Commission To Ask City Council For $30,OOO To Rebuild Trails
Subcommittee says now it's city's turn to respond
Paths damaged, overgrown
By Kara Chalmers
On April 25, when the City Council next meets with the Parks and Recreation Commission, the commission will ask the council to approve up to $30,000 for some trail reconstruction in the city.
Because of limited time at the last adjourned meeting between the commission and the council, Saratoga's trails, which have received a lot of attention lately, were not discussed.
The commission formed a subcommittee at its February meeting to specifically address the needs of trails. According to the subcommittee, some trails in the city are so overgrown they need to be totally reconstructed. According to commissioner Sheila Ioannou, one of the three subcommittee members, the subcommittee has been productive so far.
"All we can do is recommend that the city take some responsibility for its trails," Ioannou said. "We feel we have a receptive council, so now is a great opportunity."
In October, when the commission presented its priority list to the council for projects, members recommended that $100,000 of the more than $2 million park development fund be allocated for trails. The fund may only be spent on renovations.
Although the council approved, it again needs to give its blessing to spend the money for the specific projects the commission has requested, which total $30,000. The projects would all involve rebuilding trail segments in the city's 1991 master plan of trails.
Specifically, the commission has recognized four trail segments as urgently in need of repair. One is the Parker Ranch Trail, where some of the damage may have been caused by mountain bikes, which are not permitted on the trail. At the March 13 commission meeting, the subcommittee suggested that the city post a sign that warns the area is closed to mountain bikers and to put up new bike barriers.
The park development fund is only to be used for upgrades and improvements, not for maintenance. The city is only responsible for maintaining trailheads, which means it is responsible for signs and for keeping the entrances to trails free of debris. The city does not yet have the staff or funds to maintain more.
On April 25, the subcommittee also plans to recommend that the city establish an annual trail maintenance budget as part of its general fund, as well as investigate ways to increase community awareness of the trail system, Ioannou said.
Only one user group, the Saratoga Trails Enthusiasts, has come forward so far with projects for the commission. But according to Ioannou, the commission is hesitant to spend the entire $100,000 in one or two areas of Saratoga, when the trail money should go to improving trails throughout the city. The commission will postpone budgeting the rest of the $100,000 until more user groups come forward.
In addition, the commission operates a trail grant program, which allows trail users to obtain grants for materials to help improve the trails they personally use. A group may come to the commission and ask for amounts less than $5,000. Amounts over $5,000 require council approval. In fact, the commission has already spent about $800 of the $100,000 in a trail grant to the enthusiasts group, according to Ioannou.
The Parks and Recreation Commission invites comments on trails from hikers, bikers and equestrians. The commission also encourages trail users, or any members of the public, to attend their monthly meetings, held the first Monday of each month. Contact city staff liaison to the commission, Cary Bloomquist at 408.868.1258.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
