HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-13-2012 Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes
City of Saratoga
Parks and Recreation Commission
MINUTES
DATE: Tuesday, March 13, 2012
TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Saratoga Community Center
Patio Room
19655 Allendale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Call to Order
Roll Call
Present: Thomas Soukup, Mark Johnson, Vita Bruno, Terence Ward,
Absent: Christine Zak
Staff & Liaisons: Mainini Cabute
Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, this meeting was properly
posted March 9, 2012.
Accept Agenda Items: No additional items may be added pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2.
Oral & Written Communication: Any member of the public may address the Commission about any matter not
on the agenda for this meeting for up three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter,
but may choose to place the topic on a future agenda.
Approval of Draft Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Minutes:
‐ January 12, 2012
Old Business:
1. Let’s Walk Saratoga
Issue: In February 2011, the City Council approved a resolution to become a Let’s Move City. In July, the
Let’s Move City Ad Hoc prepared a draft Let’s Move City plan that was approved by the Council
at the August 17, 2011 City Council meeting. The draft plan includes direction to the PRC to
organize a program or activity that encourages physical activity. The Commission discussed this
Council directive at the September 2011 and November 2011 meetings. During the November
meeting, the PRC voted to move forward with Let’s Walk Saratoga and formed a subcommittee
to work on the project.
Action: Hear progress report from Let’s Walk Saratoga subcommittee and continue coordination of Let’s
Walk Saratoga.
‐Bruno gave report on Let’s Walk Saratoga stating that kick‐off is scheduled for May 20 event and that
there are future events. Next step will be to create the infrastructure and market the event. All
Commissioners are invited to participate on May 20th event. Bruno stated that the goal of the program
is to educate community on the positive reasons for walking. Commission accepted report.
2. Nesting Box Project
Issue: In early 2011, the PRC and Audubon Society worked together to place nesting boxes in the City’s
parks and open spaces for Saratoga cavity nesting birds and train volunteers to monitor the
boxes. Volunteers were scheduled to receive training on January 2012.
Action: Share an update on the project, hear report on the January volunteer training, and continue
coordination for the next nesting season.
‐Johnson gave a report regarding the volunteer training. Johnson stated that the training was a standing
room only, approximately 60 attended. The Nesting Box Committee has a goal to expand every season.
The Commission accepted the report.
3. PRC Work Plan
Issue: At the January 2012 meeting, the Commission discussed the PRC’s 2012 work plan and
suggested to include the following projects into the work plan: Let’s Walk Saratoga, the Daffodil
Planting, the planning for the Village Creek Trail and Quarry property, and placing distance
markers on trails and park pathways.
Action: Discuss 2012 PRC work plan.
‐Ward stated that the commissioners should prioritize items.
‐ Johnson stated that the Quarry project should become the significant focus of the Commission.
‐Soukup believed that the important question is when these projects should start and recommended
that the Commission should focus their energy on the Quarry property and give attention to the other
smaller projects as time permits during the year.
‐Johnson agreed and stated that the Commission should focus on the following projects when time
permits: Village Creek Trail and beautification projects at parks, specifically kid play areas.
‐Bruno stated that there is not enough public input.
‐Johnson suggested that the City should reach out to the Saratogan.
‐Ward stated that people also may just want to know also and not necessarily want to give feedback.
‐Thomas suggested creating a “bucket list” about what items Commissioners may want to consider and
review the list at every other meeting to evaluate whether there is time and resources to work on them.
‐Johnson stated that we should add the item “create bucket list” on the list of bucket list items.
Commissioners accepted the report.
4. City Council Joint Meeting Agenda
Issue: The PRC and PEBTAC are scheduled to hold a joint meeting with the Saratoga City Council on
September 05, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room at City Hall. The
purpose of the annual meeting is to provide the Council with an update on the status of the
Commission and request approval of priorities and goals for the upcoming year.
Action: Develop an agenda for the City Council Joint Meeting.
Commissioners discussed the idea of postponing the topic to the May 2012.
‐Thomas suggested that the Commissioners postpone the discussion until their July or August meeting
and the commissioners agreed.
5. Wildwood Cinema Movie Night
Issue: On September 10, 2011, the City, PRC, and Saratoga Monte Sereno Community Foundation
hosted Wildwood Cinema Movie Night. During the event, the movie Up was shown for free. The
PRC would like to host more movie events in the summer months of 2012.
Action: Organize next event.
‐Commissioners agreed to host movie night again in 2012.
‐Thomas suggested that Commission should get approval from Council and talk to Saratoga‐Monte
Sereno to see if they are interested in partnering with the Commission.
‐Johnson suggested that the event take place on Saturday, September 8th and suggested to talk to
Chamber of Commerce about participating and Ward agreed. Johnson suggested that the Commission
work with the Chamber to provide PR for this event.
‐Bruno suggested that there should be a standing marketing/ advertising outreach piece with City staff
and Johnson stated that PR should be added to the bucket list.
6. Arbor Day
Issue: At the November 2010 meeting, the PRC met with a Youth Commission subcommittee to discuss
opportunities to support the City’s annual Arbor Day event. Since then a PRC subcommittee,
including Commissioners Bruno and Wilson, has been working with the Youth Commission to
coordinate activities for Arbor Day. Arbor Day 2012 is scheduled for April 20 beginning at 3 p.m.
at Wildwood Park.
Action: Continue Arbor Day coordination.
Commissioners suggested that there should be some information about the Heritage Tree Program
discussed at the event.
New Business
7. Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Issue: The terms of the current Chair and Vice Chair expire at the May 2012 meeting. Per the City of
Saratoga Municipal Code, the Commission is required to elect a new Chair and Vice Chair.
Action: The PRC will elect a new Chair and Vice Chair, whose terms will begin at the May 2012 PRC
meeting.
‐Johnson moved that Bruno become chair. Ward made the second vote. Action carried unanimously.
8. Establishing a Heritage Tree Inventory
Issue: The Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) requests assistance from the Parks and Recreation
Commission (PRC) in helping to establish a Heritage Tree Inventory. The City Council has already
granted permission to the HPC to start the process, but the HPC would like to include the PRC in
developing recommendations about certain trees located within City Parks. Michael Fossati,
City Planner, will briefly give verbal presentation about this opportunity
Action: Hear presentation and discuss opportunity.
‐ City Staff Michael Fossati brought some heritage tree applications and asked PRC commissioners
whether they know of specific trees that should be included in the inventory list. Commisioners
discussed about where there may be existing heritage trees.
‐Thomas asked : What defines a heritage Tree and Fossati answered that a tree is considered heritage if
it has some cultural/social value, if the specie thrives in the area. Fossati also stated that the Tree
ordinance still applies to all trees.
‐Ward suggested that each commissioner should look at a type of tree near residential parks and
Thomas stated that there are many opportunities to find trees.
9. Developing Saratoga to the Sea Quarry Trail
Issue: City staff requests assistance from the PRC in taking the lead to make recommendations
regarding the development of the Saratoga to the Sea Quarry Trail. John Cherbone, City’s
Director of Public Works will briefly give verbal presentation about this opportunity.
Action: Hear presentation and discuss opportunity.
‐City Staff John Cherbone gave a report about the Quarry property.
‐Johnson asked staff to coordinate a field trip before the summer to see Quarry and Thomas agreed.
‐ Vita made a motion for the PRC to lead the Master Plan.
‐ Johnson made a second on the motion and all Commissioners agreed.
Commissioner & Staff Reports (This includes committee updates and park reports. This section is informational
only; no actions will be taken.)
‐Ward reported he attended the Chinese New Year event and he thought the event was really well done
and enjoyed it.
‐All commissioners gave report on their community parks.
Agenda Items for Next Meeting
‐ May 8, 2012
Adjournment
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you need a disability‐related
modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 408.868.1269 or
ctclerk@saratoga.ca.us. Requests must be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the
start of the meeting.
Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Note:
In accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act, copies of the staff reports and other materials provided to the Parks and
Recreation Commission by City staff in connection with this agenda are available at the office of the City Manager at 13777
Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, California 95070. Any materials distributed by staff after the posting of the agenda are made
available for public review at the office of the City Manager at the time they are distributed to the Parks and Recreation
Commission.
Certificate of Posting of Agenda:
I, Mainini Cabute, Administrative Analyst II for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing agenda for the meeting of
the Parks and Recreation Commission of the City of Saratoga was posted on March 9, 2012 at the office of the City of
Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070 and was available for public review at that location. The agenda is
also available on the City’s website at www.saratoga.ca.us.