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Home My WebLink About07-18-2008 Saratogan Summer FINALSaratoganTheCITY o f S A RATOG A CALIF O R N IA1956 Summer 2008 Acting Now for the Future As the City begins the 2008/09 fiscal year, “acting now for the future” is a key element of the adopted budget. With an unclear economic picture in California and throughout the United States, this year’s budget has been developed with an emphasis on prudent spending, fiscal reserves, searching for opportunities to increase operational efficiencies, and stabilizing revenues. These elements of the budget will ensure that Saratoga residents continue to receive high quality essential services. The effort taken to prepare a budget that anticipates the current economic climate is just one way in which the City is preparing for the future. In many instances, being prepared requires public support. Emergency planning, finding new ways to fund Saratoga Library’s Monday hours, and protecting the City’s neighborhoods home from wildfires are just a few ways the public can work with local government to be prepared. Getting Ready for Emergencies: Saratoga is home to a well-trained group of volunteers that make up the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). These volunteers have learned how to plan for an emergency and how to help their community should a disaster occur. Read the next article for more information about CERT and how residents can join this group in keeping Saratoga prepared. Finding Solutions: Saratoga Library is one of the few County library branches that is open seven days a week, thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries. However, funding for Monday hours will expire in 2010. Turn to page 2 to find out how residents can help. Protecting Saratoga Homes: For the past few months, wildfires have torn through California leaving many families without homes. Saratoga, tucked up against the Santa Cruz Mountains, has a number of hillsides that are vulnerable to fire. Learn more about keeping Saratoga’s hills safe from fire danger on page 2. Get Ready, Get Set, Be Prepared! Twice a year, the City of Saratoga and its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) gear up for the CERT academy. This fall, the Academy will begin October 28, 2008. The six week program teaches residents the essentials of emergency planning. This includes learning fire safety skills, disaster medical aid, emergency team organization, disaster psychology, and light search and rescue techniques. Graduates of the program will join over 80 alumni, many of whom meet regularly to keep their skills fresh and their neighborhoods prepared for an emergency. In the event of a disaster, Saratoga CERT will be activated to assist emergency responders. Contact Emergency Services Coordinator Jim Yoke at (408) 887-7818 or sccfd_esc@yahoo.com to learn more about becoming a member of CERT. CERT students participating in a training exercise Keeping Library Doors Open on Mondays In October 2004, the Santa Clara County Library was forced to cut its community libraries’ budgets due to reduced revenues. As a result, many community library branches closed their doors on Mondays. The Saratoga Library, however, has been able stay open on Mondays since 2007 thanks to a grant from the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries. During renovations to the library, the Friends invested donations and earned enough money to fund Monday hours. Unfortunately, the Friends will no longer be able to support Monday hours after June 2010 when funding is expected to run out. The Friends of the Saratoga Libraries are exploring new options for keeping the library open 7 days a week and are looking to the community to identify new, more permanent funding strategies for the library’s Monday hours. For more information or to help the Friends plan for the future of the Saratoga Library, visit www.fslonline.org. Saratoga Library located on Saratoga Avenue at Fruitvale Avenue Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe During Fire Season The California skyline is thick with smoke this fire season from the numerous fires that have been burning throughout the State. Below are some tips on creating defensible space. Create a 100 foot defensible space around your home by clearing the 30 foot area immediate • around your home of all brush and debris; in the remaining 70 feet, create a reduced fuel zone by making horizontal and vertical space between shrubs and trees Fire travels more easily up steep slopes; on hillsides increase vertical and horizontal space • in the reduced fuel zone Use the proper equipment; string trimmers • are recommended Get rid of needles and dry timber on roof and • in gutters Grass is best kept under four inches in height• Residents who receive brush or weed abatement notices from the County’s Agricultural Department or Santa Clara County Fire Department are urged to comply wirh requests to remove hazardous vegetation that creates a fire hazard. For more information about preventing fires, contact the Santa Clara County Fire Department at (408) 378-4010 or visit www.sccfd.org. Stop by one of Saratoga’s commercial car washes where dirty water is recycled and cleaned, visit www. mywatershedwatch.org for car wash coupons or information on keeping our water clean. Ask Jana Got Code Enforcement questions? Ask Jana! Send your questions to Jana Rinaldi at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga CA 95070 or by email at jrinaldi@saratoga.ca.us. Dear Code Enforcement, The other day I noticed my neighbor is putting up a new fence in her front yard. Does the City allow a fence to be built in a front yard? How tall can a front yard fence be? Sincerely, Fenceless Next Door Dear Fenceless, If your neighbor lives within the city limits of Saratoga, she can install a fence in the front set back area of her property, as long as it is no taller than three (3) feet. Permits are not required for front yard fences that meet these requirements. Jana Dear Jana, I just moved to Saratoga and I have a wonderful dog who’s been in our family for 5 years now. Am I required to license him? What about other pets? Signed, To License or Not Dear License or Not, Welcome to Saratoga! Here in the City of Saratoga we do require licenses for dogs and cats. There are some exceptions, including: Dogs & cats that are less than 120 • days old; Dogs & cats that were vaccinated • and licensed in another jurisdiction and the license is still in effect; Dogs & cats owned by a nonresident • who is in Saratoga not more than 30 days in a 12-month period; Dogs & cats temporarily in Saratoga • for an event, show, or exhibition scheduled not more than 15 days after arrival; Dogs & cats for sale in a duly • licensed pet shop or kennel; Dogs used for the purpose of • leading persons with defective eyesight or hearing and dogs used by law enforcement agencies. Licensing applications are on the City’s website at www.saratoga.ca.us. Fill out the application and return it to San Jose Animal Services, the agency Saratoga contracts with for our animal services. Jana Postal Customer Local PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Saratoga, CA Permit No. 136 ECRWSS The Saratogan 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070CITY o f S ARATO G A CALIFO R N IA1956 City Directory City Hall (408) 868-1200 Building Permits (408) 868-1240 Business Licenses (408) 868-1260 City Clerk (408) 868-1269 City Manager (408) 868-1216 Code Enforcement (408) 868-1214 Employment (408) 868-1252 Facility Rentals (408) 868-1259 Garbage/ Recycling (408) 868-1215 Park Maintenance (408) 868-1245 Park Reservations (408) 868-1248 Recreation (408) 868-1249 Saratogan (408) 868-1275 Senior Center (408) 868-1257 Sheriff’s Office (408) 868-6600 Storm Drains & Street Maintenance (408) 868-1245 Tree Removals (408) 868-1276 Volunteering (408) 868-1216 It’s Summer Vacation Time, Travel Safely! Before leaving town for summer vacation this year, follow these crime prevention tips to help keep yourself and your home safe while you are away: DO: Lock all windows and doors! This may seem obvious, but it is easy to overlook this simple • step in the rush to leave. DO: Use timers for lights and radios to make your house seem “lived in” while you are away. • DO: Make sure you stop newspaper delivery and have the post office hold your mail. • DO: Leave emergency phone numbers and your itinerary with a trusted neighbor or friend.• DO: Keep a record of traveler’s check numbers and have telephone numbers to call in case • checks or credit cards are stolen. DO: Immediately report crimes that occur to the police!• DON’T: Leave a house key under the door mat, in a flower pot, or on the door ledge. Burglars • know these tricks! By following these tips, you can reduce risk to you and your family. Take a Hike & Explore Saratoga Trails! With gas prices reaching new highs, it’s time to hit the pavement and start exploring Saratoga by foot or on a bike! The City is home to a wide network of trails that make it easy to walk or bike throughout the community. Save gas money, get some exercise, and reduce carbon emissions this summer by using Saratoga trails! For more information, visit the City’s website at www.saratoga. ca.us. Heritage Orchard Loop in development, trail expected to be open August 2008