which project should go first only that the concept of creating a master plan for the civic center hub is not at the top of the list. It was agreed that the City should talk to the three school districts first to see who is ready to do what. Vice Mayor Moran indicates she will help out with getting the various parties together. Partial Minutes of July 17, 1996: Councilmember Tucker clarified that the recommendations are not in order of priority or execution. 3 'Ao�nk oZ D m' I CommanJ IR. 8' mil pIQ��;el� m; i I• � m; 3 LVE t° eeh l...ar,d .' Pr-; are 4g Cen-ler c" �r�rov�rne Par k A ark =rn Y3St'On /ReIiOV��', a+ 34 ratv 7 ml Trall Zm d _ G.`��n �ct'�•� S g 3 ono I Zrdo r ' a ors m; I Comnluni4V C-3-ctrd yen s 3 m; l Devel. L,*rga e. 4-W p► m: CDmm unl4V ' S t Doci Ralwv e-n er a- I C�MMeAl-S eot"MLf1)i*l '14ulo conce d I; > } Teen needs 4e u enl- -1 6"'" u y ,,�� POr#-S Pr rar» . -� �. 14aL " cei-7 der a heeds ( '9191ff @2 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE • SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 • (408) 867 -3438 COUNCIL MEMBERS: PRESS RELEASE � a Bulger Paul E Gillian Moran Karen Tucker Donald L. Wolfe The City is gearing up for improvements to our park system. A new, temporary task force has been formed to dig into the issues around the improvements of parks in Saratoga. Meeting for the first time last week, the Park Task Force will make recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the community's recreational and park facility needs, both now and in the future. The City of Saratoga has a Park Development Fund which is specifically set up for improvements to existing parks and for undeveloped parks and open space. At a Town Hall meeting last year, the Council recommended that a task force be created. The Task Force members are: Vice Mayor Gillian Moran, representing the City Council; two members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Jennifer Crotty and Kay Whitney; two members at -large from the community, Fran Franklin and Jack Mallory, and an alternate citizen representative who will serve as the group's recorder, Monique Drum. One of the primary goals is the need to solicit balanced views of divergent community interests on this subject. To that end, the Task Force will be meeting with a consultant to obtain advice on how best to solicit information from the community. Focus.groups made up of community members representing diverse interests in park development is one way the Task Force intneds to do this. The Task Force is tentatively scheduled to conduct focus group discussions on June 8. If you are interested in participating in the process, or, if you want information about meetings and when they are being held, a good place to start is to contact Parks Superintendent Bob Rizzo at 867 -3438 extension 247. April 26, 1996 For Immediate Release Printed on recycled paper. KSRR 6 SRRRT06R COMMUNITY RCCESS'TELEOISION COMMUNMY BULLETIN BOARD R O 1F4T FORA Please return to: Tessa McGoldricic/KSAR, WVC TV Studio. 14000 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. CA 95070 (408) 741 -2108 fax (408) 867 -9207 J -F S a r a -l- d y I ORGAIJIZATION NAME 3 -7-7 -7 LA ADDRESS v SccJ���,., CA , ojS --0-70 86 7 - 3`(.�d/ CITY STATE ZIP PHONE NUMBER ZI-d CA-V\ 40 IS C4 V1 t CONTACT PERSON S PHONE NUMBER (if different than above) Please put your message in the appropriate area (Event or Ongoing Message). pgINT or= the message EXACTLY as it is to appear on the screen. Include a phone number so viewers can contact you for more information. Requests must be received at LEA two weeks before the message is to appear. A request form must be completed for each announcement. EVENT MESSAGE W O y- 1c .5 k d to +6 1-I 2 e �' Q ✓ w� VI e. 'T �-e _ �-c-� ..l ✓ %io c .� c `�J 4- TITLE OF EVENT TU ✓ DAY AND DATE OF EVENT aral-21y -A Witi t/M . — o vt" M LA V� 1 {--, C e ✓l4-t-- .-- S ca w �e a� q 40 d u � PHONE NUMBER FOR MORE INFORMATION ONGOING MESSAGE (Please limit your message to 175 characters / Ongoing messages must be re- submitted monthly) V- -i-< < i e < <r Q. w ,r e-, k u 1, ire. y Ll_e s i- c? d ✓tCA1 + JeFD FACILITATOR: *Mary Lynn Bernald RECORDER: *Monique Drumm •Chuck Corr *Jerry Daniel ✓ . Anthony Hoffman � • Sally Johnson ✓ • Carolyn King i✓ Mark Linsky i✓ a2!i Z4kfU&� 4&& V Gary Pastre -Roma Rieker ✓ Elaine Roth 1✓ �.., Stephanie Weiderti/ Bill Weller O"1 ds FACILITATOR: *John Mallory RECORDER: *Barbara Dutra Al Abshire ✓ H X� C�-a x b •Marcia Block -Laurel Euler v Pam Hoffman ✓ Wayne Kao •R.G. Lawson✓ • Debbie Li tID •Sofia Poulla,4a ✓ Cindy Ruby V Z ) -Beth Wyman / �i + Chri t,' Gut ich ✓ FACILITATOR: IbKay Whitney RECORDER: •Larry Perlin •Sarah Adolphson • Steve Benzing i/ • KIristy TaMAIA, • Frank Dutro Tom Green Gary Lord V *Catherine Quinonez • Robert Strayer z✓ • Venise Taaffe 1✓ •Barbara Takahashi to""' • Sally Towse ✓ y%� PaY 0 ml Paz,-r/ 1 dr"7 4111-W \N 444E FACILITATOR:•Kathy Weiner RECORDER: .Beverly Tucker *Gladys Armstrong ✓ •Connie Birdsall ✓ Mary Gardner ✓ • Laurie Girand t"o- &Patricia Ann Johnstone •Sandy Lewis ✓ ✓ Sally McElr^vey Dave MountL/ Dick Petersony/ *Greig Rose +✓ aifft • Rosanne W de zak� FACILITATOR: •Jenny Crotty RECORDER:. • John Clark Ron Adolphson ✓ *Angel Cheng / *Barbara DI Angelo Ve C. Holly Davie ✓ Judy Jimenez • Pam Kenady ✓ • Anne Kolb ✓ Dave Lazares ✓ Craig Northrup Brian Robertson ✓ * Steve Yuen cl ou FACILITATOR: - Gillian Moran RECORDER: -Kim Heinrichs Reiko Iwanaga / •Nancy Jamello Nadine Redding ez C Al %✓� n r 'j L. k s Ic r y✓ 1�tars11a11 LA"c Sc11oo1 Campbell Union School District , P_ Kathy Hogan, Principal - 14114 Marilyn Lane, Saratoga, California 95070 - Phone (408) 384 -4259 Fax (408) 341 -7080 - l<hogan@campbellusd.k12.ca.us January 15, 1999 Saratoga City Council 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Council Members: This letter is to demonstrate our support for the proposed improvements to the playing fields at Marshall Lane School. You are probably aware of the poor condition of our fields and the extreme need for suitable playing fields in this area of the city. As you are also most likely aware, the money available to school districts to make any improvements to play areas has been almost non - existent and the opportunity to improve the playing fields for our 550+ students would be most welcome and beneficial this year and every year thereafter. We know that the neighbors closest to the school have expressed their displeasure over improving our school due to their fear of increased traffic over the weekend. We need to let the City Council know that not all of our closest neighbors feel as those do that live on Marshall, Marilyn and Ravenwood. There are a number of families who live on Sobey Road and surrounding streets across Quito ( Ravenwood Court, for example) who feel strongly that an improved playing area in this part of the city is long overdue. Marshall Lane School and the Campbell Union School District have made a number of significant changes to increase the number of parking spaces at the schools create traffic flows that speed up the time cars spend on city streets, developed carpool systems, etc. We especially appreciate the cooperative nature and joint collaboration that has gone into this project thus far, and commend the City Council, Parks and Recreation and their Task Force on the work they have put forth. A joint project to improve the fields for generations of children can only have positive effects. Please consider our voice — we work with these children and their families and we know how important it would be to have a safe, organized and well- maintained playing field or children and adults alike. Sincerely, Marshall Lane School Staff /'�`�" J � L'Ic 41, -7 70, MAIN e-x-� January 21, 1999 Mayor & City Council Members Park Devl. Task Force Members Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga CA 95070 Dear Honorable Mayor and Committee Members: I would like to express an opinion shared by many Saratoga residents regarding the possibility of improving the playing fields at Marshall Lane School: The playing fields at Marshall Lane School should be given #1 priority to improvements that would absolutely benefit our entire local community. I can not understand how the nearby residents can use such illogical reasoning to discourage these improvements from happening. One resident on a nearby street stated that additional traffic (which by the way would be less on a weekend than a school day) would interfere with his children playing baseball and football in the streets! Hello! Wake up. The streets are for public transportation and are not for the homeowners sports events. They could play on the new fields. What a concept! If the nearby homeowners want to play ball in the streets and have an open view in every direction, they should move to Montana. Catering to the loud, selfish, illogical demands of these people hurts the community as a whole. Our city is changing to meet the needs of it's residents. Things cannot stay "the same" as they were 20 years ago. Please vote to have the fields at Marshall Lane improved for the benefit of all our kids, including those that live nearby. Sincerely, Paula McCarthy 18566 Martha Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 January 15,1999 Mayor & City Council Members Park Development Task Force Members Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Honorable Mayor, Parks and Recreation and Task Force Members: I understand you have had quite a bit of opposition to the needed improvements of the playing fields at Marshall Lane School. From the start, official meetings were required to let the immediate neighbors of the school know about the plans being made. The rest of the community was barely informed, and I am sure this is the reason there is such a large disparity of support vs. opposition for the improvements. We are a Saratoga family with two boys at Marshall Lane School, and soon will have four boys at the school. At recess, my youngest son and his friends spend some of there time looking for gophers or filling up the holes. My older son and his friends play football on the basketball courts at recess, only to have their ball taken away because playing football on the blacktop is not allowed. This results in tension between the students and the faculty member involved. For physical education classes the children run a timed mile, which is four times around the field. I'm sure by now you are all well aware of the condition of these fields and how dangerous this is, not to mention how it interferes with their speed. From the liabili viewpoint alone, I don't see how the City of Saratoga can leave the fields as they are. We are a family with children active in sports and find the fields situation at the moment very discouraging. Finding places for games and practices is a problem in both Little League and soccer. All the children in Saratoga would benefit with more playable fields. The argument from the neighbors regarding the safety of the roads leading to the school is valid and the roads are currently very unsafe especially during school days. Would a sidewalk on one side of the roads leading to the school be possible? School days at the moment are much more dangerous than weekends would be with playing fields because there are many more children and traffic at specific times on school days. A solution to the traffic issue must be solved so that the fields issue can be solved amicably. As for the argument against the fields from the people against children from other towns playing on the fields, they should not have bought their home at a place on the map where five cities join together! The playing fields at Marshall Lane Elementary School are there for the children; it is their school and a part of their community. These fields were not meant to be vast open expanses for the viewing pleasure of the neighbors as they drive by on their daily business. Why don't these distressed people exit at the other end of Sobey Road, the view is very nice. Sincerely, Ili All'," -- Anne L. Matteini 18696 Aspesi Drive, Saratoga, CA 95070 01/08/1999 10:23 408- 341 -7225 CAMPBELL SCHOOL DIST PAGE 02 E D U C A T I O N B E Y O N D T H E E X P E C T E D January 6, 1999 bj cc: Mama Plumleigh, Superintendent G. Jensen, Director II, Maintenance, Operations & Transportation Lisa Kurasch Mr. Jeff Kreps The Beals Group Two North Market, Fifth Floor 1 s5 " ° "" Third S'^" San Jose, CA 95113 Campbell G11fo►nia Dear Jeff: 95009.2086 1 wanted to apprise you of a meeting I had today with two concerned citizens, Mr. Ph : (409)364 -4200 Darwin Barrett and Ms. Lisa Kurasch, representing the residents around Marshall Fs.: (409)341 -7460 Lane School. They presented me with a copy of the petition they had given to the Saratoga City Council which states their opposition to the plans for the development at that site. wewl4! hup �vbeUwd 414 u.ua I tried to explain to them that this project was one which had been commissioned by the City of Saratoga and the Parks and Recreation Department to explore expanded use of open space so that all could enjoy the potential benefits. I also ee,,dMe.6„, mentioned that I thought that their concerns relative to traffic, etc. should be brought forward for discussion. In addition, I tried to clarify the process as 1 AJams `a" understand It. 1 informed them that, prior to any agreements being reached, it 379 (4UB)379 .5965 was my understanding that additional opportunities for input from all sectors would be available. Further, I spelled out to them that any proposed plans, etc. c40 e)559.s59.7o17 would have to be acceptable to and accepted by the various school districts' Jana W Johnson Governing Boards prior to any agreements being signed. (408)379.7484 mey P.,,Y I believe we should further discuss this at our next meeting which is scheduled (408)979.66.9 for January 19th to insure that all concerned groups are being included. John S -%16- (408)354.9483 1 appreciate your time and interest in this project. Sincerely yours, 5up4na11049As: mem* Ph.ekiyh, Ph D D4-'A (400)341.7411 Richard A. McCann Deputy Superintendent, Administrative Services bj cc: Mama Plumleigh, Superintendent G. Jensen, Director II, Maintenance, Operations & Transportation Lisa Kurasch TO: The Mayor and City Council Members of Saratoga �, w The Parks and Recreation Committee The Park Development Task Force Members Petition in support of JAN i 9 t!!! Improved Playing Fields at Marshall Lane Schoo[ITY OF SAi<A, O(41A C1 T Y M \'n( ;E1,'3 0laFICE Marshall Lane School is in the Campbell Union School District, and is located in the City of Saratoga. The school serves "corners" of adjoining cities including Campbell, Saratoga, Los Gatos, San Jose, and Monte Sereno. Because of this, tension has resulted over and over again, such as the much debated re- districting issue with Saratoga and Los Gatos Schools, and now the improvements of the Marshall Lane playing fields by the city of Saratoga. There are many Saratoga families whose children attend Marshall Lane School and would like very much to be able to use these fields. These children cannot attend Saratoga Schools and they cannot play on Saratoga Little League. They are very fortunate to have Quito Little League available, which unites many children from Marshall Lane. Currently, these children must travel to playing fields outside of the Quito Little League area for games and practices. Soccer is another popular sport in Saratoga and is in desperate need of more fields. Currently, the field at Marshall Lane School is full of holes and is unsafe to play on. As a result, residents in other parts of Saratoga with playable fields are tolerating our traffic through their neighborhoods. In a joint agreement with the Campbell School District and Quito Little League, the City of Saratoga has chosen Marshall Lane School as one site to spend thousands of dollars to improve playing fields in the City of Saratoga. The fields, which will be for both soccer and baseball, will then be maintained by the Campbell School District and Quito Little League, and be available for use by local sports. There is opposition to the improvement of these fields by residents in the immediate neighborhood of Marshall Lane School. Some are concerned that children from outside of Saratoga's boundaries will be playing on the fields. This is very unfair since many of the children attending Marshall Lane are from outside of Saratoga. This is their school, and a part of their community. Another concern of the neighbors near Marshall Lane School is the traffic. The safety of pedestrians is a main reason for opposing the improvements. This safety issue is an already existing problem on school days, and should be addressed regardless of the improved playing fields. This problem should not be ignored, and therefore should not stop the children from having a place in their community to play sports. We ask the City of Saratoga to address the traffic issue around Marshall Lane School regardless of the playing fields outcome. We also ask the City of Saratoga to realize that many families would appreciate very much, improvements to the playing fields at Marshall Lane School. Thank you. Name Signature Address City/State /Zip Date (please print) c T-lv ,mO i o Yly r _YA� -, ,fir 007 Ll • Or - • - f DATE: 1 -21 -99 TO: Saratoga City Council FROM: Ellen Marshall P.O. Box 3191, Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 370 -9406 Affiliated with The Petition Against Sportsfields at Marshall Lane School RE: Violation of Freedom of Speech Our group, Petition Against Sportsfields at Marshall Lane School, were not permitted to speak at the Task Force meeting on 1- 19 -99. This is discrimination and a violation of Freedom of Speech. It also deprived the Task Force of valuable information. Instead, all they got was incorrect information based on conflict of interest from Ms. Dickerson and Ms. Crotty while we had to sit there and listen silently. Ms. Dickerson doesn't even live in Saratoga. Ms. Crotty's term on Parks and Recreations was over in December 1998 so why was she there piping up every time Marshall Lane School was mentioned? This was brought to Mr. Perlin's attention and he agreed that this should be questioned. Please send a note as to why our group was not allowed to speak but others were. Our group should get equal time with closed doors from the Users. I'm requesting that our group get a chance to present our information to the Parks and Recreations to ensure that equal time is given and discrimination is avoided so the resulting decision will be the most intelligent one based on FACTS, not fiction. &&t,L �aAAW Cc: Bealsgroup J DATE: 1 -22 -99 TO: Saratoga City Council FROM: Ellen Marshall P.O. Box 3191, Saratoga, CA 95070 (408) 370 -9406 Affiliated with The Petition Against Sportsfields at Marshall Lane School RE: Let's Set The Record Straight I attended the Task Force meeting on 1- 19 -99. Ms. Dickerson, President of the Quito Little League, and Ms. Crotty were giving incorrect information regarding Marshall Lane School as a site for the sportsfields. The following provides the correct information to their quotes: Quote #1) "On one of the petitions it says that we support all efforts for a positive solution at Marshall Lane School including efforts to improve the traffic. That is part of their petition ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: This statement is NOT on our petition, Petition Against Sportsfields at Marshall Lane School. Quote #2) "It would be farm and T -ball level. We would never switch kids (to major and minor leagues) ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: Ms. Dickerson will not be there years from now to support this statement. We don't even want THESE sportsfields let alone the door it could open for expansion into major and minor leagues. Quote #3) "I know neighbors are sensitive to the intensification of use and scale and our point is this is really for the kids at the school and we could minimize it ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: The sportsfields aren't really for the kids at the school, they would bring in kids from all over. The sportsfields especially wouldn't be for those 34+ kids at the school who live in the neighborhood because of the negative safety, noise and traffic impact. What about their rights? The sportsfields shouldn't go in at their expense. Quote #4) "The cost would be more on the low end ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: The Bealsgroup has stated that the figures are conservative and are probably higher than lower because unforeseen things always come up. Quote #5) "There is some neighborhood support of the sportsfields at Marshall Lane School ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: THERE IS NO SUPPORT Quote #6) "What's happening right now is, for the past number of years, kids are practicing weekends and every day. INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: There is very little practice going on, and especially very little or none on weekends. Quote #7) " Instead of having practice it would be organized games ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: There would be no organized games instead of practice — there would be organized games AND practice. Quote #8) "From a driving standpoint there would be less coming and going ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: There would be three times as much driving and three times as many cars and a 90% increase all weekend long. This huge volume of driving and cars would be due to practice, organized games, opposing teams, fans and spectators, and food vendors ...EVERY DAY INCLUDING WEEKENDS FROM MORNING TIL NIGHT. Quote #9) "There is a desperate need of fields on that side of town ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: There are two gigantic fields within walking distance at Rolling Hills and Westmont. Quote # 10) "We each have to put in our two cents for our fields. I don't want the neighbor situation to be the reason why it's knocked down in priority ". INCORRECT INFORMATION CORRECTED: She has certainly gotten in more than her two cents. The neighbor situation is exactly why it should be knocked down in priority. As the Bealsgroup and many Task Force members stated, and I quote: 1) "Strong objection from the neighbors" 2) "Considerable opposition to the traffic and safety issues" 3) " It would be an uphill battle" 4) "Problems they would have with construction modification" 5) "Do not want to put an increase in activity level" 6) "Significant Opposition" 7) "Because of the political opposition I have switched (preferences)" 8) "What is most likely to pass "? 9) "Perhaps a site with less opposition should be chosen over Marshall Lane to increase the chances of it going through" 10) "Litigation holdups " (and rightly so) I would also like to correct the incorrect information on the enclosed City of Saratoga, Park Development Project (Attachment #1: Site Summaries). Site Notes: Incorrect. There is Rolling Hills and Westmont nearby. Users Incorrect. Upon taking our walk through the school grounds everyday at different times, it is NOT heavily used by Quito Little League and Not heavily used by any other outside sport group. Constraints: Parking is not the only problem. Access and traffic into the area is also a major problem. In summary, we hope this information helps in your efforts to choose the sites realistically. Cc: Bealsgroup 77-E-M E) U1113 January 26, 1999 The Mayor and City Council Members The Parks and Recreation Commission The Park Development Task Force Members City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Honorable Mayor, Council, Commission and Task Force Members: As president of Quito Little League, I am writing to clarify the facts as well as to express Quito's position on the proposed renovation of the Marshall Lane School site for multi- use play fields. Based on what some area residents have said in public meetings, in the Saratoga News and in the many negative letters sent to the City, I feel that there is a significant misunderstanding of Quito's role in this process. Quito Little League has been targeted by this small group of homeowners as being an "outside" organization with selfish interests, whose members drive recklessly, litter at will, and in general, have little regard for either the school environment or the quality of life in the immediate neighborhood. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was asked to join the Task Force as a representative of a Marshall Lane user group (Quito teams use Marshall Lane for practices throughout the baseball season), and have spent countless hours with other task force members conscientiously analyzing the sites and prioritizing our choices. Marshall Lane was selected because this site will provide outstanding multi -use play fields for Saratoga residents on this side of the City —as well as for other nearby residents —all of whom are currently underserved in terms of sports and recreation facilities. Clearly, then, this is not Quito Little League's proposal to build new baseball fields. It is the City Task Force's proposal to serve Marshall Lane area residents and school children by improving existing two baseball diamonds and a soccer practice field, eliminating the very dangerous, gopher- infested turf conditions that currently threaten school children and neighbors alike. Quito Little League, which five years ago lost our multi -field playing complex on Pollard Road when the Campbell Union School District had to sell the site to raise money, would, of course, be a very interested user of the baseball diamonds. Our two youngest divisions, Tee Ball and Farm, are primarily comprised of children 5 to 8, a nearly perfect fit with Marshall Lane's K -5 focus. Moreover, we could supply trained and willing volunteers to maintain the baseball diamonds at no charge to the City— satisfying a key Quito Little League • P.O. Box 772, Heritage Station • Campbell, CA 95009 -0772 condition of receiving park and play field development funds. Quito has a proven record of respect for the school environment, completing our maintenance tasks, and going above and beyond what is required. So, are we an enthusiastic user - supporter? Yes. Are these Quito's fields? No. They are the City's and the school's. Let's look at whether Quito is an "outside" organization. While Quito's service area includes other communities in this "crossroads" section of the West Valley, Rolling Hills and Marshall Lane schools are the centerpieces of our territory. No Quito boundary lies more than two miles from Marshall Lane (see map attached). Little League regulations prohibit us from accepting players outside our borders, regardless of where they go to school. So, our players are the children of local residents. A number of our families reside in Saratoga. Many more attend Saratoga schools such as Marshall Lane, St. Andrews and Sacred Heart. Quito board members and parents are an active part of the Saratoga community: we belong to school PTAs and churches; we support AYSO and NJB; we patronize Saratoga stores, such as Gene's Quito market or the wonderful shops in the Village. This is our home, and we are committed to serving the youth of our community. Personally, in addition to being President of Quito Little League, I also reside in the immediate Marshall Lane area, living a ten - minute walk away on Old Adobe Road. My family and my neighbors' families play on the fields. The real value of this project is the improvement of the grounds for the school children of Marshall Lane and the local residents who use the school in the afternoon and evening and on weekends. The vocal group of opponents have only talked about the proposal as a detriment to the quality of life. In reality, these more inviting, safer school grounds would clearly be an asset for the neighborhood, not a liability. In one of their own letters to the City, a member of the opposition group made the point that the heavy traffic on surrounding streets stems from the school's dramatic population growth. This, in turn, has been caused by the growing number of families moving into the area over several decades, transforming Saratoga from a sleepy village miles from downtown San Jose into a vital, vibrant Silicon Valley surburb. We at Quito feel that the residents' concerns about traffic are valid, and the situation should be studied to find an acceptable solution. However, it would be a mistake to target the relatively small incremental increase in local traffic (remembering that Quito already uses the school as a key practice site) that the improved fields would generate. In the end, you'd be punishing the children of this area for a situation not of their making. Finally, while we fully respect the rights of this group of neighbors to express their opinions and we appreciate their concerns about traffic, it is important to note that this well- organized, highly vocal and visible opposition effort is the product of approximately forty neighbors. There are many more families within the immediate neighborhood, Marshall Lane School and nearby residents (as the petition signatures we've collected attest) who wholeheartedly support these needed improvements. It would be a shame to let noise, personal interests and emotional arguments of the few overwhelm the general interests of the many on this side of Saratoga. I urge you to carefully consider all who would benefit from these much - needed facilities, and support the play field improvements at Marshall Lane. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Ln Lynne Dickerson President, Quito Little League 155 Old Adobe Road Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 370 -3006 e -mail: fd.dcs@ix.netcom.com Attachments: Quito Little League boundary map Quito Little League fact sheet cc: Quito Little League Board of Directors Dick McCann, Campbell Union School District Kathy Hogan, Principal, Marshall Lane School Board of Directors, Campbell Union School District :Y- 4pft vrv- LL 9L soft AK U r of wt Am RWOMOM DR. IA= k 105 K� 0 am 1.6 MG M& momama r tv wwr "MCMLDWM COLLEGE ALWA M ladow 16 %. F- rep ntB vo=m IO it OR DF G2 4v VAPK AK La vas� ON. PAN%. LF Quito Little League Fact Sheet Quito Little League is an organization of volunteers dedicated to teaching the skills of baseball, and the ideals of teamwork and sportsmanship to the youth of our community. Quito has served the West Valley communities of Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Campbell, and San Jose for over forty years. Field Locations: Majors and Minors — Rolling Hills Middle School Farm and Tee Ball —Capri School League population: Approximately 280 players have registered for the 1999 baseball season. 267 players are currently entered in the database. Number of tee -ball and farm teams: 8 tee ball teams (ages 5 -7), 6 farm teams (ages 7 -9). No more than 12 players per team. Maximum of 168 players playing at proposed Marshall Lane fields. Season: Practices begin after mid - February; games begin in mid -March and run through the second week of June. The season is generally over for most tee ball and farm players by the time school is out. Practices: Quito Little League has for many years been an approved user of the Marshall Lane fields for practice. Practices may occur Monday through Friday anytime between 4:00 p.m. and dusk, and on Saturday, between 9:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. Games: • Weekday games: 3 farm games (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) 4 tee -ball games (Monday through Thursday) • Weekday games begin at 4:30 p.m. before daylight savings time, 5:30 p.m. thereafter. *Coaches usually ask players to arrive 30 minutes prior to the game. •Saturday games: 3 farm games (10:00, 12:45,3:30) 4 tee -ball games (10:00,11:45,1:30, 3:15) Game attendance: Based upon having a child in this level for the past three seasons, I feel qualified to make estimates of the number of parents attending the games. The neighbors have exaggerated their figures. The only way to truly know is to do a traffic study. • Between 8 to 10 parents attend most weekday games, with the number understandably higher on the weekends when both parents can sometimes make it (though usually in the same car!). Based on 7 weekday games, with 10 parents coming from each of 2 teams, an estimated 140 parents would make the trip from Monday through Thursday. on Saturday, 7 games x 2 teams /game x 12 parents per team would be 168 parents attending. Monday, December 07, 1998 1:04 AM To: Saratoga City Council From: , 408 -252 -9767 Page: 2 of 2 December 6, 1998 Dear Saratoga City Council: We recently attended the meeting at Blue Hills School which was held to discuss the development of Azule Park into playing fields for AYSO and possibly Little League. As parents with three sons who either have played or will play soccer in the future, parents of Blue Hills students, and residents who would be impacted by the park development we would like to express our concern over the plans of AYSO and the City of Saratoga. It was interesting to note that the fields that would be created by the various plans had changed from "practice fields" to soccer fields such as those at Congress Springs Park which are used for games, practices, Fall and Spring soccer, clinics and camps. The nature of a development such as this could not help but negatively affect the residents of the Greenbriar neighborhood with incredible traffic, noise and safety issues. While we originally supported the development of practice fields in conjunction with a park at Azule we would not feel creating a Congress Springs -type athletic park would be appropriate for any small neighborhood park in Saratoga. This type of development would be more suited .to an area such as the Heritage Orchard property in Saratoga adjacent to the Library and City Offices. That parcel is many acres which are currently unused and cost the City significant funds in maintenance. Several other smaller park areas such as Azule and Kevin Moran possess the same historical orchard trees and the City could establish smaller heritage orchards there where they can be appreciated by city residents in a quieter setting. The current Heritage Orchard has a potential for plentiful parking, is centrally located and could even be possible rented out to nearby private schools or groups to generate income.The area is on the corner of two major roads and would present no major impact on residents since it is not adjacent to any neighborhood. In addition, it could be developed to accomodate the large number of additional sports participants that AYSO predicts they. will have. In regards to that subject, we feel that if our Saratoga AYSO has had to turn away Saratoga residents in the past few years perhaps they should consider limiting registration to Saratoga residents rather than allowing players who live outside the city. Our children have had a significant number of players on their teams who lived outside Saratoga and sometimes as distant as Fremont or Scotts Valley. If Saratoga AYSO want to include players from outside Saratoga they should require a surcharge for out -of -area players like many other sports and leagues do. These fees could assist in maintaining the cities facilities. Other sports such as Little League have boundaries to restrict the number of participants, why not AYSO? Residents of Saratoga have expressed a desire for more athletic venues, this is a wonderful idea but we need to use our city resources wisely. Why create problems within the small elementary school neighborhoods when we have a perfect piece of property that would fit the bill sitting unused? Let's stop trying to fit a multi- functional sports complex into as elementary school playyard! Sincerely, Nick and Karen Seroff Seagull Way, Saratoga 25 January, 1999 12340 Goleta Ave. Saratoga, Ca 95070 Kate Alexander Saratoga City Council 13777 Fruitvale Ave Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Saratoga City Council: I am writing regarding the proposed development of Blue Hills School - Azule Park. For the purposes of this letter I'm setting aside my objections to the development of this site into a city- wide park, it's development primarily for soccer, the residential street traffic issues, and of course the noise issue. I'm addressing the issues of the attractiveness of the proposed development and its' long term maintenance. The Blue Hills- Azule site is in a quiet, residential neighborhood that has had to cope with the Highway 85 construction and the ensuing traffic noise problem. Unlike most Saratoga Parks, Azule has expensive two -story homes facing directly into the site. In this situation, I feel that it is critical that any development at this site be attractive from the street and fit the style of the neighborhood. Any landscaping to reduce highway noise would be a welcome enhancement to the school, neighborhood and anyone using the park. To achieve this, I would like to see more details called out in the proposal, and several changes made. I would like the rest rooms /concession stand moved away from the street and closer to the sound wall. Perhaps swapped with the play /picnic area in the northeast Comer. I would like to avoid an ugly cinder block style building, such as at Congress Springs. Additionally since vandalism has been a significant issue since the opening of Hwy. 85, I would suggest that particular attention be paid to ease of repair of all facilities at this site. This proposal does not indicate any information on construction style. The proposal also indicates several trees along Goleta Ave., but does not specify type or size. I would prefer trees with dense foliage about 20 -30 ft. in height, so as to form an attractive tree lined street. In addition, I would like the older eucalyptus trees and adjacent landscaping currently in the southeast corner to remain. The proposal does not indicate any type or size of tree or shrub. The proposal indicates that some homes will face directly into the parking lot. I would like to see that situation avoided. If that's not possible, then particular attention to landscaping will be required. But the proposal does not provide much detail there, either. I feel that the attractiveness of this development and its "fit" into the neighborhood are key issues, and this proposal is incomplete in addressing those issues. Therefore, I'd like the council to request architectural drawings and landscaping details subject to public input and review. I would also ask that this information be included in the proposal prior to approval by council. Even if Blue Hills - Azule is developed in an attractive way, there is no plan for financially supporting its maintenance other than funds from the general budget. The school district is not responsible for the park side of the site and has done only minimal maintenance of the current soccer field or trees along Goleta Ave. And the school district should rightfully be spending money on education, rather than soccer fields. I understand the Saratoga Park and Recreation Dept. has limited funds for the maintenance of current parks, let alone the additional parks proposed for development. In addition Saratoga AYSO, the very group that will benefit from this development, has fought an increase in park use fees to maintain current parks! I'm astounded that the City is developing this soccer facility and concession stand for a group that is unwilling to pay for current upkeep costs. It is not clear how this Blue Hills- Azule proposed development will be maintained over the long run. I'm very concerned that it won't be, and I'll be living near the local junk yard! In any event, I ask the City Council to review the expected maintenance and upkeep costs and it's impact on the city budget prior to approval of development. I would like some assurance that there are sufficient funds to keep it a well - maintained, attractive site for many years. I have two additional concerns, which perhaps could be addressed by council or other more appropriate groups. First, there is a very limited amount of land available for parks of any sort. Since the city has agreed to develop parks in conjunction with school districts, I wonder if we still really need more soccer fields within the city. After all, the city could develop the current soccer or athletic fields at current school sites and leave the limited amount of open land available for other projects. It seems to me that this could be the most cost -effective way satisfying the need for fields, yet providing flexibility for other development. It would also benefit every child in Saratoga, not just those playing soccer. Also if the Blue Hills - Azule site is developed, I am concerned about habitat disruption during the construction phase. Since Azule Park has been fallow for many years, it is now home to many birds, skunks, raccoons, and other animals. If Azule is torn -up, the city must develop a relocation plan for these animals. Otherwise it will create an animal control problem for the entire neighborhood. There is no place that these animals can move to, without human intervention. I would like a humane solution planned for this problem. Sincerely, Kate Alexander Saratoga City Council Monday, January 25, 1999 13777 Fnritvale Ave Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Council Members, I am writing to express my concern about the proposed development of soccer fields at Blue Hills School and Azule Park I do not believe that there has been appropriate due diligence in selecting the sites for the type of development proposed for this site. The basis for my belief is as follows. We have been told that there are not sufficient fields in Saratoga to support the number of children wishing to play soccer. I have participated for the past 3 years as a volunteer coach for Saratoga AYSO. We have been told repeatedly over this time that more coaches are needed because children are being turned away due to lack of volunteers. The spring 1999 soccer season is a case in point. There are not enough coaches and so AYSO is recruiting parents whose children are not playing. I believe that an accounting is necessary to explain which is the correct reason for turning away children. We have been told that surveys of Saratoga residents indicate that additional sports facilities are the top priority for the city. I have been a city resident for more than 7 years, but have never been asked to participate in such a survey by the city. The City of Saratoga Park Development Task Force has made this determination, but, three members of this task force are also board members for Saratoga AYSO. This is a conflict of interest in determining the best use for the parks in Saratoga. While I do have a child involved with soccer, I also have a smaller child who is not. The availability of the Blue Hills schoolyard is a benefit to all of the children in this neighborhood, even those not involved with organized sports. In converting this facility into a major sports complex, the time that it is available to other residents of the neighborhood will be drastically reduced While I realize that AYSO only uses the fields for a small portion of the year in the fall and spring, other organizations will also want to use this facility. There has already been a request for baseball fields. I am concerned that before long use of this facility will span from spring through fall and residents will not have access to the fields. My family also has a pet dog. There are very few areas in this city that are appropriate for exercising and playing with a dog. I, along with many other dog owners use the Blue Hills schoolyard for this purpose. Increased use by organized sports will result in less time available for this additional use of the field as a benefit to the neighborhood. The maintenance of the new facility is also a concern. This is particularly the case with the permanent restroom/storage % oncession structure in the proposed plans. We have been told that the cost of maintenance will be bom by the city, through the collection of use fees, and the school district. Saratoga AYSO is currently opposing city plans to increase the fees charged for the use of Congress Springs Park, and I am concerned that this organization will not want to sufficiently fund the maintenance of this new facility. Furthermore, the current field at Blue Hills is not well maintained, nor are the trees along Goleta Ave. The proposed development will no doubt increase the costs of maintenance that the district is already not meeting. A poorly maintained park will greatly detract from the neighborhood, Blue Hills School and the Azule Park facility. It is in everyone's interest to ensure that any development is well kept. Traffic congestion in this neighborhood is also a concern. Goleta Ave is a narrow street. When cars are parked on both sides of the street, only a single car can get through at a time. This is currently a problem during the school year; particularly in the evenings when children are picked up from the after school day care facility. There are several times each year that I do not get mail delivery because cars are blocking access to my mailbox. I realize that off street parking is included in the proposed plan, but I am concerned that this will not be adequate to deal with the increased use. I will request that if this plan is approved, a strictly enforced red zone be put in place along this street. The area behind the Saratoga Public Library has been suggested as an alternate location for soccer fields. This is currently the Saratoga Heritage Orchard This location has advantages of a central location, easy access from major streets and no residential neighborhoods abutting the property. I have not seen any explanation why this park is not under consideration for development. I agree that the city should maintain some open space such as the Heritage Orchard that reflects the area's past, but Azule Park and the undeveloped areas of Kevin Moran Park would also be appropriate for this use and also help to enhance the neighborhoods around these parks. The AYSO organization has a motto, "It's for the kids", which I agree with. City parks should be developed for the neighborhoods, the community and for all of the kids. Not just for those who play soccer. Park development should also comprehend the future maintenance needs to ensure that parks continue to enhance the neighborhoods surrounding them. Sincerely, Thomas Soukup / 12340 Goleta Ave Saratoga, CA r > > Folder: INBOX Message 5 of 13 27% ^[[2;1H ^[[m ^[[KA[[3;1HA[[KDate: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 22:57:49 -0800 A[[KFrom: Blair_Conrad @exisinc.com ^[[KTo: Saratoga @statenet.com, Exis_Corresponde 'e @exisinc.com ^[[KSubject: Marshall Lane Fields ^[[ K^[[ 8; 1HA[[KA[[9;1HA[[KA[[10;1H ^[[K^[ ;1H ^[[K ^[[12;1HA[[KTo whom it may concern, A[[KA[[14;1HA[[KI am a resident of S toga and live on Ravenwood Drive, near the Marshall A[[KLane School. I ami,�ddeeply oncerned and troubled over the proposed ^[[Kre- design, development_' d usage of the athletic fields at Marshall Lane. ^[[KI have lived on Ravenwood \Drive for close to 6 years and planned to stay A[[Kmany more. The problems that I see with this proposal are as follows: % A[[KA[[20;1HA[,[< Safety /Traffic: I hav 2 young daughters and a third child "'on the way. ^[[K This neighborhood, consisting of Ravenwo d Drive (Marshall Lane side of ^[[K^[[/ ;H ^[[2 JA[ [1 ;1HFrom Blair_Conrad @exisinc.com Tue Jan 19 08:58:52 1999 Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 22:57:49 -0800 From: Blair_Conrad @exisinc.com To: saratoga @statenet.com, Exis_Correspondence @exisinc.com Subject: Marshall Lane Fields To whom it may concern, I am a resident of Saratoga and live on Ravenwood Drive, near the Marshall Lane School. I am deeply concerned and troubled over the proposed re- design, development and usage of the athletic fields at Marshall Lane. I have lived on Ravenwood Drive for close to 6 years and planned to stay many more. The problems that I see with this proposal are as follows: Safety /Traffic: I have 2 young daughters and a third child on the way. This neighborhood, consisting of Ravenwood Drive (Marshall Lane side of Quito), Marshall Lane and Marilyn, has over 32 young children which like to play outside and in the street. The number of children is increasing as more young couples move in. This area has limited access to Marshall Lane School, narrow streets and no sidewalks. We already have a significant traffic problem during the week during peak school hours. Adding more vehicle traffic during the week throughout each day exacerbates this problem. On top of this, major traffic would be added on the weekend where we have enjoyed a peaceful respite from the weekday rush. I have heard that there may be 4 different Little League games proposed for each Saturday which would add potentially hundreds of cars traveling down our streets. There would also be AYSO games as well. This poses a hazard to our children who are roller blading, skate boarding, riding bicycles, throwing baseballs, footballs, etc. This is completely unacceptable. All it takes is one accident! Quality of Life: I and many neighbors didn't move to Saratoga to be deluged with traffic during the week and weekend. The traffic is dangerous, noisy and a nuisance. Many neighbors have problems backing out of driveways because traffic backs up at Ravenwood and Marshall Lane by Quito. Our neighborhood has been very quiet and peaceful on the weekends and this would be destroyed by this proposal. Increased Use: If this proposal were to take effect, Marshall Lane's field would be sought by more groups wishing to use the facilities. We would not be able to stop the increased use. We would face further traffic and safety problems and further degradation to our quality of life. While improving playing fields for kids is a good cause, it cannot be at the expense of our neighborhood. I have heard that this plan would be for the greater good of the community. Proponents say that this plan would be serving far more children than the neighborhood families affected by the decision. This would be a grave injustice. Our country was founded on the principles of respecting and protecting the rights of the individual, and of the minority. A similar proposal was rejected a few years back because of traffic and safety issues. This proposal must be stopped again. Regards, Blair Conrad January 12, 1999 Dear Council Members: I am one of the senior members living in the Marshall Lane School area. I think of the day I went to first grade a few miles from Sun Valley Idaho. Beautiful farm fields with areas of lava rock. Little did my parents realize that all that was available was a small one room Schoolhouse. All eight grades gathered in one room. We went horse back through the snow to an unheated Schoolroom and waited for the fire to warm us. We were not allowed to use Saddles because of unsafe stirrups that could drag you if you fell. It was important to my parents that we move again so we could all get a good education. In 1960, my husband and I moved into our house here at the end of Ravenwood drive. The creek and large trees have given us a nice feeling of home. When Marshall Lane School opened our daughter Jan attended the first afternoon kindergarten class. She was able to walk safely to school. Later our son Brian went there and finally our granddaughter Maren attended also. Now I drive down Marshall Lane, watching all the children, It comes to me once a mother always a mother, and they are all my children. I want to get out and protect them all. Its like they might as well put a sign on their backs saying "Hit Me ". These are country roads both Sobey and Marshall Lane. They are not designed for the two way traffic level they are currently at and also handle little walking children. They have to get off the road in to the dirt or mud whenever a car speeds past. Therefore, I must say that bringing more cars onto these streets is going to be a disaster. This City as large and important as Saratoga can do a much better job in planning a place special for the Quito Little League, and a better safety for the Marshall Lane School. As more small foot steps go down these streets we need to move ahead with improvements instead of going back as in the days of one room schools and horse back transportation. Sincerely, MRS. ILA H. DUFFY January 18,1999 TO: Saratoga City Councilmen RE: Marshall Lane School -- proposed sportsfields Upon reading the list of Field Task Force participants, I see that there are 30 in all with 9 members of the task force from Cities other than Saratoga, yet the neighborhood that would be decimated was not included in the beginning process, even though Parks & Recreation, Traffic & safety, Campbell School District, and the former Saratoga City Council had all been made well aware of the traffic, safety, access, and congestion at peak hours. All received a petition against fields at Marshall Lane in 1997 when it was proposed and rejected. We, Saratoga Residents, would like to have some control over our own neighborhood just as you would in your neighborhood. We already have more than our fair share of traffic. We can not handle more on weekends. Our neighborhood is Saratoga. On Marshall Lane and on our side of Ravenwood Drive there are three of the oldest farmhouses in Saratoga. One of these homes still has an old Barn with Barn Owls. There is a beautiful Vineyard between Marshall Lane & Sobey Road. Some of our Saratoga Residents and virtually all the homes were here before land was condemned and Marshall Lane School was built. You see, We were here before the School -- therefore We deserve priority. Surely, there are better locations for Sportsfields. If we had been included in the process from the beginning, We could have told you these things. It is unfair to burden one.small neighborhood with everyone's sportsfields. Geraldine Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 " Jan. 4th, 1999 A TO= parks & Recreation Commission, City of Saratoga ,RE, Proposed Playfields at 1arshall Lane School The last time I appeared before this Committee the minutes show that I spoke but did not fully record what I said. Please document and record the remarks made at this meeting, Jan. 4th, 1999. On July 13, 1998 I appeared before Parks & Recreation, I informed you that Quito Little League via Campbell elementary School District had proposed sports - fields at Marshall Lane School. At the meeting at Marshall Lane School a large group of neighbors -- Saratoga Residents surrounding the School objected to this proposal. A petition was circulated among the neighbors against this proposal. This petition was given to the Campbell Elementary School District. The Campbell School District dropped the issue because of neighborhood opposition. I informed you of this. On April 2nd, 1997 we gave the City Council a petition of about 40 names of Saratoga Residents surrounding the School. The petition was against sportsfields at Marshall Lane because of existing safety, traffic, and access problems. The Council evidently lost the petition. However it is mentioned in the minutes. Your Commission member, Jenny Crotty, was at the March 4th, 1997 Marshall Lane meeting and was championing the Quito Little League. Subsequently, Parks & Recreation have again proposed sportsfields at Marshall Lane being aware of the problems at that location. The USERS, Parks & Recreation ( with the consent of the City Council) have been working together to propose sportsfields at Marshall Lane knowing full well that the Saratoga Neighborhood was against the fields for good reasons. Not one neighbor was informed of the Parks & Recreation's activities in regard to this issue, even though you knew of our interest in this matter. Marshall Lane SchOGI-is unsuitable. for organised• sportsfieldk- -Take it off your list and find another location. No ; s � C T -e k WA-S �f '43) tIL I v F N TO i!+ KS ions I+T err Nj -e,e Tiov oN 4A/ 4T-6/?7f Also r Youv fekvgAL Sgt A ro 6A AL, w XQL Darwin Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 a ' Significant Excerpts from the Saratoga General Plan: Jan. 1999 Page 1 - 18 Under Development Policies #1 Keep Saratoga rural; do not try to emulate what is popular in other jurisdictions. 1 - 9 Under land use Policies #8 Protect residents from noise emanating from certain commercial activities. ISSUE #2 Page 24 2.0 (bottom of page) (Goal ) to promote and preserve land uses which are compatible with each other and with a minimal noise environment. Page 33 Government constraints heading 4th Paragraph- -Quito Road was identified at being at service level E which means that further traffic additions would exceed it's capacities. Page 20 F City Adminstration A. Establish more open communication between city and residents ( A ) B. Improve Public Noticing ( FK (L) Page 2.24 Future use of School Sites Land use - -open space Read section on Air QUality Page 20 CO.8.4 (Policy) Encourage the reduction of local sources of Air Pollution such as dust, smoke, and Vehicle emissions. Page 1 of Saratoga Noise Element Page 23 of above L.U.6.0 Relate new development and its land uses to presently planned street capabilities so as to avoid excessive noise, traffic, and public safety hazards. Page 23 Open Space Os-3.2 The City shall review interim uses of surplus school sites to determine if the impacts generated by the proposed uses will have adverse effects, particularly -in terms of noise, traffic` Parking on adjacent residential areas. (NOTE ) Marshall Lane School is not surplus but is already used to capacity 525 students plus Child Development Center ( 60 Students ) This sportsfield use is a proposed use. ISSUE #2 Page 24 2.0 (Goal) to promote and promote land uses which are compatible with each other and with a minimal noise environment. ISSUE 4 Page 26 4.5 (policy) noise should';be minimized in predominately residential area by discouraging or prohibiting through traffic. Page 44 Under Heading Housing..goals, Policies and objectives. Goal #1 H.I.O promote the opportunity for all residents to have a sound home and a satisfying environment. Goal #2 H.2.o. Maintain and enhance the character, quality and live- ability of the city's residential neighbors. Page 45 H.2.4 The City shall strive to maintain the qualities that make Saratoga neighborhoods desirable for families with children. January 6, 1999 Citv Council Member Evan Baker Enclosed, please find a copy of your campaign promise to "support neighbor's desires about their own neighborhood ". I trust that you will stand by this promise and not allow outside interests to influence you in regard to Saratoga residents neighbors against sportsfields at Marshall Lane School. Ellen Marshall Saratoga Resident P.O. Box 3191 Saratoga, CA 95070 V COMPARE THE CANDIDATES: Issue John Mehaffey a Ja kman Evan Baker Nick Streit Gi ian M ran Wants more Highway 85 interchanges in Saratoga No N O No Yes - Quito and Prospect Avoided clear position Consistently supported Measure G Yes Yes Yes NO No Now supports Measure G Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Supports neighbor's desires about their own neighborhood Yes Yes Yes Wants to "upgrade to p$� 21St century" No - consistently votes against neighborhood desires Wants to clean up Saratoga Creek pollution Yes Yes Yes p ualified P osition Maintains Saratoga has no responsibility Wants to settle the Saratoga Creek litigation quickly Yes Yes Yes No - wants further investigation No - opposed settlement since 1995 Opposes Large West Valley College Stadium Yes Yes Yes Yes Favors "friendly" lawsuit to let Judge decide Has proposed plans to control future traffic growth in Saratoga Yes Yes Yes NO No Repave Highway 85 to reduce noise Yes Yes Yes Yes, if can locate funds No effective action in 4 years January 5, 1999 TOt City of Saratoga City Council Members of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission This letter to be recorded and documented On July 13, 1997 Darwin Barrett, a Saratoga resident, spoke at the Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission stating that Saratoga residents neighboring the Marshall Lane School had turned in a petition to the City. The petition of about 40 names listed objections to proposed Sportsfields by Quito Little League VIA the Campbell School District. The objections were Safety and traffic hazards as well as congestion, and:poor access at peak hours. Attending that meeting was Commissioner Jenny Crotty as well as other members. Upon reviewing the minutes from that meeting, it is found that Mr. Barrett is said to have spoken but it did not mention what he said. Geraldine L. Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 January 5, 1999 T0: Saratoga City Council Members Parks & Recreation Comm. This letter to be recorded & documented. EVEN THOUGH: The Saratoga residents surrounding Marshall Lane School gave a petition on April 2, 1997 to the Saratoga City Council against sportsfields at Marshall Lane. ( petition of 40 names has been lost by the city ). and A Saratoga resident spoke at a Parks & Recreation meeting on July 13, 1998 telling them of the above petition and why it was submitted. The resident's testamony was not included in the minutes. and The Saratoga residents after the Campbell School District dropped the issue because of neighborhood opposition, had the Campbell School District sign a statement ( April 17, 1997 ) that the neighbors of Marshall Lane ( Saratoga neighbors ) would be informed should sportsfields ever be proposed again. ( They did not inform us ). CONCLUSION: The Parks & Recreation Commission, with the old City Council ( 1997 ) approval, plus the Campbell School District and the USERS, many from other Cities, have been planning and plotting, going so far as to hire " Beals Architectural Landscape "firm to make schemes for the fields WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATION FROM THE SARATOGA RESIDENTS SURROUNDING THE MARSHALL LANE SCHOOLwho would be impacted by sportsfields. / n Geraldine L. Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 4. January 5, 1999 T03 City of Saratoga City Council Members of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 This letter to be recorded and documented. At the April 2, 1997 Saratoga City Council meeting, a group of Saratoga residents who surround Marshall Lane School, read and submitted a petition of about 40 names of residents neighboring Marshall Lane School. The petition stated objections to proposed sportsfield by Quito Little League VIA Campbell Elementary School District because of traffic and safety hazards as well as congestion and poor access at peak hours. This petition was written and names were gathered by Pia Long, 18657 Ravenwood Drive, Saratoga. We now find that the above petition was lost although it is mentioned in the minutes of that meeting. Attending that meeting werei Mr. Shaw, Mr. Bogosian, Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Perlin and the City Attny Michael Riback. Joanne Sloan, Marilyn Lane, Pia Long Ravenwood Drive, Darwin Barrett, Marilyn Lane, Geraldine Barrett, Marilyn Lane were Saratoga Residents attending. Geraldine L. Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 f,- pubkc' re -aY2�C January 4, 1999 To whom it may concern, i15 a F D 171, _� 1�1 AN 11 .. f ZCE My husband and I are greatly concerned with the issue of new playfields at Marshall Lane School. We have a six - year -old daughter who attends Marshall Lane and we are concerned with any more traffic impacting the safety of our neighborhood. I frequently walk my daughter to and from school. My daughter and I sometimes must walk in the street because of parents parking on the side of the street (even on the small strip where there is a sidewalk). Parents driving to and from school speed down Ravenwood Drive and Marilyn Lane. I am always aware where my daughter is in relation to the street The roads in this neighborhood are small and not built for a lot of traffic and /or speedsters. First we need to find an answer to the already existing problems of traffic in our neighborhood before adding more. I am alarmed that our neighborhood was not informed and made a part of the expansion discussion. The playfields will be a major impact to our neighborhood. To make our streets the only access to and from the games and practices is unacceptable. Td add restrooms and concessions will add trash. The traffic to and from the games will be nonstop. I have been to Quito Little League games and am aware of how parents park and do not pay attention to the surrounding homes. I do not want my daughter run over by a parent's car speeding down our road because they are late or not paying attention. I hope that you will consider and act on our neighborhood problems. To ignore the traffic and safety issues is irresponsible and shortsighted.. Sara Lichtman 18515 Ravenwood Drive Saratoga 408 -378 -3575 7 /O�w S� 11 5 FyZ January 12, 1999 Dear Council Members: I am one of the senior members living in the Marshall Lane School area. I think of the day I went to first grade a few miles from Sun Valley Idaho. Beautiful farm fields with areas of lava rock. Little did my parents realize that all that was available was a small one room Schoolhouse. All eight grades gathered in one room. We went horse back through the snow to an unheated Schoolroom and waited for the fire to warm us. We were not allowed to use Saddles because of unsafe stirrups that could drag you if you fell. It was important to my parents that we move again so we could all get a good education. In 1960, my husband and I moved into our house here at the end of Ravenwood drive. The creek and large trees have given us a nice feeling of home. When Marshall Lane School opened our daughter Jan attended the first afternoon kindergarten class. She was able to walk safely to school. Later our son Brian went there and finally our granddaughter Maren attended also. Now I drive down Marshall Lane, watching all the children, It comes to me once a mother always a mother, and they are all my children. I want to get out and protect them all. Its like they might as well put a sign on their backs saying "Hit Me ". These are country roads both Sobey and Marshall Lane. They are not designed for the two way traffic level they are currently at and also handle little walking children. They have to get off the road in to the dirt or mud whenever a car speeds past. Therefore, I must say that bringing more cars onto these streets is going to be a disaster. This City as large and important as Saratoga can do a much better job in planning a place special for the Quito Little League, and a better safety for the Marshall Lane School. As more small foot steps go down these streets we need to move ahead with improvements instead of going back as in the days of one room schools and horse back transportation. Sincerely, MRS. ILA H. DUFFY January 5, 1999 T0: Saratoga City Council Members Parks & Recreation Comm. This letter to be recorded & documented. EVEN THOUGH: The Saratoga residents surrounding Marshall Lane School gave a petition on April 2, 1997 to the Saratoga City Council against sportsfields at Marshall Lane. ( petition of 40 names has been lost by the city ). and A Saratoga resident spoke at a Parks & Recreation meeting on July 13, 1998 telling them of the above petition and why it was submitted. The resident's testamony was not included in the minutes. and The Saratoga resident$j after the Campbell School District dropped the issue because of neighborhood opposition, had the Campbell School District sign a statement ( April 17, 1997 ) that the neighbors of Marshall Lane ( Saratoga neighbors ) would be informed should sportsfields ever be proposed again. ( They did not inform us ). CONCLUSION: The Parks & Recreation Commission, with the old City Council ( 1997 ) approval, plus the Campbell School District and the USERS, many from other Cities, have been planning and plotting, going so far as to hire " Beals Architectural Landscape "firm to make schemes for the fields WITHOUT ANY REPRESENTATION FROM THE SARATOGA RESIDENTS SURROUNDING THE MARSHALL LANE SCHOOLwho would be impacted by sportsfields. Geraldine L. Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 January 5, 1999 T0: City of Saratoga City Council Members of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission This letter to be recorded and documented On July 13, 1997 Darwin Barrett, a Saratoga resident, spoke at the Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission stating that Saratoga residents neighboring the Marshall Lane School had turned in a petition to the City. The petition of about 40 names listed objections to proposed Sportsfields by Quito Little League VIA the Campbell School District. The objections were Safety and traffic hazards as well as congestion, and: - prior "access at peak hours. Attending that meeting was Commissioner Jenny Crotty as well as other members. Upon reviewing the minutes from that meeting, it is found that Mr. Barrett is said to have spoken but it did not mention what he said. Geraldine L. Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 TOi City of Saratoga City Council !Members of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 This letter to be recorded and documented. r, ti cc��' ►� «� January 5, 1999 At the April 2, 1997 Saratoga City Council meeting, a group of Saratoga residents who surround Marshall Lane School, read and submitted a petition of about 40 names of residents neighboring Marshall Lane School. The petition stated objections to proposed sportsfield by Quito Little League VIA Campbell Elementary School District because of traffic and safety hazards as well as congestion and poor access at peak hours. This petition was written and names were gathered by Pia Long, 18657 Ravenwood Drive, Saratoga. We now find that the above petition was lost although it is mentioned in the minutes of that meeting. Attending that meeting were: Mr. Shaw, Mr. Bogosian, Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Perlin and the City Attny Michael Riback. Joanne Sloan, Marilyn Lane, Pia Long Ravenwood Drive, Darwin Barrett, Marilyn Lane, Geraldine Barrett, Marilyn Lane were Saratoga Residents attending. /I`Gzr C C Geraldine L. Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 Jan. 4th, 1999 TO: Parks & Recreation Commission, City of Saratoga RE: Proposed Playfields at Marshall Lane School The last time I appeared before this Committee the minutes show that I spoke but did not fully record what I said. Please document and record the remarks made at this meeting, Jan. 4th, 1999• On July 13, 1998 I appeared before Parks & Recreation, I informed you that Quito Little League via Campbell elementary School District had proposed sports - fields at Marshall Lane School. At the meeting at Marshall Lane School a large group of neighbors -- Saratoga Residents surrounding the School objected to this proposal. A petition was circulated among the neighbors against this proposal. This petition was given to the Campbell Elementary School District. The Campbell School District dropped the issue because of neighborhood opposition. I informed you of this. On April 2nd, 1997 we gave the City Council a petition of about 40 names of Saratoga Residents surrounding the School. The petition was against sportsfields at Marshall Lane because of existing safety, traffic, and access problems. The Council evidently lost the petition. However it is mentioned in the minutes. Your Commission member, Jenny Crotty, was at the March 4th, 1997 Marshall Lane meeting and was championing the Quito Little League. Subsequently, Parks & Recreation have again proposed sportsfields at Marshall Lane being aware of the problems at that location. The USERS, Parks & Recreation ( with the consent of the City Council) have been working together to propose sportsfields at Marshall Lane knowing full well that the Saratoga Neighborhood was against the fields for good reasons. Not one neighbor was informed of the Parks & Recreation's activities in regard to this issue, even though you knew of our interest in this matter. Marshall Lane School-is unsuitable - for- organized• sportsfielc'6- -Take ; it off your list .and find another location. A7t�,XZ�L Darwin Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 C_'.c January 5, 1999 10s City of Saratoga City Council Members of Saratoga � n 13777 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 This letter to be recorded and documented. At the April 2, 1997 Saratoga City Council meeting, a group of Saratoga residents who surround Marshall Lane School, read and submitted a petition of about 40 names of residents neighboring Marshall Lane School. The petition stated objections to proposed sportsfield by Quito Little League VIA Campbell Elementary School District because of traffic and safety hazards as well as congestion and poor access at peak hours. This petition was written and names were gathered by Pia Long, 18657 Ravenwood Drive, Saratoga. We now find that the above petition was lost although it is mentioned in the minutes of that meeting. Attending that meeting were: Mr. Shaw, Mr. Bogosian, Mr. Wolfe, Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Perlin and the City Attny Michael Riback. Joanne Sloan, Marilyn Lane, Pia Long Ravenwood Drive, Darwin Barrett, Marilyn Lane, Geraldine Barrett, Marilyn Lane were Saratoga Residents attending. Geraldine L. Barrett 14050 Marilyn Lane Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Council Members: LI h r� r, ra January 12, 1999 I am one of the senior members living in the Marshall Lane School area. I think of the day I went to first grade a few miles from Sun Valley Idaho. Beautiful farm fields with areas of lava rock. Little did my parents realize that all that was available was a small one room Schoolhouse. All eight grades gathered in one room. We went horse back through the snow to an unheated Schoolroom and waited for the fire to warm us. We were not allowed to use Saddles because of unsafe stirrups that could drag you if you fell. It was important to my parents that we move again so we could all get a good education. In 1960, my husband and I moved into our house here at the end of Ravenwood drive. The creek and large trees have given us a nice feeling of home. When Marshall Lane School opened our daughter Jan attended the first afternoon kindergarten class. She was able to walk safely to school. Later our son Brian went there and finally our granddaughter Maren attended also. Now I drive down Marshall Lane, watching all the children, It comes to me once a mother always a mother, and they are all my children. I want to get out and protect them all. Its like they might as well put a sign on their backs saying "Hit Me ". These are country roads both Sobey and Marshall Lane. They are not designed for the two way traffic level they are currently at and also handle little walking children. They have to get off the road in to the dirt or mud whenever a car speeds past. Therefore, I must say that bringing more cars onto these streets is going to be a disaster. This City as large and important as Saratoga can do a much better job in planning a place special for the Quito Little League, and a better safety for the Marshall Lane School. As more small foot steps go down these streets we need to move ahead with improvements instead of going back as in the days of one room schools and horse back transportation. Sincerely, MRS. ILA H. DUFFY �Lj�cc BY �t rr1 S�7ar,,v 710 Cana ly��ers JAN 1 .} 1999 January 4, 1999 To whom it may concern, C1 UTY My husband and I are greatly concerned with the issue of new playfields at Marshall Lane School. We have a six- year -old daughter who attends Marshall Lane and we are concerned with any more traffic impacting the safety of our neighborhood. I frequently walk my daughter to and from school. My daughter and I sometimes must walk in the street because of parents parking on the side of the street (even on the small strip where there is a sidewalk). Parents driving to and from school speed down Ravenwood Drive and Marilyn Lane. I am always aware where my daughter is in relation to the street The roads in this neighborhood are small and not built for a lot of traffic and /or speedsters. First we need to find an answer to the already existing problems of traffic in our neighborhood before adding more. I am alarmed that our neighborhood was not informed and made a part of the expansion discussion. The playfields will be a major impact to our neighborhood. To make our streets the only access to and from the games and practices is unacceptable. To add restrooms and concessions will add trash. The traffic to and from the games will be nonstop. I have been to Quito Little League games and am aware of how parents park and do not pay attention to the surrounding homes. I do not want my daughter run over by a parent's car speeding down our road because they are late or not paying attention. I hope that you will consider and act on our neighborhood problems. To ignore the traffic and safety issues is irresponsible and shortsighted.. Sara Lichtman 18515 Ravenwood Drive Saratoga 408- 378 -3575 ° 18561 Marshall Lane ° Saratoga,Ca, 95070 0 0 0 • TO: Saratoga City Council Members, • Saratoga, Ca.95070 0 o Dear Sirs, 0 o I reside on Marshall Lane and my purpose in writing this letter is to register once again my protest about the plans recently approved by the City Council to explore, promote, and possibly approve ( and PAY FOR ?)expansion of the playfield at Marshall Lane School to accomodate various organized children's sports clubs such as Little League, T. Ball, soccer et.al. Marshall Lane School is in the Campbell school district but the proposal includes use of Park and Recreation Development Funds from SARATOGA to fund this expansion. A like proposal (except for who was paying ) was made last year at a public meeting sponsored by Campbell Union School district under fire from local little leagues due to the district's closing (and selling) of school grounds where Little Leagues had been playing; areas with a much better and easily accesible traffic flow. At that meeting there were unanimous protests by the residents who live on Marshall Lane, Marilyn, Ravenswood, ( dead end streets) and parts of Sobey Road on the SW side of the campus and when we heard no more from the Campbell School District, we assumed that the matter had been dropped. Our protests at that time were based on the already horrendous traffic problems on these" sidewalk -less "streets about which residents had already been complaining to the city and to the Campbell School district for several years. 0 o Marshall Lane school was originally planned for 85 students. Over the years it has grown to its present 527 enrollement but nothing was done to plan for or to accomodate the increased traffic this caused as parents delivered and picked up their children from school. It has become virtually impossible for residents to access or egress their driveways before and after school, during school functions, or around 6pm, ( during the pickup time for a relatively new afterschool program). Additional problems are attendent in the increased air pollution from a stream of slow moving cars, or the danger from those busy parents who step on the gas as soon as they can, endangering thereby the many pedestrians (including children and joggers and pets who walk along the edge of the road).. Onto this problem Campbell wanted to dump more traffic and congestion. When there was no followup, we thought that we had prevailed Now we find out, to our despair, that our very own City Council has taken up this cause, led by the Parks and Recreation department who seem willing to spend Saratoga tax dollars on ' Campbell School district property and totally ignore the protests of the Saratoga city residents who LIVE HERE and have to put up with this mess. We also do not understand why we were not brought in on this process sooner than the notice of the Public Meeting in October which some, but not all of us received two days prior to the scheduled date. Since a member of the Parks and Recreation department was quite vocal in promoting use of Marshall Lane for Little Leagues at the Campbell School District meeting last year she must have been very aware of the unanimous and very vocal rejection of this proposal by the many residents who attended that public meeting. Was this unanimous rejection made known to the council at the time approval of this plan was recommended by the Parks and Recreation Dept. If not, why not? And why were we not brought in to this planning much earlier.? o Who are the proponents of this plan for Marshall Lane? Where do they live? Please share with us the numbers of deprived children in this affluent community whose parents are not able to provide them with enough participation in organized sports? Who are YOUR constituents ..... these numberless, faceless," deprived children" Or is it as it should be, Saratoga residents such as the residents of Marshall Lane, Ravenswood, Marilyn and parts of Sobey whose home environment is in danger of being seriously degraded if this proposal goes through? We and other residents of Saratoga obviously believed in your championship of "neighborhoods" in the recent election. I doubt you consider as your constituents the many non - residents of this city who continue to show up in force at these public meetings to champion expansion of Marshall Lane school playgrounds for use of THEIR (mostly non - resident) teams. Nor do we think it is fair that people who do not live in this neighborhood and do not have to live with this problem have the influence to impose this environmentally degrading program on those of us who do live here. I hope we can count on a thorough review of this matter by the newly constituted council and a favorable response to our very legitimate protest of this plan. Sincely, <, o �Eun,ei,c .v� �n � %Date.. •••. 0 o P.S. My neighbors on either side have not had the time to prepare a separate letter for youtperusal this weekend and have asked to countersign this document to add their voices to the protest against this proposal as I have outlined it above. Elmer and Euna Fought Mary Dri gs 18591 Marshall Lane, 18525 Marshall Lane o Saratoga, Ca (95070) Saratoga, Ca, (950701. o Date... Date..... January 4, 1999 To whom it may concern, My husband and I are greatly concerned with the issue of new playfields at Marshall Lane School. We have a six - year -old daughter who attends Marshall Lane and we are concerned with any more traffic impacting the safety of our neighborhood. I frequently walk my daughter to and from school. My daughter and I sometimes must walk in the street because of parents parking on the side of the street (even on the small strip where there is a sidewalk). Parents driving to and from school speed down Ravenwood Drive and Marilyn Lane. I am always aware where my daughter is in relation to the street The roads in this neighborhood are small and not built for a lot of traffic and /or speedsters. First we need to find an answer to the already existing problems of traffic in our neighborhood before adding more. I am alarmed that our neighborhood was not informed and made a part of the expansion discussion. The playfields will be a major impact to our neighborhood. To make our streets the only access to and from the games and practices is unacceptable. To add restrooms and concessions will add trash. The traffic to and from the games will be nonstop. I have been to Quito Little League games and am aware of how parents park and do not pay attention to the surrounding homes. I do not want my daughter run over by a parent's car speeding down our road because they are late or not paying attention. I hope that you will consider and act on our neighborhood problems. To ignore the traffic and safety issues is irresponsible and shortsighted.. Sara Lichtman 18615 Ravenwood Drive Saratoga 408 - 378 -3575 'Ne%'&"KvXTrPAlDV Vol. 45, No. 49 Wednesday, December 9,1998 PARENTS, SPORTS LEAGUERS VOICE SUPPORT FOR PLAYFIELD PLANS Marshall Lane residents seek support for the site Council stays out of battle .By SARAH LOMBARDO group of about 15 Marshall Lane= area residents sought support from the Saratoga City Council Dec. 2 for proposed plans to make improvements to playfields at the school site. The council stopped short of entering the debate between residents regarding the playfield plans. Newly elected mayor Jim Shaw did offer words of encouragement: "I appreciate the fact that people came and spoke [on the issue], and really hope every- one is listening," Shaw said. "If we work together, I'm certain that we can bring together something-the residents and the city can be proud of." The groups of parents and Little League . volunteers said they had heard that a peti- tion from neighbors against the plan was in the works and asked councilmembers to back plans put forth by the city's Park Development Task Force, made up of members of area sports leagues, schools, and Parks and Recreation commissioners. Initial ideas for the. school fields put forth at a public meeting Oct. 27 included changing the configuration of the Current infields, adding restrooms and a conces- sion stand, replacing a dirt area with hard court, and planting trees along the perime- ter of the site. Jay Beals, of Beals Land- scape Architecture, told residents the new fields would be used for farm-'and T-ball Please turn to page 9 News . ............9 . Dining ............30 Speak Out ........16 Calendar............ 32 Education .........20 . Sports ..... .. ... ,37 Style .............23 Legal Notices .....41 Co munit Classifieds An affordable alternative to high-priced classifieds /111 ,.—I / 2, 0 o oa,E.c—= ww co c� cD n o m � � bad 1J n •o Q on cD p O l Y c JR, F 5 p, -30 CD COD a g, 0 n �• 0 H ��q m n O C (•py1 yy�' fD Q 2. '1 Q. CD U5 0, 0 0 00 m a v+ .a g a b m O p• O 0^ 0bp1 "ocaWGOa�``g r� rA Q y A A i Q raj r� O. 5 O. R �. G r3 0 a' 00 CD 0 CD CD i�7 w y R.-� n CD •, o o F '� •, a CD .., Or a 0 rA CD e Y,c,vo viiam - .moo':? c° a� aocc �r1c�D rA ,PT,� a' ° R g S.S. 0 G. cn :; m ^ oho C w ? L. p ^ CC rn C � D Sm r" Co. 0OM2, m 5'0 :1.0 CD CWD 0 CD a* C R. CD 03 w �a05 m x 0 0 10, Cb z= to 141) tsar' (D �SKn'° to co 11 7�qq,� AdWA -i Dmu&t,, 1k, Ifig Not all Marshall Lane residents want fields The misleading ,headline "Parents, sports leaguers voice support for play field plans," in the Dec. 9 issue of the SARATO- GA NEWS is biased. The people who spoke at the Dec. 2 City Council meeting were mostly from other cities, not Saratoga. Your story neglected to mention that 60 immediate neighbors., to Marshall Lane School signed a petition against sports fields at Marshall Lane for good reasons. - Your reporter was at the. Marshall Lane meeting and knew the facts. Good reporting demands that you state all sides of.the issue: ELLEN.MARSHALL Saratoga ., . LETTERS Heritage.Park would make good.playfield If we can't look back to the good old days when we picked prunes and such, as the editorial in the Dec. 9 issue of the SARATOGA NEWS points out, then we should be able to take. a portion of Heritage: _ Orchard and make it into playing fields. According to the editorial, we must act in today's world. So, if playing fields are a greater need, put them at that site., not into - an already congested neighborhood such as Marshall Lane. : - GERRY BARRETT Marilyn Lane . r- I�4LIr[�l. 1 Fields will threaten neighborhood safety I am a resident of Saratoga and live on Ravenwood Drive, near the Marshall Lane School. I am deeply concerned and troubled over the proposed redesign, development and usage of the athletic fields at Marshall Lane. I have lived on Ravenwood Drive for close to six years and planned to stay many more. The problems that I see with this proposal are as follows: Safety/Traffic: I have two young daugh- ters and a third child on the way. This neighborhood, consisting of Ravenwood Drive (Marshall Lane side of Quito), Mar- shall Lane and Marilyn, has more than 32 young children who like to play outside and in the street. The number of children is increasing as more young couples move in. This area has limited access to Marshall Lane School, narrow streets and no side- walks. We already have a significant traf- fic problem during the week during peak school hours. Adding more vehicle traffic during the week .throughout each day exacerbates this problem. I have heard that there may be four dif- ferent Little League games proposed for each Saturday which would add poten- tially hundreds of cars traveling down our streets. There would also be AYSO soccer games as well. This poses a hazard to our children who are on in -line skates, skate boarding, riding bicycles, throwing base- 12 SARATOGA NEWS JANUARY20, 1999 balls and footballs, etc. This is completely unacceptable. All it takes is-one accident! Quality of Life: I and many neighbors didn't move to Saratoga to be deluged with traffic during the week and weekend. The traffic is dangerous, noisy and a nuisance. Many neighbors have problems backing out of driveways because traffic backs up at Ravenwood and Marshall Lane by Quito. Increased Use: If this proposal were to take effect, Marshall Lane's field would be sought by more groups wishing to use the facilities. We would not be able to stop the increased use. We would face further traf- fic and safety problems and further degra- dation to our quality of life. While improving playing fields for kids is a good cause, it cannot be at the expense of our neighborhood. I have heard that this plan would be for the greater good of the community. Proponents say that this plan would be serving far more children than the neighborhood families affected by the decision. This would be a grave injustice. Our country was founded on the principles of respecting and protecting the rights of the individual, and of the minority. A similar proposal was rejected a few years back because of traffic and safety issues. This proposal must be stopped again. BLAIR CONRAD Ravenwood Drive Many options to consider for fields My wife and I live in theimmediate neigh- borhood of Marshall Lane School. We, like most of our neighbors, are very concerned about the field use expansion proposed by the city's Fields Task Force and how it will change the character of ourneighborhood. The task force of "user groups" selected Marshall Lane as one of the priority sites to fill the need for organized sports fields in our area, although no one from our neighbor- hood was represented in that process. Initially, we couldn't believe that Mar- shall Lane was even being considered. Here is a small school with.very:little on- street parking and limited access on two narrow, dead -end residential streets. The school traffic has already been growing steadily over the past few years to a ridiculously dan gerous level. Now, instead of traffic confined to schoolday mornings and afternoons [it will be] all day every Saturdayfrom car trips, personnel and service vehicles for conces- sion stands, restrooms and fields. No men- tion yet has been made by any of the "user groups" about the many children in our neighborhood who use the streets and school to ride bikes, skate, play and walk. As we understand, most of the park fund to pay for the proposals came from a few large developments, notably Greenbri- arBelgrove on Saratoga Avenue. Devel- opments of this size are not likely to occur many more times in the future, so it is unlikely that the city will have this amount of funds to develop park land again. Why not use the fund to develop a sports -ori- ented park that has the space, location and access that these activities require? The suggestion of using part of the city's Heritage Orchard Park adjacent to the library is an excellent one. The whole impetus for doubling up on school use for sports came from the prob- lem of maintenance costs, which are not covered by the park fund; the school dis- tricts would be responsible for maintain- ing the new facilities. This does not allow logic to be the first consideration in choos- ing where the fields go in. The decisions are made based on where they will be main- tained, although trying to patch in to schools' already strained resources does not seem realistic. Instead, supporting a bond to fund maintenance costs at an ath- letic park would be a realistic and achiev- able solution. And finally, the city should not discount user fees, perhaps on a slid- ing scale, to help defray costs and assure the continuous quality of our facilities. We believe there are many long -term solutions that make sense, and that can achieve the goals of more sports fields without sacrificing people's homes to do it. If the city and the council are really com- mitted to providing all its residents with a high quality of life, they will be committed to finding the best, long -term solution, not a short-term one that will compromise so much. I hope they have the courage to try. STEVE KURASCH Ravenwood Drive Consider sacrifices when building - This is in response to the article by Larry Fine and Mark Linsky, in the Jan. 6 issue Of the SARATOGA NEWS. Although I have no disagreements with his comments on the need for additional soccer fields; I think he missed addressing the entire picture. Simply wanting additional athletic fields doesn't mean that we must. "do whatever it takes" in order to have them. We must first consider. the value of the sacrifice. A similar situation exists -at Saratoga School regarding the removal of the euca- lyptus trees. The school district wants "improved facilities for the kids." W e must. first consider the sacrificer does "for the kids" include being shaded by and enjoying the presence of stately established trees? A reprise of the "improved facilities" theme was heard once again as the justifi- cation for removing the trees,at the Arg- . onaut Shopping Center. Saratoga has.- already sacrificed acres of open space and ripped out heritage "messy" trees that "can drop branches." Does that mean we should remove every tree in our city because it ovnu7 r-� 7) might someday inj ure us or our children? If we convert small neighborhood parks to large athletic fields and -remove land- mark trees "for the kids," we adults have taught our children that respect for others and nature is irrelevant when we are "improving facilities. We must temper progress and improve- ments with thoughtful regard for others' wishes; our environment and the future of Saratoga. We must explore all options and be creative in our solutions. We must not dumbly accept the solutions offered by any special interest group. For example, there is still undeveloped land in our city that might be available for use as additional athletic fields; has anyone seriously con- sidered exploring that option? The issue of additional athletic fields and tree removal has already pitted neigh - bor against neighbor. We cannot allow such problems to divide our city; too many county, state and federal agencies are attempting to do that. We must work together to find viable solutions. We Saratogans have a difficult decision to make: we must decide whether we want top -notch athletic and shopping facilities or whether we want the beauty and majesty of mature trees. _ -- Do we want to retain our unique semi - rural ambiance or do we want to sacrifice it? Do we want to look like just another . bedroom community? Do we want to be a minimum services city or a provider of .comprehensive services? We must care= fully evaluate what is ultimately in the best interests of children, ourselves and our city. MARCIA FARISS Saratoga Glen Place Questions remain in debate over traffic safety at schools Letters express concern over congestion, speeding By STEVE ENDERS Since the beginning of the new year, let - ters from residents have been trickling into the city's Public Safety Commission about traffic safety on streets around Saratoga schools, especially Saratoga School on Oak Street. And while most letter writing in the city pertaining to schools recently has cen- tered on trees, the district's and the city's attention is now shifting to concerns over cars and trucks that, residents say, are speeding by the schools. They're also con- gesting narrow streets, letter- writers say. And now, various committees through- out the city and school district are begin- ning to do something about it. On Jan.19, Saratoga Union School Dis- trict Superintendent Mary Gardner and a panel of guests addressed concerns about district -wide traffic. issues and those at Saratoga School to an audience primarily of residents from Komina Way near Saratoga School. Representatives from the city's Public Safety Commission and Alternative Transportation Solutions ( Altrans) were also on the panel. Altrans has been successful at starting carpooling, busing and shuttle programs at area colleges, and is now focusing on elementary schools includingSaratoga's. The panel agreed that they would like to implement a busing system in Saratoga that would alleviate traffic backups near schools. However, busing is expensive, they said, and will require extensive sur- veys to determine exactly what is needed. Another problem is that Saratoga School District is not the only district that serves the city's children. Any city busing plan would . also have to include those school districts. The Sheriff's Department is also throw- ing itself into the fray at the request of the Public Safety Commission. Deputy F.W. Zanker is conducting a traffic survey on Oak Street, among other places, and gave a preliminary report to the commission at its last meeting. "The problem's very similar to all the schools in the West Valley," he said. "Since the '50s, kids have been bused in and dropped off on the corner, and that's not happening anymore. Now you've got par- ents who are dropping off and picking up their kids all at the same time. And what you have now is a horrendous traffic situation." One letter the commission received two weeks ago asked for a stop sign on Oak Street, and others in the commission's pack- et call attention to increased traffic prob- lems near two Saratoga private schools. Pete Gonda, the Public Safety Commis- sion's administrative analyst, said that the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department is still conducting traffic surveys along Oak Street near the Saratoga School. When the results are compiled, he said, the Public Safety Commission will likely begin seek- ing a solution to the problem. Gonda also said that the commission hasn't made any concrete decisions on adding traffic - calming devices or stop signs on Oak Street because of construction scheduled to start at the school this summer. "We'd like to hear from others in the neighborhood to see what they're think- ing," Gonda said, adding that he'll also compile information- from the sheriff when it comes in. Gonda also said the commission may begin looking at a request for a stop sign on the street now, however. The request calls for a stop sign at Third and Oak streets, mainly to slow cars down when they cross the intersection. Deputy Zanker said another stop sign may not help there; because he's seen many parents drift right through existing stop signs to hurry their children to school. When he sees people who don't stop, Zanker said, he'll cite those drivers. �� \\/) / ,-v/ / / 7 / -/ ` _,�'//J /� �' / / ' ' / / / . // / / / o ' // v � LETTERS Everyone benefits from playfields After reading the letters by Blair Con- rad and Steve Kurasch in the Jan 20 issue of the SARATOGA NEWS, I felt a response was called for. . The task force on playfields has spent a lot of time and energy trying to determine how the limited funds can benefit the majority of the children in the area. The recommendations being proposed are only recommendations. They will still have to be presented to and approved by- the City Council. Even if the recommendations are accepted and approved by the City Coun- cil as presented, it is not final. At such point the city will request that an environmental impact report, including a traffic study, be completed. A negative report could cause the City.Council to suggest changes or even an alternative to the recommendations. , Regardless of where sports fields are eventually improved or installed; there is going to be some negative impact on the area, and many residents living in the affect- ed area(s) are going to use many arguments for why it should not be in their back yard. Saratoga has more than its share of NIM- BYs (not in my back yard). Many of these same citizens would be some of the first to complain if their children were not able to participate in various community sports activities. This is so troublesome that I have given ti:ought to a policy that if we are unable to utilize one of the selected sites because of the NIMBYs, then we should not allow children from the area to partic- ipate in Saratoga youth sports activities. This would be interesting, since it would be a disclosure that would have to be made upon the sale of the affected homes. Of course, we are not going to do this since the ones affected are the children. i It is regretful, but our area has changed over the years and as the population con - tinues to grow, the area is going to change more. I often hear the statement, "We went home and it was so nice, nothing has changed." Well, believe it or not there are still a few of us that were born and raised here. As a boy, the population of San Jose was 60,000 and the surrounding commu- nities were all farms and orchards with very little population. Yes, our area has changed a great deal. I have now heard several people state that the Heritage Orchard should be turned into a sports field. There are a cou- ple problems with this. First, that inter- section is perhaps one of the busiest in Please turn to page IS LETTERS Continued from page 14 Saratoga, Second, for those few natives left in the area, this Heritage Orchard is very important and as it is, because the area continues to grow, the library and library parking is already. going to have to be remodeled and enlarged, taking even' more of the Heritage Orchard: The traffic, for sports activities, would not be much different than it is now. As for AYS.O, the field would continue to be used for practice, as it has been for years. The only difference is the field would be safe for the children. While I can not speak for Lit- tle League, it would most likely be used for practice and perhaps.some games. One of the letters stated the Little League games would increase the Saturday traffic by hun- dreds of cars. Assuming there would be four Little League games on a Saturday, and assuming every player showed up and, further, there were no car pools, this would involve-about 90 cars, not hundreds. - One letter states that additional traffic creates .a hazard for the local childrenplay- ing in the street. I agree, .but this has become the case in almost all neighbor - hoods; fortunately, your children can play atthe school and sports field. This is a lux - -ttry thatmost of us do not have. Yes, times change and we must all change with the times. Over the past sev- eral years the traffic in front of my home has increased by several hundred percent, and the quality has gone from the average vehicle going a little over the speed limit to the average vehicle going 10 to 20 mph over the limit. Believe me, even though this is a community with a lot of children, we do not let them play even by the side of the road. Mr. Kurasch states: "The whole impe- tus for doubling up on school use for sports came from the problem of maintenance costs, which are not covered by the park fund; the school district would be respon- sible for maintaining the new facilities:" It is true that the funds.being used to . improve and create the fields, which will be used by the schools, sports groups and all citizens, cannot be used for maintenance. I contacted Mary Gardner, SUSD super- intendent, and Larry Perlin, Saratoga city manager, a couple of years ago stating that since the schools had some land that could be used for sports, and the city had some money to improve these fields that AYSO would like to work with the schools and the city to see if the fields could be improved and that AYSO would be willing to provide funds for maintaining the fields, or at least contribute a fair portion. This meeting was the fiist of this process. As it is, the different sports groups will be paying the largest portion of the field maintenance. These -groups include Saratoga AYSO, Saratoga Little League, Los Gatos Girls Softball, and Cupertino DeAnza CYSA Soccer league. It should also be noted that even with- out the field improvements, which all will enjoy, the fields can be used by any and all citizens, when not being used by the school -or reserved by a community group. It is interesting that if the schools. had the money to improve these fields, they would just be improved; there would be no pub- lic hearings, impact reports or traffic stud- ies. It is only since this is city money that hearings even have to take place. AYSO will be paying its fair share for the maintenance of the fields. AYSO has always paid the city, under a writ con- tract, and the different schools, also under written contracts for the use of the fields during the soccer season. Additionally, Saratoga AYSO is in partnership with the Saratoga Schools. We have donated funds each year to the school so that the schools could obtain needed items. LARRY FINE i Regional Commissioner Saratoga AYSO I File 92060 Adopted on: July 22, 1997 (Supersedes policy adopted August 7, 1996) OLICY bNJSR P AND i2E;�REATIO1�t�DEVEiOPMEN'1'. F The following projects are listed in priority order: Playfield Improvements at Existing School Sites Wildwood Park Restrooms Heritage orchard Improvements Warner Hutton House Improvements Kevin Moran Park /Gardiner Park Play Areas Trail Improvements Community Center Facility Renovation Study File 92060 Adopted on: August 7, 1996 POLICY ON USE OF PARKS AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENT FUND BACKGROUND: In March, 1996, the Saratoga City Council requested that a Community Task Force be developed in order to recommend what needs should be addressed by the Parks and Recreation Development Fund. The task force was comprised of two Parks and Recreation Commissioners, Jenny Crotty (Chair), and Kay Whitney; one Council Member, Gillian Moran; two community members, Jack Mallory and Fran Franklin and one alternative member who served as secretary, Monique Drumm. In addition, Rich Hughes was contracted by the City of Saratoga as a consultant. On June 8, 1996, approximately 70 members from the community attended a workshop to help determine and prioritize the needs of the City. Based on the results of that meeting, the Task Force makes the following recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Community Center Expansion - $100,000 for the initial phase This expansion is based on a concept that there is a need to have a community hub which would meet the needs of all the community and would include a variety of facilities. Create a master plan for a Community Center Hub $100,000 to hire an architect /consultant to consider * A new or expanded Community Center and its location * Possible relocation of the corporation yard * Possibility of including an indoor sports center * Joint use /joint development of gym with Redwood School * Possibility of partnering with private organizations to develop joint use agreement for facility use for Seniors * "Just- for - Teens" facility * Method for funding the development or operation of this new facility (tax /bond issue). 2. The Community emphasized a strong interest in meeting the needs of youth :w This included a concern about teen programs, development of new fie'ld's'' Vnd upgrade. --ot, ek-D;ting ..field usage:. at school sites. :Althcugbt•. the workshop ..,did not discuss location for these recommendations,.. the task :'force --- :.looked at existing resources _and. Is makinq% the 'following recommendation: Playing fields for youth sports: 3 new and 4 . renovated '$1„ 000,.000 a. Joint use playing fields at school, sites - $7U0,000 -(There are 7 fields for possible,' renovation: Listed alphabetically) * Argonaut School 1* renovated, field - multi -use * Blue Hills Sch. /Azule Pk.l new, 1 renovated - " If * Foothill School - 2 renovated fields - softball * Marshall Lane School 1 or more field - multi -use * Saratoga School 1 renovated field - multi -use * McAuliffe School 1 renovated field - multi -use b. Sports fields at City parks - $300,000 This would expand the number of fields currently available * Azule Pk. /Blue Hills Sch. 1 - 2 new fields - multi -use C. Teen programs and needs were strongly emphasized by the Workshop. The City should continue to make the Warner Hutton House available for teen programs and find a way to fund low cost activities for teens. 3. Improvements to existing parks - $500,000 Because of possible development of sports fields at Blue Hills and Azule, special considerations should be given to those areas. 4. 5. a. Azule Park (undeveloped) * Trees, picnic tables, BBQ * playground area, paths * Landscaped, off - street parking area b. Kevin Moran Park * Trees and benches * Picnic benches, BBQ * Playground equipment for older children * Community garden or garden plots * Landscaped off - Street parking area (to support both Kevin Moran and Azule users) C. Gardiner Park * New Playground equipment d. Hakone Garden * Replace hand rails if existing are unsafe * Replace restrooms Reserve Fund - $400,000 a. Use to complete projects 1 through 3 above (if under - funded) b. Create a long term plan for developing and funding parks, recreation areas, trails and open space. * Park and open space acquisition , e.g. Mountain Winery, school sites, etc. * Trail improvements. The above projects are not stated in priority order. See attached minutes of 7/17/96 and 7/23/96 for discussion on priorities. E Partial Minutes of July 23, 1996: G. Self- Evaluation of Previous Meeting Councilmembers felt the meeting of July 17th went very well. Mr. Peacock indicates that the Council will be finalizing the park development project priorities on August 7th but as yet staff has received no direction as to which project should go first only that the concept of creating a master plan for the civic center hub is not at the top of the list. It was agreed that the City should talk to the three school districts first to see who is ready to do what. Vice Mayor Moran indicates she will help out with getting the various parties together. Partial Minutes of July 17, 1996: Councilmember Tucker clarified that the recommendations are not in order of priority or execution. r3 P,irlfpd on fpCVC!pfl r ,Inp, 111115 T1 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE • SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 • (408) 867 -3438 COUNCEL MEMBERS: Community Recreation and Park Task Force Information Packet Ann Marie Burner Paul E.Jaccas Gillian Moran Karen Tucker Donald L 140ke Parks & Recreation Community Task Force Mission Statement April 25, 1996 The Parks & Recreation Community Task Force will provide recommendations to the Saratoga Parks & Recreation Commission, and to the Saratoga City Council regarding the community's recreational and park /facility needs, now and in the future. These recommendations shall be based on community input gathered from a wide variety of interested community members, along with current and projected demographics, the Parks & Trails Master Plan, while considering information gathered by the Task Force members and the City staff. These tasks are to be completed by the end of July 1996, at which date this Task Force will be dissolved. Desired Needs List A. Development of Multi -Use Sports Fields $ 700,000 * Soccer, baseball & softball on a 4 acre site. B. Indoor Sports & Activity Center 1,000,000 + C. Park Improvements in existing sites 100,000 * Expand and improve playground equipment. D. Community Center Renovation \Expansion 1,000,000 + * To enlarge the existing facility to meet increasing recreational needs. E. Hakone Gardens Improvements 500,000 + * Improvements to entrance and roadway, handrail system and restroom improvements. F. Swimming pool (outdoor facility) 500,000 + G. Play field improvements to mulit- purpose fields at existing School sites. 175,000 p \acre H. Community Gardens 50,000 I. Trail Improvements 1,000,000 * Trails designed to interconnect the neighborhoods, school sites, parks and public open space. J. Development of a Large Community Park 175,000 (per acre) * Designed to handle large community events. K. Construction of a dog run in a park 15,000 CITY OF SARATOGA Projected Growth 1995 - 2015 The population of the City as estimated by the State of California and the Association of Bay Area Governments will grow by 1% with construction of new dwellings and the increases in school age population currently being experienced by the school districts which service the City. Persons Per Household: 1995 2.85 Saratoga Union School District Enrollment number for K through 8th 1991 1992 1993 1,698 1,772 1,818 2000 2015 2.88 2.76 -0.09 1994 1995 1,939 2,063 1997 through 1998 projected to be at a 5A growth rate. 1996 (projected) 2,200 Y OUTDOOR FACILITIES YOUTH SPORTS Organization # of Facilities currently participants using AYSO Soccer Fall 1995 1030 5 2 1 2h 1'k 2 1 Congress Springs Redwood Middle practice Only Redwood Middle lower - Argonaut School - Saratoga School Foothill School Kevin Moran Spring 1996 140 Currently using 2 game fields and 3 practice fields Little League 600+ Congress Springs Park (5 -12 yr old) Little League -4 fields Pony League Pony League -1 field (13 -15 yr old) Projected need Projected Player increase to 1584 by year 2000 additional 4 fields Projected players 1020 by year 2000 game fields - 7 practice - 18 Little League Additional 3 fields Little Leagues cannot increase their program due to lack of fields. Los Gatos /Saratoga 450 Foothill School -3 fields Renovation of Girls Softball Argonaut School -1 field fields at Association Redwood Middle -1 field Foothill and Saratoga High -1 field Argonaut Schools Adult Sports Recreation Dept. 380 E1 Quito Park -1 field 3 fields Softball West Valley -1 field V INDOOR FACILITIES YOUTH SPORTS Organization # of Facilities currently participants using National Junior Basketball Boys /Girls 200 Saratoga High -2 courts 3rd thru 8th grade (Sundays only) Redwood Middle -1 court practice only Projected need Additional indoor facility NJB cannot expand program to include 9th through 12th grades due to lack of a facility Recreation Department Youth Basketball 250 Saratoga High -2 courts Additional indoor Program (Saturday only) facility 3rd thru 8th grade Program Redwood Middle -1 court This program on several occasions has been bumped due to School Activities scheduled at these facilities. Adult Sports Recreation Department Men's over 35 192 West Valley College Men's over 45 256 Redwood Middle School Women's Basketball 66+ Redwood Middle School A d d i t i o n a l facility to be used year around for this program These programs on several occasions have been bumped due to School Activities scheduled at these facilities Community Center Facility This facility was constructed in 1967 as a Youth Center through a major volunteer effort. The Senior Wing was added in 1981 and the lobby area was remodeled in 1991. Currently, the Recreation Department offers approximately 550 classes each year in the Community Center along with the Community Center rentals equates to approximately 20,000 participants per year. The projected need for this facility would be to renovate and expand the Community Center to meet increasing demand for additional recreational programming and to expand the rental program. r CITY OF SARATOGA PARKS PARKS DEVELOPED ACRES 1. Beauchanps Park 2.2 2. Brookglen Park .7 3. Central Park (Hertiage Orchard) 14. 4. Congress Spring Park 9.97 5. E1 Quito Park 6.3 6. Foothill Park .8 7. Gardiner Park 1.2 S. Hakone Gardens 9.5 acres undeveloped 1505 9. Historial Park 1.0 10. Kevin Moran Park 4.0 acres undeveloped 10.3 11. Ravenwood Park .65 12. Wildwood Park _ Total Developed Parks 66.62 UNDEVELOPED PARK SITES 1. Azule Park 4.3 2. Pollard i Quito Rd. .5 3. San Marcos Wilderness 10.0 Total Undeveloped Parks 14.8 Total Acres 81.42 Inventory of School District Playfield Sites Saratoga Union School District Redwood Middle School 5.6 acres Foothill School 2.4 acres Argonaut School _ 2.3 acres Saratoga School 3.1 acres Cupertino Union School District Blue Hills School 4.6 acres Christa McCuliffe 2.3 acres Campbell Union School District Marshall Lane School 9.0 acres Summary of City /School Recreational Facilities M Softbl Bsjktbl enis Socer stRm Vbl Bbl P1 Argonaut School 1 2 2 1 Beauchamps Park 1 2 Blue Hills Elem Sch 1 i f 1� 1 1 Brookglen Park 1 Central Park - Christa McAuliffe Sch 1 1 1 Conaress Springs Park 1 2 5 1 5 2 E1 Quito Park 1 1 1 1 Foothill Park Foothill School 1 3 2.5 1 1 Gardiner Park 2 Historical Park Kevin Moran Park Marshall Lane Schl Prosbect High Schl 2 -Ouito /Pollard Ravenwood Park Redwood Middle Schl 1. Sacred Heart School Saratoga Hiah School 2 Saratoga School 1 St. Andrews 1 West Valley College 1 Wildwood Park 1 1 1 1 2 4 4 12 4 8 6 4 6 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 3 8 16 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 Key: MP - Multipurpose Rm /Gym Softbl - Softball field Bsktbl - Basketball court /outdoor Tenis - Tennis court Socer - Soccer field /multipurpose field RstRm - Restrooms Vbl - Volleyball court Bbl - Baseball field P1 - Play structures