November 2015 NEWSLETTER WWW.RISHIKUMAR.COM || WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VOTERISHI || RKUMAR<at>SARATOGA.CA.US NO MORE A FRESHMAN! Dear friends, My warm wishes to you and your loved ones for a fantastic holiday season. Yes time certainly flies when you are having fun. My first year on the council has been a tremendous experience. I have learnt a lot, contributed, participated, innovated and helped push the ball further in providing services to Saratogans cheaper, faster, better. I have put in tremendous effort into this opportunity to serve, spent a lot of time in reading, researching, thinking, educating, setting up processes, engaging citizens, creating opportunities for a win-win; all have worked well and I look back with a sense of satisfaction. The one thing I have tried to do is to be the unique strong rational voice on the council, bringing a vision, an innovative and a fresh perspective, while zealously wanting to make a difference to help every citizen of Saratoga. As a community organizer, I was advised by some of you last year to trim down the activities given the new council role, but it has only ballooned thanks to all the great ideas that came at me from friends, community members and well wishers. It is all good...I continue to make best use of the opportunity in serving you. I very much appreciate your support, input, guidance and feedback through this last year. Please wish me humility, compassion, luck, strength, energy, wisdom and God speed to continue to provide that phenomenal service to our community that I have a sincere quest for. I would love to get your feedback; I have created an informal survey to get feedback on my service to Saratoga. I want to know how I can be a better public servant! The survey is only a few questions, and your responses are anonymous. I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and input on how I can do a better job leading, serving, and representing our community. You can take the survey here: www.tinyurl.com/CouncilmemberKumar I truly appreciate having friends like you in my life and of course a wife of 20 years now Seema Kumar keeping me honest, in- line. Sincerely, Rishi Kumar NEWSLETTER EDITOR: YOUTH INTERN SHAUNAK VAIDYA MY MONTHLY OFFICE HOURS ARE NOW AT THE BIG BASIN CAFÉ – 1 st SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9AM-10AM MY PERFORMANCE REVIEW
NO MORE A FRESHMAN! Dear friends, My warm wishes to you and your loved ones for a fantastic holiday season.
Yes time certainly flies when you are having fun. My first year on the council has been a tremendous experience. I have learnt a lot, contributed, participated, innovated and helped push the ball further in providing services to Saratogans cheaper, faster, better. I have put in tremendous effort into this opportunity to serve, spent a lot of time in reading, researching, thinking, educating, setting up processes, engaging citizens, creating opportunities for a win-win; all have worked well and I look back with a sense of satisfaction. The one thing I have tried to do is to be the unique strong rational voice on the council, bringing a vision, an innovative and a fresh perspective, while zealously wanting to make a difference to help every citizen of Saratoga. As a community organizer, I was advised by some of you last year to trim down the activities given the new council role, but it has only ballooned thanks to all the great ideas that came at me from friends, community members and well wishers. It is all good...I continue to make best use of the opportunity in serving you. I very much appreciate your support, input, guidance and feedback through this last year. Please wish me humility, compassion, luck, strength, energy, wisdom and God speed to continue to provide that phenomenal service to our community that I have a sincere quest for.
I would love to get your feedback; I have created an informal survey to get feedback on my service to Saratoga. I want to know how I can be a better public servant! The survey is only a few questions, and your responses are anonymous. I welcome your thoughts, suggestions, and input
on how I can do a better job leading, serving, and representing our community. You can take the survey here: www.tinyurl.com/CouncilmemberKumar
I truly appreciate having friends like you in my life and of course a wife of 20 years now Seema Kumar keeping me honest, in-
line. Sincerely, Rishi Kumar
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: YOUTH INTERN SHAUNAK VAIDYA
MY MONTHLY OFFICE HOURS ARE NOW AT THE
BIG BASIN CAFÉ – 1st SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, 9AM-10AM
The directors of finance, public works, recreation, and planning have a new contract offer. The Council imposed a contract having offered. This seemed like the best option having gone through cycles of discussions. As per then Mayor Howard Miller. “The data indicates our directors are fairly compensated.
CREEK TRAIL PROJECT IS A NO-GO
Saratoga City Council contract
offerings
C i t y u p d a t e
Community Choice Energy allows city and county governments to pool the electricity demand of their communities to buy greener sources of electricity on behalf of residents and businesses in their jurisdictions. Shifting to greener energy sources through a Community Choice Energy program is one of the most impactful actions Silicon Valley communities can take to lower carbon emissions. In addition, a Community Choice Energy program can provide competitive electricity rate options, further incent residents and businesses towards photovoltaic solar, and stimulate the local green economy. Community Choice Energy has been successful for customers and beneficial for the environment in communities that have implemented these programs in California, such as Marin and Sonoma counties.
SARATOGA PARTICIPATING: Silicon Valley
Community Choice Energy
Village Creek Trail Project Status – by Iveta Harvancik, City Staff In 2012, the City was awarded a grant for construction of the Village Creek Trail from Santa Clara Valley Water District as part of the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection Grant Program. Due to concerns expressed by the property owners near the proposed project, the creek trail design and construction will not be able to meet the SCVWD grant timeline. The SCVWD has asked the City to release the grant back to the District Grant Program and to resubmit a new application at a later time. Of the total grant amount of $27,000, the City spent only $480 so far for a field survey. No additional City funds were spent and the construction has not started. As a result, the grant funds will not be used and the $480 will be refunded to the District.
Saratoga Encroachment
The water district recently began the removal of hazardous trees along Saratoga Creek between Prospect Road and Cox Avenue. deceased trees that are at risk of failure and damaging properties or human life. During the boundary surveys for this project, several encroachments onto water district property were identified. On November 12, 2015, letters were sent notifying 33 property owners along Saratoga Creek of their encroachments, indicating that survey stakes would be placed the week of December 7, 2015.
COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2015 Page 2 of 12
SARATOGA FOOD AND TOY DRIVE PROPOSITION 47
AND CRIME IN SARATOGA The city is accepting new and unwrapped toy donations through Dec.
16 and food donations through Dec. 21. Specially marked collection containers are at locations throughout the city. The most needed food items include canned tuna, peanut butter, baked beans, canned nuts, powdered milk, 100-percent juice in boxes or cans and canned vegetables and fruits. Other requested food items are boxed pasta, rice, cereal and canned soups and stews.
Councilmember Kumar brought up the impact of Proposition 47 on crime and break-ins in Saratoga with both Senator Jim Beall and Assemblymember Low at the joint meeting with Council
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VILLAGE PLAN UPDATE
The Saratoga Village Specific Plan Update website is now available and can be accessed using the following link: http://www.saratogavillageplan.org. In January 2016, this dedicated website will also serve as the official portal for the public to participate in the On-line Survey prepared by Peak Democracy for Saratoga Village.
In addition to news and information about the update project, the website currently has downloads of relevant documents, contacts, and information about the Saratoga Village. The most recent additions to the site are in the “Events Calendar Section” and include meeting materials from the November 17, 2015 Joint Planning Commission and Heritage Preservation Commission Kick-off
U P D A T E S F R O M L A S T M O N T H A N D U P C O M I N G E V E N T S
Last month something historic happened in the city of Saratoga’s Parks Department. A new addition to the beautiful parks of Saratoga, the Saratoga Quarry Park was launched at 22000 Congress Springs Road. As the park is still relatively new, two events will be held to try and make the park more open to the public and even just aesthetically pleasing. If you’re looking for the chance to volunteer, or you just want to witness Saratoga’s newest park, help maintain the beauty of the newly opened Saratoga Quarry Park by participating in the "Let's Work Saratoga!" program. Two events will be held on Saturday, December 12, and Saturday, January 9, at Saratoga Quarry Park. Both events will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will be divided into working groups of 10-12 and will help remove invasive plants to clear areas near trails. Each group will be led by volunteer leaders. Volunteers should bring gardening gloves, sunscreen, water, and wear a long-sleeved shirt and closed-toed shoes.
Councilmember Kumar was elected to the California League of Cities API Caucus as a Director At-Large back in October. He is very excited at the prospect for the public policy contribution and learning and more importantly, bringing the learning back to our city council. Councilmember Kumar is the first councilmember of Saratoga that has joined the board. This Caucus is a state wide league of cities group that was formed in 2000. The Asian Pacific Islander (API) Caucus is a diversity caucus organized within the League of California Cities. The API Caucus serves as leaders to improve the quality of life, advocate on behalf of the API community, and provide resources to develop the next generation of leaders. This group is active in the development of public policy affecting our cities, constituents, and all of California. Councilmember Kumar was also appointed to the League of CA Cities Employee Relations Committee
COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR’S RECENT ELECTION
Opportunities at the Saratoga Quarry park
COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2015 Page 3 of 12
READ DETAILED FLOOD PLAN http : / /www.sl ideshare .net/r ishi 59 /2015 -res ized -floodplain-
mailer-f inal -10231 5
Lorem Ipsum COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2015 Page 4 of 12
INVITATION: JOIN THE Leadership:
SARATOGA vibrant citizens group
Sunday before Thanksgiving, a few Saratogans gathered to discuss how to build a better vibrant connected Saratoga. An idea is now in the works to create a leadership committee centered around this. The intention is to have this team meet once a quarter (called the VIBRANT SARATOGA TEAM ) and collaborate towards the better of our local community to “Keep Saratoga Vibrant”. Here is the form created with the purpose of getting folks to champion specific initiatives
Tinyurl.com/VibrantSaratogaTeam.
CALIFORNIA DROUGHT MANDATES?
Our leadership, state water officials, environmentalists and some local water managers are considering making California's new water-wasting rules a permanent part of state law, even in wet years. Next summer, = the CA Water board will hear public input and vote on making some or all of the water-wasting rules permanent.
U P D A T E S F R O M L A S T M O N T H A N D U P C O M I N G E V E N T S
SARATOGA HIGH MARCHING BAND AT
THE ROSE PARADE
Saratoga High School Marching Band will be at the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1st. Are you planning your Saratoga Rose Parade party yet? Saratoga High Tournament Director Mr Boitz and Associated Director Mr Pwu are leading the practice sessions and the logistics planning. Mr Boitz’s 18-year tenure at Saratoga High includes many impressive feats, including participation in 2012 in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The band is comprised of 150 musicians, 20 pit percussion members, 37 color guard members and three drum majors.
In the contest, held Nov. 7 in American Canyon, Saratoga won first place for music, design and visual for their performance of "Quest," a piece that was based on the phone game Monument Valley. The school was rated the top band of the nearly two dozen participating bands
SARATOGA HIGH MARCHING BAND WINS FIRST PLACE
AND CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION
This year Saratoga’s Home for the Holidays exhibit is coming to the Historical Museum and staying all throughout December. The museum is opening a new exhibit on Nov. 27 that portrays how people around the world commemorate the months of December and January. Titled "Home for the Holidays," ; you will see displays of stories, recipes and even an interactive table with Matchbox toys, a Mr. Potato Head, a Jenga game and Tinkertoys. There are displays, for example, depicting the New year's Eve tradition in the U.S. of the lowering of the ball and countdown in New York City's Times Square, the celebration of the Tet Vietnamese New Year and the Chinese New Year holiday with dragons and firecrackers. Exhibit ends on the 31st of January. HURRY!
Holiday exhibit at the Saratoga History museum
VILLAGE BUSINESS UPDATE
Plumed Horse and La Fondue are under the same ownership of JOSH WEEKS. Last month, Wine Spectator Magazine named the Plumed Horse one of eight restaurants from around the world that stand at the forefront of wine-and-food culture.
SANDBAGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE AT THE CITY YARD. CALL (408) 868-1245
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G l i m p s e s F R O M N O V E M B E R
COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR
WAS nominated BY
LEAGUE OF CA CITIES API
CAUCUS (THANKS!) to
attend the University
of Southern
California, Bedrosian
Center’s Local Leaders
Program
COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2015 Page 5 of 12
