HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-2011 Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes
City of Saratoga
Parks and Recreation Commission
MINUTES
DATE: Tuesday, January 11, 2011
TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Saratoga City Hall
Warner Hutton House
13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Call to Order – 6:37 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Bruno, Johnson, Soukup, Wilson
Absent: Goldberg
Staff: Taylor, Morrow
Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, this meeting was properly
posted on January 4, 2011.
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.
‐ No communications from the public
Approval of Draft Minutes: Draft Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Minutes for the November 9, 2010
meeting.
‐ SOUKUP: MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE NOVEMBER 9, 2010 MEETING
‐ BRUNO: SECOND
‐ APPROVED: 4‐0‐1 WITH GOLDBERG ABSENT
Old Business:
1. 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. A PRC subcommittee, including
Commissioners Bruno and Wilson, was formed to work with the Youth Commission and met
with the Youth Commission in December 2010.
Action: Continue Arbor Day coordination.
‐ Bruno reported that she and Commissioner Wilson attended the December 2010 Youth Commission
meeting to continue planning activities for Arbor Day. The Youth Commission is very interested in
holding the event at Saratoga High School with the event starting at 3:30 p.m. and ceremonial festivities
beginning at 4:00 p.m. The Youth Commission would like to have snacks and music at the event to
attract more people.
‐ Taylor shared that the Youth Commission has not yet approached the school administration about
holding the event at the school, but will reach out to school administrators following the meeting.
‐ The Commission discussed potential event activities, including the event location if it can he held at
Saratoga High School, holding several Arbor Day events in different locations, speakers for the event,
and opportunities to collaborate with Saratoga schools in the future.
‐ Morrow noted that the tree planting and ceremony would need to take place on a public area on the
school campus, such as the front of the school.
‐ Wilson said that he and Commissioner Bruno would continue coordinating activities for the event with
the Youth Commission.
2. Saratoga Park Advertorials
Issue: Commissioner Wilson has been working with Saratoga High School Media Arts Program students
to produce advertorials of Saratoga Parks. The short videos are intended to inform residents
about City parks and their amenities. The Commission has viewed the advertorials and is
developing plans for distribution and continued production of Saratoga park videos.
Action: Develop a distribution plan and discuss continued production of Saratoga park advertorials.
‐ Wilson reported that he has been working with Morrow to coordinate distribution of a press release to
announce the videos to local media and to develop a schedule to air the videos on KSAR.
‐ Morrow said she will be sending the press release on January 12, 2011.
‐ Wilson asked the Commissioners to share the videos with friends and post them on Facebook.
3. Nesting Box Project
Issue: At the July 28, 2010 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission met with a representative of
the Audubon Society to identify nesting box locations in Saratoga. Locations for the nesting
boxes have been identified. Additionally, volunteer recruitment has started and volunteer
training will be held on January 22, 2011.
Action: Continue project planning, including volunteer recruitment, training, and placement of the
nesting boxes.
‐ Johnson announced that 2 articles about the nesting box project have been published, including an
article in the Peninsula Press by Whitney Mountain and another in Saratoga News by Brian Babcock.
Both articles were published December. Training will be held on January 22, 2011 at the Community
Center. Nesting boxes will probably be placed in early February.
4. Wildwood Cinema Movie Night
Issue: During the June 2010 PRC meeting, the Commission agreed to move forward with plans to hold a
movie night in Wildwood Park. At the July 7, 2010 City Council Meeting, the City Council
allocated money to the event and authorized the Commission to seek funding and
organizational support from outside organizations. The Council indicated that the Commission
should establish a framework for the event so that it can be coordinated by a different
organization in the future. Commissioner Wilson volunteered to put together a guide on the
event, including notes and documents produced during the planning process. At the November
2010 meeting, the Commission also agreed to begin looking for an organization to manage
future events.
Action: Finalize guide for Wildwood Cinema Movie Night and identify an organization(s) to manage
Wildwood Cinema Movie Night events.
‐ Wilson passed out an informational packet containing all of the communications that occurred in the
planning process for Wildwood Cinema Movie Night. Wilson added that the informational packet he
prepared is missing some of the lessons learned when organizing the first Wildwood Cinema Movie
Night. The working group, including Parks and Recreation Commissioners Wilson and Goldberg and
representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga‐Monte Sereno Community Foundation, and
Downtown Merchants group, will be meeting in early February to identify an organization to fund and
coordinate the event in future years. In March, he said he hopes to report that another organization has
taken ownership of the event.
5. Wildwood Park Creek Habitat Restoration
Issue: During the last PRC meeting, the Commission discussed opportunities to restore the natural
habitat of Saratoga Creek in Wildwood Park. The PRC indicated an interest in removing concrete
slabs located in the creek and scheduled further discussion at the January 2011 meeting.
Action: Review information collected by staff and discuss available opportunities.
‐ Morrow reported that Public Works staff visited the creek and determined that the concrete slabs had
been placed in the creek many years ago for erosion control. The concrete appeared to be from old
construction projects. Because the concrete slabs were added to the creek for erosion control, they
must be replaced with something that will keep the creek bank intact. Consequently, the project will
likely require a significant capital investment. Morrow added that the project may be eligible for a Santa
Clara Valley Water District grant. Morrow said she would do additional research on grant opportunities
and report back to the Commission.
6. Community Event Calendar
Issue: At the November 2010 meeting, the PRC discussed regular community events and began
identifying ways for the Commission to become involved or support these events. The group
agreed to focus on Arbor Day during the first part of the year and Wildwood Cinema Movie
Night during the second part of the year. The PRC scheduled additional discussion at the January
2011 meeting to begin planning additional event involvement during the second part of the
year.
Action: Discuss events held in the City that the PRC can support or become involved in.
‐ The Commission reviewed discussion on community events held at the previous meeting. The
Commission concluded that it would participate in at least 2 events each, including Arbor Day and
Wildwood Cinema Movie Night.
‐ Johnson suggested that the Commission also have a presence at the Chamber’s Art and Wine Festival in
September.
‐ Bruno also recommended participating in the attend Mustard Faire.
‐ Wilson noted that the Commission’s primary role in the Movie Night will be transferring responsibility
for the event to another organization and agreed that the PRC should consider having a presence at the
Art and Wine Festival. He added that it would be nice to share information about the PRC’s
accomplishments and receive feedback from the public at the Art and Wine Festival.
‐ The Commission agreed to add discussion on participation in the Art and Wine Festival if the City
decides to host a book at the event during the May meeting.
New Business:
7. Metropolitan Adult Education Program (MAEP) – “World Gardening” Classes
Issue: The San Jose Unified School District is planning to make reductions to MAEP, the District’s adult
education program. The cuts will most likely include elimination of gardening classes. This item
has been added to the agenda by Commission Chair Johnson to provide the PRC with the chance
to discuss development of gardening programs or classes in Saratoga.
Action: Discuss potential development of gardening programs in Saratoga.
‐ Johnson reported that MAEP offers really popular free gardening classes and will be canceling its classes
due to budget cuts. Johnson sent information about the program to Taylor to see if the City would be
interested in taking on some of the gardening classes, even if they aren’t offered for free. Johnson
added that the classes are lecture based and usually 2 to 3 hours long. In the past, MAEP has brought in
experts to speak on topics such as grafting. Johnson said that he wanted to bring the item to the PRC to
see if the Commission is interested in supporting efforts to bring gardening classes to Saratoga and if any
Commissioners would like to participate in classes.
‐ The Commission agreed that they would support the classes so long as Taylor is in favor of the idea.
8. West Valley College Landscape Architecture Program
Issue: Chair Johnson added this item to the agenda to explore opportunities for collaboration with the
West Valley College Landscape Architecture Program. Council approval is required before any
partnerships are initiated.
Action: Discuss partnership opportunities with the West Valley College Landscape Architecture Program.
‐ Johnson said that he added this item to the agenda to discuss the possibility of working with the
Landscape Architecture Program at West Valley College to develop the back half of Gardiner Park, which
is currently undeveloped. Johnson thought it might be a great way for the City and College to work
together to create a free design for the rest of the park. When funds become available, the City could
then implement the design.
‐ Bruno said that it would be an excellent live teaching opportunity.
‐ Johnson added that any designs for the park would have to be really passive, since the back portion of
the park is very close to neighboring homes.
‐ Bruno asked if the College approached Johnson about the project.
‐ Johnson said no.
‐ Bruno asked if the project falls within the Commission’s objectives and wanted to know if there are
certain regulations or requirements that the students would have to base their designs on.
‐ Morrow replied that there are City regulations or requirements that the designs would have to meet to
be usable in the park.
‐ Bruno asked if the City would be able to implement the design.
‐ Morrow said it would depend on whether the Council allocates funds for the project and if there is
community support for it.
‐ Johnson added that he didn’t think any work would happen in the near future.
‐ Bruno said that it would be good to give the students experience in designing a City park, including
dealing with City regulations and interacting with the community.
‐ Johnson said he would like to approach West Valley to see if they are interested in the idea. If the
College is interested, then the project would go before the Council.
9. 2011 PRC Meeting Schedule
Issue: The PRC holds regular meetings every other month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Saratoga City
Hall.
Action: Review the 2011 meeting schedule and make any necessary changes.
‐ Morrow indicated that she added this item to the agenda to provide the PRC with the opportunity to
make adjustments to the Commission’s 2011 meeting schedule. Morrow also asked if the Commission
would like to elect the Chair and Vice Chair during the March meeting. The new Chair and Vice Chair
would begin their terms at the May meeting.
‐ The Commission agreed to hold elections at the March meeting and discussed rescheduling the July
meeting.
‐ BRUNO: MOVED TO RESCHEDULE THE JULY MEETING FOR AUGUST 16, 2011
‐ WILSON: SECOND
‐ APPROVED: 4‐0‐1 WITH GOLDBERG ABSENT
Commissioner & Staff Reports (This includes committee updates and park reports. This section is informational
only; no actions will be taken.)
‐ Bruno reported that her parks, including Kevin Moran Park, Foothill Park, and Blaney Plaza, are all in
good shape and she didn’t notice anything that required maintenance.
‐ Johnson said he visited Wildwood, Bellgrove, and El Quito Parks. At Wildwood, a group of people
requested that at the vehicle entrance to Wildwood on 4th Street there is a small gap that people can
walk through. However, the opening is small and it would be nice to widen it to make it easier to walk
through when the entrance is closed to vehicles. Johnson shared that Bellgrove Park is in excellent shape
and said that bathroom roof at El Quito is missing many of its shingles.
‐ Wilson said that Congress Springs Park is in good condition and is being reseeded. There are a lot of
trucks parked at the park, due to construction on Joe’s Trail.
‐ Soukup said Beauchamps, Gardiner, Ravenwood Parks are looking good.
‐ Morrow shared that the Council Retreat will be on January 28, 2011, construction on Joe’s Trail is about
60% done and will be completed this spring, and work on the Azule Park petanque court should be done
this spring.
Agenda Items for Next Meeting
‐ Arbor Day
‐ Wildwood Cinema Movie Night Update
‐ Nesting Box Update
‐ Election of Chair and Vice Chair
‐ Council Joint Meeting Agenda
‐ PEBTAC update
Adjournment – 8:08 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Crystal Morrow, Administrative Analyst II
City of Saratoga – City Manager’s Office