Council, School District Bury Hatchet, Will Appoint Liaisons
Joint meeting focused on school renovation issues
Liaisons to meet quarterly
By Leigh Ann Maze
Out of the controversy surrounding eucalyptus trees at a city elementary school has grown a stronger relationship between the Saratoga City Council and the Saratoga Union School District.
The council and the SUSD board of trustees emerged from a joint meeting on July 11, seemingly on the same page regarding the current expansion projects at both Redwood Middle School and Saratoga School.
"It came through tonight that we really have some mutual interests, such as traffic, safety and busing," said SUSD board member Cindy Ruby.
At the council's request, the two parties verbally agreed to appoint a liaison to meet quarterly, or more often if necessary, to communicate and work together on issues. The parties will both place this idea on their agendas and will select their liaisons at future meetings.
"This is one of the best ideas we've had, to have ongoing communication with the school district. I hope that in the future we can expand it to all of the districts in Saratoga," said Mayor Stan Bogosian.
According to Ruby, a previous council and the SUSD board communicated regularly about two years ago, although in a less formal way.
"I feel like we started a dialogue for a good working relationship with the city," said SUSD board president Stephanie Petrossi. "It was very positive."
Controversy over the eucalyptus trees began in the summer of 1998, when an architect's preliminary plans for the expansion of Saratoga School called for the removal of two 100-year-old eucalyptus trees for safety reasons and to create a larger play field. The fate of the trees sparked nine months of debate between SUSD board members, community members and parents.
The city became involved in May 1999, when it threatened legal action against the SUSD for not entering into a binding agreement over its renovation plans for Saratoga School. The city wanted a guarantee that the two large eucalyptus trees at Saratoga School would not be harmed during construction. The SUSD and the city avoided litigation by signing a Cooperation Agreement on June 4, 1999.
The July 11 joint meeting between the council and the SUSD was originally scheduled at the request of the council. Council members became upset when the district approved cutting down one of the two controversial eucalyptus trees on May 3. In doing so, the district violated the terms of the Cooperation Agreement.
The agreement stated that the SUSD was to forward a copy of the arborist's report to the city before any trees were cut. The SUSD was to then schedule a public hearing on the matter at a regular board meeting. The hearing was to be scheduled at least three weeks in advance to allow the city time to review the arborist's report.
The district's arborist gave a report on the health of the trees to the SUSD on April 28, 2000. SUSD superintendent Mary Gardner informed the construction manager of her decision on April 29, and the tree was felled on May 3, overlooking its obligations to the city.
The agreement also lists other actions the SUSD is to take during the school expansion projects that involve parking, traffic and feasibility studies.
When the city discovered the oversight, officials demanded an explanation.
"I am very upset that the district would flagrantly violate our agreement without even the courtesy of a phone call to me, or to a member of city staff," Vice Mayor John Mehaffey wrote on May 5, in a letter to Petrossi.
The council asked to schedule the joint meeting with the SUSD to "foster a dialogue between the city and the district and ensure mutual understanding of city and district concerns," as stated in a letter from Interim City Manger William Norton dated May 18.
At the joint meeting, however, the council and the SUSD board members only briefly discussed the felling of the tree. Most of the time was spent updating the council on the SUSD's current projects at Redwood Middle and Saratoga Schools and issues involving traffic.
Bogosian said many of council's concerns were addressed.
"A lot of questions were answered tonight," he said.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
