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Meeting Report
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From:
10.28.98
Public Meeting
10.27.98
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Project Name: City of Saratoga Park Devel.
Project Ref. No.: 98-12
6:30-8:OOpm
Marshall Lane Elementary
Jeff Kreps Attendees:
Copy to:
^ All Attendees
All Task Force Members
Irene Jacobs, Ciity of Saratoga
Jenny Crotty, Park & Rec. Comm.
Frank Friedrich, P & R Comm.
Lynne Dickerson, Pres., Quito LL
Jay Beals, thebealsgroup, inc.
Neighbors, Quito LL parents
This report, if not corrected within seven (7) days after receipt by any party in attendance, shall be
acknowledged as an accurate report of the events that took place at this meeting.
Meeting Context: Task Force has recommended this site as one of four priority sites. Design
proposal from user's standpoint has been developed. Public input is now
needed.
• Meeting Purpose: To present proposed design and to hear concerns from neighbors.
Intended Results: 1. An understanding of overall project and Marshall Lane's part in it
2. An understanding of proposed design elements
3. List of concerns shared by neighborhood residents
INTRODUCTION
A. Jay Beals gave an overview of the whole project and the steps leading up to the
current proposal. He also explained that we were about mid-way through the whole
process and that there would be other opportunities for public input.
Lynne Dickerson spoke about Quito Little League, and fielded questions about
scheduling, age groups expected to play on the fields, number of children expected,
etc. She emphasized the responsibility of the League's members and their
willingness to work with the School District, Marshall Lane Elementary, and the
neighbors to come to a mutually beneficial solution.
II. PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED DESIGN ELEMENTS
A. Jay presented the proposal and stressed that it was just that, a proposal, and that
plans were not going forth to build what we were presenting; that we were there to
gather the input from concerned neighbors and parents. The major elements of the
proposed design are:
1. To build two new baseball fields to be used primarily by T-ball and Farm-level
teams; items to be included are:
a. Dirt infields
IlServerlprojectsWobs9819&12 Saratoga ConsukinglMeeting ttemslPubic MeetingslMarshalNAeetingReport.doc
Meeting Minutes for: Public Meeting, Marshall Lane Project Name: City of Saratoga Park Dev.
Meeting Date: 10.27.98 Project Ref. No.: 98-12
Meeting Location: Marshall Lane Elementary
• b. Covered dugouts
c. Batting /pitching cages
2. To build a small permanent restroom facility, and to provide room for storage
and for concessions;
3. To provide drinking fountains;
4. To renovate the turf area, including irrigation system;
5. To relocate one of the school's hard-court basketball courts;
6. To possibly expand the existing parking area;
7. To possibly relocate the upper playground equipment "box;"
Again, it was emphasized that none of the items have been approved yet, and that
public input will be used to further refine the design proposal.
III. OPEN FORUM FOR DISCUSSION
A. Jay then opened the floor up for comments, questions, concerns, etc. A summary of
the concerns is as follows:
1. One of the neighbors read a petition that had been signed by many other
residents in which they opposed any development of an athletic facility at
Marshall Lane. They called for an Environmental Impact Report from the City
before any other work was done. (Many of the reasons for their objection are
in the list that follows.)
2. Residents wanted to know why they hadn't been included earlier in the
process.
3. A primary concern centered around traffic and parking. Residents were
vehemently opposed to any increase in traffic because it would tax an
• already overburdened road system near the school, thereby decreasing the
safety of the children and parents walking in the area. Most also felt that the
current traffic problem is due primarily to scheduling at the school--and to
open enrollment--and that nothing could be added into the mix until the City
and District worked out some solutions (like speed bumps, wider roads,
sidewalks, etc.) Also at issue is the parking situation. Neighbors wanted to
see data which would support any increase in parking area. Currently,
neighbors said that some users of the school parked in the nearby orchard,
which they felt was inappropriate. The school currently has between 55-65
parking spaces in the main lot, plus additional parking in the new side lot.
Added pollution is a related issue. A final traffic-related issue is that of
speed; neighbors say that very few people obey the posted speed limit, and
something needs to be done!
4. Residents wanted to know if there would be any weekend use/traffic. (Lynne
Dickerson explained that there was no "permitted" Sunday use, and that the
game season in which the number of children playing would increase was
from mid March until the first week in June.)
5. Even though the use for the site is young kids, neighbors felt that these were
the "worst" because "many" family members tended to come to the games,
which would even further increase traffic.
6. Would soccer continue at this site? (Yes, but no more than it does now.)
7. Because of the recent article in the Saratoga News, some neighbors felt that
soccer was going to be removed from Congress Springs and, not knowing
about the possible development of a soccer facility at Blue Hills/Azule, felt
that those displaced soccer players would come to Marshall Lane.
11Sen+erlprojectslJobs98198-12 Saratoga ConsuRing\Meeting ItemslPubic MeetingslMarshallMeetingReport.doc 2
Meeting Minutes for: Public Meeting, Marshall Lane Project Name: City of Saratoga Park Dev.
Meeting Date: 10.27.98 Project Ref. No.: 98-12
Meeting Location: Marshall Lane Elementary
8. Some residents felt that there were other more suitable schools who would
love to have some of the City's money and that we should be talking to them.
They feel that the City and others know that Marshall Lane is going to be a
"problem" site, yet they continue to try to build something here.
9. There was also concern that the soccer community wasn't being considered
in this plan; that their available turf--even for practice--was shrinking.
10. Why is the government of this wealthy community so short of funds? Why
can't they simply pass a bond issue that would create a fund large enough
that the City could just purchase new park land and develop that? The
residents felt that the leadership for the community and projects like this has
been poor.
11. Neighbors stated that they were not "against" kids, but that this was not the
"right" kind of neighborhood in which to have an athletic "facility."
B. On the other hand, there were many positive comments about the proposal as well.
1. Jay stressed the accountability of each party that would be included in the
written agreements generated out of this project. The rules would then be
understood by everyone, and if you "broke" them--say, parked somewhere
you weren't supposed to, or used the field without apermit--you would be
held accountable. This would go a long way toward ensuring a peaceful
relationship between the users and the neighbors.
2. The increase in scheduling because of the proposed agreements would also
lighten the use of the fields (and therefor lessen the impact on neighbors)
because it would be regulated and monitored.
• 3. It was felt that the community shouldn't turn down the opportunity to do
something good, and that would be of benefit to all of Saratoga, with money
that the City would be providing.
4. It was stressed that what was really being proposed was to make the existing
uses safer. There is very little anticipated increase in traffic.
5. It was felt that this was an opportunity for the community to come together to
work something positive out for the children of Saratoga.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Though there were very definite and well-informed opposing opinions, the meeting
was a great success because it hammered out all the potential stumbling blocks that
will need to be smoothed out if the project is to go forth.
The meeting was concluded with thanks to all the participants and with the
assurance that all the input, both positive and negative, would be closely considered
as the project went forward.
V. MEETING SCHEDULE
A. Public meeting: Blue Hills Elementary, Thursday November 19, from 6:30-8:OOpm.
B. Meeting with City, School District Representatives, and User Group representatives
to review revised plans/costs for Foothill & Marshall Lane Schools: Saratoga City
Offices Tuesday November 10 from 4:00-4:45 Foothill and 4:45-5:30 Marshall.
• End of Report
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