HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-23-1974 Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes• '
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SARATOGA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
TIME: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1974 - 7:30 P.M.
PLACE: CRISP MEMORIAL CONFERENCE ROOM, SARATOGA CITY OFFICES,
13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070
TYPE: REGULAR MEETING
I. ORGANIZATION
A. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Commissioners Buchanan, Carlson, Clawson, Gordon, Terry,
Wilberding and Zambetti.
ABSENT; Commissioner Rose
OTHERS PRESENT: Don Burt, Assistant Planner
B. MINUTES
The minutes of the September 9, 1974 meeting were approved as amended.
II. OLD BUSINESS
A. COMMUNITY FENCE PROJECT - BROOKGLEN PARK
The Secretary stated that the chain link fence will not be able to be
COMMUNITY FENCE stretched the same weekend as the cement and post holes are done. The
PROJECT - cement should harden at least 3 days before a.ny stress is applied.
BROOKGLEN PARK Everything else can be done the first weekend - digging and cementing
the post holes, painting the redwood, etc. The rental of the auger,
the cement mixer, paint brushes, pans, etc. will come to a total of
$203.00
Commissioner Carlson stated that he had gone over the plans with Mr. Al
Pinn, a part-time contractor in the Brookglen area who would be acting
as community coordinator, and he thought it would be more appropriate
to have a ready mixer come in with the cement after the post holes were
dug and the posts in, because of all the concrete involved with 56 post
holes.
The Secretary stated she would check the plans over with the Architect
and the Park Foreman and figure out exactly how much cement will be
needed. The building materials will be delivered to the Corporation Yard
this week and will have to be loaded onto a truck Saturday morning by the
community volunteers to be taken over to Brookglen Park.
The Architect will be at the park Saturday in case there are any questions
and to mark the holes. Also the Park Foreman and one of his men to run
the auger.
B. DATE FOR GARDINER DEDICATION
The Secretary stated that the official date for Gardiner Park dedication
DATE FOR GARDINER has been officially set for October 20 at 1:00 p.m. Notices will be sent
DEDICATION out to the residents in the area and a program will be made up for those
attending the dedication. A special invitation will also be sent to the
family of the person who donated part of the park.
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PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION - MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 23, 1974 - continued
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. STUDY OF CITY SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE
Mr. Don Burt, Assistant Planner in the City Planning Department explained
STUDY OF CITY to the Commission that the existing Subdivision Ordinance speaks of park
SUBDIVISION and recreation facilities, it does not specify whether it is parks or
ORDINANCE trails. When a Park and Recreation fee is paid it should go to wherever
the Commission specifies - parks, trails and pathways, etc., but the
ordinance will have to be amended in order for it to apply this way.
Mr. Burt stated that the purpose of the Subdivision Ordinance and park
dedication fee is to provide park and recreation facilities to serve
future residents of such subdivision. A trail serves the City as a
whole, not the particular people in the subdivision, and this needs to
be amended. The Subdivision Ordinance specifically speaks to dedicating
that amount of land which is required to serve the people of the subdivision.
If the Commission wants to get money specifically for parks or specifically
for trails and pathways, it should be specified in the Subdivision Ordi-
nance. Presently, there is one fee for park and recreation facilities and
the Commission should initiate changes to allow either the space or dollars
to be used for parks or trails. At present if any of the dedicated land
or money is used for trails, it is being taken out of parks. The builder
will see this as a.n additional fee requirement if there is a trail in the
Master Plan for this area; or the fee could be raised to cover park and
recreation facilities which would include trails and be stated as such.
The Subdivision Ordinance states, "in a subdivision involving 50 lots
or less, only a payment of fees is required". If an easement is required
then a fee is paid; if it is dedicated to the City, the fee is waived.
Mr. Burt recommended that the Commission take a look at the section of
the ordinance that has to ~o with park and recreation facilities (Section
3.9, Pages 27-30), and make recommendations as. soon as possible to the
Planning Department, as it is in the process of being revised right now.
The Secretary will make copies of this section of the Subdivision Ordi-
nance and distribute to the Commission to review.
The Secretary felt that the Park and Recreation fee should be one lump
sum and not divided up as to parks or trails. Also that the Park and
Recreation fee can be traded if land is dedicated. This would be required
of all developers. Presently, the Bark and Recreation fee is approximately
$130.00 per acre.
Mr. Burt suggested the Commission get the Master Trails Map and recommen-
dations in as soon as possible to the Planning Department.
B. FREMONT PARK SITE REVIEW
The Secretary reported that she received a telephone call from Mr. Al
FREMONT PARK St. Cyr the Business Manager of Fremont Union High School District. The
SITE REVIEW school district has tentatively determined they will not need the 47
acres located in Saratoga for actual school site, and are investigating
same possibilities for it, and wanted to know i~ we were interested.
The school board has been approached by subdividers. Mr. St. Cyr would
like to see it maintained in public ownership, and possibly a 99 year
lease for the entire 47 acres if someone makes the commitment to possibly
leave it in open space or maybe develop part of it as a park.
Chairman Wilberding questioned whether other communities in surrounding
areas have taken on large pieces of land like this for open space and
what was done. The Secretary reported that Sunnyvale is now in the pro-
cess of having a bond issue so they can buy orchards and large pieces of
land for this purpose.
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RECREATION MMISSION - MINUTES - SE
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The Secretary stated that if the City were to lease the property for the
amount of money it could afford a year, that some sort of land management
program would have to be started, whether we ever develop or not, it has
to be maintained.
Chairman Wilberding questioned if there was a motorcycle problem in the
Fremont park site area. Commissioner Terry stated there is a problem,
but not a big one, as there is not any easy access for motorcycles on
the property.
The concept the Commission has always had for this area was to wait and
see how the area developed. However, if the amount is reasonable for
the land, the Commission agreed it should take a look at it and see
what Fremont School District has to say about it.
Chairman Wilberding suggested that the Secretary pursue the matter and
let Mr. St. Cyr know the Commission's feelings, and see what develops.
IV. COMMITTEE AND STAFF REPORTS
A. COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. RE: TRAILS AND PATHWAYS TASK FORCE
Commissioner Terry reported that there has been an attendance pro-
blem due to vacations. Presently, the committee is busy having
various speakers from other communities speaking on their trails,
problems, solutions, etc. After this phase the committee will be
establishing policies and going out and see how these policies
apply to individual trails, and then resolve them. The committee
is presently meeting on the second and fourth Thursdays.
2. RE: HAKONE REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Secretary reported that the next Hakone Review Committee meeting
is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, 1974.
B. STAFF REPORTS
1. RE: OPEN SPACE ACTION PROGRAM
The Secretary reported that the Commission's recommendation on the
Open Space Action Program was sent by the City Council to the Planning
Policy Committee, and City Council did approve the overall project.
2 . RE : CITY _ MEETINGS
The Secretary reported that there is a new City Council policy
whereas all City meetings must be openly publized with an agenda
available at least 24 hours in advance.
3. RE: SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT
The Secretary reported that the City is now negotiating an agreement
with Santa Clara Valley Water District to take over the property
adjacent to Gardiner Park.
4. RE: CONGRESS SPRINGS PARK
The Secretary reported that Randy Anderson from City Planning Depart-
ment has been working with the men on Congress Springs Park, and it
has been determined that the 300' ball diamond cannot be put in at
the angle at which it was approved. So Randy is working on a plan
where the ball diamond is turned around to allow for 300'.
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PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION - MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 23, 1974 - continued
The revised plan still allows for everything to fit in the park and
still allow maximum use of the available site until the entire site
can be purchased, while still providing continuity with the rest of
the park.
The Commission agreed, and there was no objections to letting them
go ahead with the revised plan on Congress Springs Park.
V. COMMUNICATIONS - None
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned
at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Barbara Sampson, Secretary
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