Saratoga News
News
Improvements to Village considered by city council
By Chris Vongsarath
Improvements to the Village just keep on rolling as the Saratoga City Council reviewed a number of projects at a Nov. 7 meeting.
Council members discussed old and new business for the beautification and development of Big Basin Way. Among the topics were the replacement of the newsracks, placing banners for the light poles and a review of a study on the parking update.
* Trial run for new newsracks--Village merchants, shoppers and diners will soon notice a replacement for the bulky, tan newsracks that seem to line every corner of Big Basin Way. Council members agreed to place two new newsrack designs, one wooden and one metal, throughout the Village and let visitors decide which one they like best.
Councilwoman Jill Hunter, who works in the Village every Tuesday with the Village Gardeners, said the important thing is for the newsracks to be done right.
"I want them to be good-looking and enhance the Village," she said. "I don't want them to be eyesores but an advantage to the merchants."
The council members discussed some of the problems with the old newsracks, which were worn down and bulky. The newsracks also blocked the views of several storefronts and made it difficult for passengers to get out of their cars.
The new designs are much smaller and more manageable, making them easier to adjust if some newspapers are added or removed.
* Community foundation donates banners--The remaining light poles without banners will be filled in time for the holidays after the Saratoga Monte Sereno Community Foundation donated $4,500 toward new seasonal banners in the Village.
Council members approved the design of the banners, which come in pairs and will straddle each side of the light poles. The banners are festive in color and will be put up on every other light pole, between the existing banners.
The Community Foundation has pledged to fund the project, with the Saratoga Village Developmental Council also contributing. The two groups plan on putting up seasonal banners in the Village throughout the year.
* Parking update nothing new--Although some people have complained about the lack of parking in the Village, a study actually revealed an excess of parking spaces.
However, those parking spaces are located in unpopular areas and are farther away from certain restaurants and stores, which sometimes have employees using the parking spaces.
"It's just the perception that [people] want to park where they want to go shop or eat," said Vice Mayor Ann Waltonsmith. "It is the responsibility of the owners, especially the ones complaining, to monitor their employees."
The council has $40,000 to work with to develop a way to utilize the empty spaces or provide more convenient parking.
John Cherbone, public works director, said some of the ideas include using a valet service to spread out the parking and utilize the empty spaces, constructing more convenient parking, posting new signs for available parking and placing restrictions on current parking.
