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Home My WebLink About09-23-2003 Community meeting City Council Minutes City Owned Properties Community Meeting Tuesday, September 23, 2003 The Saratoga City Council held a special meeting on September 23, 200~, to .share,with the community an inventory of City-owned properties, the buildings' condition, and a :v~s~ lIst of Improv~ments, and to gather community input on priorities and future property-related actIVItIes. The follOWIng , comments were captured as bullet \,!oints but in some cases have been eX"Qanded so that the s~eaket s intention is clear. Comments made by City Council members are preceded by "CC". To accommodate a staff emergency, the meeting started with the discussion of Historical Park. Historical Park #12 . CC: Interior furniture? Roof status? . A member of the Heritage Preservation Commission asked about grant eligibility; requested that the McWilliams House be added to museum; asked the City to hire an architect to prepare for the grant process. The grant issue was referred back to staff for follow up. Azule Park #1 . A second tennis court should be on wish list . More trees should be planted at all City Parks . Long-term goal of acquiring pockets of land for additional neighborhood parks . Request that electrical outlets and more benches be installed for neighborhood group use . CC: Are restrooms desired? . Restrooms were intentionally not included in park or on wish list because they may draw more park users from outside of the neighborhood . Placement of restrooms is still resisted in neighborhood parks Beauchamps #2 . No comments made by public or Council Blaney Plaza #3 . CC: Council asked about placement and status of a Christroas Tree in the plaza. Staff said work was underway. . Add pond as previously there? . Need to move flagpole / plaque . Need bollards / other mechanism to protect from cars . CC: Up-lighting of the two stone pines will be installed instead ofindividuallights . Space - need to leave available space for Community events . Not too much landscape - space for community events needed . Sidewalk at High School needs replacement . Reserve Community space Brookglen #4 . Neighbors do not want an additional basketball court 1 6/30/05 Civic Center #5 .'? . How is PAL (new performing arts center at Saratoga HIgh School? gOIng to affect thea~e~ use. Theater group representative replied that the school may n~t permIt them to use the facIlIty. CC: Council directed staff to repair rips in theater carpet nght away . Both theater groups do pay rent - any improvements would be appreciated . CC: the Saratoga Area Senior Center Council (SASCC) submitted letter regarding Community Center and interest in relocating to North Campus . CC: where do fees for Recreation programs and facility rental go? . Programs are self-funded and all revenues go into the General Fund . CC: Why are rental fees not used directly for building support? Mayor/staff explained that these decisions are made as part of the budget process. . Funds should be used for maintenance. . How to pay for what we want? "City Council is the Founding Fathers for the 21 st Century." When can the community talk about the future of Saratoga? . CC: Audience polled to determine support for discussing philosophical discussion . Some audience members prefer to focus on properties . Youth Commission: skate park appreciated but temporary locations do not work well; need permanent location; the Commission supports the entire master plan, especially gym and teen center. . Council decided to modifY the meeting agenda to allow discussion of: . Civic Center · North Campus . How to pay for what we want . CC: Explained no guaranteed revenue stream exists to fund Master Plan and/or building replacement . Preschool started to bring community together / impetus to initial Master PIan / ideal spot . North Campus must be merged with Master Plan; it needs renovation, too . Parking concerns? With an increase of usage is parking sufficient? . $500,000 investroent in classrooms and storage - not sure funds should go to one building . Saratoga in the future - Big Picture with community input . What are our future goal(s)? Where are we heading into the future? How do we pay for what we want? . Besides Civic Center Master plan, all need to address North Campus as well. Discussion needs to be together. . North Campus and Civic Center Master Plan needs to be together - one and the same . Need for more land, and more and better public facilities. North Campus is first significant purchase in years. . Senior Center: . Growing and need more space . Would like to have a separate campus to address needs - is North Campus a possibility? . Traffic concerns created by schools, etc., contribute to interest in North Campus . Would like to continue partnership with the City . Membership continues to grow - North Campus would be able to address growth needs 2 6/30/05 Council asked staffto present the material about North Campus before continuing, North Campus #21 . CC: the Education building is now used for storage; roofs appear to be okay . CC: Master Plan at $920,000 enough to meet code - increase to $1.5 million full needs . Could upgrade incrementally building by building . Do existing buildings meet seniors' needs? . Pleased with purchase and welcome the seniors; would rather spend more for quality and agrees that traffic at Civic Center is a major problem . May be big enough to be ready for investroent . City got great deal on property; should begin to Master Plan . Could North Campus work for preschool? . Administrative Building needs work . Could be used for smaller secondary programs to meet residents needs close by (asked for cost to fix infrastructure) . Most of Saratoga keeps getting better while City facilities are degrading due to budget constraints; this meeting should serve as a wake up call to residents North Campus / Civic Center . Are there wealthy residents who may want to provide financial support for improvements? . Make contractor accountable to complete work . Need urban parks not wilderness (furniture to fit children) . North Campus park-like / pleasant . Recommends improvements to meet minimum standards of Americans with Disabilities Act . Basketball program comprised of 90% Saratoga residentslkids needs multi-purpose facility and outside facilities; proposes use for North Campus . Property values affect revenue stream; does the City have a plan? . CC: City has reserves but anticipating more state budget cuts . Annual City Budget is about $8 million in operating costs plus additional funds for projects and capital improvement . CC: We bought the North Campus because it was such a great deal. We had only 60 days to decide on the purchase so had to move fast. Not enough $ to renovate for Senior use. Ifwe don't have enough revenue to maintain what we have, how can we build or buy more? . CC: We have $2 million in maintenance needs now and are facing a crisis; we are here now because we bought North Campus. A bond measure won't happen unless the community initiates it. . CC: Library bond a good decision; the facility adds to property value; community must face need for more funding like library . City should consider forming a city-wide L/L District to create funds untouchable by state . City missed a land opportunity just prior to purchase of North Campus . CC: Council suggested more discussion after the meeting on Oct. 15 where the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) is on the agenda; requested that a process for new master plan for North Campus and Civic Center be added Also need to schedule time for infrastructure discussion. 3 6/30/05 . CC: Agreed to keep discussion of North Campus/Civic Center ~aster ~lan and future toge~her. Wants to additional meetings to discuss and include all groups, I.e., Semors, etc. WIll consIder use of Ad Hoc Committees to facilitate process. . Has the replacement value of existing buildings been determined - any cost figures? What are the buildings worth? How much to replace them? Maintenance fees - do they cover? . With the North Campus, the Civic Center Master Plan needs to be revisited. Plan implementation would take a huge investment for renovation. Can North Campus be used to address some needs? . North Campus could help alleviate traffic issues at the Civic Center . North Campus should be viewed as an expansion property. Traffic impacts from Post Office, expanded Community Center, St. Andrews, Redwood, all increased. Need WVC to reduce class from 5 to 4. Senior Center relocation to north Campus should be considered, . Disagree with selling North Campus; should be used to address current needs. . Civic Center Master Plan is out of date - needs to include North campus, and include Senior needs and any other user groups. . Wants to maintain original agenda and asked for commitment to hold onto property until discussion complete; Council agreed. . Is there any plan for property? There was only 60 days to purchase. Not sure ideal place for Seniors. Senior should be located at the heart of the City. An access road could be put through the Heritage Orchard from Saratoga Avenue to help alleviate traffic congestion. . Keep North Campus as possible Senior location and maintain partnership between City and SASCC to address needs. Could be more accessible for all Saratoga Seniors. Consider possible shuttle bus to location. . Could we have an additional meeting to address goals for both Civic Center Master Plan and North Campus? Cultural Center would be ideal for site. . Commend City Council on North Campus and Quito Park. Could there be a volunteer building project to address needs? . City needs to look into the future. North Campus needs to have a plan. Below average for City parks to residents. Need to keep the property - better than not having it at all. . Stop the focus on how we acquired the property. Either keep or sell. What is the advantage to sell? Selling public property bad move. Keep for the future. Prepare for the 21 st century. . SASCC did not refuse to go to North Campus; they just wanted improvements before they agreed to move. Pollard/Quito #15 . CC: Who owns adjacent property and what are their plans? . Represents what Saratoga used to look like / consider purchasing adjacent property . Parks & Recreation Commission reviewed property and recommended it become a park . How does property become dedicated as a park? The process occurred and the property was declined. . CC: If neighborhood adopted the park then maybe Council would choose to dedicate. . CC: Entrance to Saratoga like others . CC: Maybe install a "Saratoga" sign and park benches . Please don't sell, need open space 4 6/30/05 . Most residents believe this park to be in Los Gatos. Right now serves as .a cut-through for kids to go to and from school. Only,Pro:k l~d that doesn't fit any "park descnptors". Do not designate as a park; doing so WIll tIe CIty hands. . Peaceful spot - even though no parking access, still worth keeping. Gardiner Park #16 . Previous owners fenced in access · Access only 20' wide . Bridge waste of funds · BMX course not a good fit . Suggest City sell access . Add to wish list items from PRC . Should not easily dismiss access areas, parks typically have multiple access points which benefits park . Would use existing entrance even with second access point Kevin Moran Park #13 . CC: Why doesn't the city have full basketball courts? Staff said one is planned for Congress Springs . Who developed wish list? . Seems like all the things everyone wants, but not in their backyard . Seems like plan for soccer field . Why no tennis court, basketball court, community gardens, orchard, dog park . Appalled by list · Supports park development . Cites example of Saturday users who dominate Quito Park--doesn't want to see occur elsewhere . Children walk through park to Blue Hills . Suggests less inflammatory approach for neighborhood . Include consideration of traffic . Everyone needs to share burden of use by whole city Input by Comment Card In addition or as an alternative to speaking at the meeting, attendees were invited to offer comments in writing on note cards provided in the lobby. The following are comments/notes left by resident attendees: . "Do NOT sell any city property - Look for opportunities to gain more! With everyone working together there must be innovative ways to get there AND improve the properties!" Joan Faunce, Bucknall Rd. . "Master Plan, North Campus discussion, working group" Genie Dee, SASCC . "I would love to see an offleash dog park in Saratoga. I know of such parks in San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto and have heard that Campbell is considering one. I think it would be a great addition to our beautiful city and would 5 6/30/05 promote a wonderful social atmosphere. Please contact me with any plans if there are any." Bobbi Stek, Ranfre Lane . "The Saratoga Youth Commission would like to voice it's suppor: for a ne:-v ~ permanent Skate Park. Our favorite places to have it are the Corp. Yard behInd the CIVIC Center, where we feel it would be most heavily used. After, we think that the North Campus would be a good place to have it, though it is far away. With a fence around the park, theft would not be as big a problem." The Saratoga Youth Commission . "As a concerned member of the Saratoga Community, I believe a permanent skate park is needed. I myself went to the rotational skate park often. Having it in a permanent location accessible to all Saratogans is important. Placing fencing around the area would reduce theft and vandalism. One possible location would be the Corp Yard." Andrin Foster, Saratoga Ave. . "I thoroughly enjoyed the meeting despite the fact that I live in Los Gatos. Attending this forum has inspired me to get more involved with LG town CounciL As a student at Saratoga High. . . thank you for this experience." Brianne Fong . "I was pleased with the meeting tonight. I think we as a community need to consider the cost and usability ofthe property. I think keeping the North Campus would be wise, Please keep us on the mailing list for future meetings." Helen and Tricia Stanley, Paseo Flores . "Will work on committee for Quito/Pollard and overall plan" Cheriel Jensen . "Ad Hoc North Campus Committee" Peter Marra, Wardell Ct. 6 6/30/05