HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-1973 Parks and Recreation Commission MinutesW '' ~
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SARI;TOGA FARKS AT1D RECREATION CGMTfISSIOiV'
AiITv'UTES
DATE: rionday, Octo:~er 1, 1973 - 7:30 F.M.
PLACE: Crisp Memorial Conference Room, Saratoga City Offices, 13777
Fr;iitval.e Aven~ze, Sarataga, Calif. 95070
TYPE: Regular Meeting
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I. ORGATTIZATIO:~'
A. ROLL CAS:L
~~y ~'~
F'RESET3T: CC;•:T•;ISSICTv'ERS CLAk1SOTv', GORDON, JOnTTSTOTV~, MARO'JIGiI,
RCSE, TERRY, WILEERDING, AND ZATiBETTI.
ABSET~T: NCi~'E. ~..: V3~c,a~r:e~
GUESTS: COL. BARCO, DR. & MRS. HENRY,. MR. KAUFMAN, MR. LEE TdELSON
TR. RCD RODRTGUErS, I\iRa. JOYCE SOGG, ~1RS. CAROL 4JILCOX.
n. :'ZITTUTES
The T:ir~utes of the September 17, 1973 meeting were approved as
submitte~3.
Tyr. Be,-~er mPnti oned that he has not yet received a reply frorl
Mrs. Stam,~:er re,rrardinK the possib _1.ity of the City bu~ving her
nropert~ emu.: scent to the ' Gong•ress- .Springs ParTcs site.
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IT. OLD "'T 'TES
A.
CO?'SIDE3~:'y'I'.. C`` ~'E'?'.RtiI~ FRCTi CITY COUIvTCIL nE: RZT,OCATIOT'~~ C?`' H
TE" ~ , ~} ~C _ " :"-.~ rLDST~?IATd - E!~UESTRIAI~+ EASET'rtETvT C;d I`T:E ~..,\.":"_.~~'""
FT/1T,--s'l^~r r'T ^iTTT~ T !?l~•Tl ~~T T TT(T~t T~ \T' TTTT~ 'T;1 ~7t'^'•
n„r:~,•__ LI ~~ ~_ __.~. it".T~_~-l Dr_i SAITuTS PROPL~z_~ O:v ~Li,i~~~.iL~ .:. _~.
(CC'- ~ ~' ~:C~•; „/2:1"? ~ ~~% ^/^ J) ( EFO:~T FRC~'1 v^Oii ~I~"-sSIO; r'T? TE~Ti`~' ^_?
LTiS i:EEiI';^~ ','l~'T-: C.TURC:i REr'RESETTATIVES).
LATTER DAY Com.:r:? ssi o:~e _ - Terry reported that the Latter Day Saints Church 'r!~.d
SAITTS decidea ?:ot '~o :~:a'•:e anv more trail land available because th{~~~•e its
rr,ar'TvT r,o ~r;~~- to r.' ~~v?r~:; ~: ~ni--bi :es and vandals from t:sin~ it a.n^ ~:~c2.~~s~=
i t tivovl ci _.r, _~.•_'•:re w~ ~:r their :Mans to 'Ot:ild a 200--seat am nia_~~~~~;a.ue~'.
He felt tiia . she on ly alternative left is to run the trail do~~;n the
present San' . ` ~ t~.on Dis==r ict Sewor• Easement.
Cha ir~lan 'r'i' .~F~r~iin~ d~ ^ no-t feel that there was ar,y reason t,~ %~,l~+v
a recor~~-~~sr~d_';?on to The C~it~% Cmancil since there appears ~.c Ge no
ora..y to ne~;o _ -'~e a ~;,re s~_; ~ t~.b'_e easement.
CC)°1';'.TI; ~°i_Ot7° =_ ^~T .',Q"E'Cl 1;1":?- trig CUIilI'17.-~S10T; 2'F'COR'T^e'~~l t'ticii: '„it-• t~".'-._
A A ~ ~ ~`1' S - '~ ~ ~~ a „ T~ a ~. ~ ~ ~ r n ~ itt ?; f' ~~ r C• [. 1 f' -
b s ~ _ .. _ ~. ~; t~_ _ _ _. ~e e ,,, h t t,~at or.s ~,.) .. .. :;:
de1a.;; eu unt... _ _': easement i ti acq:~ired or. both the Nest Vall:~~~ ~:~oll°~,
and Chester Avenue ends•of thi's easement. Commissioner Rose
seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously.
Dr'. duli.an -' :r;?'y ~~ Dice.-,. ills opposition ,;o the trail, and spa... , i,;a ~;
he' agrees with the o_ni.nion that Col. Barco ha.s presented in t;:_F_ n~~s
?? ; r. ~., ~ -. ~ r, ~ ?? •, -.., ~ ~ -- ^ T^ r7 '. n : • i l l r n'I` rr ~ tin ~ +~ n n c n r• n r..;..
for. this tr_i=•til. They`~~ha.ve a contiti~~aous problem with mini-b~_~_?:~.,
dune buggies, pot pa.rt~ies, etc. which they have not been able to
control. D:,. ~ienry said ttzat any signs or barbed wire fence he puts
up are desti:'oyed in a few days.
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SARATOGA PARI{~ AND TECRFATTON COT~IMISSION - MINUTES - OCT. 1, 1973 - C;O?'ltlllUE?c
Mrs. Henry said that the trail would be
and that shry i~ow ha.s a garden where the
were against, tl:~e sec,+er easement because
They erere told by tree Sanitation Distri
when the set~rer went in world grow back,
prevented this.
a detriment to their proper. t;
trail would go. The Henrys
of its environrriental impact,
~t that the vegetation leveler
but the mini-bikes 'nave
P, REPORT OIV' STIES IN THE CITY 4JHERE THERE IS AN APPARENT Iv'EED ?i'OR A
PART{ ( CG^;' TFRCi ~ 8/2.073., 9/17/73 )
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PRIORITIES Commissioners Gordon and Terry presented their revised report on
RLtirT.E1d sates within the City where there is an apparent need for a park.
The Commission felt that the development and acquisition portions
of the liakone Gardens allocations should be identified separately
because the short-term allocation is for maintenance of the existing
buildings. They are not sure whether or not the City should purcYzase
additional property, and even if they did, it would be a long-term
project.
The Nelson property next to Wildwood Park is currently listed as a
long-term project, but the Commission felt that it is important to
realize that any decision regarding the creek re-alignment could
affect this decision.
The Freemont School Site is also listed as a long-term project, but
this could be affected by the timing and type of development of the
adjacent property, a.s .fairly dense housing development would probably
make a neighborhood park desirable.
The Couier Drive view point property Assessor's Parcel Number is
503-17. Irl this area, the parcels are from 5 - 12 acres. The
Cornmissi.on asked that Mr. Comer be contacted to find out exactly
where the property that hE was considering dedicating to tY~e City
is located.
Commissione~~s Gordon and Terry said that they would complete this
report and submit it at the next meeting.
Commissione~:• Terry asked about the Osterlund Enterprises development
tentatively y~lanned to be built on the freeway right-of-way.
Nir. Beyer said that Osterlund Enterprises is in the process of revisal
the tentati~re maps and should be submitting them soon.
Chairman ti~Jiiberdin~ asked that this Commission receive these maps foal
'review when~the5 are received.
C. REPORT GP1 S~ LCIFIC TRAILS PLAN FOR SARATOGA (COPT' T FROM 8/20,/73,
x/1.7/73) .
This iter~ ~:ras continued to the next meeting.
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SARATOGA PARKS AND RECREATION COTnT•1ISSi0N - MINUTES -OCT. 1, 173 continuec
D.
GOTH GRESS
SFRIT~ GS -
LITTLE
LEAGUE
FIELD
REQUEST BY MR. ROD RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN, STEERING COT•?MITTEE, SETvIOR
DIVISION, LITTLE LEAGUE, FOR USE OF CONGRESS SFRITv'GS FAF;:n AS i-i. i~ALL
FIELD FOR SEivIOR DIVISIONI, LITTLE LEAGUE (. CON' T FROM 8/6!73)
Mr. Be er said that the two major issues with regards to this reques-
ase (l~ will girls be allowed to play, and (2) will al.l r?^idents o~
Saratoga in the specified age bracket be eligible. He wo~.~ld recomrner
that any facilities built here be administered by the Les~Gatos-
Saratoga Recreation District, as he is sure there will be other
groups interested in using the facility. He asked about the nriori_t-
of this project because any devElopment taking place this year_ would
require ad justr;:en t . of the Budget. '.Phe only money budgeted for
Cor_gress Springs Park is for acquisition.
Mr.. Rodrigues said that all Saratoga boys will be eligible to play o~
the Senior Leag~~.e team. The AYSO Soccer leap»e also r.eed_s a T>:,_ace
to play is S~.ratoga, and this park would provide that space. rie
feels that this project should be started as soon a.s possible. So fa:
they have co7_lected about $1,000, but will be able to z~aise rnucl~~ more
with the fund raising activities they have planned a.s soon as trey a.
sure they can use the land. TY~ere are also several large corporation
willing to ti•_elp in providing materials.
T~?r. Lee T~elson, President of the Little League, said that iii ctle
Leac~_r~ h:~s sot aside L~ettreen X1,700 and ~i;80G for this project. `^he;
ask cxiiy to be allowed to use the land, and will be able to build al'
the iiuprover-;.ents themselves. He estimated that it will cost x.10,000
to build thu ba.seball~ diamonds and soccer fields, fences, snack bar
storage buildink~;, and parking area. The have several cont:,ractoT~s vey,,
are willing to contribute their time, and be paid only for rnate::~ials
As far as scheduling is concerned, they ask that Little Leag~_1e be
given priority use of the field during the months of April, iiay a d
June. Anv other time, other groups are welcome to use the equipment
and fields.
Commissioner Zambetti aske 2.bout the girls AYSC Soccer League using
the field aad whether or not gi r? s ctirill be able to play in t;'tie Sari C
Division of i;he Little Ledgt:e. As an example,. he mentions t'iiat; tl~e
~Jillia.msnor'- Little Le2.~:ue has now established a girls Little Lea.gae
to solve th~+.s problem. V
tits. Joyce ?n'F', a local attorney, asked that this 'Commission e•i.ve _
careful i co.:=~i-Aeration to the fact that Little Lea.g~_le would ue usir
public laird to benefit only half the copulation. She does not agree
~~~ith she "s~::~~:rate bL:t equal" arrangement. She feels tF~at ~ ~~yc)i1e
should be a''e to play on any team he or she is qualified to ~1ay on
If Little L< =:~~:e wants to cor7tirue their policy of segregation, she
thinks trey ~~~~,ould be required to use private land.
Mr. Tdelso-_~ said that Little League was established under a
Congressionll Charter many years ago, and was at that t'ima set
an organ_iza:: ' o, for boys. If they did allow girls on tl~e boys
they vrou.lu _ol~,te this charter. :~io.eever, girls teams will be
to use the ~"i81C' .
yap ay
e -~ ,1~~ s
ab 3.
Mr. Beyer asked if this group has discussed their plans with the
Co1.t-Pon~r L:-.~ yue.
Mr. Nelson said that they have talked to the Colt-Pony League Board
V1 La. 1.'C C;'~i.~I', fJ.Llll 1f VI1C `7 Q1 C C^.lU1G tU U+~7C VVngr G;7J tiVi 111 F3J i lAl 1\, VL1V
two groups ti~~i.ll merge and use tine facilities jointly.
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SARATOGA PARKS AND RECREATION~COMr1IS5ION - MINUTES - OCT. 1, 1973 - continue
The Commission felt that before they can make any decision about
this, they need to knovr whether or not the City will buy the adjace~
Stamper property. They feel that plans for the entire park should
drawn up, rather than deve.l_op one piece at_a time.' This way, the 1
can be used as effecti"vely as possible.
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Mr..fBeyer said that it would cost between $1,500 and X2,000 to draw
up ~ Master Plan for the park.
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T•Ziss Sampson asked what the estimated time for completion of the
facilities by Little League is.
Mr. Nelson said that if they can get moving soon, the field will be
ready to play on by April, with the entire facility completed by th
end of the season.
III. NEW BUSINESS
A.
TRAILS &
PATIWAYS -
GEi~ ERAL
FL ATE
FiFTv IEtJ
CONSIDERATIOi~ OF FROPOSED CIRCULATION ELEI~iENT: TRAILS, PATHWAYS,
AND BIKE FATHS - SARATOGA GET~3ERAL PLAN.
T~1r.. Beyer said that the Circulation E1.ement will be discussed by t7
City Council, Planning Commission and Planning Consultants on Tues,
night, Oct. 9th. This Commission is invited to attend and make and
comments they would like to about the Element.
Chairman I~Jilberding felt that a policy statement regarding; eq>?estr:
trails needs to be added to the Element. The major problem discus;
was that of patroling the trails once they are established.
M~~. Beyer said that the City has never implemented a cross-country
trail, as a. equestrian trail would usually be, and that problems
relating to ':~G.ckyard privacy and._ patrolling are going to corr_e up.
Police cacle':s could be hired for this purpose.
Miss Sampson said that she has received some information from the
of ~^Joodside regarding their implementation of an equestrian trail
system, but that tizeir situation is not really applicable t;c Saran
because moss, of tiJoodside is zoned in very large lots and the trail
run through open space. She said that she co~aid contact other cit
in Californ.a whose situation is similar to Saratoga's regarding: t
equestrian trails implementation.
Chairman WiII-;erding expressed concern about the recommendation tha
equestrian Trails be limited to the Equestrian Zones and the Spher
of Influencs. Ile wondered if the Planning Consi~ltarits realized tI-
this would isolate Equestrian Zone East from both Equestrians; Zone
and tl~~e Sphere of Influence. Commissioner Terry mentioned that tY:
4Jest Valley rreewp.y right-of-way could be used to connect these az
mhe Co~:miss=~o~~ felt that provisions for link-up trails should i>e
specie icall_~ ~~:en+.ioneu in the Element with regard to the eq!~est~~i~
trails.
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SARATOGA PARKS AND RECREATION COP~4MISSION - MINUTES - OCT 1 1973 - continued
Commissioner Rose disagreed with the recommendation that bicycle
routes should be considered temporary asd that a separate bicycle
trails system is the ultimate goal. Experts on bicycle routes
disagree on which of these possibilities is the safest. Same would
say that it is safer to have the bicyclist next to the road where
he is highly visible, while others feel the separate system is
safest. In any case, she felt that there will always be bicyclist
along the rods, and that a separate system is not entirely desirabl
or obtainable.
Miss Sampson agreed and mentioned Palo Alto, in the area of Starifor~l
University, as an example where there is an excellent bicycle route
following the roads.
The Commission felt that Item K. under Recommendations should be
amended to reed "Bicycle lanes should be provided for bicycles;
separate paths should be established where needed and feasible".
Cor;lmissioner Rose so moved a.nd Commissioner Johnston seconded. The
motion cvas passed unanimously. The Commission also felt that
bicycles s'r_oi~ld be referred to as "bicycles" rather than "bikes"
in the Element in order to avoid confusion with motorcycles and trai
mini-bikes.
The Co?rmission discussed the recommendation that Saratoga and
Cala.bazas Cz~eeks be developed as pathways along their creek beds.
Development of property and the shifting of the cz~eek beds from the
easement into private property makes this recommendation impossible
to carry out;. This type of extensive path development is only possi
in non-developed areas, mostly the Sphere of Influence.
Commissione~~ Gordon moved that this recommendation be amended to rea
only creeks, rather than naming specific creeks. Commissiorie.r Rose
seconded and the Commission passed the motion unanimously.
rir. Kaufman, of the Gatehouse Condomin-i.ums, stated that he is not
opposed to trail development iil Saratoga, but that certair, problems
must be faced with trails, especially those that are cross-country.
The Sheriff's Department has had much trouble patrolling the Plaz:~
del Roble p~:r'.ring lot -and ~~Jild>,vood Park, and this type of trail lend
itself to t':e same types of problems. The only solutions to the mot
bike prob leru Yie could offer were (1) make the trail too narrow or
winding for them to enjoy racing thou h it; (2)install speed bumps,
which could cause legal problems; or ~3) make it wide enougYi for the
Sheriff. to follow them' ir.. He did not feel any of these is a ~;ooci
solution. Iie estimated that it would cost the City X75,000 _ner year
for each ad«itional 24--hour deputy.
T•ir. Beyer said that this cost could
were hired, '~~ut agreed that this is
.. trail. :ie ~:elt that finding ways to
be part of trail planning.
be somewhat lower if pclice c2.d.e
a real problem with this type of
enforce trail reguations should
Commissior_;~r Cordon moved that the Commission recomrr:end that a nolic
staterne>>t; -.--_-~.r_nin~; tie e~t~? orcement of regulations be made ,~ con-
junction wit". th? recornrendation regarding tr.ai.l development.
Commissioner Terry seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.
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SARATOGA PARKS AND RECREATION COMT~fISSION_-_i~1INUTES - OCT 1, 173 -continued.
IV. COT°iT~1ITTEE AIyD STAFF REPORTS
A. COMMITTEE R'rIQORTS
There were no Committee Reports.
PARK
USE
FOU RS
B~ STAFF R~ORTS
rlr. Beyer asked for the Commissioner recommendation regarding park
use hours. They felt that the intent should be to have people out
of the parks soon after dark, and that Summer and Winter hours shoo
be established.
Commissioner Terry mojred that the Summer hours be no later than
10:00 P.T~,. and the ~•Jinter hours be no later than 7:00 P.M., and that
these Yours curly both to parks and trails. Commissioner Gordon
seconded. Commissioners Clavrson, Gordon, T•Zarovich, Rose, Terry,
Wilberding, Gn3 Z_.mbetti voted in favor, and Commisser Johnston
opposed.
YGUTii Tr. Beyer r•FS;~o~ted that two youth. commissioner have been select=ed.
CCi;iIUSIOiiL ~S
V. COT;I~iU~IC ~TIO_~S
A. WRITTET~<
There were rlo ~•~ritten communications to the Commission.
~3. ORAL
T~~r~. Carol t~:ilcox, from the Greenbriar Homeowner Association, said
she was delighted to read about the recent acquisition of the Azule
Park site. She as_~ed about the plans for the Fremont riigrl School s
P;r. F~eyer said t~:at if the present Parker Ranch' is developed, there
might be a need for a rei.~hborhood park at the base of the hill.
However, if the development is not highly concentr=ated, this need
might be filled by surrounding open space. The School District ha:
indicated that they do nvt plan to build-a school on the property, .
but there are no imtaediate plans to sell the land. irlhen .they do
sell, the City will be notified.
VI. ADJOURNMFIIT
There being ro fort=per business before the Commission, the meeting
was adjourned at 10:~J P.I`.
Respectfully submitted,
~~~ ~'~"~
Barbara Sampson
Secretary
mrr~
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