councilmember rishi kumar q3 2016 newsletter

Q 3 20 1 6 NEW SLETTER

WWW.RISHIKUMAR.COM || WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VOTERISHI || RKUMAR<at>SARATOGA.CA.US

Dear Friends, Safety has been a challenge in Saratoga. We have had 131 break-ins so far this year, with $2M+ stolen from Saratoga homes. The crime wave has subsided since late August, but it behooves each of us to be vigilant and to take some action around our home and neighborhood. Case in point, on Thursday Nov 3rd, two homes were broken into off Cox avenue as the homes did not have any lights turned on that were front facing and became a target. Checkout the safety tips at http://www.RishiKumar.com/tips. You can the list of break-ins this year www.tinyurl.com/SaratogaCrimeSpreadsheet

As part of my safety charter for Saratoga, I have been having neighborhood meetings to create some safety best practices, build awareness of the crime situation and launch Neighborhood Safety Watch programs. With 30+ neighborhood meetings so far, an effort that began in June, we have initiated 30+ new Saratoga Neighborhood Safety Watch programs. On October 19th, we had 29 neighborhoods certified with their Neighborhood Safety Watch program by the Sheriff and went live the same day. Scroll down below and you will find glimpses from these 30+ neighborhood meetings. When was the last time we had 29 Neighborhood Safety Watch programs ready to go live the same day in the history of Saratoga? I think the answer is NEVER! There were 32 neighborhoods present with completed packages - and 29 were there as a result of our efforts and push over the last few months. You can read about it the Saratoga News article here http://tinyurl.com/MercNSW

HERE IS THE LIST OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GOT CERTIFIED: Braemar, Brandywine/Paramount, Chardonnay, El Quito, Fredericksburg, Glenbrae, Horseshoe, Miljevich, Park Saratoga HOA, Prides Crossing, Prides Crossing East, Prides Crossing North, Saraglen, Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga Woods, Brooks of Saratoga Thelma West, Tollgate, Vessing, Via Roncole, Saratoga High / Chalet, Saratoga Elementary / Vickery, Blauer Drive, Larchmont, Lower Pierce, McFarland and Wardell. There are many neighborhoods on track to get certified and we have scheduled another meeting in December with the sheriff. To see the complete list visit www.RishiKumar.com/nsw

A Neighborhood Safety Watch grant initiative was on the agenda at the same October city council meeting. I put forth a motion for a grant initiative for Saratoga Neighborhood Safety Watch programs that was passed 5-0 by the council. We will now fund such neighborhood safety watch initiatives. Only Neighborhood Safety Captains (or Coordinators) can apply for the grant on behalf of the neighborhood, and only those neighborhoods that are already certified can get access to this grant. The grant is a total of $300/neighborhood. This goes live on January 1st. Additionally, Public Works staff has started reaching out to the 30 neighborhoods to discuss Neighborhood Watch signage. The information collected at the meeting will also be used to create a map of Neighborhood Watch groups, which will be available on the City website I highly recommend that you join the Safe Saratoga Citizen’s forum at: http://groups.google.com/group/SafeSaratoga http://facebook.com/groups/safesaratoga Stay tuned – we can do a lot more to help enhance Saratoga’s safety. For one, we are rolling out a neighborhood led surveillance camera methodology. You will see an announcement soon on this topic. Sincerely, Rishi Kumar

NEWSLETTER EDITOR: YOUTH INTERN SHAUNAK VAIDYA

2


C i t y C O U N C I L u p d a t e

COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER Q3 2016 of 18

Visit Councilmember Kumar’s information page on water at: www.RishiKumar.com/water

Back on August 17th at the City Council meeting, Councilmember Kumar had asked our city council to put Water on the agenda for discussion - based on the Saratoga angst with high water bills. It was placed on the council agenda of October 19th. Our city attorney had been researching this complex topic for weeks and finally reported back at this October 19th meeting, and we collectively as a council took specific steps to move forward. You can watch the meeting here http://saratoga.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=9&clip_id=965 Click on item 4.1 Below is a summary:

Our Saratoga city attorney presented a deck as a backdrop to the city council discussion. http://www.slideshare.net/rishi59/saratoga-city-attorney-presentation-on-sjwc-rates-10191026

Our council came up with the following approach after much discussion, deliberation: #1 Build/Leverage a joint Regional effort. We will seek to collaborate with neighboring cities where SJWC provides water. Reach out from many fronts to see if we have common cause, where do we have common ground and where we don't. For the long term, we need a regional approach beyond Water also with Gas, Electricity etc to ensure the interest of our community is being met when decisions are made by CPUC. I will bring this up with commission members on the Santa Clara Valley Water District (from various santa clara county cities) who are served by San Jose Water Company. #2Reach out representatives in Sacramento (Assemblymember Low and Senator Beall) - we will discuss water at an upcoming council meeting with them. #3 Reach out to SCVWD via staff, via SCVWD Board member Nai Hsueh (a Saratoga resident). #4 City Manager TO DO to evaluate Rate Analyst Consulting services who can help us with CPUC, do deeper analysis #5 City Manager TO DO to explore Short term analyst + rate modification request #6 SJWC to explain every single line item on the bill. Likely a FAQ Items 1, 2, 3 were brought up by me at the August 14th meeting as alternative approaches to the problem. Item #4 was specifically recommended by me yesterday, as a rate analyst would take some of the complexity away for us and our citizens. We haven’t solved anything yet, but we are finally moving forward. Join the Saratoga Water email group http://groups.google.com/group/saratogawater to stay connected

WATER DISCUSSION AT SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL – OCT 19th

At the October 26th Santa Clara Valley Water District Commission meeting, Councilmember Rishi Kumar brought the topic of surcharge, high water bill, the water petition, the rates impacting Saratoga and provided the Saratoga City council update to the Commission from the Wednesday meeting, Saratoga’s exploration of hiring a rate analyst consultant etc,. Subsequent to that, Councilmember Kumar also met with SCVWD Board Member Nai Hsueh. The request was made to Nai to bring this topic up discussion at the next board meeting on November 9th and Saratoga’s desire to completely eliminate the drought mandate. A step forward to actively collaborate with our neighboring cities to make it a collective voice and also to actively express our situation with SCVWD

Water district update

SARATOGA MARIJUANA ORDINANCE

At the November 2nd City Council meeting, the council passed an Urgency Interim Ordinance (valid for 45 days) that makes it illegal for outdoor cultivation of Marijuana in Saratoga. It is law now. This will be revisited at our December meeting. This ordinance was introduced for discussion at the request of our city attorney to address any issues with Proposition 64 – which up for vote in the November election

3

STRICTER SMOKING ORDINANCE

C i t y N E W S A N D u p d a t e


At the September council meeting, the council approved a Contract for Website Design, Hosting, and Maintenance to CivicPlus in an amount not to exceed $83,547 for a term of 4 years. You should eventually see a contemporary, user friendly city website

CITY WEBSITE REDESIGN

The city of Saratoga held a public meeting between the traffic safety commission (TSC) and the city council on Sept. 7. The topic was safety. Our council had asked the task force (TSC) to work on ideas to help with public safety. You can find the presentation from this meeting at http://www.slideshare.net/rishi59/2016-09-07-tsc-safety-presentation-to-city-council. Key recommendations include :Outreach, Neighborhood Safety Watch and building awareness

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will implement a three-phase noise reduction program along the corridor to address existing noise concerns on Highway 85. Some of the agency's strategies may include sound wall modification, retrofitting and/or treatment, landscaping along the highway and pavement modifications or treatments. Visit bit.ly/SR85NoiseReduction.

TRAFFIC AND SAFETY WORK TASK

ON SAFETY

LOCKED MAIL BOX ORDINANCE

Whenever a new home/construction project happens, they will be mandated to have a locked mail box based on a new ordinance that has been proposed

The council voted on July 6 in favor of an amended smoking ordinance: prohibits smoking in all dining areas, including enclosed and open spaces; in the common areas of all hotels and multifamily developments, such as hallways, courtyards, pool areas and playgrounds; in most workplaces, including outdoors; and in new multi-family apartment complexes. The ordinance also prohibits smoking at any event that requires a special event permit, excluding adult-only events, in service areas, such as ATM lines, bus stops and ticket kiosks, and within 20 feet from any entrance to an area where smoking is prohibited, such as restaurants and workplaces.

HIGHWAY 85 NOISE

VILLAGE POLICY UPDATE

On May 24th the City Council considered the results of a community outreach initiative intended to gather the viewpoints of the community about the Village. The community outreach was the first step in the process of updating the Village Specific Plan and Design Guidelines. In considering the Planning Commission recommendation, the Council determined that the Village Plan had been substantially completed and had served its useful life, and that future policy guiding land use, development and building modification in the Village should be incorporated into the General Plan, Village Design Guidelines, and the Zoning Ordinance. Council approved the to preparation of a work plan outlining a process for developing and adopting policies in response to the community outreach that would update and bring current the community’s views and vision for the Village. There were four topic areas identified during outreach to be addressed via this policy update. · Parking and Circulation · Village Vision · Village Design and Character · Opportunity Sites

SHOOTING INCIDENT AT A HOME ON TITUS

AVENUE Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a home on Titus Avenue in Saratoga to perform a welfare check. During the welfare check, deputies attempted to make contact with the individual for approximately 50 minutes, but received no response. Deputies then walked to the side of the residence and encountered a male with a raised firearm. Deputies made repeated requests for the man to lower his weapon. Subsequently, one of the officers onsite fired at the man, reported to be a Saratoga resident, who was then transported to a local hospital, where he died. While there are limited details available and the matter is under investigation, this looks like an isolated incident. Details

http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/09/15/saratoga-authorities-identify-deputy-and-man-he-fatally-shot-in-home-encounter/

AMERICA IN BLOOM

s Saratoga was big winners again - won the Urban Forestry award. Congratulations to Jill Hunter and team for bringing the award to Saratoga

4

A large number of Monterey pines growing along the Allendale Avenue side of the West Valley College campus have died. Five years of a drought has taken a toll on a large number of trees throughout the city and the pines have suffered the most. The college got a permit to remove 43 dead pines. This area will be replanted with drought tolerant landscaping and new trees once the dead

Q & A W I T H C O U N C I L M E M B E R K U M A R

IS SARATOGA THINKING MICROGRID?

I HEAR OF OTHER CITIES ROLLING OUT

MICROGRIDS FOR EMERGENCY SHELTERS,

FIRE STATIONS etC.

At a prior city council meeting, I have proposed a Microgrid concept for Saratoga for our emergency shelter. Our Community Center serves as an emergency refuge in the event of a disaster, like a major storm or earthquake and a micro grid can be configured to supply clean power to the Community Center in the scenario of an outage. A Microgrid solution is currently being deployed at 3 Fire Stations in Fremont for critical facilities such as Community Centers, Fire and Police stations, and Medical facilities. The essence of their solution is intelligent software that integrates and manages the power from: Solar PV arrays, Battery Storage Systems, and the Grid itself. Yes, such innovative approaches for Saratoga would also help reduce our monthly expense

HOW DO I REGISTER MY SURVEILLANCE

CAMERA?

Below, you will find a few petitions. The first one is related to Orchestra at Saratoga Union School District, the second one relates to the super high water bill and the third one relates to surveillance cameras for Saratoga http://tinyurl.com/SHSPetition http://tinyurl.com/saratogawaterpetition http://www.tinyurl.com/CameraPetition

I HEARD A FEW PETITIONS THAT

SARATOGANS ARE SIGNING?

I SEE DEAD MONTEREY PINES ON

FRUITVALE.

WHAT IS CERT? This training provides training to help with any emergency like earthquake, fire escape plan, missing person, lost child, bio/chemical attack, emergency evacuations, neighborhood safety and so much more. CERT is a great way to be organized as well as trained by professionals. You become a huge asset to your neighborhood once trained. A special Saratoga CERT Leadership meeting will be held on Wednesday November 16 at Saratoga City Hall from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Saratoga CERT Leadership meetings are open to everybody in Saratoga CERT. Questions? Contact Jim Jim Yoke,Community Education Services, Santa Clara County Fire Department [email protected] 408-887-7818 cell KI6HKZ

HOW DO I GET CERT FOR MY

NEIGHBORHOOD?

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with CrimeReports.com. for reported crimes in your area. CrimeReports.com hosts a Camera Registration Program. By registering the location of your home security cameras, you might assist the Sheriff’s Office in supplying information needed to catch criminals that have burglarized your neighbors. Having camera footage of suspects is one of the most valuable tools law enforcement can use to identify criminal suspects. Your information is kept secure and never made public. To register your security camera, go to www.CrimeReports.com and click on the “register my camera” link. Then select the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office as your local law enforcement agency.


WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE

PROSPECT MEDIAN PROJECT? The Prospect Median project has been delayed, but work will get going soon. Stay tuned for further updates The project will improve Prospect Road between Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Lawrence Expressway via funding from OBAG. Two open houses were conducted to get community feedback and neighborhoods around

I SEE OWNERS NOT PICKING UP DOG

WASTE LEFT BEHIND HOW CAN I GET THE RING.COM 30%

DISCOUNT? Thousands in Saratoga have bought this product that Saratoga law enforcement is also referring. Details at www.RishiKumar.com/Safety (Scroll all the way down)

We prohibit this as part of city code in parks. Please report it by calling Telephone Number 408.868.1214 (hotline). Email:

[email protected] Webpage (including complaint form):

HOW CAN MY CHILD INTERN WITH

COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR

Visit www.RishiKumar.com/intern www.tinyurl.com/Kickoff101

5

That is a violation as per Saratoga city code. Suggestion - call the Sheriff's non-emergency number 408 299 2311 and report it. Typically these types of calls are handled by San Jose animal control. Sheriff does frequently respond since animal control does take longer to respond. Animal control will either give warnings or cite the offenders.

Q & A W I T H C O U N C I L M E M B E R K U M A R

HOW DO I REPORT OUT OF COMPLIANCE SARATOGA RESIDENTS

Here are Code Compliance Contacts: Telephone Number 408.868.1214 (hotline). Email: [email protected] Webpage (including complaint form): www.saratoga.ca.us/enforcement

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE EAT IN

SARATOGA PROGRAM

You may recall my interest to have a culture of “Think Saratoga First”, “Eat in Saratoga”. As part of that we started a pilot program “ Saratoga Treats for Saratoga Students program” providing Saratoga High students options with Saratoga restaurant food on campus. This was run as a pilot in September by the Saratoga High . But unfortunately for a variety of reasons, the program has been terminated. As part of this effort, what came about is that Mountain Mikes Pizza is now an option available for Saratoga High students.

Our City staff recently completed the installation of two water filling stations to increase healthy drinking options for Saratoga residents at locations where there is potentially heavy foot and bicyclist traffic. The two locations include Congress Springs Park and Blaney Plaza. County PICH (Partnership to Improve Community Health) grant funds paid for the units and the installation of the water filling stations. The water filling stations have three tiers that allow residents to drink from the fountains, refill their water bottles and also give their pets water from an outlet at the bottom of the station.

ARE THERE WATER FILLING STATIONS FOR SARATOGANS?

SOLICITATION. TO REPORT OR NOT?

I HAVE WITNESSED A TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE ON MY STREET? HOW DO I GET SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING?

Help make Saratoga roads safer by bringing items to the attention of the Saratoga Traffic Safety Commission (TSC). Next meeting is November 10th. Contact city staff Mainini Mainini Cabute <[email protected]> if want to get on the TSC agenda

The Traffic Safety Commission analyzes traffic concerns raised by community members and makes recommendations to the City on how to address these matters.

Some friends and supporters with good intentions have referred to my KEEP SARATOGA GREAT campaign line with concern. Rest in ease...This is my election campaign line from 2014, before Mr Trump decided to make a run. Did he get inspired by my campaign line? Not for me to speculate :-) I disavow any and all possible connections, have NO relationship or alliance with Mr Trump or his campaign.

COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR HAS AN EMAIL

GROUP “KEEP SARATOGA GREAT” IS

THAT INSPIRED BY MR. TRUMP?

I NOTICE DOGS NOT ON LEASH. IS THAT

ALLOWED? We highly recommend that you report all solicitation and suspicious behavior to the Sheriff. Call the Sheriff's non-emergency number 408 299 2311 and report it. For businesses out soliciting, you should ask for a City of Saratoga Permit


WHAT IS THE BLUE LIGHT AT THE

SIGNAL LIGHT ON QUITO/POLLARD?

When sheriffs are monitoring the intersection, the blue light lets them see (from the opposite side of the traffic light) someone running a red light

HOW DO I LAUNCH MY NEIGHBORHOOD’S

SAFETY WATCH?

Councilmember Kumar has initiated 30 NSW programs in Saratoga and can help you. Please contact his lead interns Isha Mehrotra <isha.icecream<at>gmail.com>, Rohan Mehrotra <Rohan200m<at>gmail.com>, Rishi Kumar <rkumar<at>saratoga.ca.us> You can read the logistics, framework and the he details of the Neighborhood Safety Watch program at www.RishiKumar.com/NSW Councilmember Kumar and his intern team will hand hold and help you every step of the way

6


U P C O M I N G E V E n t s

Master Gardeners: Selecting and Planting Bare-Root Fruit Trees and Roses on Tue, Nov 15, 7:00 PM at Saratoga Library 13650 Saratoga Ave, Saratoga, CA

Master Gardener Jamie Chen will review the basics of selecting and planting bare-root fruit trees and roses including how to choose a planting location, checking soil condition, and tips on watering.

Master gardeners seminar

Saratoga Diwali Mela 2016 is set for NOVEMBER 12, 2016 6:30pm to 11pm Saratoga Community Center. 19655 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga CA 95070. Gourmet dinner by Mynt Indian restaurant and fabulous Eastern Winds - The Bay Area's Favorite Indian Music Band. Get ready for a fun-filled entertainment evening with a live band, awesome food, and much much more!

RISHI KUMAR’S COMMUNITY EVENTS

LOOKING BACK - A FUN SEPTEMBER DAY

IN SARATOGA

September 17th10AM :The 60th Anniversary parade starts (Free event). 1pm to 4pm: Saratoga Historical Foundation event at the Saratoga Museum. 3pm: Brews and Blues in Wildwood Park (ticketed) September 18th Afternoon at 1pm: MidAutumn Festival at the Saratoga History Museum (Free event)

BOLLYWOOD FITNESS AND YOGA

AT SARATOGA LIBRARY

Starting January, visitors to Saratoga library will get a chance to join a free Fitness and Yoga program on the 4th Monday of the month at 7pm. This program is hosted by Saratoga Library and organized by the Saratoga Hindu Temple and Community Center team


Saratoga Diwali celebration 2016

Rishi runs many community events via a non-profit. Community offerings such as Silicon Valley Coders club, Lego Robotics, Debate Academy, Bollywood fitness and yoga – mostly everything is open to all and free. Details at :tinyurl.com/Interested2Attend www.Tinyurl.com./SaratogaClass

7

PICTURES FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY WATCH MEETING

SARATOGA COMMUNITY CENTER – SAUNDERS ROOM

25+ Neighborhood groups getting certified

G L I M P S E S F R O M T H E P A S T F E W W E E K S


WITH LEAD INTERNS

ISHA AND ROHAN

MEHROTRA WHO

WORKED WITH 30

NEIGHBORHOODS

8


GLIMPSES FROM THE 30+NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY

COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR BETWEEN JUNE THROUGH OCTOBER


9


GLIMPSES FROM THE 30+ NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY



10





11





12

SARATOGA’S 60th ANNIVERSARY PARADE held on SEPTEMBER 17th

HAKONE GARDEN

CENTENNIAL

CELEBRATION



13

A FEW BOARD MEMBERS

OF THE LEAGUE OF

CALIFORNIA CITIES API

CAUCUS AT THE fall

social event

RE-ELECTED to THE

Board of Directors

for the CA League

of Cities Asian

Pacific Islander

Caucus at the CA

League of Cities

Long Beach

FREMONT EVENT –

LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA

CITIES API CAUCUS FALL

RECEPTION



14

ANNUAL CAR SHOW

BETH DAVID CONGEGRATION OPENS DOORS

Saratoga high

school “Eat in

Saratoga” meeting

With Saratoga

businesses attending



JUST BEFORE THE

PARADE GOT GOING

15

RING.COM:

THOUSANDS OF

SARATOGANS HAVE

INSTALLED IT

ELECTION SEASON

AMIDST THE SEASON

OF DROUGHT

SILICON VALLEY CODERS

CLUB GETS GOING IN

SARATOGA



16



17


COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER Q3 2016 Page 76 of 18

TAKING A BREAK FROM KNOCKING ON

DOORS – NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

OUTREACH

18



councilmember rishi kumar q3 2016 newsletter

Government & Nonprofit