HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-14-2010 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes
City of Saratoga
Parks and Recreation Commission
MINUTES
DATE: Monday, June 14, 2010
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 – 6:32 p.m.
Roll Call
Present: Bruno, Goldberg, Johnson, Soukup, Wilson
Staff: Taylor, Powell
Report on Posting of the Agenda: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, this meeting was
properly posted on June 8, 2010.
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 comments from the public.
Approval of Draft Minutes: Draft Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Minutes for the May 11, 2010
meeting.
‐ Johnson requested a change on page 3 under Commissioner & Staff Reports regarding Johnson’s
report. He asked that the minutes read chain fence rather than chain link fence.
‐ BRUNO: MOVED TO ACCEPT MINUTES AS AMENDED
‐ GOLDBERG: SECOND
‐ APPROVED: 5‐0
Old Business:
1. Tree Planting
Issue: Since November 2009, the PRC has been developing of a list of potential locations to
plant trees on City of Saratoga owned property that could be recommended to the
Saratoga Public Works Director. At the May 2010 meeting, the PRC agreed to schedule
additional discussion on the item for the June meeting.
Action: Identify locations to plant trees on City of Saratoga owned property and make a
recommendation to the Public Works Director.
‐ The Commission discussed potential tree planting locations on a map of the City. Suggested
areas included:
o Fruitvale – between San Marcos & Via Vista on the college side of Fruitvale
o Joe’s Trail – from Saratoga‐Sunnyvale to Congress Springs
o Joe’s Trail – west of Saratoga‐Sunnyvale (cover up utility equipment)
o Congress Springs Park – along Glen Brae Drive; along the parking lot
o Saratoga Prospect Center – screening trees along the back of the parking lot
o Christa McAuliffe School Boundary – along the Prospect side
o Beauchamps Park – locations could be based on neighbor recommendations. There are
missing trees along the edge. The Commission wondered if the basketball/tennis courts
should be screened by trees.
o Azule Park – by the barbecues and kids’ playground
o Greenbrier Homeowners’ Association – done
o Highway 85 corridor – at intersections with surface streets; the Commission agreed that
they need to target locations better
o Tank Trail – on steep hillside
o Lawrence Expressway @ Quito – next to Prospect; along the side of Prospect/edge of
school (backs up to stadium); between Mattress Discounters and McDonald’s
o General – plant seedlings in open space – perhaps have as a High School service project
o Saratoga‐Sunnyvale – across from the Saratoga High School
‐ Goldberg volunteered to ask the Pedestrian, Equestrian, and Bicycle Trails Advisory Committee
and the Heritage Tree Society for additional locations.
‐ Johnson requested that the Commission schedule discussion on the tree planting locations at
every meeting to get reports on feasibility and/or priority setting.
2. MOVE‐IT Saratoga
Issue: At the City Council’s joint meeting with the PRC in March 2010, the Council authorized
the PRC to move forward with plans to challenge the public to walk/run a marathon or
bike a century in Saratoga between May and September 2010. Participants who
complete their miles will be recognized at the September 15, 2010 City Council Meeting.
Action: PRC will discuss MOVE‐IT Saratoga awards.
‐ Goldberg reported that she organized a hike and had 5 participants.
‐ Bruno indicated that personal outreach helps gain more participants.
‐ Emily Lo, attending as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Saratoga Monte Sereno
Foundation, said that the Chamber has an email list with 500 participants to whom information
about MOVE‐IT Saratoga could be sent. Lo was given a copy of the flyer for the program.
‐ Goldberg shared that she would be holding another walk on June 21.
‐ Commissioners brainstormed potential awards for participants. The ideas included:
o Commendations to be presented at a City Council Meeting
o EcoMetro coupon books donated to the Commission
o Pedometers
o Certificates of completion
o Donated prizes
3. Nesting Box Project
Issue: At the January 2010 meeting, the PRC received a presentation from a member of the
local chapter of the Audubon Society on bird nesting boxes. The Commission agreed to
work with the Audubon Society to place nesting boxes in Saratoga parks.
Action: Discuss status of the project and develop a plan for moving forward with placement of
boxes in the future.
‐ Johnson said that he spoke with Michael Azevedo, from the Santa Clara County chapter of the
Audubon Society. Azevedo is available to meet with the Commission the last three Wednesdays
of July. Johnson suggested the group meet on July 28, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
‐ The Commission consented and decided during the meeting the group would tour the San
Marcos and Saratoga Heights Open Space.
New Business:
4. Music in the Park
Issue: At the City Council’s joint meeting with the PRC in March 2010, the Council authorized
the PRC to move forward with plans to coordinate or support a music in the park type
event.
Action: PRC will discuss plans for a music in the park type event, which is in line with the
Commissions’ Council approved work plan.
‐ The Commission discussed possible options for holding a music in the park event and decided to
hold a movie night, rather than a music related event, in September.
‐ Wilson volunteered to work with staff to identify the parameters and logistics of holding a
movie night.
‐ Goldberg agreed to work on a subcommittee with Wilson to plan the event.
5. Saratoga‐Monte Sereno Community Foundation Liaison
Issue: PRC Chair Mark Johnson requested discussion on the possibility of creating a PRC liaison
to the Saratoga‐Monte Sereno Community Foundation (SMSCF).
Action: PRC will determine whether or not to proceed to establish a PRC liaison to the SMSCF,
including any necessary Council approvals.
‐ Johnson introduced the item, sharing that he added this item on the agenda to begin a dialogue
about opening up communication between the PRC and the SMSCF.
‐ Emily Lo, speaking as a member of the SMSCF, noted that at recent Foundation meetings the
members had discussed a desire to have liaisons from other organizations present at SMSCF
meetings. She also said that the SMSCF intends to meet once per month with the last
Wednesday of the month as a potential meeting day.
‐ Goldberg suggested that, if the Commission decided to have someone attend the SMSCF then
members could attend on a rotating basis.
‐ Goldberg recommended establishing a formal liaison relation with SMSCF.
‐ The Commission discussed reasons why it might want to seek Council approval to form a formal
liaison relationship with SMSCF.
‐ Johnson requested that discussion on the item be added to the next meeting and include
information on protocols for establishing a liaison relationship with an outside body, such as the
SMSCF. Johnson asked that information on the pros and cons of formal and informal
relationships are included in the report on the item.
6. Friends of Saratoga Parks
Issue: PRC Chair Mark Johnson agendized discussion on the development of a “Friends of
Saratoga Parks” organization.
Action: PRC will determine if it should initiate development of a friends organization for
Saratoga parks, including any necessary Council approvals.
‐ Johnson introduced the idea of establishing a non‐profit to raise funds for park improvements.
‐ Soukup said he felt that creating a non‐profit of this type is beyond the purview of the PRC.
‐ Discussion on the item was tabled by the Chair.
Commissioner & Staff Reports (This includes committee updates and park reports. This section is
informational only; no actions will be taken.)
‐ Wilson shared that he had secured three individuals to work on “advertorials” about the City’s
parks. Three students from Saratoga High School, who are part of the Media Arts Program, will
be producing the advertorials. Wilson requested 15 minutes on the September PRC agenda to
show one or more of the segments.
‐ Wilson asked for an informational report for the September meeting on Cupertino’s efforts to
establish Dog Park hours.
‐ Powell updated the Commission on the Azule Park petanque court, soccer net identification and
removal of soccer nets at El Quito Park, Councilmember Nagpal’s memorial garden, and the
balance of the City’s tree fund.
‐ Bruno reported that Foothill Park has brown spots, but added staff has plans to place mulch in
the brown patches. Bruno noted that Blaney Plaza looked great.
‐ Johnson shared that Bellgrove has some turf issues and that there might be a problem with
irrigation at the park. He also observed a dead tree. At El Quito, the main grate on the barbeque
in the park is broken, there are weeds in the back of the park, the front of the park appears to
need more water, and there is a dead tulip tree in the park. At Wildwood, there are tall weeds in
the back of the park, the chain fence noted at the last meeting is still broken, and there is a large
tree limb that came down in the park.
‐ Goldberg reported that there is a large oak tree on Shadow Lane that is dead and asked if it
slated for removal. Goldberg also shared that the PEBTAC has changed their meeting time to
5:00 p.m. She noted that the lower portion of the Tank Trail appears to be washed out and
needs to be regraded. She also shared the landscaping along the fence line at Kevin Moran Park
is beautiful.
‐ Johnson announced that at the July 7, 2010 City Council Meeting a proclamation recognizing
Parks and Recreation Month will be presented. He asked if there were any volunteers who
wanted to attend to accept the proclamation. Goldberg said that she may be able to attend and
Soukup said he would attend if Goldberg could not.
Agenda Items for Next Meeting
‐ Landscaping plan for Saratoga Prospect Center
‐ Establishing maximum numbers of memorial plaques in parks
‐ Nesting Box project
‐ Tree planting locations
‐ Movies in the park
‐ Protocols for liaison relationship with outside organizations
‐ Advertorials of Saratoga parks
‐ Report on Cupertino’s dog park hours
Adjournment – 8:53 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Crystal Morrow, Administrative Analyst II
City of Saratoga – City Manager’s Office