Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Rubbish spills from a toppled trash can on the Foothill Elementary School field. Presently, the school district is supposed to maintain its own grounds.

Measure L defeat may hinder city-school maintenance pact

Officials considered playing field upkeep

By Cecily Barnes

Before Saratoga voters struck down Measure L by just 93 votes, the city and the Saratoga Union School District discussed sharing maintenance costs of the school's fields. The school district currently maintains its own fields, and the city maintains its parks. Discussions suggested a joint-use agreement that spelled out shared use and split maintenance costs. The city would take over community use of fields and parks, collecting fees and organizing maintenance; the school district would pay the city some $10,000 to assist in these costs.

It was also suggested that certain field sites at Foothill School and Blue Hills School be upgraded and renovated.

School administrators were excited at the prospect of new and improved fields, and thrilled that the city might step in and lighten the financial load.

However, Measure L's defeat may mean the defeat of city assistance becuase the city will no longer be collecting utility-tax revenues. City Manager Harry Peacock said he will recommend that the new City Council consider where money for such a project will come from.

"Since the apparent failure of Measure L, the city's going to be in a real bind to maintain what we have, let alone expanding something else," Peacock said.

Saratoga Union School District is now responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of four athletic/playground fields. This costs the district thousands of dollars annually. The city's park staff estimates the cost at some $80,000 annually. Both the district and the city have taken steps back from discussions to determine the financial impact of such a plan.

In March, the City Council requested a Community Task Force be formed to determine how to spend the city's Parks and Recreation Development Fund. The task force suggested a number of plans, including partnering with the schools to improve designated areas, such as Foothill and Blue Hills schools. However, when discussions between the city and the school district began, utility-tax revenues were still rolling in. Now, the new City Council will have to consider if and how decreased revenues will affect the project.

"We were enthused about this because it would improve our fields. They are used all day by our students, and then they are used by other groups," said the school district's Business Manager Ellen Tipton. "[But] I'm not sure with the last election what is going to happen."

A joint meeting between the city and Saratoga's school board is scheduled for Jan. 21. The issue of shared field-maintenance is one of the items on the agenda. By that time, officials are hopeful the city will have determined the financial impact of the discontinued utility tax.

"We really want to work, if we can, at a partnership with the city," said Superintendent Mary Gardner. "[But] Measure L will have some impact on the city's ability to maintain all of their parks. That's the reason no firm decision has been made."