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Home My WebLink About2017 Spring-Summer SaratoganSAR ATOGANthe SPRING/SUMMER 2017 Saratoga is known for being a naturally green and beautiful community with its numerous parks and their variety of amenities, many walking and hiking trails, babbling creeks, and picturesque views. However, Saratoga’s sense of being green goes beyond its natural beauty. Over the years, the City has made efforts to ensure Saratoga is an environmentally-friendly community, including cutting its water use by reducing the turf at City parks and planting drought tolerant landscaping. In this issue, you will read about the City’s continued efforts to go green and sustain Saratoga’s natural environment so it can be enjoyed by generations to come. Topics include Saratoga’s Tree City USA designation, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, recycling and composting, the City’s American Lung Association grade, and the 2020 by 2020 Challenge. In a Green Routine If you would like Sheriff’s Deputies to keep an eye on your home while you’re away, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/stayingsafe to request a vacation patrol. Keep track of crime in your area. Visit www.crimereports.com Be notified when emergencies happen in your area. Sign up at www.sccgov.org/sites/alertscc Quick Tip from Captain Rich The Saratogan will now be an annual publication, and the City is introducing a new monthly e-newsletter. You can subscribe to it at http://bit.ly/SaratogaNewsletter Tree City USA The Arbor Day Foundation has named Saratoga a Tree City USA for the 10th year! This means that the City has demonstrated a long-term commitment to caring for and protecting trees in Saratoga. Trees are a vital part of our City’s infrastructure and provide many environmental, social, and economic benefits to our community. Photograph by Marissa McPeak Connect with the City of Saratoga A Cleaner, Greener Future for Saratoga Have you noticed the small, brown 20-gallon and 32-gallon garbage carts on pickup day? While these smaller carts are cheaper, fitting everything into a smaller cart can be a challenge. If you want to save money and help the environment, you can give new life to food scraps and recyclables through home composting and making the most of the blue recycling cart. Home composting is an easy way to reduce waste while improving the health of your garden. Compost bins can turn leftover food, such as fruit or coffee grounds, and yard trimmings into rich soil. Learn the basics of home composting during a Master Composter workshop on August 23, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Joan Pisani Community Center. Register online at http://bit.ly/composting082317. As recycling technologies continue to advance, the types of materials that can be recycled and reused are always growing. Metals, glass, paper, plastic, and even small electronic waste can all go in your recycling bin. This includes pizza boxes and food containers, which only need a quick rinse before recycling. For more information, visit http://westvalleyrecycles.com. Everything Old is New Again Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is a new electricity provider in Saratoga and eleven of its neighboring communities. SVCE is a non-profit public agency that provides renewable and 100% carbon-free electricity to its customers. SVCE purchases clean electricity from the source, then works in partnership with PG&E. PG&E delivers the electricity over existing power lines, and continues to maintain the lines and provide customer service. Your bill continues to come from PG&E, with SVCE generation charges replacing those from PG&E. City Hall went green during the first enrollment phase in April. The Saratoga City Council chose to upgrade to SVCE's GreenPrime service, meaning the electricity usage at all City facilities is now generated from 100% greenhouse gas free electricity and from 100% renewable energy sources. SVCE will also power the new Electric Vehicle DC Fast Charge Station at the Saratoga Library with 100% carbon-free electricity. A wave of existing PG&E customers were enrolled along with the City in April. SVCE will begin serving the remaining Saratoga residents and businesses during the second enrollment phase in July. If you’re included in the second phase, you will receive two notices in the mail prior to your enrollment and two after. For more information on SVCE and a list of FAQs, visit www.svcleanenergy.org. You can also call 1-844-474-SVCE (7823). Over the past few years, the City has made consistent efforts to make the air in Saratoga a little cleaner. These efforts include prohibiting smoking in parks, so residents can breathe easy while enjoying the activities and amenities at Saratoga's parks or hiking one of the many trails. Additionally, the City Council has enacted several changes intended to keep children safe from tobacco, such as restricting density of tobacco retailers near schools and strengthening consequences for selling tobacco to minors. Most recently, the City Council prohibited smoking in all public dining areas, service areas where people often wait and gather, 20 feet from entranceways, multifamily housing common areas, and outdoor worksites. As a result of these efforts, the American Lung Association awarded Saratoga with an A grade in the 2017 State of Tobacco Control Report for California and also recognized Saratoga as a City on the Rise for improving its grade from an “F” to “A” over the last few years. Saratoga: A Breath of Fresh Air Stop, Drop & Prepare to be Fire Safe this Summer With the warmer weather comes a reminder to take extra caution over summer when handling anything that could start a fire. After heavy rains this winter, Saratoga’s beautiful grasses and foliage have experienced a great amount of growth, creating more fire fuel in the community. Be very careful with potential ignition sources, such as barbecues, cigarettes, and small power tools, including chainsaws, weed trimmers, and lawn mowers whose sparks can cause fires. Remember, all fireworks are illegal in the City of Saratoga, including “safe and sane” fireworks. Any fireworks, even sparklers, pose the risk of starting a fire, especially near dry brush and grass. 2009 Retail Locations 2015 2010 2016 2017 The City Counciladopted regulations that limit density of tobacco retailers near schools and parks.Smoke Free Parks The City Council prohibited smoking in parks and all recreational areas in the City. Youth Protections The City Counciladopted retailer requirements intended to protect children from tobacco products. Top of the Class The American Lung Association recognized Saratoga with anA grade for tobacco policies and making improvements.Smoke Free Air The City Council adopted a number of regulations restricting smoking in public places. The Saratogan will now be an annual publication. You can subscribe to receive the City's new monthly e-newsletter at http://bit.ly/SaratogaNewsletter. To make comments, suggest story ideas, or just ask a question, contact Lauren Pettipiece at lpettipiece@saratoga.ca.us or 408.868.1275. CITY o f S ARATO G A CALIFO R N IA1956 Ask Our Staff featuring Mainini cabute Have a question? Send your question(s) to lpettipiece@saratoga.ca.us or call (408) 868-1275. Q: I recently heard about the City’s 2020 by 2020 Challenge. What is this challenge and how can I get involved? A: The City of Saratoga has set a goal of planting 2,020 trees by the year 2020 to add to Saratoga’s vibrant tree canopy and make the community greener with each tree. The City has partnered with Our City Forest to succeed in this challenge. Our City Forest coordinates the tree planting in the community, and the City subsidizes the cost of the tree. Residents can expect to pay $95 to $135 per tree depending on a number of factors. For more information on the City’s 2020 Trees by 2020 Challenge and how you can participate, visit www.saratoga.ca.us/2020by2020. If you have planted trees recently or plan on adding trees to your property, report them online at http://conta.cc/2t7sqMc so that they count toward the 2020 by 2020 Challenge! Mainini Cabute is an Administrative Analyst II in the Public Works Department for the City of Saratoga. She manages a variety of Public Works projects, the West Valley Clean Water Program, and serves as the staff liaison to the Traffic Safety Commission. &Q A Mark Your Calendar! Saratoga Movie Nights Friday, June 16, July 21 & Augu s t 1 8 Movies begin at sundown El Quito Park www.saratoga.ca.us/movienights July 4th Celebration Tuesday, July 4 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Kevin Moran Park www.saratogajuly4.com Saratoga Classic Car Show Sunday, July 16 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Big Basin Way www.SCCShow.com Leash Laws Protect People and Pets Leash laws exist to ensure that your dog, and the people and other dogs you encounter, remain safe, happy, and able to comfortably enjoy the beautiful community. Dogs are not allowed off-leash in Saratoga. When in public and at City parks, dogs must be on a leash that is no longer than 6 feet. The City contracts with San Jose Animal Care and Services. Contact them at 408.794.7297 to report a dog off-leash, or call 911 if you find yourself in a dangerous situation. San Jose Animal Care and Services provides a variety of other services as well. You can contact them if you have lost or found a pet, or for pet licensing. For more information on the services they provide, visit www.sanjoseanimals.com.