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Columns
in the medium at Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Prospect
I voted to remove the
columns from the medium. I did not realize that the columns were going
to turn out the way they did because I had only looked at a top down drawing.
I am not sure an artist rendition of the side view would have convinced
me beforehand to request that we not install them, it is hard to say.
When the columns were first erected, I asked what was missing to finish
them. It turns out that caps were still on order. The total project estimate
for the Gateway was $2.8 million for the road, mediums, signal, storm
drains, and sidewalk improvements. The pillars cost $31,000, a minor part
of the whole project.
The council had feedback from residents that was very negative. We evaluated
many options, arbors that would cost an additional $21,000, finishing
them columns the way they were for $5,000, or to yank them out and plant
trees, $16,000.
I was one of the three votes that voted to remove them. I evaluated many
arbors within the county before the decision and I felt that other arbors
in the area were high maintenance, they often warped, and they lost their
beauty over time.
It turns out that our public works department was able to remove the pillars
themselves and plant the trees in the holes that remained. The cost of
$3100 was much lower than the original estimate.
North Campus
The North Campus was
purchased before I became a council member. The property was originally
purchased so that the city of Saratoga would generate revenue from the
Sheriff Department rental of the existing Community Center; when the Community
Center moved to the North Campus. This income would have offset the increasing
costs of our basic services. However, this did not happen, and the Sheriff
has moved to Cupertino. So, instead of generating revenue, we have had
to spend money maintaining two properties while still paying our costs
for the County Sheriff.
Saratoga has not had the funds to develop and maintain a second Community
Center at the North Campus site. I voted to sell the property for this
reason. I felt that the money generated from the sale could benefit all
citizens of Saratoga by investing those funds into our roads and infrastructure.
I voted to put the decision onto the ballot in June in order to allow
the citizens to decide. With the overwhelming vote to keep the property
for community use, I voted to spend funds to make at least two of the
building useable within the next six months.
Vote on November 7, 2006!
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