Saratoga News

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Council gives 'green' light to plans for an environmentally friendly city

ByShannon Burkey

The city of Saratoga is looking to "go green" and join other cities, such as those in San Mateo and Alameda counties, that are setting the bar in the Bay Area for environmental practices.

City council members met with City Manager Dave Anderson and Assistant City Manager Barbara Powell at a study session on Jan. 17 to brainstorm ideas for making Saratoga a more environmentally conscious city.

Some of the ideas discussed included creating incentives for residents to change some things at their homes as well as implementing environmentally friendly city practices.

"We are all very passionate about saving the environment," Mayor Aileen Kao said. "This is a global issue, but we want to focus it locally and see what we as residents and as city officials can do."

Currently, Saratoga has several environmentally friendly projects and programs in place. Some recent ones are the funding of a household hazardous-waste collection program, working with PG&E to retrofit exit lights and replace lighting ballasts and light bulbs in city buildings with more energy efficient models and acquiring several natural gas-fueled vehicles for the city's vehicle fleet.

Council members said the city is off to a good start, but there is much more they would like to see the city do.

Councilman Chuck Page said a priority for him would be to see solar installation on city buildings.

"You don't see a lot of things on solar energy, and Saratoga is a city that has 25 percent more sunshine that the average city, so why not utilize it?" Page said. "There is some cost to it, but there is also a lot of payback."

Councilwoman Jill Hunter said she would like to see residents who are putting up new homes or remodeling their homes be more environmentally accountable.

"My goal would be to have a checklist where large homes are forced to check off a certain amount of things that they are going to do to make that home more environmentally friendly," Hunter said.

Among other items the council members said they would like the city to implement were an environmentally friendly city-purchase policy, reducing fees for incorporating green building aspects, putting restrictions on outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, and educating the public on environmental sustainability.

The council would also like to look into putting on a citywide seminar to educate residents.

"We need not just a checklist, but a sharing of knowledge," Councilwoman Kathleen King said, adding that many residents may not know what they can do to be environmentally conscious.

Bay Area cities have environmental practices and policies in place that Page would like to look to for tips on where Saratoga should begin.

"It's important that we capitalize on and work together with other communities in our area and see what they are doing," Page said. "As much as we can do, we have to do."

The council plans to send its list of ideas to the planning commission for discussion and additions.