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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-08-1999 Parks and Recreation Joint Meeting Council5 JACOBS, IRENE AGENDA SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME.: Tuesday, June 8,1999 - 5:00 p.m. PLACE: Closed Session, Administration Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Adjourned Regular Meeting, Civic Theater /Council Chambers, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue TYPE: Adjourned Regular Meeting/Joint Meetings ************************************************ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** 5: 00 OPEN SESSION - 5:00 p.m. - Administration Conference Room 1. YOUTH COMMISSION INTERVIEW'S • 5:00 p.m. - Sheeva Ghassemi, Candice Goodman, Sam Kendall • 5:10 p.m. - Stephanie Goodman, James Atkins, Heide Cruikshark, Kristy Kirwan • 5:25 p.m. - Cristina Behrens, Lee Blair, Jennifer Chapski • 5:35 p.m. - Jennie Levin, Abhik Pramanik, Mieka Sywak • 5:45 p.m. - Anna Rotsko, Elliot Onn, Ramy El -Diwany • 5:55 p.m. - Amyllia Goddard, Jackie Luskey, Elliott Shuffle, ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION 2. CLOSED SESSION - Administration Conference Room A. Conference with Legal Counsel- Anticipated Litigation Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Government Code Section 54956.9: (Two cases) B. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 - Name of Cases: City of Saratoga vs. West Valley- Mission Community College District; City of Saratoga vs. County of Santa Clara (Arbitration) ************************************************ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** MAYOR'S REPORT ON CLOSED SESSION (;� CALL TO ORDER- 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers /Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue ROLL CALL Page 1 of 6 1•D 'J 05 I 30 T qa 11.415 Agenda for City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint meetings with Library Commission and Park and Recreation Commission 3. CEREMONIAL ITEM June 8,1999 A. Resolution of Appointment and Oath Taking for newly appointed Library Commissioner REPORT OF CITY CLERK ON POSTING OF AGENDA Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, the agenda for this meeting was properly posted on June 4, 1999. The Notice of Adjournment from the June 2 meeting was posted on June 3, 1999. 4. JOINT MEETING WITH LIBRARY COMMISSION A. Status of Library expansion efforts B. Upcoming 21" Anniversary Celebration C. Other 5. JOINT MEETING WITH PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION A. Report on status of Park Development Fund Page 2 of 6 • V a,.tj t J p 1 UA J 0 Q�;aO Agenda for City Council _ June 8, 1999 Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint meetings with Library Commission and Park and Recreation Commission /�r y �j� �� �/I ►',�� (C1 /� B. Playfields Project Discussion: 1. t r 2. Expenditures to date o 3. t 01,15- • E'er 's views about and recommendations for the project 4. l� ��yi�'I�iU�C Gt T-111 Ir- u Page 3 of 6 Agenda for City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint meetings with Library Commission and Park and Recreation Commission Q C. Discussion of Civic Center Hub concept June 8,1999 • I G : 0C 6. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ON NON - AGENDIZED ITEMS - Any member of the public will be allowed to address the City Council for up to three (3) minutes on matters not on this agenda. The law generally prohibits the Council from discussing or taking action on any such matters. However, the Council may instruct staff accordingly regarding Oral Communications. 0 • Page 4 of 6 101 Agenda for City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint meetings with Library Commission and Park and Recreation Commission 7. s. 9. i 10. • MONTHLY REPORT ON Y2K COMPLIANCE EFFORTS Recommendation: Receive report. j NA A June 8,1999 COUNCIL LIAISON FOR THE SARATOGA HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT. Recommendation: Council to consider selecting one of its own to serve as liaison for the Saratoga High School renovation project. SELF - EVALUATION OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: May 19 and June 2, 1999 44P?1P( AGENCY ASSIGNMENT REPORTS Association of Bay Area Governments Chamber of Commerce Board County HCD Policy Committee Emergency Planning Council Hakone Foundation Liaison KSAR Community Access TV Board Library Joint Powers Authority Board North Cent. Flood Cont. Zone Adv. Committee Penin. Div., League of Cal. Cities Santa Clara Valley Water Commission Santa Clara County Cities Assn./ City Selection Committee County Cities Assn. Leg. Task Force SASCC Liaison Saratoga Business Development Council Sister City Liaison West Valley Solid Waste JPA Valley Transportation Authority PAC West Valley Sanitation District Page 5 of 6 Mehaffey Shaw Mehaffey Baker Shaw Mehaffey Bogosian Bogosian Bogosian Baker Baker Bogosian Streit Mehaffey Shaw Streit Streit Baker Alternate Mehaffey Baker Streit Mehaffey Shaw Bogosian Baker Mehaffey Streit Bogosian Shaw Streit Agenda for City Council Adjourned Regular Meeting/ Joint meetings with Library Commission and Park and Recreation Commission OTHER 12. ADJOURNMENT June 8,1999 • In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 4081868 -1269. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. X28 CFR 35.102 - 35.104 ADA Title II] • • Page 6 of 6 JUN 07 1999 21:23 FR CB RICHARD ELLIS 408 437 3170 TO 98681280 P.02iO4 June 7, 1999 Dear fellow commission: First I greatly apologize for not being able to attend tonight's meeting. I am soon to become a 2' time father, and my wife and I must take care of related family matters this evening. Despite not being present, I did wish to make a few points that I feel should not go without being considered. Undoubtedly the City of Saratoga faces a long battle ahead. In every aspect our City is finding it to be more and more difficult to meet the demands and needs of it's citizens. The challenge becomes increasingly difficult as we struggle to simultaneously determine future needs and demands of Saratoga. A portion of our difficulties exists as the definition and importance of demands versus needs has not been properly defined. At present I, nor do I feel anyone, has a strong feel for this definition. Many, including myself, are eager to step forward and say "I have the solution!" And I agree there are many plans of action that could be incorporated to meet the demands of this great city. But reviewing the budget issues of our City, which extends beyond just the Park & Rec commission, and the physical disrepair of our existing parks which carries additional financial liabilities, the City simply does not have the resources to satisfy all the needs and demands of this City. Consequently to continue with any plan or decision making process, please be reminded that any alternative we may choose, several people will feel the burden. It is our duty, and reason we have been appointed to this committee, to recommend which alternative bests suits the "needs" of Saratoga and it's future while minimizing the sacrifices made by all. Council Member Streit, has bold energy in further investigating the options of Heritage Orchard Park. When I first joined this commission, this was my initial thought as well. (I even have it laid out in my head exactly how it should work) However, in hind site I do not disagree with his efforts but am simply hesitant: 1) This is the last major portion of real estate the city has to offer, thus we must be careful in how it is used 2) The city is still growing and needs will evolve /change, a larger library is already inevitable additional facilities to house other activities are on the horizon 3) After improvements are made to house the expansion of other facilities, how much play -field truly remains 4) Lastly have all the options for other fields been exhausted, can compromises not be reached? Given we are so far down this path, it is only right that we find the answer to these questions. JUN 07 1999 21:23 FR CB RICHARD ELLIS 408 437 3170 TO 96681280 P.03iO4 I do not oppose pursuing the Heritage Orchard Park as an alternative, however there will be resistance & challenges in completing this task. My initial feeling is we will be where we are today if we continue this path: 1) A group, extremely supportive of the idea, who are willing to make sacrifices to achieve its creation 2) Another, extremely opposed, and willing to fight the project even after it is down a path further than we are today. This commission must continue forward in its original mission statement, to develop new fields to meet the growing needs of Saratoga. Sacrifices by all parties are inevitable: users (as perhaps we cannot achieve all the necessary fields), neighbors (there may be traffic increases), and the City (not all needs will be satisfied today), but with sacrifices and compromises today perhaps needs & demands can be met in the future, ie. Blue Hills has met much resistance, but undoubtedly this is a City park that should not continue in its current state. This park perhaps does not have to be the intense play - field that it has been defined as being. Our Council does not feel a compromise exists. But from listening to the real issues from both users & neighbors, it is possible neither may get what they demand, but each may get something the City needs. Thus perhaps a compromise is achievable. This is not an easy task. Many neighbors will feel hurt, as will many users, many ideas will never leave the ground for monetary reasons, and perhaps our complete plan is never fulfilled. But our job is to have a vision, create a mission and achieve a goal. I feel we have done this, and nothing has been warranted to deter us from our journey. Yes opposition has been met, but the opportunities have not been fully exhausted. Given our limited resources and the tools the City of Saratoga has provided this Commission, we have done one hell of a job! It would be a tremendous mistake if our existing Council did not allow our efforts to continue. The decisions that face us are not easy, but they never are when human emotions are involved. On a personal note: Like many of us, I drive by the parks and schools of Cupertino, Los Gatos, Campbell, San Jose daily. I watch the kids playing little league, soccer, basketball etc, and Saratoga has nothing close to the facilities of our neighboring Cities. It is interesting how in reading publications in our paper how the residents of our City boast themselves as being better because they live in Saratoga. I believe our town provides an extremely weak sense of community, and lacks much of the good fortune given to our neighboring cities. �V JUN 07 1999 21:23 FR CH RICHARD ELLIS 408 437 3170 TO 98681260 P.04iO4 Not being native to the bay area, I grew up in a small farming town (3,000 people) where the sense of community was very apparent and still is today despite its recent growth. Despite Santa Clara Valley's changes the cities of Los Gatos, Cupertino, Campbell etc have been blessed with the financial resources to keep their sense of community alive. Undoubtedly financial security plays a tremendous role thus we must use our limited resources to create an environment where a sense of community can grow. Do to poor planning in the past this will require change, and change cannot take place without sacrifice. As our youth grow & develop outside activity will continue to be a major need for Saratoga, and could be an excellent catalyst to develop a stronger sense of community. Perhaps Nick Streits long -term goal of Heritage Orchard Park could be a beginning by giving Saratoga a place of visible common ground for all to meet. I apologize for the poorly written and informal "long" memo, however I hope that you can take into consideration my opinions and feelings, for matters being addressed this evening. Again, I also apologize for my not being present! rely rank rie ** TOTAL PAGE.04 ** City Council Meeting Tuesday, June 8, 1999 Playfield Project Historical Snapshot 1. History of Project November 1990 City receives the final report from the consultant who was hired to develop the Parks and Trails Master Plan. The plan, makes recommendations to the City to develop joint use agreements with existing schools sites to develop additional playfield use. In addition, the City's Open Space Element of the City's General Plan that was updated in 1993, also makes reference to coordinating with existing school sites to meet the recreational needs of the community. June 1996 Community Meeting held to Prioritize Park Development Fund Projects; 70 members from the Community attended. Community Civic Hub, in addition to improving and developing playfields, receive top priorities from the community group. Spring 1997 City -wide budget cuts; before any significant progress was made on any of the projects, the City Council asked the Commission to revise the original priority list recognizing that the City would no longer be able to directly support any of the projects. The Community Hub now is bumped from its first priority slot and playfield renovation and development are moved up on the priority list. The Commission is asked to pursue this priority with certain constraints. The goals is tc be reached within the limited funding of the Park Development Fund, no new park land is to be considered and maintenance levels will not be increased by either the City or schools. January 1998 Parks & Recreation Commission recommends to Council that the City hire a project manager to oversee the Playfield Development Project. City was not able to commit sufficient staff time to this project as was necessary in light of the recent budget cuts. March 1998 Parks & Recreation Commission meets with and receives approval from the City Council to hire the Project Manager to implement the Playfield Project. This project would be funded by the Park Development Fund for the development of new athletic fields in addition to renovating some existing fields, such as Congress Springs Park, that is in need of repair April 1998 The Parks and Recreation Commission supports staffs recommend that the City enact a $12 per participant user fee in place of the current flat rate of $1,500 per season for the use of Congress Springs Park by organized sports leagues. Staff had recommended this increase in user fees in an attempt to recover costs city -wide, as requested by the City Council. In 1990 dollars, it costs the city $5,500 per acre in maintenance costs for Congress Springs alone, a park measuring 9.97 acres. Both AYSO and Saratoga Little League pay $1,500 per season for the use of the site. The City Council overruled the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission and did not approve to enact a per participant user fee but, the Council did request that the Project Manager's scope of services (that had already received approval by Council in March) be expanded to include the establishments of joint -use agreements between the City, user groups and school districts for existing sites in addition to the proposed sites that had not yet been identified. The Council made it clear to the user groups that the City would not invest in playfield development projects if there was no commitment from their part to help in the maintenance of these new fields. The City was and is unable to provide additional maintenance above the level that it is currently providing for existing sites let alone additional playfield sites. If this group could not first prove that this first circle was going to work, the City Council would not consider building additional playfields. May 1998 Beals Landscape Architecture's contract is approved for to serve as the Project Manager. June 1998 Task Force Meeting - Number 1 (June 30, 1998) July 1998 Task Force Meeting - Number 2 (July 29, 1998) August 1998 Task Force Meeting - Number 3 (August 19, 1998) At this meeting, Task Force Members prioritized 10 potential sites and voted, thus make an initial recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Commission to improve the top four out of ten identified sites; Blue Hills School /Azule Park, Marshall Lane School, Foothill School and Congress Springs Park. The Task Force would make an official recommendation to the Parks & Recreation Commission once the Task Force had received the feedback gathered at the Public Input Meetings from residents. October 1998 Public Input Meetings are held for potential sites; Foothill and Marshall Lane November 1998 A Public Input Meeting is held for potential site; Blue Hills School /Azule December 1998 Task Force Meeting #4 (Canceled due to holidays and lack of a quorum) January 1999 Task Force Meeting #4 The Task Force held its fourth meeting to formulate its formal recommendation to the Parks and Recreation Commission for consideration in February. Again, the main objective of this Task Force was to devise a way to address the maintenance issue before the Parks & Recreation Commission and City Council would consider preceding with this project. Council Study Session on the Playfields The study session was planned to provide the City Council with an update on the status of the project; what had occurred up to then and what was left to be done. The session was scheduled to offer the Council an opportunity to ask questions of the consultant prior to being asked to vote on the issue. February 1999 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting (February 1, 1999) Parks and Recreation Commission considered the formal recommendation of the Playfield Task Force to improve the top four identified sites; Blue Hills School /Azule Site, Marshall Lane School, Foothill School and Congress Springs Park. As a result of the response that was received from the public that extended this meeting to the early hours of the morning, the issue was tabled until the next Commission meeting. Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting (February 22, 1999) The Parks and Recreation Commission votes to schedule further meetings with the neighborhood groups to hear the concerns of the neighbors that have bee raised concerning the playfields. It is decided that a consultant specializing in conflict resolution will be used. Staff will contact members of the neighborhood to request that they select representatives from their community to attend these meetings. March 1999 Joint Meeting with the City Council (March 9, 1999) The City Council is updated on all the Park Development projects including the Playfield Project. The Parks and Recreation Commission requests direction from the City Council to either support the plan or direct the Commission to cease any further efforts. There is no negative feedback from the Council. The Commission proceeds with its plan. May 1999 City Council Meeting (May 5, 1999) Vice Mayor Bogosian read a prepare statement recommending to cease further discussions of the proposed Marshall Lane and Blue Hills /Azule Site alternative sites for playfield development and to recommend removing these sites from the list for further consideration. The issue was taken to a vote that failed 2 -2. A joint meeting is scheduled with the Parks and Recreation Commission for June 8, 1999.