HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10-2011 PEBTAC & PRC Joint Meeting Minutes
City of Saratoga
Parks and Recreation Commission
MINUTES
DATE: Tuesday, May 10, 2011
TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Saratoga City Hall
Warner Hutton House
13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Call to Order – 6:42 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Goldberg, Johnson, Soukup
Absent: Wilson
Pedestrian, Equestrian, and Bicycle Trails Advisory Committee: Mary Anne Swan, Ray Cosyn
Staff: Morrow
Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, this meeting was properly
posted May 5, 2011.
Accept Agenda Items: No additional items may be added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2.
Oral & Written Communication: Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not
on the agenda for this meeting for up three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter,
but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda.
Approval of Draft Minutes: Draft Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Minutes for the March 8, 2011
meeting.
- BRUNO: MOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM MARCH 8, 2011 MEETING
- JOHNSON: SECOND
- APPROVED 3-0-2 WITH GOLDBERG AND WILSON ABSENT
Joint Meeting with the Pedestrian, Equestrian, and Bicycle Trails Advisory Committee (PEBTAC): Discuss
collaborating on Saratoga Creek projects and the joint meeting with the City Council on May 18, 2011.
- Soukup introduced the item and welcomed the members of the PEBTAC. Members of the PEBTAC
introduced themselves.
- Goldberg shared that the PEBTAC would be recommending adding 5 new projects to the City’s Capital
Improvement Plan (CIP) at the joint meeting with the City Council. The projects will be marked on a map.
- Soukup noted that the PRC was interested in seeking Council approval to develop a restoration project
for Saratoga Creek near Wildwood Park. The project may be eligible for Santa Clara Valley Water District
grant funding.
- The PRC agreed to request Council authorization to work on the project at the City Council joint
meeting. If the PRC is authorized to work on the project, the PRC would be able to develop a project
scope in 2012 then apply for grant funding in 2013. The Commission would also ask West Valley College
to share insights into creek restoration projects and seeking Water District grant funds.
Old Business:
1. Joint Meeting Agenda
Issue: The PRC and PEBTAC are scheduled to hold a joint meeting with the Saratoga City Council on May
18, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room at City Hall. The purpose of the
annual meeting is to provide the Council with an update on the status of the Commission and
request approval of priorities and goals for the upcoming year. Because time is limited, it is
recommended that Commissions develop agendas for the Joint Meeting.
Action: Finalize an agenda for the City Council Joint Meeting.
- Bruno asked the PRC if the Commission should review the focus and scope of the PRC with the Council
during the joint meeting.
- Johnson suggested that the focus on the PRC could be expanded to include green spaces, like medians.
- Goldberg shared her experience planting daffodil bulbs in Kevin Moran Park and suggested the PRC do
similar events in the future.
- Johnson added that the PRC’s scope could also include beautification as it relates to trees and plants.
- Goldberg suggested the Commission discuss Wildwood Cinema Movie Night with the Council to see how
the Council wants to proceed with the event.
- The Commissioners discussed their interest in reaching out to Saratoga residents to get a better
understanding of their park and recreation related interest. A variety of methods for obtaining
community feedback on parks and recreation were discussed. The PRC decided to add community
outreach to the joint meeting agenda.
- BRUNO: MOVED TO APPROVE A JOINT MEETING AGENDA THAT INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
o COMMUNITY OUTREACH
o SARATOGA CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT
o WEST VALLEY COLLEGE LANDSCAPE DESIGN PROJECT
o MOVIE NIGHT
o COMMISSION FOCUS BRAINSTORMING
- GOLDBERG: SECOND
- APPROVED 4-0-1 WITH WILSON ABSENT
2. Wildwood Cinema Movie Night
Issue: In accordance with City Council direction given at the July 7, 2010 City Council meeting, the PRC
has been looking for an organization or group to coordinate the Wildwood Cinema Movie Night
in the future. Commissioner Wilson has been leading this effort.
Action: Discuss transitioning management of Wildwood Cinema Movie Night to another organization(s).
- Goldberg provided an update on the current status of Wildwood Cinema Movie Night. She noted that it
appears that the Saratoga-Monte Sereno Community Foundation is interested in playing a role in the
future of the event.
- Goldberg proposed that rather than holding the event at Wildwood Park, it could become a movie series
held at other parks throughout the City.
- The Commission discussed the cost of the event, including the cost of renting movie equipment versus
buying it.
- Soukup asked Morrow to get the latest information on the event from Wilson
- Goldberg noted that the Youth Commission is very interested in participating in the event or doing
something in conjunction with the event.
3. Let’s Move Cities/Move It Saratoga
Issue: In February 2011, the City Council approved a resolution to become a Let’s Move City. The Let’s
Move Cities and Towns initiative is part of a nationwide initiate led by First Lady Michelle Obama
to reduce childhood obesity and help families make healthier choices. Council suggested the
PRC’s Move It Saratoga program could be part of the City’s effort to become a Let’s Move City.
Action: Discuss and finalize plans for the 2011 Move It Saratoga program.
- Morrow gave report on Let’s Move Cities and Towns initiative.
- The Commission discussed how Move It Saratoga could be expanded or altered to meet the objectives
of the Let’s Move Cities and Towns initiative. The Commission suggested extending Let’s Move Saratoga
to 1 year, reaching out to schools and families with children, and organizing guided hikes or bike rides.
- Further discussion on Move It Saratoga was added to the August agenda.
4. Saratoga Park Videos
Issue: In September 2010, the Commission released videos produced by Saratoga High School Media
Arts Program students to publicize City parks. Videos for Beauchamps, Congress Springs, Hakone
Gardens, Kevin Moran, Ravenwood, and Wildwood were produced. The Commission indicated
an interest in working with other Saratoga High School Media Arts Program students to create
additional videos.
Action: Develop plans to continue creating Saratoga park videos.
- Soukup introduced the item and asked if anyone on the Commission would be interested in working
with Media Arts Program students to do another round of videos.
- The Commission discussed making videos of City trails and other nearby recreational resources, such as
Montalvo, Garrod Farms, and Sanborn Park.
- Bruno volunteered to take the lead on the project. She’ll contact the Saratoga High School Media Arts
Program to see if there is interest in the project and follow up with Wilson to get details about how the
project worked last year.
5. Community Event Calendar
Issue: At the January 2011 PRC meeting, the Commission reviewed upcoming community events that
the PRC could participate and agreed to review opportunities to participate in community
events again at the May 2011 meeting.
Action: Review community event calendar.
- The Commission reviewed the community event calendar and decided to discuss participation in the Art
and Wine Festival at the August meeting.
Commissioner & Staff Reports (This includes committee updates and park reports. This section is informational
only; no actions will be taken.)
- Goldberg noted that the petanque court at Azule Park looks good and asked that the Commission add
discussing on a bulb planting project to the August agenda.
- Bruno reported that Foothill Park and Blaney Plaza look good.
- Johnson shared that Wildwood Park is in great shape, as is Bellgrove Park. Johnson suggested that the
lampposts in Bellgrove could use a fresh coat of paint though. Improvements to El Quito just started,
including tree planting and landscaping work. Johnson did notice that signage in El Quito on alcohol use
and group use permits will need to be updated. Johnson added that some of the nesting boxes are being
used by birds.
- Goldberg asked that the Commission review the City’s policy on alcohol use and group use permits at
the March meeting in 2012.
- Soukup requested an update on Ravewood Park Playground Improvements at the August meeting.
- Morrow shared that the Azule Park Petanque Court Dedication is on May 21, 2011 and informed the
Commission that the proposed fiscal year 2011/12 budget would be going to the Council at the May 18,
2011 meeting.
Agenda Items for Next Meeting
- August 16, 2011 (July meeting rescheduled)
o Nesting box project update and planning for the next nesting season
o Ravenwood Park playground improvements update
o Review the City Council joint meeting
o Daffodil bulb planting project
o Public Works Update, including report on recent projects and tree planting
Adjournment – 8:50 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Crystal Morrow, Administrative Analyst II
City of Saratoga – City Manager’s Office