Saratoga News

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Residents' group proposes ballot measure to save city's parkland

By Shannon Burkey

The newly formed Citizens for Parks Preservation group filed a proposed ballot measure aimed at protecting and preserving Saratoga's open parkland areas.

"This measure is about protecting all parkland in the city," said group spokesperson Denise Goldberg. "There is value in open space and land not dedicated to anything overt; land that can be used for flying a kite, walking, playing soccer--anything imaginative."

The group of about 20 residents from different areas of Saratoga formed after the city council voted at its Jan. 4 meeting to put a full-sized soccer field in Kevin Moran Park. That vote left Goldberg and many others with the feeling that the city process had broken down, she said.

"The city wasn't accepting a wide range of public input on what was best for our parklands and our community," Goldberg explained. "It just left us so disheartened."

Although the measure was sparked by the Kevin Moran Park decision, Goldberg insists it is not just about Kevin Moran Park, but rather all existing city parklands.

The Saratoga Park Preservation and Field Use Policy Initiative grew out of a concern residents in the community were not being considered and listened to as the decisions affecting their neighborhoods and parks were being made, according to group spokesperson Stan Bogosian.

"We are not saying that they shouldn't build their athletic facilities. We are just saying to put it on the ballot and let the voters decide," said Bogosian, a former city council member.

According to a statement put out by the group, "protecting existing open park areas that support passive recreational activities such as walking and hiking, running and biking, picnicking, kite-flying, horseback riding, bird-watching or simply sitting is critical to preserving the quality of life for all Saratogans."

Bogosian said the council should also be reminded of the Jan. 16, 2002, council vote that instituted user fees for group use fields. That decision raised the maintenance fees groups such as Little League baseball and soccer teams pay to the city to use public-park space for their games and practices.

"Let us move forward with well managed facilities for organized sports while preserving our irreplaceable open space," Bogosian said.

The measure was filed with City Clerk Cathleen Boyer on Aug. 15 and City Attorney Richard Taylor has 15 days from the date it was filed to prepare an impartial title and a summary of the measure in 500 words or less.

"Basically we want to make sure that the title and summary for the measure does not create a bias for or against the measure," Taylor explained.

Once the city attorney has returned the title and summary to the group, it will have six months to collect signatures from registered Saratoga voters. For the next step in the process to take place, the group needs signatures from 10 percent of registered voters.

According to Taylor, once the group has the signatures, it can take the petition to the city council. The council will have three options: adopt the measure and make it a resolution; put the measure on the ballot of the next election; or call a special election.

The group said it hopes to gather enough signatures to have a special election called as soon as early 2007.

"We have some beautiful parklands," Goldberg said. "Saratogans need to hang on to what we have."