The Saratoga City Council is working toward that vision, but for Saratogans who live near the proposed De Anza Trail site that runs beside the railroad tracks between Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Saratoga Avenue, the vision is of a boondoggle that could have a negative effect on their quality of life.

Public works director John Cherbone presented three options to the city council at its Sept. 17 meeting: to continue forward with plans for a 12-foot wide trail, to change the width to a 5-foot wide trail or to cease all work on the project.

Cherbone said the Valley Transit Authority, which is paying the majority of the project's costs, is willing to work with the city as the section of proposed trail in Saratoga is part of a long-term plan spread out over decades for a multi-use trail running through the county.

In a repeat of previous council meetings, numerous opponents of the trail spoke out. At times angry and emotional, they assailed the council with arguments against going forward and berated them for not listening to their concerns. Members of the audience rustled anti-trail signs in support of speakers opposing the trail.

"You kids need to follow the advice of your elders in this community," Eric Bracher said to the council.

C.C. Bulich said the entire affair was giving her high blood pressure. She addressed the council, saying that opponents of the trail are now consulting with an attorney and could take legal action. "We're not playing games here," she said.

While the majority of speakers spoke against going forward to the project's next phase, a few people spoke out in favor of the trail. Rajeev Gupta, who grew up in Saratoga and is now raising his three children here, said he believed the trail would benefit the community.

"I respect their opinions," Gupta said of the trail's opponents. "I think everyone deserves to be heard, but I think the trail itself is unnecessarily being maligned as a negative."

Gupta said that with power lines and railroad tracks at the proposed site and Highway 85 nearby, a trail would bring improvements that could perhaps raise property values. "On a personal level, I like it there for my kids," he said. "And I think it will increase property values over time."

Bracher was concerned that the trail was being pushed through at the wrong time for the wrong reasons. "Even if they do build it, people won't ride bicycles on it," he said. "It doesn't connect with anything. It's completely worthless other than for a few people who are now walking on it and not having any problems on it."

Members of the council reiterated that they are listening to the community and have been attempting to mitigate the concerns of neighbors, but that they serve all of Saratoga and not just a specific neighborhood.

"This is a council that feels strongly about trails," Mayor Kathleen King said. "We are listening and we want to make it friendly for the neighbors."

The council decided to move forward with an option that allows for a 12-foot wide trail that narrows around PG&E towers. Phase two, an environmental study, is now set to begin.

Councilwoman Aileen Kao recused herself from the discussion because she lives within 500 feet of the proposed trail site.