2016 Q2 Newsletter Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar

Q 2 2 0 1 6 N E W S L E T T E R
WWW.RISHIKUMAR.COM || WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VOTERISHI || RKUMAR<at>SARATOGA.CA.US
Dear Friends,
Hope you had a wonderful July 4th
weekend. Our city celebration today was an incredible community event
with hundreds participating. Today is definitely the day to value, appreciate and cherish our freedom and be
thankful for all the opportunities, and rights this country provides us - that many, in many parts of the
world do not have the liberty for. May our flag always flutter high - bringing enlightenment and learning for
the rest of the world, always leading and showing the path.
Legend goes that just after the drafting of the constitution, Benjamin Franklin was approached by a woman
who asked, “What manner of government have you bequeathed us?” He answered, “A Republic, madam, if
you can keep it.” What Benjamin meant by that was, a functioning Democracy as defined in our
constitution needs involvement from all of us.
Do we live in a society where only the elite can participate in the government process? We elect citizens to
serve at every level - school board, water board, city council. If we volunteer and participate, we will find
an ability to make a difference that will be very energizing.
Holding public office is neither easy not glamorous - but serving is critical to the functioning of democracy.
as local elected officials make significant decisions while volunteering in their elected capacity and holding a
full time job at times. That is how the system is meant to work. It behooves each of us to not play sideline
basketball, or "wait for others", but immerse ourself - our local community needs each of us.
Our city recently ran a survey to get feedback about our Village, our Parks. We got a couple thousand
responses for the Village survey and a couple hundred on the Parks. We definitely have engaged citizens,
but there is always more that each of us can do. Feedback, input, ideas is something I certainly welcome and
look forward to on the council. Please take the survey at http://www.tinyurl.com/Meet2016
Citizen feedback is an essential component of decision making on the council. That is the reason why, I have
embarked on a mission to meet as many neighborhood groups as possible this summer. Many meetings have
been scheduled in July and August.
Are you interested to address an issue or challenge that your neighborhood faces? I am happy to meet.
Please call me at 408 805 5993 or email rkumar<at>saratoga.ca.us
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve and to continue doing important and satisfying work in
Saratoga's interest. It is truly an honor to serve Saratoga, the city that I love.
Sincerely,
Rishi Kumar
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: YOUTH INTERN SHAUNAK VAIDYA

2
C i t y C O U N C I L u p d a t e
On May 3, the city council
approved a Saratoga pavement
construction/repaving project.
The following streets are
currently on the project plan
ideally completed by August:
Arden Court, Ardmore Court,
Ashton Court, Brook Lane,
Brookhaven Drive, Brooknoll
Court, Brookridge Drive,
Brookview Drive, Deer Park
Court, Donna Lane, Douglass
Lane, Jacaanda Court, La Vista
Court, Lanark Lane, Larchmont
Ave, Lynde Avenue, Needham
Lane, Palmero Court, Palmtag
Drive, Reid Court, Scully
Avenue, Sobey Meadows Court,
Ted Court, Via Cresente Court,
Via Ranchero Drive, Via
Ranchero Court, Woodside
Court.
Those living on these streets
should find appropriate noticing
by city staff prior to project
start near your home.
If your street is NOT on this
schedule, Google "City of
Saratoga Pavement
Management" and you should
find a city of Saratoga web page
that describes our pavement
management program and click
on "PCI List of Streets in
Alphabetical Order" to find
your street.
City road
repavement
COUNCILMEMBER RISHI KUMAR NEWSLETTER Q2 2016 Page 2 of 16
LAUNCHING
NEIGBORHOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD
SAFETY WATCH
One of Councilmember Kumar’s
priorities on the city council is to
address the neighborhood break-
ins that have seemingly spiked in
2016. There are many efforts on-
going, one of which is to launch
many new Neighborhood Safety
Watch programs. Having one in
your neighborhood definitely
enhances the safety of your home
and your neighborhood.
You can sign-up here to launch one:
http://tinyurl.com/meet2016
Saratogans have reported a
petroleum odor in their water.
We had San Jose Water
Company SJWC and Santa Clara
Valley Water District
researching this issue. Here are
the conclusions: It appears that
an algal bloom is the cause of
the petroleum smell in the
water. SJWC expects the odor
to go away; they have taken
steps to switch to a different
source of water. Please be
assured that the water continues
to meet drinking water
regulations and remains safe for
all uses. If you continue to
notice the odor in your water,
please do the following:
**Sign the Petition. See details
below
**Call SJWC’s Customer
Service department at (408)
279-7900 and request a quality
check of your water
Here is a change.org petition
that has been created by a
Saratoga resident Sreenatha
Timmareddy
http://tinyurl.com/SaratogaWat
er
Councilmember Kumar, as the
council representative into the
SCVWD, continues to work
with SJWC and SCVWD Board
Member Nai Hsueh, a Saratoga
resident
Petroleum odor
in water
SPIKE IN SARATOGA
BURLARIES
s
Neighbors
You should checkout the
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
from the PATROL ACTIVITY
SUMMARY published in Saratoga
News
Are we seeing a summer-break
burglary spike?
'Tis is the time to be alert,
specially if you are leaving on
vacation
NOTE: There were 3 arrests
made of suspects with burglary
tools - you will see the report
below
Here are some safety tips
http://dehavillandcox.weebly.co
m/safety-tips.html

3
Councilmember Kumar is
launching a pilot program to
offer Saratoga restaurant
food on Saratoga High
campus during Saratoga High
School’s lunch period. It is
called, “ Saratoga Treats for
Saratoga Students”, which
will create additional lunchtime
options for Saratoga High
students starting Fall 2016. This
is part of his initiative to help
create a culture of supporting
Saratoga businesses, a program
called “Eat in Saratoga”.
If you own a restaurant in
Saratoga and are interested in
offering your food for sale at
Saratoga High School, please
sign-up here
http://tinyurl.com/Sarato
gaTreats
Read the Saratoga News
article
http://tinyurl.com/EatinS
aratoga
This program will be conducted
and managed by Team
Saratoga High School Food
Service
“EAT IN SARATOGA”
FOR
SARATOGA HIGH
STUDENTS
QUARRY PARK
AWARD FOR
SARATOGA
In April the Saratoga Quarry Park
Master Plan received Outstanding
Planning Document Award from
the Association of Environment
Professionals. Quarry Park
opened last October, 64 acres,
wonderful hiking trails and picnic
areas. Thanks to our Saratoga
Public Works Department staff
led by Public Works Director
John Cherbone who worked on
the master plan.
As you may know, the State
Water Resources Control Board
and Santa Clara Valley Water
District recently established
new water conservation
restrictions and target effective
July 1, 2016. SJWC has
updated our water conservation
program to reflect these
modifications and they include a
reduction of the conservation
target from 30% to 20%, as
requested by the Santa Clara
Valley Water District, and
minor changes to the
conservation rules. Watering
days have been increased from
two (2) to three (3) days per
week and restrictions on the
filling/refilling of pools and
washing your car at home have
also been removed.

Customers will be informed via
a special mailing that will arrive
next week and includes the
updated rules and answers to
frequently asked
questions. This and other
comprehensive drought
information is available on our
website at www.sjwater.com
(click on the drought banner)
Please continue to conserve!
The surcharge remains in place

THE DROUGHT
MANDATE -
ChANGES
High Speed charing at the Library
was a project initiated by
Councilmember Howard Miller
and Councilmember Rishi Kumar.
Our city staff is procuring grants
for this project.The Bay Area Air
Quality Management District
(BAAQMD) notified Saratoga that
they have recommended a
proposed grant award of $35,000
to the City of Saratoga for a dual-
connector Fast Charge EV station
at the Saratoga Library. This is the
initial step. The California Energy
Commission will consider the
request and the City will be
notified of the final approval in
July. Proposed funding agreement
will be sent to awardees for
signature by August 31. The
project may beging September;
Charge Fast! EV Stations should be
up and running in the fall.
HIGH SPEED
CHARGING AT
SARATOGA LIBRARY

4
The West Valley cities of
Saratoga, Campbell, Los
Gatos, Cupertino and Monte
Sereno unanimously sent their
statement of opposition for
Governor Brown’s By Right
Housing Proposal.
The proposal would have pre-
empted local discretionary land
use approvals and taken local
control away, removed
environmental review and
restricted design review. This
By Right Housing Proposal was
not approved.
GOVERNOR’S
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BY-RIGHT
PROPOSAL
Foster Care In
santa clara
Did you know that there are more
than 1,300 children in foster care
in Santa Clara County? The
Saratoga City Council took the
opportunity at its May 18th
meeting to thank foster parents for
their efforts by proclaiming May
2016 as Foster Care Appreciation
Month in the City of Saratoga.
Foster parents are the front-line
caregivers for children who cannot
safely remain with their biological
parents. They also provide physical
care, emotional support, and
education advocacy; and are the
largest source of families providing
homes for children leaving foster
care to adoption.
Hakone Garden
Master plans
The City of Saratoga completed
an Initial Study analyzing the
potential environmental impacts
of the Hakone Estate and Gardens
Master Plan and accepted public
comments on thed study untill
April 20th
. The study addresses
aesthetics, biological resources,
water quality, noise, geotechnical
hazards, and traffic and short term
construction effects. Recently,
plans were made to enhance the
structures and facilities at
Saratoga’s historic Japanese
Gardens. The plans were officially
and unanimously approved by the
Saratoga City Council. Details at
http://tinyurl.com/HakoneUpdate
VILLAGE MASTER
PLAN
Joint HPC/PC met to review
Saratoga Village Plan Outreach.
City staff presented an overview
of results of the Saratoga Village
Plan. Copies of the survey
results and outreach efforts can
be found on the project website
http://saratogavillageplan.org
The Planning Commission and
the HPC are currently working
on the needed updates. Stay
tuned!
COFFEE MEETING WITH
COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR -
ALWAYS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
CHECK FACEBOOK.COM/VOTERISHI FOR TIME AND
LOCATION

5
SISTER CITY PROGRAMNEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY: HIGH ON
COUNCILMEMBER KUMAR’S AGENDA
Many of you may know that
Saratoga has a sister city program
with Muko Japan
Read about it here
http://saratogasistercity.org/?q=a
bout-organization. It has been a
very successful relationship thanks
to dedicated volunteers who
established the program and helped
ensure it was alive and thriving over
the years, and more so today.
Today, Saratoga has a population
that has many Chinese Americans,
Taiwanese Americans and Indian
Americans
Perhaps we can initiate a new Sister
City program?
Are you interested in leading a
Sister City program with a city in
India? Perhaps, you know folks who
would be interested to leading a
Sister City program with China?
with Taiwan?
I would love to speak with you -
happy to share details
FAQ at http://www.sister-
cities.org/faq#What
Please reach out.
Yes, this is the time to be vigilant, watch out on your neighbors
Yes, this is the time to plant deterrents around your own home
VISIT http://www.RishiKumar.com/Safety for the latest info
There are break-ins happening in Saratoga this summer – the adverse
impacts of Proposition 47 +other factors have increased crime in every
part of Bay Area. Please be careful!! In terms of residential burglary in
2015, we had a total of 123 compared with 98 in 2014. As of May of this
year, we had 58. A citizen analysis indicates a break-in every 2 days this
year. Here are some recommendations:
- Join the Safe Saratoga forum http://facebook.com/groups/safesaratoga
- Subscribe to crime reports https://www.crimereports.com
- Take simple precautions, some excellent tips here
http://dehavillandcox.weebly.com/safety-tips.html
You will find interesting info e.g upgrading your doorbell to a type of
surveillance camera/door bell that sends a video of anyone who comes in
the vicinity of the front door into the cloud.
WE ARE DOING OUR BEST to address these challenges in our city.
- Councilmember Kumar has proactively proposed to city staff to
consolidate a single crime safety information web page. It is complete and
available here http://www.saratoga.ca.us/stayingsafe
- On the council, he has proposed enhancing the policy as it relates to
Saratoga’s 29 Landscape and Lighting District to include surveillance
cameras. Councilmember Kumar would love to see many more
surveillance cameras in Saratoga homes.
- How about a parking sticker to identify Saratoga cars and vehicles and
handing out parking stickers with expiry for service folks?
- Councilmember Kumar had a neighborhood meeting at Blue Meadow
court last week, and the neighborhood is interested in using their L&L
district dollars for surveillance cameras and neighborhood monitoring.
- Working with our city manager and Captain Rick Sung –
Councilmember Kumar has added another Safety event hosted by our
Sheriff, to allow an opportunity for citizens to ask questions, and be
informed – held Feb. 2016. This is the 3rd annual Safety event that the
city hosts. Proposed a monthly citizen-sheriff “Coffee with Cop” series.
- The first Crime Safety Forum was launched September 2014 upon his
request, after a string of Saratoga break-ins - it is now an annual meeting
between the Sheriff and our neighbors.
- Councilmember Kumar is also meeting with neighbors and launching
"Neighborhood Safety Watch programs”. What exactly is this
program? Details http://dehavillandcox.weebly.com/neighborhood-watch
This program helps connects the neighbors of your neighborhood and
ensures that you are collectively keeping an eye on each other. Many
neighborhood safety watch groups lead into an annual block party to bring
the neighborhood together and helps build bridges over time.
Submit your info at tinyurl.com/Meet2016 if you like to launch one.

6
WATER
conservation
seminar
As the council representation for
the Santa Clara County Valley
Water District, Councilmember
Kumar keeps a close eye on what
we can bring to Saratoga that
leverages offerings of SCVWD
like the drought gear distribution
we conducted in Saratoga a few
months ago. Collaborating with
SCVWD staff and Saratoga’s city
staff, a seminar was held on
Saturday, May 21 from 3-5 p.m.
at the Prospect Center:
Innovative approaches to
residential water conservation.
Video can be seen at
http://tinyurl.com/WaterConser
ve2
Saratoga High School student
Shivaum Kumar's Silicon Valley
Coders club team had a very
successful 2nd annual SILICON
VALLEY TECH DAY. Panelists
and speakers included:
Dave Holt, CEO/Startup Advisor
Dipti Vachani, VP/GM Intel
Sudhakar Ramakrishna, CEO Pulse
Secure
Kelly Ahuja, SVP Cisco Systems
Rani Hublou, Chief Product
Officer, Comprehend Systems
Patty Hatter, GM, Intel Security
Nandini Ramani, VP Engineering
Twitter
Shobana Radhakrishnan, Director
of Engineering Roku
Kamala Subramaniam, Cloud
Technologist
Jim Beall, Senator District 15
Kansen Chu, Assemblymember
Rose Herrera, Vice Mayor, San
Jose
Magdalena Carrasco,
Councilmember San Jose
Ash Kalra, Councilmember San
Jose
Kuldip Thusu, Councilmember
Dinuba
As part of the Pitch Fest, Team
Colorprints that demonstrated a
successful Henna printer
prototype, won the top prize/
$1,000 seed money. 150 students
in Saratoga, San Jose and
Livermore got the art of start-up
via this program’s Spring semester,
many new products developed
Silicon valley
tech day
C i t y N E W S A N D u p d a t e
Happy 100th birthday Olivia.
Former Saratoga resident,
Hollywood star, Two time Oscar
winner, Olivia de Havilland turns
100. In fact, a Saratoga street is
named after her. Olivia's career is
remembered for two things —
her films with Errol Flynn, with
whom she co-starred nine times,
and her role as Melanie Wilkes in
“Gone With the Wind.” She is one
of only 13 women to have won
multiple Oscars for acting.
She celebrates in Paris, her home
since 1953.
OLIVIA CELEBRATES HER 100th
BIRTHDAY
19th
SAFEST CITY
Saratoga came in 19th on Alarm
System Reviews' recently
published 2016 list of the 30 safest
places to live in California. The
study factored in violent crime
rates, property crime rates and an
emergency preparedness rating.
The complete list can be found at
bit.ly/AlarmSystemsSafestPlaces2016
Back in 2013, Saratoga was the
safest city in California. In 2015,
Saratoga was the 5th
Safest City
http://www.safewise.com/blog/
50-safest-cities-california/
NOTE: These rating systems may
not have the same exact criteria
Yes, we can do better with our
neighborhood safety!

7
Note from
sheriff’s office
The Sheriff’s Office is grateful to
the public for providing critical
information that resulted in the
identification and arrest of a
suspect in the recent hit-and-run
incident in Saratoga where two
dogs were tragically killed and
their owner injured.
Exterior surveillance footage from
three homeowners’ residential
security systems was a key piece
of evidence. This incident
illustrates the value of a good
home security system that
includes the use of outside
cameras, and the crucial
information they can provide on
what is happening just outside
your door, sometimes in
unexpected ways.
C i t y N E W S A N D u p d a t e
In November 2016, Saratoga
voters will be asked to elect two
members to the City Council. The
nomination period for the
November election begins
Monday, July 18, and closes
Friday, August 12. During this
time, eligible candidates may
obtain nomination papers from the
City Clerk during regular business
hours. If candidates decide to
withdraw their nomination papers,
they have until the end of the
nomination period to do so.
Prior to the start of the
nomination period, prospective
candidates may form a campaign
committee and raise funds. To do
so, candidates must file certain
forms with the Secretary of State
and City Clerk, as well as disclose
campaign contributions and
expenditures.
For more information about the
upcoming November 2016
election, visit
www.saratoga.ca.us/election.
City council
nomination
period
The annual Saratoga
Independence Day Celebration
was held on Monday, July 4, from
9:30 to 11 a.m. at Kevin Moran
Park, located at 12415 Scully
Avenue. The event featured
patriotic music from the
McCartysville Volunteer Band and
a youth chorus, presenting of the
flag, a family parade, and free
popsicles and flags for children.
Details www.saratogajuly4.com.
Sarah Akuno was thanked for
leading this community run effort
for 7 fabulous years. Christina
Garrod Cagliostro takes over
from Sarah and will be running
the July 4th
celebration event next
year
Annual
Independence Day
celebration
Asian American
Heritage month
The City of Saratoga invited a
member of the Asian American
community from Saratoga to our
city council meeting to receive a
special proclamation this past
May. It is an appropriate
recognition of a few historical
milestones in America's cherished
history and the Asian American
contribution.
COMMUNITY CHOICE
ENERGY STATUS
Saratoga’s roadmap with
Community Choice energy is
progressing. We are still hoping
that we will “Go Live’ in Q1 of
2017. The latest news, an
executive director has been hired
by the JPA. The cities that have
signed with the SCC JPA are
having a dialogue on raising funds
for the contracts. Member
agencies need to vouch for any
borrowing that may be needed.
Councilmember Howard Miller is
our city representative and
updates us at the city council
meeting

8
U P C O M I N G E V E n t s
UPCOMING EVENTS
Visit rishikumar.com/events
ANNUAL CAR SHOW SARATOGA TURNS 60 STARTUP
BOOTCAMP
FOR KIDS
A brand new semester of the
Startup bootcamp run by the
Silicon Valley Coders club begins
September 11th. Sign-up now at
www.SiliconValleyCoders.org/s
tart-up-boot-camp
We have had about 150 kids gain
some news skills over the last
semester at the San Jose,
Saratoga and Livermore location.
Many new prototypes were
developed. A middle school
team won the startup seed
money of $1,000 at the Startup
Pitch Fest at the semester finale,
the 2nd annual Silicon Valley
Youth Technology Day on June
11th last week based on the
prototype they built.
The next semester will see a
repeat of the program for a new
batch of students - at a new
location in San Jose, along with
Saratoga, Livermore, Fremont,
East Palo Alto and Dinuba.
Saratoga’s 7th
annual classic car
show is set for July 17th,
vintage cars, all throughout
beautiful downtown Saratoga.
From 10 AM to 5 PM on Big
Basin Way on Sunday July 17th
The kick off party on July 9th
deemed Wheels and Wine
would happen at House Family
Vineyards from 6 PM to 9 PM.
A parade is planned for Sept. 17
along Big Basin Way, complete
with floats, musical ensembles,
and our schools participating as
well. For more information, visit
www.saratogajuly4.com.
Earlier this year, the city council
allocated $7,000 from the city's
discretionary fund for this event.
Groups or individuals interested in
participating in the parade are
asked to fill out an entry form and
a liability disclaimer: contact
Marlene Duffin at 408.997.7528
or marlduffin@aol.comThere is
no entry fee to join, and the
parade is open to all
COLLEGE APPS
SEMINAR
The annual College Apps
Demystified Seminar – panel
discussion, 1:1 with the experts is
set for August 28th -- 3pm to 5pm
WHERE: Saratoga Community Center
19655 Allendale Avenue, Saratoga CA
RSVP required for this free event:
http://tinyurl.com/interested2Attend.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHAIRED BY RISHI
MONTALVO
ROCK THE GARDEN
On Friday, July 22 from 5PM-
10PM at Montalvo Arts Center,
join us for Rock the Garden: 5
Hour Sculpture, a pop up arts
festival. Amazing art installations
(that YOU get to help create) and
performances will "pop up"
throughout Montalvo's 175-acre
grounds. Plus, enjoy hands-on art-
making, dancing, live music by the
Real Vocal String Quartet,
delicious fare from gourmet food
trucks, and much more.

9
G L I M P S E S F R O M T H E L A S T F E W W E E K S
MEETING NEIGHBORS OF
NORTHAMPTON COURT
Helping Launch a NEIGHBORHOOD
SAFETY watch FOR THE WARDELL COX
NEIGHBORHOOD
MEETING THE TEN OAK
WAY NEIGHBORHOOD
BLUE MEADOW COURT

10
SARATOGA’S JULY 4t h
CELEBRATION ON KEVIN
MORAN PARK
the Spring Water
Symposium Resilience
and Reuse
Symposium. Lots of
innovation being
done around water
and many use cases
being discussed
TEN OAK WAY

11
Speaking at
International forum
“our roles as world
citizens”
Images from the
youth commission’s
Saratoga color run
SARATOGA’S MEMORIAL
DAY CELEBRATION

12
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
AAPI BRIEFING
AMERICAN IN
BLOOM JUDGES
VISIT SARATOGA –
SVDC hosting
Making pancakes
at the annual
Saratoga high
pancake
breakfast in may

13
At oracle’s
women leadership
event
A NEIGHBORHOOD
MEETING LAWN
SIGN

14
ON A CARRIBEAN
VACATION WITH SEEMA
AND THE KIDS

15
MAYOR SAM LICCAROD
KEY NOTE SPEAKER AT
TECH DAY WITH
COUNCILMEMBEr tAM
NGUYEN
MODERATING THE
POLICY PANEL AT TECH
DAY
THE POLICY PANEL AT
TECH DAY

16

2016 Q2 Newsletter Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar

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2016 Q2 Newsletter Saratoga Councilmember Rishi Kumar