HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-2000 Park and Recreation Commission AgendasSaratoga Parks and Recreation�ommission Special Meeting
City Hall Administrative Offices
13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga
Monday, August 28, 2000
7:30 p.m.
AGENDA
Orstanization
A> Foll Call: Alberts, Clabeaux, Dodge, Fronczak, Ioannou, Olsen, Seroff
B> Report on Posting of the Agenda:
Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2 the agenda was properly posted on
August 24, 2000
II. Administration
A) None
III. Oral Written Communication
This section is for the public to speak on any item not on the agenda (3 minute limit).
IV. Old Business
Congress Springs Park presentation-Options for Pony league.
v. New Business
A) City Council meeting September 6, 2000
Attendance
Presenters
B) Presentation by City Planner Christina Ratcliffe regarding Nagpal property
trail easement.
VI. Commissioner Staff Ret�orts
A) City Hall Update-Staff liaison Bloomquist
s) Commissioner Reports
VII. Adiournment
CITY OF SAR.ATOGA
PARKS AND RECREAI�ION COMMISSION
MEMORANDUM
DATE: Au�usT 28, 2000
TO: Parks and Recreation Commission
FROM: Christina Ratcliffe, AICP
Assistant Planner
SUBJECT: SD-98-008 b DR-98-052; Nagpal. This two lot subdi��ision was appm�•ed
by the City Council on July 21, 2000, with the condition that the required
pathway improvement plan be reviewed and approved b}' staff, the Cit�r
Arborist and the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Background
The Title Report on this propert}� indicates a 10 foot wide Pedestrian and Equestrian
Easement along the northern portion of the subject propert��. This easement dates back to
the subdi��ision of this area in August of 1980 and at present is not maintained or utili=ed as
a trail. In May of last year, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended that this
easement be de��eloped as a condition of subdi«sion approval. ln appro�zn� the
subdi��ision, the Cit�� Council required that the path«�ay be impro��ed to the e�tent feasible
«�ithout endangering any Ordinance-protected trees.
Current Proposal
The cunent pathway proposal is three feet wide and designed in accordance vvith the trail
design standards outlined in the Parks and Trails Master Plan. The Citp Arborist
recommends that the existing retaining wall be maintained in order to spare Ordinance-
protected trees. This would result in the pathway being somewhat narrow for a lengrh of
about 4� feet. Staff feels that this is acceptable, as it would result in sa��ing four Ordinance-
protected trees.
The Final Map v�Till be presented to the City Council on September 20, 2000.
Recommendation
Approve the plans submitted with the Arborist's recommendations.
Attachments
1. Ciry Arborist's Report, June 22, 2000
2. Trail Plan, E�ibit "A"
BARRIE D. COA
AND ASSOCIATES
Horticuitura) Consulfiants
(408) 353-1052
23535 Summit Road
Los Gatos, CA 95033
A REVIEW OF T�-� PROPOSED HORSE TR.AIL ON THE NAGPAL PROPERTY
19101 VIA TESORA COURT
SARATOGA
Prepared at the Request of.
Christina Ratcliffe
Commtmity Planning Dept.
City of Saratoga
13777 Fruitvale Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
Site Visit by:
Michael L. Bench
Consulting Arborist
June 22, 2000
Job 11-95-291-00
Plan Received: June 5, 2000
Plan Due: June 23, 2000
A Review Of T7ee Pr�oposad �se Ti+ail Ori T�e Na�al Pr»p�rrty
19101 Iria Tesora Ca�r� Sru+�riga
ASSIg7tHteRt
At the request of Christina Ratcliffe, Planning Dep�rtment, City of Satswga this report
reviews the pnoposal to con.struct a horse trail ad}acerrt to the curb of Chester Avenue on
the property of Mr. and Mrs. Nagpal in the context of potential damage to or the removai
of existing trees. This report further provides information about the health and svucture
of the trees on site, and makes recommen�ations by which damage to them can be
restricted within acceptable horticultural practices to prevent significant deciine.
The plan reviewed for this report is the Trail Pian prepared by G.A. Rock, sheet HT-1,
dated 5-26-00.
Sunvnary
This praposal exposes seven tre+es to some level of risk by construction.
Procedures are suggested to mitigate the ciamage that would be expected.
A bond equal to 15% the value of the retained trees is suggested in accordance with the
levels of the expected risks.
Observations
There are nine trees on this site ihat are at risk of daroage by propased construction.
However, only seven of these trees are large enough to be governed by the city
ordinance. The at�ched map shows the location of these trees and their a�pro�amate
canopy dimensions.
The seven trees are classified as follows:
Trees #1, 4, 6, coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
Tree #5 blue oak (Quercvs douglasii)
The health and structune of each specimen is rated on a scale of 1 to 5(Excellent —Poor)
on data sheets that follow this text. Because the combinations of these ratings may be
difficult to interpret, the overall condition of each of these specimens is rated as follows
to aid with planning.
Ezceptional Fine Fair
Specimens Specimens Specimeas
]-6
Marginal Poor
Specimens Speximens
7
Fine specimens must be re�taiaed if possible but without major design revisions.
Mitigation proc�diaes recommended here are iatended to limit damage within accepted
horticultural standards in order to prevent decline.
Prr�d by: M'ullr,ad L Bordi, CoauMiRs ArGorist Jxae 21, Z000
A Revrn► (?f Tke Pr,op�ased --.wse Tr�W Ow Tlre Ng�si Pyoperty
1919I [�'�a T�rs C,arri, Stratosa
Marginal specimens are typically worth retaining but could be removed if neoes.sary to
facilitate construction. Miugatiams recommended her� are intende+d to prevent significant
decline.
Impact of Construction
The proposed horse trail is located adjacent to the curb and parallel to Chester Avenue. A
steep slope exists (approximately 2:1) adjacent to the curb for much of the area proposed
for the trail. A cut will have to be made into the slope in order to establish a reasonably
level surface. It app�ars that a retaining wall, would be r�uired to hold the slope after the
cut is made, alttwugh the plan does not prc►vide for such a retaining wall.
There are two clusters of trees that will suffer root damage when a cut is made into the
existing slope. All of the trees would suffer moderate to severe root damage. Since tree
#7 is presentfy in marginal condition, it is not likely thai it would sarvive the cut into the
slope even if the root loss were only minor. Tree #S aad 6 would probabty survive but
would decline unless they received suppleme�tal irrigation and a layer of mulch to
conserve moisture.
A wood retaining wall exists on the north side of tr�es 1-4. If this wall were to be
removed in order to make a ctrt fiather into t6e slope, t�e root loss to all four tr�es would
be severe_ They would not be expected to sarvive.
It appears that the irrigation for this slope has been shut off or is not functional.
Recommendations
The following mitigation suggtstions are imended to reduoe tfie extent af construction
damage to acceptable levels, so t�at retained trees can rea.sonably be assured of survival
without deciine.
I suggest that the existing wood retaining wall adjacent to trees 1-4 be retained. In
this event, the trail would be more narrow at this sectioa than the other sections of the
new trail.
2. To prevent significant root damage to tr�ees 1-4, I suggest that the existing soil grade
not be disturbed. This impiies that the proposed 4inch excavation of the soil in order
to install a 4inch layer of wood chips not be done in this area (between the curb and
the face of the existing wood retaining wall)-
3. Supplememal irrigaiion must be provided to retained Trees #3-7 (these trees would be
the most affecGCd by tbe soil cut into the slope) during the dry months (any month
receiving less than 1 inch of rainfall). Irrigaie with IO gallons for each inch of trunk
diameter, every two w�eeks throughout the constn�ction period.
4. I suggest that a full 3-inch layer of coarse wood chips be spnead over the entire root
zones of inees #3, 4, 5, 6, and 7_ Spreading of the chips roust be done by hand
P�nd i}': Afrc�d L Barcf. Camr�.lrbwirt J+ewe Z2. 2A00
A Re++ew Of Tlu Propaurd ..arsc Trail T�e Na�pa! Pr�opr�t�
I9101 f�ra Tesorr� Co�crt, Sm�to�a
5. The excavated soil must not be piled or dim�ped (even tempotariiy) �mder the
canopies of tiees.
Val�e Asaessnrenr
The values of the trees are addres.sed aocording to ISA Standards, Seventh Edition
The combined vaiue of the trees is �15,740. I suggest a boad equal to l 5% of the total
vaf ue of the tree.s to assure protection.
Respectfully subm
Michael L. Bench, iate
%��:-��i_ i: �=r-•� i
Enciosures:
Tree Data Accumulaiion Charts
Map
MLB/sl
Pnepmrd by: M'rclead L Burcli, Ca�sttJhwg A�nrist J�rre 22, 2000
Job Title: Na�pal
Property
BARRIE D. COATE
and ASSOCIATES
(a0B135� 1052
13535 Surmil Ao�d
LaCda,CA 9fU30
Key f1 Plant Name
t Coest Llve Oak
�uercu� aprifolia
2 Coast Live Oak
3 Coest Llve Oak
1 Coast Llve Oak
5 Btue Oek
�uarcua douplasii
e Coa�t Live Oak
7 Coest Live Oak
Jvb Address: 19101 '1'esoro Ct., Saratoga Job 11-95-291-110
June 22, 2000
Meeeurements Condltfon Prunlna/Ceblinq Need• PesUDiseaee Probleme Rocommend.
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Tatal Value
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sa. in 83 8 X E27lsq. In. f 1,717 X sp. class 100l0 51,717
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sq in 201 X S27/sq. in. S 5,428 X sp class 100% 55,128
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�gal n f36 1Sgal 3120
24"box 5420 36'box 51,320
4A"box S,S,000 52'box 57.000
72"box SiS,000
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X cond. 75°h S 1,8�2
X IOt. BO% S 1,4�2
Total Value
X cond. 75% s 1,288 X loc. 80°!0 f 1,030
lotal Value
X cond 9a% S �,883 X loc 80°/, f �,9�7
total value
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X conQ 45% E 2,041 X loc 8�i f 1,833
iotal value
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Barrie D. Coale
O
f� Asso�iates 191Q1 Via �f��KO ('uiu1, Saraloga
(408) 353 1052
'"�-S 23535 Summit Koad PrcparcYl fiir: ('hrislin� Katclifle, f'I:uining I)�TI.
Los Gatos, CA 95033
Job ll I I -95-291-00
��i"� HORTICUI.TI IRAL CONSULTANT DATE: �une 2000
CONSULTING ARBORIST SCALL: map reduced
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MOUNTAIN WINERY
GETS APPROVAL
FOR CURRENT USE
FROM SUPERVISORS
Trail Enthusiasts say they
could take legal action
V�iner�T seeks promor.er
B)' KAR/+ CHAL1v�R5
Althoueh later than expected, the Moun-
tain Winery obtained its use permit on Aug.
1� from the Santa Clara Countv Board of
Supervisors. allowing the hillside facility
to continue to operate as a concert hall,
restaurant and wedding and business meet-
ing venue.
For winerv officials. it was betcer late than
never.
According to the president of the winery.
Nancv Bussani, obtaining the permit
means that winerv officials can now begin
master planning for the expansion of the
facility—specificall�� an increase in the
number of seats in the concert bowl from
1.750 to 2.500. and a 1.500-square-foot
expansion of the winery building. She said
the owners were hesitant about beginning
improvement plans at the site before the
supervisors' decision. No expansion will
occur without future approval from the
county planning commission.
Also, the winery can now move forward
in selecting a promoter for its concert
series, something that the owners have put
off until now. The winery's contract with
Villa Montalvo Center for the Arts expires
this fall and the winery has received bids
from three other companies as well as
Montalvo. Bussani said the four owners of
the winery would make a final decision on
V�inery
Continued from page 1
a promoter at the end of September. She
said no matter which company the winer}�
contracts with, it wants to have greater
connol over the concert series.
The county planning commission
approved the winery's permit in March, but
the city of Saratoga and the Saratoga Trail
Enthusiasts—the nonpro5t advocacy arga-
nization for the ciry's traiLs—both appealed
the commission's decision to the board of
supervisocs. In approving the permit Aug.
15, the supervisors denied the appeals.
At the time of its appeal, the city held
that traffic, noise, traiLs and parking con-
cerns were not dealt with adequately and
that [he permit should cover only culrent
uses, not f uture expansion plans. City offi-
cials at the time said the conditions the
commission attached to the use permit
were not adequate.
In June, the city and the winery came to
a compromise on all issues, except trails.
The trail enthusiasts and the winery have
not reached an agreement, and now that
the board has approved the winery's use
permit, the enthusiasts say they are con-
sidering filing a court action challenging
the environmental impact report (EIR),
which they say contains flawed and inac-
curate data. A consulting firm selected by
the county and paid for by the applicant
prepared the EIR.
At the hearing Aug. 15. Supervisor
Joe Simitian, who represents Saratoga,
suggested modifications to the permit's
attached conditions, in response to
some concerns of the city and the.uail
enthusiasts. The board unanimously
P/ease turn to page 10
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G O d d
approved the permit and the cond�tions
"I thuilc they're rieorous condit�ons �iuc
we were pleased to see unanimou�
approval," B�usani said.
The conditions limit the number oi per-
forming arts events to 75. and weddings.
receptions and corporate banquets to a
maximum of 450 events. with a ranee of
to 500 persons per event. Special cvents ar�
limited to 36. with no more than three �,er
month and no more than 1.500 persons �er
event. All concerts are to end at 10:30 p.m.
The conditions of the permit also hold
that the winerv w�ill pa�� for the count�• t�
hue an acoustical ene�neer to recommend
wavs the winer�� can reduce noise from us
events. The winer�• aereed to pa�• up to
5100.OQ0 to implement the engineer's rec-
ommendations and �o finish all the w�o�k
recommended bv Ma�• 1�. 2001.
To help control traffic after concerts. thr
winery agreed to hire three sheriff's
deputies. or other law� enforcement office�.
onaone-yearenalbasisduringthe?001 con-
ceR season. If the county determines thai
the program reduced craffic backup in thr
city, theY w'ill continue the program.
With Simitian's modifications, the final
conditions hold that no more than tw�
performing arts events could beQin beforr
6:30 p.m., and that parking spaces at the
site be limited to 700 for the 2000 concert
season, with an increase to 725 af�er thc
concert bowl is expanded. He also added
the condition that no parking is aflowed on
streets in the residential neighborhood�
adjoining the winery.
In denying the trail enth�uiasts' appeal.
the supervisors held thac tfiev could not
require the winery to grant a trail ease-
ment on a portion of the winerv proper��
located in Saratoga, alongside Pierce
Pleose ttrrn ro page I S
0
a
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00
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0
..r
h
Git staff, user groups
Y
tem ora �a fie�ds
p rY P Y
AYSO �ill need
practice fields
BY KARA CHALIv�RS
In response to a request from the Sarato-
ga City Council, city staff has reinvescigat-
ed whether there is any more available land
in or near the city for playfields, and the
answer is--surprisingly—yes.
The playfields issue centers on the
shortage in Saratoga of grassy land that u
flat. a requirement for baseball and soccer
6elds. In addition, Congress Springs Park.
which has five of the city's playfields, will
under¢o a major renovation this year. The
$1.2 million project involves redesigning
the lavout of the park's fields. One goal of
the renovation is to get as many playfields
as possible from the fields there now, and
another goal is to make the old and
uneven fields safer.
The construction that is tentatively set
to begin at the 10-acre park in December,
and last until August 2001, wil! affect the
user groups' seasons. The American
Youth Soccer Organization and Saratoga
Little League and Pony League—the
users of the playfields at the park—need
alternate sites to use for practice during
the renovacion at Congress Springs Park.
For Little League, this is not expected
to be a huge problem, said Cary
find
sites
Bloomquist, the city staff liaison to the
Parks and Recreation Commission, even
though the league's 2001 season ma��
have to be shortened due to the con-
struction.
For AYSO, the organization's needs for
practice fieids during the 2000-2001 sea-
son will only be met if the citv can secure
more sites.
In their quest, city staff contacted all the
school districts that serve Saratoga resi-
dents, religious organizations, service
clubs, businesses, and other public and pri-
vate groups. According to Bloomquist.
almost all the groups said their facilities
were being used to capacity.
Working together, the citv and AYSO
have procured five additional field sites all
within the city limits.
One site is at the Mormon Church. two
are at E1 Quito Park, ane is at Wildwood
Park and one at Beauchamps Park. In
addition, two sites might be available at
De Anza College.
City staff is also researching four field
sites at the Christa McAuliffe Elementarv
School in the Cupertino Union School
Disuict, and four sites at Countrv Lane
School in the Moreland School District.
The two schools are expected to respond
once this school year gets underway.
Bloomquist said that if the city can
secure the sites at the Christa McAuliffe
Schooi and Country Lane, it will be able to
meet AYSO's practice fields needs for the
2000season.
WINERY RESPONDS
TO RUMORS THAT
IT'S CHANGING
SERIES MANAGER
Villa Montalvo hoping
to form new contract
Promoters submit bids
By K,vu Cx,�.�Rs
The rumors 8ying about the Mountain
Winery contracting with the concert pro-
moter Bill Graham Presents for its concert
series are just that—rumors, according to
the Mountain Winery's president, Nancy
B 11SS3II1.
In fact, Bussani said that the four ovmers
of the winery have not even met with any
one from Bill Graham, or any other con-
cert promoter, other than the nonprofit
Villa Montalvo Center for the Arts. The
center currently manages the winery's
summer series
But last November, the winery issued
requ��ts for proposals to three for-profit
compaiiies, plus Montalvo, since its con-
tract with Montalvo lapses at the end of this
year's concert season. According to Mon-
talvo Executive Director Elisabeth Chal-
lener, the winery has until Oct.15 to renew
its current contract.
The contract that was initially signed in
1997 by the winery's prior owner is a three-
year contract with an evergreen clause.
That clause allows the parties to add anoth-
er year at the end of each year, Challener
said. The current owners inherited about a
year and a half of this contract when they
bought the facility in March 1999.
Bill Graham Presents, which operates
Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain
View, has recently submitted a bid, as has
Please rurn ro page 11
Winery
Continued from poge 1
The House o( Blues. The HoLLSe of Blua.
based in Los Angeles. and Clear Channel
Commurucauons, wfiich owns Bill Graham
Presents and is based in San Antonio. are the
country's two lareesi conart promoters.
DanSun Productions. from Berkeley.
has submitted a bid. aswell as Montalvo.
The winerv has announced it would not
make anv decisions about which promot-
er toselect until after Santa Clara Count�•
approves the condiiional-use perm�t thc
winerv �s seekine to operate its tacilitv as
a concert. wedding and corporate meetmg
venue. lt has operated this way [or more
than 40 vears. The permit would le�alize
the uses but would also restrict parking.
noise. the numbcr of events and numher
o[ patrons at events.
Bussani said thc partners w�uld proh�
t+lv decidc in September attcr analvz�ng
thc hids.
Thr permit process. which prior �wners
hecan, is stitl eon[inuing. The county plan-
ning commission �;ranted the permit in
March 2000. but the citv and the Saratoga
Trail Enthusiasts appealed it. Thc appeal
is schedulcd to be heard b�� the coun���
board of supervisorson Aug. 15.
Bussani said shc thought thc permit
prnccss would have ended I�ng aeo. and
did not anticipate it Coing on this lonc.
Shc said that FoinF through thc RFP
�rc�ss would help thc wincry officiaL� Icam
ahout thc concert biuiness and understand
h�wvenueswork with pr�moters.
"The primary reason wc ehosc to d�
that last fa11 was thai none of us have expc-
nence with concerts and h�w they work."
Sfll' Sil�d.
Accordin� Cfiallcncr. Mon�alvo
hopes to negotiate an extension or an
cntirclv ncw c�ntracl with the wincn•.
"Vlie [elt very good ahout the fact that
the wincry was researching thc mustt
industry. because we felt thai would vali-
date thc positive work we were doing at
thc mountain winery," she said.
Montalvo took over bookin6, produc-
tion, markcting. salcs and operations of
the concert series for the winerv in 1997.
Today the conccrt series comprises an
average of 50 to 60 shows per season. with
52 acts scheduled for thisseason. Accord-
ing to Cha{lener, one of the hallmarks oi
Villa Montalvo's concert series is thc
diversity o( per(ortners, which range irom
country to jau to opera to pop.
Montalvo donates the proceeds fram
the concert series to programs such as arts
education programs in schools. According
to Challenet. the programs serve about
12.000 to 13.000 children a year, many o(
whom come trom scfiools tfiat have a
number of children from disadvantaged
families, and children who are not
exposed to the atts.
Montalvo's concert procecds also [und
its ariist-in-residency program and its free
art gallery.
Challenersaid that often Montalvo per-
iormers have agreed to teach a master
class or workshop at local high schools.
Recentl}•. Dave Koz. a jau saxoph�nist.
taught a mastet class at Lincoln HiFh
School in San Jose.
"That's what makes us dif[erent from a
Bill Graham Presents." Challcncr said.
She said if the Mountain Winerv termi-
natrd �rc R��....,i,.;.
talvo would see a 5700.000 deficit from Icut
ticket and bo: seau sales, corporatc spon-
sorships and individual gitu.
Challener said that Montalvo rcantl�•
wrapped up tivee monttu of focus groups
and telephone surveys with patrons. She
said the most unportant nems m thcu minds
weTe the excellrnce of the perf ormers, the
intimactiof the venua. the noncommemal
environmrnt and the good (eelu�g thcy got
when thcv knew their ucJc�t purcha5e would
support a nonprofit organuanon.
Challenet said mam� people look (or•
ward to Mounta�n W'�nerv concerts a� a
summer nte and that patr�ns carc ah�ut
how all of Montalv�'s ushcrs and erectcn
wear badges that sa� "volunieer." lvlon•
talvo uses more than 6IX1 volunteers. man.
of whom are from Saratoca
°I[ ihat sense o[ that special �{acr
ehaneed. 1 think thev'd (eel the�� w•rre
missine a dear friend." she said.
Aecordtng to Bussan�. the winen•'s rela-
tionsh�paith Montalvo has heen eood.
"They�ve done a realh• e�od ioh. thr
hc�king ae� have heen reallv e<�ud." Bu��
sani said. "One thine Wr wanl to achicvr
to bc ahVc to have a hnir morr sa� m m�r-
kcting and operai�on�.'�
Shc said what thc promoicrs c:an offcr
financialfyeould makc a dificrence. hut thai
monrv would onlv he onc nf thc d�adm�;
[aciors. Most imponantl�, thr wincrv wam.
morc controf rner oprrauun�. Bucsani sai�.
Todav. the wmcrv ducs nrn havc a s.iv �n
which acts arc choscn iu pcn�rm ei �hr
wmery, part of whuh u locat�d m thc cii�
lim�is of SaratciFa. Accordinc �n Challcn-
er. the previous owncr did noi want to hr
involved in ehonsmg per(ormers. But shc
said Montalvo is opcn �o discussi�ns with
the winery on this Issuc.
If thc supervts�rs dcn�• th� appeal ��n
Aug. 15, the winerv will have a permii.
which outhnes. among othcr rcquirc-
ments. decihel levels (or concerts. Th�s
meansthewinerywould have iocamnui
these requirements, or thcv c�uld nsk los-
ing thc Qe�mit, or make its neighhors
unhappy, so �he winery wants to he able to
say no to groups thai mav hc too loud. No
maltcr what, the winerv wanls the right to
choosc the artisls. Bussani said.
"Whomever we go with, we would
require that in an agreement," she said.
Challener said Montalvo is jusi as con-
cerned about making sure the neighh�rs
aren't adverselv a[fccted bv noise.
"We would absolutely succeed at deal-
ing with that," she said about complying
with the noise requirements.
Challener said she was confused when
she first heard that one of the winery's con-
cems wasabout noise. She said that accord-
ing to some of the patrons she hasspoken
to. another concert promoter might book
more rock groups than Montalvo would.
But Bussani replied that this would not
happen.
"We want more involvement with ven-
dors to ensure that things get better, not
worse; 'shesaid. Sfiesaid the winery a happy
with the market the concerts attract and is
not interested in changing that market.
The Mountain Winerv is one of tour of
Villa Montalvo's concert venues. Con-
certs are also held at Villa Montalvo and
in Los Gatos' V asona Lake Countv Park.
Beginning in February 2001. Villa Mon-
talvo will hold conccrts at Mission Santa
Cla�a Church, as wcll. Sut Challener savs
the winery is a sienificant part of what
Montalvo is.
Gommission settles on plan
for Gon ress S rin s Park
g P g
BV LEIGH ANN MATF
The Parks and Recreation Commission
unanimouslvendorsed one of fourrenova-
tion plans for Congress Springs Park at a
communitv input meeting on Aug. 7. If
approved by the Saratoga City Council on
Sept. the estirnated $1.2million renovation
could move forward into the desi� phase.
The favored plan involves redesigning
the lavout of the park's five play fields that
organizations such as Saratoga Little
League, American Youth Soccer Organi-
zation (AYSO) and the Saratoga Pony
League use.
The current fields would be redesigned
so they could be striped for up to eight soc-
cer 6elds, three permanent Little League
infields, two portable Little League
infields and two T-ball infields. Some of
these would overlap, so they wouldn't be
able to he used at the same time.
The present tennis and basketball courts
at the park would be removed to maximize
use for Little League and soccer. The irri-
gation system would be replaced, new grass
woUld be laid down and a new storage
building and yard would be built.
The pony league baseball field would he
relocated to EI Quito Park as part of the
plan, as well. A public meeting to discuss
improvements and the proposed change
to EI Quito Park will be held on Aub. 21,
at 7 p.m. at Saratoga City Hali.
Public Works director John Cherbone
said t�e hopes the Congress Springs Park
renovotion will he complete by Octoher
2001. One more community input meeting
will be held on Nov. 6, and the final project
design will be presented to the council on
Feb. 6, 2001, betore work can begin.
Once completed, a groundskeeper,
whom the city plans to hire with money
from the park development fund, will
maintain the park.
As part of a separate project, the reno-
vation of the restrooms at Congress
Springs Park is scheduled to be finished by
the end of August, according to Cherbone.
Ahout 15 residents who live near Con-
gress Springs Park came to the Aug. 7 com-
munityinputmeeting. Mostof them felt the
renovation would onlv make worse what
they say are existing traffic. speeding and
parking problems near the park.
"I think we should keep the park as it
is." said Glen Brae Drive resident Scott
Wheelwright. "We already have a traffic
problem: let's not exacerbate it."
Commissioner Elaine Clabeaux
responded that the park renovation is
meant to facilitate better use of the 10-
acre park, not increased use.
Keith Simon, president of Saratoga Lit-
tle League, said the renovation will not
bring increased traffic, rather, more flexi-
hility in how the park's fields can be used.
Several other residents were disap-
pointed that the plan only caters to Little
League and soccer players and does not
offer recreation for all residents.
"If we lose the tennis courts, where will we
play?" asked Quito Road resident Michael
Rotherham. "We're going toaccommodate
a lot of kids w:io play soccer, but what about
the rest of the residents of Saratoga? I think
we need to take care of everybody."
Plans to renovate the park came about
because of the limited amount and a�•ail-
abilitv of playfields in Saratoga and the
need for long overdue satety improve-
ments at Congress Springs. Cherbone said.
"This is the only park we have to maxi-
mize playfield usage for the kids." said
Councilman Nick Streit, who attended the
meeting. Historically, the park has been
used primarily tor baseball and soccer,
according to Cherbone.
After hearing the concerns of the pub-
lic, the commissioners endorsed the
plan—hut with several recommendations
attached, including completing a traffic
study, a track around the penmeter, a bud-
get for landscaping and relocation of the
tennis courts to another area of the city.
Since ]une, the city has been meeting
with user groups to see what they want and
need for the Congress Springs project. An
architect came up with about eight differ-
ent options for the redesign of the park.
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