HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-10-2000 Park and Recreation Commission AgendasSaratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
City Hall Administrative Offices
13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga
Monday, July 10, 2000
7:30 p.m.
AGENDA
OrQanization
A) Roll Call: Alberts, Clabeaux, Dodge, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff
s) Report on Posting of the Agenda:
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the agenda was properly posted on
July 6, 2000
C> Approval of June 5, 2000 and June 8, 2000 Action Minutes
II. Administration
A) Update from John Cherbone, Public Works Director, regarding Parks and
Recrearion Commission projects.
B) Update from Recreation Director Joan Pisani
III. Oral Written Communication
This section is for the public to speak on any item not on the agenda (3 minute limit).
IV. New Business
A) Congress Springs Park-Introduction to project with Public Input Session
V. Old Business
A) Review of Action Matrix
B) Subcommittee Reports:
Trails
C) Follow-up discussion regarding Heritage Orchard Telephone Poll/Saratogan
Tear Out Survey.
D) Adopt-a-Park individual Commissioner Reports
Feature Inventory List/ Website
VI. Commissioner Staff Reports
n) City Hall Update by Staff Liaison Bloomquist
s) Commissioner Reports
VII. Adiournment
Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Administrative Offices, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga
June 5, 2000
7:30 p.m.
Action Minutes
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Commissioners Present: Alberts, Clabeaux, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff
Commissioners Absent: Dodge
Others Present: Winifred Simpson, Phylis Ballingall, Ruth Brunner, Patil Gi•iffith,
Recreation Director Joan Pisani, City Planner Christina Ratcliffe, LE1��1 Atlil
Maze, Sai•atoga News, Administrative Analyst Caiy Bloomquist
III. Report on Postinst of the Astenda: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 tlle
agenda was properly posted on June 2, 2000.
IV. Approval of Minutes of Meetinst: Commissioner Olsen made a motion to approve
May 1, 2000 Action Minutes, seconded by Commissioner Ioannou, carried (G-
0).
V. Administration:
A) City Planner Cllristina Ratcliffe presented information regarding Chao
property and Howell and McNeil Development Subdivision. No action taken
by Commission on Chao issue-deferred to special meeting on June S, 2000.
Howell and McNeil presentation informational only.
B) Recreation Director Joan Pisani gave a brief update indicating all pi�ograms
going well.
C) Fecreation Director Joan Pisani indicated the Community Centei S�lOI t terizi
repairs are proceeding slowly due to challenges in finding contractors
willing to take the job. Phase 1 of project, $127,000, to City Council for
approval on f une 7, 2000.
Oral Written Communication:
Saratoga resident Paul Griffith expressed interest in preserving the Heritage
Orchard and mentioned several residents in Saratoga would like to locate and
develop land for vineyards for public education. Mr. Griffith stated he would
like to be placed on the Agenda for the next regular PRC Meeting to discuss this
issue. Saratoga residents Ruth Brunnei, Phyllis Ballingall, and Winifred Simpson
expressed their support for keeping the Heritage Orchard as it is.
VI. Old Business:
A) Staff liaison Bloomquist reviewed Action Matrix with Commission.
Wildwood Park needs a hand washing station at portable restrooms. Joint
meeting with Council and new City Manager to be placed on Action Matrix.
P.O. and documentation for Kevin Moran and Gardiner Park play equipment
requested. Motion made by Commissiotler Clabeaux to request P.O., original
design list and packing list for a comparison to catalog in order to determine
the play equipment oi•dered. Motion seconded by Cotninissioner Ioannou,
motion cari�ied (6-0).
B) Subcommittee Feports: Comitiissioner Ioannou reported neat trails meetiilg
June 28, 2000 at 10:00a.m., City Hall. Chair Alberts reported Wildcat Creek
clean-up event was a success, with 450 pounds of refuse collected from the
Creek bed. Chair Alberts indicated turnout for event was lower than
anticipated, with a goal of increased participation for the next event.
C) Staff Liaison Bloomquist discussed process foi� disblu�seiilent of $29,500 iil
park developitient funds for ri�ails improvements.
D) Heritage Orchard was discussed briefly. Commissioner Seroff inentioned he
disagrees with the utilization of the Tear-out suivey in the Saratogan.
Commissioner Seroff indicated the Suivey is "ridiculous". Commission
suggested contacting the Saratoga News to have a story run about the
Heritage Orchard.
E) Adopt-a-Park individual Cotttmissioner Reports were given. Brookgletl Fark
Water Faucet an issue, as is the teeter-totter at Beauchamps Park. Liaison
Bloomquist will notify Parks Supervisor David Mooney about these issues.
VII. New Business:
A) Commission engaged in a brief discussion regarding the recent allocation by
City Council of $1,175,000 in Park Development Funds for the
redevelopment of Congress Springs Park.
B) Commission discussed and voted as follows iegarding the Parks anci
Recreation Coinmission meeting dates during the months of �uly, August and
September 2000: July meeting changed from the 3ra to the 10�", August
meeting remains unchanged, with Commissionet• loannou to Chait• meeting,
September meeting date changed from the 4th to the 1 1'��. Chair Alberts
made a motion to accept above changes, seconded by Commissioner Olsen,
carried (6-0).
VIII. Ret�orts:
Commissioner and Staff Reborts:
Only report given was by Commissioner Clabeaux regarding Rails to Trails.
I\. Adiournment
Commissioner Seroff made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner
Clabeaux seconded the motion. The motion carried (6-0) and the meeting was
adjourned at 10:35 p.m.
Prepared By:
Cary Bloomquist
City Staff Representative
Saratoga Parks and Fecreation Commission Special Meeting
Administrative Offices, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga
June 8, 2000
5:00 a.m.
Action Minutes
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m.
II. Roll Call
Commissioners Present: Alberts, Clabeaux, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff
Commissioners Absent: Dodge
Others Present: Council member Nick Streit, Cary Bloomquist
III. Renort on Postinsr of the Minutes: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 tl�e
agenda was properly posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2000.
IV. Annroval of Minutes of Meetinst: N/A
V. Administration: N/A
Oral Written Communication: None
VI. Old Business:
A) Kevin Moran Gardiner Park-Review of Color Design. Commission
discussion ensued for 30 minutes. Decided that the blue equipment needs to
be reconsidered and possibly sent back to vendor. Staff liaison Bloomquist
indicated a 25% restocking fee plus shipping charges and a 5-week lead-
time to process and ship the equipment is what is involved. Motion made by
Chair Alberts that a representative of the Parks and Recreation Commission
meet with interim City Manager William Norton to discuss the reorder of
the blue play equipment at Kevin Moran and Gardiner Parks. Commissioner
Olsen seconded, motion carried (5-1-1) with Commissioner Fronczak
abstaining. A motion was made by Commissioner Ioannou to change color
scheme of Kevin Moran and Gardiner Park back to neutral colors tan and
green and expend up to $40,000 to accomplish this by reordering new
equipment and shipping back the old equipment. Commissioner Clabeaux
seconded, motion carried (6-0). A motion was made by Commissioner
Ioannou to return equipment to vendor as designated by change order
generated by public works department. Commissioner Fronczak seconded,
motion carried (6-0). Motion made by Commissioner Ioannou to hold a
meeting with Interim City Manager William Norton to discuss all color
changes to play equipment at Kevin Moran and Gardiner Park once
finalized. Commissioners Ioannou and Clabeaux will attend this meeting.
Commissioner Seroff seconded, motion carried (6-0).
B) Trail segment easement issue at Chao property was discussed and a motion
was made by Commissioner Ioannou to retain the easement as it presently
exists and do not require development or improvement of the easement at
the present time. Motion seconded by Commissioner Olsen, motion carried
(6-0).
C) Restrooms at Wildwood Park, Congress Springs Park and El Quito Park
were discussed. The motion made by Chair Alberts was to recommend to
interim City Manager William Norton that Wildwood Park Restroom project
be completed, followed by Congress Springs Park Reshoom project witll a
recommendation to delay the construction of the El Quito restroom project
to August 21, 2000. Commissioner Ioannou seconded the motion, motion
carried (5-0).
VII. New Business:
A) Letter to Editor of Saratoga News: Motion made by Commissioner Seroff
recommending Saratoga News be contacted by Commissioner loantloti to
write a brief about the tear-off surveys in the next edition. Motion seconded
by Commissioner Clabeaux, carried (5-0).
VIII. Ret�orts:
Commissioner Reports:
None.
IX. Adiournment
Commissioner Alberts made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner
Ioannou seconded the motion. The motion carried (5-0) and the meeting was
adjourned at 9:12 a.m.
Prepared By:
Cary Bloomquist
City Staff Representative
The City of Saratoga
Parks and Recreation Commission
Invites you to attend our meeting on
Monday, July 10, 2000, at 7:30 p.m.
to discuss proposed improvements
to Congress Springs Park
Background: The City of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission, at
their regular meetings last year, discussed Congress Springs Park in an
effort to increase the number of playfields and improve safety for users. The
information gathered by the Commission was presented to City Council,
which gave approval to proceed with the project. The City has since
retained an architect to produce design drawings for Congress Springs Park.
The meeting on July 10 introduces the project and provides the public an
opportunity to give feedback.
The Meeting will be held in the
Saratoga Adult Daycare Center
19655 Allendale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
For further information,
please contact Cary Bloomquist
in the City Managers Office at 868-1258
COIJGRESS SPRINGS PARK
PROPOSED PROJECT SCHEDULE
20001 JANUARY I FEBRUARY I MARCH APRIL I MAY I JUNE I JULY I AUGUST I SEPTEMBER I OCTOBER I NOVEMBER 1 DECEMBER
A �QN?RAC Np�1T� NptJT� COU CIL NPUY
JUNE 7 JULY 70 AUGUST 7 SEPTEMBER 5 NOVEMBER 8
20011 JANUARY I fEBRUARY I MARCH I APRIL I MAY I JUNE I JULY I AUGUST I SEPTEMBER I OCT08ER I NOVEMBER I DECEMBER
'CI7Y. BtD',E 810: .:AWARq.; COHTRUCTION CONTRUCTPON CONTRUCTION COMTRUCTION
GOUNCIL BID
FEBRUARYe
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ACTION MATRIX, July 10, 2000
Agenda
item
Follow-up Action Required
Trail Easement on Mt. Eden Road, APN 503-09-008
Parker Ranch "Water Tank" trail segment
Congress Springs Park-Playfields
improvements timeline.
Staff Responsible Due Date Completion Date
Trails Subcommittee Ongoing timeframe
Bloomquist Trails
Subcommittee
Public Works Dept.
investigated repair
options. Too costly
to pursue at present
time. Temporary
impassible barriers
placed on trail by
public works to
keep user groups
off trail while
closed.
Targeted
Completion, July
2001.
Projects to be
completed in
phases, final project
completed
September 2000
N/A
and Turf Bloomquist
Park Restroom Improvements-Wildwood, El Quito and Bloomquist
Congress Springs Parks.
Propositions 12 13 —Allocation of funding. Bloomquist
Kevin Moran Gardiner Parks Play Equipment Bloomquist
pro�ects.
Meeting with City Council and New City Manager N/A
No new info.
Targeted August
2000.
With City Council
on 9/ 12/00
Targeted September 2000
Ongoing
Dedication ceremony
targeted for late August
Once New City Manger
hircd, Commission Chair
will request a meeting
Distribution: City Council, City Manager, City Manager's Secretary, City Clerk, Director of Community Development, Director of Admin. Services, Acting
Director of Public Works, Director of Recreation, Senior Administrative Analyst
Targeted July, 2001(subject
to change)
I
MEMORANDUM
Date: June 2 7, 2000
To: Parks and Recreation Commission
From: Cary Bloomquist
RE: Kevin Moran Gardiner Parks Playground Equipment
Reorder Process
Representatives from the Parks and Recreation Commission reached a decision
last week regarding the color scheme for the playground equipment at Kevin
Moran and Gardiner Parks. Playground equipment with the revised color
scheme will be ordered by our Public Works Department under the direction of
Public Works Director John Cherbone. Mr. Cherbone will arrange the packing
and shipping of the previously ordered equipment and will negotiate the cost of
shipping back this equipment with the vendor.
As previously mentioned, the lead-time for the new equipment to arrive is
approximately 5 weeks (from the day it is ordered to the day it arrives).
0
SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NO.
MEETING DATE July 5, 2000
ORIGINATING DEPT Cit_y Mana�er
DEPT. HEAD: Paula Reeve
AGENDA ITEM
CITY MANAGER:
PREPARED BY:Cary Bloomquist
SUBJECT: Proclamation recogaizing July 2000 as "Parks and Recreation Month"
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S): Adopt proclamation.
REPORT SUMMARY: Attached is the sample resolution from the California Park and
Recreation Society recognizing July 2000 as "Parks and Recreation Month" as supported
by the City of Saratoga Parks and Recreatiou Commission.
FISCAL IMPACTS: None
m
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT: None
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ACTING ON RECOMMENDED MOTION(S):
Proclamation will not be adopted.
FOLLOW UP ACTIONS: None
ATTACHMENTS:
Sample resolution
PROCLAMATION
"PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH"
JULY 2000
WHEREAS, The parks and Recreation profession in California "Creates
Community through People, Parks and Programs"; and
WHEREAS, Our parks help to preserve and protect the natural and cultural
resources of California; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation services support more productive
workforces, enhance the desirability of locations for business and families, and
stimulate tourism revenues to increase a total community development model: and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation strengthens community image and sense
of place, and increases cultural unity; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation promotes health and wellness and
reduces health care costs; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation fosters human development, helping
young people develop and grow into healthy adults, and helping adults continue to
live longer; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation facilitates community problem solving;
and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation strengthens safety and security and
reduces juvenile crime; and
WHEREAS, As thousands of California children, adults and seniors benefit
from the wide range of services, facilities and programs provided by the City of
Saratoga Recreation Department and by the City of Saratoga Parks and Recrcation
Commission;
Page 1 of 2
Resolution No.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Saratoga City Council
urges all residents to enjoy and recognize the social, physical, mental, economic,
environmental and community benefits derived from our community services and
programs offered by our Recreation Department, which provide something of value
to everyone, and recognize July as "Parks and Recreation Month".
Stan Bogosian, Mayor
Page 2 of 2
Job une ana news rrom CPP.S JUNc 20CC
`a
is Parks and
CALIFORNIA VARK 8
RECNEATIONSOCIETY Recreation Mon#i�=�
Plan now to participate!
FREE DISCOUNT COUPONS/
FLYERS NOW AVAI LABLE
CONTACT PARAMOUNT'S GREAT
AM£R/CA D/RECTLY TO ORDER D/SCOUNT
COUPONS/FL YERS
Paramount's Great America
916/933-5133, Fax 916/933-2838
he nation will be celebrating Park
Recreation Month during July.
As part of the celebration, Paramount's
Great America and the California Park
Recreation Society have a cooperative
effort to celebrate "July is Parks Recre-
ation Month," with a significant discount
on admission during the month of July
(July 4 excluded) to those who utilize the
appropriate Parks Recreation Month
coupons/flyers.
Plan to Participate:
1. Obtain your discount coupons, Co n-
tact the park directly to receive cou-
pons/flyers.
2, Distribute to the pub/ic. Distribute
the coupons/flyers to the general
public as a service to them and to
reinforce the positive benefits of your
park and recreation agency.
Sample Resolution Recognizing
"July is Parks Recreation Month"
hereas the Parks and Recreat�on profession
in California "Creates Community through
People, Parks and Programs": and
hereas our parks help to preserve and
protect the natural and cultura: res�urces of
California: and
hereas Parks and Recreat�on serv�ces sup�
port more productive workforces. enhance tne
desirability of locations for bus�ness anC fam�l�es.
and stimulate tourism revenues to �ncrease a tota!
community development model: and
W hereas Parks and Recreation st!engthens
community image and sense of place, and
increases cultural unity: and
hereas Parks and Recreation promotes
health and wellness and reduces health care
costs; and
W hereas Parks and Recreation fosters human
development, helping young people deveiop
and grow into healthy adults, and help�ng adults
continue to live longer; and
W hereas Parks and Recreation facilitates com�
munity problem solving; and
hereas Parks and Recreat�cn strengthens
safety and security and reduces �uvenile
crime; and
hereas as [hundreds/thousands] of Califor
nia children, adults and seniors benefit from
the wide range of services, facilities ard programs
provided by [agency nameJ;
��6w, therefore be it resolved the [agency name]
1\l urges all residents to en�oy and recognize the
social, physical, mental, economic, environmental
and community benefits derived from our [list
services and/or facilities offered], wh�ch provide
something of value to everyone, and recognize July
as "Parks and Recreation Month".
Approved this day of 2000.
[policy official name]
To recelve fhe texf of this resolufion by e-mail, send an
e-ma11 message to getresolution�cprs.org and put
the single word send in the Subjed line. Leave the body
of the message blank
MEMORANDL'M
Date: June 14, 2000
To: Bill Norton
FIO1Tl: Cc1Y'y 81002't1CiU1St
P.E: Sample resolution from CPRS
Is this sainple resolution something the City would like to support (please see
attached). Frior to bringing this to the Commission, I wanted youi� feedbacl:.
T�1c�11� yOli..CB
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF PARK RECREATION
COMMISSIONERS BOARL� MEMBERS
A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION S/NCE 1993
President
Ray Stroup, Avenal
Firat Vice President
Pauline Wally Campbell
Sunrise Recreation Park District
Second Vice President
Dale Bailey, Ontario
secrecary
Fiichard M. Barbar
Carmichael Recreation Park District
2000-2001
Dear Agency Director:
Thank you for renewing your Agency's membership in CAPRCBM for
2���-2��1
During the year your members will receive:
Treasurer 1. Guidelines which is compiled by and for commissioners and
James F. Kendridc Santa Ana board members throughout the state. It is a regular feature in the
Immedlete Past Prealdent CPRS publication Job Lines... and News from CPRS. ?t '.S
Judith Marie Bush, South San Francisco published eight times yearly.
Board Membera
James Atkins, Tracy
Myrtle Brazton-Ellington, Richmond
Maggie Brown, Santa Ana
June Dubreuil, Moorpark
Leo Friedland, Cypress
Inderjit Kallirei, Vacaville
Tuan Vynh Le, South San Francisco
Mary Jane Mclntosh, Norvvalk
Patricia Priest, La Mirada
Donna Rogers, South EI Monte
V. Dean Skeels, Cupertino
Joanne Ward, Hercules
2. Member rates for the 2000 CPRS/PSW Training Conference
that will be held in Sacramento, March 14-17, 2001
3. Information dealing with legislation, workshops, training, and
other pertinent issues.
4. Ability to use the CAPRCBM �aining services.
Past Presidents
Robert Banes, Southeast R 8 P District 5. Network and resource information t�ll'011�Fil �le CAPRCBM
J. Richard Teague, La Mesa/Sa� Diego Co.
Shelia Hyman, Pacilica Coordinator in the CPRS office.
Evereri Greenberg, Temple City
Douglas Morrisson, Hayrrard R&P District
MaryC.Hernandez,Tustin Please copy and share the enclosed brochure with your commissioners or
Polly Sandkulla san Mateo Counry board members. This will inform our members as to what is available to
Dr. Thomas J. Cooper. Huntington Beach
David M. Nigel, San Bruno
Francis R. Boykin, Cypress
Bill Love, San Rafael
Donna Rogers, South EI Monte CAPRCBM re uests that ou ke our membershi u dated re larl b
Rose Mary Forehand vacavi��e q Y Y P P Y Y
Dc Hilmi Ibrahim wn�tt�a� forwarding changes on your Commission or Board, as they occur, to the
Charles W. Skoien, Jr., Mission Oaks
Gloria Heer, Los Angeles County Coordinator. Please do not send changes via CPRS. Update infcrmation
Frances Krommenhodc Milpitas ma be faxed to the Coordinator at 916-665-9149.
Rosemarie Harris. O�cnard y
John O'Donnell, East Bay Regional
Patricia B. Crask. Le Mirada
Fred E. Castro Union City CAPRCBM hopes to serve your Agency to the fullest during the coming
Betry Wallace, Baldwin PaAc eaz Contact us if we can be of assistance to our A enc Please see the
Stanley E. Anderso� san dose Y y g y
Patricia A. Hadley c���e� c�N enclosed brochure for further details, information, and contact information.
Neil Freeman, NorMrdlk
Myrtle L. Brazton-Ellington, Richmond
Sara Lampe, Jurupa Area RPD Y011TS �lll
Judy Howell, Town of Los Gatos y
Nathaniel Riddidc, Carson
ose Mary Foreh
Coordinator/Consultant
CAPRCBM
enclosure
Affiliated with the Califo�nia Park and Recreation Society and� the
Nafional Recreation and Park Association, Citizen-Board Members Branch
2000-2001
Tenth of each month Copy due lo Coor�nator lor Induslons in'GuideGnes'
JUNE 3-4
JULY
Spring Board Meeting/Retreat
South San Francisco
Park and Recreation Month
State and Nationwide
JiJI.Y 1 Agency Membership Dues
Payable for 2000-2001
Renewing members $165 by
Sepeember 1, 2000
SEP'TEMBER 1
SEP'I:/OCT:
O�cer Nominations deadline
(Contact ludith Bush, Immed.
Pas1 Pres.)
Fall Board Meeting/Reveat TBA
OCTOBIIt 12-15 NRPA 2000 Congress/Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix 20d0 New Horizons
NOVEMBER 1 CA Foundation for Parks
Recreation Scholarship Board
Application Deadline
(Contact: Neil Freeman)
DECEMBER 1 Awards Nomination Deadline
(Contact: Dale Bailey)
MARCH 14-17 California Pacific SW Rec�eation
Pazk Training Conference, Sac�amento
The following dates are tentative:
MARCH 15
MARCH 16
MARCH 16
MARCH 17
MARCH 17
Outgoing BoardlVteeting, Sacramento
General Membership Meeting,
Sacramento
CAPRCBM Annual Awards,
Installation Scholazship Banquet,
Sacramento
Past Presidents' Meeting,
Sacramento
CAPRCBM Incoming Board
Meeting, Sacramento
GET ACQUAINTED W1TH THE
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF
PARK AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
CAPRCBM
CAPRC'B�t was founded in 1968. 11 ic governed by an
eighteen membet board of Direclors compo�ed of 21
elected officers and directors who are commissioners
and�or board members of city, county, or special
recreation and park districls. Directors, represenling
northern and southern California, are elected for staggered
thrcr year terms.
(:APRCBM is affilialed with Ihe California Park and
Recreation Societ}• and tlic Nalional Recreation and Park
Associalion.
I.EI:ISLATI�'E: CAPRCB�1'c Legislative Program
�upport� ctatc and Tederal legi�lalian o( intere�l and
conccrn to park and recreation agencics. !�temhers havc
the oppor�unitv io acticely participate in thia program.
OPFOHTUNITIF.S TO 11M:ET AND �11NGI.F.:
CAPRCl3�1 provides the opportunity to meet and discuss
«ith cit}•, county, and special districl commissioners,
board tnemhers and professionals Ihroughoul the state, and
to hecome acyuainted Hilh ��hat is happening in olher
con�munities.
F:lll'CATIONAI, ��'ONI�SIIOP: CAPRCB�1 �cill pro�•ide
an educational zeminar or «•orkshop on
rommissioncriboard mcmb�r education ur topics of )•our
rhoicr on sclf-sustaining hasis.
1?SPF:RT OPII�ION: C:\PRCR�t can pru�'idc a sounding
hoard and or ccperl opinion on spccial problcros.
ISSI'F.S :�NU ae�7'lo�' FuRr•M: c��PRC►i!�t provides a
forum for �•�ur con�crns r�•lated �o re�reation and par�.
sftuations.
S('IIOI,ARSIIIP: F.;irh �car. C.\PRCR!�1 grants
scholar�hips to nute��nrth� rccri•ation :�nJ parl, cull�g� ��r
univer�ily sludcnts in California.
Pl!DI,ICATIONS: CAI'KCfiA1 memhrrship includes eigh�
issues i�f GUIUFLINGS. •rn in(ormnli��e puhlic�tion u(
spcci�l intrrc.� i�� �ark anJ rccrrati��n cuniiuissinncr�
and/ur hn:uJ mr�nhcr� II is includcd in l�18 LINGS AN1� nE�4'S
FRUM CPKS. :in ulficial puhlicauon �i( �he
Calilornia Park and HrciraUun C��ii�t�
c.A� ir oRrviA Associn oF
f'nRk /1ND RECREA
COMMISSIONERS /1Nf� BOARD
Mf:MBF R S
ASSO�
rf
�O O
n�
7:�7Z7� w
'r?�,� lz:��
fO
B�
2000-2001
CITIZEN-BOARD MEMBER'S MOTTO
IVe Believe.
An Intclligent corps of citizen leaders--interested
and concerned influential and knowledgeable and
willing to give of their talents, skiils and resources
--TOGETHER involved and organized nation-
u•ide VVE CAN do more than any otl�er group to
esfablish understanding, appreciation and sup
port for park, recreation, and conservation in
every community throughout the country."
Roberi M. Artz (Dec'�zased)
AI I!l IA I I I) �X I I I I I I II Cnl II URNi
I'nRl� n�\I) Rl CRl /1 I IUN SUC:If I
A�I� I I II N.� 1 IONnl RI (.RI n I I�
Atil� I'�Rh nS��)C.II� I I�"�N
Memorandum
To: Joan Pisani, Director of Recreation
CC: Bill Norton, Acting City Manager
John Cherbone, Director Public Works
David Mooney, Parks Maintenance Supervisor
James Walgren, Director Community Development
Mary Richards, Director Senior Center
Parks and Recreation Commission
From: Marianne Swan Ed.D
Date: 6/26/00
Re: Portable Pre-school Classroom
It has been over two years since I addressed the Pazks and Recreation Commission
regarding the Pre-school needs to expand, so I am excited that a temporary solution
is .found with the use of portable classroom. At your suggestion, I met with David
Mooney, Parks Maintenance Supervisor on June 16` at the proposed site for the
portable next to the Pre-school garden. James Walgren, Community Development
Director, joined us briefly.
I was asked to provide a needs list for the site.
For safety reasons the grounds azound the pre-school should be fenced in.
The Senior Center's fence on the North side (with the gate) should be moved and V
re-used to follow and continue along the creek to where the vegetation meets the
parking lot.
The front and perhaps the south side of the proposed site could be secured with
planter boxes and trellis work. Concrete planter boxes are not a bad idea as extra
security for out of control cars.
Three cute gates, preferably wooden, one to enter the school sites from the
parking lot and one on either side of the portable to enter the back.
The two dirt triangles within the desired school ground that needs inviting
landscape. One is in the northeast corner where the fence meets the parking lot
and is where the pre-school sign could be placed. The other, on the southeast
comer is where the proposed portable for the Senior Center would meet the
property. Connected with the front of the portable, this area could be used as a
June 26, 2000
holding area for pick-up time for the pre-schoolers so that parents would not
have to pazk their cars.
When stepping out the backdoor of the portable, it would be nice to have a deck
with overhang (trellis) to provide shade and then steps down into the
playground. The look of the deck can be softened on the outside with roses,
geraniums and bearded irises. (I can provide these plants)
As large a lawn area as possible away from the large oaks should be bordered by
sensory plant materials such as Santalina, Dusty Miller, Lambs ears, Golden
Alyssum and seasonal flowers (I can provide these plants). Two entrances
opposite each other can enter the lawns.
Native riparian landscaping is needed around the creek side.
A Salvia grouping can be also planted out front in the planter boxes as they need
sun and they will provide a barrier. (Mexican, Pineapple, Harvest and Grape
scented Sage)
An herbal circle with various Thymus and Lavender could possibly go in that
northeast triangle.
Soil circles with ever changing seasonal plants, such as a pole bean teepee, a
sunflower house, gourds should be placed. Of course this is a class room
activity.
Encircling the lawn and in and out of vegetation areas a 3 to 4 feet wide path of
�crushed granite, hazd enough for tricycles and wagons and at the same time
environmentally friendly, should be placed
A play structure, providing the preschoolers with active, interactive as well as
dramatic play on the far right side under or near the large oak with oak mulch as
a footing. Kompan's Early Works Series "Villa EC690" would encompass all
the developmental needs of the more than one hundred children I serve weekly,
including the special needs ones, often with sensory motor integration
difficulties.
The sandbox that the Eagle scouts built for the school should be moved to the
school's new location, probably south of the picnic tables,
If any chain link fence is visible within the parameters of the school grounds,
they can be softened up with Passion, Kiwi or pink Jasmine vine.
Tree stumps to be used as a seating circle for story telling, puppet shows etc.
A shed should be provided to house the outdoor toys, such as cars, buses, trikes,
barrels and garden tools. A good place would be where the rabbit cage is now.
Fencing, Irrigation, rotatilling and amending the vegetation areas are needed
first; the others can fall into place later.
2
June 26, 2000
Some of these needs can be fulfilled by volunteers such a s Eagle Scouts and pre-
school parents. The Play equipment can be put together with volunteers under
guidance of some one knowledgeable
I hope that this summary of needs is helpful.
3
a
i
Edifice Rec
The latest public status symbol for
wealthy
center t
BY CHARLES MAHTI�SIAN
ummit on the Parl:, which
opened its �oors to the puh-
lic in January 1996, is unlike
any municipal recreation cen-
ter you've ever seen. With a
7?-foot-high glass tc�wer, a limesCUne-and-
hrick excerior and a 85,Z00 syuare feet uf
�pace, it's the jewel uE Canton Township,
MichiKan. It l��ks nothing like the dingy,
musry �,rymnasiums mosc people are accus-
t��med to.
The buildinh' ayuanc center capped
h�� a cc�pper roof, teatures five different
�+u��ls. There are lar�e, cc�mfortahle locker
ruc�ms, a sauna, a ficness center, class-
r�,e,ms, a senior center and a banyue� and
a�nference facilih�. Suspended above the
cntire complex is an elevated running
track.
Last ��ear, the Summi� attracted more
than 4QO,CCO visitors. That figure includes
luts of people ti�ho used it man�� times, but
�.._..�.i..
underho a$3 million expansion tha� will
add 14,000 additional square feet. "It
really makes a statement," says Debbie
Bilbre}�-Honsowet�, who manages the
Summit.
Indeed, it does. But as grand as the
Summit is, it soon won't even qualify as
the biggest of i�s kind in metro Detroit.
That's because Dearbom, Canton's neigh-
bor to the east, is constructing what it calls
the the largesc municipal recreation proj-
ect in North American histor��—a $43
million colossus that will include water
slides, a 30-foot indoor mck climbing wall,
and nvo different scate-of-the-art theaters,
one of which will accommodate 1,200
patrons. Dearborn's fitness center alone
will take up 5,000 square feet.
These huge rec centers are tuming up
all over the place. In Middleburg Heights,
Ohio, a$17 million center opened last
month. Elgin, Illinois, flush with riverboat
Canton's Summit on the Park:
'It really makes a stafement,' the
manager says.
casino dollars, has a$24.9 millic�n huildinh
on the drawino board. In Culorado, ���here
scores of elaborate rec centers ha��e been
built in recent vears, nearl�� all ��f them ��•ill
soon be eclipsed b�� the one in Jefferson
Councy, just wesc of Dem�er. It's a�'_i
million, 168,�00-syuare-foot hehem��th,
expected to open later this ��ear.
American suburbs, and especiall�� afflu-
ent suburbs, are in the grip of a recreati��n
edifice complex. For man�� of them, the
ne��• rec center is more than just a pla�•-
�round. It's a communih• focal point an�
civie status syTnbol. "We reall�� needed an
imagemaker," sa��s Canton Tu���nship
Supervisor Tom Yack. "We fi�ured if ���e
were going to build it, it mi�h� as well be
first class. For a suhurban cc�minunit�•
without a traditional downto���n, it prc�-
vides a sense of place."
Of course, there are times ���hen the
dream turns out to be risk}�. N�,t tuo far
from Canton, in the suburbs west ��f
Detroit, fast-growing Novi sa��� the success
of Summit on the Park and huilt a strik-
ing ne�v ice hocke�� facilih•. Cunscructi�n
was financed with public funds, but local
officials projected a$700,�Q0 profit in the
first year of operation alone. Instead, due
to factors largely out of the ciry's control,
the facility ran a$300,000 operating
deficit. Novi changed management fimis,
but it was too late for May�or Kathleen
McLallen. In part because of che ice rink
controvers�•, the three-�erm mayor was
ousted from office in last year's primary.
r_n"A�nin� ��m
suburbs is a new recreation
he size of a battleship,
McLallen won just 17 percenc of che pri-
mar�� vote.
�X/hen a recreation facilit}� works, h�w-
ever, the retum is measured by more than
jusc profits and losses. Growing suburbs
such as Cancon Township view them-
sei��es as competing for high-end home-
bu<<ers, and a nek• recreation cencer is
considered a prime asse�. "It's a quality-of-
life issue," says Michael Tann, presidenc of
the Ohio Cin• Management Association.
"Municipalities use those amenicies as a
'sales tactic' to raise business and residen-
tial ��alues. It's an advantage to say you
ha��e one."
The s�rong econom��, of course, has
played a key role in enabling che construc-
tion of sparkling ne��• facilities. ]ust five
rec centers �ha� the CPRA has scar�ed ics
own annual desi�n and management
school, ��•hich actracts covetous public
officials and recreacion professionals from
around the councn•. Last y�ear, 13d atten-
dees took che four-da�• course, .+•hicl�
includes sessions with architects and cours
of various facilicies in che Dem�er metr�
area. In Michigan, Canton Tow�nship
offers its o.m three-da�� course, �+�hich pro-
��ides desi�n ad��ice and practical lessons
on ho�� co gain public supporr for a costl��
recreacion project.
Anybody who takes that course
becomes acquainted wich one hus�racing
realiry: ]ust because people .vanc a fanc��
new� center doesn't mean they ti�ant their
own cax dollars used to finance it. "For
Some communities have rejected a new
rec center because of fears that it would
put private health clubs out of business.
years ago, any expenditure this large for
recreacion would have been brushed aside
as profligate public spending.
These days, no amount seems coo high.
Ic's a matter of supply and demand. In any
fast-growing suburb with large numbers
of young families, recreacion is an issue
of intense concern. A feu� ping-pong
tables, a traditional pool and a handful of
basketball courts just won't do. "People
are demanding these facilities," says Barb
�Xjisne}�, executive direc�or of the Col-
orado Parks and Recreation Association
(CPRA). "People who move into a com-
muniry wanc a place for their kids to play."
But to view chese new buildings simply
as gold-plated places to deposit �he rugrats
is to miss a larger trend. The latest gener-
ation of rec cencers reflects a wholesale
change in recreation philosophy. They are
designed for entire families, not just for
kids, and that is one reason they are so
wildly popular in the places thac have
chem.
Some Colorado facili�ies, for example,
feature rock climbing walls designed
specifically for adults. Others have sepa-
rate lap pools for fitness swimming, and
separace rooms for aerobics and dance.
Jefferson Counry's new center will offer a
coffee bistro, a Jumbotron TV and four
sets of locker rooms—including one for
families co use together.
Colorado is going in so heavily for fancy
two years, we did surveying," says Can-
ton's Tom Yack. "When we asked,'Do we
need a recreation center?' 80 percent said
yes. When we asked, `Are you willing ca
pay higher caxes to pa�� for it?' 8d percent
said no. But when we asked, `If che town-
ship found a way to pay for the center
wichou� raising caxes, do you �+�anc a recre-
ation cen�er?' 80 percent said yes again."
With licde room to maneuver, Canton
Township officials devised an unusual
method of financing—they tapped into
tipping fees from a local landfill. Now that
it's builC, the rec center recei��es an oper-
ating subsidy from general township funds,
supplemenced by admission fees and rev-
enues from the banquet and conference
facilities. Non-residents pay more co use
the facility than residen�s do.
Other Michigan municipalities haven'c
had that convenient option. They have
been forced to take the more unforgiving
route—sending the issue of a taxpayer-
funded project to the polls. And results
have been mi�ced. While the ciry of Livo-
nia approved a tax hike for a new rec cen-
cer by a slim majoriry lasr year, Oak Park
voters rejected one for the third time. ln
Madison Heights, determined opponents
crushed a$19 million bond issue b�� nearly
a 5-co-1 margin, largely by pointing to the
red-ink-splattered ice arena in nearby
Novi.
The Madison Heights measure didn't
36 GOVERNING Ju1y2000
e��en incl�de a ta� increa�r—it ni�r��l�
proposed tc, retire existin�, �3eht. Rc. crn.
ter ad�•ocates prc�mi�ed the t�3cilir� �����ul��
be self-supp� �>nce it c��en�.l. l;ut
��oters ���ere skeptical. "Tk�er�'s a l��t ��f
cummunitirs in �9ichi:.�an tha� �c,in� tu
huild these kind� uf facilitie,." s.a��� Bil-
bre��-H�,ns� "hur the�•'r� stil! <cru_�-
glin�� �rich th� re�•enu� �+iece."
Fun�3in�� isn't th< <�nl�• a�ntn that
a ne�r rec crn[��r can �rneracc. ic��
cummunities ha��r cxaminr�l thr p�
impacr c�f a n���• rcc ccn<<r ��n esiscin��
health cl��l�; .u1�1 cxerci�e tncilitie� arnl
concluded chac the r�,���mm�nt :huul.ln'C
be in compecitiun ��•ith d�e pri�•a[� s�ct��r.
In Huron, Ohic�, �i {99/ hallc m�a�urr t��
build a rec center l���t han�iil�•, in lar�r
part becau�e �����cr� resisred �he i�3co ui
squee=ing �,ut a nc:irh� 1'MCA an.1 ,i
local, pri����rel�• ��u�neel es�rci�� cluh.
"There �+�as a lu� c,f fear that 'y�,u'rr r��in:,.
co put the pri��ate in�i�•idual uut e,f husi•
ness,' sa��� Michael T��nn, Hurcm's cir��
mana�er.
Cole�rado municipalities, cm the c�thcr
hand, have ha� an easier „c� <�f i�. Asidc
from the s;ace's str<�n� leisure and recrr-
ation ethic, th�re i� a read�• revenue s�xircc
available in state l��tccn• dollars. In C��I-
orado, rc�ughl�• �,ne-tltird �f le�tter�� pr��-
ceeds go to a u�nservati�n rrust fw�d f��r
local grn�ernments that enables them
leverage the money for capital imprc���e-
ments, indudinh parks and recreacion.
And then chere is che Ie�cal sales tax.
Colorad� votcrs ���ho brisde at th�
thought of paying for a new facility ���ith
property tax dollars ha.�en't seemed t��
mind putting their sales ta� money tc�
work in the same wa}�. The sales cax, says
Ken Bueche, execucive direccor �f the
Colorado Ivlunicipal League, "has been a
real enabler."
n Michigan, �+�here there are no ear-
marked lottery dollars and no local
sales tax money is available, build-
ing suppor� for a grand recreation edifice is
always going to be a litde more difficulc.
But anybody who seeks advice from Can-
ton Township will be told to go ahead—
the prize is worth the trouble.
Nowadays, real estate ads for Canton
Township homes often ciCe the Summit
on �he Park recreation center by name as
a way of atcracting inceresc. "Kesidents are
moving to this communiry," the center's
manager says, "strictly because of this
faciliry."
Governing.com
�i
rie:._.:-�.,
People want orchard
to stay in hometown
Not having a hometown can be pretty
tough for a kid growing up and even trou-
blesome as an adult when folks ask,
"where are you from." I never had a
"hometown" because I was born and
raised in the army and we moved from post
to post or overseas �very few years.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, I was
stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco.
My father, who retired aher service in both
World Wars, settled on a small ranch south
of Santa Cruz—a lovely spot with an
orchard, stands of redwoods, a pond, and
meadows. On weekcnds I drovc there to
escape the rat race of the city and to get
some of Mom's home cooking.
I loved to pass through Saratoga on my
way. It was such a beautiful, peaoeful village.
I often thought "This would be an ideal
�COmetown,`' ncstled close to the forested
mountains: small enough to be quiet and
friendly, but large enough to have its own
drug sEOre, hardware store, theater, and
good restaurants. It had lots of open space
with many trees, mostly fruit orchards.
In the spring I would drive up old High-
way 9 or up Saratoga Avenue, put the top
down on my old jalopy, slow down and
soak up the perfume and beauty of the val-
ley and hills. I decided then that I would
return and make this my "hometown."
In 1976, after 33 years of service, my wite,
Jean, and I moved to Saratoga. Fewer
orchards.less wooded area, and far less open
space remained, but still the sense of tran-
quillity, friendliness, and community was
here. I was home—home at last. (And for all
Realtors=this was my 63rd and last move.
['m going out of this place "feet first.
Now, 24 years later, only one orchard is
left to beautify and to welcome visitors at the
entrance to our village. It is a precious piece
�f open space—a lovely reminder of the
�itv's heritage—a touch of the past with a
hold in the present. Old and young alilce will
�herish and enjoy this small but healthy area
�f trees that help clean the air of pollution
while giving us back oxygen year round and
,n spring, gorgeous vistas and perfumes
I beg the city council, do not let this
�riceless bit of our heritage be destroyed.
I also challenge this city council to take
�old action, long overdue, to declare our
�Ieritage Orchard an historical site pre-
�erved in perpetuity from all and every
ncursion for development or conversion.
That is what everyone I knowwants for
�ur hometown.
THOMAS `�MAC" BARRlCK,
Col., U.S. Acmy, Retircd
Bonnie Ridge Way
esults for Heritage
Orchard survey in
Resulu are in for the tear-
out survey concerning the
Heritage Orchard, which was
part of the Saratoga newsletter
mailed to all residents in May.
The city received 1,069
responses. In response to the
question of whether Saratoga
needs a publicly financed
recreational facility fororga-
nized sports, 22 percent of
respondents said'yes,' while
72 percent said 'no.' Eighty
percent of respondents said
they woWd support the Her-
itage Orchard's use as an
active educational orchard.
Thirteen respondents said
that they would support con-
version of the orchard to a
public recreational facility for
organized sports, while 86
percent said they would not.
Finally, 28 percent of respon-
dents said they would support
a- publicly financed bond
measure to purchase proper-
ty for recreational facilities,
said they woul
ar and Rec hold
meeting on park
The Parks and Recreation
Commission invites the pub-
lic to attend its meeting on
July 10, at 7:30 p.m. at t6e
Adult Day Care Center on
Allendale Avenue, to discuss
proposed improvements to
Congress Springs Park.
The city has hired an archi-
tect to produce design draw-
ings for the park. At the July
10 meeting, the public will
have a chance to comment.
For more information, pleaze
contact Cary Bloomquist,
city staff liaison'to the com-
mission, at 4 08.868.1258.
Compromise needed
on orchard, playfields
Maybe I'm not paying close enough
attention to the "Save the Orchard or
Build Ball Fields" debate, but I haven't
heard much discussion about trying to
work out a compromise that would meet
the needs of the community as a whole.
From a historical point of view, it is
important that we leave some signs of the
foundation upon which this valley was built.
But we aLso should not overlook the future
of this valley, which is the growing number
of children that need both improved edu-
cational and recreational facilities.
Why can't we consider plans to incorpo-
rate recreational facilities and the heritage
orchard into one well-designed and func-
tional piece of property? There seems to be
enough land to add an adequate number of
ball fields, while still preserving areas that
represent our city's history in agriculture.
I think that more of Saratoga's children
would gain exposure to the history of our
city if they were to spend time with their
parents, waiting for their Little League or
soccer games to start, standing next to a
grove of fruit trees that has been around
since before their parents were bom. As
opposed to viewing our heritage from the
family car as they drive by to get to tbeir
game that is being played between a free-
way sound wall and the railroad tracks.
MICHAEL GORDON
Aspesi Dtive
r��5���n� pYeaa wi�n counciY
to preserve the orchard as is
Bv LEtcN At� Mn�
Recent talk concerning use oE the Her-
itage Orchard as a reaeational facitity has
once again spurred Saratoga citizens to
action. Sizteen residents spokc during the
oral communicatio� section of the June 7
city council meeting. Oral communica-
tions is the segment during which any res-
ident may speak on a matter not on the
agenda.'Ihree residents tumed up fororal
communications at the June 5 parks and
recreation commission meeting, as well.
The speakers passionately pleaded that
the wuncil and the comm�sston, "save the
Heritage Orchard."
Some of the residenu said the orchard
could be used for classes but nothing more.
"Please don't take away the orchard,
ptease," said soccer player Ben Stewart,
12, from Redwood Middle School.
Most of the residents who spoke aoted
that the Heritage Orchard is one of the last
remaining orchards in a valley that was
once full of them. Many speakecs said that
once the orchard is gone, it's gone for good.
"It's the remainingheartof the'Valley
of the Heart's Deiig6t,"' said resident
Anne Cross.
Some speakeis suggested improving che
existing recreational facilities m the c1ty
rather than using any part of the orchard
and some expressed concem that a new
recreational facility would increase �affic
at the already busy incersection of Sazato-
ga and Fruitvale avenues.
One resident said that if the orchard goes,
property values in Saratoga woutddeczease.
since che orchard is a draw to the ciry.
Niayor Stan Bogosian called the public
outpouring, "An example of demoaacy at
its best." He said he beGeves the survey in
the spring issue of The Saratogan--city
hall's quarterly newsletter that is mailed
to all Saratoga residents—was the cause
for the large turnout. The response was
exactiv the kind of feedback to the survey
that he wanted, he said.
The councit decided to incorporate the
postage-paid, tear-out survey on using the
Heritage Orchard in hopes of getting feed-
back before school ends and families go on
vacation for the summer, accocding to
counciltnan Nick Streit.
The survey asks whether Saratoga
needs a publicly financed recreational
facility for organized sports. and if so, whal
kind of facility. It also asks if residents
would support educational uses of the
Heritage Orchard and how much, if any,
of the orchard would they support con-
verting into a public recreational facility.
Finally, the survey asks whether resi-
dents would support a pubGcly financed
bond measure to purchase property for
public recreational faciGties.
As of J une 7, the ciry had received 108 of
the cards back. The deadline is June 16.
"I hope we get way more than 108,"
Bogosian said. "I beGeve it was a fair sur-
vey, and even•handed. I don't beGeve it
waspushing one way or another."
Parks and Recreation Commissioner
Sheila Ioannou, who attended the cauncil
meeting, stressed that the city's survey
only seeksinformadoa and nothing more.
'Ihe city has not made any decisioas con-
Pulse of city: Councilman Nick Sveit
cerning changes to the orchard, she said.
"I think there is a misperception that the
city has plans to bulldote the Heritage
Orchard and put up soccer fietds." she said.
"'Ihere are no plans to do anythin8 of the
kind. The purpose of the survey is to find
out ahat kind of recreational facilities ihe
community wanu and whether it is willing
to support a bond to pay for them. The ciry
also wants to know whether Satatogans
aze willing to pay to purchase a new piece
Herita�e Orchard
Continued from perge 1 D
of property to hoc�se a gym or playfields."
Ioannau said �he thin.ks Saratogans
deserve better.pa�ks and sports facilides.
Saratoga should be ab}e to both preserve
its heritage and p�ovide adequate recre-
ational facilities for its citizens, she said.
Talk about surveying Saratogans began
at the April 3 Pasks aa� Recrearion Com-
mission meeting, when Commissioner
Nick Seroff propased putting an advisory
vote on the Nove�ber ba�ot asking how
residents feel abo�t uses of the Heritage
Orchard. The advisory vote, he said,
would give Saratoga the best possible data
on what the majority of citizens want.
However, the commission voted at its
May �eeting to resommend that the city
spend a10,000 froa its genera! fund on a
professional poll of Saratogans. Although
more expensive th�n an advisory vote, the
commission decided such a poll—a tele-
phone 'survey of about 10 percent of
Saratoga residents donebya professional
company—would �se the most scientific
way to gather inforffiation.
Seroff criticized the city newsletter's
survey at the comPnission's meeting on
June 5. He said thae withoutdetermining
the age, number of children and address of
each respondent, it would be impossible
to tell if a good cross-section of 3aratoga
had been polled.
Commissioner E�aine Clabeaux added
that the survey in �he city newsletter was
unbalanced. "I'd like to see a more scien-
tific poll," Clabea�ax said.
Resident Jean BaRrick said at the coun-
cil meeting that she appreciated that the
council wants to fr�sd out how residents
feet about using th� mrchard, but she said
she thought the survey was biased in favor
of using the orchatd for pfay fields.
Bogosian and the city staff creaced the
questions, which coyncil members Nick
Streit and Ann Wa�tonsmith later helped
to revise, according Bo Streit. He said the
survey is only prelim�naey.
"I was concerned �vith making sure the
questions were as fair as poss►ble and aot mis-
leading in any way," S�reis said "T�e intent
here is to get a pulse off what the residents of
Saratoga want. W e may still go back and do
a professional suivey, but this is a gaod start."
While the Parks a�d Recreation Com-
mission still plans to recommend that the
council spend 510,0�0 on a professional
poll, both interim city manger William
Norton and Sueit sai� that the council will
mast likely wait for ttse results of the tear-
out survey before takcng that step.
C�..ity officials enoaurage all Saratoga res-
idents to complete aad return the survey.
please turn to puge 19
Did revisions: Councilwoman Ann
Waltonsmit6
Survey was fair: Mayor Stan Bogosian
if supervisors certify EIR
7'alks break down
Ey K.� cxnu�xs
fficials from the Mountain Winery
and from the city of Saratoga met
in the Santa Clara Countv Board of
Supervisor's chambers on June 6, since
negotiations on the winery's use permit
and environmental impact report broke
down during the past few weeks.
In March, after the county Planning
Commission legalized the Saratoga facili-
ty with a use permit and certified the EIR
for the winery's uses as a venue for con-
certs, weddings and other events, the city
and the Saratoga Trail Enthusiasts—a
nonprofit advocacy organization for the
city's trails—appealed the commission's
decision to the Board of Supervisors.
Before March, the Saratoga facility was
operating without a use pemut.
But the supervisors postponed the June
6 scheduled hearing on the two appeals,
because both the city and the Trail Enthu-
siasts asked for more time to study new
traffic data released by the county on June
1, according to Saratoga Mayor Stan
Bogosian and Trail Enthusiasts
The board took public testimony, but
then continued the hearing to June 27.
Some citizens who showed up to speak
publicly at the hearing said they would hold
their comments uatil June 27.
"'Ihere's a lot of new information;' said
?eri Lynn Baron from the Trail Enthusiasts
Pfease turn to page Il
Continued fsom page 1
"There's a w6ole new traf5c study that
should have been included in the EIR in
tt►e fust plaa."
Baron said she would study the new
data so that the Trail Eathusiasts can
make acompreheasive preseatation at the
nezt 6earing. She said that a couple days
waz not enough time for the group to
become familiar wit6 the new informa-
tioa Ciry officials cited the same reason.
Ever since the county released the win-
�ety sdiaftEIRinOctobu,dtyofSaaLsand
neighbois of t6e winery 6ave complained
that it �vas inadequate, inoompleee and, in
some parts, Baaed.'Ihey took �ue with the
sections oa Uafficspetafically. A coasultant
selected by the couaty prepared the EIR
Tbe EIIt studied the ainery's impact on
traffic du�ing che aeekday 6ou7s of 4 and 6
p.m. sina, according to the county, t�is
represenu t6e wocst-case scenario. Traf6c
impacts during winery event tima, such az
weekeads. were not analyced, becaute the
counts would be smaller.'Ihe EIR found
that traffic impacts, even with the pro-
posed expansion, would not be significant
eaough to wartant mitigating measures.
When the final EIR came betore the
county Planning Commission for certifi-
cation in March, the city lodged a formal
complaint. The commission certified the
EIR anyway, and granted the winery its
use permit, which the county required so
that the winery could legally hold events.
The use•permit application included a
proposal that the planning commission
approve, in concept, an expansion of the
concert bowl from 1,750 to 2.500 seats. In
the [uture, the planning commission will
scudy more detaifed environmental
impacts of an expansion before making a
decision. According to the city, the use-
permit application should not have
addressed any future expansion.
The commission placed some conditions
on the permit. such as limits on the number
o( events and people attending them, a
noise time limit of 1030 p.m. on weekdays
and 11 p.m. on weekends, and developing
a gate and traffic management plan.
These condidons did not go far enough
for the ciry and for the Trail Enthusiasts. In
March. the city appealed the tommission's
decision on the grounds that the use permit
should only pertain [o curtent conditioru at
the winery, not future expansion. The
TraiLs Enthusiazts appealed on the grounds
that the EIR's vaf5c studv was flawed.'ihe
EIR did not discuss how winery-assa.iated
traffic on Pierce Road adversely affects the
bikers and equestriana who use the road.
There is no trail that runs parallel to the
road on winery property.
!n its appeal, the city held that a trail
easement on the property is warranted
and asked that the noise limit be 10 p.m.
for everv wncert, even weekend ones.
The new traffic data, with accident sta-
tisticx, was compiled in time [or the June 6
hearing by CH2M Hill, the county's envi-
ronmeatal coasultancs who produced the
EIR. The consultants examined whether
the accidents on Pierce Road that
occurred from 1996 through 1998coincid-
ed with a winerv event that 500 or more
people attended. The study examined if
there was a pattetn.
During the three-year period, there
have been 47 accidents on Pierce Road,
w. �.�1N�:Il� Ill.u�tic..
biryciists and one a pcdestrian. None
inwlved an cquauian.'Ihe remaining 41
aaadents involved either one or two cazs.
Atoording to the data, one of the acci•
dents ooaured a6en traf5c from a concert
would have been leaving t�e winery.
Three accidencs ocaured'm the mid•atter-
noon oa concert days, but before the
entrana gate opened, and one occuned
the night of a coacert, but an hour or so
after cats had left the winery.
Interim ciry manager Bill Norton said
that the data might be inaavrate and that
the city's vaffic engineer needs to exam-
ine the study and enumerate the mistakes
he may find.
Nortoa, who has wor�ed dvectly with
winery president Nanry Bussani since the
city Sled t6e appeal, said he had hoped
that the two sides would reach a seule-
ment agreement before the June 6 6ear-
ing. Talks between the two groups broke
down days before tho hearing. Norton
sent the ciry's final o(fet to the winery in a
letter dated June 1. Aaording to Norton,
the letter contained speci6c suggestions
conceming traffic, trails and noise and
how the winery could mollify the cih�.
The city wants the winerv to grant trail
easements on the part ot the property
located in the city, as mitigation for the
traffic that it savs will increase because of
the additiona1750 seats for concerts. The
ciry also wants the winery to consider not
adding the extra seats.
"I think they're extremely reasonable
proposaLs that they could implement very
easily,"Norton said of the city's suggestions
According to him, the response froro
t6e winery was that they could not agree.
Norton said that he hopes the winery has
a change o[ heart. Then, the city would
withdraw its appeal, he said.
"What we are seeking is for them to be
good neighbors to the surrounding com-
munity, which is mostly the ci�y of Sarato-
ga,"Norton said.
On June 27, the supervisors could
uQhold the appeals and thus deny the use
permit: deny the appeals and allow the
planning commission's holding to stand;
reject certification of the EIR and send it
bacic to county statf to add informa�ion:
deny the appeals but place new condi-
tionson the pertnit:orcontinue the hear-
ing to the future to allow county staft to
gather new information.
IVorton said fie met with Supervisor Joe
Simitian, whose district includes Sarato-
ga, and asked for his help.
According to Norton, the city would
consider suing the county if the board
upholds the planning commission's deci-
sion to certify the EIR, or if the board does
not modify the EIR sut5ciently �hat the
city considers it complete.
Bussani, who said the winery sen� its final
compromise to the ciry on May 23,said the
ciry's June 1 letter only served to put more
distance 6etween the dty and the winery.
"I thiak we feel the abiliry to reach con-
sensus is unlikely; B uuani said. She said
she doesn't thialc the dty and the winery will
uy to negotiate between now and June 27.
She said she would Ii1ce the Board ot
Supervisors to deny the appeals and
impkment the Pfanning Commission's
rccommendations from March. The city
and the Trail Enthusiasts had asked the
county to force the winery to grant an
Please rwn to page 17
Winery Talks
Contir+ued jrom page Il
easement on the De Anza trail, on the'Efai
of the winerv located in the coun�y's juri�
diction, not Saratoga's.
In A1 arch, the county planning commc
sion held that the county could not legall
do that. However, according to a contrac
dated June 5 that the winery seat to th�
county counsel's office, the winery ha
of(ered to grant the �rail easement any
way. The next step is for the supervisors u
accept the ofter publicly. A date has no
yet been set (or a hearing, according u
assistant county counsel. Debbie Cauble
There are still trail easemen[s in Sarato
ga that tfie Trail Enthusiasu and the cit�
want the winery to grant. According tc
Bussani, because the winery could no�
reach an agreement with the Trail Enthu
siasts and t6e city, the winery could noi
offer those trails.
Some of the Saratoga residents a6c
spoke at the hearing espressed the neec
for more trails in Saratoga so that pedes•
viaas and hoexs wouldn't have to �ue nar•
row Pierce Road, which can be dangerous
ahen there are a lot otcazs ttaveling on i�
U11� JU U1l�C Ul l�l GC11 �JUll U l,lUl 1 lUl;d I,CU
Finally, the pieces
of the pu��le begin
to fall into place
By KARA CHALMERS
or 6-year-olds Tyler Schuppert and
Andrea Amelse, the Saratoga Creek is
just a fun place to play.'Their mothers
call the creek a"magnet" for the children,
especially during hot summer days after play-
ing in Wildwood Park.
But tests have shown that high levels of bacte-
ria found in sewage pollute the crystal clearwater.
Mary Schuppert and Donna Amelse told
the children to stay on the rocks when they
played in the creek, but the children ended up
getting their feet—and more—wet.
"We can't keep them out of it," Schuppert
said. "It's always seemed to be fine."
Because the water in the creek is often very
clear, and because it smells fine, residents may
not realize the dangers lurking in it, according
to Saratogan Don Whetstone, president of the
Friends of the Santa Clara County Creeks,
which, along with the San Francisco Bay-
Keeper, sued the city in 1995 far violating
clean water iaws. "There is no longer any
doubt that sewage is getting in there," he said.
In April 1999, when the Friends and Bay-
keeper settled the lawsuit with the city, part of
the setdement required an investigation into the
source of the creek's pollution. Staff from the
city of Saratoga, West Valley Sanitation District
staff, Santa Clara Valley Water District staff and
Whetstone, who negotiated the settlement with
the city, contributed to the investigation.
The investigative team discovered a source
of the pollution on June 5. A crew from the
sanitation district was stationed near the
intersectian of Saratoga–Los Gatos Road and
Oak Street, to take a video of the inside of the
main sewer line which runs beneath Sarato-
ga–Los Gatos Road.
'The reason for the video, according to
Robert Reid, the manager of the sanitation
district, was to determine if there were any
cracks in the clay sanitary-sewer line. The line
is just under 100 years old. According to the
test, there were no cracks.
But at the same time that day, a crew from
Saratoga, including city staff and Whetstone,
was trying to test water from a previous{y dis-
covered leak jetting into a storm drain line
under the intersection of Saratoga-Sunnyvale
Road and Saratoga Avenue. A prior sample
showed the water from the jet was contaminat-
ed, Whetstone said. But the}et was not there.
It turned out that the sanitation district crew�
had blocked off the sewer flow so they could
send their remote-controlled video camera
doam into the pipeline. When they unblocked
the sewer, the water jet into the storm-drain
line began within 10 minutes. Whetstone said.
"just like turning on a water faucet." A test of the
water from the jet confirmed that it contained a
high level of fecal coliform bacteria. The bacte-
ria is present in the intestines of mammals.
Reid said the sanitation district never had
any indication that there was a sewer problem
until that day.
The "test" of the relationship between the
sewer and the storm drain was not planned.
Whetstone said, but it saved the investigative
team a lot of time.
Now, it is up to the sanitation district to solve
the problem. The district plans to conduct �nd
pay fora large project rehabilitating all the
Please �urn to page 19
JULr'S, 20�0 SARATOGA NE�VS 9
Creek Pollution
Continued fiom page 9
sewer lines in downtown Saratoga. The
project involves new technology that is
supposed to detect leaks that have before
been undetectable, Reid said.
I3ut the district will start on a smaller
scale, with the leaky sewer line that is affect-
ing the storm drain line under the intersec-
tion of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and
Saratoga Avenue. The district will reline
the inside of the sewer pipes from Oak
Street to Saratoga Avenue, roughly 1,200
feet in all. The liner,coated with a chemical
and then filled with hot water, will bond
against the old sewer, from the heat and
pressure. All work will be done at manholes
and will not require any digging, Reid said.
"It creates a brand new sewer inside the
old sewer," Reid said.
Around the same time, the district plans
to line some 200 feet of sewer pipes near
the storm-drain under the intersection of
Fourth Street and Big Basin Way. 'The
bacteria levels at that location are not as
high as at the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road
location, but are still high. The Row from
this storm drain line empties into Sarato-
ga Creek at Wildwood Park.
Reid said that it is too early to tell how
much the larger rehabi(itation project,
involving all the sewer lines in the Village,
will cost or when it will begin. But relining
the specific sewer lines—by Saratoga-Sun-
nyvale Road and Fourth Street—will cost
the sanitation district some $100,000, Reid
cair► }-lP PctimatPC fhat thP rlictrirt will
finish the work by the end oi' September.
"As a community we're paying for it
and it's a very good investment," said
Mayor Stan Bogosian, calling the repairs
necessary. "We have a serious issue and
we need to address it."
In the meantime, the city will install a
catch basin underneath the Fourth Street
storm drain, to divert water into the sewer
line, away from the creek, Bogosian said.
In addition, there is a bad sag, or pock-
et, in this storm drain, which the city will
spend $35,000 to replace. Water collects in
these sags and sits there, inviting bacteria
to grow, and periodic cleanings may not
solve the problem, Bogosian said. The city
accelerated plans for this project to coin-
cide with the sanitation district's work.
"Because of the health hazard involved,
we can't afford to wait," Bogosian said of
the project, adding that the city will notify
residents who live nearby about when the
work will start.
Still, the recently discovered source is
not the sole cause of pollution in the creek,
Bogosian said. Sewage can also pollute the
creek if water seeps underground through
permeable soil directly into the creek.
Bogosian said the investigation gives the
city an ideaof howquicklysewerwatercan
ftow hundreds of feet underground to the
creek. While 1he soil or gravel may filter out
large particles, microorganisms can still
pass through. He thinks it is clear that the
same kind of thing can happen with water
from leaking septic systems near the creek.
In Feb. 1999, the city adopted an ordi-
nance designed to eventually eliminate
cPntir tankc in thP r�t.�
City should not consider
sports facility in orchard
Vince Garrod wrote an excellent letter
in the June 14 1SSlle Of Ille SARATOGA
NEws, regarding the Heritage Orchard.
The orchard is a refreshing piece of open
space as well as a piece of history in our
rapidly developing valley. Saratoga is a
unique and special village with a small-
town atmosphere. Please do not consider
destroying something irreplaceable to
erect a sports facility. Perhaps the city
needs to work with existing facilities such
as schools and West Valley College and
give thought to other options.
The Heritage Orchard should and can
stand on its own—intact. It should not be
considered for any activities that do not
revolve around its historical use as a pro-
ducing orchard.
If a need exists for increased sports
venues. that should be handled as a separate
issue, and our local treasures should not be
raided. Leave the Heritage Orchard alone!
FRED ANDRES
Peach Hill Road
CITY AND WINERY
REACH ELEVENTH-
HOURAGREEMENT
ON NOISE, TRAFFIC
Saratoga Trail Enthusiasts
are still `not through yet'
Supervlsors put off decision
BV KARA CHALMERS
ust in time for its appeal hearing with the
Santa Clara County Board of Supervi-
sors scheduled for 2 p.m. on June 27,
Saratoga finalized an agreement with the
Mountain Winery and decided to withdraw
its appeal of the winery's use permit.
But the process is still not over, since the
supervisors need more time to review the
conditions that the two groups agreed to
add to the permit.'Fhe supervisors contin-
ued the hearing until no later than Aug.15
to allow county staff to review the contract
and put together a recommendation.
"We're disappointed with another con-
tinuation," said Winery President Nancy
Bussani. '•But we have a high degree of
confidence that in August the permit will
be issued."
For the Saratoga T'rail Enthusiasts :�.�he
nonprofit advocacy organization for the
citv's trails, which also appealed the per-
mit—the process is far from over. The group
has not vet reached an agreement with the
winerv. But representatives from the group
sav that they feel encouraged because the
supervisors postponed the hearing.
Teri Lynn Baron from the Trail Enthusi-
asts said the supervisors did the right thing.
She said she had expected them to rule
aeainst her organization on June 27.
1fie supervisors held a public hearing on
Please turn to page 18
1�1 l.11. 1 111G1
Condnued from pagt 1
the two appeals on June 6, bitt they post-
poned the hearing to J une 27, since both
the city and the Trail Enthusiasts had
aslced for more time to study new traf6c
data. 73e data conceras accidents on
Pierce Road, the access road to the win-
ery, and the county released it Juae 1.
In March. the county P�8 ��u
sion granted the Saratoga faciliry a use
permit, which the county required for t6e
winery to legally hold coactrts, weddings
and other events.'Ihe co+**���on also oer-
tified the Environmental Impact RepoR
(EIR�prepared by a consutteat selected
by t6e county—for the ainery's uus.
Immediately, the city and the Trail
Enthusiasts both appealed the commis-
sion's decision to the supervisots.
While negotiadon talks between the dty
and the winery had broken down azound
J une 6, talks resumed on l une 26, accord-
ing to Mayor Stan Bogosian.'Ihe city and
the winery finally hammered out an agree-
ment—which addresses noise and vaffic,
but not trails—at noon on June 27.
The city had originally wanted the win-
ery to grant a trail easement on a portion
of t6e winery located in Saratoga, along-
side Pierce Road. But this easement was
not part of the final contract
The easemeat is whst the Trail Enthu-
siasts stiU waat and hope to get in August.
They say it is a necessary mitigation mea-
sure since winery traf5c on Pierce Road
impacts bikecs, pedestrians and equestri-
ans that must use the road since no trail
runs parallel to iG At the supervisors'
hearing oa June 27, many residents spoke
about the dangerous situation on narrow,
windy Pierce Road, and that it would only
worsen when the winery expands.
The Trail Enthusiasts had asked for a
different trail easemenG the De Anra uail,
which is on the part of the winery in the
county's jurisdiction, not Saratoga's. On
]une S, the winery agreed in writing to
grant that trail easement.
At the end of the ]une 27 hearing,
Supervisor Jce Simitian, who represents
Saratoga, reminded all groups involved
that they have aocomplished a lot already.
"I rnow everybody's 6ustrated with this
process and I caa tell that tensions are
starting to get a litde high and people's
nerves are a little bit frayed,"Simioan said
"But I'm going to aslc everybody to hang
ia l want to point out that we are extraor-
dinarily dose to untangling 42 yesis worth
of noncompliana, which is not the respon-
sibility of the aurent owner or operator.
"We have already gotten one trail, out
of two that were at icsue, dedicated volun-
tarily. We have agrcement on noise issues.
We heve agreement on traffic manage-
ment issues," he added.
On June 27, the supervisois could have
upheld the appeals and thus denied the
use permi�'Ihey also could have denied
the appeaLs thus allowing the planaiag
commissioa's holding to staad. or denied
the appeals with new conditions on the
permit'ihey also oould have rejected the
certificadon of the EIR and sent it bacJc to
county staff for more information.
Bogosisn called tbe city's agreement
reasonable aad good for Saratoga
"It gives the city of Saratoga a say-so
over what's being doae with traffic and
noise," Bogosian said
will ture an acuuau�a� �nRU�c� r w�.ni,.�..
a sound study, pu�uant to a"scope of
worl�" approved by Saratoga, within 20
business days of the permit's approval.
The engiaeer will recommend ways the
winery can reduce noise from its events.
During at least four concerts chosen hy�
Saratoga, the engineer will evaluate noise
and will hand in a report no later than 15
business days after the fourth concert.
'Ihe winery agieed to pay up to S 100,000
to implement the engineer's recommen-
dations and to finish all the wor� recom-
mended by May 15, 2001.
T'he wiaery also agreed to end all con-
certs at 10:30 p.m. When the planning
commission approved the permit in
March it put a noise limit ot 10:30 p.m. on
weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.
To help convol tcaffic afte r concerts, the
winery agreed to hire three sheriff's
depuaes,orother law entorcement officers,
oa a one-year trial basis during the 2001
concert season. While one of the deputies
will stand at the main gate, the other two will
stand at locations the city will determine.
During the 2001 concert season, the
winery will institute an "alternative trans-
portation program," which could be a
shuttle service, to reduce the number ot
parked cars on site by 10 percent of the
site's current 700 car maximum.
When the commission approved the
winery's use permit in March, it approved,
in concept, an expansion of the concert
bowlfrom 1,750 to 2,SOOseats. But specif-
ic expansion plans will have to come
before the rnmmission again when they
are finalued. The alternative transporta-
tion program is supposed to mitigate the
additional vaffic that the future expansion
will cause, according to the convact.
According to Ba: on, the winery and the
Trail Enthusiasts met last on April 18, at
which time the enthusiasts outlined an
agreement. She said she has not heard
fromthewinerysince.
7'he winery had submitted an adden-
dum letter to the contract worked out with
the city. The letter says the winery realius
that, when the portion of the winery locat-
ed in Saratoga is subdivided, the city will
requ'ue the dedicadon of a trail as a condi-
tion. However, the letter does not repre-
seat a binding agreemenL
"ln the future, if the developer decides
to subdivide lou in Saratoga, we may get a
trail then, but it dcesn't mitigate the safe-
ty issues now," Baron said.
In addition, theTrail FnWusiastssey tbat
the new tzaffic data, whid� oounty environ-
meatal consultants CH2M Hill, w6o pro-
duxd theElR.compiled, iswrong.
"'Ihe staff. snd oonsultant's conclusioa
that no traffic or cafety problems e:ist is
simply arong," said James Baron of the
Trails Enthusiasts at We hearing on June
27. "'Ibey reached this oonclusion because
they failed to apply the facts in t6is csse
and they didn't do the math right"
According to him, the CH2M Hill coa-
eiusion t�at We road is 108 perceat lecs
safe thaa the avaage rate for similar fadl-
ities, is wrong and the road is actually 378
percent less safe.
"There ica5x for it and the fi�c is to put m
a trail." Baronsaid. "7'oprovide alternative
circvlation measures and to move eques-
trisas aad pedestriaas and bilcers off the
road."
Baron said the eathusiasts would not
make a decicioa oa their next atep until
after the supervisocs' hearing in August
3■
�V1�1 llltr.JJ Jr ��tl v.�
USER.GROUPS ARE
HAPPY WITH PARK'S
OVERHAUL-PLAN
Little League, soccer reps
wonder where they'll play
City chooses design fzrm
BV KARA CHALMERS
ongress Springs Park, Saratoga's
premier park, according to some in
the city, will undergo a major over-
haul this year. While the project's cost has
doubled since October, the organizations
that use the 10-acre park see the urgent
need for the planned renovation and are
happy. Their only worry is where they will
go during construction.
The project involves redesigning the lay-
out of the park's five fields that organiza-
tions. such as Saratoga Little League,
American Youth Soccer League (AYSO)
and Saratoga Pony League, share. The pro-
ject entails digging up and putting down all
new soccer and baseball fields. When the
fields are reconstructed, the existing irri-
gation one to two feet down will be dug up,
and all new grass will be laid. Congress
Springs' restrooms and parking lot will stay
where they are, according to the city's act-
ing public works director, John Cherbone.
The interiors of the restrooms at the park
are also scheduled for renovation, but they
are part of a different project.
Cherbone estimates that the park's ren-
ovation project will cost $1.2 million. In
October, the City Council approved spend-
ing $600,000 of the park development fund
for the project, as recommended by the
Parks and Recreation Commission. The
park fund totals just under $2.2 million.
Please tu�n to page 25
�ongrc�� ,�������5
Continued fiom page 1
At its meeting May 17, the City Council
approved the monetary increase. The extra
$600,000 will also come from the park devel-
opment fund. which can be used for
improvements to the city's parks. Cary
Bloomquist, the city staff liaison to the Parks
and Recreation Commission, said that while
portions of the fund are earmarked for dif-
ferent projects, the fund is flexible and
monev can be shifted from one project to
another, dependingon the citv'spriorities.
The tentative timeline to begin con-
struction work on the fields is December.
The renovation should last through
Aueust 2001, according to Cherbone.
One goal of the renovation is to get as
many playfields as possible from the five
fields there now. Cherbone said. But
another goal is to make the fields safer.
There have been no renovations made at
the park since it was built, he added.
"Right now, the fields are in such bad
shape because they are so old. There are
uneven surfaces created from overuse and
potential tripping hazards."
Mark Linsky, a Saratoga AYSO Region-
al Commissioner and coach, says he sees a
great need for major renovation. But he
hopes that the renovation is the fust step in
a resurgence of support for acquiring more
fields in the city. "'The hope for us is that
once the community sees the value of
improved fields at Congress Springs, we
hope there'll be a willingness to invest in
more fields in Saratoga," he said.
According to Linsky, Congress Springs'
fields turn into mudholes when it rains. He
says that the fields are mostly covered with
weeds, which don't withstand use as well
as grass. T'he fields are also uneven, he
says, although they are not as bad as some
others in the city.
Linsky said that none of the five 6elds at
the park is regulation size, which means
that the under-14, under-16, and under-19
soccer teams cannot play games there.
According to Keith Sirnon, president of
Saratoga Little League, the fields are laid
out improperly for soccer and baseball
teams to share. "[The park] is not designed
well for both types of sports," he said.
soccer fields to be moved trom vear tu vea:
so that the same spots aren't worn out. He
also pointed out that the setting sun is
directly in pitchers' eyes.
With a redesign and different layout.
Simon said, perhaps seven or eight field�
could be made out of the five there no�..
"Right now, every one of our Little Leacu�
fields are being used Mondav throueh Fri-
day and all day Saturda}�." he said, adding
that as Saratoga grows. which it will. there
will be no room for more teams.
The cit��'s public works department has
chosen a design firm, and the contract fc�r
almost $100.000 is scheduled to comc
before the City Council for approval at its
meeting on June 7. Greg G. ing and Asso-
ciates, a design firm based in San Jose, can
begin work once the council has appro��ed
the contract. The firm would be the gen-
eral contractor for the whole project and
would work directiv with turf consultant
Dave Moyer from DBA Moyer Consult-
ing Group, with whom the city contracted
in March for $17,955 worth of services.
Moyer's job is to test the park's soil for
nutrient content, and analyze what nutri-
ents to add. Rain water drainage and the
maintainability and growth of the grass
are all issues.
City of6cials are working with the user
groups to find alternate sites during the
park's renovation. Little League's season
lasts from March throughJune, and there
is a chance, Simon said, that they won't
miss any of it. But most likely, they will
have to find new fields for their 2001 sea-
son next year.
"We're extremelv concerned about find-
ing places to pla}�," Simon said, adding that
since many families have more than one
child playing baseball at the same time, if the
teams are all spread out, it will prove to be a
major inconvenience for parents through-
out the season to trudge between parks.
AYSO's Linsky agreed. "We're going to
have to partner with the schools," he said.
which means there will probably be less
practice times for his teams during the
affected season. Splitting up the soccer
teams would prove to be a challenge for
coaches, referees and families, he said.
AYSO's season staru in August with soccer
camps. The season lasts until Thanksgiving.
Gommunity and senior centers
to get new roof, HVAG system
Council approves
short-term repairs
ay ICARn cH,�s
The city council approved spending
$127,000 on short-term repairs to the Com-
munity and Senior centers on June 7. The
money will specifically fund repairing the
roof and the heating, ventilating and air-
conditioning system, among other projects.
Part of the $127,000 will come from the
city's general fund and part from this
year's $166,478 Communiry Development
Block Grant, which will fund $35,660 of
the total. The CDBG is a federal grant
allocated by the Housing and Community
Development Act each year.
On Apri15, Saratoga Recreation Direc-
tor Joan Pisani presented a 13-item list of
repairs to the council along with rough
cost-estimates. The council approved
spending a maximum $280,560 for the
repairs that shoWd no longer be postponed
and asked that she return with firm costs.
Council members agreed that some of the
community and senior centers' short-term
needs should be addressed now, since the
city is far from its goal of a complete
rebuilding of the civic-center complex. The
sum of $280,560 has been allocated in the
2000-2001, 2001-2002 budget that the city
is now in the process of finalizing.
The council hesitated to approve a1113
items on Pisani's list in April, but it did
agree to handle each item in order of pri-
ority. The top two items are repairing the
HVAC system, and reroofing the entire
structure. The council directed staff to
begin the work on each item in order and
to report back as the costs are finalized.
Only one company, O.C. McDonald,
entered a 519,000 bid to rezone and repair
the HVAC system. The city received three
bids to replace the entire Community and
Senior center roof, and expects that this
project will cost $60 The council
okayed this funding.
The council also authorized spending
53,000 on painting the senior-center large-
room and kitchen and the community-
center large-room, reception office, dance
studio, hallways and common areas. It
authotized $13,000 for carpeting the hal!-
ways, common areas, offices and the stage
area in the communitvi center and the
senior center. The city will spend $2.000
on window coverings in the two centers
and $12,000 on work-area furniture and
equipment. such as workstations, a table.
chairs and file cabinets.
Some $3.200 will be spent on a new com-
puter and printer for the front office of the
community center and $8.800 for refacing
cabinets in the communitvi center's
kitchen and classroom. J
In a few weeks, Recreation Director
Joan Pisani will come back to the council
with firm estimates on more short-term
fixes, including three portable classrooms,
and repairs to restrooms and phone lines.
The first step in preparing for ihe porta-
bles is for a civil engineer to locate sewer
and water lines and complete the working
plans. An electrical engineer will also have
to plan electrical lines. The estimated cost
for this work is $6000, which the council
approved on June 7.
According to City Attomey Richard Tay-
lor, the ctiry's.park development fund cannot
be used�for any of the short-term repairs.
In March, an architecture firm present-
ed ideas to the council fornew community
and senior centers. Council members
looked at the different plans, which would
house both the community and senior cen-
ters and would cost up to $7.5 million.
While they said the plans were a great start,
they directed staff to explore what it wnuld
take, both financially and physically, to
completely overhaul the area from the
Civic Theater on Fruirvale Avenue to'the
coiporation yard off Allendale Avenue.
Upon realizing the plan could take yeais
to come to fruition, the council directed
Pisani to come back with the priority list
for short-term improvements to the cen-
ters that should no longer be ignored.
�l�hree reasons ior not
developing orchard
Let's retain the Heritage Orchard as it
stands, except for the library expansion
and parking for the library.
There are three major reasons for not
developing the Orchard:
First, safety issues. The portion of road
between Saratoga Avenue, Fruitvale
Avenue and Highway 85 is the highest
trafficked area in our city. It is the most
dangerous and has the highest rate of acci-
dents in the entire city. We've already
added a light at Scotlaad. We may need
one at Ranfre and one farther up Sarato-
ga at Herriman. Do we want these streets
to become any more congested or unsafe
for the many neighborhoods that funnel
onto Saratoga Avenue or Fruitvale?
Why would we want to put our children's
sports facilities there? Please protect our
children by distributing the traffic more
evenly throughout the city instead of draw-
ing them back to this dangemus spot at nuh
Please twn to page 25
Continued fiom page24
hour for after-school practices and games.
Second, beauty and heritage. It is a beau-
tiful gateway to our village. We have main-
tained an ambiance unique to Saratoga,
and it is a village, not a metropolis. I feel we
would lose our village atmosphere with the
development of the orchard with sports
arena, theater, soccer fields, etc., which is
what some seem to be advocating. Once
our orchard is gone we cannot bring it back.
Finally, fields already are available. Chil-
dren need outdoor recreational facilities in
this city, but additional soccer fields are not
necessary. The ciry has already spent 560,000
for drawings and plans for all the current sites
that have playing fields: Blue Hills, Marshall
Lane, Foothill, Congress Springs and for a
new one at Azule Park. Most of these sites
can be made safe and playable and the city
and schools can maintain them for far, far
less than building and maintauung new
fields. Cannot we reconsider upgrading and
using these sites, which have been enjoyed
by so many children in past years?
We want playfields for our kids and
grandkids. Demographics of our city may
be changing. But, we have much better
options than orchard development. Use
Parks and Recreation dollars to upgrade
existing fields and not to destroy the most
beautiful land in Saratoga.
PHYLIS BALLINGALL
Wendy Lane
l;itizens opinions
count in Saratoga
The city of Saratoga and its parks and
recreation commission want to know what
facilities Saratoga's residents desire. Do you
want more sports fields? A community gym?
An unproved community center or "hub?"
Are you willing to support a bond to pay for
these facilities? Are you willing to support a
bond to purchase land on which to put these
facilities? Would you support putting any of
these items on any portion of the Heritage
Orchard land? Please let us know.
Each residence should have received a
copy of the Spring 2000 The Saratogan,
which included a survey on these issues and
a postage pre-paid tear-off card. If you
retumed the survey, thank you. If you
haven't done so yet, please take the time to
provide your input. If you have misplaced
the survey (ot didn't receive one) please
feel free to send your comments to the City
Manager's office at City Hall.13777 Fruit-
vale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070.
TrIE SARA70GA PARKS AND
RECREATION COI►9NISSION
Sara[oga
Orchard should be
maintained as it is
The recent concern about the viability
of keeping the Heritage Orchard deserves
some comment.
Fi�t, this orchard is excellent for its type
and I speak from over 60 years operating
orchards right here in Saratoga. It is an
excellent illustration of the rype of orchard
that filled the whole valley and as such
deserves to be maintained as was inten-
tioned when the city 6rst secured it.
Besides, it also adds a refreshing piece
of open space.
Where the present library is was the loca-
tion of the dryer and cutting shed. It was
normal procedure for farmers to remove
and replant trees constantly and as years
progressed, the mix of tree variery was con-
stanUy changing as was the ages of the trees.
When compared to Sunnyvale or Los
Altos, you should note they have only pre-
served a single variety orchard, apricots.
They do not have prunes, peaches, pears,
and cherries, all of which were planted
here in Saratoga and were produced in
commercial quantities.
VINCE GARROD
Garrod Fartns
Mt. Eden Road
LETTERS
Founding fathers wanted
to preserve orchard
I strongly object to the destruction of the
Heritage Orchard for use as a playfield.
Not only is it precious as a living treasure
of Saratoga's agricultt�ral history, but it is
the last remaining large open space in our
dense community of houses, public build-
ings and commercial development. Our
"founding fathers" in 1956 realized that
Saratoga was headed for development and
wisely set aside an agricultural preserve.
A community needs areas of natural
beauty to feed the soul as well as recre-
ational facilities. In its rush toward devel-
opment, Saratoga has sold its soul to the
devil: the sale of the park site on the cor-
ner of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox
Avenue (acquired by the city in a vote that
was passed by citizens); the refusal of the
city to accept a donation of a farm for use
as a demonstration orchard (the Nelson
Garden on Saratoga Hills Road); the sale
of Redwood School property to the post
office, which could have been used for
expanding the school's recreational area.
I might add to my list of grievances the
development of the city corporation yard
behind City Hall that could have been
used as a beautiful city park with a creek
and a huge old oalc uee that was cut down.
Now all that land is gone and now the
city realizes it needs more land for com-
munity needs. I am sorry, but it is too late.
If the city builds on its last remaining paz-
cel of open space, that, too, will be regret-
ted in the future.
22 SARATOGA NEWS lUNE 21, 2000
Furtnermore, tne neriiag�
located in a heavy traffic area on Saratoga
Avenue, near two church schools, one
public school. West Valley College. the
Gbrary, City Hall, the Community Center,
the Senior Center, the teen center and the
post office. We do not need another pub-
(ic facility there, generating more uaffic.
Saratoga has a soccer field and a base-
ball field at El Quito Park and, I beGeve,
o:
also a gym and a swimming poot ai in�
YMCA on Quito Road.
The city should honor its obligation�tc
preserve its historical landmarks, in thi�
case,an orchard.
IACKIE WELCF
Jack's Roa�
Investigation
revea�s cause of
creek pollution
An investigation by ciry staff,
West Valley Sanitation Disa ict
staH and Santa Clara Valley
Water District staff, which was
coordinated by Saratogan Don
Whetstone, shows the source
of bacteriologica! pollution in
Saratoga Creek.
According to Saratoga
Mayor Stan Bogosian, the
investigation shows that
sewage water leaks from the
main sewer line beneath
Saratoga—Los Gatos Road.
"This water then enters the
storm drain line through
seams and cracks.
In April 1999, when the
Friends of the Santa C1ara
Counry Creeks and San Fran-
cisco BayKeeper settled their
lawsuit against the city, which
had been filed in 1995, a set-
tlement agreement required
an investigation into the
source of the pollution.
Bogosian and city officials
advise residents to keep chil-
dren and pets out of the
creek, as long as test results
show high levels of pollution.
Parks and Rec.
meeting changed
to July 10
The regularly scheduled
Parks and Recreation Com-
mission meeting on July 3 has
been changed to July 10. The
meeting will be held at 7:30
p.m. at City Hal! at 13777
Fruitvale Ave..
City of Saratoga
PROCLAMATION
`�ARKS AND RECREATION MONTH
NLY 2000
WHEREAS, The parks and Recreation profession in California "Creates Community
through People, Parks and Programs"; and
WHEREAS, Our parks help to preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources of
California; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation services support more productive workforces,
enhance the desirability of locations for business and families, and stimulate tourism revenues to
increase a total community development model: and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation strengthens community image and sense of place, and
increases cultural unity; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation promotes health and wellness and reduces health care
costs; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation fosters human development, helping young people
develop and grow into healthy adults, and helping adults continue to live longer; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation facilitates community problem solving; and
WHEREAS, Parks and Recreation strengthens safety and security and reduces juvenile
crime; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of California children, adults and seniors benetit from the wide
range of services, facilities and programs provided by the City of Saratoga Recreation
Department and by the City of Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Saratoga City Council urges all
residents to enjoy and recognize the social, physical, mental, economic, environmental and
community benefits derived from our community services and programs offered by our
Recreation Department, which provide something of value to everyone, and recognize July as
"Parks and Recreation Month".
ij
�G-!�
Stan Bogosian, Mayor