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Home My WebLink About10-28-2003 Community meeting City Council Minutes City-owned Properties & Infrastructure Community Meeting October 28, 2003 The Saratoga City Council held their second special meeting on October 28, 2003, to continue the community discussion of city-owned properties, city infrastructure, and to begin the Visioning Process for the City of Saratoga. The following comments were captured as bullet points but in some cases have been expanded so that the speaker's intention is clear. Comments made by City Council members are preceded by "CC". The topic order was rearranged to accommodate community attendees' interest and will vary from the original order of the staff report. However, the numbers shown below correspond to the original report. Parks (Continuation of 9/23/03 Community Meeting) . CC: Where did wish list for Kevin Moran Park come from? Staff generated. . El Quito picnic doesn't need refurbishment at $25,000; Saratoga library no place to park; inflatable structure at park = fumes and generator . Kevin Moran Park opposes Skate or BMX park, restroom would be welcomed . R.E. broker reported an interested party in selling church property; Kevin Moran - 7 lots at $400 -$500 k each . Opposed to any future development in the City's Heritage Orchard, damage to trees, increase usage to the library parking lot . Concerned with proposed 3200 sqft. bam in the Heritage Orchard. Wants the bam to be discussed by Heritage Preservation Commission and Library Commission Bridges #1 . CC: Ifbridge fails does FEMA pay to replace? Staff response: only if County declared disaster . During earthquake is the Quito Bridge structurally unsafe? . CC: Unclear; Tough to get excited about roadslbridges; easier to be positive about projects like gym, etc; can be mixed? . City has experienced bad disaster - bridge collapsed. Council on right track with overall assessment of the City - where are we going and how are we going to maintain aging infrastructure? What do we need and how are we going to fund it in the short and in the long term? Sidewalks #6 . CC: Sidewalk repair is a City responsibility. Not all cities are that way . CC: Village sidewalks still Caltrans responsibility? Yes, staffis still working to obtain Storm Drains #7 . CC: Is the Comer site subject to flooding; any other City locations? 1 6/30/2005 . CC: Some areas don't have storm drain system; other places leaking through sewer into creeks . . Privately owned drains - City responsibility? No; relationship w/runoff mto creeks Streets #8 . CC: Caltrans has control over Los Gatos-Saratoga Road . Fruitvale: stretch used by trucks for parking/dumping dirt at Odd Fellows; early morning noise; dust; so unable to address . CC: Streets can deteriorate in 3-4 years causing great fiscal impacts; extra $1 million a year to maintain, with only an $8.5 million total City budget . The Intersection of Pierce Road and Saratoga-Surmyvale Road becomes puddles and lakes during rain season. Staff commented the intersection will be redone during Gateway Revitalization Plan . Norton Road and Bohlman Road both areas that need attention - How long would you estimate needed maintenance on Bohlman Road? 25 years . How long have we not been following the pavement management program? For the past few years VT A has provided us supplemental monies to help subsidize. CIP (Capital Improvement Project)- one time. Operating - yearly that we have to budget from different sources. Balancing budget? But not meeting. All CIP needs = concerned the streets are deteriorating - w/loss of utility tax and Measure B this is a result . CC: Review of Bohlman Road is underway to prevent conflict between vehicles/emergency vehicles . Paving materials for roads - ex: noisy pavement in San Jose - please do not use similar . Should bike lanes be added to infrastructure? Falls under streets Curbs & Gutters #2 . Curb and gutter replacement occurs through Capital Improvement Projects . Who is responsible for curb and gutter in front of house? City maintains street . Besides normal wear and tear is there funding for flooding? Only if declared disaster area. Ex: during El Nino floods in the 1990's Landscape & Lighting Districts #3 . Staff made short presentation. No Councilor community questions or comments. Medians #4 . Medians - don't take roadway to make medians wider . CC: FEMA only pays to bring back to pre-existing level/condition Parking Districts #S . Citizens found parking spaces are too narrow Traffic Signals #9 . Traffic signals-please don't use Caltrans timing; too short 2 6/30/2005 Trails #10 . . Trail segment 3 _ could volunteers be used to help maintain trails and where does thIS effort need to start - refer to Lori Burns (Trail Day?) . Citizen concerned that VTA will expect something in return for trail monies, doesn't want light rail in backyard Visioning Process #11 . El Quito picnic doesn't need refurbishment at $25k; library = no place to park; inflatable structure at park = fumes, generator . Local real estate broker reported an interested party in selling church property . Kevin Moran Park - Skate/BMX park opposed / restroom would be welcome . City should be more flexible with building regulations . CC: Roofing has been identified as problem for future City Hall improvements . CC: Asked Citizenry for a history lesson of the utility tax . Agree with previous speaker; old philosophy good for time, but today need new direction; have to come up with solution ourselves and we can meet our City's needs . Solar energy: some cities i.e. Los Gatos, resisting, allow homeowners more flexibility/ increase home value? . CC: Council stated solar power doesn't bring monies to City, but useful; bring to Plarming Commission . CC: Not interested in rehashing utility tax demise; wouldn't be enough revenue now even if still existed . On good track; keep explaining, will get support . CC: Council considering the creation of two committees to address ongoing and building structure needs . Two separate issues - ongoing maintenance = ongoing taxes; new field/City Hall = one time only/ Bond . Concerned about utility tax; frightening to seniors; may want to consider excluding those over 65 years to get tax passed; poll; handle like library . Business not yet considered. What kind of revenue could they bring in / sales tax? Other ways? . CC: The Gateway project is underway, Village revitalization soon to follow. Business districts within City boundaries are too small to have sales tax cover deficit . CC: Thanked staff for putting together the reference materials . CC: Councilmember Kline moved to have the Mayor appoint subcommittee a review revenue options; maintenance and infrastructure and new building income tax; Library took long time; report = i.e. need bond for xyz, within 4 months, 7 people on committee. Motion passed 5-0. . CC: Councilmember Waltonsmith suggested polling and input gathering to discuss CIP pros and cons. Two-way dialogue is needed to build energy . CC: Subcommittee structure needs to begin with a campaign a short; concise plan; show return . Concern with the 3200 sq. ft. bam in the Heritage Orchard. Citizen wants the bam to be discussed by Heritage Preservation Commission and the Saratoga Library Commission. 3 6/30/2005 Visioning Process #11 (Continued) . Opposed to any future development in the City's Heritage Orchard - damage to trees, increase usage to the library parking lot.. . . With limited funds monies should be allocated to projects that generate momes . Utility tax was passed with 5 years sunset clause. Generating more income than spending. Council had a vote by the citizens it was repealed. . Saratoga is a beautiful place. My vision is to see the City develop the historic significance of the downtown. Sense of community building - focus on the village . Utility tax initially passed with little opposition. Council did not want to take vote to continue the tax to the people. Citizens reacted and wanted it repealed . How do we go forward? Not many tax increases have been defeated when due diligence was done on public information dissemination. How do you politically get that done, distill what we got, and what the community wants, and then go to a vote of the people . Saratoga is a wealthy community - why the difficulty in generating money? . CC: There are two separate tasks . Infrastructure improvement shortfall (easier sell) versus . Building new City Hall . SASCC - strategic plan is being developed to see how "we" could better serve the senior population. Would like City to participate. Request to appoint John Feemster and Genie Dee to the Strategic Planning Committee. . Citizenry not angry - polling suggested to find out what the community is ready to fund - people are felling good about Saratoga. Polling will show priorities . You may want to have multiple measures. If you are going to poll make it worthwhile . Income does not support the needs of the City and we need to tell them how much we need to get the job done . Ask the people what they need and provide cost analysis . What way do we get it? . If Council could identify revenue producing projects and share information with the community to help prioritize . CC: Anyone who was interested in volunteering should leave their names tonight with the City Clerk . CC: Commended staff for the gathering of all information for these community meetings. Great reference material . Are we looking at generating revenue from businesses only or any other mechanism including bonds? . High school raised 7 million for theater project - no bond was done - donations . You need to prepare yourself for the long haul. 6 months or less than a year will not work. If this issue becomes a "City Council" issue it will fail. Needs to be a citizenry issue. Otherwise it just looks like politicians trying to raise taxes will be a tough sell . Concur with previous statement consultant needs to be hired to do the polling and it will be a long process 4 6/30/2005