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Some Last Minute Dealings Over SUSD's Work Plan End In Agreement
Sighs of relief, trees saved after two days of talking
Construction nearly delayed
By Steve Enders
Finally, the city is satisfied with the Saratoga Union School District's plans to save the historic eucalyptus trees at Saratoga Elementary School and ease traffic around Redwood Middle School.
And since the two are in agreement, upgrade plans can begin on schedule but not without a last-minute scare before the two sides could shake hands.
On May 28, the SUSD delivered what it thought would be its final offer in a Cooperation Agreement over the plans--an updated document to the city detailing what it would do to mitigate the city's concerns over the renovations.
Like the previous compromise letter sent in April, it focuses on tree protection at Saratoga School and traffic calming around Redwood. Unlike the previous letter, however, it places much more responsibility on the school district, and the document is specifically detailed in an outline form, precisely spelling out what the SUSD will do, including $25,000 guarantees to save the trees.
But the entire process was nearly thrown off by the City Council after it met in closed session June 2 and still had concerns over the agreement. It stopped short of giving a final approval to the SUSD.
Parents packed the Council Chambers for the council's regular meeting that same night, again demanding that the city work to put an end to the difficulty and to let the school board begin construction. Most left the chambers before Mayor Jim Shaw assured that the city would do what it takes to finalize the deal, and announced the appointment of Vice Mayor Stan Bogosian and Councilmember Evan Baker to represent the city in last- minute negotiations to take place on June 3.
The City Council's lack of agreement whipped SUSD Superintendent Mary Gardner to the podium where she addressed councilmembers, inviting them back to around-the-clock negotiations if necessary, because the district is scheduled to begin bidding on the construction projects this week.
If the city and the district didn't reach an agreement by the end of the week, she warned, the entire project, financed by a bond initiative passed by Saratoga voters, could be in serious jeopardy.
On June 3, the city delegation met for three hours with representatives from the SUSD, but since the school board hadn't convened in a week, president Cindy Ruby and Gardner weren't authorized to make a final decision.
Despite a verbal agreement, SUSD representatives had to then go back before the school board in an emergency session late Thursday, where the board agreed to the compromise.
"I'm glad to have it over," Gardner said. "One of the best things that happened is that we came face to face with councilmembers. We hadn't before, but that's what needed to happen."
Bogosian said he, too, was satisfied with the agreement. Since the beginning, he has maintained a strong stance to protect the trees, at one time demanding $100,000 fines against the contractor responsible for harming either one of the two 100-year-old trees if damaged during construction.
But Bogosian softened and the city agreed to $25,000 fines after the SUSD placed a counter-offer at $15,000.
"It's not as much as I wanted," Bogosian said, "but there's a psychological dividing line ... $25,000 sounds like much more than $15,000. It says to [contractors] that you better not mess up on this thing."
Regarding congestion at Redwood Middle School, councilmembers were upset that the district wasn't taking enough responsibility for heavy traffic on Fruitvale Avenue and lacked specific measures to help ease it.
The new agreement, however, adds stronger wording and spells out exactly what the district will do, including holding the SUSD fully responsible for mitigation measures outlined by recent traffic studies.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
