HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010_12 Final Winter SaratoganCITY o f S A RATO
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CALIF O R N IA1956 SaratoganThe
Winter 2010
Do it Yourself - Start a Neighborhood Watch
Interested in learning more about how you can make your neighborhood safer? Start a Neighborhood Watch to
reduce crime in your community. Neighborhood Watch is a “do it yourself” type program that
empowers residents to improve the quality of life in their community by working together.
Neighbors build relationships with one another, learn about crime prevention techniques,
and work collaboratively to report suspicious activity and reduce crime.
To start a Neighborhood Watch program where you live, simply contact the Santa Clara
County Sheriff’s Office Community Services Unit at (408) 808-4624. The Sheriff’s Office will
guide you through the process and provide suggestions for organizing your neighborhood.
Neighborhood Watch is one of the many ways Saratoga residents can “do it themselves” to make their
community better. Read more about these opportunities in this issue of The Saratogan.
Composting at Home
Looking for a new way to improve the health of your garden? Interested in reducing waste? Try composting!
Not only does composting benefit your garden, it also helps you save money on soil conditioners and
increases the lifespan of our landfills. Best of all, composting is easy! Below are some tips for starting your
own compost pile. For more information or to become a Santa Clara County Master Composter, visit www.
reducewaste.org.
Composting Tips:
Only use open compost piles for •
yard trimmings
Place your pile away from any •
structures
Chop up compost materials •
before adding them to your pile
Mix together dry woody materials •
with moist green materials
Keep your compost pile moist•
Stir or turn your compost pile •
about once per week
Because compost bins keep •
rodents out, they are good for
fruits, vegetables, and yard
trimmings
If you are using a compost bin, •
bury food scraps into the center
of the pile
The composting process is •
complete when the material in
the pile looks like dark rich soil and easily crumbles in your fingers (this should take 1.5 to 3 months with
a compost bin)
Photo by Diana C. House
Tree Pruning 101
While pruning is one of the most common tree maintenance procedures, mature trees require very little
pruning. Most deciduous and broad leaved evergreen trees only need to be pruned once every 3 to 4
years. Most evergreen coniferous trees can go without pruning for 5 to 10 years. However, you may need to
prune your trees to clean out dead, dying or diseased limbs, increase light and air penetration inside the tree’s
crown, or to raise low hanging branches to increase clearance under a tree’s canopy.
When pruning is necessary, be careful about how much you remove. “Topping” a tree, removing the top
portion of the tree without regard to the location of the cuts, is harmful to the tree. Additionally, cutting away
too much foliage makes it hard for trees to recover, can make
trees vulnerable to disease or other harmful conditions, and may
weaken branches and cause hazardous conditions.
Consequently, the City requires permits to remove more
than 25% of a tree’s canopy or when International Society of
Arboriculture pruning standards cannot be met. To protect
residents as well as to prevent damage to large trees, the City
requires professional tree contractors working in the City to
obtain a business license and have a certified arborist supervise
the pruning work to ensure International Society of Arboriculture
standards are followed correctly.
The best time to prune varies by tree species. For the most
part, pruning during a tree’s growth season should be avoided as
trees require significant energy during this period and pruning may
cause undue stress on the tree. Some types of trees require pruning
at special times of the year. For example, pine trees (especially
Monterey pines) should be pruned between Thanksgiving and the
end of February when the weather is cold and the beetles that can
attack them are dormant. Oak trees should be pruned between
the end of June and February, when it is less likely that weather
will be warm and moist, to prevent sudden oak death.
When pruning is done, you can place the removed clippings
in your Green Waste bin. Branches should be 3 feet or shorter and
6 inches or less in diameter.
For more information, visit www.treesaregood.com or contact City Arborist Kate Bear at (408) 868-1276
or kbear@saratoga.ca.us.
Tree Topping is a Violation of City Code
Building a Home Disaster Kit
Following a disaster, basic services are often unavailable. Depending on the scale of the disaster, the public
may lose access to water, electricity, gas, telephone, sewage treatment, and other essential services for 3
days or longer. Consequently, experts suggest preparing a home disaster kit that will allow you and your loved
ones to stay self-sufficient for at least 3 days.
Kits should also be stored somewhere that is easily accessible and in a watertight container to protect
contents of the kit. You can keep backpacks in your kit, so that you can pack essential items if you need to
evacuate.
Experts suggest that kits include one gallon of water per person per day; a minimum 3 day supply
of non-perishable food and any necessary cooking supplies; a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a
NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert along with extra batteries; flashlights and additional batteries; first aid
supplies; a whistle to signal for help; tools; personal hygiene items; special items for children, seniors, people
with disabilities, and pets; a copy of important documents and phone numbers; and vital personal items, such
as prescriptions or eye glasses
Visit www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org for additional suggestions. For information about emergency
preparation in your community, contact Saratoga Emergency Services Coordinator Jim Yoke at (408) 887-7818 or
sccfd_esc@yahoo.com.
Dear Paula,
Yes, the City does require horses and
other animals in the horse family (such
as donkeys, mules, or ponies) to be
licensed. To obtain a license for a horse,
simply contact me at (408) 868-1214 or
jrinaldi@saratoga.ca.us. For dog and cat
licenses, visit www.sanjoseanimals.com
or call (408) 578-7297.
Jana
Dear Jana,
The other day, a solicitor came up to my home and
tried to sell a set of knives to me. Are there any
rules that regulate who can solicit me at my home?
Saul Solicitor
Saul,
Yes, solicitors making sales for commercial
and charitable organizations must
have a permit from the City. Permitted
commercial solicitors, such as those
selling knife or landscaping services, are
issued an identification badge. Charitable
organizations, such as church groups or
educational organizations, are given a
letter that they must have with them
when soliciting or peddling in Saratoga.
The City also requires solicitors to observe
“No Solicitor” signs.
Jana
Dear Jana,
My family and I are thinking of getting a horse. A
friend in another county recently told me that she
has to license her horses. I know the City requires
dogs and cats to be licensed. Can you tell me if
horses must be licensed too?
Paula Pony
Ask Jana
Got Code Enforcement questions? Ask Jana! Send your questions
to Jana Rinaldi at 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga CA 95070 or
by email to jrinaldi@saratoga.ca.us.
Holiday Fire Safety
It is estimated that holiday season fires kill more than 400 people, injure 1,650 people, and cause over
$990 million in property damage each year. Prevent fires and keep your family safe by following these
tips.
Install carbon monoxide smoke detectors.•
Purchase an operable fire extinguisher.•
Select holiday trees with fresh green needles •
that are hard to pull back from the branches.
Old trees are usually dried out and can become
a fire hazard.
Select a place for your tree away from heat •
sources, including fireplaces or heating vents.
Keep your tree watered to prevent it from drying •
out and immediately discard your tree when it
becomes dry.
Use flame retardant artificial trees. •
Inspect old and new lights for frayed wires, bare •
spots, gaps in insulation, broken or cracked
sockets, and excessive kinking.
Never leave holiday lights on unattended.•
Only use lights approved for outdoor use for the •
exterior of your home.
Avoid overloading electrical outlets. •
Only use nonflammable decorations. •
Avoid using lit candles. •
Maintain a 3 foot clearance between your •
fireplace and combustibles.
To learn more about The Saratogan, make comments, or suggest story ideas, contact Crystal Morrow
with the Saratoga City Manager’s Office at cmorrow@saratoga.ca.us or (408) 868-1275. You can also
find The Saratogan online and sign up for email alerts at www.saratoga.ca.us/saratogan. CITY o f S ARATO
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Recognizing Saratoga’s Commissioners
Each fall, the City celebrates its Commissioners at the annual Commission Recognition Dinner to recognize
the dedication of the City’s Commissioners and their contributions to the Saratoga community. There
are 6 Saratoga Commissions, including
the Heritage Preservation Commission,
Library Commission, Parks and Recreation
Commission, Traffic Safety Commission,
Planning Commission, and Youth
Commission.
Saratoga’s Commissions play a
key role in the City’s decision making
process. Each Commission studies issues
within its area of specialization, provides
increased opportunities for citizen input
and participation in City decisions, and
provides valued advice to the Council.
Both the Planning Commission and
Heritage Preservation Commission are also
authorized to make decisions on certain
development applications. Ultimately, the
Commissions help ensure City decisions
reflect community interests and are well
informed.
For more information about the
City’s Commissions, including descriptions,
meeting schedules, and vacancies, visit
www.saratoga.ca.us/commissions. Heritage Preservation Commissioners Hong Tai and Peter Marra
Winter Storm Preparation
Saratoga may not be in hurricane country, but even
a small storm can do a lot of damage. To stay safe
during winter, read the following tips on what to do
before, during, and after a storm.
Be prepared before the storm hits! Residents can
fill up their own sand bags 24 hours a day at the City
Corporation Yard, located 19700 Allendale Avenue, for
free. There is a limit of 25 bags per person. Visit www.
saratoga.ca.us/publicworks for more information.
Residents who require assistance can call (408) 868-
1245.
During the storm, report damage to the appropriate
authorities. The City handles fallen trees, landslides, and flooding, on roads and public property. To report
a hazard, call (408) 868-1245 Monday through Thursday, 6:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and every other Friday 6:00
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. At all other times, contact County Communications at (408) 299-2507.
PG&E is responsible for restoring service after a power outage, and for clearing trees associated with
damaged power lines. To report a power outage or a downed power line, call 1-800-PGE-5002.
After the storm has passed, keep safe by avoiding flooded streets and staying away from downed power
lines, which can still carry a current. Working on storm-damaged trees can be dangerous, so consider hiring a
professional arborist for post-storm tree care.
Bohlman Road in Saratoga