Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10_15_2008 Fall SaratoganSaratoganSaratoganTheCITY o f S A RATOG A CALIF O R N IA1956 Fall 2008 Coming Together and Building Community The City of Saratoga’s Community Center is a hub of activity that draws people from all over the City to socialize, learn, and grow. Each day residents connect with their neighbors through their participation in activities at the community center. Establishing a place where residents can form lasting relationships with each other is no easy task. For thirty-three years Joan Pisani, a Saratoga resident and former Director of Recreation and Facilities, took on this responsibility and transformed the community center into a symbol of the City’s commitment to building community. After Joan passed away in 2007, a committee of Joan’s friends, colleagues, and family members pursued their dream to name the community center for Joan, in commemoration of her efforts. On October 5, 2008, over 200 people celebrated the dedication of the recently renamed Joan Pisani Community Center. Saratoga residents have the opportunity to continue Joan’s legacy of building community. Below are just a few of the ways in which residents can carry on her work: Getting Organized: Neighborhood associations are a wonderful way for residents to connect. Read more in the next article. Tuning In: Stay up to date on local issues by watching KSAR Channel 15, the only station devoted to Saratoga. Details on KSAR are on page 2. Sharing Passions: Community gardens are an excellent source of inexpensive produce and can serve as a great social network. Learn more on page 2. Getting Organized In the hustle and bustle of daily life, few residents take the time to meet their neighbors. However, the time spent developing friendly relationships with neighbors has many rewards. Well-connected neighborhoods are safer and better equipped to handle community issues. One of the best ways to organize a community is to start a neighborhood association. Below are tips for new and established associations: Stick to Shared Goals: associations are better able to engage the entire community when it is clear that the goals of the association are based on the shared interests of the community Maintain Momentum: like any relationship, the key to a long-lasting association is to keep things interesting; work plans and objectives should be updated to give members new goals Stay Organized: meetings and the association purpose should always be clear; chaotic meetings and lack of focus will frustrate members For more information, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/NeighborhoodAssociations/index.html. Pisani Family at Joan Pisani Community Center dedication Tune in to Saratoga Get in tune with the local community by changing the station to KSAR Channel 15 – Saratoga’s public access television channel. KSAR has been operating in Saratoga since the early 1980s to increase access to vital information and provide residents with the opportunity to share their interests and view those of others. KSAR offers a wide variety of local programming, including live City Council and Planning Commission meetings that are fi lmed and broadcast by KSAR’s staff and volunteers. Election forums and Saratoga High School student productions will be broadcast this year. Residents can also rent the KSAR TV studio, located at West Valley College, or submit news and events to be aired on the KSAR Community Bulletin Board. Saratoga’s Comcast cable customers can already watch KSAR and soon Saratoga’s AT&T U-verse customers will be able to watch KSAR. Programs, including City Council and Planning Commission meetings, can also be viewed online at www.KSAR15.org. For more information about KSAR, volunteering, renting the studio, or donating to KSAR’s new endowment fund, call KSAR at (408) 741-2108. KSAR studio in Saratoga Council Chambers Gardener in the El Quito Community Garden Gardening for a Community Community gardens are quickly becoming a common feature in American cities. Since the turn of the century, community gardens have attracted urban dwellers looking for a place to grow their own produce. While these gardens are commonly built to provide residents with the opportunity to grow produce inexpensively, community gardens have been found to be a vehicle for building community. Saratoga is home to two community gardens. The El Quito Community Garden is located at El Quito Park near the Westhope Church parking lot. The garden, managed by the City of Saratoga, has 16 plots. Just yards away is the Westhope Church Community Garden. Like the El Quito Community Garden, members of the public can rent plots from the Church. The plots in these gardens are full of a wide array of plants, refl ecting the diverse gardeners who have come together to share a common passion. Community gardens create new personal connections that establish a sense of community and belonging among gardeners, improving their quality of life. 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. Hi Jana, I recently stopped by the City offi ces on a Wednesday afternoon. I wanted to speak with you and the Planning staff at the Community Development Department counter. When I arrived, I found that you were not in and the Community Development counter was closed. Can you tell me when you are in the offi ce and when the counter is open? Just Stopping By Dear Just Stopping By, Our Planning and Building Counter is open between 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Thursday and on alternate Fridays. As for my schedule, I have Wednesdays off and I work on Saturdays. Jana Dear Jana, Recently, my neighbor started construction work on his home. Why didn’t I receive formal notifi cation that there would be a project next door? Can you also tell me what days and hours construction is permitted? Unnoticed Neighbor Dear Unnoticed, There are three levels of project approval, two of which require neighborhood notifi cation. Large scale projects such as a new two-• story home require a public hearing before the Planning Commission and notifi cation to neighbors within 500 feet of the subject property. Other major projects such as a new single-• story home or a major addition to an existing home (e.g., adding more than 50% square footage) requires Administrative Review and notifi cation to neighbors within 250 feet of the subject property Smaller scale projects that do not require • administrative review or a public hearing are approved “over the counter” as long as the submittal is complete and in compliance with all relevant regulations (e.g., zoning). Over the counter approval does not require neighbor notifi cation. See Municipal Code sections 5-45.060 and 15- 45.065 for a complete breakdown of the type of projects requiring Administrative Review or a Public Hearing. Construction is allowed 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and weekday holidays. Jana Proper Disposal of Unused Medicine Ever wondered what to do with those medicines sitting in the cabinet that don’t have any more use? Flushing drugs down sinks or toilet is harmful to the environment and human health. While wastewater from indoor plumbing is treated to meet strict regulatory standards before being discharged to our Bay, the treatment plant cannot fi lter or neutralize medicinal ingredients. Even low levels of drugs can have negative effects on the health and reproduction of marine life. The landmark 2002 U.S. Geological Survey study found that 80 percent of streams sampled contained drugs, including steroids and reproductive hormones. Saratoga residents can dispose of waste medicines by making an appointment with the County Household Hazardous Waste Program online at www.hhw.org or by phone at (408) 299-7300. fi lter or neutralize medicinal ingredients. Even low levels of 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 Saratoga Looking Greener The City of Saratoga has been going back to the basics and earning green rewards in the process. In an effort to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, a review of City operations has helped Saratoga to become certifi ed as a Green Business by the Bay Area Green Business Program. The City’s Green Business Certifi cation comes the same year the Council adopted sustainability as a City priority. Recognizing the need to become an environmental steward and lead green change throughout Saratoga, the City has adopted a number of operational changes that will reduce its environmental footprint. These changes have saved fi nancial and environmental resources, in addition to earning Saratoga Green Business Certifi cation and demonstrating sustainable practices to residents. Improvements include: Elimination of single-use plastic water bottles• Extensive recycling program• Paperless Council Meetings• Installation of energy effi cient T-8 lighting• Drought resistant landscaping at City Hall• Silicon Valley Turkey Trot Start Thanksgiving Day off on the right foot at the Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot sponsored by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. This year’s benefi ciaries will be the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank, and The Housing Trust of Santa Clara County. Last year, $218,000 was raised during the Turkey Trot with 1/3 of the funds going to the Healthy Kids program. To register, visit http://svturkeytrot.com/. Installation of drought resistant landscaping on Allendale Village Streetscape Improvements Join the Village Adhoc Committee on October 27, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Saratoga Senior Center located at 19655 Allendale Avenue in Saratoga to help plan streetscape improvements in the Village. For more information visit www.saratoga.ca.us or call (408) 868-1239. West Valley College Sports Fields Saratoga’s youth sports enthusiasts have two new playing fi elds. In an effort to address interest in additional sports fi elds, the City of Saratoga and West Valley College established a joint use agreement that will allow Saratoga youth sports organizations to use two West Valley College sports fi elds. As part of the agreement, the City has widened the lower fi eld to accommodate a new soccer fi eld, conditioned the turf on both fi elds, constructed a retaining wall, and installed sand channel drainage systemsField at West Valley College