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Home My WebLink About01-12-2010 Winter SaratoganExploring our Communities through the 2010 Census Every 10 years, U.S. residents have the opportunity to stand up and be counted through the U.S. Census. Required by the Constitution, the national census is a count of everyone residing in the United States and it provides a snapshot of American communities that helps federal, state, and local governments explore the communities they serve and make more informed decisions. This examination of our communities helps the federal government decide fi nancial allocations to state and local governments, it determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, it helps guide the decisions of local legislators and provides them with better insights into the communities they represent, and is used by the private sector to decide where to locate business and market products. Be sure to be counted in the 2010 Census, by taking 10 minutes to answer 10 simple questions. Saratoga residents can expect to receive Census questionnaires in the mail in March 2010. All individual responses to the Census questionnaire are confi dential. Visit http://2010.census.gov to preview the questionnaire and learn more about the 2010 Census. The Census is one of the many ways we can learn about and explore the character of our communities. Residents can read more about exploring their City in this issue of The Saratogan. ••Saratoga Trails•• Download a map today and get connected to the City’s many trails. Read the article below for more information. ••Saratoga Trees•• Explore the natural side of Saratoga! Learn more about the City’s trees on page 2. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau Online Maps of Saratoga Trails Get out and explore the many wonderful Saratoga trails! Take the Upper Tank Trail into Fremont Older Open Space Preserve or step back in time on the Heritage Orchard Trail. There are over 13 miles of trails in Saratoga and the City is making plans to construct additional trails in the future, including Joe’s Trail. This will be the City’s fi rst bike trail and will run between Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Saratoga Avenue. Check www.saratoga.ca.us/about/city_maps/default.asp and fi nd a trail in your neighborhood!CITY o f S ARATO G A CALIF O R N IA1956 SaratoganSaratoganThe Winter 2010 Caring for Saratoga’s Trees Saratoga’s distinguished and mature trees are one of the City’s defi ning characteristics. These lovely trees also offer a variety of environmental benefi ts that help make the City a healthier place to live. They improve air quality by fi ltering the air and removing dust, particulates, and greenhouse gases, moderate our climate by absorbing radiant energy from the sun, shelter Saratoga’s wildlife, and prevent fl oods by intercepting storm water. Residents can help to ensure trees continue to thrive in Saratoga with the following tips on tree care. — Planting a Tree — Be sure to pick a spot that will accommodate the tree when it is mature. The designated planting area should allow for the tree’s full height, root base, water requirements, and growth rate. Trees that should not be planted near pavement include alder, American sweetgum, birch, California pepper, camphor tree, Chinese tallow tree, elm, holly oak, Italian stone pine, Monterey pine, and poplars. The best time to plant most trees is in the fall when warm, moderate temperatures are followed by the rainy season. This allows trees to establish their root system before the dry summer months. When planting a new tree, dig a hole that is as deep and twice as wide as the root ball. The hole can be fi lled with the existing soil or topsoil mixed with the existing soil. Topsoil alone should not be used, as the separation of the two types of soil creates a barrier that will inhibit root growth. Nursery stakes should also be installed to support newly planted trees. Place 2 inch round stakes on the outside of the root ball then connect the tree to the stakes using rubber ties. Leave the ties loose enough for the tree to move a few inches. The stakes and ties should stay in place for 1 to 2 growing seasons and need to be checked at least once a year to make sure the ties are not too tight. — Watering a Newly Planted Tree — Create a basin around the tree that is the same width as the planting hole by building an earthen berm that is a few inches tall. This basin should be fi lled with water 1 to 2 times a week for at least 2-5 years depending on the tree’s watering requirements. — Pruning Young Trees —Young trees should be pruned to encourage development of structural limbs by evenly spacing branches horizontally and vertically along the tree trunk. Remove branches that cross each other or are directly on top of each other. No permits are required to prune young trees. — Pruning Mature Trees — Once the tree is established, regular pruning that complies with International Society of Arboriculture standards will help keep the tree healthy and strong. When pruning an established tree, make sure that tree branches are a few feet away from buildings (tree branches can hang over the roof), remove dead or crossing branches, and do not remove branches around the center of the tree or “top” trees. Doing so will weaken the tree and create a potentially unsafe condition. — Tree Contractor Requirements — All tree pruning companies are required to have a State Contractor’s License for work over $500 and a City of Saratoga Business License if they are working in Saratoga. Work must also be supervised by a certifi ed arborist. — Tree Permits — Permits are required to remove any native tree with a 6 inch or larger diameter and any other tree with a diameter of 10 inches or more. Permits are also required for pruning if 25% or more of the canopy must be removed or International Society of Arboriculture standards cannot be met. An encroachment permit or arborist report is required if construction will take place within fi ve feet beyond the edge of a protected tree’s canopy. For more information contact City Arborist Kate Bear at (408) 868-1276 or kbear@saratoga.ca.us. Trees Native to Saratoga and Protected in Code at 6 Inches in Diameter Big Leaf Maple (not drought tolerant), Black Oak, Blue Oak, California Buckeye, Coast Live Oak, Coast Redwood (not drought tolerant), Douglas Fir, Scrub Oak, Tan Oak, Valley Oak Planting a tree? Be part of the Saratoga effort to plant 2015 trees by the year 2015. Visit www.heritagetreesofsaratoga.org for details. Ask Jana Got Code Enforcement questions? Ask Jana! Send your questions to Jana Rinaldi at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga CA 95070 or by email to jrinaldi@saratoga.ca.us. North Campus Renamed the Saratoga Prospect Center In October, the City celebrated completion of renovations to the grounds and buildings at the North Campus. To go with the new look, the City Council has adopted a new name for the facility – the Saratoga Prospect Center. The Council also renamed the two buildings at the site. Fellowship Hall is now Friendship Hall and the Administration Building is now The Grace Building. Saratoga Prospect Center was one of 58 names submitted during a public contest to rename the North Campus, which took place between September and October and was led by the Parks and Recreation Commission. To rent one or both of the buildings at the Saratoga Prospect Center, contact Nina Walker at nwalker@saratoga.ca.us or (408) 868-1259. Friendship Hall at Saratoga Prospect Center Dear Fire Fan, Permits are not required for portable outdoor fi re pits. However, you should always handle fi re with care and if you intend to connect your fi re pit to a gas line or build a permanent outdoor fi replace then you will need a permit. If you have any questions, call the Community Development Department at (408) 868- 1222 or visit the Planning and Building Counter, Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Jana Dear Jana, During a recent storm, several large limbs fell off of a large tree in my yard. I would like to clean up the fallen limbs and do some pruning to fi x the broken limbs still on the tree. Do I need a permit? Stormy Weather Dear Stormy, You do not need a permit to clean up the fallen limbs. However, you may need a permit if more than 25% of a tree’s canopy is removed or your pruning is not in accordance with International Society of Arboriculture standards. You can contact our City Arborist Kate Bear at (408) 868-1276 or kbear@saratoga.ca.us for additional information about tree permits. Jana Dear Jana, A friend has a fi re pit in his backyard and I would really like to get one of my one. I love spending time out by a fi re on a cool and clear winter night. What are the rules related to fi re pits? Do I need to get a permit? Fire Fan Postal Customer Local PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Saratoga, CA Permit No. 136 ECRWSS The Saratogan 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 Now printed on recycled paper! Got ideas? Send story ideas & comments about The Saratogan to Crystal Morrow at cmorrow@saratoga.ca.us or (408) 868-1275. County Emergency Alert System Receive immediate notifi cation when disaster strikes by registering with AlertSCC today. AlertSCC is a mass notifi cation system that is being implemented throughout Santa Clara County to send emergency information and instructions to residents in the County. The system can already send alerts to phone numbers in the emergency 911 and 411 directories and residents can also register their cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA) or other text based devices, email addresses, and TTY/TDD receiving devices for the hearing impaired. To register or for more information, visit www.alertscc.com. Preventing Property Crimes Over the last few months, many law enforcement agencies have observed an increase in property crimes. This increase is most likely due to the decline in the economy. The Sherriff’s Offi ce has provided several tips to help protect you from crime. One of the most popular property crimes is auto burglary. To prevent auto burglaries: Don’t leave valuable items in plain sight in a parked vehicle. If you must leave valuable items in your • car, place them in your trunk. Lock vehicles when they are parked, even in the driveway. • Park your car in well lit areas, even at home. • Rediscover the Saratoga Library What’s the best kept secret in Saratoga? The Saratoga Library! Enjoy a diverse collection of books, services, and programs at no charge. With a free library card customers can borrow materials, download from electronic databases (accessible 24/7), enjoy a variety of youth and adult programs, or use public computers. Free adult programs cover a wide range of interests, the Library’s teen area is the only free resource for middle and high school students in the City, and award winning story hours for families with toddlers and pre-schoolers are held weekly. Despite County budget cuts, the Saratoga Library is able to offer its extensive services 7 days a week thanks to generous donations from the Friends of the Saratoga Library. Funding for Monday hours will run out in June 2010, but residents can help by visiting www.fslonline.org. Saratoga LibraryCITY o f S ARATO G A CALIF O R N IA1956