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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-2001 Park and Recreation Commission AgendasSaratoga Parks and Recreation Commission 1Vleeting City Hall Administrative Offices 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga Monday, February 5, 2001 7:30 p.m. AGENDA I. Organization 1) Roll Call: Alberts, Clabeaux, Dodge, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff 2) Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the agenda was properly posted on February 1, 2001 3) Review of January 8, 2001 Action Minutes. II. Administration 1) Update from Public Works Director John Cherbone 2) Update from Recreation Director Joan Pisani 3) Review of PDF Finance Report 4) Park Improvement Committee-Update 5) C.P.R.S. Conference, March 14-17, 2001- Attendance III. Oral Written Communication This section is for the public to speak on any item not on the agenda N. New Business 1) Joint Meeting with City Council March 27, 2001-Adopt 5 year plan developed during Commission Study Session for Park Development Fund allocation and disbursement. 2) Review horizontal ladder play equipment replacement options for Kevin Moran Park. V. Old Business 1) Review of Union Pacific Railroad Trail Feasibility Study and M.O.U. 2) Subcommittee Reports: a. Trails b. Playgrounds 3) Review of Prospect High School Gymnasium Project-Discuss possible City Contribution/Usage agreement. VI. Commissioner Staff Reports 1) City Hall Update by Staff Liaison Bloomquist 2) Commissioner Reports VII. Adjournment Saratoga Parks and ltecreation �ommission 1Vleeting Administrative Of�ces, 13777 �ruitvale Avenue, Saratoga January 8, 2001 7:30 p.rn. Action 1l�inutes I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. II. �toll �all �ommissioners Present: Alberts, Clabeaux, Dodge, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff Commissioners Absent: None �thers Present: Council Member Nick Streit, Public Works Director John Cherbone, Recreation Director Joan Pisani, Kara Chalmers of Saratoga News, City of Cupertino representative Ray Chong, Bob Wallace, Staff Liaison Cary Bloomquist III. Report on Postin� of the NYinutes: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the agenda was properly posted on January 5, 2001. N. Approval of Minutes of 1VYeeting: Commissioner Olsen made a motion to approve October 2, 2000 Action Minutes, seconded by Commissioner Alberts voted and motion carried 7-0. V. Administration: To accommodate City of Cupertino employee Ray Chong, New Business Agenda Item #1, Union Pacific Railroad Trail, was heard out of order. Mr. Chong gave presentation and overview of the project, stating project costs of approximately $9,200,000.00 million dollars, with Saratoga's local match being $980,000.00 thousand dollars. Mr. Chong stated in order to get more accurate project costs, a feasibility study will need to be conducted. Saratoga's share of the $40,000.00 local match is $10,000.00. Mr. Chong indicated other participating agencies have already approved their portion of the local match for the feasibility study. Chair Fronczak tha��lced Mr. Chong for his presentation and opened the floor for questions. Saratoga resident Bob Wallace expressed his concerns about the cost of the project and about the need to have a feasibility study. Council Member Streit indicated the estimated projects costs are a concern for the City and need to be further defined. Discussion ensued among the Commissioners. The matter was referred to the Trails Subcommittee for review and recommendation. Regular order of Agenda resumed. 1) Public Works Director John Cherbone gave a brief overview of the Congress Springs Park project indicating the 75% plan review will be shared with the Commission at the February 2001 Meeting. Mr. Cherbone indicated all other Park project have been completed. 2) Recreation Director Joan Pisani stated Proposition 12 fund announcements have been made, and $380,000.00 is going to be distributed on a per capita basis. Suggested a representative from the Commission attend a Prop. 12 informational meeting on Friday, February 2 in Foster City. Liaison Bloomquist stated he would represent the City at this meeting. 3) Park Development Funds Report reviewed by Commission. Discussion ensued, several Commissioners indicated the report to be confusing and hard to follow. Staff will develop a revised report and present it at the next regular meeting. 4) Park Improvement Committee will meet Thursday, January 25, at 7:00 p.m. 5) Review of Commission Assignments was deferred. 6) California Parks and Recreation Society Training Conference, March 14-March 17, 2001 in Sacramento will be attended by Commissioners Fronczak, Clabeaux, Olsen, Ioannou and Liaison Bloomquist. VI. �ral Written Communication: None. VII. New �usiness: 1) Please see Administration section of this agenda. 2) Review of Congress Springs Park Project 50% plans was performed by Public Works Director John Cherbone, with a favorable response given by Commission. Only areas of concern are locating a site for Pony League baseball practices and games. 3) Prospect High School gymnasium project was discussed. Staff Liaison Bloomquist gave a brief overview of proposal, indicating a project cost of $3.3 million. Discussion ensued, Commission was not able to make a recommendation due to lack of detailed information. Will discuss issue at next Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting when more detailed information should be available. VIII. Old �usiness: 1) Action Matrix was not reviewed. Chair Fronczak reported the Action Matrix is being reviewed and reformatted for easier review. New format should be ready for next meeting. 2) Subcommittee Reports: None 3) Park Facilities Rentals (Wildwood El Quito Park): After discussion and review by Commission, motion made by Commissioner Seroff to approve the rental of Wildwood and El Quito Park facilities without equipment rental or requiring a security deposit. Commissioner podge seconded the motion, vote, motion carried 7-0. IX. �teports• Staff Liaison Bloomquist: None. Commissioner Reports: None. X. Adiournment Commissioner Olsen made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Alberts seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0 and the meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m. Prepared By: Cary Bloomquist City Staff Representative 14-25.080 subdivision or any lot or parcel thereof or the building site is or will be traversed or bordered by any local drainage facility, or other watercourse not under the jurisdiction of said water district but under the jurisdiction of the City, the subdivider or owner shall offer to dedicate a fee simple interest or easement of reasonable width in said drainage facility and over the property in which it lies, said dedication to be to the City. 14-25.065 Creek protection easemen4. (a) Purpose, application. In order to provide for the future protection of creeks,including creek banks and riparian habitat, a creek protection easement shall be required for any subdivision, lot, or parcel thereof which contains or abuts a protected creek as defined below. (b) Protected creek defined. A protected creek is a creek identified in the most recently available Maps of Flood Control Facilities and Limits of one percent Flooding, prepared by the Santa Clara Valley Water District, as may be amended from time to time. (c) Location. The location of the easement shall be based on a biotic assessment identifying the protected creek, its banks, and riparian habitat The biotic assessment shall be prepared by a qualified professional and shall be recorded with the final or parcel map. (d) Resdrictions. Structures, improvements, ornamental landscaping or fencing shall be prohibited within the easement, unless the Community Development Director determines that such will enhance the creek's condition by improving flood and/or erosion control or improving or protecting riparian habitat. (Ord. 71-184 2, 1998) 14-25.070 Preservation of existing trees. (a) No native, ornamental or orchard trees required to be shown on the application for tentative map or building site approval under Subsection 14-20.040(v) of this Chapter shall be removed or destroyed without a prior permit to do so issued by the Planning Director pursuant to Article 15-50 of the Zoning Ordinance, unless such removal is specifically authorized as part of the tentative approval granted under this Chapter. No such trees may be removed or destroyed prior to the filing of an applica- tion for tentative map or building site approval with the intent of circumventing the requirements of this Chapter. (b) The advisory agency may deny approval of any application for tentative map or building site approval, and revoke any previous such approval, upon the violation of this Section by the subdivider or owner. (c) The approval of a tentative map or building site by the advisory agency shall automatically constitute authorization to remove all trees within all portions of street rights-of-way which are to be improved, and to 249 remove trees from the area as designated by the subdivider or owner to be covered by the envelope of the proposed suucture or structures to be erected on the lot or site, and the area of the proposed driveway on the lot or site. C14-25.0807 (Park and recreation dedica`tion and fees. (a) Purpose, application and exe�nptfioa�s. As a condition of each final map or final building site approval, and to be detailed in the conditions of tentative map or building bite approval, every subdivider or owner s�►all be required to, and shall dedicate a portion of land or pay a fee in lieu thereof, or a combination of both at the option of the City, for the purpose of providing park or recreational facilities reasonably related to serving the development and in accord with the standards and provi- sions as hereafter set forth. The provisions of this Section are enacted pursuant to Section 66477 of the Government Code and are hereby found to be in accord with the recre- ational element of the General Plan. The requirements of this Section shall not apply to any of the following: (1) Subdivisions or sites for commercial or industrial uses. (2) Subdivisions containing less than five lots and not used for residential purposes. However, it shall auto- matically be a condition of tentative approval of any such subdivision that if a building permit is requested for construction of a residential structure or structures on one or more of such lots within four yeazs from the date of recording the final map, the fee in lieu of dedication, as prescribed in this Section, shall be paid by the owner of each such lot as a condition to the issuance of Yhe building permit. (3) Any condominium project which consists in the subdivision of air space of an existing multi-unit s�ucture which is more than five years old, where no new dwelling units are added thereto. (4) Such other exceptions as may hereafter be added to the Map Act. (b) Standards and formula for land dedicatiom. It is hereby found and determined that the public interest, convenience, health, welfaze and safety require that three acres of real property for each one thousand persons residing within the City be devoted to park and recreation- al purposes. Where a pazk or recreational facility has been designated in the recreational element of the General Plan and is to be located in whole or in part within the proposed subdivision to serve the immediate or future needs of the residents of such subdivision, the subdivider shall dedicate land within the area of such subdivision for a local park consistent with said recreational element. The amount of land (expressed in acreage) required to be (sacacoga 7-99) 14-25.080 dedicated shall be based upon the average number of persons per household, based upon the most recent avail- able federal census, divided by 333.33 (the quotient of one thousand persons per three acres). (c) Fees in lieu of land dedication. In the event there is no park or recreational facility designated in the recre- ational element of the General Plan to be located in whole or in part within the proposed subdivision or site, or in the event that the proposed subdivision contains fifty or less lots or parcels, then the subdivider or owner shall pay a fee to the City in lieu of dedicating land, which shall be in an amount equal to the fair mazket value of the amount of land which would otherwise be required to be dedicated pursuant to Paragraph (b) of this Section. "Fair market value", as used herein, shall be either the average estimated fair market value for all residentially zoned real property located in the City, or the fair mazket value of the land in the subdivision or site, based upon its then assessed value modified to equal mazket value in accord with the current practices of the County assessor and as determined by the Planning Director, whichever shall be the greater. (d) Use of fees. All fees collected under this Section shall be used only for the purpose of providing park or recreational facilities reasonably related to serving the subdivision or site by way of purchase of necessary land or, in the event sufficient land is available, for improving of such land for park and recreationa] purposes, or both. Interest earned on the accumulated fees may be used for the maintenance of any existing parks in the City, so long as such use is permitted under the Map Act. (e) Requirement of both dedication and fees. Both dedication of a poRion of land, together with the payment of fees may be required in accord with the following criteria: (1) Where only a portion of the land to be subdivided or developed is proposed in the recreation element of the General Plan as a site for a local park or recreational area, such portion shall be dedicated for local park purpos- es and a fee computed pursuant to Paragraph (c) of this Section shall be paid for any additional land that would have been required to be dedicated pursuant to Paragraph (b) of this Section. (2) Where a major part of the local park or recreational area has already been acquired by the City and only a portion of land is needed from the subdivision or building site to complete such park, such remaining portion shall be dedicated and a fee computed as hereinabove set forth shall be paid in an amount equal to the value of the land which would otherwise have been required to be dedicated for the balance thereof. Property not included in General Plan. Where the proposed subdivision or building site lies within an urban service area not yet shown and delineated on the General Plan of the City, by reason of it not having been a part of the City at the time of the adoption of the General Plan, but intended to be included within the General Plan, the subdivider or owner shall dedicate land, or pay a fee in lieu thereof, or both, in accord with the adopted pazk and recreational policies and standards of the General Plan and the provisions of this Section, and whether land dedication, or fee in lieu thereof, or a combinaeon of both shall be required, shall be determined upon consideration of the following: (1) Recreational element of the General Plan. (2) Topography, geology, access and location of land in the subdivision or site available for dedication. (3) Size and shape of the subdivision or site and land available for dedication. (4) Feasibility of dedication, and compatibility with the recreational element of the General Plan. (g) Credit for private open space. Where a private open space for park and recreational purposes is provided in a proposed subdivision or site and such space is to be privately owned and maintained by future residents of the development, a credit not to exceed fifty percent may be given against the requirement of dedication for park and recreation purposes or payment of fees in lieu thereof, provided the City Council finds that it is in the public interest to do so, and that the following standards are met: (1) That yards, court areas, setbacks and other open areas required to be maintained by the zoning and building regulations shall not be included in the computation of such private open space; and (2) That the private ownership and maintenance of the open space is adequately provided for by written agree- ment, conveyance or restrictions; and (3) That the use of the private open space is restricted for pazk and recreational purposes by recorded covenants which run with the land in favor of the future owners of property within the subdivision or site and which cannot be defeated or eliminated without the consent of the City Council; and (4) That the proposed private open space is reasonably adaptable for use for park and recreational purposes, taking into consideration such factors as size, shape, topography, geology, access and location of the private open space land; and (5) That facilities proposed for the open space are in substantial accordance with the provisions of the recre- ational element of the General Plan and are approved by the City Council. (Saratog� 7-99) 25� 14-25_090 (h) Amendment to 1VIap Act. In the event the Map Act should in the future be amended to expand or change the permitted uses of land dedicated or in lieu fees laid under this Section, such purposes shall control and the limitations set forth in this Section to the extent they are inconsistent with the amended Map Act, shall no longer have any force or effect. 14-25.090 Iteservations. (a) Requirement for rnservation of land. As a condi- tion for tentative map or building site approval, the advisory agency may require the subdivider or owner to reserve an azea or areas within the subdivision or site for parks, recreational facilities, fue stations, libraries or other public uses, according to the standards and conditions set forth in this Section. (b) Conditions. A reservation of land pursuant to this Section may be required under the following conditions: (1) The public use for which the land is reserved is shown on the General Plan or an adopted specific plan containing policies and standards for such use and the required reservation is in accordance with such policies and standards. 250-1 (Saratoga 7-99) r c 14-25.100 (2) The reserved land is of such size and shape as to perm.it the balance of tbe property within which the reservation is located to develop in an orderiy and efficient manner. (3) The amount of land reserved will not make devel- opment of the remaining land held by the subdivider or owner economically unfeasible. (4) The reserved land shall be in suc6 multiples of streets, blocks or parcels as to permit an efficient division and development of the reserved land in the event it is noc acquired within the prescribed time. (c) Cootract wit6 City. At the time of final map or building site approval, the City shall enter into a binding agreement to acquire the reserved land within two years after the completion and acceptance of all improvements, unless such period of time is extended by mutual agree- ment The purchase price s6a11 be the market value of the reserved land at the time of filing the application for tentative map building site approval, plus taxes� against the reserved land from the date. of the reservation and any other costs incurred by the subdivider or owner in the main[enance of t6e reserved land, including intsaest costs incurred on any loan covering the reserved land (d) Automatic termination oi reservatioo. If the City dces not enter into an agreement with the subdivider or owner as provided in Paragraph (c) of this Secdon, the reservation of t6e land shall automatically terminate. (e) Other authority oot limited. The authority of the City under this Section is additiooal to all other authority under this Chapter, or granted by law to local agencies. relating to subdivisioas and building site approv- als and s6a11 in no way be construed as a limitation on or diminution of any such authority. 1425.100 Site development plao. (a) Site development plan required. At the time of filing an applicaaon for tentative map approval for a 6illside subdivision, or any subdivision containing a hillside lot, or an application for tentative building site approval for a hillside lot, the applicant shall also submit a site development plan for the subdivision or lo� In addition, the Planning Direcwr or the advisory agency may require a site development plan to be fumished for any commercial or multi-family project or because of the peculiarity of the terrain or changes in grade or other circumstances relating w the site or the surrounding ama although the average slope of the subdivision, lot or site dces not exceed ten percent. (b) Form and conteot of site developmetet plaae. The sice devetopment plan may be incorporated into and constitute a part of the tentative map or building site drawing, or it may be submitted as a separate documen� The site development plan shall include the following: (1) A legible site plan showing any or all of the follow- ing information, as may be required by the Planning Director. existing and proposed location of all streets, sidewallcs, on-street and off-sa�eet parking, bicycle paths. riding tiails, hiking trails, buildings and other man -made swcda�es; areas of soil stability; planting; tyPical anchitec- wral elevations sufficienc to show building height, materi- als, colots and general design; and a table listing Iand wverages by percentage and acreage for the following: Opea �(landscaPed and naaa covecage bY P�aP� and accessory strucwres, parking (covered, uncovered, off-street), streets, sidewallcs, paths and recreational facilities. (2) A topographical map to be at a scale of not less than one inch equals one 6undred feet s6owing contour lines existing prior to grading at an interval of not more than five feet; a grading plan showing increffients, color coded, of all proposed cuts and 6lls; and a slope classi- fication map showing, again wlor coded, all land which has less than ten percent slope, all land w6ich has a slope between ten and twenty percent, all land which has a slope betw�en twenty and thirty percent, all land which has a slope between thirty and forty percent, and all land which has a slope in excess of forty percene. (3) A calculation of the slope percentage prepared by�aiegistered civil engineer or a licensed land surveyor, using the formula set forth in Section 14-10.280. (c) Approval of site development plam. W6ere a site development plan is required to be filed in accord with this Section, no tentative site approval nor tencative subdivision map approval shall be gianted by the advisory agency until tencative approval theneby of the site develop- ment plan, which approval may be prior to or simulta- neousty with the approval of the tentative map. At or prior w the filing of the final map with the City for approval, a final site development plan shall be prepared and filed with the Planning Director substantially in accord wit6 the approved tentative site devetopment plan. Where a site development plan is required to be filed in accord with this Section, no final site approval nor final subdivi- sion map approval shall be granted by the City Council unless and until the Final site develupment plan is submit- ted to the Planning D'uector and approved by said L?irecwr. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if in the opinion of the advisory agency it would be preferable to postpone that portion of the site development plan which would consist of the fmal grading plan at the location of each building site, the same may be postponed so long as a notation of such postponement is placed upon the face of the final subdivision or parcel map, in which case no building 251 Dec-14-00 01:43P P_Ol _J 1 1 I I 0 �r��tson �uipr��� 10(1 Bra�h Crc;i;k Ruacl, 5uitc IUI Sanla R<�s�. C'A 954U4 (7U7) 538-3�W l�ax: (7U7) 53�-�$26 ���SflICTI�11� ��Y1��Il��� $O: DilY1C� M()UT1C�l �f Judy Ogburn iCevin Mor:1n P�rk Ci�y of Saratoga �4�-�b�-127� 12I14/QO P�g� op: 4 O Urgr.ut O 1For Qteview p iPl�ase Comrmeat Il°Leos� 6teply O�I��x; R�cycte David, i ar.e ehe ehree horizunt�l ladciers that would �t well into ehe space yc�u h�ve fQr �he �/�ve 1�1et. �rices do n�t include tax or �reight. `I'herc is a plain h�rirontal ladder �ltio {$540.U0), but sance it As so sintilar eo the circulaz lac�der alxeady or� ehe structure, it w�uld not provide muctn varneey. Plcase I�tote Prices quote� effective until danuary 31, 2001. I.et me know which one you �+ould pr�fer and wi]! g�e yc�ur quote for �he laclder and other p�res to you. Judy SAPETYNOTE ��I�� Choo,x u o�wd�IMe �mp maniwi aal w P�s Cetkw� ��elgM Vol�e ol ai bnst Ihe na�flM o1 �Aa. Ftigh�sl AcceaiNN� Part1FaA Me'gAI d tl�e °�1CpM l�prnpµ MM �S IM fI�07, SEC7/QHp.) 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A'�, ���D.cr� {4) x 2 y�• Hex-Pin Cap� Screws P_04 t2-&97 ce.unoa 4 _�I (4) Hanger Clamp AssempUes r�ai P�ayeoosler Posl r� flAau 32" l` Deca �`r �r �11 i��.� 1 1 1 1 I 1 i 1 1 1 1 I 1 i i Proteclive Surfacing �'I r;f: f�>�3 F(����} i i"1! i l��'r'(�il JT 1 32" 32 Deck Deck J..� �J 1 .L---- 12 3'/3t24Connectin Shown 120 306 t AtfaChed ((o�d Suppo�t r �=I, o�887 �r lanmoil�w gllYtW�ea Inf.�. N r14�1! re»rYed. 1 1 1 I i I r i i e r� i i 1 1 1 1 1 I I 1 I i 1 1 I i i 1 i i �8x Deck i�3. Document �12�24800 PI�OSFE�'�' �IIGII S�I�OOL ASI�S CI'�'Y FOR MONEY '�'O BLTILD �X1V1 Proposal does not include use of high school's fields SHS is an option for fields By KARA CHALMERS Prospect High School Principal Rita Matthews has.pt'bposed that the city help the high school build a brand new gym—a project that is estimated to cost $3.3 mil- lion. According to 1Vlatthews, the city in return would be able to use the new gym for its own recreation programs. Prospect High School is located within the city lim- its of Saratoga but is part of the Campbell Union High School District. The high school already has a full gym, and the new one that is being proposed would only have room for one basketball court with limited bleacher seating, Matthews said. "It could work for practices and could be used as a community facility," she said. According to Matthews and Cary Bloomquist, Saratoga city staff liaison to the parks and recreation commission, the city and the high school have not discussed a spe- cific proposal. Matthews said she hopes have a meeting with city officials as soon as possible to discuss the needs of both parties. "As a principal, I take the philosophy that we need to be community based," she said. She did not ask the city to contribute a specific amount. �a�'�S Continued from page 1 The tentative proposal was met with mixed reactions at the parks and recreation commission meeting on Jan. 8. Ultimately, the commission decided they did not yet have adequate information to make any kind of decision on the proposal. The city's director of recreation, Joan Pisani, said she thinks the city's gym ne'eds are being met right now, especially since Redwood Middle School has reopened and since the city has a use agreement with Saratoga High School for its facilities. Commissioner Nick Seroff countered by saying the city could always use more gyms. Commissioner Elaine Clabeaux expressed a concern that the city would dribble its money away here and [here, which could ulti- mately hinder the city's plans for a full com- munity center in the civic center area, possi- bly with a new gym of its own. "I don't see this as a"win" situation for the city," she said of Prospect's proposal. But Commissioner Sheila Ioannou said she wouldn't have a problem trading money for use of Prospect's gym. Councilman Nick Streit, who was pre- sent at the meeting, suggested that if the city finds a gym it can use, the city could take plans for a gym out of its master plan for the entire civic center area, which it is creating now. Without a gym included, the costs of building a full service community center in the city would decrease. The proposal from Prospect was solely for the city's use of the new gym and did not include the fields at the high school, of which, according to Matthews, there are not enough to share with the city. The high school has said no to the city's request to use their fields in the past. Since the city decided to commit to a$1.2 million renovation project for Congress Springs Park, the city's primary public park for soccer and baseball, it has been trying to find temporary sites for AYSO soccer and Little League teams to use while the park is being renovated. Congress Springs is haif designed and construction on it is set to begin in June, according to the city's public works director, John Cherbone. The city recently secured an extra two days of practice time for AYSO at the Institute of Religion, the Church of Latter Day Saints on Allendale Avenue. Cher- bone is engaged in negotiations with Saratoga High School officials for the use of their fields as soccer game fields on Sat- urdays during the construction of Con- g► Springs Park, as well. One problem that has emerged during the Congress Springs Park renovation is where to find a field for Saratoga's Pony League, a baseball league for 13— to 14-year-olds that requires a field too big for Little League and too small for high school baseball. The Pony League 6eld that is located at Congress Springs Park today will be removed to make room for more Little League and soccer, both of which have many more members than the Pony League. According to Cher- bone, the city also is engaged in negotiations with the high school for a permanent Pony League field there. "At this point, it's too preliminary to say," Cherbone said, but implied that Saratoga High School is the city's last hope. One of the reasons Saratoga High School has come to play an integral role is because an offer from West Valley Col- lege, which the city also considered for both temporary soccer fields and a per- manent Pony League fietd, turncd ouc to be too expensive. �ity to s �nsor f����at��r� �o he� fund new ects J By KARA CHALMERS The Saratoga City Council recently took the first steps in forming a communi- ty foundation to help pay for things the city needs, but can't afford on its own. Saratoga Mayor John Mehaffey said there are many needs in Saratoga, such as a new community center and playing'fields, that the city dcesn't have enough money to fund. There are also people in the commu- nity who would like to help with these pro- jects by donating time or money. A com- munity foundation, which would be set up to accept donations and distribute them appropriately, would be a place the council could direct these people to, Mehaffey said. Even though the city would get the foundation up and running, and city coun- cil members would sit on the board at first, the foundation would later be completely independent from the city. "The first cou- ple of years, we'd have a more hands on approach, getting it over its birthing pains," said Mehaffey, who added that later the city might well be an applicant for funds from the foundation. "We'd love to have community partici- pation in this," Mehaffeysaid, adding that interesied citizens could contact him or Saratoga City Manager Dave Anderson. Community foundations are not subject to the control of individual families or busi- nesses, the way private foundations are. Rather, community foundations are gov- erned by boards of area residents who are knowledgeable of a community's needs, according to city attorney Richard Taylor. At its Jan. 17 meeting, the council agreed that the foundation's mission would be general and that donations to it could fund anypcoject of importance to the community in general, such as arts, sports, public safety, or environmental •projects, according to Taylor. The council directed Taylor to return to the council with draft articles of incorpo- ration and draft bylaws for a foundation, which would outline how any donations would be spent. Other communities—including neigh- boring Los Gatos—have community foun- dations to support community projects. Community foundations can be specific, such as Mill Valley's organization for ren- ovating playing fields, or they can be gen- eral, like the Claremont Community Foun- dation, which supports projects related to education, health and general welfare, his- tory and cultural heritage and performing and visual arts, according to Taylor. The council opted nat to encourage the formation of an independent community foundation now, which would have to be established by uiterested community mem- becs rather than the city.'The citizens would have to volunteer and form an initial board themselves, which would then file the arti- cles of incorporation and bylaws with the California Secretary of State and seek approval to operate as a nonprofit from the IRS and the state franchise tax board. But eventually, when Saratoga's com- munity foundation becomes independent, it would not be subject to the same restric- tions imposed on city-sponsored communi- ty foundations—which are treated the same as any city commission, according to Taylor. City-sponsored foundations are restricted by the Brown Act, which requires public access and advance notice for most meetings; the Public Records Act, which requires public access to most documents; and the Political Reform Act, which requires public disclosuie of finan- cial information for all agency decision makers, among others. According to Taylor, there is a school of b' page 12 c���yI����e��s Continued from page 10 thought that says that the laws, while appropriate for public agencies, can hinder the fundraising abilities of foundations. "We were told when we talked to other foundations that had formerly been city- sponsored that the reason they shifted was because of these restrictions," Taylor said, referring to the three acts. "There's also a concern that sometimes major donors are reluctant to give to city-sponsored orga- nizations." One branch of the community founda- tion, The Saratoga Youth Sport Founda- tion, would help pay for the new Congress Springs Park, said John Cherbone, the city's public works director. The sporu founda- tion is a project of city officials, Saratoga Soccer and Saratoga LitUe League, who are currently trying to solicit donations to fund amenities for the new pazk. Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting City Hall Administrative Offices 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga Monday, February 5, 2001 7:30 p.m. AGENDA I. Or�anization 1) Roll Call: Alberts, Clabeaux, Dodge, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff 2) Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the agenda was properly posted on February 1, 2001 3) Review of January 8, 2001 Action Minutes. II. Administration 1) Update from Public Works Director John Cherbone 2) Update from Recreation Director Joan Pisani 3) Review of PDF Finance Report 4) Park Improvement Committee-Update 5) C.P.R.S. Conference, March 14-17, 2001- Attendance III. Oral Written Communication This section is for the public to speak on any item not on the agenda IV. New Business 1) Joint Meeting with City Council March 27, 2001-Adopt 5 year plan developed during Commission Study Session for Park Development Fund allocation and disbursement. 2) Review horizontal ladder play equipment replacement options for Kevin Moran Park. V. Old Business 1) Review of Union Pacific Railroad Trail Feasibility Study and M.O.U. 2) Subcommittee Reports: a. Trails b. Playgrounds 3) Review of Prospect High School Gymnasium Project-Discuss possible City Contribution/Usage agreement. VI. Commissioner Staff Reports 1) City Hall Update by Staff Liaison Bloomquist 2) Commissioner Reports VII. Adjournment Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Study Session City Hall Administrative Offices 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga Monday, February 5, 2001 6:00 p.m. AGENDA Organization 1) Roll Call: Alberts, Clabeaux, Dodge, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff 2) Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda was properly posted on February 1, 2001 II. Administration None III. Oral Written Communication This section is for the public to speak on any item not on the agenda IV. New Business 1) Discussion concerning Development of 5 year long range plan for allocation and disbursement of City of Saratoga Park Development Funds. VII. Adjournment