About 20 people who reside on streets near the school—like Camino Rico and Saratoga Vista Court—attended the meeting in the school's library. SHS Principal Kevin Skelly informed and answered questions from neighbors about the school's Performing Arts and Lecture Center and plans to improve the school's lower fields, including the baseball and football facilities.

Skelly said he looked at the meeting as a way not to necessarily solve all the related problems, but to anticipate what is in store for the school and how to best handle the future changes.

"My understanding is that there might be so much activity going on on campus that the amount of traffic could exceed the capacity," said Lorie Tinfow, Saratoga's assistant city manager.

Tinfow and Brigitte Ballingall, a member of the Saratoga Public Safety Commission, were on hand during the meeting to answer concerns from neighbors. Tinfow said the city has also worked with local elementary schools on similar traffic issues.

Two private individuals from the community are stepping forward to pay for at least the first phase of the field renovations, which includes the installation of artificial turf made of recycled rubber, Skelly said. The first phase of the football field is estimated to be completed by Aug. 1, 2004, with the baseball field scheduled to be finished as of Sept. 1, 2004. The upgrades to both fields will mean low maintenance and no watering.

"If you've never seen this stuff, it dries immediately," Skelly said. "It's tough, and it can take a lot of wear."

Skelly said there is more proposed parking and additions to the fields in the second phase of the project.

Skelly also wanted to address concerns with the opening of the 590-capacity PAL Center, which Skelly said is being presented as a community venue. Many existing parking spaces at the school are being used by construction workers building the PAL and modernizing three wings of the high school.

"My sense is that parking will get better here as we complete these projects on campus," Skelly said.

But once the PAL Center opens later this year, neighbors are worried it could become a "a mini-Flint Center," another performing arts venue, on the De Anza Community College campus in Cupertino. Skelly said there are still many decisions to be made such as the PAL's hours of operation, designated use of the facility and the possibility of filling a booking agent-type role.

Neighbors said the school already provides parking for swim meets, marching band practices and other extracurricular activities, as well as a farmer's market on the weekends. Skelly's assistant Sarah O'Connell said the agreement the school has with farmer's market merchants is they set up from 7 to 9 a.m., sell from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and clean up from 1 to 2 p.m. The vendors are no longer allowed to arrive as early as 4:30 a.m., out of respect to surrounding neighbors.

When the school's lot overflows, Saratoga Presbyterian Church across the street from the high school has been willing to accommodate some of the extra traffic. But even that isn't always enough, since the neighbors said they often feel the traffic burden on their streets.

Neighbors said it's OK once a year when traffic escalates for graduation in June, but they are not willing to put up with it on a continual basis. They also complained about noise, littering, students loitering on their streets after school and the possibility of declining property values.

Sgt. David Johnson said as far as he was aware, any concerns from neighbors regarding traffic and parking are presently not being reported to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

Gladys Armstrong, a longtime resident on Chalet Lane near the school, said she supports no-parking restrictions being implemented on the cul-de-sac.

"If the street is going to be filled up every weekend, if we have a party there's no place for [guests] to park," she said.

Residents have a process available to them to lobby through the city for parking limitations, Ballingall said. There are already parking constraints on Lexington Court near the school.

But Armstrong's husband, Fred, voiced a milder opinion.

"We've always enjoyed the music that comes from the school ... even at 11 p.m. when there's bongo drums," he said, referring to marching band practices.

In response to questions about whether the renovated football field will ever have lights, Skelly said he doesn't believe it's likely. Skelly said he'd rather see lights for the tennis courts.

"I know there are alumni who would love to see us play [Friday night football]. That's their dream, but I don't see it happening," Skelly said. "You put lights in this place, and I think the neighbors would go crazy."

Another meeting has been set for March 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the school's cafeteria, 20300 Herriman Ave., to continue discussions, and neighbors of the school are invited. For more information, call 408.867.3411.